How I Became Hettie Jones with Two Secondary Sources…

How I Became Hettie Jones. The skin color of a person used to be a big issue in America, which appeared to have been resolved; however, it is still a big issue today. Although there is no longer slavery, a number of people continue to act in a racist fashion. They pass on these thoughts of prejudice and racism to their children, who then pass it on to their children and so forth, therefore it becomes extremely difficult to prevent it. Prejudice is an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason. There are still numerous stereotypes that can be associated with a person's skin color.Stereotypes are regarded as embodying or conforming to a set image or type. However, there is not only prejudice towards the black community, but also a prejudice against the white community. Hettie Jones tells the story of her life as an unconventional woman during the 50s and 60s, struggling to find her place and role in the world in New York City during the Be at generation. She was originally born as Hettie Cohen. This changed after meeting a fellow employee destined to become her spouse. She knew that their romance would cause criticism and discomfort with some people, as any interracial romances with â€Å"Negros† would at the time.He simply had too much going for him, being a â€Å"warm, funny, voluble, tender, wildly ambitious, supremely confident†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Hettie became pregnant twice, one child aborted, the other she kept as the two wed. Both of their parents were simply heartbroken to hear about them being together. Ultimately however, the Jones family gave Hettie acceptance, welcoming a white daughter-in-law to the family. As for Hettie Jones, she did not consider herself white, because she didn't know what that meant anyways which is the reason that made her marry a black person even if everybody around her gave her weird looks.She quoted â€Å" For being someone these people could not influence, or hold, forgive me , but this is America†¦.. Sometimes you have to go on the road. †(62). But after their first major fight, during which Roi slaps her, Hettie notes, â€Å"Do you see race in this? Have you forgotten? It would get worse. † Many years and two children later, it does: under the influence of the Black Power movement, Roi grows increasingly ambivalent about the fact of his wife's race, finally refusing to take her to the opening of his play, Dutchman.The marriage, mirroring the times, dissolves; as Jones notes: â€Å"It fit right in with dissolving black-white political alliances. † In Andrew Hacker's book, Two Nations:Black and White, Separate, Hostile, Unequal. Hacker argues that blacks and whites live in two different worlds. Hacker believes that race plays a larger role in America than it does anywhere else in the world. The title has many sources and foreshadows some of the conclusions he makes in the book. The â€Å"Two Nations†being discussed are the White nation and the African-American (Black) nation.It has been said many times in history that the two major races in this country have been separate, hostile and unequal. This book is Hacker's opinion as to the real dimensions of race and how it controls lives and divides society. The integration issue was raised in the chapter of the book: Being Black in America. In thischapter, the author tries to describe in detail what an African-American goes through and has to deal with simply because of the color of his/her skin.Hacker illustrates how black people feel they are looked at and treated by white America. He seems to really want to stress to white people that they should try to see things from a black perspective. He wants whites to try to imagine what it is like to have a stigma attached to you because of the color of your skin. He talks about issues that range from housing, to police, to their family structure, to blatant discrimination, to having to explain and defend thems elves (and sometimes all blacks in general) intellectually to white people.

Carter Racing

Carter Racing Case Study In this case, Carter Racing has to make a decision about whether or not to participate in a race with the knowledge that they have been experiencing a 29% engine failure rate. Carter Racing is a relatively new team, so they have not yet established a firm reputation. The mechanic thinks that temperature is the cause of failure, but that theory has been questioned by another of the racing team’s engineering staff. If they race and win, they could receive a $1,000,000 sponsorship from Goodstone Tires for the next season.However, on the off chance that they do win, they might ignore the engine failure problem they’ve been experiencing. Another scenario that might occur is that they may decide to race and experience an engine failure during the race. The damage of this scenario is extreme. They will have risked their driver’s life, lost any reputation they might have been building, and lost the sponsorship from Goodstone and the $500,000 oil contract they already have.Another scenario is that they withdraw, which means their reputation might be slightly damaged and they lose $50,000 that season between the lost deposit and the returned sponsorship funds. My recommendation is that Carter Racing withdraws from the race and takes the $50,000 loss for the season. This ensures that they have until the next season to resolve their engine failure issues and it gives them time to formulate a safer strategy.They should not attempt to risk their driver’s life and stake their reputation on the slim odds of winning the race. If they were to race and lose their options, the chances of recovering from that loss are very small. It’s much more difficult to react to something of this scale than it is to prevent it. If they take advantage of the time they have once they withdraw, they can come back next year with a stronger team and better odds of winning, which will surely encourage more sponsorships.

