Rhet 1000- internet harms social interaction Essay

Rhet 1000- internet harms social interaction - Essay Example Due to advancements in modern technology, which can overcome a wide range of obstacles related to space and time, it is possible to deduce that such technology should be used in more important ways including understanding multiples of cultures, as well as communicating effectively with other people. Use of the internet has dominated today’s global communications, which has led to a wide range of negative impacts on social interaction. Although the use of internet may have positive impacts, the level of negative impacts depends on the nature of people’s online activities and the different activities that they give up in order to spend time socializing using the internet. The use of the internet as a platform that supports social interaction encourages individuals to spend considerable time socializing through online mediums at the expense of companionship and face-to-face communications. In this sense, interaction socially could be hindered by the dominant use of the int ernet and other online social platforms. Given the dominance in the use of the internet in the contemporary world, and its subsequent domination of social interaction, several issues arise. Pertinent issues related to impacts of the internet on social interaction include isolation. Evidently, the internet creates a world in which communication occurs in a virtual environment. The internet acts as an electronic mode that drives people out of the physical world and into a virtual space. Through connections in the virtual space, communicating parties may interact without challenges as if they are in a physical world (Cavanagh 36). As a result, the quality and number of physical social relationships that people develop is subject to compromise. There is a great difference between online relations, based on social media, and physical interactions. People do not expect any more consequences from virtual relationships, apart from the communication

Primary Health Care Essay Example for Free

Primary Health Care Essay Primary health care is essential health care based on practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods and technology made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community through their full participation and at a cost that the community and the country can afford. It forms an integral part of the country’s health system of which it is the nucleus, and of the overall social and economic development of the country. It is the first level of contact of individuals, the family and the community with the national health system bringing health care as close as possible to where people live and work and constitutes the first element of a continuing health care process (World Health Organisation 1978: 3-4, 34). This is a lengthy and complex definition, but we will break it down into shorter pieces and discuss each of them.

Portrayal of Jane Osborne in Vanity Fair Essay -- Victorian Era Willia

The Redundant Woman Thackeray’s portrayal of Jane Osborne in Vanity Fair is very troubling to the reader of the twentieth century. Grown to be a woman who is stuck under her tyrannical father’s roof, her life appears to be very confining and menial. Her sister snubs her, her nephew mocks her behind her back, her father mocks her to her face, and her main role in life seems to be as her father’s housekeeper. However, Thackeray’s portrayal would have had a very different effect on the Victorian reader. While all of these things which affronted us would have been equally awful to them, Thackeray uses another key phrase which has lost its effect on our modern minds: "that unfortunate and now middle-aged young lady" (448). Jane Osborne’s future has progressed from being uncertain, waiting somewhat impatiently for a suitor’s attentions, to a dreadful certainty; she is quickly becoming what the Victorians referred to as a â€Å"redundant woman.† Destiny A Victorian woman was bred up with the honored ideals of someday being â€Å"wives, daughters, and guardians of the home† (Parkinson). A model young woman was designed as a bargaining tool; her person, characteristics, skills, and, for those who were fortunate, dowry were key chips to be laid in a game of houses which defined the noblest aspirations of Victorian society. The very â€Å"spheres of influence† written about by so many authors of the time, both male and female, dictated that â€Å"what the woman is to be within her fates, as the centre of order, the balm of distress, and the mirror of beauty: that she is also to be without her fates, where order is more difficult, distress more imminent, loveliness more rare† (Ruskin). However, being bred for marriage produces a number of problems; hundre... ...n† has become very antiquated, and purposeless in a world where women have more and more opportunities for equal advancement, affirmative action, etc. It is interesting, however, to note that the ideas of â€Å"spheres of influence† still persist, though somewhat altered. Works Cited Greg, W. R. â€Å"Why Are Women Redundant?† (excerpt). Phoebe Junior. Elizabeth Langland. Broadview Literary Text. Toronto: Broadview Press Ltd., 2002. Pages 449-450. Ruskin, John. â€Å"Of Queen’s Gardens† (excerpt). Phoebe Junior. Elizabeth Langland. Broadview Literary Text. Toronto: Broadview Press Ltd., 2002. Pages 446-449. Parkinson, Allison. â€Å"Sphere Switching Polly, Work/Life Choices and the ‘redundant woman’ in 19th Century London.† November 9, 2004. Thackeray, William M. Vanity Fair. New York: Random House, Inc., 2001.

Accounting Standards Boards Essay

Increased globalization in the business world has brought to fore some of the issues and challenges that multinational businesses face in financial recording and reporting of foreign based operations. With operations based in different countries that operate under different accounting principles and with varying currencies, there has been a need for the accounting principles and standards to be converged. This has in the past nine years seen the accounting policy making suggesting a complete overhaul in the way financial statements are reported and a convergence between the US’s generally accepted accounting principles (US GAAP) and the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). This has been through various meetings between the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and US Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), two boards which determine these accounting standards. This paper therefore evaluates the history of the two boards and their relationship and looks at IASB equivalents to FASB original pronouncements. It also describes how a Master of Science in Accounting would prepare a student for an accounting profession. History of the Relationship between FASB and IASB US Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) is a board which is responsible for setting and improving financial accounting standards in the US and for governing and fostering preparation of financial reports by non-governmental organizations (Financial Accounting Standards Board, 2012).International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) on the other hand is also an independent board responsible for setting international financial reporting standards (IFRS Foundation, 2011). Whereas IASB and IFRS takes a principle based approach to accounting standards setting, FASB’S GAAP does this through pronouncements which are based or rules. They both put a lot of emphasis on income statements, balance sheet, statements of changes in equity and cash flow statements as key reports that are important in financial reporting. Over the past decade these two boards which determine the accounting standards in the world have been working towards ensuring that the financial reporting all over the world converges. The convergence concept first took root in the 1950s in response to the cross border capital inflows that were as a result of the economic integration after world war two. These efforts initially focused on reducing difference in accounting principles between major capital markets globally otherwise referred to as harmonization of the accounting principles. By 1990s the concept had changed into convergence which sought to build high quality financial reporting standards to be applied internationally (Financial Accounting Standards Board, 2012a). Both developed in the 1970s, FASB and IASC (international Accounting Standards Committee) a predecessor to IASB, set a trend for expanding international accounting standards and with the reorganization of IASC into IASB in 2001, the use of IFRS among various countries has progressed rapidly. For instance, over 100 countries and the European Union use these standards issued by IASB. The U.S. mainly uses its own issued US GAAP (Progress Report, 2011; Cain, 2008). IASB and FASB have been working together towards converging the IFRS and the US GAAP since 2002. Even China and Japan have been working to bring together their accounting standards with IFRS as at 2009. Over the past decade the pace of convergence has been very fast with the internationalization of standards growing rapidly. In 2010, Securities and Exchange Commission in the US issues a report supporting the convergence of these standards through incorporation of â€Å"the IFRS in the US financial system† (Financial Accounting Standards Board, 2012a). This implies that the US has been increasing exploring adopting IASB’s IFRSs, although there have been issues such as the fair value issues in IFRS and the cost of implementation that have slowed the progress. The IASB equivalents of the FASB original pronouncements As noted above, IASB’s IFRS takes a principle based approach to accounting standard setting as compared to FASB’s pronouncements which are viewed to be much stricter. In essence therefore, though IASB and FASB may address similar accounting concepts their approach to it may be different. It is these IASB’s equivalents to FASB’s pronouncements that bring the differences between GAAP and IFRS standards. Evaluating the FASB’s original pronouncements and IASB, the manner in which accounting concepts are approached can be noted. These are: whereas IASB’s IFRS requires that inventory costs of spoilage and idle capacity be excluded from the cost of inventory, FASB’s GAAP does not; IFRS requires yearly comparison of financial statements unlike US GAAP which only views comparisons as â€Å"desirable† but require three year comparisons; IFRS permits but does not require reporting of â€Å"comprehensive income† unlike US GAAP which requires it; IFRS classifies liabilities as non-current if refinancing is complete before the date of the balance sheet unlike GAAP which classifies it as so, if refinancing is completed before the financial statements are issued; and prohibition of extraordinary items from the financial reports by IFRS unlike GAAP which permits but to a restricted items which affect profit and loss (Deloitte, 2004; FASB Report, 2002). Other accounting concepts that differ between IASB and FASB’s original pronouncements are that IFRS requires that LIFO method of determining inventory cost be prohibited in IAS 2, unlike US GAAP which permits LIFO in SFAS 151, and that IFRS requires reversal of inventory write downs if given criteria are met unlike US GAAP which prohibits it. In addition FASB permits that inventory at net value be measured even if it is above cost unlike IFRS which restricts this to producers and broker-dealers inventories. FASB classifies the interest received and paid as operating activity in the cash flow statement unlike IASB which may classify it as financing, investing or operating activity. This leaves room for a number of interpretations. Furthermore, though FASB excludes overdrafts from cash, IASB includes it if it forms a critical and integral part of an organization’s cash base or cash management (Deloitte, 2004; FASB Report, 2002). Other IASB equivalents to FASB pronouncements are enumerated as shown below (Deloitte, 2004; FASB Report, 2002): -IFRS restates previous financial statements in the event of non-mandated changes in accounting policy, unlike FASB which includes cumulative effects current financial statement’s net loss and profits -IASB uses change in estimated method to evaluate changes in depreciation of assets, unlike FASB which used change in accounting policy that is the net profit or loss cumulative effect. -IASB uses cost recovery method for construction contracts when the completed percentage cannot be determined for sure unlike the USA GAAP which uses completed contract method -IASB does not recognize deferred tax due to the an asset or liability transaction that doesn’t affect accounting or taxable profit and is not a business combination in IAS 12 unlike the US GAAP recognizes this these through its lack of â€Å"initial recognition exemption† as addressed in SFAS 109. -US GAAP has special exemptions due to the provision of deferred tax such as leveraged leasing, intangible developments in the gas and oil industry and undistributed earnings -IASB uses a tax rate that is â€Å"substantially enacted† to measure deferred tax liabilities and assets, which can be left to a lot of interpretations, unlike FASB’s enacted tax rate which is sure and consistent -IASB uses rate applicable to undistributed earnings of an organization to measure the deferred tax on those earnings , unlike FASB which uses the higher of the tax rate between the one applicable to undistributed profits and the one applicable to distributed profits as addressed in SFAS 109 -IASB recognizes expense for share-based payment based on fair value of the payment whereas FASB recognizes this based on intrinsic value at grant date -IASB measures business combinations on the date of the acquisition whereas FASB does this on the date of consummation or closing date -IASB requires that recognizing a liability prior to acquisition restructuring be only if the one being acquired recognizes it under IAS 37, this is unlike FASB which recognizes it if the acquisition has already began -IASB recognizes in process R&D as an intangible finite asset or good will, unlike FASB which recognizes it as expense How MSA Program prepares student for professional Accounting A Master of Science in accounting program is very important for anyone who intends to pursue an accounting career in the future. This program prepares a student by providing knowledge on the various accounting principles that need be applied in accounting profession. It also makes a student be aware of the various accounting standards that are existing in the world, how each differ, and how accounting records and done in each. In addition such a program provides analytical and critical thinking abilities. In addition, it offers a global perspective on accounting practices and business issues and provides a framework for effective development for team building and leadership skills, and ethical decision making in business. Lastly it will enhance interpersonal and communications skills through interactions which seek to learn ways of solving problems and issues in the accounting and finance realm. All these are critical for a career as an accountant. Conclusion This paper has discussed the history of the FASB and IASB boards and their relationship and has looked at IASB equivalents to FASB original pronouncements. It has shown that standardized management accounting and controlling concepts that transcend national boundaries are increasingly needed with concern on the need of an internationalized Accounting and financial reporting standard to help in comparing of financial statements of countries from different countries and also to make it efficient and less costly for multinational companies when they are conducting financial reporting of their performance. IASB and FASB have made tremendous progress thus fur in their bid to converge the global accounting standards.

