Peel Memorial Hospital Case Analysis Essay

Introduction Prior to the 1990s, generous government funding allowed Canadian health care facilities to provide excellent service and quality. In the early 1990s, increasing health care costs have changed government funding, requiring providers to be more financially accountable. In the mid-1990s, hospitals and regional health authorities across Canada were under siege from funding restraints, mergers and forced closures. At the same time, the healthcare industry was focused on delivering high-quality patient care and aligning the key stakeholders to the newly created vision. To evolve and to survive, Peel Memorial Hospital (PMH) implemented the Balanced Scorecard performance management system and that is the focus of this case study. Also highlighted are the value of and the benefits to be gained when best practices from the corporate sector are successfully adapted to the health care environment. History and Issues Peel Memorial Hospital (PMH) in Brampton Ontario lacked measurable targets and tired Mission Statement that tried to be all things to all people (Harber, 1998). Internal surveys revealed that employees were unclear on the organization’s strategic direction and the linkage of various programs and initiatives undertaken. In 1994, PMH embarked on a comprehensive Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) training program for all staff which was followed by a burst of departmental and interdepartmental improvement initiatives. The hospital management looked closely at whether time, money and energy were being focused on the key clinical and business processes. Meanwhile, the hospital employees wanted to know how the evolving program management structure relates to PMH’s move into a patient focused care model; how these organizational development initiatives tie in with PMH’s move to shared governance models for nursing and the professional discipline; and where the fit for CQI and new computer system were. Working with Xerox Quality Services, PMH identified the â€Å"balanced scorecard† solution as a good fit for PMH and an effective vehicle to further evolve the organization. In 1995, PMH adopted the balanced scorecard system to measure its performance. Performance Management System Analysis The use of balanced scorecard in hospitals as part of their performance management and strategic management system has increased substantially. These scorecards incorporated the concern of the hospitals’ stakeholders, focused on the hospitals’ processes, and included both financial and non-financial indicators for performance measurement. The balanced scorecard at PMH included six categories of business with 23 data elements that were the drivers of the performance results. At the center of the Integrated Management Model framework was the Patient and Community Focus. The other five categories of business were Management Leadership, Human Resource Management, Patient Care Process Management, Quality Tools and Information Utilization, and Performance Results, and their interrelationship was identified in the framework (Harber, 1998). â€Å"The first year of implementation included objectives that identified the need for corporate measurement tools such as patient and st aff/team satisfaction† (Harber, 1998, p. 60). During year two of implementation, the Integrated Management Model was streamlined to reduce the data elements. By now, PMH had become more adept at managing and understanding the causal relationship between performance indicators and performance results. It had a good idea of which performance results help to drive performance results in other areas. Although the development of the balanced scorecard was a major undertaking and the development of performance measures a challenge, the implementation of balanced scorecard at Peel Memorial Hospital was a success as the satisfaction level from patient rose from 89 percent to 95 percent and the staff satisfaction survey participation rose from 33 percent to 75 percent. Also, PMH achieved a better understanding of where to invest time and money  in learning objectives and the ability to relate mission and vision statements to performance. It also enables PMH to become the lowest-cost provider in its peer group. The balanced scorecard provided PMH the ability to translate the hospital’s strategic objectives into a coherent set of performance measures as well as to align the seemingly disparate elements with organizational objectives. Conclusion Mello (2011) says that performance management systems can significantly impact organizational performance and process. The achievement of organizational goals requires a sensible balance between managerial commitment to the strategic interests of a business and to the human interests of its everyday operation at every level. The successful in health care management will depend on organizations and top executives balancing quality and customer satisfaction with adequate financing and long-range goals. The balanced scorecard not only provides a framework for establishing performance measurement goals but also incorporates continued quality improvement throughout the organization. Today, more and more Canadian hospitals have adopted balanced scorecard as their strategic management system. References Mellow, J. A. (2011). Strategic Human Resource Management. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning. Chapter 10, p. 438-454. Harber, B. W. (1998). The Balanced Scorecard Solution at Peel Memorial Hospital. Hospital Quarterly, p. 59-63.