Coming to America My Personal Story

â€Å"History is something we make together†, Orhan Pamuk once said. It is also something we enjoy together, I would add, because it is often a play of coincidences. Bulgaria is a beautiful country in Europe. The geographical location of Bulgaria is in the South East of Europe on the Balkan Peninsula. It has an interesting geography. It has mountains on the south and the middle and valleys in between. The entire border on the East is constituted by the coastline of the Black Sea. Romania is the border on the North separated by the Danube River.To the West is Serbia and Macedonia, while Greece and Turkey are on the South. After an aborted uprising in 1923, the Bulgarian Communist Party had gone underground and its leaders fled to the Soviet Union. The Bulgarian party was marked by inner turmoil. The German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 brought unity among Communists worldwide. In April 1944 the Communist party proclaimed itself the First Bulgarian Partisan Brigade and st arted communicating with the command center in Sofia.The Chavdar brigade became the main arm of the party leaders in Sofia for sabotage, raids, and intimidation around the capital. During the night of September 8, 1944 the current situation led the partisans in capturing without bloodshed, the Ministry of War, arresting the ministers and seizing the communication system. As the partisans became the new militia, its political chief of staff directed the round-up and execution of thousands of enemies of Communism in Bulgaria.According to the official figures, 12,000 of the population were delivered to the people's tribunals, while untold numbers disappeared without a trial. I was born in 1947, the youngest in the family, in the town of Shumen by the seaside on the cost of the Black sea. We had a two story house on the hills. In the winter season the streets were covered with four feet of deep snow. In spring, Lipton trees bloomed with flowers, lining on both sides of the streets. The smell of its fragrance still remains in my memory.In the summer after school, we were vacationing for three months in the beach house by the Black Sea. My father stayed behind to provide for us. Because of his love, goodness and kindness of his heart to our family, he struggled a lot to make up with the new government changes and restrictions. My father studied in France to be a dentist and had a clinic in our town and my mother was a house wife. Dad had a great influence on us as a pro-westerner because of his study abroad, living experience and knowledge of the life outside Bulgarian borders.He told us amazing stories about the free world like Paris, Rome and the life of the Western world of prosperity and freedom. I grew in communist Bulgaria, but we were Armenian by nationality, because our grandparents came from Turkey as refugees in 1914, when Turks occupied Armenian land. They started their new life in Bulgaria. Communist Bulgaria and Soviet Union became very close. The emerg ence of Nikita Khrushchev as the leader of the Soviet Union replaced Joseph Stalin. After those changes life in Bulgaria became worse, bad economy, no food, no housing, and corruption followed.Only the members of the communist party were privileged! Everyone lost their businesses and personal property because the Government took over. Our house was also nationalized. I graduated high school in December 1965, I could not further my education because my father applied for a refugee visa so that we can leave the country and move away from this difficult and corrupted life. The Government refused to give us a visa for the next five years! Instead they ask me to go to serve in the military for the next two years.I was in the army during the conflict with neighboring Hungary and there were few major crises during my stay in the army. I completed my military service in the Bulgarian army and started going to college for my higher education. I also wanted to be a dentist and a dental techni cian like my father. At the same time our family was hoping that sooner or