Describe and Explain the Decline of the Abbasid Caliphate...

The decline of the Abbasids was not a steady of rapid series of events. There were numerous revivals of the Caliphate in which certain strong Caliphs gained more control and influence over the Islamic world than their predecessors had had. However at no point after the death of Harun al-Rahid (reigned 786-809) was the Caliphate ever as powerful. This period is regarded as the Golden Age of the Abbasid Caliphate and was followed immediately by civil war between his sons. Harun’s two sons were called Al-Amin and Al-Mamun. Al-Amin was the elder and was nominated as the heir to the Caliphate. However Al-Mamun, who was the effective governor of the eastern provinces was ambitious. He was spurred towards seizing the Caliphate for†¦show more content†¦Such a compromise was a symptom of a relatively weak Caliph. Further revolts led to the temporary loss of the Caliph’s power in Egypt, Syria and Palestine for substantial periods. However with Tahir and his famil y at his side, al-Mamun was able to regain these lands, leaving the Caliphate in 833 much less weak than it had been although not as strong as al-Rashid had in 809. Al-Mamun’s successor and son was a man called Al Mu’tasim. His reign was particularly important in the gradual decline of the Abbasids. Although he was not the first to use the infamous ‘slave soldiers’, they had been used from 814 onwards, he expanded their usage massively. The slave soldiers were mostly Turks from areas like modern Turkmenistan. These were hard nomadic peoples from the grass planes of the Steppe who were brutal worriers and provided the Caliph with military security for a price. These Turk soldiers were to play a crucial part in the decline of the Caliphate as their influence and power grew over their masters. The Turks soon formed the palace guard of the Caliph, taking on a similar to the Praetorian Guard of the Roman Empire. As their presence increased they became increasin gly unpopular in Baghdad. This unpopularity and the Caliphs increasing dependence on his mercenaries lead to Mu’tasim relocating the capital from Baghdad to Samarra in 835. This only diminished the power of the Caliphate inShow MoreRelatedThe Umayyad Dynasty And Abbasid Dynasty1370 Words   |  6 Pagesthe 14th century named Ibn Khaldun who developed one of the most outstanding model to describe nomadic societies and their lifestyles. Ibn Khaldun analyze the different forms of governments, explaining their strengths and weaknesses by presenting the 4 steps of his model to reveal the cyclical rises and declines of dynasties. I m using Ibn Khaldun s model to explain the history of the Umayyad dynasty and Abbasid dynasty. 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Necessity in OBreins The Things they Carried Essay

RR- â€Å"The Things They Carried† What’s More Important? Necessity can usually be described as something or someone that is needed. However, this word has different meanings and is based solely on what the individual requires for his or her survival. These needs may increase or become distorted as he or she finds themselves in a life-or-death situation such as war. Circumstances may also provoke an average person to become emotionally distressed and thus the desire to hold on to all that he can. Despite the fact that these necessary items or ideas that he clings to may impair the person, abandoning them may seem impossible. This is the case in Tim O’Brien’s, â€Å"The Things They Carried.† For First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross,†¦show more content†¦For Jimmy Cross, he humped pictures of Martha, â€Å"a junior at Mount Sebastian College in New Jersey † (318) and the letters she writes him. O’Brien highlights these items as special things that Lt. Jimmy Cross carries because they symb olize all he has left behind and hopes to someday return to. Additionally, the letters he receives from Martha are light in weight, only â€Å"ten ounce,† (315) but prove to be a heavy burden. However, Lt. Cross fails to realize his responsibility is not in keeping his photographs and letters safe, but in leading his men safely. Because of his delusional dreams of Martha, he is unable to prevent the death of Ted Lavender. In dealing with such a guilt and regret, Lt Cross is forced to give up the one thing he loved â€Å"more than anything, more than his men,† (318) his beloved Martha. He forces himself to burn everything that was Martha, her pictures, the letters, and pebble she sent, â€Å"because she belonged to another world, which was not quite real†¦because he realized she did not love him and never would† (323). By burning his special things of Martha, Lt. Cross is able to break free from the fantasy world and return to the role he was trained to do. â€Å"He was now determined to perform his duties firmly and without negligence† (327). With Lavender’s death in mind, he becomes aware of immediate dangers that may arise and begins to â€Å"impose strict field discipline† (327) to prevent death. Lt Cross â€Å"reminded