Pat Barker’s Regeneration Essay

Explore the psychological and moral impact of war on soldiers and civilians in Pat Barker’s Regeneration and Wilfred Owen’s poetry. In the course of your writing show how your ideas have been illuminated by your response to Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 and other readings of both core texts. Pat Barker’s Regeneration, Wilfred Owen’s poetry and Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 can all be categorised as subjective war texts as the main structural principle is not dominated by character’s actions, but rather, this is subordinated by the moral and psychological processes upon those individuals. Here the authors have used war to present a larger theme or moral implication, by centring the literary texts on war’s impact, whether that be a physical or a psychological manifestation of war’s disturbing effects. Barker wanted primarily to focus her novel on the lasting effects of war, specifically WWI in which this novel is set. In order to do this she has used horror sparingly, allowing her to still show the suffering of the characters without detracting from the point of the novel. One of the few exceptions to this rule is Barkers use of vivid flashbacks to make the soldier’s torment apparent. For example, Burns a patient at Craiglockhart War Hospital is left psychologically damaged, after being thrown ‘head-first, on a corpse, whose gas-filled belly had ruptured on impact’. Barker intended that her novel be focused on the psychological and moral processes of war, in order to educate the public as to the extent of wars reach, in an attempt to prevent the continuation of war. The chronological ordering and interlinking protagonists results in a sense of fluidity, where the ease of reading and direct writing style allow Barker to more effective present her argument, altho ugh the novel allows us to draw our own conclusions. Heller’s novel set in WWII focuses on the damage inflicted by the war on the soldier’s minds, both in driving them to madness and in blurring the line of moral duty and conscience. Heller never addresses the psychological impact formally: Instead he broaches the subject using satirical dialogue, whereby he shows the men to have been driven to madness and that it is just accepted  in war time. But this callousness is mocking, as is made apparent by the underlying dark humour, which demands this novel be taken seriously. Heller intensifies the dark mood of the text with snapshots of horrific imagery and blunt observations. The circling non-linear order of the story appears haphazard; this reflects the illogical nature of war. Heller’s structuring, as commented by Russ Allbery, ‘requires that the reader pay close attention to maintain the order of events’: Thereby ensuring that the reader fully engages in the text and is able to appreciate Heller†™s moral implications. Allbery also commented on Heller’s last structural technique, as the ordering ‘does lead to an effective juxtaposition at the climax of the book’. Many people have commented that Owen uses horror in order to shock the reader into the realization of what war can do. A prime example of this is EXPOSURE, based on Owens own experiences it ‘exposes’ the reader to the realities of war. The poem centres on the physical conditions of the soldiers who are ‘exposed’ to the elements, which are so horrendous that the men long to go into battle as they see the bullets as ‘less deadly than the air ‘. The weather is personified ‘His frost’, as the elements are now the enemy that are slowly killing them. It is also a reflection of the mental conditions of war, as Owen details what the men are subjected to we see their progression into despair and probable depression. Owen shows the environment is quick to impact the soldiers as from the first line they have all ready been worn down by the unrelenting winter, ‘our brains ache, in the merciless iced east winds’. The soldiers then become frustrated and anxious, ‘but nothing happens’, ‘we cringe in holes’. Stanza’s s five and six are more heavily punctuated to show the soldiers exhaustion, until ‘slowly our ghosts drag home’. These soldiers may not have been fighting on the front lines, but this is no less serious, as they died slowly and agonisingly. Wilfred was aware when writing EXPOSURE that the public would not have realised the true severity of life in the trenches. Indeed all his poems are in an attempt to educate civilians as to the true horror of war, in a bid to prevent more men being put to death or derangement. The last stanza reiterates just how dangerous and brutal their surroundings were: ‘Pause over half-known faces. All their eyes are ice,’ the weather has taken  all the warmth and life out of them, leaving bodies so disfigured they are unrecognisable. Wilfred Owen’s letter’s home to his mother from the front line during WWII show the inspiration for the traumatic images in his poetry, as he confides in her that ‘It has passed the limits of my Abhorrence.’ In order to focus Regeneration on the impact of war Pat Barker uses Rivers, a psychiatrist at Craiglockhart, as the central character. As Rivers comes into contact with other characters displaying symptoms of having been impacted by war, Barker is then able to follow individual cases fully exploring the lasting impression that war has left. This also allows her to provide a historical structure as Rivers has extensive knowledge about the war and particularly its psychological effects, which he communicates throughout the novel. Rivers then provides a historical structure in another sense. Inevitably, in war literature there is an element of realism due to historical basis, but Pat Barker emphasises this though intertextuality. She interviews historical context such as Rivers’s character, who is drawn from Dr. W.H. Rivers who conducted experiments on nerve regeneration in the early twentieth century, integrating him with her fictional characters. The inspiration for Rivers came from her husband who was a neurologist familiar with Rivers’s work. Indeed, the immediate inspiration for Regeneration came from Barker’s husband. Barker then links directly with WWI through the use of famous persons or institutes associated with WWI such as Sassoon, Owen and Craiglockhart. The first case within Regeneration to be examined was that of Sassoon. Barker shows Sassoon to have been labelled ‘shell-shocked’ in order to discredit his declaration. It is clear from the outset that not all people, specifically those in high command, take war neurosis or in this case, neurasthenia, seriously. Rivers states that ‘Langdon doesn’t believe in shell-shock’, Rivers is Barkers voice, though him she establishes the relationship between the mental institutions and the Government. Throughout the novel emphasis is put on the lack of awareness by civilians as well as officials, so that the reader may gage the importance of understanding in order to prevent these atrocities from reoccurring. Wilfred Owen’s centralisation on the psychological manifestation of wars effect’s, is so that he may proceed to look at a larger theme and moral implication. Owen intended to demonstrate to the public the extent to which these men were pushed, under which conditions they are driven to the verge of madness. Owen’s hope was to rid the public of their ignorance, providing them with the understanding of how crippling our attitudes can be. In his PREFACE he stated that he was ‘not concerned with poetry’†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Poets must be truthful’, by this he meant that he would not write to glorify war, but to warn and try to stop the war. SELF INFLICTED WOUND shows the pressure put on one particular soldier, by not only the horrific conditions of battle and war, where he was forced to undergo the ‘torture of lying machinally shelled’, but the expectations on him to be able to cope with it and ‘show the Hun a brave man’s face’. Owen creates an atmosphere of entrapment, ‘roofed in with creeping fire’, reflective of that that the soldier must have lived in. Contained by the expectation of his family that is made clear ‘Death sooner than dishonour, that’s the style!’ The dangerous conditions in the trenches are emphasised by listing, ‘trench foot, shock’ etc. But ‘death seemed still withheld’, Owen shows the soldier to have become suicidal because of the physical as well as mental pressures of war. The ‘English ball’ in the third stanza is an English bullet; they made different bullets so that they could tell if someone had committed suicide. The two suicides in the poem were not then isolated incidences, if there was a need for this ‘English ball’. In the last verse they bury the soldier with the ‘muzzle his teeth had kissed’, this is perverse because he kisses his killer. Yet there is a sense of relief in the line ‘Tim died smiling’, as he is now free of the pressure of war. The structure of S.I.W. is incongruent and arbitrary, the rhyme scheme and rhythm vary particularly after the Prologue, as he had then experienced the horror of war. Barker’s apt placement of Sassoon’s declaration ‘Finished with the War,’ at the beginning of Regeneration establishes that the continuation of war can be stopped, ‘by those that have the power to end it’. Everything that  follows in novel is consequential to the decisions made by those in authority; because of the introduction the reader is aware that all the suffering shown can be prevented. Barker accentuates the point of this omnipotent leadership condemning the men to the inevitable suffering and mental torture demonstrated by the very existence of Craiglockheart. But more importantly, to the devolvement of power whereby officers and civilians are party to the continuation of war, and so, to the continual sentencing of death and derangement for all those conscripted. This is what Sassoon feels duty bound to protest against; he refuses to ‘be a party to prolong these sufferings’. Sassoon is used both as a symbol of the soldiers condemned to follow orders until they are of no use, and of the officers condemned to sentence the soldier to their inevitable death. Sassoon, along with Rivers epitomises the conflicting moral obligations thrust upon soldiers and civilians alike. Sassoon and Rivers battle with the idea of ‘duty’, a value brought to the forefront in 1914 with the beginning of war. Barker’s protagonists discover that when fulfilling ‘their obligations to king and country’ their duties conflict with their personal duty to individual freedom and belief’s. It has been remarked that Barker cleverly plays these two characters off one another, in order for them both to examine where their duties lie and how best they will serve society. In highlighting their conflict Barker encourages the reader to contemplate what war asks of the individual. Rivers is given Sassoon’s case by the Board to assess Sassoon’s mental state in view of his declaration. But it soon becomes apparent to Rivers that he is completely sane, in their first interview Rivers admits as much to him, ‘of course you’re not mad’. This then puts Rivers in an awkward position, as he realises his paradoxical role as a rmy doctor means that because Sassoon’s ‘a mentally and physically healthy man. It’s his duty to go back, and it’s my duty to see that he does’. He confided in Bryce (a fellow psychiatrist,) that he was ‘hoping’ to find something wrong with Sassoon. Rivers feels as a doctor and fellow sufferer a need to protect Sassoon, but as an officer is forced to send him away into danger. Rivers’s role as a doctor is somewhat conflicting, within the novel he tries to justify or suppress the idea that these men are being sent to him to be cured, and as soon as he helps them  they are being sent away to either come back to him or be killed. The curing process is also at odds with his character, as he finds in his attempt to prevent further suffering he must make his patients recall horrifying memories of their pasts. Burns, one patient in particular, had such an unbearable experience that Rivers no longer had the heart to try to make him talk about it; ‘I can’t make myself think about it’. His duty as a doctor to induce pain in his patients is at variance with his duty as a human to prevent the pain of his friends. Rivers is able however, to help Sassoon in resolving the tension between his duty to his country and duty to his citizens, by encouraging him to return to war for the sake of the soldiers. Although at the end of the novel Rivers clearly sympathises with Sassoon, contemplating that ‘a society that devours its own young deserves no automatic or unquestioning allegiance.’ This mirrors as well as confirms Sassoon’s declaration, ensuring that the reader retain Barkers most important moral. Heller’s Catch-22 is drawn from his own experiences during WWII; in 1942 he joined the Army Air Forces to become an officer and bombardier, much of what he saw is reflective in the novel and much of his consequential views are also present. Heller completed his sixty missions and was awarded an Air Medal as well as a Presidential Unit Citation with his honourable discharge. ‘Honour’ and integrity feature heavily in Catch-22, as Heller reflects on the psychological and moral process upon those impacted by war. It is not as easy for those in Catch-22 to leave their service as it had been for Heller, particularly for Yossarian. Yossarian struggles throughout the novel to rid himself of his duties to his country and is finally presented an opportunity by Colonel Korn. Yossarian has refused to fly any more missions and the Officers are worried that others will follow his example, but if they send him home it will look like a reward. So Colonel Korn proposes that Yossarian be made a Major and sent home as a hero, (provided that Yossarian tells the other men how wonderful he generals are), or they will court-martial him. Yossarian initially thinks that it’s ‘a pretty scummy trick’, as it’s not really giving him any choice, to which Colonel Korn replies ‘Odious’. Here Yossarian is faced with a moral dilemma; in order to save himself he might ‘serve as an inspiration to them to fly more missions’. Yossarian caves,  deciding that the others can stand up for themselves and agrees to the deal. Upon leaving his new ‘pals’ he is promptly attacked by Natley’s whore, who some critics have suggested embodies Yossarian’s conscience and symbolises an attack of guilt. During Yossarian’s stay at the hospital (as a result of the attack), he is able to reflect on the deal and who his real ‘pals’ are. Yossarian’s moral conflict results in him realising that he can’t go through with the deal because it would be at the expense of the other men. He tells Major Danby ‘I’m breaking the agreement’, Danby is horrified but Yossarian turns the tables on him asking how he can work with people like Cathcart and Korn, to which Danby replies ‘because it’s my duty’. Here Heller uses the idea that war results in conflicting moral obligations much the same as Barker does, Danby must help those that misuse power as they rank above him and it is his ‘duty’. Yossarian then discovers the missing pilot Orr actually escaped, Yossarian feels liberated as now he knows how he can leave without causing harm to his fellow soldiers and can help the young girl. When Danby protested saying; ‘your conscience will never let you rest’. Yossarian laughed and replied ‘I wouldn’t want to live without strong misgivings’. Heller intended the reader to see that war is immoral and we should be ruled by our conscience. This is emphasised at the very end where Nately’s whore (a symbol of his conscience) tries to kill him again, but this time she misses as Yossarian has done the right thing. He finally resolves the struggle of his conscience. Within FUTILITY Owen question’s why creation is destroyed with no seeming purpose, in particular the creation of man. Owen questions the destruction of life in order to show how precious it is, yet in war we not only intend to kill our ‘enemies’ but sentence our own soldiers too. Owen hoped to show the moral implications of war and it’s psychological impact on the soldiers. He uses the sun as a symbol of creation, as it ‘wakes the seeds’ and gives life to the earth. But although so much has gone into making man, ‘so dear achieved’, in the end the ‘fatuous’ sunbeams are powerless. Here Owen sets natures power to create life against the futility of extinction. There is a sense of ambiguity in the last line as the poem comes to nothing; this is reflective of the fact that there is no reconciliation for the miracle of creation being laid to waste. Which is mirrored in the first stanza where  the ‘fields unsown’ is used both as a literal example of the life that the dead will never go back to, as well as a metaphor for the tragedy of life left unfulfilled. The last line can also be linked to Owens poem EXPOSURE, as that too comes to nothing ‘but nothing happens’, giving no relief to the soldiers. The tone of FUTILITY is made peaceful through use of natural imagery and soft words such as ‘gently’. The diction is simple and used together with one syllable words shows the deep felt mood, creating a factualness through it’s simplicity. Yet it is mournful and has a sinister undertone, the endless sleep is a referral to death and the continual questioning in stanza two creates a sense of despair. Owen is quick to avoid smoothness by shortening the first and last line of each stanza. He further disturbs the natural rhythm through pararhyme; ‘sun-sown’, ‘once-France’ etc. Pararhyme has been commented to be a favourite among Owen’s techniques; it is particularly apt to describe war due to it producing an effect of dissonance and failure. Pat Barker, Wilfred Owen and Joseph Heller each explore wars processes upon the individual, in particular the psychological and moral impact. The texts do not glorify war, but rather, show the un-sung horror and extent of its true reach. The act of war is forgotten, as the authors place the significance on society’s power a whole and the power of the individual, to prevent the reoccurrence or continuation of war.