later the Bulgarian communist party will permit us to leave the country. During his lengthy reign, the President Zhivkov's main policy was to follow the Soviet model. He often stated that loyalty to the Soviet Union was a test of Bulgarian patriotism.He pursued increasing integration with the Soviet economy and resisted the economic experimentation of neighboring Hungary. In cultural affairs he bought off the creative intelligentsia to head off dissent. There were few major crises during his time in power except for one military plot, several instances of terrorism, and occasional outbursts of dissent. Bulgaria's economic advancement during the era came to an end in the 1980s, and the collapse of the Communist system in Eastern Europe marked a turning point for the country's development.In 1990 elections, the Communist Party renamed the Bulgarian Socialist Party and remained in power. A series of crises in th e 1990s left much of Bulgaria's industry and agriculture in shambles. I personally followed politics, economy and finance. Bulgaria joined NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) in 2004 and the European Union in 2007. We had no hope until the ANCA (The Armenian National Committee of America), the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots organization helped the Armenian community.ANCA was working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, such as The United Nation, to help Armenian families leave all communist countries around the world to get freedom, destining America. In 1948, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 14, which declares, â€Å"Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution. † I was sad that I was leaving the place where I was born, but inside in my heart I was feel ing happy for the new life that I will face soon.Finally we received our visas to leave the country. In order to reach our destination which was the United States, we had to stop in the city of Beirut, Lebanon as a refugee in 1968 and then we flew to our final destination which was New York in December, 1969. New York is an amazing city, no wonder everyone talks about New York. It is one of the most agglomerations in the world at the center of the Metropolitan Area. New Yorker’s called us rubber necks looking always up at the tall skyscrapers.We stayed for some time in New York, but we had to move to Los Angeles where our friends from back home started their life from zero. Our family had to do the same. Life for us was very difficult at the beginning especially for my parents starting at sixty; they had to start all over, building a new life. We lost everything, we had to learn English, find work, go to school at night, and find new friends and neighbors. Refugees or familie s like us really struggled a lot in the beginning. It took us many years to forget the difficulties, the hard work, pain and suffering.Unfortunately, I lost my parents in the first three years of my stay in the United States; they could not take the pressures of the new life. Even though it was difficult for them, they were happy they came, so that we could build our life in this free democratic capitalism. This country is a political, economic, and social system and ideology based on a tripartite arrangement of a market-based, economy based predominantly on a democratic policy, economic incentives through free markets, fiscal responsibility and a liberal moral-cultural system which encourages pluralism.This economic system supports a capitalist free market economy subject to control by a democratic political system that is supported by the majority. I am happy today with my lovely family, my wife and two boys. My older son is following the dental profession, and my younger son grad uated medicine becoming a surgeon. I am still following politics, economy and finance. In 2000 I became a Financial Advisor for WFG. And in 2004 I became a real estate agent and a Broker. Today I am back to school taking classes at an online university for pre-law and I completed my LAVC (Los Angeles Valley College) for Paralegal degree.