Long Tail Essay Example For Students

Long Tail Essay ail Project #4: Literature Search â€Å"The Long Tail† by R. Cros Table of contents I. Background II. Thesis 1 and 2 III. Thesis Findings A. Thesis One – Consumer-Driven B. Thesis Two – Higher Consumer Engagement IV. Thesis Objections V. Unanswered Questions VI. Bibliography VII. Abstracts (compiled) I. Background As a part of the MBA curriculum, a class titled Management Information Systems was given at Roosevelt in the fall of 2009. The class dealt a great deal with how information, innovation and technology were fundamentally changing business in America. The course focused primarily on the importance of gathering data and converting it into information (for use by managerial decision makers) and on the myriad uses of internet technologies in modern business, from the supplier intinamcy to the management of the collective knowledge of employees. During the course, the professor presented students with an interesting article titled â€Å"The Long Tail† written by Chris Anderson of Wired magazine. The Long Tail, as presented, was a fascinating concept, in the context of discussions of core business functions like the value chain, consumer-driven decision making and the use of technology in marketing. As presented by Anderson, the modern internet, with its ubiquity, super-fast times and access to an unlimited cacophany of products and services, was not just another way to market products; a new-fangled television or another â€Å"space† in which a firm must have a presence. To the contrary, per Anderson, the internet was changing marketing, branding and consumer behavior completely, at elemental levels. The theory stated that bricks and mortar have traditionally abridged the number and variety of products an enterprise could reasonably stock and sell, as space is limited. Because of this, firms have had to rely on â€Å"hit† products – general items with broad appeal, of value to the widest cross-section of consumers. But the concept of the long tail states that the internet has created a new reality of infinite choice, no space limitations, low-to-no marginal costs for production and lower â€Å"search† costs for the consumer. As a result, consumers of the future will no longer focus on the blockbuster movie, the album made by the latest record company pop star, or the video game that’s ‘everyone is playing’. Instead, with the help of clickstream tracking tools (that collect data on customer web activity, process and feed to firms as useable profiling data), collaborative filtering (software that makes recommendations on future visits, based on past web visits), firms will know more, and in more detail, about consumers (Oestreicher-Singer, G 2009). These recommender systems (as exists on Netflix and Amazon for example) and product reviews from product users, consumers will be led down the tail of the curve, away from few items that sell heavily, to an almost infinite number of lower selling yet value-ladden items – selling less of more (Vallance 2007). The argument goes that, because costs to house these products are virtually nill (especially for, but not limited to digital products), retailers can â€Å"stock† them. Not only that, but Anderson argues that because consumers have been slaves to bricks and mortar, there is pent up demand for niche products whose sales will not only thicken and lengthen the tail, but also equal or best the sales in the head of the curve. This theory throws the Pareto Principle (the 80/20 rule that says, in retail, for example, that 80% of your sales will come from 20% of your products) up in the air. II. Thesis 1) The long tail concept is valid and quintessentially customer driven, not only for digital media, but also a growing number of other items in the retail universe. ) That by its nature, the long tail engages the consumer in an affective and cognitive manner that is transcendental and more impactful. III. Thesis Findings The â€Å"blockbuster† model is illustrated well by looking at Grand Central Publishing. This former subsidiary of Warner Books publishes anywhere from 250 to 300 books per year; most at a loss. The leadership of Grand Central make tou gh decisions each year, as their strategy calls for them to cull 2 books from their three hundred, on which to focus most of their marketing time, energy and resources. The theory is that the couple books with the most potential will â€Å"carry† their year in terms of generating revenue. This strategy bears out for them. The sixty-one titles Grand Central had on its front list in 2006 incurred marketing costs of $650,000, and generated $100,000 in revenue. However, the company’s best seller from 2007 incurred marketing costs of $7m, while generating nearly $12m in revenue (Elberse 2008). This tried and true method has been used for years, across industries, to great effect – basic Pareto Principal. But the argument can be made that this is not a market-driven consumer approach. To the contrary, this can be seen as an approach that works in the perceived best interests of the firms (in terms of things like budgeting and projecting), and while it may make some use of customer opinion data (polls, responses, feedback, market-study), it can almost not help but be flawed. In reality, this may be an example of self-fulfilling prophesy, where the blockbuster products sell successfully, almost arbitrarily, because of the great investment in resources and marketing. The above scenario is one that the long tail theory tries to directly annihilate. In premise, there may be great value in the sixty-one Grand Central titles that lost $550,000 using traditional marketing strategies. Instead of the major investment, smaller, niche titles could be found on web-sites like Amazon. Reviews and recommendations could link them to other, similar items (maybe even blockbusters) and increase their value. To some, their â€Å"rarity† may even have value. Most importantly, the â€Å"spoilage† of these niche items could be alleviated beyond their year of release, beyond being placed out-of-print, to having an infinite cyber â€Å"shelf-life† (Davidson 2009). Thesis One – Consumer-Driven Information and Search The sheer depth, breadth and volume of information available on the internet has created a more knowledgeable consumer. â€Å"Shopbot† sites make it easy for people to compare prices across a multitude of retailers. The impact of imperfect information begins to wane when the consumer has access to a world of data, pre-aggregated and formed into highly useful information. Recommender systems then link consumers to similar items, and/or items bought by similar customers (Park 2008). The idea of search itself changed with the dawn of the internet age, but it has further evolved. In the old days, search meant driving down to the local mall (or two) to make product comparisons and â€Å"shop†. The internet first made this easier with the shop at home emphasis (not unlike the catalogue before it). But innovation has come in terms of making comparison much easier and more robust. The long tail takes the consumer on a journey though products â€Å"ideas†, associating the consumers’ needs in a broader sense, and not just to a certain product (Oestreicher-Singer 2009). This has had several other effects. It has resulted in: * Downward pressure on prices automatic comparison has created more perfect information for consumers (product characteristics for example), hence more competition * More interactive customer feedback and engagement; customers often submit their own ideas and products, or augment existing products directly * Less emphasis on established brands and decreased brand equity and share of customer (Morrissey 2007) Competitive Advantage These new capacities speak to a heightened competitive advantage for a number of concrete reasons. Long tail technologies help differentiate products to the consumer. They help illuminate unique, possibly ‘niche appeal’ product characteristics that otherwise must be de-prioritized in traditional marketing. For instance, reviews of a book might highlight secondary or unrealized themes or ideas not emphasized by marketers but appealing to a niche audience. This allows not just access to, but the ability for firms to focus on niche market strategies, because of superior incoming data and engagement during the purchase. Marketers can use long tail data to reveal how, why and in which ways their products are being connected to other brands and products, and make adjustments in mid-stream to tap the new, niche markets. The long tail technologies also strengthen the intimacy among customers, web-sites and suppliers. Individual customer data profiling morphs into a highly personalized service, adding value to the customer experience. When a site like Netflix already knows what may be of interest to its members, if streamlines the already manageable search and decision processes (Clemons 2008). Inherent Consumer-focus In essence, long tail theory puts the focus back on the consumer, not on arbitrary marketing strategies and brand-based decisions. Technology is the conduit for giving the consumer something they may not even know they want. Instead of filling out surveys or sending back opinion product opinion mailers, consumers leave detailed feedback on products on sites like Amazon, Netflix and the like. The ‘word-of-mouth’ reviews and recommendations act as imperfect market research; not easily quantifiable, but loaded with much, very useful product user information. Important cultural data often lies in the lengthy reviews, such as what products may be attached to certain subgroups, affinity groups, religious groups, etc†¦Particularly for media products like DVDs, music and books, for which sales have been mostly down over the past few years, technology is showing that these niche products may have low volume demand, but high value demand for consumers (Kumar 2009). The book Touching the Void is an example cited by Anderson. Released in 1988, author Joe Simpson’s story of an ill-fated mountain climbing trip in Peru was well-reviewed, but didn’t sell. Child Abuse EssayIn this regard, many found that the 80/20 (Pareto) rule was still intact and in fact the norm, sometimes co-existing with long tail strategies; in this, the top 20% sellers made 80% of the sales, but carried a much wider and varied array of products (Knowledge Wharton). The research theorized that the two concepts are not mutually exclusive. Surprisingly, some of the data showed an inverse relationship with the long tail. There is evidence that consumers may reach a point of information overload with so much choice, or actually not prefer niche products. The question as to whether consumers actually want the 4th, 5th or 80th best reggae album (for example) rises. Some data theorizes that niche products are actually preferred not by the general buying public, but by a small group of â€Å"heavy users†, more prone and apt to venture down the long tail. One study actually found that the long tail actually creates a heightened market for â€Å"hits†, possibly with consumers seeking more familiar â€Å"brands† and offerings and, again, feeling the blowback of so much easy search and myriad, available information (Tan 2008). Anderson’s theory failed to address the idea of inherent inferiority of some niche products – maybe Grand Centrals sixty-one titles were in fact not that good or appealing. When customer feedback is limited Long tail theory also does not address the instances when customer feedback is limited. Systems like collaborative filtering only work well with a sufficient quantity of data input. Research has found that it is often the case that niche products are so far down the tail, or have such limited appeal, that they do not get viewed, reviewed or otherwise evaluated. This is the Achilles heel of the long tail – the oxymoronic condition that for consumers to be funneled down the tail, they must first be funneled down the tail. Sites like Netflix do use an advanced degree of logic in how products are linked for shoppers in a small-cell manner. But sites like Amazon link products in larger categories, making them harder to find and less differentiated (Zhu 2010). This also has a boomerang effect, because ‘hit’ products are generally very highly reviewed and represented in collaborative filtering systems. So these products are more likely to appear as recommendations to consumers, and more likely to be purchased in many instances (Gomes 2008). Sabotaging the Tail Growing evidence supports the notion that major corporations have adapted their marketing strategies to maximize the positive elements of the long tail. In much the same ways that the majors have co-opted concepts like viral marketing through sites like YouTube (which currently has a corporate â€Å"video†/commercial that airs exclusively on YouTube and has received 7 million views), marketers are taking advantage of niches. In addition to simply placing convention advertising on the sites, many have theorized that companies may have found ways to †tweak† collaborative filtering systems to highlight their products, or turn loose associations into stronger connections. And as stated previously, some research is already showing that the long tail may actually benefit ‘hit’ products, as findings indicate says of these products actually increasing because of long tail technologies. In a â€Å"cream-rises-to-the-top† manner of thinking, evidence indicates that as some consumers explore the tail, they realize the products are mostly inferior, i. e. there is a reason they are not â€Å"popular†. Further more, in terms of search costs and information overload, research shows that new products appear at a rate that outstrips the consumers ability to be aware of and process them. The exception to this would be a relatively small group of heavy users (Tan 2009). Similarly, research is being to explore whether some on-line recommendations, reviews and ratings are authentic. Some research supports that sly marketers have tread into these waters as well, either using incentives (for consumers to offer positive reviews) or literally posting their own reviews to their products. Additionally, researchers are studying whether some actual customer reviews are authentic. Particularly among heavy users, opinions for and against certain products can be heavily biased, and the feedback mechanisms can be used for these consumers to voice their discontent for the product, firms or other things. PC users and Mac â€Å"Zealots† have a long-running rivalry. No doubt these computer savvy users could make use of recommendations and reviews to â€Å"slam† new products (like IPad for example) on general principal. Social Beings The most glaring contradiction, that cuts to the heart of long tail theory, is that is fails to recognize consumers as human, social beings, especially for certain products like digital media (music, films, tv and books). It was noted that Anderson did not give enough attention to the â€Å"water-cooler† effect; that consumers do not solely choose certain products based only on their attributes, characteristics and functionality. As has been discussed, culture is the values, norms, morals, symbols and accepted patterns of behavior that help us to communicate with a shared language and experience. These frameworks provide individuals with rules for navigating the world in an acceptable manner. In the same way we stand in line at the bank, or wear the same clothes and do the same cheers at a sporting event, we also seek to share cultural experiences through some of the products we purchase or services we use (Ottenfeld 2010). The viewing of Avatar, the mad rush to purchase the IPad or to religiously view the new episode of â€Å"American Idol† has a cultural element to it that is undeniable. Consumers want to share these experiences with their more traditional sub-groups; their families, their college friends, the people at the dog park or their colleagues at the water-cooler. The latest film by Spanish Director Pedro Almadovar, or album by the German Metal band Rammstein may possess are great deal of artistic relevance, but they are outliers within most of the American sub-cultural groups. Niche products have a tendency to fulfill consumers on higher levels of the needs scale. But those desires that lead consumers to seek connectedness with community, lead them to consume certain mass market products (Elberse 2008). V. Unanswered Questions Anderson’s work on long tail theory, and the subsequent research and writing on the subject have served to illuminate and inform thought and discussion on the subject. But there still remain unanswered elements that seem ripe for discussion and further investigation. Demographics The Long Tail is spoken of as a technological tsunami, universally destroying everything that came before it. While it is true that entities like Amazon, eBay, Netflix and the like possess and seeming ubiquity, an element of cultural examination seems to be missing. Anderson’s theory arguably pays far less attention to sub group demographics and characteristics like age, race. sex, income and similar factors. The Digital Divide that still exists is a major issue that is left under-evaluated. Some consumers have limited to no access to computers, let alone the internet. Though stores like Wal-Mart represent a physical approximation to the long tail (in a manner of speaking), that consumers have access to, the version Anderson purports is much broader and grander than this. Although great strides have been made to improve access to underserved communities, there are still individuals with limited access, training, capacity and/or resources to fully engage in a digital consumer culture. For example, computers with internet access are available in community libraries, but individuals in those communities may lack computer skills to use them, or even the resources to travel to the library. This leads to a more comprehensive contemplation on demographics. We know that older consumers are less likely to use computers. Individuals in certain racial and ethnic groups are less likely to use computers. It has been estimated that significant numbers of people of color and new citizens do not have bank accounts, making their ability to complete on-line purchases unlikely. People of certain socio-economic classes are more likely to use computers more often. There are regional factors that determine internet access; some rural and remote areas have less access than urban, populated areas. These and other demographic considerations pose many questions about the long tail theory. Search â€Å"Costs† Long tail theory also lacks a suitable discussion of search costs (discussed briefly earlier). Access to unlimited choice does not come without costs. In an era where consumers are burdened by time more than ever, an endless array of products can prove daunting and discouraging. Most internet consumers have experienced being taken through a seemingly never-ending chain of products, connected through filtering. The initial benefits of this are often tangible, but an element of â€Å"diminishing returns† often seeps into the process. The further the consumer journeys down the tail, there is a tendency for the products to be less connected to the initial search (Lin 2008). The familiarity of mass market products can offer a remedy to this overload. As consumers travel down the tail, viewing more products, of questionable quality and relevance, the appeal of the familiar, and its cultural significance, can be irresistible.