I Heart Huckabees

‘Know thyself,’ said Socrates, Greek philosopher. His argument was we must know ‘thyself’ in order to be wise. As people grow up, they want to find out about themselves. Students, for example, think critically about what they want to become because adults say the thought of money equals happiness is wrong. Dr. Carl G. Jung states that, â€Å"one must get in touch with the Shadow and Anima/Animus before one can truly get in touch with Self. † The film, I love Huckabees, shows examples of existentialism and the process of finding one’s true self. Albert, Tom, and Brad were successful in dismantling and getting down to their true selves because they accept their shadow, polarize with others, and realize their persona. Albert Markovski is the protagonist who is the director of coalition called ‘Open Spaces. ’ He initially seeks the existential detectives, The Jaffes, to question the coincidental incidents with Steven. Through the process of dismantling with the Jaffes, Albert shows signs of his shadows such as jealousy, denial, and over-reaction. One’s shadow can be easily seen from a third-person point of view such as friends. Albert’s shadow is clearly shown when Bernard uses the body bag method. Jealousy, which is a sign of desire of love, is visualized in the image where Dawn says, â€Å"Stop looking at me. † Albert’s denial and over-reaction is clearly shown when Brad, Albert’s shadow, first visits the Jaffes with an objective of getting Albert fired. With unsatisfactory results from the Jaffes, Albert follows Tom and meets Catherine, student of Jaffes. Catherine identifies that Albert’s reasoning for feeling embarrassed for sadness is derived from his mother. Catherine says, â€Å"You were orphaned by indifference. † After realizing his true self, liar, he accepts and follows Catherine’s philosophy. However, he realizes that the Jaffes philosophy and Catherine’s philosophy are polarizing ideas. Through those ideas, he accepts his shadows; when he derives that him and Brad are the same and desire for love through experiencing sex with Catherine. Catherine also teaches the feeling of ‘pure being’ which is being in a state of empty thought. There are many claims and theories that emptying one’s mind can get close to one’s spiritual self such as Anima/Animus. Albert loves the feeling of ‘pure being’ state, but there is not enough information to explain if this progress is finding his spiritual self. Tom Corn is a fire fighter who is obsessed with petroleum. Due to his obsession, his wife leaves him along with his daughter. He also meets both philosophers but he mainly focuses in Catherine’s philosophy of nihilism. His success in dismantling was from the event where he saves Dawn in the burning house and falls in love with her. This attraction is because they are two opposite extremes. For instance, Tom is an aggressive type of person whereas Dawn is very positive type of person. Tom and Dawn show their successful dismantling when Dawn breaks up with Brad. It proves that Tom and Dawn trust each other which are derived from their honesty. Their relationship also shows Tom’s acceptance towards his desire for love in which he denies with rage when he sees Albert and Catherine having sex together. Although Tom needs improvement on finding his true self, his relationship with Dawn is the perfect condition which requires trust, honesty, and commitment, to help each other identify their shadow. Unlike Albert and Tom, Brad Stand is less successful in finding his true self. He only cares about other people’s opinions or rather, the society’s standard. He meets the Jaffes and does not take them seriously at all and in fact uses them to get Albert fired. His dismantling is successful when Vivian brings the recording of him repeatedly telling the story about the chicken salad and Shania. The Jaffes point out that Brad is doing this just to keep him cheerful. Brad refuses and states that he will stop telling the story. He does manage to not say the story when the corporate board of directors asks to tell the story but instead, ends up vomiting. Another significant event for Brad is when Albert burns down Brad’s house. Brad starts to question his existence just like Albert has. Although this event is nothing like his shadow, it is significant because for a person who barricades behind their mask, questioning one’s existence is a successful start. He accepts the fact that he needs help from someone when he mentions, â€Å"Yeah, okay, I’m caught up in that shit† inside the elevator with Albert. Albert suggests him to meet Catherine. Hence, Brad heads to the right direction to finding his true self. Through all the insane events that identified one’s shadow, polarization, and persona, Albert, Tom, and Brad dashes through to their true selves. Although Brad had hard time finding the starting line, Albert comes to help by burning off Brad’s mask that was blinding him. ‘Life is like a long marathon, you can’t stop, but to keep going. ’

Biographical essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Biographical - Essay Example Chamberlain must have governed in frenzy of faith that the mad man of Germany would calm down soon. He must have played the gentle man that Britain was not going to blow the first whistle on Germany. While Hitler, Mussolini and Japan came out openly as rogue leaders and state, we sat back and watched. It seems nothing was wrong with the invasion of Manchuria. It seemed it was all okay to embark on rapid militarization of Rhineland. The appeasement policy massaged Hitler’s roaming appetites for war. I have today set foot on Europe to bring good news, thanks to Chamberlain and the appeasement policy (McDonough 1). I bring good news from the world on the other side pacific that we are indeed very sorry for this war, which the world could have avoided. This is the news that I bring with a gun on my hand and explosives on my back.† Powell spearheaded many military strategies and by October 1944, there was huge progress. He helped in designing the D-Day operations and strategi es, much to the success of the Allied. After the end of the war, Powell returned to work in Europe under the Marshall Plan. He records in his diary the following. â€Å"The Marshall Plan is a big boost in the recovery of Western Europe and Japan in the post-war period. I can see a future beyond the rubble, hunger and starvation. Even so, I fail to understand why the Russians with whom we had just fought on the same side could be taking advantage of the situation. I foresee a quite friction between the ambitious Soviet and the USA. I believe it is now time for reconstruction, not for claiming plunders of the war. Otherwise, I may consider that I fought on the wrong side of the war.† Amongst other entries, Powell observes that the onset of the Cold War started with Russia’s taking advantage of the small nations. He also notes that in the aftermath of the war, many states in Eastern Europe were still weak. Rather than being left to their own determination, Russia was forc ing them one after another into communism. It is then that the US acted under the Truman’s Doctrine (McDonough 1). Under the Truman’s Doctrine, it became the official policy of the US to support any free people resisting attempted subjugation by an armed foreign force. To counter the emerging tyranny of Russian, Powell received orders to watch keenly the developments in Eastern Europe and advise accordingly. This was the early years of the Cold War in the aftermath of WWII. Powell was also not an apologist for the Hiroshima and Nagasaki situation on the account that it was a consequence of war. He based his reasoning purely on war strategy. From his 1945 diaries, he has offered sufficient reason why the use of the atomic bomb was unavoidable (Doyle 1). As noted in his diary, he enters the following: â€Å"The world seems to forget so fast. Just the other day were dealing with Hitler and Mussolini. That is over, and the next rogue is Russia. The United States is practi cally fighting proxy wars to help those whose right to free determination is under threat by the USSR. It is foolhardy to start playing blame games at this moment on whether the atomic bomb solution is justified.† Powell indicates that when the United States resolved to use atomic bombs on Japan, it was because that was the only solution left. Germany and other axis powers had been subdued and surrendered. The war had dragged for too long, but Japan was not

Final paper Assignment Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Final paper Assignment - Research Proposal Example They are distributed throughout the ice-covered sea of the circumpolar Arctic. The sea ice is their primary habitat. They depend on it for successful hunting of seals, which enable them to accumulate enough energy to sustain them during periods when seals are not available (Stirling & Derocher, 2012). There have been changes in the distribution, structure and pattern of break-up and freeze-up of the sea ice in the circumpolar Arctic. These changes have been as a result of the increasing climatic changes and global warming (Stirling & Derocher, 2012). Ice in the Arctic was recorded lowest in 2002, and it has been determined that ice season is decreasing up to eight days in a year (Welch, 2012). Changes in the pattern of sea ice such as increased break up of ice lead to reduced access to seals by the polar bear and results in longer fasting periods that lowers the body condition. Consequentially fewer and smaller cubs with lower survival rates are produced. The survival rate of bears of other ages also declines. The above conditions lead to declined subpopulation and eventually might result in extinction of the polar bears (Derocher et al., 2013). Due to the threat of extinction caused by global warming, polar bears were listed as endangered species by the FWS in 2008 (Welch, 2012) . The effects of climatic changes are very evident in the southerly subpopulations particularly in Hudson Bay (Derocher et al., 2013). It is expected that with the continued climate change, the polar bears will migrate to the northerly areas, which include Canadian Arctic Island and northern Greenland. These areas, which are currently facing thick multiyear ice and little light penetration to support productivity, might be replaced by annual ice that supports high level of productivity compared to the previous states due to global warming and create a favorable habitat for the polar bears (O’Neill et al, 2008). Climate Changes and global warming

Public Relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

Public Relations - Essay Example After getting all the information I required, I appreciated them for the time they spared to talk to me and left. Evaluation of public relations programs is instrumental in determining the effectiveness of the programs that an organisation has set. Stated objectives will enable the public relations officers and workers of an organisation to know how they will communicate the desired message to the public effectively. The stated objectives set the standards that will guide people in an organisation on how to relate to the public and customers of the organisation. The standards are instrumental since people will ensure that they live up to the rules of dealing with the public. Therefore, objectives will determine the proper communication strategies that people in an organisation will follow to reach to the public (Thinkspot). Coca cola has an awareness operation on Facebook, which has the goal of increasing its customer base in the world. It aims at reaching out on people on Facebook, and informs them of the products that the company provides on the Coca Cola Facebook page. I would use surveys to asses my goals and to determine whether my public relations campaign is effective. Surveys will include asking the public whether the awareness program is working. This would be the most effective since it will give me immediate feedback from the targeted audience of my

Co-sleeping is natural Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Co-sleeping is natural - Research Paper Example Therefore co-sleeping is a standard practice in most parts of the world. Co-sleeping involved bed-sharing amongst infants as well and room-sharing is also based on the same tangents (Petr 2004). At times, co-sleeping is linked very closely with the ailments and health issues that children might have and thus it is best for the parents to be close to their young ones. The close proximity that co-sleeping brings with it is something that one can understand within the thick of things. There are different views on co-sleeping with regards to these healthcare professionals. Some suggest that bed-sharing techniques are against ethical standards and must not be taught to the young ones. Its effectiveness is also questioned at times but generally co-sleeping amongst parents and their young ones who are just babies is not discouraged at all (O’Mara 2007). This is a matter of immense debate because co-sleeping brings together the child with his/her parents and gives him/her the safety and security that is derived through co-sleeping. Some of the advantages related with co-sleeping include the fact that mothers get to sleep more through this phenomenon and breastfeeding than any other way. It is very effective in preventing the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Stress hormones are very less in mothers and the babies who are involved in co-sleeping with their mothers balance this stress hormone cortisol where this control plays a vital part in the healthy growth regimes of the baby (Stearns 1996). There is a good amount of research done which suggests that co-sleeping is effective for the babies and their mothers and that there are more regular heart rhythms as well as less long pauses in breathing patterns when compared to the babies who sleep alone (Carskadon 2002). Co-sleeping is effective when parents are more vigilant about their kids. They must know that their