Work Ethics in Cosmetology

When starting a career in cosmetology, it is imperative to develop a strong code of work ethics. Having a strong work ethic shows that a person is self motivated, conducts themselves in a professional manner, and is able to self evaluate. It is necessary to possess these qualities because they will determine how successful one can become in this industry. The first important fundamental of a strong work ethic is self motivation. Self motivation is the ability to satisfy a desire, expectation, or goal with out being influenced to do so by another person. Having this motivation is important in the work place because it allows one to stay focused and perform tasks to the best of their ability. A person who lacks self motivation is someone who is â€Å"lazy† or simply does not care. This could negatively affect the way a salon is run. An unmotivated receptionist for example, may not take down an appointment correctly. This could potentially disrupt a stylists entire schedule for the day, upset the client, and make the entire salon look bad. Another key element to having a strong work ethic is having a positive attitude. Having a positive attitude makes a person enjoyable to be around. This allows for a pleasant work environment and creates a professional atmosphere for clients. It is also important to maintain a positive attitude when learning a new technique or skill. For instance, when learning a new updo, it is very difficult to make it look perfect on the first attempt. Someone with a negative attitude would get frustrated and give up. A progressive thinker would stay positive and try to reevaluate the situation and learn from their mistakes. Lastly, when first starting out in this industry it is important have the ability to self evaluate in order to grow. Self evaluation requires one to assess his or her own work to find strengths and weaknesses. This would help a new stylist learn which areas they need to improve in. For example, if one struggled with foils, they could ask a more experienced co-worker for constructive criticism to find out what they are doing wrong. This will allow the stylist to correct their mistakes and learn from them. Developing a code of work ethics does not happen over night. It takes years of hard work to build on these skills to become a true professional. However, with the right attitude, determination, and the eagerness to learn, one can become extremely successful in the cosmetology industry.

buy custom Hepatitis B essay

buy custom Hepatitis B essay Hepatitis B is a viral disease that affects the liver, originally the disease was known as serum hepatitis. The virus causing this disease is called the hepatitis B virus. The hepatitis B is an infection that is bloodborne; this means that the virus is present in the blood, as well as body fluids of an infected person (World Health Organization 97). It is transmitted through exposure to fluids of an infected individual; the blood or fluid infected with the Hepatitis B Virus enters the body via an opening or a cut, causing an infection. Conditions that pose risks of hepatitis infection include unsafe use of injections; this has been observed mostly in developing countries; approximately 8-16 million cases of HBV infections are caused by the use of contaminated needles (World Health Organization 97). Another risk is having unprotected sex or intravenous drug use; the exchange of HBV infected fluids during these risky activities leads to hepatitis B infection. According to research, most people infected with hepatitis show no symptoms, they lead normal lives, however, many years of infection lead to a serious damage of the liver, which can lead to liver cancer and sometimes liver failure. Why Hepatitis B Hepatitis B virus infection is a major public health problem around the world; it has brought much suffering to the world population. According to research carried out by the World Health Organization, more than 350 million of 2 billin people infected with Hepatitis B are chronic carriers, and close to 15-40% of people infected with hepatitis B develop hepatocellular carcinoma, liver failure or cirrhosis (World Health Organization 98). The WHO report also reveals that HBV infections claim 0.5-1.2 million lives each year, and it is ranked 10th among the leading cause of death in the world. Hepatocellular carcinoma, a condition caused by hepatitis B infection, has increased around the world; it is ranked 5th among the most frequent cancers around the world, killing 0.3-0.5 million people each year. Many people around the world are at risk of hepatitis B infection; this is because according to WHO report, approximately 45% of the world population lives in chronic HBV prevalence areas, these areas include, the Pacific, especially Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. However, there are areas with many cases of chronic HBV infection and yet they are outside the high prevalence region; these areas include the Indian subcontinent, Middle East, the Amazon basin and the south of East and Central Europe (World Health Organization 102). The high prevalence areas have also recorded high rates of Hepatocellular carcinoma. These reports show that a large population in the world is at risk of contracting hepatitis B and other conditions related to it, and if the condition is not managed, the affected regions world expand, and the cases of death related to hepatitis B would increase. Eradication of Hepatitis B Good news is that hepatitis B is aa condition that can be eradicated; this is because there is hepatitis B vaccine, which is safe and effective in protecting uninfected people from HBV infection, as well as the advancement of cancer of the liver (World Health Organization par 13). This means that those with chronic HBV infections can also live a normal life because the treatment can prevent further liver damage, and with early detection of cancer related to hepatitis B, patients can successfully be treated. How to Eradicate Hepatitis B Nations that have high cases of hepatitis B should have programs such as immunization and vaccine programs to prevent the uninfected from being infected, this might include immunization after birth to prevent mother-child transmission and other forms of transmissions (Kukka 2). The international community should support countries affected by poverty by helping them strengthen their health delivery systems; this would ensure safe delivery of vaccines, thus preventing hepatitis B infections (World Health Organization par 6). All nations around the world, especially those with high cases of hepatitis B should create public awareness program on the importance of hepatitis B testing and screening for liver cancer; this would encourage testing. Early detection of hepatitis B and liver cancer would help patients, and the health practitioners to manage the disease, and reduce further infection among the population. These programs would help reduce the spread to uninfected areas and slowly el iminate the disease from regions with high rates on infection. Buy custom Hepatitis B essay