OZ-Supermarket-Case-Study-Free-Samples -Myassignmenthelp.com

Questions: 1.Write a well presented report for the above outlining the Business Operation. Provide three recommendations that are well substantiated with journal literature and referenced correctly. 2.Provide an additional option to the above suggestion to Improve Customer Service. Answers: 1.Oz supermarket has opened its stores in different parts of the globe with a view to providing instant service to its customers as well as risk-free experience in purchasing household and other necessary things. Chairperson and directors of Oz supermarkets have decided to provide a cashless and peaceful experience in terms of reducing the rush from exit queues (Zielke, Toporowski Kniza, 2011). Oz supermarkets are offering only households items such as grosser items, stationary things, and non-perishable goods. For purchasing these types of goods, customers needs to spend a lot of time in stores and supermarkets but Oz store have invented the idea of providing cashless and quick service. Oz supermarket has adopted the PayWave technology under which cash is not accepted from its customers. As per this technology, a PayWave card is issued to the customer and while entering the store, customer needs to swipe his card and took a trolley with a RFID chip installed in the trolley. All tho se items selected by a customer and put it into the basket will automatically be counted as purchases. In the scenario, when the customer wants to delete the item from his purchases, that item is automatically being reduced from his purchases. After completing the purchases, customer needs to move towards the exit gate and while exiting the store, he needs to swipe his PayWave card again for making payment and for exiting the store as well. If in case, customers PayWave card does not have sufficient balance in his card, an alarm will ring (Kurnia Peng, 2010). As per this technology, only one person is allowed to enter on a card and if children or any other person wants to enter the store, he can get a card from the store counter through submitting a certain amount of money and that money will be recorded in his PayWave card. While exiting the store, the customer who has taken the instant PayWave card can withdraw their money or they can move forward with the card for their future purchases (Yada, 2011). This technology will help the customer to save their time as well as to choose cashless transactions. As this technology is bit high cost consuming but customers who are in hurry and do not want to stand in queues will be ready for bearing the extra cost for their purchases. Thus, customers do not need to stand in queues for making payments and the usage of this kind of technology takes the shopping towards a next level i.e. smart and less time consuming (Hou Chen, 2011). Trolleys, as well as the items kept in the store, have a specialized chip called RFID through which customers' cart is automatically updated while taking or removing the item from the cart. RFID chips increase the prices of the products but this extra cost will be absorbed from those customers who are in rush. In Oz supermarket, many shopping summary stations are fitted through which customers can gather information regarding their picked products in the trolley. This will help the customer to get an estimate in relevance with the payment for their shopping as well as these stations also provide the facility to customers to check the balance available in their PayWave card (Shi, Zhang Qu, 2010). Oz supermarket has also planned for the parking customers vehicles. Those customers who want to park their vehicles and shop from inside the store, car parking facility will also be provided and the parking will be on the basis of time consumption. In peak period, a store will charge parking on the minutes basis. Parking will be free for disabled customers and no extra charge will be charged from them for providing wheel chairs or any other facilities. Recommendations The idea opted by Oz supermarket is unique as well as result oriented especially in those places where people are running short of time. The directors of this store should concentrate on opening the store with this kind of technologies and in busy places such as New York, USA, UK, etc. People over there will be able to afford these kinds of services, as well as the success of these stores, could only be analyzed in those places only (Fiedler, Keppler ztren, 2012). Apart from opening the store in busy places, this kind of store requires a big place and in the countries like USA and UK, land cost is very high which is will impact on the prices of the products sold in the store. Hence, Oz supermarket needs to analyze all the internal as well as external factors before setting up the stores because, in the poor countries or states, this kind of store will not be able to achieve adequate success. So, if organizations budget is capable enough to afford expenses of big and developed countries then it should be commenced from there only. Because setting up the advanced technology stores in under developed countries will not achieve success as people over there will first try to fulfil their basic needs apart from saving time and waiting in long queues and as per a survey report, supermarkets are successful in developed countries only because people over there try to save on each and every item through bargaining or through compromising with products quality. Apart from these, it is recommended that as Oz supermarket is being created with a view to providing advanced and quick service to those people who are in rush. Hence, their perception should be asked with a view to making the business as per their requirements. Adequate steps should be taken to solve the customers issues as well as to build the trust in the customers mind towards the organization. 2.In addition to this plan, Oz supermarket could also adopt the method of providing the same facility to customers under which they do not need to park their vehicles. They can move forward in their cars only and stop at the stations as per their requirements in the store. Under this procedure in an open ground, various stations will be developed as per the items available in the store. For instance, one section for packed eatables, one for grocery, etc. and then entry and exit procedure will remain same as per the above idea. The basic difference will be customer need to swipe their card while entering the premises of the store and in the above idea, customers need to swipe their cards at the time of entering into the store (Polasik, et. al., 2011). This option of providing products to customers without leaving their cars will reduce the efforts of customers but it will require a big place where the separate section will be maintained for unique products. Apart from this, this option will increase the customer experience as they do not need to move here and there in the store, they just need to stop their car at the station of goods which they require. An organization may face some problems in the scenarios where customer's car will stop in between the stations, other customers will also get stuck due to this situation and traffic jam, as well as a failure of the idea, could be assumed. Hence, before implementing this plan, appropriate resources should be planned so that if any kind of intolerable situation arises, that could be resolved as soon as possible (Yang, Zhuang Wong, 2012). Customers feedback should also be taken time to time so that appropriate changes could be made because these kinds of stores are setup to provide the facilities to customers. Hence, if customers want some changes in the procedure of Oz supermarket then it should be implemented so that customers requirements could be matched up. This option will result in the implementation of extra cost in terms of above idea. Under this option, where customers do not need to leave their vehicles and all products will be provided to them in their cars only, other persons sitting in the car does not require to register for PayWave card. If any product is being picked up by a customer without having PayWave card, an alarm will ring at the exit gate. As all cars will be scanned before entering the premises and while exiting the premises and if anything unethical found then strict legal actions will be taken to reduce the chances of fraud (Polasik, et. al., 2011). In this option, customers' need to swipe their PayWave card while entering the store and a bag will be provided to them in their vehicles only and selected products by the customers will be put in that bag only. If a customer will keep any product in their vehicle by mistake or willingly then at the check-out point, an alarm will be ringed because each and every product kept in the store will be covered through RFID technology chip and while billing that chip will be removed with an advanced equipment and it will not be able to remove without that equipment. Hence, that product which is kept without bag will not be included in the bill amount and that chip is also not being removed from that product's packaging. So, its alarm will be ringed while scanning the car and then customers' perceptions will be asked. For this reason, the shopping bag is being provided to all those customers who will enter the Oz supermarket's premises so that customers do not face any kind of issue (Jung Kw on, 2011). Recommendations For improving business services and improving customer's experiences, parking charges would be removed so that number of consumers could get attracted towards Oz supermarket. Taking customers' feedback into account and working on an implementation of customers' suggestions to realize them that they are crucial elements of the organization. This will help them to build trust level towards the organization. Apart from this, only fresh and adequate qualitative products should be kept in the store because after paying high prices than a market, customers will expect adequate quality and appropriate service from the store. If these things would not be implemented in the store then the organization may need to suffer losses or customers will also move towards the normal supermarkets and other local shops. Basic idea of setting up this kind of store is to save the customers time as well as their efforts, hence; in peak seasons, appropriate actions needs to take to control the public such as fixing certain number of people for entering the store at a time or opening extra number of stations for certain period of time to provide adequate services to the customers who are paying extra for saving their time (Dean, 2013). Time to time reviews should be taken from the customers so that certain necessary amendments could be implemented in relevance with the quality of the product, quality of services, etc. apart from the reviews, customers should be treated with attractive offers time to time and sale should also be conducted with a view to clear the dead stock as well as to enhance the sales of the organization (Trebar, et. al., 2011). References Dean, D. H. (2013). Anticipating consumer reaction to RFID-enabled grocery checkout.Services Marketing Quarterly,34(1), 86-101. Fiedler, M., Keppler, T., ztren, A. (2012). Contactless Payment, A Rfid Domain And Its Acceptance By Card Holders. Viii. ?nterdisciplinary Management Research (Imr) Conference. Hou, J. L., Chen, T. G. (2011). An RFID-based shopping service system for retailers.Advanced Engineering Informatics,25(1), 103-115. Jung, I. C., Kwon, Y. S. (2011). Grocery customer behavior analysis using RFID-based shopping paths data.World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology,59, 2011. Kurnia, S., Peng, F. (2010). Electronic commerce readiness in developing countries: the case of the Chinese grocery industry. InE-commerce. InTech. Polasik, M., Grka, J., Wilczewski, G., Kunkowski, J., Przenajkowska, K., Tetkowska, N. (2011). Time Efficiency of Point-Of-Sale Payment Methods: Empirical Results for Cash, Cards, and Mobile Payments.Social Science Research Network Working Paper, February, at https://ssrn. com/abstract,1769922. Polasik, M., Przenajkowska, K., Starogarska, E., Maciejewski, K. (2011). Usage of Mobile Payments in Point-Of-Sale Transactions.Prace Naukowe Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego we Wroc?awiu, Advanced Information Technologies for ManagementAITM, 227-239. Shi, J., Zhang, J., Qu, X. (2010). Optimizing distribution strategy for perishable foods using RFID and sensor technologies.Journal of Business Industrial Marketing,25(8), 596-606. Trebar, M., Grah, A., Melcon, A. A., Parreno, A. (2011). Towards RFID traceability systems of farmed fish supply chain. InSoftware, Telecommunications and Computer Networks (SoftCOM), 2011 19th International Conference on(pp. 1-6). IEEE. Yada, K. (2011). String analysis technique for shopping path in a supermarket.Journal of Intelligent Information Systems,36(3), 385-402. Yang, A., Zhuang, Y., Wong, D. S. (2012, October). An Efficient Single-Slow-Phase Mutually Authenticated RFID Distance Bounding Protocol with Tag Privacy. InICICS(Vol. 7618, pp. 285-292). Zielke, S., Toporowski, W., Kniza, B. (2011). Customer acceptance of a new interactive information terminal in grocery retailing: antecedents and moderators. InAdvanced technologies management for retailing: Frameworks and cases(pp. 289-305). IGI Global.