Analysis of Case JetBlue Airline's Success Story Essay

Analysis of Case JetBlue Airline's Success Story - Essay Example For one, all airlines were facing serious financial crunch with customers losing confidence in security arrangements on airlines and government urging airlines to invest more on the same. With additional costs being incurred on safety measures, prices per ticket went up and this ultimately led to fewer people choosing US airlines. The only way JetBlue could succeed was by discovering and developing a business model that would promote cost efficiency and effectiveness. Luring customers with lower prices is always easy but offering them quality service and making money at the same time are gargantuan tasks. The firm thus planned to use its resources efficiently by transferring costs from unproductive services to more productive once and hence creating value. Value led to volume and this led to lower fares and ultimate success. The few core areas that JetBlue targeted were cost, operations, technology, marketing and human resource. JetBlue knew that cutting costs is not always the best practice unless it is matched by higher quality as well. It is easier to cut costs and offer sloppy service but if a firm wants to succeed in the long run and create a good image in the mind of the passengers, it is important to reduce costs by investing in more productive services. The airlines refused to serve meals on any of its flights. This could have been a dangerous move since people expect meals on flights especially long ones. But JetBlue thought of an alternative. Instead of serving meals, it served chips, crackers and cookies along with canned drinks and coffee. This way, passengers had enough to eat while the firm was saving money. While an ordinary meal would cost $4 per customer, snacks were costing 12-14 cents per passenger. Besides, serving snacks also went well with the firm's image as a fun airline. The firm decided to offer core services at cheaper rates. This meant providing customers with services that they would really appreciate. Since people had already been complaining of airline food, it was about time that money was shifted to something better. JetBlue decided that a fraction of the money it saved on food could be easily transferred to such services as leather seats and personal television sets. In the end, the firm emerged a winner with its business model allowing more cost effectiveness and efficiency. The firm stands just a notch below SouthWest in terms of cost per passenger mile ($6.43 and $6.33 respectively) but stands far ahead of other airlines and industry average of $12.45 per passenger mile. Scanlon (2003) quotes USDTV CEO and writes: "We like what JetBlue has done, we like what Dell Computers has done and we like what Toyota has done," says CEO Lindsley, referring in particular to JetBlue's success at challenging its larger competitors by offering bare-bones service at cheaper prices. "These companies were able to gain a foothold in very maturing industries, even with incumbents that are well- heeled." The airline also uses A-320s instead of Boeing 737s since the former is more fuel-efficient. Operations: Interestingly JetBlue has no class distinctions on its flights. There is only one class, which means equal service to everyone, and no compromise on quality. Apart from that, it also allows the firm to use its human resources more efficiently since staff can be interchanged between flights. There were fewer scheduling issues to handle. Another operational choice and a wise one at that was

Regulations (Human Resource) Employee Labor and Relations Class Research Paper

Regulations (Human Resource) Employee Labor and Relations Class - Research Paper Example education, to extend the Commission on Civil Rights, to prevent discrimination in federally assisted programs, to establish a Commission on Equal Employment Opportunity, and for other purposes (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, n.d.). The EEOC is created under Title VII of Civil Rights Act which enforces a range of federal statutes prohibiting employment discrimination. Thus any employer, employment agency or organization shall comply with all the rules and regulations in the act. EEOC stated that any individual who believes that his or her employment rights have been violated may file a charge of discrimination with EEOC and an individual, organization, or agency may file a charge on behalf of another person in order to protect the aggrieved person's identity (Federal Laws Prohibiting Job Discrimination Questions and Answers, 2009). Under the EEOC-enforced laws, compensatory and punitive damages may be available if intentional discrimination is found (Federal Laws Prohibiti ng Job Discrimination Questions and Answers, 2009). Sexual Harassment Law The case of Jenson v. Eveleth Taconite Company became the landmark case which led to the passing of the Sexual Harassment Law. In this case, Jenson filed a case to her employer because of the harassment they received while working in the mining company. They were harassed and abused and there were incidents of unwelcome touching, including kissing, pinching, and grabbing and offensive language directed at individuals as well as frequent â€Å"generic† comments that women did not belong in the mines, kept jobs from men, and belonged home with their children (Jenson v. Eveleth Taconite Company, 1997). Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Facts About Sexual Harassment, 2002). This discrimination includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual haras sment when submission to or rejection of this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual's employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual's work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment (Facts About Sexual Harassment, 2002). For any federal complaint, a person can file an action for sexual harassment with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The best way to get rid of any sexual harassment in the workplace is prevention, thus the EEOC encourages the employers are encouraged to take steps necessary to prevent sexual harassment from occurring by clearly informing their employees that sexual harassment will not be tolerated (Facts About Sexual Harassment, 2002). The employers should take an immediate and appropriate action when an employee complains through an established and effective complaint and grievance process (Facts about Sexual Harassment, 2002). American with Disabilities Act This act can be traced back t o the return of veterans of the World War I and an increase in industrial accidents