Terrorism Throughout the History of the United States

Terrorism Throughout the History of the United States Terrorism in America, like America itself, is a product of the many populations, issues and conflicts that co-exist within the nation’s borders. The United States is nearly unique among nations for its ability to â€Å"contain multitudes† in relative harmony. On examination, a substantial amount of terrorism in American history is motivated by an extreme distrust of the American ideal of democracy, in which people of varied backgrounds can all claim loyalty to and the benefits of the American system. In other words, despite enormous variation in terrorism’s expression, domestic terrorism in the United States can often be explained as a violent claim over what or who is authentically American. This distrust has had various forms of expression by different groups, in different periods. Colonists Use Violence to Proclaim Independence Although the Boston Tea Party does not necessarily come to mind as an act of terrorism, the staged rebellion by colonists was meant to threaten the British into changing its policy of taxing colonist tea importers imports, while offering a tariff-free trade to its East India Tea Company. Putting the Boston Tea Party in the category of terrorism can be a useful exercise for comparing the goals and tactics of different national liberation groups, which is what the Americansonce upon a timewere. Post-Civil War Terrorism - Violent White Supremacy The first and arguably most entrenched terrorist in the United States is based in an ideology called white supremacy, which holds that white Protestant Christians are superior to other ethnicities and races and that public life should reflect this purported hierarchy. In the period before the Civil War, American social organization did, in fact, reflect a presumed white supremacy, since slavery was legal. It was only after the Civil War, when Congress and the Union military began to enforce equality between the races, that white supremacy emerged. The Ku Klux Klan grew out of this period, using a variety of means to terrorize and harm African-Americans and sympathetic whites. In 1871, they were outlawed by Congress as a terrorist group, but they have had several violent incarnations since then. The Ku Klux Klan is no longer outwardly violent, but it has many chapters and continues to spread a racist ideology today, often against immigrants. Communists and Anarchist Violence Erupts in the 1920s The Bolshevik revolution that created the Soviet Union in 1917 had a powerful effect on socialist-minded revolutionaries the world over, including in the United States. And the roaring twenties, a period of tremendous wealth building by American robber barons provided a useful background for agitators against inequality. Most of this agitation had nothing to do with terrorism - labor strikes were common, for example. But anarchist and communist violence expressed the extreme end of a mainstream rift running through American society. The resulting red scare expressed peoples terrible fear that a communist revolution could unfold on American soil. One of the first cases of terrorism to be investigated by the FBI was the 1920 bombing on Wall Street by suspected anarchists. A spate of unsolved bombings in 1920 also gave rise to the infamous Palmer Raids, a series of mass arrests of Americans of Russian and other origins. The 1920s were also a period of upsurge in KKK violence, carried o ut not only against African-Americans but also against Jews, Catholics, and immigrants. Domestic Terrorism Explodes in the 1960s-1970s The expansion of plane travel beyond an elite few in the 1950s and 1960s enabled hijacking - or skyjacking, as it was known then. In the United States, flights going to and from Cuba frequently hijacked, although not always motivated by a strong political intention. This was the era, in other parts of the world, of post-colonial national liberation movements. In Algeria, in the Middle East, in Cuba, guerrilla warfare was revolutionary chic as much as it was a serious tactic. Both the serious intention and the youthful fashion took hold in the United States. American youth opposed to what they viewed as American imperialism, fueled by the ideals of civil rights for blacks, women, gays, and others, and deeply opposed to the deepening entanglement in Vietnam, turned radical. And some turned violent. Some had a relatively coherent platform, such as the Black Panthers and the Weathermen, while others, like the Symbionese Liberation Army - which, famously, kidnapped heiress Patty Hearst - were more generally in favor of something vaguely revolutionary. Right-Wing Terrorism on the Rise in the 1980s The radicalism of the 1960s and 1970s was followed by the conservatism of the Reagan era, in mainstream America. Political violence  too  took a turn to the right. In the 1980s, white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups such as Aryan Nation saw a resurgence, often among working-class white males, who perceived themselves as displaced by women, African Americans, Jews, and immigrants who benefited from new civil rights legislation. Terrorism in the name of Christianity also surged in the 1980s and 1990s. Radical groups and individuals committed to violent action to stop abortion were among the most visible. Michael Bray, head of a group called the Army of God spent four years in prison for his abortion clinic bombings in the 1980s. In 1999, the most lethal act of domestic violence to date occurred when Timothy McVeigh bombed the Alfred P. Murrah building in  Oklahoma City, killing 168 people. McVeighs stated motivation - revenge against a federal government that he viewed as intrusive and oppressive, was an extreme version of more mainstream desire among many for a smaller government. Dean Harvey Hicks, a citizen angry over his taxes, for example, created the one-man terrorist group Up the IRS, Inc. and tried to bomb IRS locations. Global terrorism comes to America The September 11,  2001  attacks by  Al Qaeda  continue to dominate the story of terrorism in the United States in the 21st century. The attacks were the first major act of global terrorism in U.S. territory. It was the culminating event of a decade of rising extremist, militant religious sentiment in many quarters of the world.

5 New Years Resolutions Mark Zuckerberg Made That Can Inspire You

5 New Years Resolutions Mark Zuckerberg Made That Can Inspire You By any stretch, Mark Zuckerberg is one successful guy. He has more money than most of us can even conceive of, he spends a lot of that money and time on philanthropic efforts, and- oh yeah- he runs the biggest social networking company in the world. Yet even from his vantage point at the top of the world, there’s room for self-improvement. Zuckerberg has made some strong New Year’s resolutions in the past. And although they may be a little extreme for someone with more modest means and less time available, we can learn a lot from his approach.Here are some of his past years’ resolutions (or â€Å"challenges†), and what we can take from them.1. â€Å"Learning to speak Mandarin.†Becoming fluent in a challenging language may not be super-accessible to someone juggling a job, a family, and daily obligations without a full-time language tutor. But you can certainly find time to learn a new skill this year.2. â€Å"Writing a thank you note each day to so meone who made the world better.†If you have time to write a flowery thank you note to Gandhi or Elvis every day this year, great. If you don’t, just saying â€Å"thank you† to someone each day is great, too. You could make a coworker’s day by thanking him for something that might ordinarily go unnoticed. Being thankful for the smaller things (even when bigger things are going wrong) might also help you feel less stressed at work.3. â€Å"Being a vegetarian (or only eating meat if I killed the animal myself).†Again, this one could be a very large commitment, depending on how much you love bacon. But really, it could be any healthy habit that makes you more mindful. Maybe it’s 10  minutes of yoga at lunch. Maybe it’s going to a spin class after work to decompress. This one could also be about self-accountability and embracing the choices you make in the workplace, instead of looking for the nearest coworker to throw under the bus.4. à ¢â‚¬Å"Wearing a tie every day.†When I saw this one, I thought of the old adage, â€Å"dress for the job you want.† Even as society and workplaces have gotten more casual, there’s some merit in this one. Taking an extra step to look good for work can make you feel sharper and more ready for the day.5. â€Å"Meeting one new person who doesn’t work at Facebook every day.†This challenge is about building your network, social and professional. Getting out there and making connections is one of the best things you can do to make your year brighter. Best case, you’ve created relationships that could take your career to the next level. Worst case, you’ve widened your world a little bit.So what do you think? Are you up for these challenges, or ones like them?This article is part of Bulk Up Your Career in 2017  campaign. Access the entire guide here to help you succeed in 2017.

Forensic Psychology and Criminal Investigation Essay - 3

Forensic Psychology and Criminal Investigation - Essay Example Pornography might initially be used for sexual relief; however, in the longer run, it only serves as a lethal toxin, paving the way towards pathological behaviour. Empirical studies have established a strong co-relation between violent pornography and sexual aggression, sexual callousness, acceptance of the rape myth and such sexually deviant beliefs (Allen, Emmers, Gebhardt, & Giery, 1995). Over the past few decades, the increased portrayal of group sex, anal intercourse, sadomasochistic behaviour, and trivialization of child sexual abuse has resulted in marked increase for real in such deviant practices (Langstrom & Zucker, 2005). With the proliferation in pornography, hyper-sexualisation has flooded contemporary societies (Longo, Brown, & Price, 2002). Nowadays adolescents reach puberty earlier, indulging in various risky sexually deviant acts. Similarly, adults have displayed an accelerating trend towards cohabitation, having children without the burden of being wedlock. Thus, today’s technological era demands stringent supervision and restrictions on Internet use. Undoubtedly, this shield against Internet pornography, will allow individuals to unfold sexuality in a healthy, natural, and socially acceptable manner. In the modern sexualized culture, children need to be taught abstinence to channel their sexuality towards stable marriage, reproduction, and a healthy family life (Carroll, Padilla-Walker, Nelson, Olson, Barry, & Madsen, 2008). It is high time for government to alter its relatively laissez-faire attitude towards Internet pornographic explosion by banning such websites. It is difficult to ascertain as to what precisely constitutes as acceptable pornography since people are aroused to varying content. Extreme pornographic images as delineated in section 63 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 are already banned in the United Kingdom. This comprises of images that

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS - Assignment Example I can apply my skills in the computer not only in my home country in the KSA but anywhere in the world. My past history in computing has been from an early age along with my academic career that was related to computing. From the young age of 14, I was already working with computers in Saudi Arabia. That went on for about two years. I did gain much experience in this field and this motivated me to choose the computing field to be my future career. This is when I decided to go to the UK to pursue my studies in computers. It was difficult adjusting to life in a foreign land and I had to overcome a few hurdles. However being a hardworking person helped me to maintain my targets. Within a short time period I developed and gained many skills and abilities as I am a fast learner and attentive to details. I made sure that I always read and develop new vocabularies and learning new concepts of computing. I did International Foundation year at Bradford University and I learned many things tha t created for me a strong foundation towards my progression towards a computing career. I learned the fundamentals that are necessary for a computing degree and I believe that I have the necessary tools that will enable me to be creative and effective towards my computing degree. I already obtained my results for term 1. I am currently waiting for my term 2 results that will be issued very shortly. International Foundation year has solidified me more and gave me a direct path to degree study at university and ensured that I gain the skills and knowledge to succeed in a computing degree. It helped me gain scientific knowledge and understanding to a level where I will be suitable for a computing career. My main target in life is to be useful person able to help, share and be creative therefore, I choose computing as my main career. My main aim is to establish my degree in computing degree and after that stage, i am willing to continue and pursue a Masters’ degree and consequent ly, a PHD at a later stage in future.    SWOT Analysis I have been thrown in various situations and in each one, I learn more about myself and about others. These situations make me reflect on what I have learned from them. According to Osterman (1990), â€Å"reflection is the essential part of the learning process because it results in making sense of or extracting meaning from the experience†. One should not just go through life as if everything comes as second nature. We need to think critically if what we are doing is truly meaningful and relevant or if we are just wasting our time on something insignificant. I have also used a SWOT analysis of my strengths and weaknesses in my current situation and what opportunities and threats are around me. Strengths: My self-analysis process revealed that I am the ultimate â€Å"people-person†. I attract people to approach me without any reservations. I have a strong belief in my own skills and have the ability to inspire ot hers to do well for themselves, with me setting a good example. I am an enabler, sincerely encouraging people to bring out the best in themselves, cheering them on along the way to their success. I am known to be generous, giving whatever time and energy I can without expecting something in return. In terms of work, I am very capable