A Criticism of a Criticism of Oedipus Rex free essay sample

However, during his rule, Thebes is inflicted ith a curse that, according to Apollo, could only be lifted if the murderer of King Laius was found and persecuted. Oedipus then dedicates himself to the discovery and persecution of this alleged murderer. He questions a series of citizens, one of which was a blind prophet. This blind prophet, Teiresias, tells Oedipus that he, the current king of Thebes, was responsible for Laius murder at a crossroads. Oedipus, upon hearing this news, becomes bothered and begins questioning not only others, such as Creon, a messenger, and a shepherd that witnessed the murder, but also himself. Jocasta decides to accept this fate as truth and kills herself; while, shortly thereafter, Oedipus accepts the fate, as well, and gouges his eyes out, exiling himself from Thebes. Although generally accepted as a play of fate, many people have made criticisms against this claim. One critic in particular, Kurt Fasso, in his criticism Oedipus Crux, believes this fate was not truly Oedipus he Just accepts it as his own. We will write a custom essay sample on A Criticism of a Criticism of Oedipus Rex or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page His criticism is valid, for it touches on points that do in fact prove his theory, in a single persuading and convincing piece, particularly concerning the discrepancies urrounding Laius death and the actual identity of the man that Oedipus killed. Fasso makes a point to prove that Oedipus did not kill King Laius at the crossroads; he may have only killed an ordinary old man. After a long argument with Creon, Oedipus became angered, for he was being accused for the murder of Laius. Jocasta proceeded to speak to him to see what was troubling him. It is during this point that Jocasta reveals the details surrounding the death of Laius. Being presented with the appearance attributed to Laius on the day of the murder, Fasso places emphasis on the plainness of the kings garb and carriage. He doubts that a king would be adorned in such a nondescript fashion. The carriage is described to be plain, (Sophocles, 755) with no royal markings at all. Being plain is unfit for a king even if he is apparently traveling incognito. This is especially true with Laius describing the purpose of their Journey as an embassy, a basis for diplomatic relations, not hiding. Therefore, this plain clothing and carriage could not be those of a king. Fasso goes on to bring to light that, rather than a regal staff, the supposed king was holding a two-pointed goad. (Sophocles, 809) This goad is used articularly to herd cattle. However, those of status tended to carry fine wooden staffs. Even Oedipus himself wielded a staff against his highway foes. Once again, this brings into question the true identity b hind this king. His point is very much valid and agreeable. A factor worth noting is that Jocasta describes the amount of servants accompanying Laius as being but five, (Sophocles, 753) contrary to what, according to Oedipus, would suit a prince. (Sophocles, 752) In matters of diplomacy, even if incognito, kings would, of course, need much protection, so as to avoid conflict and usurpation. It is rather foolish to risk the life of a king at the expense of his people. Such little protection and great risk, leads one to doubt whether the old man that Oedipus killed at the crossroads was even a king to begin with. With the identity of the king in question, one must also question the identity of his entourage the herald in particular. There was no indication that the man walking in front of the carriage was even a herald in the first place, as Oedipus and Jocasta had suggested. While Jocasta was recounting the report of Laius death to Oedipus, she made aware the company that followed the king. Oedipus then recounted his meeting at the crossroads. From the evidence provided, Fasso doubts that the herald was actually a herald. Oedipus makes no account of anything being said or heralded by the man in front of the carriage only that he wanted to thrust (Sophocles, 805) him out of the road by force. The herald made no attempt to order him to move out of the way. A herald is supposed to be a messenger, one that announces and proclaims decrees in a clear voice. He would, at least, respond with some verbal feedback. Therefore, other than by position, there is nothing that can truly warrant the heralds identity, ffirming the validity of Fassos point. Along with a lack of verbal proof, there was no visual proof as well. The man had no attire or representation that tied him to being a herald for royalty. Oedipus merely identified him as a herald, for he led the way. (Sophocles, 804) One can infer that since he identified the herald only by position, there was no other visible evidence that led him to that conclusion. Ergo, again, there is no way to prove the heralds identity, thus pointing back to the fact that the man he supposedly heralded for could not have been Laius. Along with iscrepancies in identities, there were also discrepancies surrounding the number of subjects that accompanied Laius. The narrated histories of Laius death, as told by Oedipus and Jocasta, do not meet, for differing amounts of people are mentioned. Amidst their recounting of Laius death, Oedipus and Jocasta told each other of the supposed number and identities of those that followed the king on his Journey. In his criticism, Fasso puts particular emphasis on the amount of people said by each person. Jocasta recalls there to be five or six people. However, Oedipus was only met y three people: a herald, the coachman, and an old man who was supposedly King Laius. Three people is not the same as five or six people. This major discrepancy leads to the inference that Laius may have been on a different carriage entirely. Oedipus said that he killed all (Sophocles, 813) of them, so, unless they were hiding, or Oedipus Just could not see them, it is unlikely that there could have been five or six people on the carriage that he encountered, showing that Fassos point is indeed valid. By the chance that there were indeed five or six persons, and the others fled fter Oedipus thought he killed them all, one could deduce that there would have been other witnesses to call upon pertaining to the murder, had Oedipus listened to the original number of people said by Jocasta. Therefore, this could not be the case, for the shepherd was the only witness called. The concept of fate in Oedipus Rex is otten a concept that governs the readers interpretations ot events. There are, however, many critics, such as Kurt Fasso, that dismiss this concept, and remain open toward all possibilities, contesting fates role in the story.

Critically appraise the education provision available for people with Diabetes. Education on prevention of Foot Ulcers in Diabetes. The WritePass Journal