ARE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FULLY MEETING THE NEEDS OF SERVICE USERS Essay

ARE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FULLY MEETING THE NEEDS OF SERVICE USERS WITH DUAL DIAGNOSIS ILLICIT SUBSTANCE MISUSE AND SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS - Essay Example However, in order to implement this framework in practice, the mental health professionals must be educated and trained suitably enough to be first aware of such conditions so they in turn can raise awareness of the clients in order to motivate them better. Substance misuse and addictive behaviour are very common and are regarded as a major public health problem in the United Kingdom. Dual diagnoses of substance abuse and mental disorders are among the most prevalent mental disorders worldwide. The mental disorders comprise mostly of schizophrenia, affective, anxiety, personality, or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Research has shown that they place enormous burden on individuals and society and hence the nation (Copello, Graham, & Birchwood, 2001, 585-587). The common co-occurrence of psychiatric disorders with alcohol and drug use disorders is well recognized. The reasons for co-occurrence, the best methods to differentiate substance abuse from psychiatric syndromes, and the best treatments for comorbidity remain open research questions. There is now an emerging consensus that when the clinical picture is limited to a single disorder, there are chances of fewer complications (Drake & Wallach, 2000, 1126-1129). Along with th at, it has been acknowledged that comorbid psychiatric and substance abuse disorders present problems. Research again has demonstrated that co-occurring mental and substance use disorders are associated with problems among users, dependence among problem users, with severity and persistence of both mental and alcohol-drug disorders, poor health and failed treatment attempts, with violence, incarceration, and poverty (Essock et al, 2001, 469-476). Therefore, it would be pertinent to investigate or to find evidence whether these available mental health services are adequate enough to meet the growing needs of these individuals with dual diagnosis. In this review article, a systemic review has been proposed to be undertaken within a methodological framework, so the evidence may be culled in order to substantiate the focus question and rationale to conduct this review. Focus Question Are mental health services fully meeting the needs of service users with dual diagnosis, illicit substance misuse and serious mental illness Rationale The problems of dual diagnosis are further compounded by the fact that clients with a dual diagnosis are difficult to assess because they are not a homogenous group. In addition, these clients often are poor historians and are noncompliant during the assessment process. Individuals with dual diagnosis often have complex and multiple needs that are difficult to assess in a comprehensive manner. There are indeed barriers to care for this population, which are significant and multidimensional. Services available for these individuals are absent, inadequate, and

HALL v. UNITED STATES ANALYSIS Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

HALL v. UNITED STATES ANALYSIS - Case Study Example The contents of the case are of concern to the society and have a number of underlying factors that need elaboration. Lywood and Brenda Hall who were members of the same family did the case filling. The petitioners questioned the mandate of IRS on treating the income they acquired after the sale of their assets as a debt. Earlier on, the petitioners filed a case on bankruptcy as stated by chapter 12 of the state laws and granted sale of their farm property making a sale of $960,000. This sale exceeded the set value of Hall’s assets attracting capital gains duty ( Carrizales &. Schultz 2010). Chapter 12 mainly deals with issues regarding the farmer’s sale of assets to avoid bankruptcy declaration of the farmer. The laws simplify the requirements for assets sale in favor of the farmers to clear their debts. Amendment of the law was took place to allow debtors claim the Owings to government upon sale or exchange of any farm property used in farm operations. The Halls used this law to discharge the arising tax but faced objection from Internal Revenue Service (IRS) who stated that any assets sold upon filling of a petition on bankruptcy does not qualify discharging under section 1222 (Kent College of Law 2010). The first trial was at Arizona District Federal Bankruptcy Court (Kent College of Law 2010). In its ruling, the court agreed with the objection by IRS. The judges said that it was individual liability for taxation on any capital gains insisting that Chapter 12 was not a different taxable body. The petitioners opposed the ruling and; therefore, they appealed to U.S District of Arizona Court. The appeal court reasoned that the intention of Chapter 12 was to protect families from government taxation. The government finally appealed to U.S Court of appeal (Kent College of Law 2010). A ruling similar to the Federal Bankruptcy Court read stating that the Chapter did not authorize for a different taxable entity. The Halls

Classroom Scenario Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Classroom Scenario - Essay Example Mr. Hamilton should meet with Danny’s parents and inform them what role they can play in improving Danny’s academic performance. This includes monitoring Danny’s activities at home, providing Danny with a proper place to focus his attention, and linking timely completed homework with rewards. It is vital that Danny’s parents adopt the same approach that Mr. Hamilton has adopted i.e. praising Danny at the display of good performance, and look disappointed at poor performance and yet, encourage him to do better next time rather than scold him. The monitoring system that can help determine the effectiveness of the instructional interventions should comprise both behavioral assessment and performance assessment. â€Å"Prereferral intervention strategies are generally determined by a committee of general education teachers before any specialists are included in the plan† (D’Amico and Gallaway, 2008, p. 4). For optimal performance, it is imperative that Danny feels satisfied and happy with the monitoring system. One way to achieve this is by gauging what intervention strategies Danny feels comfortable with. Instructional interventions can also be established by way of mutual consensus between Mr. Hamilton, Danny, and Danny’s

English Language Essay Example for Free

English Language Essay English has emerged as the global language of trade and commerce in the past few decades, affecting many key aspects of business in the modern world. The English language has become the standard for all important official communications in an increasingly large number of countries with a wide variety of native languages. In the modern world, English continues to spread as the major medium through which both small businesses and large corporations do business. There are about 5,000 languages in the world today. Some have gained international status; some are developing; others are used in isolation in their region, community, or village; a few have gone extinct or have died (like Latin and Sanskrit). The number of users of the English language has grown by leaps and bounds. Second language and foreign language users are seen to exceed the number of native speakers.  · Worldwide more or less two billion people live in countries where English has official status.  · One out of five of the world’s population, speaks English with some degree of fluency.  · Over one billion had been seen in the year 2000 to continue their studies in English.  · As language of science and technology, English, the universal language, claims more or less 90% of all information in the world’s electronic retrieval systems being stored in English. English is used regularly by more than 350 million people scattered over the globe. It is the native or official language of one-fifth of the world. Of the languages of colonization it has been the one most important in Africa, Asia and the islands of the central and southern Pacific. The use of English is widespread in international trade, international scholarship, and scientific research. More than half of the world’s scientific and technical journals, as well as newspapers, are printed in English. Three-fourths of the world’s mail is in English. The Soviet Union and China use English in their propaganda broadcasts to the developing countries of Africa and Asia. English is the most widely-studied language in areas where it is not native. In Japan English is widely used in the upper grade level. In India, English is the alternate official language to Hindi. In the Philippines it is the common language or medium of communication of people speaking different languages. More or less 80% of Filipinos speak/understand English. Doing Business Worldwide English is a global language for doing business. In some industries, English is the official standard language. Therefore, an excellent command of English is required for key jobs. In addition, English has emerged as a major language for finance and the stock markets around the world. People wishing to do businesses globally need to have a good command of spoken English. The ability to clearly write in English is also of key importance, as many forms of business communication, from emails to presentations and marketing to important business contracts, are written in English. A CNN Report (CNN) Hiroshi Mikitani sees nothing wrong with the word, incorporating it easily into our discussion about Japans future. The internet entrepreneur and CEO of Rakuten Inc, Japans largest e-commerce site, intends to change his country from the inside out. And Englishization is a part of it, he says bluntly. With 6,000 employees and sales topping $3 billion a year, Mikitani intends Rakuten to keep growing into a global player. The goal: be as common a household name as Google in 10 years. The path to that goal, believes Mikitani, is to speak the global language of business, English. English is the only global language. Were doing a global business. I think this is the only way a Japanese service organization can become a global organization. By 2012, Mikitanis pledge is to make Rakuten an English-only corporation. All communication, verbal and email, would be sent not in Japanese, but in English. Its a daunting task for a Japanese company headquartered in Tokyo. Last years Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) rankings showed Japanese test takers scored second worst in the East Asia region, below North Korea and Myanmar. Only Laos ranked lower than Japan. Hondas CEO, Takanobu Ito, said publicly, â€Å"It’s stupid for a Japanese company to only use English in Japan when the workforce is mainly Japanese. Mikitani doesnt flinch at the criticism. In fact, he seems to relish it. The nature of our business is totally different, he says, pointing out Honda manufactures a hardware item and Rakuten deals with users on the internet. If you want to become successful in other countries, you need to internationalize the headquarters. Rakuten is expanding despite Japans macro-economic struggles. They are starting a Chinese version of Rakuten and purchasing ecommerce sites in the U.S. and France. One thing I know, the definition of country is going to change. Definition of currency is going to change, says Mikitani. There is going to be less importance which country youre operating from. And theres going to be global competition, not local to local. Mikitani is everything Corporate Japan is not: young, a risk-taker, outspoken and fluent in English. He started his company with a friend in 1997, using their own money. The two friends grew the business into the public corporation and powerhouse it is today. The 45 year old, energetic CEO says he is, at the core, utterly Japanese. But he disagrees with how corporate Japan and the policy makers have run the economy and country. Look at the aging demographics and the economy of Japan, says Mikitani, and the writing is on the wall for corporate Japan. Growth, he says, can only happen if Japanese companies go outside of the country for expansion and look for opportunities outside of Japans famously produced cars and electronics. I felt (sic) those kind of ages is over. Now we need to really dramatically change the structure of economy of Japan and IT is going to be an extremely important part of it, says Mikitani. But none of the Japanese for example, politicians, truly understands from the bottom of the heart, how important that is. Mikitani feels the two decades-long economic stagnation for Japan has fundamentally affected the countrys young, which spells trouble for the countrys future. Japanese society, especially younger people, are so inward looking. They dont even want to go to other countries. They want to stay here. They want to have a good life; they dont want to be rich. They want to have a good day to day life. Thats it. And I think we need to be more sort of dynamic, outward looking, he says. The solution, hopes Mikitani, will be found in concrete economic policy from Tokyos lawmakers and strong leadership from Japans companies. Japan can produce innovative, high quality ideas and products, says Mikitani, but the talent needs a direction. He remains positive about his countrys future, despite its problems. Rakuten means optimistic, he points out. I think that in absolute terms, we [Japanese] are lagging. We are slowing down. I dont think we need to be pessimistic, but our window is not so long. An Indian Perspective English even after 36 years of independence occupies an important place in the social educational, administrative, scientific industrial and commercial life of the country. Ever since India became independent, the fortunes of English have seen many ups and downs. In accordance with the prevalent mood of hostility against everything foreign, English, considered only a foreign language, could not also escape the wrath of many people. It was decided to do away with it as early as possible. It was given a lease of fifteen years, and after that it was to be replaced by Hindi as the national and official language of the country. English was spoken and used by a micro-scopic minority of the people and they could not dominate the majority which spoke Hindi. Educationally also it was desirable to impart instruction in Hindi. Educationally also it was desirable to impart instruction in Hindi and other regional languages. Moreover, the continuance of English as the official language of the country was regarded as some sort of an affront to national honor. Did not every country have its own national and official, language, it was asked. There was much weight in all these arguments. But when the deadline, 1965, for the switch-over to Hindi came, there were unseemly controversies and riots in the country. The main opposition to Hindi came from the South. After long and tedious deliberations it was decided to continue English as an associate official language. The States were free to adopt their own languages and were to correspond with one another and the centre either in Hindi or English. Later the the three language formula was also devised. The general feeling is that Hindi as it develops and as people while learning it show, and are shown patience, will continue to gain in importance and will increasingly take over as many functions of English as possible. But along with the spread of Hindi, English will continue to be used in one way or another and it will play its due role in the nation. India is a land of many languages, cultures and religions. It is rich in variety and diversity, but there is a real danger that in the absence of a link language, its unity may just fall to bits. Considering the situation as it is today, English is the only language to discharge this important obligation. At the official level, the importance of English is obvious. It is the associate language of the Centre and most of its employees use it in official work. Since the States have adopted their regional languages for official business and many of them are averse to the use of Hindi, a virtual linguistic chaos would result if English were not used for inter-State communication. So in this sphere also, the importance of English is obvious. Interestingly, the state of Nagaland has English as its official language. In education too, the use of English cannot be dispensed with. Hindi and the regional languages, though they are developing and enjoy official patronage, are still inadequately equipped for imparting education, particularly at the university level. There is a general lack of standard text books and it may well take several decades before there is sufficient development of these languages. Again, English still enjoys a commanding position in science, technology, engineering, law, medicine, commerce, industry and the diplomatic services. It is virtually impossible to replace English in these disciplines by Hindi or any other Indian language. Considering then for a moment the absence of English from India, exchange of professors, doctors administrators, and students will cease. Research will slacken and there will be a steep decline in the quality of education. The efforts of the country to industrialize itself rapidly and to raise the standard of the masses will be seriously undermined. There will widespread disunity and this will jeopardize our freedom. So the role of English today for us is twofold. It knits the country and maintains equality and standard at all levels. Considering this important place of English, we Indians are today learning it in larger numbers than they ever did before. It is a world language and even in Russia, China etc., it is being learnt eagerly. In India those who oppose it seem to be a little prejudiced either for political reasons or because of some absurd sentimentality. Don’t they accept foreign goods, clothes and technical know-how? They do, because it is good and useful. Why then oppose English, simply because it is a foreign language? They should not forget that it was the knowledge of English that helped India gain freedom. The overall situation then appears to be this. English even after 36 years of independence occupies an important place in the social educational, administrative, scientific industrial and commercial life of the country. Those who know and support it need not despair. English will continue though it may occupy a secondary place to Hindi.