Three Gorges Dam in China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Three Gorges Dam in China - Essay Example Even though, Chinese authorities describe the construction of this dam as a landmark, many of the environmentalists questioned such claims. It is a fact that this dam is the blend of social, engineering and economic successes; however the controversies surrounding the construction of this dam are still creating headaches to the Chinese authorities. â€Å"The massive project sets records for number of people displaced (more than 1.2 million), number of cities and towns flooded (13 cities, 140 towns, 1,350 villages), and length of reservoir (more than 600 kilometers)†1. Moreover many of the wild life lost its habitat as a result of the construction of this dam. Ecological problems, high risk of landslides, etc are some other issues raised by the critics of this dam. This paper briefly analyses the history, statistics and the environmental impact this dam has had on the area surrounding its location. â€Å"The Three Gorges Dam spans the Yangtze River at Sandouping, Yichang, Hube i province, China. Construction began in 1993†2. It is the biggest hydroelectric power station in the world at present with a capacity to produce 18200 MW electric powers. It was partly commissioned in 2008 and is expected to be fully operational by 2012. It is expected that the when it is fully operational, its capacity may reach 22500 MW of electric power. This dam was constructed for multipurpose. Even though the major purpose of constructing this dam was to find an answer to the huge energy crisis facing by China, prevention of flood, increasing shipping capacity etc were some other major objectives behind the construction of this dam. The major criticism labelled against hydroelectric power projects all over the world is about the environmental problems such projects can generate. Since Three Gorges Dam is the biggest in its category, the environmental problems produced by it cannot be neglected. As in the cases of other hydroelectric power projects in the world, the envi ronmental impacts of this dam could be more visible as time goes on. The submergence of hundreds of factories, mines and waste dumps, and the presence of massive industrial centres upstream are creating a festering bog of effluent, silt, industrial pollutants and rubbish in the reservoir. Erosion of the reservoir and downstream riverbanks is causing landslides, and threatening one of the world’s biggest fisheries in the East China Sea. The weight of the reservoir's water has many scientists concerned over reservoir-induced seismicity3 Yangtze River is the third biggest river in the world and its coastal areas are highly fertile and heavily populated. â€Å"The world's largest dam will flood over 62,000 acres of farmland, 13 major cities, 140 large, and hundreds of small villages along the river's banks, necessitating the evacuation and relocation of over one million people†4. The wild life around the coastal areas of Yangtze River lost its habitat along with millions o f people. The beautiful landscape which was earlier filled with a variety of agricultural crops, converted into an ocean which may become an ocean of waste as time goes on, as a result of the construction of this dam. â€Å"Water quality in the main reservoir remained stable, but pollution was worsening in tributaries because of high levels of nitrates and phosphates that had already endangered drinking water in some areas†5. In other words, not only the water inside the dam, drinking water sources in the neighbourhood of this dam also could be polluted as result of the construction of this dam. â€Å"According to a CNN article, one billion tons of sewage will flow into the reservoir each year. Pollution in the river itself will increase, as the dam will slow water flow, stopping the river’

Cheerleading Practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Cheerleading Practice - Essay Example Although it was difficult to catch up with the professionals, I poured my heart and soul into the routines and quickly caught on. I continued to dance through the pain in the hope that I was strengthening the muscles around the injury. As time passed, I was asked to audition for Atlantic Art’s dance company and was accepted into a family of incredibly talented dancers. The company included me in a great number of shows, community service opportunities, competitions, and theater projects. Over the years, I traveled to New York for Youth American Grand Prix and competed against ballet dancers from all over the world, danced in The Rock School of Pennsylvania and the Orlando Ballet School. The proceeding years I traveled back to New York, performed in the famous Broadway show ‘Wicked’.   Today, after almost six years, my back does not bother me anymore. I believe dancing has helped my mind and body overcome the obstacles that my cheerleading accident caused.

Art History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 5

Art History - Essay Example The interior of the krakers was glazed so as to make the clay surface suitable for holding water. Also, for aesthetic reasons because the interior was seen easily (Richter, 55). The participants at the start of each symposium elected a lord of common drink or symposiarch. This lord would be in charge of the wine servants, the degree of wine dilution and how it changes as the party continues, and the rate at which the cups will be filled. The centerpiece of the symposiarch’s power was how the krater was filled and emptied. An astute symposiarch was able to make out the degree of inebriation of his fellow participants. Hence, he made sure that the event went on smoothly and without cases of excess drunkenness. Drinking undiluted wine in ancient Greece was considered low, as it characterized the person dinking a drunkard and someone who lacked self-control and principle. For an optimal long conversation, the ancient writers advised a ratio of one is to three (wine to water). A ratio of one is to two was for fun, and a ratio of one is to one was suitable for orgiastic revelry (Richter, 75). There were various forms of krakers. These include column kraker, which has its origin in Corinth though it was Athenians. Calyx krater, this kraker resembles the shape of a calyx flower. It has low handles, which protrude at the base of the bowl. Volute krater, it is attic in shape and has handles which look like the volute of a capital. Bell kraker, it has the look of inverted bell, and they are all red-figure. On this assignment, the focus will lie on the Calyx kraker mixing bowl. The calyx kraker depicts dueling scenes from the Trojan War. The mixing bowl is in the museum of fine arts in Boston. The bowl is from the late archaic period about 490-480 B.C. It has a height of 45.2 cm, or 17 13/16 in diameter is 51.3 cm (20 3/6 in). It is a red figure ceramic classified as Greek vessel. The Tyszkiewicz painter got his name from the vessel (Richter,

Global Executive Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Global Executive - Essay Example us opportunities available in today’s transnational business environments a global executive has to have a profile to explore these possibilities and navigate his company. He has to have a vision and a strategy. Kenneth Chenault is the CEO of American Express (AmEx), a company that forwarded freight and valuables initially. Today AmEx has evolved into a company that creates and sells financial products and is well known for its charge card. International expansion has made American Express a global payments company. Kenneth Chenault has most of the qualities if not all, that are required to succeed in a global and a highly competitive credit- and charge-card business. According to Timothy O’Brien (1999) Chenault is known to be a â€Å"savvy marketer and a determined revenue builder†. A global executive has to have the following competencies : Strong management skills, able to think globally, sensitive enough to build lead effective teams that are diverse (cross-cultural), competitive, expert in recruiting talent from different regions, must be able to teach, motivate and influence, strong in building inter-persinal relationships, ready to empower people, must ensure feedbacks, has to be a good listener and a communicator as well , ability to encourage constructive dialogue, leadership qualities to lead change and innovation and last but not least to learn from experience.. Doug Lennick and Fred Kiel (2005) have said in their book that the four elements vital for sustained success are integrity, responsibility, compassion and forgiveness. A global executive has to have these qualities. Being a global executive means having a vision and a right strategy. His strategy was to expand the charge card network through banks and financial institutions; offering wider financial and investment services and increasing the market share in niche segments like small businesses and overseas markets. He used technolgy like the web and smart cards for this purpose. He

Art History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 5

Art History - Essay Example The interior of the krakers was glazed so as to make the clay surface suitable for holding water. Also, for aesthetic reasons because the interior was seen easily (Richter, 55). The participants at the start of each symposium elected a lord of common drink or symposiarch. This lord would be in charge of the wine servants, the degree of wine dilution and how it changes as the party continues, and the rate at which the cups will be filled. The centerpiece of the symposiarch’s power was how the krater was filled and emptied. An astute symposiarch was able to make out the degree of inebriation of his fellow participants. Hence, he made sure that the event went on smoothly and without cases of excess drunkenness. Drinking undiluted wine in ancient Greece was considered low, as it characterized the person dinking a drunkard and someone who lacked self-control and principle. For an optimal long conversation, the ancient writers advised a ratio of one is to three (wine to water). A ratio of one is to two was for fun, and a ratio of one is to one was suitable for orgiastic revelry (Richter, 75). There were various forms of krakers. These include column kraker, which has its origin in Corinth though it was Athenians. Calyx krater, this kraker resembles the shape of a calyx flower. It has low handles, which protrude at the base of the bowl. Volute krater, it is attic in shape and has handles which look like the volute of a capital. Bell kraker, it has the look of inverted bell, and they are all red-figure. On this assignment, the focus will lie on the Calyx kraker mixing bowl. The calyx kraker depicts dueling scenes from the Trojan War. The mixing bowl is in the museum of fine arts in Boston. The bowl is from the late archaic period about 490-480 B.C. It has a height of 45.2 cm, or 17 13/16 in diameter is 51.3 cm (20 3/6 in). It is a red figure ceramic classified as Greek vessel. The Tyszkiewicz painter got his name from the vessel (Richter,

Human behavior- ch 10 reflection Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Human behavior- ch 10 reflection - Assignment Example 299). Somehow, this particular thought or idea made me think of some possible reasons why human behavior is more of a social function rather than a psychological process. Through the use of effective communication skills, Mead explained that the active participation of each person within a social structure is merely an instrument to know more about the personal experiences and conduct of each individual (p. 301). In line with this, Mead’s theory on social psychology is heavily based on ‘social behaviorism’. It simply means that the ‘inner experiences’ of each individual significantly affects their behavior or action (p. 301). Often times, cultural practices or patterns can be observed within a given social structure. For this reason, I strongly agree and support the theory of Mead such that the way each person would interact with other human beings can affect not only their unique personal experiences in life but also how they manage to develop a set of attitude and behavior. It is not every day that all people can get a positive feeling or experience when they communicate with other people. For this reason, not everybody can develop a strong positive relationship with other people. This is true because people who have gone through harsh or negative experiences in life can unconsciously develop negative feelings such as hatred or anger. Eventually, feelings of hatred or anger can indirectly affect the way a person would behave with other people. deeply rooted in social process and structure (p. 299). As a result of day-to-day experiences in life, each person is able to feel and act in response to their personal experiences with other people. Aside from molding how a person would behave in public, the quality of social interaction an individual will have with another person or a group of people can also shape how they will perceive or view themselves as a person (p. 301). In my day-to-day living, I am exposed to a large group of