Legal Status of Comfort Letters in South Africa Essay

Legal Status of Comfort Letters in South Africa - Essay Example According to the report in the Kleinworth Benson case, the court said that in order to determine whether the comfort letter created an enforceable obligation on the part of the maker or issuer, legal construction of the words or language used in the comfort letter should be made. If the words or language strongly suggest that the comfort letter is promissory in nature which is evident on the face of the letter itself, the maker or issuer is obliged to perform an obligation under the comfort letter. In this case, the court held that the comfort letter is not enforceable because the terms only represented it was the â€Å"practice† of the company to provide financial support and with no indication in the letter that the policy would continue in the future.From this paper it is clear that  if the maker or issuer does not intend to be binded by the comfort letter, he or she must include a disclaimer or a clear statement on the face of the letter that he or she does not intend to give rise to any legal obligation whatsoever. Otherwise, in the absence of the disclaimer, the comfort letter is intended to be legally enforceable. This view somehow was utilized by a court in deciding a case in 2002 when it held that the plaintiffs’ reliance on the comfort letters was unjustifiable because the disclaimer language expressly stated that they were ‘not to be used, circulated, quoted, or otherwise referred to for any purpose, including but not limited of the purchase or sale of securities†.

Managing Markering Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Managing Markering Communication - Essay Example A company will only be successful when it uses marketing to turn potential clients into consumers of its products or services. Communication is Constant It is a recognised fact that whether people know it or not, they are constantly sending messages in different ways to others. It has been estimated that marketers’ skills are only responsible for 15% of their success in attracting customers, while the remaining 85% is the result of their ability to inspire trust in potential clients through their communication methods (Gould 2004). This is the reason why companies spend so much on researching on the best ways of creating advertisements (Rossiter and Bellman, 2005). Commercials, as well as other methods of communication, represent a company’s feelings and intentions for its clients. The verbal as well as non verbal cues that are carried in advertisements are vital because they tell potential customers what how they can benefit from the products and services of a company (Zeithaml, Bitner and Gremler, 2006). Even where person to person communication is concerned, strangers will make an immediate assessment of someone upon first meeting them (Shultz 2004). This is before the person has even said a single word. Advertisements for products or billboards are unconsciously analysed in the same way by potential customers. When people first come upon a company’s products through different media, the first impression can result in feelings of distrust, or in feelings of interest (Solomon, Bamossy, Askegaard and Hogg, 2006). IMC Defined Integrated Marketing Communications basically means combining all the promotional tools of a company in an effort to reach customers with a message about the company’s products. All communications methods will have a greater impact on the student body if they are joined together than if they are each used in isolation (Kitchen, Brignell and Tao, 2004). This is even more beneficial for the company in question whe n integration also includes different levels of integration like the vertical, horizontal, external, internal, and data integrations (Kotler, Keller, Brady, Goodman and Hansen, 2009). Horizontal Integration can be extended across corporate functions as well as the marketing mix. For instance, finance, production, communications and distribution operations can be made to work together to create the most effective messages for potential customers (Malhotra and Birks, 2003). On the other hand, singular departments like advertising, direct mail and sales combine efforts in working on data integration (Girvin: Strategic Branding Blog, 2010). This calls for a marketing information structure that gathers and shares the important information across varied departments. Vertical Integration basically means that all marketing purposes have to support the higher level business goals (Malhotra, 2004). Internal Integration holds that all the personnel working in a company have to be informed at a ll times, of any fresh developments taking place; whether this means new corporate identities, strategic partners, advertisements, or service standards. Lastly, external integration holds that external partners like public relations firms and advertising agencies have to work together to generate an all inclusive and comprehensive message to potential and existing clients. IMC –