Texting Essay Example for Free

Texting Essay Texting. (IF) It is the new age way of communicating. With this new way to communicate new problems have arisen. People are texting while talking to others or while others are talking to them. Which brings up the question is it wrong? While many people think that it is wrong they may find themselves doing it on occasion. It is very easy to just say it is wrong without even looking at the other side of the argument. Surely it is acceptable to text in some situations. well it is not acceptable to text while you are talking to someone else. Let us compare a texting conversation to a real conversation. If one was trying to talk to someone but he or she was also talking to someone else, it would be impossible for that person to be completely engaged in both conversations. This is just like texting. How can a person be fully engaged in any conversation while they are having a texting conversation with someone else? Also one wouldn’t even be fully focused on the conversation one is having over text when one is talking to someone else. That is just being rude to two people at once. Not only is texting while in conversation with someone else rude it is rude in other scenarios too. It would be considered rude in a movie theater, during a play, or on a date especially if one is not the one paying for these things. Imagine that you have just invited someone to go to the movies and you decided to pay. How would you feel if the person you paid for is texting during the movie? That person is conveying that they aren’t enjoying the movie that you spent money on them to see. Many people also use texting to act like they are better than other people. Most any teenager would say that when a situation gets â€Å"awkward† they will pull out there phone and either pretend to text or actually text. This can be found rude because when one pulls out there phone to avoid a certain situation, or to act like they have something better to do while a situation is happening. By avoiding situations because of texting one showing that one thinks they are above what is happening, and that they cannot be involved in a situation like that because it is too â€Å"awkward. † An example of this kind of situation is when you are walking down the hallway and someone else is walking the opposite direction and they start looking at you. Instead of saying, â€Å"Hi,† or giving them a smile people will resort to pulling out there phone and acting like they are texting. What makes you better than the other person walking down the hallway? Why can’t you just say, â€Å"Hi,† or give them a smile? Those are not hard things to do but people will think they are better than other people and just completely ignore that other person. On the other hand many people would say that texting is very convenient and allows someone to get information to someone else. This is very true. Texting is handy to have when one needs to give someone else some quick information such as what time something starts or something of that sort. Texting is not always used for sharing information though. According to a recent interview about texting, there are two kinds of texts: spreading information and conversation. (Burrow) Texting for information is not rude if it is an emergency or something like that but when texting turns to conversation and one is texting to avoid people, avoid situations, or while someone else is taking then it becomes rude. Any conversation that you have over text can just as easily be done over the phone on a phone call when you have time to focus on the conversation. In an article from the Salem News this idea was brought up to not be rude if you need to send an important text during a conversation just excuse oneself for a minute to check and respond to the text just like you would with a phone call. Finally texting during class is one of the most disrespectful things one can do to a teacher. Teachers choose to be teachers so they should be treated with the utmost respect because they are providing an education to teens and that is one of the most important things anyone will need in life. By texting during class one is showing the teacher that they think they are more important than what she is saying. This is simply not the case because education will take one somewhere in life not a texting conversation that you have to hide from the teacher. Texting distracts one from learning, and when one is texting they have to refocus back to what they were doing. According to a study, tasks that are interrupted seem more difficult and take longer to complete. (Cohen) Texting is flat out rude. There are ways to text someone if it is really important by simply asking to be excused so you can text, but to just text in someone’s face while they are talking to you is just rude. Texting to avoid situations is also rude because you are letting other people know that you think you are better than them and that is just mean. Texting during class is just dumb because you miss out on things you need to know for your life. So next time you go to text during class, while someone is talking to you, or to avoid a situation just think about what you are doing and realize that it is rude.