Office Management Essay Example for Free

Office Management Essay According to Npower (Business Case Studies) Often these decisions are administrative in nature and can be implemented quickly and tend to carry a little risk and are smaller scale, but are never the less important choices that people have to make to fulfil their role. Strategic Decision Implementing that laptops are to be used by partners while out of the office would be a strategic decision. There are lots of problems with the partners being out of the office and with the use of laptops as communication tools this will provide a direct link between the office staff and the partners. I believe that this is a strategic decision as with the right planning and overseeing the development this could really be a step forward for Classic Interiors because work can be exchanged between partners and the office and messages can be passed on effectively meaning that there won’t be a build-up of work or office staff with no work and communication between everyone will be made a lot easier. Operational Decision Stipulating a lunch time for each staff member would be an organisational decision. The current system for lunch time is not convenient as the employees get to decide when they go as long as one of them is in the office. I believe this is an operational decision because if affects the day to day running of the organisation. If the administrators were set a lunch hour each they would have to stick to it and get used to working alongside the time set. Role of Office Manager Operational Planning Process As the office manager my role in establishing a new routine for lunch hour would be to organise a meeting to communicate the proposed changes with administrators and gain their views. Then I would create a plan to put forward to the administrators and partners. When a decision has been reached and the new plan is put into action I would have to oversee the progress of the plan gathering feedback at every opportunity. Issues There is increased frustration between partners and administrators due to the partners carrying out task they believe the administrators could be doing which would free up more time for the partners. The solution to this would be to for all administrators to be trained how to use the specialist interior design software, this would enable them to alleviate the work load from the partners and feel more involved in the design side of their work. This would likely be time consuming to train the administrators but the overall outcome would be beneficial to the company. The relationship between partners and the administrators is suffering due to the partners being out of the office as communication is often via short telephone messages and emails which has led to information being mis-communicated. The solution would be to introduce the use of PDA’s (Personal digital Assistants) for partners to be able to communicate with administrators. This would enable the administrators to contact the partners if a problem arises while carrying out work so that no mistakes are made and also they would be able to check their diaries to make appointments without the chance of double booking. Instant messaging could also help with communication as they are received instantly and can be replied to in seconds. Financial Planning and Budgetary Control Financial Planning According to Jim Priebe (ehow) A financial plan is like a blue print. It is a description of what you want to achieve and the tools you need to achieve it. Financial planning is the process of asking questions to ensure that you manage your risk against unexpected events. Managers need to be able to exercise control over the organisation that they manage to make sure that financial plans are being achieved both for the long term and the short term. Benefits of financial planning are: 1 Reducing the risk of a financial crisis. 2 Allows you to understand how each financial decision made affects other areas of finance. Barriers of financial planning are: 1 It can be time consuming 2 Can be costly as will involve accountants. Budgetary Control Budgetary control is precise control of an organisations operations through establishment of standards and targets concerning income and expenditure. Continuous monitoring is required to be effective. Benefits of budgetary control are: 1 Coordinates activities across departments. 2 Provides a record of organisational activities. Barriers of budgetary control are: 1 Budgets can demotivate staff. 2 May cause competition for resources. Effective Delegation Delegation is the distribution of tasks by the office manager. Giving responsibilities to employees to carry out the work but the work will remain liable to the office manager. When delegation is carried out properly very good results and high productivity can be achieved. The Process of Delegation Delegation can be very difficult. The process of delegation is: 1 Define the task 2 Select the Individual 3 Explain what must be achieved (clear instructions) 4 Discuss requirement to completion 5 Agree a deadline 6 Be there for support 7 Always give feedback Benefits Time management would be a benefit of delegation as this would allow partners to delegate work so that they have a more manageable work load. Delegating tasks will motivate staff and increase productivity. Barriers Forcing someone to do a task that they don’t want to or are not capable of would be a barrier, this can be seen in the case study when Izzy asked one of the administrators to just follow what had been done before. This lead to the administrator getting upset and Izzy feeling unable to approach anyone else. This could have been avoided by management setting out a procedure for staff to follow and allocating the task to someone suitable. Confusion about who is ultimately responsible for tasks is a barrier to effective delegation, this can be seen in the case study as partners are frustrated because they believe that administration is responsible for some of their tasks. This can be corrected by training administrators to make the delegation process easier. Leadership Models I think Tomi uses democratic leadership. As Tomi involves the staff in the decision making process of meeting times and encouraged staff to offer their opinions which made the administrators feel like what they said mattered. I believe Izzi uses Autocratic Leadership. When Izzi was in charge she would decide the times of meetings even when it was inconvenient to the others meaning work started to suffer which she then thought they could not manage and devised a new procedure which is hopeless but Izzi cannot see this. Staff find it difficult to communicate with her. Autocratic Leadership works where there is no need for input on the decisions and Democratic leadership works when a leader seeks help and guidance from staff to make decisions. Democratic leadership The impact of this leadership style is that it gives staff a voice and they are able to communicate better with management. Democratic leadership style encourages better cooperation and motivates staff because they feel well informed in everything that affects their work. Autocratic Leadership The impact of this leadership style is that it fails to motivate staff and they feel forced to do things managements way although It is not always the best way and staff become stressed being pushed. Autocratic leadership style encourages no communication between staff and management as management make all the decisions based on what they feel is best for the organisation. References Hamel, G. (2008) ‘What is strategic Decision Making’ http://smallbusiness. chron. com/strategic-decision-making-23782. html Npower. ‘Developing people through decision making’ http://businesscasestudies. co. uk/npower/developing-people-through-decision-making/tactical-decisions. html Priebe, J. ‘What is the purpose of Financial Planning’ http://www. ehow. com/info_7755005_purpose-financial-plan. html