Critically appraise the education provision available for people with Diabetes. Education on prevention of Foot Ulcers in Diabetes. Introduction Critically appraise the education provision available for people with Diabetes. Education on prevention of Foot Ulcers in Diabetes. IntroductionCauses of diabetic foot ulcerSigns and symptoms of diabetic foot ulcerMethodsPrevention of diabetic foot ulcerGood foot care Existing education provision Education – best practiceConclusion Related Introduction Currently I am working in a nursing home where the elderly residents have various illnesses including the after effects of strokes and dementia. Due to their age and particular care needs the education for health support workers, senior carers and nurses who are at the centre of this care provision is fundamentally important. The aim of this assignment will therefore be the appraisal of this education, meaning their training and ongoing monitored development, with a specific focus on the prevention of foot ulcers in patients who suffer from diabetes mellitus. This is an important area for consideration because at the moment health care support workers have no formal education in the prevention of foot ulcers in diabetes patients and can be ignorant of its symptoms. As with nurses it is reasonable to expect that they should have attained a certain level of knowledge in this area as the consequences of foot ulcers can be very serious and in cases can lead to amputation. This ultimately has a significant impact on the quality of life of the diabetes sufferer and the carer therefore has a duty of care to protect their patient against this preventable outcome. It should be noted that 85% of cases which end in amputation can avoided (Garay- Sevilla et al., 2002, 81-86). In order to carry out this critical appraisal the first step is to consider the causes of diabetic foot ulcers, it signs and symptoms, treatment and prevention. The assessment of these factors is necessary because it deconstructs the knowledge required by health care workers and subsequently allows the provision of education to be accordingly evaluated for its accuracy and comprehensiveness. The next point to discuss is the current state of education on offer. This will be assessed in terms of how far it provides the level of knowledge needed by people who are in the position of diagnose and treat diabetic foot ulcers. Recommendations for best practice will then be make. Causes of diabetic foot ulcer One of the effects of diabetes is decreased immunity and poor wound healing. In the absence of normal blood flow specific lesions of the arteries, particularly in the extremities, can occur. Diabetic foot syndrome is one such complication and occurs in 15% of all patients with diabetes. These changes are a consequence of the existence of diabetic neuropathy. Motor neuropathy in diabetes leads to muscle atrophy and impaired co-flexors and extensors whilst also effecting deformation rate. Sensory neuropathy, sensory disturbance of pain by temperature and touch, increases the risk of injury which in turn contributes to the formation of ulcers. Autonomic neuropathy results in the formation of arterial venous fistulas and impaired blood oxygenation which leads to disorders affecting the trophic ulcers (Rubin Peyrot, 1998, 81–87). The syndrome occurs in the later stages of the disease and is one of its most severe complications as it can lead to death. It manifests itself in comple x changes in the joints and foot nerves, limb deformation, and deep tissue damage. It is also associated with damage to blood vessels, nerves, skin and bones. The initial abnormality takes the form of a pressure point which can be caused by, for example, ill-fitting shoes which cause blistering, cuts, and bites caused by foreign bodies. Vascular disease, resulting in decreased blood flow, contributes to poor healing and infections can be caused by numerous microorganisms (Manson Spelsberg, 2004, 172–184). Patients who experience sensory disturbances find that pain is suppressed and consequently they might not recognize the seriousness of their situation leading to a delay in treatment. The treatment that is required must be prompt and responsible but it can also be protracted (Lustman et al., 2000, 934–943). Foot problems can affect anyone who has Diabetes regardless of whether they are being treated with insulin, non-insulin, tablets, injections, a controlled diet or physical activity. Signs and symptoms of diabetic foot ulcer In order that treatment is successful it is necessary that health care professionals and care workers can recognize the signs and symptoms of diabetic foot ulcers especially when caring for the elderly who are unable to detect the signs and symptoms. The main features of the disease include explicit sores, prolonged healing sores, changes in the shape of limbs, and, in later stages, gangrene. In the early stages symptoms usually coincide with complaints of fatigue which is accelerated by walking and standing, a sense of gravity, and freezing feet due to the deformation problems with wearing familiar footwear. One of the most pressing reasons for a good standard of education in diabetic foot ulcers is the variety of forms it might take. This means that the health care worker must be able to recognize the condition in different scenarios. The neuropathic foot is the most common form with 70% of cases of diabetic foot falling into this category. It takes the form of a hot pink color with a palpable pulse and impaired deep sensation (Wysocki Buckloh, 2002, 65–99). Another form is known as ischemic. This condition is caused by peripheral vascular occlusive. Diagnosis includes history (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, smoking) and intermittent claudication. The foot assumes a cold bluish tinge and has no palpable pulse. The sufferer experiences a pain in motion and severe pain at rest (Lustman et al., 2000, 934–943). The final form is neuropatyczno-ischemic. This is characterized by the worst prognosis (Morisaki et al., 2004, 142–145). The main course of action is to preserve the integrity of the skin. This is because the main danger lies in the wounds and fractures where if infection takes hold the result will be purulent inflammation and necrosis. Severe pain or numbness, sores, blisters, and peeling require the most urgent medical intervention because these can lead to gangrene and ultimately amputation of the affected limb. As the only quantifiable sign of inflammation, which indicates tissue lesions, is skin temperature it is necessary to used infrared thermometers. These can be used to determine the temperature of the skin in different areas of the foot. Dermal thermometers are also useful in the interpretation of the different phases of Charcot foot and in determining the most appropriate orthopodologic treatment in each phase. However, these are specialised tools and are unsuitable for carers to use nursing homes. Methods There is very particular method which should be implemented for assessing the health of a diabetes suffer’s feet. It is this type of information which should be included in an educative strategy used to train health care workers. Before measuring the temperature of the skin in the feet, the patient should be barefoot for at least five minutes before the examination to avoid a rise in temperature due to footwear or hosiery. The result should then be recorded. The next step is to repeat the measurement in the same area of the contralateral foot and compare the results obtained. This should be done for all the high risk areas. A difference in temperature of less than 2 º c can be considered normal. Once infection has been ruled out, differences greater  Ã‚   than  Ã‚   2 º C in diabetic patients are highly suggestive of Charcot activity. When the examination is done in a patient with Charcot foot and the difference is less than 2 º C it shows that the acute period has c ome to an end. If the patient observes a difference in temperature greater than 2 ºC in self-examination on two consecutive days, he or she should contact a healthcare professional to determine the cause of the difference (www.diabeticfootjornal.net). Unfortunately there is no effective treatment for diabetic ulcers but reducing the load on the feet does offer hope of saving the affected limb. Alternative treatments can involve the use of hydrotherapy and ulcer surgery to remove necrotic tissue. Algorithm for the treatment of infected feet includes glycemic control (insulin), strain rates (shoe inserts, crutches, plaster casts), antibiotics and surgical procedures (drainage, incision, removal of dead tissue). Prevention of diabetic foot ulcer One of the most effective treatments is preventative. All patients with Diabetes Mellitus should be screened when there is a sensation of numbness or pain exists even if there are no visible lesions or ulcers (Morisaki et al., 2004, 142–145). The education of health care workers in foot ulcers therefore needs also to take into account prevention. Inspection of the stop should be performed as often as possible. If the skin of the foot shows sign of a scratch or crack you cannot use adhesive, alcohol or fat-containing ointments as these tools lead to further irritation. Redness or paleness, the presence of edema, blunting of the sensitivity, fungal lesions, and the overall deformation of the foot should be examined for deviations from the norm. If identified treatment should start immediately. In addition, from time to time, it is desirable to perform a neurological examination to determine the tactile, thermal, and vibration sensation of the foot. Angiographic diagnosis of vasc ular leg reveals the presence of thrombus. Basic steps can also be taken to prevent the occurrence of gangrene. These include the maintenance of desired blood sugar levels, the monitoring of the hygiene of the feet, making regular visits to an endocrinologist and follow their recommendations. (Clement, 1995, 1204–1214). Good foot care Education is important because good foot care has lots of pitfalls. Using the wrong cream, overcutting toe nails, walking barefoot, wearing the wrong shoes or socks can increase the chances of foot ulcers. It is necessary that the carer should be able to advise diabetes sufferers in all the dos and don’ts when it comes to looking after their feet in the proper manner to decrease the chances of contracting a foot ulcer in the first place (www.patient.co.uk). Some of these dos and don’ts are as follows; In contrast to what might seem like common sense it is vital to avoid using items such as moisturising oils or cream designed for dry skin and the prevention of cracking. Look out for athletes foot (common minor skin infection) as it can cause flaky and cracked skin The space between toes can become sore and can become infected. It is essential to monitor this. Cut your nails by following the shape of the end of the nail. Do not cut down the sides of the nails as this may cause damage or lead the nails to develop an ingrown nail. It is important to wash feet regularly and dry them carefully, especially between toes. Do not walk barefoot even at home You right treads Always wear sole or shoes or other footwear however don’t wear too tight socks around the ankle as they may affect circulation Shoes, trainers and other foot wear should; Fit well to make into accounts any awkward shapes or deformities Have broad front and plenty of room for toes Heels to avoid pressure on toes. Have good laces, buckles to prevent movement and rubbing of feet in the toes When you buy shoes, wear the type of socks that you usually wear Avoid slip on shoes, shoes with pointed toes, sandals, or flip flops. Always feel inside foot wear before you put footwear on to check for stores, rough edges etc. Tips include avoiding food burns and water burns checking the bath temperature with your hand before stepping in to it It important to avoid using items such as hot water bottles, electric blankets or foot spas. Do not sit too close to fires. Further measures include looking very carefully at the feet each day including between the toes. This involves examining the area for reduced sensation in order to not miss any vital signs of the inset of a foot ulcer. It is also necessary to look for any cuts, abrasions, bruises, blisters, redness or bleeding. If any of these symptoms are spotted carers should immediately inform the nurse who is in charge who should in turn carry contact a podiatrist or similar specialist. Existing education provision To date education in diabetic foot ulcers takes several forms. NICE recommends that all people with diabetes should be offered structured education as an integral part of their diabetes management (www.nice.co.uk). The purpose of this is to raise awareness of the side-effects and complications of diabetes in those who suffer with it. This increases the chance for early identification of foot ulcer symptoms. The XPERT Programme was launched in 2007 to provide education to all health care professionals across Wales so they are able to give structured advice to patients with type2 diabetes. In addition the National Service Framework (NSF) (2001) for diabetes set out a ten year programme for change. It outlined evidence-based standards for the planning, organising, and delivery of diabetes services. This programme represents the Welsh Assembly’s strategy for improving diabetes and through the progressive implementation of the NSF the quality of care and treatment for those living with diabetes (www.wales.gov.uk). However within this long-term plan there is little direct reference to patients in residential or nursing homes. This is also the case with the Desmond, Dafne and Bertie programmes which have little relevance for the care of the elderly. Clearly there is a significant gap within the education of health care professionals. This gap is apparent in the nursing home where I work as none of the staff have received any particular training specifically related to diabetes mellitus. This clearly puts the residents of the home in an at risk category because the chances of their carers recognising the early symptoms of foot ulcers are substantially reduced. Within the nursing home and home care system however there does exist a health care specialist with the expertise to assist in raising awareness about the causes and prevention of foot ulcers; the podiatrist. The work of a podiatrist is overseen by the Chiropody Code Of Conduct which states that chiropodists and podiatrists must be able to work, where appropriate, in partnership with other professional support staff, service users and their relatives and carers. They should also ‘be able to demonstrate effective and appropriate skills in communicating information, advice, instruction and professional opinion to colleagues, service users, their relative s and carers’ (Standards of proficiency, Health Professions Council, 2009). However, in practice this is frequently not the case. The health support workers are not currently included in visits and are not given the opportunity to learn or ask questions when the podiatrists are called to review residents. Neither do they pass on information about their findings to staff on duty. Evidently there is an issue of communication. The podiatrist is not the only person with a professional duty to assist health care workers with their treatment of foot ulcers. The NMC code of conduct states that nurses should work with others to protect and promote the health and wellbeing of those in their care, their families and carers and the wider community. Therefore, the nurse in charge should ensure that learning opportunities are facilitated and that staff have feedback from these specialist visits which help to inform and improve the care delivered to residents. Education – best practice The current provision of education demonstrates that the education of health workers is largely at the discretion of their employers. If individual employers do decide to provide their staff with training there is little in the way of advice to follow and this can result in poorly informed, ill-conceived or simply inadequate education. At the same time it creates a situation whereby health care workers have to rely on experience gained on the job to identify the symptoms of foot ulcers or their own inclination to acquire further knowledge. For new members of the staff who lack experience there might exist a worrying amount of ignorance on the subject. There is however much potential to improve this situation. In best practice education takes a variety of forms. This may include formal study sessions, workplace booklets or posters and online education programmes. Therefore there is potential for foot ulcer education to be flexible and made to suit the particular needs of a workplace. At my workplace none of these options have been made available. Ideally the best situation would be a formal study session where the expert knowledge of a specialist can be imparted and where full training can be given. The information gained should then be reinforced at the workplace through posters or leaflets. Conclusion Conclusively it is very important that diabetic foot ulcers are prevented at all times while treating patients with diabetes, especially in the elderly who might for other reasons associated with dementia and impaired movement find it harder to care for themselves. Education of health care professionals is key in achieving this. They should have the necessary knowledge to help prevent foot ulcers, to recognise the first symptoms of one, and to provide effective treatment. They must also be able to advise the diabetes sufferer on how to care for their feet and how to avoid the contraction of a foot ulcer in the first instance. Despite this clear need for knowledgeable clinicians the situation as it currently stands fails to provide health care workers who look after the elderly with the training they require to the provide the best standard of service possible. Whilst measures are in place for the education of both diabetic sufferers and nurses, more work needs to be done on identifyi ng the educational requirements of those who care for elderly patients. Best practice in education should be drawn upon and formal training sessions organised alongside the better provision of information within the workplace. The expertise of specialists such as podiatrists should also utilised more effectively so that staff within the nursing home are well informed and understand the treatment their patients are undergoing and their specific needs. Communication is at the heart of this.