School Counseling Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

School Counseling Education - Essay Example Initially when parents get the information of their child being deaf, seems hard to digest. The initial reactions are; how they would be able to cope up with their child and his needs? How will they be able to communicate with their own offspring? Will it be hard to find the best academic institution for him? Is it a better idea that he works his way out along with normal kids? These are some questions and problems that almost every family with a deaf kid, goes through. With the gradual acceptance of their child’s impairment, they step in towards finding the best possible learning method for him. Either they should opt for leaning sign language as a whole or should they wait and understand the situation after their child becomes a part of the academic community. There’s still difference between deaf and hard at hearing children. According to some studies around 90% of the children who have trouble hearing or are deaf, have perfectly hearing parents. (â€Å"For Students Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing†). Where some families opt for learning sign languages, the proportion of such families, however, is quite less. Some families still prefer using sign language, and children have a hard time distinguishing words with common sounds, for instance; â€Å"plate† and â€Å"mate†. ... Parents should be taught to accept the child’s shortcoming and that they should not be making the child a source of disgrace or embarrassment for the family, rather they should be working on their child in order to make something better out of him. There aren’t many deaf role models, altogether. Bringing a positive change in the child’s learning abilities will surely make a difference. Counselors for deaf and children with hearing disabilities should be fluent in sign language, if that isn’t the case, then the institution should be equipped with interpreters who can easily translate the child’s requirement efficiently in order to facilitate deaf children to make their learning process a lot easier. 1a) I have to admit before reading this chapter ----------------------- and working through accompanying identity issues. The counselor in the given example clearly understands the deaf children’s needs as she has under gone the same problem back a t her home. Her 5 month old son turned out to have hearing problems, according to her he failed to pass the initial hearing tests, but on later account the parents noticed that the child responded to their voices. As impulsive as it may seem, the child had trouble hearing stuff properly. Still the lady was unsure about what to do with further tests and the post treatment for hearing impairment. Her initial thoughts were â€Å"that may be hearing implants can solve everything†. But that’s not the case in reality. There are hundreds of other factors that turn out to affect a child’s behavior in the classroom. For instance, according to her survey the noises that are a part of a classroom affect the child’s learning ability even if he’s mildly

Mekong delta Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mekong delta - Essay Example In 1802, it became part of French colony and became part of Vietnam when it gained independence from France (Brocheux, 1995). Mekong delta is 39000 km in area. It was initially a forest area and marshland having diverse landscape with mountains, highland and plain region. The marshland makes it very fertile land. It has moderate climate. Due to its low lying area, it is susceptible to flash floods. Lunar new year and mid autumn festival are major cultural events. During the festival, children float lighted candles on skiffs on the river. The multicultural society comprises of Vietnamese, Khmer, Chinese, Cambodians and Cham tribe. The main religions are Buddhism, Catholicism, Cao Dai, Hoa Hao and Islam (vietscape.com, 2004). Agriculture is major source of income for the people. Rice is major agricultural crop followed by fruits and vegetables. It is second largest producer and exporter of rice in the world. Acquaculture is another industry which facilitates export of fish like shrimps, cat fish etc. In recent times, tourism has also emerged as important industry. Boats and ferries are major transport systems across the provinces and cities. Bus, light and heavy vehicles are used on the roadways along with motorbikes, and bicycles. Recently a cable stayed bridge was constructed that connects Long province with Can Tho city. The bridge is expected to reduce the reliance on ferries for commutation. Some of the provinces of Mekong are also connected by air-flight. Mekong Delta has two main floating markets: Cai Rang and Phong Dien, where villagers bring their produce like vegetables, fruits, fish etc. on the boats. All its businesses are conducted on the banks. They have bamboo houses and cultivate fisheries under them. Goods are bought by local traders who sell them in the big cities at great profit. It also has floating