Foreign Policies For The Malaysian Systems

Foreign Policies For The Malaysian Systems Malaysias foreign policy is premised on establishing close and friendly relations with countries in the community of nations. Tun Razak had embarked on a series of dazzling initiatives in foreign policy largely to move Malaysia from its pro-western, anti communist stance, which had been adopted since independence under the tunkus leadership. This is achieved through upholding the countrys sovereignty and promoting universal peace; fostering friendly relations with foreign countries and protecting Malaysias interests in the regional and international arena. In other words, Malaysia will continue to consolidate its relations with other countries and international organisations, both at the regional and international level. Tunku razak felt this was necessitated by its national security needs, which required Malaysia to live in peaceful co existence with all countries, communist or non communist. In 1971, the year he took over as Prime Minister, he had to face the problem of britains wi thdrawal of its armed forces in Malaysia. Even earlier Britain had given similar commitments to Malaya since 1957 and both Sarawak and Sabah, its former colonies, until they joined Malaysia in 1963. In the superpower race, Britain was no longer capable of maintaining itself as aglobal power due to the dismantling of its colonial empire, and a slow-down in its economy. Although Britain indicated it might participate in a five power commonwealth defence force, it would not provide anything like its former number of troops. In line with our objectives of promoting and protecting Malaysian national interest abroad, the Ministry has established a total of 105 missions in 83 countries and appointed 53 Honorary Consuls who provide support and assistance in promoting Malaysias interest abroad. Since the independence of Malaya in 1957, the nations foreign policy has gone through several phases of significant transition with different emphases under five previous premierships. The policy has been largely determined by the established national characteristics and succession of political leadership as well as by the dynamic regional and international environment. A period of consolidation ensued under Tun Hussein Onn with ASEAN becoming the cornerstone of Malaysias foreign policy following the collapse of Saigon, the withdrawal of the US military presence from Southeast Asia and the invasion of Kampuchea by Vietnam. During the premiership of Tun Dr. Mahathir in 1981, Malaysia began relations with more nations and became a symbol of a rising developing country. Under Tun Mahathirs tenure, the nations foreign policy began adopting a much greater economic orientation in the countrys external relations while championing the rights, interests and aspirations of developing countries. Malaysia became the voice of the developing world and was a role model for many developing countries as it become well known for its active stance at the UN and other international conferences. Malaysias participation in peacekeeping missions under the UN is also a testimony of the nations seriousness in instilling the will of the international community. The fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi continued to ensure that Malaysia was active in the international arena. During his tenure, Malaysia played an instrumental role in the formulation and adoption of the ASEAN Charter which has been ratified by all ASEAN member states and subsequently entered into force on 15th December 2008. During this period, Malaysia was also active in expanding the focus of OIC from being an organisation focused solely on political issues into one which focuses on the socio-economic development of Islamic countries. Among the key elements of the 1Malaysia concept is in realising the strength of Malaysia lies in its diversity. This concept bodes well with the main vision of Malaysias Foreign Policy that is to protect and promote interests abroad and at the same time responsibly and effectively contribute towards the building of a fair and just world. Dato Sri Najib believes that the interconnectedness of nations in the world means that Malaysia would benefit in applying 1Malaysia in its efforts in diplomacy and foreign relations. Malaysia will maintain close relations with all countries in the world and will work with like-minded nations in pursuing national interest. Malaysias foreign policy is structured upon a framework of bilateralism, regionalism and multilateralism where. ASEAN forms the core priority of Malaysias current foreign policy. Looking further a field, as a country with a strong Muslim majority, Malaysia also gives importance to the solidarity of the Ummah and the spirit of cooperation among the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC). Malaysias status as a developing nation makes it imperative for the country to engage actively in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Malaysia plays a significant role in the various multilateral issues that affect our interests. These issues include disarmament, counter terrorism, trafficking in persons, climate change and environmental issues. As a member of the UN, Malaysia is a firm believer of international peace and security and an upholder of international law. Malaysias election as the President of United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for 2010 and the Chairmanship of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) were a further testimony of Malaysias positive international image. The fundamental principles of sovereign equality, mutual respect for territorial integrity, peaceful settlement of disputes as well as mutual benefit in relations are the guiding principles that would continue to guide Malaysias relations with other countries. These principles have stood the test of time. Indeed, our steadfast adherence to these principles, supported by a consistent foreign policy, has established for Malaysia a credible image in the eyes of the international community. REVOLUTION AND EVOLUTION OF MALAYSIAN FOREIGN POLICY The domestic challenge of religious extremism is however importantly shaped by the perception that, as one manifestation of contemporary global religious revivalism, it is also a product of international muslim contact and exchange. The threat of religious radicalism is thus perceived as being determined, to some extent at least, by an impinging Islamic world which in some instances provides moral and inspirational support and in others, active influence over UMNOs political competitors specifically, and its malay muslim population generally. The expression of extremism has, however, been shaped less by inter state relations than through channels which lend themselves less easily to conventional state regulation. As such, the Malaysian governments efforts at countering wrong islam have involved an intense interaction between domestic and foreign policy. The determination of wrong islam and its easy association with extremism is also increasingly linked to the federal governments attempt to institute an orthodoxy of belief if not of ortho- practic behavior as a means of rationalizing islam towards a particular socio-economic but also political agenda. As attempts at curbing extremism have gradually involved questions of religious authority and the toleration of divergent interpretation, they have ultimately also had a significant bearing on intra-malay rivalry. Frequently then, foreign policy has been employed precisely towards the management of domestic politics. The diversity of views regarding the perception and explanation of foreign policy, no foreign policy can be formulated in a vacuum. It must serve to function in a dynamic environment. Throughout its tenure, the Mahathir Administration has not always enjoyed even relations with those states in the Islamic world which have displayed a more distinctively radical character and approach to international relations. Various geographical, historical, social and political determinants contributed to shaping the nature of Malaysias foreign policy and the conduct of the countrys international relations. Our foreign policy seeks to promote mutual tolerance and cooperation amongst all countries that make up the fabric of international community. Government has frequently publicized its long standing relationships with more conservative regimes in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, its relations with countries like Iran and Libya have been less well documented. Overall, Malaysias diplomatic exchange with these countries since the 1980s has tended to remain cautious, explained in part by their expression of a more radical political agenda frequently channelled through religion. While Malaysia has often supported the official foreign policy attitudes expressed by these states toward the needs for fundamental change within the international system, alarm and objection have also been articulated over the chosen methods of their capacity to directly influence the domestic political process in Malaysia has necessitated the employment of less conventional strategies in foreign policy by the administration. The Iranian revolution clearly helped intensify debate in Malaysia over the revival of islam and the viability of an Islamic state in Malaysia. A more worrying domestic repercussion for the government was the revolutions indirect promotion of islams legitimacy in political contestation and the boost that its success provided to parties and organizations claiming islam as their base. The governments initial non-commitment on the subject, however, contrasted dramatically with the clear and early articulation of support for the revolution by ABIM and PAS. Nevertheless, the establishment of diplomatic relations with the emergent Islamic republic of Iran in 1981, came within the new administration general strategy of publicizing its foreign Islamic friendships. Iranian officials had in fact made some attempt to explain the Islamic revolution and to express its non opposition to moderate intellectuals in muslim countries. The Mahathir administration was therefore at pains to stress the pragmatic aspects of relations with the new Iranian government, even while locating them within the spirit of a shared religion. Indeed the government received some acknowledgement for its pro-islam efforts from the Iranians. Malaysia pursues an independent, principled and pragmatic foreign policy which rests on the values of peace, humanity, justice, and equality. Malaysias foreign policy is also premised on the principles of respect for the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in the affairs of other nations, peaceful settlement of disputes, peaceful co-existence and mutual benefit in relations. Official relations were also important towards neutralizing what was perceived as real or potential revolutionary Iranian influence over Islamic movements. Intra and inter party dynamics were to underline the continuing threat that UMNO and the administration perceived from the revolutions impact on malay politics and on the role og islam in Malaysian society. Foreign policy is not static. Its formulation is essentially a dynamic process. Hence, over the years, our foreign policy has evolved, taking account of the change in leadership as well as developments in the ever-changing global political and economic landscapes. Moreover, the advent of globalization and the transformation of interstate relations brought about by new and rapid changes in information technologies necessarily means that our foreign policy has to be adjusted and fine tuned to meet new challenges in a globalised world. The evolution of the countrys foreign policy under successive prime ministers reflects a pragmatic response to the geopolitical and economic changes of their times. To be continually relevant to the countrys needs, foreign policy cannot remain static. But whilst changes in emphasis have become a general feature of Malaysian foreign policy, continuity has also been evident. Both the change and continuity mark a higher level of confidence and maturing of th e country in the conduct of its international affairs. Indeed, in many ways Malaysias leadership role has been recognised on several issues of deep interest to the developing world. As a trading nation, we are very much dependent on a peaceful international environment for our well being. Malaysian foreign policy has to be oriented to allow for a greater focus on economic diplomacy. In the past, when we were producing mainly raw materials for the world, Malaysia had to compete with only a handful of countries. But now, when we have become an industrialized trading nation, we have no choice but to work harder, to compete better and to find new markets for our goods and services. We must find better ways to do business with the outside world. We need to find niches in which we have a competitive edge. ASEAN IN MALAYSIAS FOREIGN POLICY Malaysia was able through the vehicle of ASEAN diplomacy to maintain a balancing act in its relations with the indo-china states which remained in a state of conflict at the point of time of ASEANs formation. We have already alluded to the chaos caused by the boat refugees after the end of the Vietnam war and Malaysias pivotal role in repairing some 80,000 persons to third countries. Through ASEAN, the geneva conference of 1979 was called to deal with the practical aspects of the Vietnamese refugees. Then came the Cambodia crisis and here again Malaysia played a pivotal role in setting up the coalition government of democratic Kampuchea (CGDK). Heng samrin regime, ASEAN diplomacy kept in check the various political players in the Cambodian conflict by securing the U.N. seat for the CGDK for the most part of the 1980s. This arguably put all the political players of the Cambodian conflict in contention until the peace process took root in the early 1990s. here again ASEAN played a crucial role in sponsoring the Jakarta informal meetings. Throughout this period, Malaysias stances and policies vis-a-vis the indo-china issue followed the tempo and thrust of ASEAN diplomacy. It was clear that ASEAN had become central to Malaysian foreign policy for its regional and global relations, even under the feisty tenure of Mahathir. The Abdullah government had also followed through the motions of its predecessors in placing ASEAN at the centre of regional politics and foreign relations. The ASEAN push for the construction of three forms of communities- security, economic, and socio-cultural- has also been wholeheartedly taken on board by the Malaysian government along with the ASEAN charter signed in November 2007 at the 13th ASEAN in Singapore. It is important to see ASEAN as a crucial instrumental of Malaysias attempt to use a countervailing and counterpoising foreign policy to handle new issues that have surfaced regionally and globally. Not less of all was the question of Myanmar or Burma, which continued to be the bugbear of the ASEAN states well into the late 2000s. At the regional level, Malaysia will continue to push for the strengthening of ASEAN as a regional grouping. This includes support for a whole range of functional co-operation on a sub-regional or on an ASEAN-wide basis, the phasing in of AFTA and the implementation of the ASEAN investment area. ASEAN has developed and refined various mechanisms and arrangements to promote trade, investment and other collaborative activities. Much of ASEANs attractiveness to the outside world is built on the economic success of its member states and their potential for greater growth. As ASEAN confronted the various challenges such as international terrorism, economic slowdown, in the face of current economic and financial crises, it is ASEANs common effort that accounted for our success. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES Five Power Defense Arrangement, 1971 Ministers of the government of Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and United Kingdom met in London on 15th and 16th April 1971. In order to consider matters of common interest to all five governments relating to the external defense of Malaysia and Singapore. The minister of the five governments affirmed, as the basic principles of their discussion, their continuing determination to work together for peace and stability their respect for the sovereignty political independence and territorial integrity of all countries and their belief in the settlement of all international disputes by peaceful means in accordance with the principles of the united nations charter. In the context of their governments determination to continue to co-operate closely in defense arrangements which are based on the need to regard the defense of Malaysia and Singapore as indivisible, the ministers noted with gratification on the development of the defense capability of Malaysia and Singapore, to which the other three governments had given assistance, and the decisions of the governments of Australia, new Zealand and the united kingdom, which had been welcomed by the other two governments to continue to station forces there after the end of 1971. In discussion the contribution which each of the five governments would make defense arrangements in Malaysia and Singapore, the ministers noted the view of the united kingdom government that the nature of its commitment under the anglo-malaysian defense agreement required review and that the agreement should be replaced by new political arrangements. They declared that their government would continue to co-operate, in accord ance with their respective policies, in the field of defense after the termination of the agreement on its 1st November 1971. The ministers also declared, in relation to external defense of Malaysia and Singapore thet in the event of any form of armed attack externally organized or supported or the threat of such attack against Malaysia and Singapore, their governments would immediately consult together for the purpose of deciding what measures should be taken jointly or separately in relation to such attack or threat. The ministers reviewed the progress made regarding the establishment of the new defense arrangements. The ministers agreed that from time it might be appropriate for them to discuss their common interest. It would also be open to any of them, participating governments to request at any time, with due notice, meeting to review these defense arrangements. METHODS AND RESPONSES TOWARDS MALAYSIAN POLICY With its dedicated Plans of Actions and Protocols, ASEAN will move closer towards its goal of building the ASEAN Community, characterized by greater political and security interaction and engagement, a single market and production base, with free flow of goods, services, capital investment and skilled labour and a caring society, focusing on social development, education and human resources development, public health, culture and information, and environmental protection. Improvement of the invisible trade of developing countries, particularly by reducing their payments for freight and insurance, and the burden of their debt charges. The foreign policy of Malaysia continues to emphasise on the relevance and importance of ASEAN as the forum and catalyst for regional dialogue. ASEAN Dialogue Partnerships, ASEAN Regional Forum, ASEAN Plus Three and East Asia Summit have allowed its members to engage leading powers. Improvement of institutional arrangements, including if necessary, the establishment of new machinery and methods for implementing the decisions made at UNCTAD. It is sometimes difficult to understand why even though the government is so generous in providing assistance to so many other developing countries, it yet seems reluctant to give forthright and substantial aid to Malaysia. In most cases, no open tender processes were resorted to. Privatization further fed into this policy. Many of the joint ventures were achieved on a government to government basis involving tit for tat negotiation methods. An example was the case of Antah Biwater. Fifty one percent of its equity was controlled by its local malay partner while the remaining was held by a Biwater Ltd, a british water supply and treatment company with strong political connection to the thatcher government. Another example found in Indah Water Konsortium, a joint venture with british water treatment company northwest water ltd. IWK was awarded a $6 billion sewerage contract under the regimes privatization policy. ROLES OF POLICY MAKERS WHEN INTRODUCING CHANGES Having policy space and flexibility is important is important to a developing country. The Malaysian experience also shows that if a country is able to avoid turning to the IMF, it can also avoid the straightjacket of the IMFs mainly one size fits all policies and can choose its own policies as well as change them if they are found to be unsuitable. Malaysia initially took on several elements of the IMF fiscal and monetary policies but when these damaged the real economy, the country was able to switch to a different approach. A coherent anti- crisis strategy should be seen as an integrated package of its elements and policies. Policymakers often (even constantly) grapple with difficult policy decision s since the goals of policy are multiple. A policy instrument meant to achieve one goal may negatively affect other goals. In a situation where there are many complex trade offs, its useful to think outside the box and seek other policy tools. In the Malaysian case, it is useful to analyze and appreciate the various policy elements as parts of an integrated approach and as parts of a whole policy package. Thus, each elements should be considered not only on its own merits or for its own role in achieving a particular goal but also for its function of having an effect on another element or on another goal. A particular element or policy may not have the same successful intended effect, unless accompanied by or done in conjuction with some other element of policy. Thus, the interrelationship of the elements and the interaction with one another should be appreciated. For example lowering the interest rate was important for rescuing the microeconomy and reviving the real economy but doing so would have brought down the ringgits exchange rate. A new policy instrument, fixing the exchange rate was thus introduced. This alone would have been insufficient. Besides fixing the exchange rate to the dollar, stabilization of the currency also required two additional policy instruments. If we start with even one major policy goal(reviving rate reduction), we end up with several other policy tools and goals. All diplomatic missions may apply to the MFA through diplomatic note attaching the details as prescribed. For incoming visits by Head of States/Governments to Malaysia, the delegation will normally also include their countrys official media. On other occasions, official media from foreign countries may also undertake assignments in Malaysia to cover specific activities such as the Malaysian Governments socio-economic programmes, general elections, etc. To this effect, the official media from the country concerned would need to be accorded with some assistance in facilitating their assignment in Malaysia. Media accreditation for official media agencies/delegations undertaking assignments in Malaysia for the purposes of Head of State/Government visits, coverage for international conferences and filming. For media agencies accompanying Head of State/Government Visits, the MFA processes and approves media accreditation requests. Applications should be made via diplomatic note attaching t he prescribed details. Under regional security matters, Policy Planning Division is involved in handling issues related to ASEAN Regional Forum as well as bilateral security dialogue between Malaysia and Australia. On political and security cooperation, Policy Planning Division is responsible among others in the implementation of the ASEAN Security Community Plan of Action, Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, broadening the support for ASEAN instruments such as the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and the Southeast Asia. Financial openness poses serious dangers to developing countries and can be avoided. Too much openness in the financial sector can make a developing country vulnerable to financial speculation, to sudden or large movements of foreign capital, and to volatile movements in the exchange rate. If a country were to maintain an open financial policy, it risks losing the ability to determine its own macroeconomic policies. Thus the country may find it desirable not to have such an open financial policy. CONCLUSION The greatest challenge would be to extract the best from the process of globalization and to give our best to the system. And in return to contribute towards making the world a much more peaceful and equitable place to live in, to provide leadership within our region and to demonstrate exemplary and responsible membership of the international community. The economic dimension of globalization has been even more disappointing. The financial crisis that descended upon East Asia in 1997 brought about not only social misery and economic disaster but political instability as well. Massive Unemployment, negative growth, stock market crashes and severe currency devaluation have pulled down millions of people below the poverty lines. And now, we are anxiously watching the effects of the possible economic meltdown following the global financial crisis. Fundamental principles governing interstate relations would continue to guide Malaysias relations with other countries. These refer to sovereign equality and mutual respect for territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non ­-interference in each others internal affairs, peaceful settlement of disputes as well as mutual benefit in relations and peaceful co-existence. The so-called constructive intervention policy advocated by some, involving loud criticism, adversarial posturing and grand standing would only bring more harm than good to the promotion of neighbourly relations. We do make exceptions to the policy of non-interference in certain extreme situations. The bloody cruelty, genocide and atrocities perpetrated by some struck our conscience. Such peculiar situation calls for pragmatism on our part in the interest of humanity whilst recognizing the central role of the UN in resolving the problem. Malaysias activism at the international front has of course attracted attention and reaction from various quarters. Malaysia had been the target for criticism for being too vocal. But this is something that we need to take in our own stride if Malaysia is to be proactive at the global level. Our foreign policy principles have stood the test of time. Indeed, our steadfast adherence to these principles, supported by a consistent foreign policy, has established for Malaysia certain credibility in the eyes of the international community. The years ahead therefore would see our foreign policy specially oriented towards not only ensuring Malaysias domestic success but also internationally, as a geopolitical and economic player at the global level.