Propaganda in the first and second world wars Research Paper

Propaganda in the first and second world wars - Research Paper Example Governments manage to design propaganda through lying, telling partial truth or exaggerating issues at hand. Governments use propaganda for various reasons during wars, but the bottom in the use of propaganda is to have a competitive advantage over their enemies and win the support of their citizens. Propaganda in the first and second world wars Introduction In the book, Propaganda and Persuasion, propaganda is defined as "a deliberate and systematic attempt that aims at shaping perceptions, manipulating cognition, as well as directing behavior with the ultimate aim of achieving a response, which portrays the intention of the propagandist" (Jowett & O'Donnell, 2011). The main aim in the use of propaganda is make the respondent to act, agree or get along and assist in adopting certain policies. The use of propaganda in times war can be dated back to 1622 when Pope Gregory XV applied this technique to calm religious wars in Alsace, Bohemia, and Palatinate. Therefore, the use of propaga nda appeared as the only solution, which would fight down effects of Protestant reformation (Finch, 2000). After the successful use of propaganda during the reign of Pope Gregory XV, propaganda later gained popularity in wars experienced in the nineteenth century. In the first and second world wars, the main practitioners of propaganda were the American and British governments. An American political scientist (Harold Lasswell) published a book that strongly supported the use of propaganda by American despite America’s denial in the use of this technique. Lasswell and his fellow political scientists gave a clear documentation on propaganda, which was even used by the Germans in the 1930s to acquit themselves with skills on the use of propaganda (Finch, 2000). Lasswell's publication pointed out that the application of propaganda during war times was "neither ominous nor insidious." The publication further pointed out that propaganda had become part and parcel of weapons used du ring wars, and it would remain as a component of wars forever. Lasswell referred propaganda as an act that encompasses the managing attitudes and opinions by directly altering social suggestion, as opposed to changing other conditions either in the environment or in the organism (Finch, 2000). The Americans and the Britons hesitated in accepting the use of propaganda as a legitimate tool in the first and second world wars. However, a British journalist by the name Beatrice Leeds pointed out that propaganda became acceptable the moment Russia got into war with Germany. The governments allied to Russia accepted that the use of propaganda would serve a fabulous deal in fighting the Germans (Marquis, 2009). One notable thing in democratic nations was the dismantling of departments of information. This was due to the perception that information/mass media played a significant role in the spread of propaganda. However, in America, the case was different due to the introduction of an Act t hat supported the introduction of a propaganda radio network. This network was the "Voice of America", which was assigned the responsibility of transmitting pro-American, democratic opinions across the world without mentioning propaganda. After the First World War, America, Britain, Germany, and the Soviet Union became serious debaters of the impacts of influencing their citizens' opinions through propaganda. In Germany, numerous research laboratories were set to study the

Educational Sector in the Great Britain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Educational Sector in the Great Britain - Essay Example On the face of it, everything is fine in the educational sector in the UK especially in its schooling system but a deeper study of its curriculum raises questions about its efficacy and influence it would have on the future professionals of the Great Britain. The ever increasing gap between academic theories taught at schools and their applicability in practical and professional life poses a great question mark over their usefulness in making up the future citizens of the country. Already it has reached a threatening stage where the native British youth have been lagging behind in taking up professional careers when compared to their counterparts of Asian origin in the UK. Lucinda Platt of the University of Essex, using the data from the UK's Office for National Statistics, has recently disclosed that young people of ethnic minority families in Britain, particularly Indian working class families, have been claiming a larger cake in professional and managerial roles in the country. According to Platt, 56 percent of The theory and practice of education is directly linked to the growth of practical knowledge among the wealth of students. It would also have its impact on the effective or ineffective utilisation of youth power for the sake of the country and society. The design and development of curriculum, pupils and educational management, teaching methods, prioritising the subjects, inculcation of necessary creative and imaginary skills among the student community are all part and parcel of the theory and practice of education. Among these, curriculum and its related affairs play a major role in consolidating the pieces of knowledge gained by the students. When one deeply thinks of the ongoing schooling curriculum in the country, one tends to note that unfortunately it is not creative oriented but purely pro-academic. Most of the UK schools have been following the teaching of academic subjects colleted from various sources while no importance is being accorded to supplement the theoretical kno wledge with practical proficiency. Practical knowledge is used to find solutions to problems plaguing the society. In the absence of this end objective, there is no meaning to pursue any kind of education. Mary Warnock, acclaimed educationist and researcher, strongly feels that education and teaching should above all aim to stimulate and engage the imaginative skills of the students. As far back as 1973, 3 Warnock, in her research paper 'Towards a Definition of Quality in Education', had suggested that it would be better for students to leave their schools with a profound knowledge of one important subject rather than shallow knowledge of several topics (Mary Warnock, Para 6).What a visionary statement it was! The singular meaning of her statement, applicable even in present days, is not very difficult to understand. She was thoroughly of the view that students should not be subjected with formal acquaintance of several subjects as it would not give them