Postmodern Frame Essay - Text in Art Essay Example for Free

Postmodern Frame Essay Text in Art Essay The use of text within to the visual arts can be traced back as far as the inscribed carvings found on cave walls created by the Indigenous population of Australia approximately 46000 years ago. However, over the past few years, the use of text in art, also known as the art of typography, has become a frequent means of communication for artists in the creation of their works. Text within art can be projected, scrawled, painted, computerised and carved to the point that a work may be created of nothing but language. The art of typography is the technique of arranging type in such a way that makes language visible. It treats fonts as individual entities to be enjoyed by the audience. Some artists deal with language as a character on its own as opposed to a surface to draw upon. These artists place texts in ways that are intended to stimulate the way an audience perceives a work, to evoke emotion or to create a statement. However, others, particularly graphic designers, tend to focus on the decorative powers of text. Regardless of the artist’s intentions, the appearance of text within art can shift our appreciation of their sound and meaning. Artists that explore text in art include: Barbara Kruger, Yukinori Yanagi, Katarzyna Kozyra, Jenny Holzer, Wenda Gu, Shirin Neshat, Miriam Stannage, Colin McCahon and Jenny Watson. Artists such as Jenny Holzer, Wenda Gu and Shirin Neshat explore the cultural implications of language in art and the importance of language to identity through the inclusion of text that reflect a postmodern concern with the way we receive information in our contemporary society. Jenny Holzer is an American conceptual artist who belongs to the feminist branch of artists that emerged during the 1980’s. Originally an abstract painter and printmaker, Holzer became heavily interested in conceptual art and began creating works using text. The introduction of text within Holzer’s work occurred gradually however, over time, they have entirely replaced images. These works are usually displayed in widely viewed, public areas. Holzer’s works typically deal with the idea of communication. She is highly aware of the power of words and the power of the media and therefore has a focus on the ability of language to distort or manipulate truths. â€Å"I was drawn to writing because it was possible to be very explicit about things. If you have crucial issues, burning issues, it’s good to say exactly what’s right and wrong about them, and then perhaps to show a way that things could be helped. So, it seemed to make sense to write because then you could just say it†¦ no painting seemed perfect. In particular, I didn’t want to be a narrative painter, which maybe would have been one solution for someone wanting to be explicit.† – Jenny Holzer. Through the use of text in art, Holzer is able to transmit powerful environmental, social and political messages that reveal beliefs and myths and show biases and inconsistencies that highlight her social and personal concerns of today’s contemporary society. Holzer’s works are confronting and provocative and inspire us to make changes. They make us remember that language is not always a factual statement; it can be true or false depending on the context. Holzer forces us to analyse our own behaviour and consider how we have been influenced and manipulated. Her works are designed to make us stop and think about how we are maturing socially. Holzer’s truisms â€Å"MONEY CREATES TASTE – 1982† and â€Å"PROTECT ME FROM WHAT I WANT 1985† are part of her 1983-85 series – â€Å"Survival†. These are LED installation pieces consisting of large scale text that were projected onto a billboard in Times Square, New York. The inscriptions were bright, clear and menacing and connected themselves to the everyday glow of the city. The phrases were flicked over the busy intersection for two to three seconds creating an element of surprise and capturing the audience’s attention. The main focus of these works was to make a profound statement about the world of advertising and consumer society today. Holzer’s aim was to persuade the audience to pause and reflect on their lives. Her work emphasises the notion that within our society, we are driven by the world of media, thereby producing a mass materialistic, consumerist culture. â€Å"MONEY CREATES TASTE† is almost a plea from Holzer to stand back and assess our needs as a culture rather than what we are fed to believe we want by the media. The use of this concise statement â€Å"PROTECT ME FROM WHAT I WANT† has shown us that we are in the process of losing our identity and sense of culture and can be manipulated by the underlying motives of the media. Shirin Neshat is an Iranian born artist who, upon turning seventeen, moved to California to study art. In 1990 when Neshat flew back to Iran to visit her family, she was confronted by the changes in culture and the narrow restraints of everyday life in the Islamic Republic. She was faced by a very strict, pure form of Islam introduced by the Iranian government in order to erase Persian history. Since having lived in the two cultural contexts of Iraq and the USA, Neshat is able to examine the cultural concerns of individual beings in a metaphorical and poetic way. She attempts to address problems of identity, race and gender in a shocking manner and intends