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud :: Literary Analysis, William Wordsworth

Nature is often a focal point for many author’s works, whether it is expressed through lyrics, short stories, or poetry. Authors are given a cornucopia of pictures and descriptions of nature’s splendor that they can reproduce through words. It is because of this that more often than not a reader is faced with multiple approaches and descriptions to the way nature is portrayed. Some authors tend to look at nature from a deeper and personal observation as in William Wordsworth’s â€Å"I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud†, while other authors tend to focus on a more religious beauty within nature as show in Gerard Manley Hopkins â€Å"Pied Beauty†, suggesting to the reader that while to each their own there is always a beauty to be found in nature and nature’s beauty can be uplifting for the human spirit both on a visual and spiritual level. Wordsworth and Hopkins both present the reader with a poem conveying the theme of nature. Nature in its variety be it from something as simple as streaked or multicolored skies, long fields and valleys, to things more complex like animals, are all gifts we take for granted. Some never realize the truth of what they are missing by keeping themselves indoors fixating on the loneliness and vacancy of their lives and not on what beauty currently surrounds them. Others tend to relate themselves more to the fact that these lovely gifts are from God and should be praised because of the way his gifts have uplifted our human spirit. Each writer gives us their own ideals as how to find and appreciate nature’s true gifts. In â€Å"I wandered Lonely as a Cloud,† William Wordsworth accomplishes his ideal of nature by using personification, alliteration, and simile within his poem to convey to the reader how nature’s beauty uplifts his spirits and takes him away from his boring daily routine. Wordsworth relates himself in solidarity to that of a cloud wandering alone, â€Å"I wandered lonely as a cloud† (line 1). Comparing the cloud and himself to that of a lonely human in low spirits of isolation, simultaneously the author compares the daffodils he comes across as he â€Å"floats on high o’er vales and hills† (line 2) to that of a crowd of people dancing (lines 3-6 and again in 12). Watching and admiring the dancing daffodils as he floats on by relating them to various beauties of