Animal studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Animal studies - Essay Example The quality of a clinical trial is vital and thus the scientist should assign control and experimental subjects randomly. This reduces the occurrence of bias and favoritism. Blinding of participants and researchers is also of great importance as concerns the treatment being given. Single-blind studies involve the blinding of participants while double-blind involves the blinding of both participants and researchers. Epidemiological studies, on the other hand, involve the observation (Thompson & Melinda 33). They are important in the studying phenomena in large populations and the determination of the factors which may be of influence on the phenomena. They indicate the relationships inherent between these factors but do not give a suggestion for data linkage to cause and effect. When conducting a clinical trial, the scientist needs to consider several things. He needs to set up both experimental and control groups, in which the experimental group is administered with the intervention while the control group is not (Thompson & Melinda 34). After the experiment is complete, the two results are compared. In an ideal situation, the researcher should design an experiment where the participants in the study are assigned to either the control or experimental groups randomly. This randomization aids in avoiding the elimination of any errors that may result from participant favoritism, and to make sure that the two groups are similar for the characteristics and factors that are under study.... The experimental group is given the intervention under study while this is not the case with the control group. After experiments on both groups are done, their responses are compared. The quality of a clinical trial is vital and thus the scientist should assign control and experimental subjects randomly. This reduces the occurrence of bias and favouritism. Blinding of participants and researchers is also of great importance as concerns the treatment being given. Single blind studies involve the blinding of participants while double blind involves the blinding of both participants and researchers. Epidemiological studies, on the other hand, involve the observation (Thompson & Melinda 33). They are important in the studying phenomena in large populations and the determination of the factors which may be of influence on the phenomena. They indicate the relationships inherent between these factors but do not give a suggestion for data linkage to cause and effect (Thompson & Melinda 33). When conducting a clinical trial, the scientist needs to consider several things. He needs to set up both experimental and control groups, in which the experimental group is administered with the intervention while the control group is not (Thompson & Melinda 34). After the experiment is complete, the two results are compared. In an ideal situation, the researcher should design an experiment where the participants in the study are assigned to either the control or experimental groups randomly. This randomization aids in avoiding the elimination of any errors that may result from participant favouritism, and to make sure that the two groups are similar for the characteristics and factors that are under study. The

Mental Health Begins in Early Childhood

Mental Health Begins in Early Childhood Children mental development alludes to the changes that happen as a youngster develops and creates in connection to being physically solid, rationally caution, sincerely sound, socially skilful and prepared to learn. The initial five years of a youngsters life are on a very basic level paramount. They are the establishment that shapes children future health, bliss, development and learning accomplishment at school, in the family and group, and in life all in all. The research affirms that the initial five years are especially essential for the development of the children’s mind, and the initial three years are the most discriminating in moulding the youngsters cerebrum structural engineering. Early encounters give the base to the minds hierarchical improvement and working all through life. They have an immediate effect on how youngsters create learning abilities and social and passionate capacities. The objective of this paper is to clarify why a lot of people immoderate issues for society, extending from the disappointment to finish secondary school to imprisonment to homelessness, could be drastically lessened if consideration were paid to enhancing children surroundings and experiences that encounters the problem and their solutions that rises ahead in life. Children take in more rapidly amid their initial years than at whatever other time in life. They need love and supporting to create a feeling of trust and security that transforms into certainty as they develop. Children develop, learn and create quickly when they get affection and love, consideration, support and mental incitement, and in addition nutritious and great human services (honkoff, 2014). Understanding the phases of child mental development and improvement helps folks comprehend whats in store and how to best backing the youngster as she or he develops and creates. In numerous settings, early adolescence projects help folks and their children from the earliest stages through age 8, which incorporates the paramount move from home to class. All youngsters have the right to be brought up in a family and to have entry to quality medical services, great sustenance, instruction, play and insurance from damage, misuse and segregation (honkoff, 2014). Children have the right to experience childhood in an environment in which they are empowered to achieve their maximum capacity in life. It is the obligation of folks, different parental figures and relatives, groups, common society and governments to guarantee that these rights are regarded, secured and satisfied. Sound mental health gives a key establishment of solidness that backings all different parts of human development from the framing of kinships and the capacity to adapt to misfortune to the accomplishment of achievement in school, work, and group life. Like the way an unstable table may not capacity well if the floor is uneven, the legs are not adjusted, or the tabletop is not level, the destabilizing outcomes of issues in mental health could be created by numerous associated components. Pretty much as little wobbles in a table can get to be greater and harder to alter about the weather, the viable administration of mental health concerns in childrens childhood requires early recognizable proof of the reasons and fitting regard for their source, whether they dwell in nature, the tyke, or (most every now and again) in both. This report from the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child outlines in clear dialect why seeing how enthusiastic prosperity might be fortified or ups et in ahead of schedule childhood can help policymakers push the sorts of situations and encounters that forestall issues and immediate early troubles so they dont destabilize the formative methodology. This report reflects a development agreement that the conventional degree and grouping methodology for educational program with its stress on drill and practice of secluded, scholastic aptitudes does not reflect current information of human learning and neglects to deliver understudies who have the sort of higher-request intuition and critical thinking capacities that will be required in the 21st century. Past achievement in enhancing essential aptitudes in the 3 Rs has not been matched by accomplishment in enhancing perusing appreciation, composition familiarity, or math critical thinking capability. Furthermore, it is apparent that our schools are neglecting to deliver future eras with even a working information of the characteristic, physical, and social sciences, a great deal less the sorts of brains that will make new learning in these regions. Particularly, these national associations call for educating to place more prominent accentuation on: active learning conceptual discovering that prompts seeing alongside the procurement of fundamental abilities meaningful, important learning encounters interactive showing and helpful learning a wide scope of important substance, incorporated crosswise over customary topic divisions In the meantime, these national associations collectively scrutinize repetition retention, bore and practice on detached scholarly aptitudes, educator address, and dull seatwork. These national associations likewise have raised worries about the negative impacts of conventional routines for assessment, especially institutionalized paper-and-pencil, various decision accomplishment tests. There is expanding distinguishment that educational program change must be joined by testing change. National associations are currently calling for more execution based appraisals that adjust to current perspectives of educational module and all the more precisely reflect youngsters Early childhood mental health is the same as solid social and passionate development in childhood, including things like figuring out how to express and direct feelings, framing close and secure individual connections, and investigating and researching the earth. So why dont we call it early childhood social and passionate improvement? Other than that being very much a sizable chunk, the dialect of mental health is vital not just for its instructive esteem in fighting shame against mental health issues, additionally for its understood update that in the event that we dont do our occupation with counteractive action with childrens childhood, their issues may require more genuine intercessions sometime down the road. We really do need them to create great mental health in the good feeling of that term. References honkoff, J.P. (2014). A Healthy Start Before and After Birth: Applying the Biology of Adversity to Build the Capabilities of Caregivers. In K. McCartney, H. Yoshikawa, L.B. Forcier (Eds.), Improving the Odds for America’s Children (pp. 28-39).

Toward an Ethics for Being Educated Essay -- Education Learning Essays

Toward an Ethics for Being Educated ABSTRACT: The regulative ideal of being educated is construed through features associated with the conduct and aspirations of faculty in higher education. These features include autonomy of mind and its presuppositions in self-knowledge and ability to inquire. These features as well cover having the identity of an educated person, implying evaluation of the products of the mind in logic and language, motivation to maintain an education, and the deep convictions and attitudes characteristic of the academic, humanist, and scientist. Finally, these features encompass knowing how to apply professional methods in reading and evaluating professional literature, identifying what is potentially educative, seeking a deepening of values through value inquiry, and the application of values in a constructive manner. However, the most promising motivation is commitment to oneself. Other motivators, such as love of learning and curiosity, will be transitory. Commitment can be to prescriptions base d on the features associated with the regulative ideal. These prescriptions would in turn comprise a rudimentary ethics for being educated. Three Concepts of an Educated Person In discussions of institutional education, three general and sometimes overlapping senses of the term "educated person" are in common usage. In the first sense, anyone is educated who has successfully completed a school's program. Regardless of what has been learned, a person is said to be educated by the fact of program completion or graduation. In other words, actual learning is not the criterion for calling a person educated. This may explain the comment that a persons education cant be taken away. The second sense specifies c... ...can be to this ethic. The prescriptions would have personal development as their common theme. Most of us take personal development, however, as discretionary. In our society, we would not be censured for rejecting personal development in favor of a life of action for example. Subscribing to such an ethic, then, would ordinarily be done for other reasons such as the ends it serves or the attractiveness of the ideal itself. From personal experience, I know of many faculties in higher education who have committed themselves to the ideal. In many of their lives, their obligation to self is complemented by other motivators such as appetites, inquisitiveness, ends, instructions, opportunities for inquiry, and incipient doubt. But, is the regulative ideal as depicted worth fealty? This depends upon our philosophy of life which I think we have given considerable attention.