Concepts and principles of business to business marketing

Concepts and principles of business to business marketing The purpose of this paper is to discuss business-to-business marketing requires a special, unique set of marketing concepts and principles versus business-to-business marketing is really not that different and the basic marketing concepts and principles apply. The basic concepts and principles for business-to-consumer have been studied and the researcher agreed that the basic marketing and principles do apply. However, the application and implementation of the marketing strategy may need to be attuned to the nature of business-to-business activity. Business-to-business (B2B) can be explained as business that sells products or provides services to other businesses. These organisations in turn, may re-sell the products and services to final consumers; or they may use the products or services as an input for manufacturing of final consumer goods; or use it provide services to final consumers; or government that use these products and services to serve the society. While B2B activity may exist in both traditional form and online, the acronym B2B is commonly refer to the online variety (Jobber, 2007, p. 19). Whereas Business-to-Consumer (B2C) is defined as business that sells products or provide services to final consumers. These consumers can be either individuals or family units and these products or services is purchased for own consumption purposes. Although B2C activity may exist in both traditional form and online, the acronym B2C is generally refer to the online variety (McDaniel, et al., 2006, p. 196). Modern marketing concept can be defined as identifying and meeting targeted consumer needs and wants better than the competitor, for the benefit of the organisation and its stakeholders. Therefore, the function of marketing management will include formulating and implementing a suitable marketing strategy to achieve organisation goals; through satisfied customers (Kotler Keller, 2009, p. 45). To understand the marketing function, marketer needs to understand the core marketing concepts: the production concepts, the product concepts, the selling concepts, the marketing concepts, holistic concepts and societal marketing concepts. 1 In order to satisfy the targeted consumers, the marketer needs to understand the market environment and the consumer. Based on this understanding, a company will work out a Marketing mix and develop suitable marketing activities and deliver the value to the consumer. The traditional marketing mix consists of four elements: product, price, promotion and place (4-Ps). However, marketing in todays business world has evolved. It is important for todays marketer to include three additional Ps: people, process and physical evidence (Jobber, 2007, p. 19). One of the crucial exercise while developing marketing strategy, marketer will need to evaluate the companys general strength, weakness, opportunity and threats. This constructive methodology is also known as the SWOT analysis. It is recognised that from the basic marketing concepts and the marketing mix which have been mentioned earlier, there is a crucial element which a marketer must remember consumers. Consumers may be divided into two categories: final/ultimate consumers and organisational consumers. However, they are both the source of revenue for the organisation. They are the targeted people which the marketer would need to satisfy, in order to make the sales. Therefore, the basic marketing concepts and principles may be applied to both types of consumers. Only adaptation of the targeted consumer type is needed. The 4-Ps is a useful marketing tool in determining the marketers trade channels and their final consumers. The Product element in the 4-Ps is where the company needs to choose what type of product or service to provide to a group of customer, in order to satisfy their wants. This is especially crucial in new product development. A product may be in the form of physical goods, such as mobile phones, isotonic drink, LED television and etc. Service is intangible benefits that a company or individual can offer to the customers, such as financial consultant, medical care, and etc (Kotler, et al., 2003, p. 17). 2 Price is one of the most important components in the 4-Ps. This is due to the fact that it signifies the benefits that the company will receive from the sale of products and services. As compared to other elements of the 4-Ps, which represent costs. It is crucial for company to determine the most suitable pricing of its product. This is because product price may influence the purchasing decision of the buyer. Some companies may opt for lower price strategy by offering a lower price version of the same product offered by competitor (McDaniel, et al., 2006, p. 196). Promotion is the means for a marketer to communicate with the targeted customer, to enable the awareness of the product existence and availability. Marketer will be required to decide the channel of promotional activities suited for the product or service its offering. Some larger companies may choose television advertisement as the promotional activity, because it is able to cover wide audiences in a fast way. Some companies with a lesser resources may choose internet as their promotional tools, where the cost is lower and it is not limited by geographical boundary (Elliot, et al., 2008, p. 34). Place involves ensuring the products and services is available to the targeted customers. Marketer needs to decide on the distribution channels and the management of the product location, transportation and etc. A good distribution method is able to create competitive advantage for the company. This is apparent in the case for Dell computers (Kotler, et al., 2003, p. 17). People play an important role in todays business. The quality of service by the companys employee very much influence customers impression on the companys product. This is particularly essential to the service industry. Potential customer may walk away from a purchase if they feel that they receive ill-treatment from the sales staff. Study has shown that a company is able to generate more sales by improving customer service (Mathe and Shapiro, 1993). Physical evidence represents the ambience where the service is being carried out. The physical environment, decoration and colour which are visible to the targeted customers have the ability to affect the customers decision (Kotler Keller, 2009). 3 Process is the flow of activity or the medium of transaction where customers obtain services. Process decisions completely influence how the company delivers the service to the customer. It is understood that in order to establish a suitable marketing mix, a company must understand its targeted customer. And this customer can be divided during the process of market segmentation and target marketing. A company should be able to differentiate its customer base; whether they are final consumer (B2C) or organisational consumer (B2B). After identifying this, the same seven Ps may be applied to targeted consumers. Coviello and Brodie (2001) found that existing business process for both B2C and B2B companies is concerned with managing the marketing mix to attract customers. This is also known as transaction marketing. Either final consumer or organisational consumer, the marketer should consider all the seven elements in marketing mix to derive on the most suitable marketing strategy. Some might argue that basic marketing concepts are suitable for a B2C environment. However, study has shown that even international company like Levi Strauss (a renown clothing brand, specialise in jeans) needs to make certain adaption in developing its marketing mix. By understanding each countrys local cultural, physical environment, legal issues, and etc; Levi Strauss is able to apply the right marketing mix to the right consumer group (Vrontis Vronti, 2004). 4 Further the seven Ps, the SWOT analysis of the company is also important to the marketer. The analysis examines the companys internal environment (strengths and weaknesses) and external environment (opportunities and threats). By knowing the companys resources and capabilities, it is possible to turn weaknesses into strengths. Knowing the market environment and trends, it is possible to convert threats into opportunities. SWOT analysis is not limited to certain type of business or consumer. It is about the study of the companys internal and external environment. Therefore, this same basic concept is applicable to both B2B and B2C companies (Elliot, et al., 2008, p. 34). Todays business environment is very dynamic; a marketer should realise that the older marketing concepts is insufficient for a successful marketing strategy. In order to have a more comprehensive strategy, marketers have adopted the Holistic marketing concept. It is the concept that accepts everything matters in marketing, extensive outlook of the business environment is necessary for successful marketing campaign. It is concern with relationship marketing, integrated marketing, internal marketing and performance marketing (Baines, et al., 2008, p. 12). 5 The holistic marketing concept is another evident that shows it does not limit to B2C environment, and the basic concept can be applied to B2B environment. However, some adaption may be required during the application and implementation process. Study has indicated that marketing comprises the whole business; as a result, it includes top management, administration, production, finance and other functional departments. Marketing-oriented management signifies todays business environment. A company who recognises this phenomena would be able to swift its organisation to a more competitive edge; performing better than its competitor (Polese, 2004). It has been established earlier that basic marketing concepts and principles apply to both B2B and B2C business environment, only the application of the marketing strategy needs to be adapted accordingly. The objective of marketing is to identify and satisfy the needs and wants of targeted customers, better than the competitor. The targeted customers of B2B are the organisational buyers. Business marketer faces the same challenges of consumer marketer. However, there a few aspects of business market which are undoubtedly differ from consumer market (Baines, et al., 2008, p. 659). 6 It was found that organisations in USA, Argentina and New Zealand still uses the traditional four marketing mix as a general guide in their marketing practices. Although the new modern marketing concepts are included in their effort to reach out to targeted customers. Some countries may uses transaction marketing, or some may opt for network marketing. It shows that basic marketing concepts are applicable to both B2B and B2C (Pels, et al., 2004). In order to the understanding of business market, the marketer should be concerned about the buying process of the organisation. The organisational buying process has a few stages more than of consumer buying process. There are eight stages involved, please see figure 4 below. Understanding the difference between business market and consumer market is necessary. Lilien (1987) argued that B2B market is distinctive due to several reasons. The business market generally has few and larger buyers, i.e. the purchase quantity will be large. And the buyer is unable to take any risk of errors, because it may be part of the organisations cost saving strategy. The difference between consumer and business marketing were also documented by Simkin (2000). Simkin believed that business market is conventionally involves the business market structure and market demand; the nature of the buying unit within the organisation; and the type of decisions and the decision process involved (Kotler et al., 2001). Hakansson (et al., 1976) also characterise B2B companies as containing a lot of customers and require to be handled individually. 7 There is close relationship between supplier and customer. As argued by Gruen (1995), B2B marketing is motivated very much by relationship. From strategic aspect of business, it is more beneficial to the company to maintain its current customer, compared to attracting a new customer. The long term customer who is satisfy with the companys service may act as the ambassador to the company; spreading the goodwill of the company which may encourage new customers (Cann, 1998). A research into organisational buying behaviour done by Sheth (1996) has shown the organisation behaviour is changing from a transaction-centred to a relational-centred value. Adaptation is needed from the traditional marketing concepts. This is crucial in order to provide the right products and services to the targeted consumers (Hallen et al., 1991). Professional purchasing, this may consist of a team of procurement staff or a few business units. Multiple buying influences, whereby buying process is required to go through several formal and legal documentations and approval. Multiple sales calls; derived demand; inelastic demand; fluctuating demand; geographically concentrated buyers and direct purchasing. Although both business market and its buying process contrast dramatically from that of consumer market, the basic market concepts and principles is still applicable; which is meeting and satisfying customers needs. Only adaptation to the targeted organisational buyer may be needed. In summary, a special and unique sets of marketing concepts and principles is not necessary for B2B, only application process may be adapted. 8 List of References Baines, P., Fill, C. and Page, K., 2008, Marketing, Oxford University Press, New York. Cann, C.W., 2004 Eight Steps to Building a Business-to-business Relationship, Journal of Business Industrial Marketing, vol. 13, no. 4/5, 1998, pp. 393-405. Coviello, N.E. and Brodie, R.J., Contemporary Marketing Practices of Consumer and Business-to-business Firms: How Different Are They?, Journal of Business Industrial Marketing, vol. 16, no. 5, 2001, pp. 382-400. Elliot, G., Rundle-Thiele, S., Waller, D., Paladino, A., Pride, W. and Ferrell, O., 2008, Marketing: Core Concepts and Applications, 2nd Asia-Pacific edn, John Wiley Sons Australia Ltd., Queensland, Australia. Hallen, L., Johanson, J. and Seyed-Mohamed, N., 1991, Interfirm Adaptation in Business Relationships, Journal of Marketing, vol. 55, April, pp. 29-37, cited in Brennan, S., Turnbull, P.W. and Wilson, D.T., Dyadic Adaptation in Business-to-business Markets, European Journal of Marketing, vol. 37, no. 11/12, 2003, pp. 1636-1665. Hakansson, H., Johanson, J. and Wootz, B., 1976, Influence Tactics in Buyer-seller Processes, Industrial Marketing Management, vol. 5, December, pp. 319-32, cited in Reed, G., Story, V. and Saker, J., Business-to-business Marketing: What is Important to the Practitioner?, Marketing Intelligence Planning, vol. 22, no. 5, 2004, pp. 501-510. Jobber, D., 2007, Principles and Practice of Marketing, 5th edn, McGraw-Hill Education, London. Kotler, P., Armstrong, G., Saunders, S. and Wong, V., 2001, Principles of Marketing, 3rd edn, McGraw Hill, New York, NY, cited in Reed, G., Story, V. and Saker, J., Business-to-business Marketing: What is Important to the Practitioner?, Marketing Intelligence Planning, vol. 22, no. 5, 2004, pp. 501-510. Kotler, P., Ang, S.H., Leong, S.M. and Tan, C.T., 2003, Marketing Management an Asian Perspective, 3rd edn, Prentice Hall, Singapore. Kotler, P. and Keller, K.L., 2009, Marketing Management, 13th edn, Pearson Education Inc., New Jersey. 9 Lilien, G.L., 1987, Business Marketing: Present and Future, Industrial Marketing and Purchasing, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 3-21, cited in Coviello, N.E. and Brodie, R.J., Contemporary Marketing Practices of Consumer and Business-to-business Firms: How Different Are They?, Journal of Business Industrial Marketing, vol. 16, no. 5, 2001, pp. 382-400. Mathe, H. and Shapiro, R.D., 1993, Integrating Service Strategy in the Manufacturing Company, Chapman Hall, London, cited in Gebauer, H., Wang, C.Z., Beckenbauer, B. and Krempl, R., Business-to-business Marketing as a Key Factor for Increasing Service Revenue in China, Journal of Business Industrial Marketing, vol. 22, no. 2, 2007, pp. 126-137. McDaniel, C., Lamb, Jr., C.W. and Hair, Jr., J.F., 2006, Introduction to Marketing, 8th edn, Thomson South-Western, Ohio. Pels, J., Brodie, R. J. and Johnston, W.J., 2004, Benchmarking Business-to-business Marketing Practices in Emerging and Developed Economies: Argentina Compared to the USA and New Zealand, Journal of Business Industrial Marketing, vol. 19, no. 6, 2004, pp. 386-396. Polese, F., 2004, Lintegrazione Sistemica Degli Aggregate Reticolari di Impresa, CEDAM, Padova, cited in Gummesson, E. and Polese, F., B2B is Not An Island, Journal of Business Industrial Marketing, vol. 24, no. 5/6, 2009, pp. 337-350. Reed, G., Story, V. and Saker, J., Business-to-business Marketing: What is Important to the Practitioner?, Marketing Intelligence Planning, vol. 22, no. 5, 2004, pp. 501-510. Simkin, L., 2000, Marketing is Marketing Maybe!, Marketing Intelligence Planning, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 154-8, cited in Reed, G., Story, V. and Saker, J., Business-to-business Marketing: What is Important to the Practitioner?, Marketing Intelligence Planning, vol. 22, no. 5, 2004, pp. 501-510. Vrontis, D. and Vronti, P., 2004, Levi Strauss: An International Marketing Investigation, Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 389-98, cited in Levis Adaptable Standards, Strategic Direction, vol. 21, no.6, 2005, pp. 14-15. 10 11