Explication of Phllip Larkin’s “Cut Grass” Essay

In Cut Grass, Philip Larkin uses onomatopoeia, color and flower symbolism, and punctuation to show that death is inevitable, and is unaware of specific circumstances. By contrasting the cut grass with the typically vibrant, lively month of June, Larkin shows the harsh nature of death, and its disregard towards its surroundings, while simultaneously providing a sense of hope once death does arrive. In the first stanza, Larkin uses onomatopoeia to create a vivid image of mown grass. The sharp sounds of â€Å"cut grass† imply fierceness, while the next phrase â€Å"lies frail,† is reminiscent of helplessness and weakness. He continues to parallel sounds by using phrases such as â€Å"brief is the breath,† and â€Å"exhale,† whose sounds resemble their respective actions. Through his use of onomatopoeia, Larkin connects the reader to the grass, and thus evokes sympathy. While the reader is sensitive towards the death, it nonetheless continues, regardless of the liveliness of â€Å"young-leafed June.† Larkin also contrasts the â€Å"brief breath† with â€Å"long death† to show that life is relatively brief when compared to the eternity of death. He makes the majority of the poem, in describing death, one sentence, from â€Å"long, long†¦Ã¢â‚¬  until the end, in order to illustrate the prolonged and slow dying. He describes the death â€Å"at summer’s pace;† a lazy and dawdling movement that disregards its blooming surroundings. He shows that death is unavoidable, and is continually occurring, even at supposed joyful moments. However, Larkin also ends the poem with movement, to show that death, although inevitable, is not necessarily final, and that there is potential for an afterlife. The repeated reference to white also serves to show the two sides of death; while it is pure and innocent, it is also melancholy. By personifying death, Larkin shows that though one can evaluate death from different perspectives, it inevitably returns to the unfair and merciless nature of death. He also mentions â€Å"chestnut flowers,† â€Å"white lilac,† and â€Å"Queen Anne’s lace,† three white flowers, to represent the two sides of death. Larkin personifies the white lilacs, which are typically symbolic or youthful frankness, to bow to death to show that death is unyielding to its subordinate, youth. However  Ã¢â‚¬Å"white hours,† â€Å"and chestnut flowers† serve to depict a luxurious, pleasant atmosphere, which also describes death. Thus, Larkin shows a glimmer of hope for a future after death, and allows the reader relief and relaxation when approaching death. In using the symbolism of white and flowers, onomatopoeia, and relevant punctuation, Larkin is able to portray death as both eternal and hopeful, and to restore a sense of relief around death’s depressing nature.

Revenge Cycle

Revenge has the definition of taking vengeance for injuries or wrongs; retaliation. In the Hamlet, the main theme is that when people follow plans of revenge, it leads to tragedy. Throughout the play, several different people want to take revenge on somebody. Hamlet is a main character who is being asked to take revenge on his uncle to fulfill his duty as a son. Hamlet by William Shakespeare is a revenge tragedy because Laertes and Fortinbras and Hamlet seek to avenge a family death, in most cases the death of their father and in all but one case leads to their own tragic death. Hamlet’s revenge for his father leads to his own death at the end. Hamlet’s father, the old king Hamlet appeared in the form of the ghost in the beginning of the play. The ghost told Hamlet that his father had been killed by the current king who is the uncle of Hamlet, the current husband of Hamlet’s mother. Believe it or not every ghost in the world can only have the same action, revenge. â€Å"You can never know with certainty which ghost is addressing whom. It is one and the same thing for Hamlet to question his own identity and to question the ghost’s identity, and his authority† (Girard 3). The prince of Denmark, Hamlet, wants to avenge the current King of Denmark, his uncle, who killed Hamlet’s father, the old King, in order to take the crown and marry Hamlet’s mother. When trying to revenge his father by killing his Uncle, Hamlet accidentally kills Polonius, the father of Hamlet’s friend Laertes and his beloved Ophelia. In the process of revenging his father, Hamlet in some way caused the death of many innocent people. Hamlet, again, is less remorseful about killing Polonius than annoyed with Polonius for not being Claudius, and seems genuinely bewildered that Laertes should be hostile to him†(Frye 3). With the tragic loss of her father, as well as her recent messiness of her relationship with Hamlet, Ophelia becomes insane and committed suicide by drowning herself. Now, Laertes wants revenge for his father and sister during a fencing game by poisoning the tip of the sword. If that does not work, King Claudius will have a glass of wine with poison in it that Hamlet would drink from. Laertes goes mad in a different fashion and becomes the model of the kind of revenger that Hamlet so disdains† (Rose 5). Laertes kills Hamlet successfully but Hamlet’s mother dies accidentally by drinking the poisoned wine. â€Å"The drink, the drink. Oh, I’m poisoned† (5. 2 45-52). And Hamlet finally fulfills the ghost’s quest and killed Claudius, the murderer of his father. Hamlet himself dies at the end. There is still a son seeking revenge for his father that we might forget. The young Fortinbras of Norway is secretly planning to invade Denmark. The tragedy that the old king caused was when he killed Old Norway in during the war. Denmark and Norway has been in war when old Hamlet is still alive, the old king killed old Fortinbras and took over some of Norway’s land. â€Å"The old Hamlet, the murderer himself, in the various sources of the play there may be indications to that essect, but Shakespeare would have omitted them if he had wanted to strengthen the case for revenge†. (Girard 3) Young Fortinbras is seeking revenge for his father’s death and the loss of his country. By the time the army of Norway arrives Denmark, everyone in the palace dies except Horatio. Young Fortinbras becomes the king of Denmark and fulfills his duty to avenge his father’s death as well. Although all the revengers took their action of seeking vengeance for their father, the only difference is that both Laertes and Young Fortinbras is that Hamlet didn’t take revenge when he had chance. Instead, he waited and waited and losing his better chances to kill Claudius. Hamlet is a revenge tragedy, but let’s rather calls it a revenge cycle. Polonius, murdered by Hamlet by accident and avenged by his son. Hamlet’s father, murdered by King Claudius and avenged by his son as well. This comes again in the story of the old Fortinbras and the young Frotinbras of Norway, the father slain by Hamlet’s father during the war. The son achieved a successful revenge by taking the throne of Denmark. Hamlet by William Shakespeare is a revenge tragedy because most of the characters in the play try to seek revenge on someone and leads to all the deaths except one case.

Retail Strategic Planning Essay

Organized retailing in home and building sector was expected to face stiff challenge from the existing small, independent, and powerful local retailers. Many international retailers like Home Depot, IKEA and Lowe were also eyeing the Indian market which was untapped by organized retailers. They provided all the product categories and services that were required to build a new home or for home improvement or renovation under one roof. Muebles belonging to Casa Moblaje group was a pioneer in this segment. Homepro was the first building mall, which offered a wide range of building materials, home improvements products, and furnishings. They provided information about land availability and selection, and housed offices of architects, designers and financiers. The Home Store and Zeba were in home furnishing segment; Gautier dealt in furniture; and Johnson Tiles was in the sanitary ware sector. Identify Strategic Alternatives Ansoff’s Matrix Muebles had captured a large market of the home building and construction business in Ahmedabad as well as the home improvement business of the surrounding cities and towns. The ideal strategy for Muebles would be to develop the market. The areas surrounding Ahmedabad like Baroda, Surat etc is highly industrialized and lot of construction takes place in these areas. Muebles can target these cities and can increase the size of the market to get larger sales. Retail Mix Variables Product The store stocked products under five major categories Kitchen accessories: Appliances, Crockery, Glassware, Ovens etc Furniture and furnishing: Sofa set, bed, linen etc Bathroom: Tiles, Sanitary ware, Fittings, Taps, and accessories Hardware visible: Door, Window, Safety equipment, Gardening Tools, Washing Machines Electrical equipments: Lights, Luminaries, Chandeliers, Switches, Fans, Generators etc They mainly stored branded products. The store policy was to use the number one brand or the aggressive second. If this was not possible the company entered in to contracts to with smaller players who provided with in store brands. The store stocked approximately 12000 SKUs and had 120 suppliers. As the store move upward in the retail wheel, it took the invisible and les involved products out of the shelf. The visible and high involvement products replaced the invisible. They also increased the share of storing impulse goods in the relevant home decoration and furnishing category. Price The pricing policy of the store varied across the product categories. Pricing was competitive and benchmarked against the traditional hardware and home building material stores in product categories which were usually available in traditional hardware stores . In the destination product categories, the store charged premium price. Store Layout The store was laid out in a grid format. It was functional in nature and was based on a do-it-yourself model. Thirty percent of the shop space was given to 12 partners (vendors) who complete freedom of operation. The store atmosphere was attractive. The format of the store aided the customer to find the right the product. Some products like kitchen fittings were merchandised in simulated conditions to give the customer a feel of the complete range of the store’s offering. Promotion In order to increase the levels of awareness, they were communicating by using a mix of me. dia for brand and tactical advertising. They used the Gujarati and English media to reach out to their target segments. They developed two communication packages, one for the lay consumers with low comprehension of Muebles’s value proposition, and another for the professionals (home builders) who had a relatively higher awareness of the concept. In order to increase the sales of the invisible products, Muebles decided to educate the home builder. The home builder package consisted of developing a critical mass of professionals by rewarding their purchase and then working towards giving them accreditation through a professional course so that they would buy all the materials from Muebles. The apartment package consisted of using direct mails and tie-ups with companies like Electrolux, Pergo, and ICI to give special deals to five different apartment owners. Muebles targeted the HR departments in various companies and offered special deals. The problem in this deal was the acquisition of database of apartment owners. Customer Service Muebles policy was to satisfy the customer. Managers were supposed to visit the shop floor 3 hours a day to understand shopper’s behavior and needs better. Each category had 4 personnel. The total floor level employees were around 20. The floor employees tracked the customer right from the entry to the store and observed them carefully from a distance. The motive was to help the customer in the selection without interfering. The staff was instructed to respect the privacy of the customers. Muebles provided a unique shopping experience to the customer. Consumers were provided a wide range and assured quality, competitive prices, and world class service. They provided value added services to the consumers like * Comprehensive design assistance by a panel of professionals and design consultants * Apartment Packages * Installation service and support * Info mediation through website * Home loan consultancy and loans * Certification programmes for electricians, masons, plumbers and carpenters * Educational programme on do-it-yourself techniques and procedures * Customer loyalty programmes