American foreign policy Essay

Foreign policy refers to the strategies that governments employ to guide their actions towards other countries. The U. S. foreign policy is founded on the principles of democracy and tenets liberalization (Goldstein, 2003). The U. S. foreign policy takes into account issues of human rights, economic growth and development, terrorism and environmental degradation and addresses them as challenges that can best be addressed through democracy in countries and institutions throughout the world (Goldstein, 2003). The U. S. foreign policy has undergone significant transitions that match different historical periods in the world that include the World War I, the World War II, the Cold War, the post Cold War period and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The United Nations and the United States are arguably the most influential players in the international system as well as in the global political economics as a whole. Having been formed with the main objective of promoting and achieving sustainable peace in the world, the United Nations remains the most dominant and most influential International Governmental Organization in the world (Roberts & Kingsbury 1994). In theoretical terms, the fundamental significance of the United Nations as well as the operational challenges faced by the institution are illustrated in the theory of realism which states that â€Å"there is no world government, or political authority above the state, a situation that ultimately reduces the international system to absolute anarchy with the absence of any overarching political body with the capacity to enforce law and order among its members or nation states† (Roberts & Kingsbury 1994). The realism theory stresses on the centrality of the state, or nation state as the ultimate political authority in the politics of the international system. As such, the overriding motive of all states is self-preservation through maximization of power, a characteristic that effectively transforms the international system of a war of all against all (Goldstein, 2003). The realism theory further argues that stability is best achieved in the balance of power which can be achieved through increased interactions among states, with the most powerful country playing the role of a balancer (Goldstein, 2003). Today, the U. S. is the most powerful country in the world and has effectively assumed the role of a balancer in the international system, with the United Nations serving as the overarching political body with capacity to enforce law and order among its member states. Domestic Public Attitudes toward Foreign Policy in the United States At the domestic level, the U. S. foreign policy enjoys a lot of support among the citizenry. According to a report by World Public Opinion. org, a strong majority of U. S. citizens support of the U. S. involvement in the world. However, the number of U. S. citizens who feel disgruntled by the country’ foreign policies is growing steadily. The World Public Opinion. org has established that Americans overwhelmingly support the continued leadership role that the U. S. plays in the world. These findings were based on a 2006 GMF poll which indicated that 84 percent of those polled saying it was desirable for the U. S to exert strong leadership affairs, with 43 percent having been quoted as expressing a US global influence as being very desirable, and only 14 percent expressing their concerns about the U. S. global influence. However, the overwhelming support of the U. S foreign policy by its citizenry does support the role of the U. S. in global affairs as a hegemony, but rather supports the idea of shared leadership roles with other players in the international system. A significant segment of the U. S population believes that the U. S security has been threatened by the way the U. S. has been using the threats of military force as leverage in the international system. In a poll conducted by the World Public Opinion. org, 63 percent of the respondents were of the view that the U. S. military threats prompt other countries to be protective by developing and acquiring weapons of mass destruction. In another survey that was carried out in 2003 by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, majority of the U. S. citizens faulted the war in Iraq, with 66 percent of the respondents believing that the war has had negative effects on the relations between the U. S. and the Muslim world. According to the survey, 64 percent of the respondents expressed concerns that the war will not promote democracy in the Middle East while a further 61percent expressed fears that the war will not reduce the threat of terrorism. International Public Attitudes toward Foreign Policy in the United States There has been a growing disdain for the U. S. foreign policy in many countries throughout the world. The September 11 terrorist attacks and the subsequent U. S. war on terror are seen as having particularly caused dramatic shifts in U. S. foreign policy (Grant, 2004). The military operations in Afghanistan that have been ongoing since October 2001 to date and the U. S. invasion of Iraq have taken toll on the image of the United States with people from around the world and those in the Muslim countries in particular showing the lowest ratings for the U. S foreign policy. According to the Pew Global Attitudes Project that is run by the Washington DC based Pew Research Centre, America’s image relative to the country’s foreign policy has dropped immensely over the years. According to the report of the project, the United States is trailing many countries in favorability ratings. Countries such as France, Germany, China and Japan are more popular than the U. S in the European Union countries and Muslim countries. The study showed that while the ratings of the U. S were highest in Asian countries such as India, the favorability ratings of the country dropped by 15 percent in India between 2005 and 2006. The study further indicated that levels of negative attitudes that the populations of Western Europe have towards America are even higher than they were in 2002 before the Iraq invasion. The Pew Global Attitudes Project report also showed low ratings for President George Bush both domestically and internationally, with the confidence in bush to make the right decisions in international affairs having dropped in seven of the eleven countries in 2005 as provided by the data that tracked the trends. The report further indicates a steady slump of rating for George Bush in European countries and among predominantly Muslim populations. George Bush registered the largest slump of ratings in the U. S. from 62 percent in 2005 to 50 percent in 2006. In regard to the War on Terror, the Pew Global Attitudes Project reported an overwhelming decrease in international public support for the U. S led war on terrorism. With Muslim countries having obviously registered the highest levels of criticisms against the war on terror, Spain and Japan also registered almost virtual collapse of support for the counter-terrorism war. As of 2006, the support for war on terror in Spain had reduced to 19 percent from 63 percent in 2003 while Japan registered public support of 26 percent from 61 percent in 2002, according to information provided by the Pew Global Attitudes Project.

Matsu the Samurai Essay Example

Matsu the Samurai Essay Example Matsu the Samurai Essay Matsu the Samurai Essay The Samurai’s Garden Stephen was sent from China to Japan to recover from tuberculosis. He goes and stays in the small town of Tarumi with his family’s servant Matsu. During his stay with Matsu, Stephen discovers that there is more to Matsu than meets the eyes. Throughout the story, Stephen begins to see Matsu showing characteristics of a Samurai. One of the first characteristics we see in Matsu is his loyalty to Stephen’s family. Matsu’s parents had served Stephen’s grandfather in that house before him, and even after his parents had passed away, instead of moving away like his sister Fumiko did, he stayed and took care of the house and Stephen’s grandfather. In a sense, Matsu is the bodyguard and watcher of the house and family, just like how a samurai is to his lord. Throughout the story Matsu seems to be a much respected man to everyone in Tarumi. Stephen even told Matsu that â€Å"You have a strong face. A face someone doesn’t forget. Like a samurai† (30). Matsu and Stephen are perfect examples, in it that Matsu is the samurai who must watch over his wealthier master which happens to be Stephen, who indeed is wealthy. Although Matsu is only a servant, Stephen shows great respect for him. Matsu’s silence also brings out the samurai in him. His silence occurs in many parts of the book. At first, Stephen assumed that Matsu just didn’t like to engage in conversations, but Sachi explains how his silence is powerful when she told Stephen that â€Å"with Matsu, everything is in what he does not say† (59). His strength in silence guided him through his childhood to the present day. Because Matsu wasn’t the best looking guy when he was younger, he kept to himself and always stayed back at the house to help out his parents. I guess you can say he was born to become and samurai, unlike his sisters. Even when his younger sister Tomoko took her life, Matsu showed no emotions. He knew what she planned on doing the night that she did it, and he kept quiet. Another event that shows how his actions speak louder than words is during Kenzo’s burial. At the Kenzo’s burial, â€Å"Matsu was silent throughout the entire procession, simply bowing his head to those who showed their sympathy at the loss of his good friend† (109). His silence showed how strong he was holding up. Furthermore, other than his messages through silence, Matsu also shows great inner strength within these two events. Much like how a samurai who never grieves over a comrade’s death, Matsu’s inner strength allowed him to remain calm and prevent an emotional breakdown first after seeing the suicide of his sister, and seeing the death of his best friend Kenzo. When Sachi came down to visit after the storm, she told Stephen that â€Å"Matsu once told me the bridge represented a samurai’s difficult path from this world to the afterlife. When you reach the top of the bridge, you can see your way to paradise† (58). I believe that Matsu has reached the top of this bridge already and saw his way to paradise. While this bridge represents a link between this world and the afterlife, Matsu acted similarly. The people of Yamaguchi are considered dead to those in the city. Matsu acts as the link between the two, delivering to the people of Yamaguchi. On a side note, a person who acts as a link between this world and the next is called a shaman. Matsu once said that the people of Yamaguchi are basically dead to their family, and the only one who knew of their existence until Stephen was introduced to them was Matsu. In their early stages of development, Matsu served as a shaman who helped out the â€Å"dead† people of Yamaguchi. He brought building equipment from the city up to Yamaguchi, and helped them build houses. Furthermore, Matsu has shown great bravery throughout the novel. One specific example of his bravery was shown when they were on their way to visit Sachi in Yamaguchi and they saw that one of the villagers house was on fire. Like a true samurai, Matsu ran to help put out the fire without even considering his own safety first. Like Sachi said, â€Å"bravery is when you step in to help when you have nothing to lose. Matsu-san and you, Stephen san are the brave ones† (123). In addition, Matsu is very a nonjudgmental guy. He never jumps to conclusion about a person and never judge a person by the way they look, or what has happened in their past. Instead he acts as a samurai does what he believes is right and sticks to it. For example, Matsu never judged any of the lepers in Yamaguchi for how they looked, and got to know all of them very well. The way Matsu is portrayed in the novel, sometimes he almost seems like a middle aged man instead of a man in his seventies. But because he is at such an age, we can say that he is a man with much wisdom and experience. Samurai’s grow through each battle and with each battle, win or lose, come strength and wisdom. Every day is a battle for Matsu, and with it he has gained from it. With his wisdom he always knows what to say or do when there is a situation in front of him. For example, after Keiko had told Stephen that they can no longer see each other, Matsu passes down his wisdom to Stephen when he told Stephen â€Å" get quote from book† (). Matsu, the man with undying bravery and wisdom, gentle and loving is the samurai in The Samurai’s Garden. But his garden didn’t stop in just his backyard, no; his garden was also all of Yamaguchi. And as most great samurais, the last thing Matsu does is leaves behind his legacy within Stephen.