the tucker automobile :: essays research papers

The 1948 Tucker was dreamt up by Preston Thomas Tucker and designed by Alex Tremulis. This was one of the last attempts made by a small enterprise to break into large volume car production. This car was said to be â€Å"The first new car in 50 years†. Many people felt that a car this great wasn’t possible. The many new innovations in the car were always surrounded by controversy. The car seemed to be doomed, and it was. Much of the appeal of the Tucker was the man behind it. Preston Thomas Tucker was always obsessed with cars, as long as anyone could remember. Tucker was born on September 21, 1903 in Capac, Michigan. He spent his childhood in car repair garages and used car lots. He worked as an office boy at Cadillac, a policeman in Lincoln, Illinois; he even worked at Ford motor company for a while. After he attended Cass Technical School in Detroit, Tucker became a salesman and went to work for Studebaker, then Stutz, Chrysler, and later became regional manager for Pierce-Arrow. During WWII the automotive industry was focused on the war effort. There were no new models of cars produced for over four years, and people needed a new car. Any new car. Tucker thought that the time was right to make his move. He formed the Tucker Corporation for the Production of Automobiles in 1946. Tucker wanted the old Dodge plant in Chicago. Its main building was the largest under one roof. During WWII B29 engines were built in the plant. The War Assets Administration leased him the plant under the understanding that he could have $15 million capital by March of the following year. Tucker moved into the plant in July and started work on his prototype immediately. The corporation needed money desperately and Tucker realized backing from businessmen would cause him to lose almost all control over his company. This was not an option for him so he started brainstorming for ideas, and got one. Franchising. He began selling dealership franchises, and quickly raised $6 million to be held in escrow until the car was delivered. The dealerships seemed suspicious to the SEC. This caused them to put Tucker under investigation. This was the first of many to span the next three years. The franchise agreements were rewritten to satisfy the SEC. Soon after that Tucker experienced his first serious obstacle, Wilson Wyatt. The head of the national housing agency who ordered the WAA to cancel Tucker’s lease and to turn the plant over to the Lustron corporation to build pre-fabricated houses.

Social Order Versus Personal F :: essays research papers

Social Order Versus Personal Fulfillment In the regal, and superficial high-class New York world presented in The Age of Innocence there is one particular, unchallenged rule of social order. This rule of complete social grace has been, instead of branded in stone, been impounded deeply in the minds of every generation raised under the canopy of money and fashion. The desire for etiquette is so overwhelming that it manages to suppress the simple human yearnings for personal fulfillment, otherwise enjoyed by those not imprisoned by clothes or cash. This conflict between society and human emotion is extremely prevalent. From the beginning of the tale, the description of old New York and its inhabitants seems rigid. The people are bent on their customs and beliefs. From the promptness of the Beaufort Ball, the inflexibility of decorum (including dress, meals, and room presentation), and all relationships, personal or business. The severity of the conformity makes the presence of radicals such as Ellen, Mrs. Mingott, and even Newland, fodder for subversive scandal and gossip. But these radicals are merely people who are unyielding to the harness of the rich. They have attempted to achieve their own satisfaction, however unsavory to the rest of the order. Ellen and Newland's personal feelings for each other are passionate, burning, and intensely primitive. The impact an unmasked relationship would have is extremely far-reaching. It would be devastating to Newland's wife, May. The waves would also be felt internationally by Ellen's husband in Poland. Newland and Ellen would be ostracized by the entire upper-rank, ruining not only their own lives, but others' as well. The complex set of rules and regulations that accompany living in such a society is analogous to a house of cards. If one card is disturbed, the entire thing may crash down. The effect of diversion is foreshadowed by the treachery of Julius Beaufort. He debauches the whole system and gains the scorn of all the other elitists. Further scandal is achieved by Mrs. Regina Beaufort when she abandons her husband in time of crisis and attempts to get the backing of her maiden family. The rules are broken and the aftermath felt far and wide. Similar catastrophe would follow if Newland and Ellen decide to fulfill their personal desire. They do realize the consequences and therefore remain reticent about their affair, and eventually gave up all hope and stay within the confines of

Born To Kill report :: essays research papers

Born To Kill   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This book was an extremely captivating read that I had a hard time putting down. This exciting novel was about an upstart gang of Vietnamese youths that formed in Chinatown who violently made their presence felt, they were known by the name Born to Kill. This book had many legal issues that we discussed in class and only a couple of issues that were not handled correctly in my eyes. This is a book that anyone that is interested in Asian organized crime should read. During the Vietnam War many people fled from Vietnam to America in order to start a new life of prosperity and to forget the horrors of the war. When many families fled they were either separated, or the parents only had the money to send one child. The latter was the case with most of the boys in the Born to Kill gang. They all came to America as refugees and were placed in foster homes that were some times no better than the camps that they had recently survived. When they found other people from Vietnam that offered an alternative solution, they were willing to do anything to repay the debt of loyalty they felt to there benefactor, in this case David Thai. The book mainly revolved around one main person Tinh Ngo, a member of the gang. Through out the book Tinh or Timmy as he was called, ran the entire gambit of emotions from total loyally to being flipped and being the key witness in the federal case against the main players in the gang. The gang committed every kind of crime from petty robberies to murder. Tinh started his career as a criminal by robbing a message parlor in Chinatown that was in rival gang territory this robbery was a simple one that went off without a hitch, it gave him a false sense of ease in committing robberies. Over the months Tinhs involvement in crimes escalated until he was arrested, for the first time, and he spent some time in prison. This disenchanted him some about the gang life and killed some of his feeling of invulnerability. When Tinh was released from prison he resumed his role within the gang, starting right back up with the robberies and such. As time passed Tinh became a trusted member of the gang and became very close to the main players such as David Thai, Lan Tram and others.

Infection Control & Environmental Safety Essay

Infection Control There are many routes by which infection can enter the body. For example infection can enter the body via blood, saliva, sexual, insect bites. If I wasn’t to wash my hands after using the toilet and went straight into preparing food this good causing infection to the people eating the food that I prepared, I could also have infected cuts and grazes on my hands which again if I didn’t was them I could pass on my infection. Elderly people find it a lot more difficult to fight infections therefore it is vitally important that we do everything we can to prevent infections. It is extremely important to wash your hand correctly when you work in a care setting environment. The most effective way of wash your hands are to firstly wet the hands with water. Apply enough soap and hand wash to cover all hand surfaces. Rub hands palm and palm. Right palm over the other hand with interlaced fingers and vice versa. Palm to palm with fingers interlaced. Backs of fingers to opposing palms with fingers interlocked. Rotational rubbing of left thumb clasped in right palm and vice versa. Rotational rubbing, backwards and forwards with clasped fingers of right hand in left palm and vice versa. Rinse hands with water. Dry hand thoroughly with a towel. Again it is also very important that we wear personal protective equipment when needed. For example if someone is covered in feces I must put on an apron and gloves to make sure that I keep any infection under control. Environmental Safety Fire Make sure a fire risk assessment of the building has been done buy a specialist. Also make sure that all safe have had fire prevention training. Good housekeeping making sure that everything is clean and tidy, so therefore nothing can set a light. Keep chemicals in fire proof cabinets. If there was a fire in the building the first thing to do is ring the fire brigade and set the fire alarm off so you can let everyone in the building know they have to evacuate. Secondly you would take up a zone, meaning a part of the building that you must check to make sure there is nobody in that area. You would then follow everyone else outside to a safe place until the fire brigade told you it was safe to go back in. Gas Leak Remove the gas element by making everything all electric. If this is not possible then gas safety training for all staff members. Makes sure that the gas is turned off at the mains when it is not being used. In the event of a gas leak. You would evacuate the building and open all the windows to ventilate the building. If you know where the mains supply is for the gas and electricity then go and turn them off and contact the emergency services. Floods Make sure that all tapes and showers are turned off once they are finished with. Do regular checks on pipes to make sure they are all stable. In the event of a flood make sure that everyone evacuates the flooded area straight away. Find out what is causing the flooding and then turn of the water supply. Then contact the emergency services. Intrusion Make sure that all rubbish that is in the bin are discarded of correctly. All food is stored away in the correct storage boxes. In the event of an intrusion, contact the council, who will then send of people to catch the pest that has got in. put rat killer down, however make sure that it is well away from the residents reach. Maybe even put rat traps down to eliminate them even more. Security Breach Make sure that everyone’s valuables are safe and accounted for. In the event of a security breach. If someone’s jewellary was to go missing, then we would have to inform the family of the residents that stuff is missing and if nothing was to come of it we would then inform the police.

Minsk: Towns are like people

Towns are like people. Some are rich and influential from their conception; others need to acquire such qualities over centuries. Minsk is an example of the latter though founded as a border fortification in the Polatsk Principality, over its millennial history Minsk has managed to be the predominant centre of power in an appanage, capital of a province and at long last the capital of an independent nation counting 10 million people. Well, as Minsk is more that 900 years, it is quite enough to speak about its antiquity. But unfortunately almost all traces of old times are lost. There are practically no ancient buildings in Minsk, but the hero-city tries to keep memory about its past. And nowadays numerous names of the streets and squares, churches remind us not about the stormy past of Minsk, but of our country. And the first place that is worth visiting is the Red Church (the church of St. Simeon and Helen). It was built in the early 20th c. under the sponsorship of the Vaynilovich family (a Slutsk judge, landowner Vaynilovich and his wife Olyrnia) who donated all their money to commemorate their children Simon and Helen who died unexpectedly of an unknown disease. Their names are given to 2 small towers, white the big one as the symbol of eternally mourning parents. The church is mainly decorated in Roman style with its majestic forms, balance, quiet strength though some details of Gothic style could also be seen. The sculptural composition of Archangel Michael who kills a winged dragon symbolizes the victory of the divine army over the forces of darkness. Nowadays, the red church building, which has already served as Belarusian SSR's National Polisk Theatre, a film studio and a cinema, has since 1990 been returned to believers, but it serves not only a religious purpose. Concerts of organ music, religious music concerts of world-famous composers are held here, one-actor theatre performances are staged and sketches are played. The Church of the Holy Trinity and St Roch on Golden Hill is another attraction. Golden Hill is the old name for this region of the town. Maybe for the wonderful golden decoration of trees, maybe for that as the legend says â€Å"the citizens collected the golden coins for the church building, this region was called Golden Hill. The church was dedicated to St. Roch, who was noted pilgrim a healer, invoked for his miraculous powers against the plague and cholera. The church is a monument f neogothic architecture. The interior of the church was of timber painted to resemble marble. On the High Altar stood a wooden statue of the Madonna and Child and a represent of the Holy Trinity. The church was restored in 1983 and given over to the nearly State Philharmonic as a small concert chamber on account of its excellent acoustics. You can't but visit St Alexander Nevski Ghurch which was built in memory of Belarusian soldiers who perished in the Russian-Turkish conflict of 1877-78 and carries a miraculous story. In June 1941 a bomb managed to pierce the church dome and fall in front of the altar without exploding. Later it was one of only two active churches in Minsk. Both of the nations celebrated poets Y. Kupala and Y. Kolas, as well as various masters of art, culture and science in Belarus, are buried in the Military cemetery alongside the soldiers who laid their lives to free Minsk from the Fascists. Even the name of the next place to see reflects the historic past of the country. That is Victory Square. The obelisk of Victory commemorates the deaths of soldiers, partisans, and all the inhabitants of Belarus killed in the struggle with fascism during WWII. Its height is 38 m. It is covered by grey granite. It is topped by the Order of Victory which is decorated by multi-coloured smelt. The Eternal Flame was inflamed on the 3 d of July in 1961 and bright scarlet flowers seem to bum together with the flame till late autumn. Well, I suppose that nobody can resist the temptation of visiting one of the chief glories of Minsk – Trinity Suburb. It is a tangle of narrow streets lined with a fascinating array of little craft and curio shops. Delightful small houses seem to whisper their secrets to each other across the cobbled way. Here you have a feeling of coming back into the 18th c. Suburb is renowned for its historic buildings. You can enjoy the view of the Holy Spirit Cathedral and the church of St. Paul and Peter also can be seen here. Not far from these sacred places, on a bend in the river Svisloch there is a humpback bridge leading to the Isle of Tears, the monument to the sons of Fatherland who died beyond its borders. The monument is designed in the shape of a temple. It stands on 16 piles which go deep into swampy soil. In the centre of the monument there are figures of mourning mothers, who personify Belarusian women crying over their dead sons. Some of them hold icons in their hands, others – portraits of their sons. Mothers, standing at the front, hold lamps which symbolize the warmth of home health. Inside there are altars with the inscribed names of 771 dead soldiers. In the middle of the monuments there is the sacred Place where the Bells of Memory are ringing. Weeping willows bend over the water. So you see, there are a lot of sights in Minsk that are connected with the history of Belarus. Their beauty and their historical heritage attract thousands of tourists from all over the world and make Minsk and amazing place, which is really worth seeing.

Analysis of “A letter to my mother” by Chenjerai Hove

The purpose of this text, which is a letter from a traveller home to his mother, is to inform her of his experiences on his travels, and is thought and feelings on this. The tone of the letter is largely one of nostalgia and suggestions of homesickness which can be seen in the many contrasting ways he portrays the way of life from his home in Africa to his new home in Norway. However the writer acknowledges that he has learned that travelling is a way to broaden one’s horizons and expand one’s mind so, but looks forward to the day he can return to his roots and share his experiences with his family. The tone of nostalgia is prevalent throughout this text, it even begins with the word ‘Remember’ which suggests that it is going to be a very reflective and personal piece. This is repeated again with reference to ‘memories’ of the way of life the writer has left behind, and the fondness with which he looks back on it. The fond recollections of home which are described in detail such as the way they view the weather, particularly the rain as something which is to be ‘celebrated’ because it ‘gives life to people, plants and animals’. This stands in stark contrast to the way in which Norwegian regard this type of weather. ‘Have not stopped cursing the weather’ shows that they see it as the opposite of the blessing that those who live in Africa see it as. This is again emphasized when the writer treats the type of people who would have cursed the rain in his home as unnatural and evil. These people are a ‘witch who wishes that life should not be brought’, this shows how the local attitudes to the rain could not be more in opposition. This all works to show the writer’s nostalgic view of his home culture and longing to be there, with people he shares the same values with. The writer goes on to talk about the weather conditions of Norway that are new to him and how his inexperience of the ice and snow could possibly lead to real, physical harm. ‘A step on the ice is a potential disaster’, this shows that he could easily fall and cause harm to himself in this new and strange environment, which instantly contrasts with the experienced and graceful Norwegians who have been living in these conditions all their lives. ‘they float on it like Arabs’. The writer also goes on to show how the Norwegian use of the ice for entertainment or sporting purposes is completely alien and almost baffling to him. ‘they even run races and win competitions’ His astonishment is again emphasized by the use of a rhetorical question-‘can you imagine?’, this shows that using something which would be strange and dangerous for him in a competitive manner is bewildering and that he doesn’t quite feel like he fits in yet and that he is so far removed from the culture as to always be an outsider. Further contrasts are shown between the geographical differences of Norway and Africa are introduced by the phrase ‘by the way’ which suggests the writer’s excitement to tell his mother about a novel experience. ‘I forget you have never seen the sea’ this could be taken to be typical of all people of his place of origin, this would be something that they could consider exciting and opening up new ideas to them. This contrasts with the way Norwegian settlements re set out, they are all in coastal areas and gain much of their sustenance from the sea, ‘Norwegians are people of the sea’ and ‘it brings everything they want’, this suggests that while the sea and all it’s bounty are enough to make the local Norwegians happy and content, it does not seem to do so for the author, further alienating him from those round him. This is further emphasized by the Norwegian folk wisdom ‘if you don’t eat fish, like me, you are supposed to be miserable’ . The Norwegians would argue that he is unhappy because he does not eat fish, however the source of his unhappiness is more likely to be his homesickness and desire to be with those he misses. The writer becomes more upbeat towards the end, and begins to describe his thoughts as he looks towards the time when he can return home and share with his mother his experiences and all that he has learned. The use of the verb phrase ‘I hope’ shows that he is looking to that time in the future not with sadness but expectation, that it is something to look forward to. The repetition of the lexical item ‘Maybe’ gives the impression that the writer is uncertain but hopeful, and that he would like nothing more than to be able to return one day. The writer goes on to list the things that he one day hopes to return to do, ‘gaze at the beauty of that African moon’ this suggests that the African moon is unique and perhaps has some magical quality. This suggests that the writer would love to be able to be at home doing these things, but must continue his journey. The writer seems to acknowledge that it may be many years before he is able to return, ‘I may be older, but I will not have given up the idea of being young’ , this suggests that while the writer knows he will be away for years, he will never forget about his homeland and the people he left behind, and will one day return. The use of the lexical item ‘idea’ suggests that the writer considers that it doesn’t matter what age he has reached, as long as he does not feel old in himself then he will not be too old to continue his journey and to continue gaining knowledge. The writer finishes on a positive note, telling his mother how he is determined to carry on his quest to learn and for life experience ‘many streams to the river of knowledge’. This metaphor is describing knowledge as a river, which is constantly flowing, changing and heading somewhere new, just like he was when he left for Norway. The ‘stream’ which flows to the rivers is his path to this knowledge, one that he feels he must continue to travel. The writer is more forceful here than before, having often used the lexical item ‘maybe’ to which showed uncertainty but hopefulness, he now uses the verb phrase ‘ I know’ , this shows his mind has been made up that he shall not give in and come home yet just because he is unhappy. The noun phrase ‘other lads’ refers to his new home in Norway, which could be considered his classroom or learning grounds for his life lessons, but also suggests it could be anywhere in the world due to lands being plural, and that he may move on to somewhere new one day. All in all the writer uses various techniques to show the contrasts of his homeland to his new home, his homesickness and his desire to soldier on, to continue to gain new knowledge and life skills and experience.