to undermine social stereotypes and assumptions. Her works explore the differences between Islam and the West, males and females, limitations in life and freedom, old and new and the public and the private domains. Neshat aimed to provoke questions amongst her audience as she explored Islam through her art making and comments on issues related to feminism and multiculturalism. However, her works were not only confrontational and symbolic; Neshat also paid particular attention to aesthetics. In her 1994 print and ink, â€Å"Rebellious Silence†, Neshat depicts an Islamic, Muslim woman, covered in a veil holding a gun. Her calm face is divided by the starkness of the cold, steel weapon and is laced with Islamic calligraphy symbolic of the Niqab, a more extreme veil that an Islamic woman must wear as it signifies her obedience to the male supremacy in Islamic culture. Her clothing and weapon make us question whether this woman has rejected her submissive female role to embrace violence. She is looking directly at the camera and looks determined to fight. Questions of motives arise amongst the audience. Neshat’s 1996 work â€Å"Speechless† is a black and white photograph in which Neshat has chosen to make herself the subject. This image is a close up of Neshat’s face. She looks determined and powerful however, like her creation â€Å"Rebellious Silence† – her face is covered with an overlay of Islamic text. The Arabic inscriptions that create the veil act as a barrier. It symbolises the support of the Islamic revolution. The visual struggle between Neshat and the veil is representational of the fight for freedom and the support of religion. By putting the text on her face, the body part where people can identify emotions the most, it serves as a reminder of the power that religion has over women and the oppression it has towards free expression. The gun in the picture is another juxtaposition. The woman seems to be embracing the gun as a part of her, giving off a threatening feeling, but at the same time, it does not feel dangerous because of her conflicted emotions: freedom versus oppression. The inscriptions tell of a man who died in the Iran/Iraq conflict of the 1980’s. This is also insulting to the women who also experienced this conflict. Her art does not disapprove nor approve of Islam, but instead encourages the audience to reflect upon their own ideas, assumptions and expectations. He works carry both personal and emotional connotations. Wenda Gu was born in China and studied traditional, classical landscape painting. He was employed to teach ink painting and although he no longer practices in China, text remains central to his work. This initial technical training has provided the incentive for his most confronting pieces in which the powerful use of language challenges social and political traditions. â€Å"These are questioning and symbolic works that violate the orthodox doctrine of artistic value. They represent a direct threat to authority.† Michael Sullivan. Gu ambitiously attempts to address, in artic terms, the issue of globalism that dominates discussions of contemporary economics, society and culture. He aims to appeal not only to the present population, but also to future generations in his quest to extend the boundaries of human perception, feeling and thought and express humanity’s deepest wishes and powerful dreams. Gu strives to unify mankind and create a utopian feel within his works. Gu worked to simplify the Chinese language and to encourage people to embrace new attitudes towards their old language. He combines a long standing fascination with classical Chinese calligraphy with a contemporary take on universal concerns that cross cultural and ethnic boundaries. Gu’s work today focusses extensively on ideas of culture and his identity and has developed an interest in bodily materials and understanding humanity across ethnic and national boundaries. Gu’s 1994-96 work â€Å"Pseudo Characters Contemplation of the world† is a series of ink paintings in which he uses traditional calligraphic styles and techniques but subverts them with reversed, upside down or incorrect letters. The pseudo character series consists of three ink on paper scrolls in which he has combined calligraphy and landscape, disrupting the conventions of both, powerfully distorting artistic tradition of China. Gu has attacked the written word by glorifying the spirit of the absurd. Gu’s most significant artworks have been a series entitled â€Å"United Nations Project†. This is a series of 15 works that were conceptually planned to relate to the locations social, political, historical and cultural situation. This series confronts two taboos. That of language and the human body. The main material for these installations are human hair collected from hairdressers from all over the world and the hair itself serves as a connection to all people. They typically consisted of screens tied together with twine, forming a canopy of internationally collected hair that was fashioned into nonsensical scripts combining the Chinese alphabet and others. His works are distinguished by the two themes which intersect. The first relates to language and the way in which cultural conventions are signified ad the second, is the use of human hair which is a symbol for significant human endeavours. The human hair is a blueprint containing DNA information, which is common to all humans yet seen fundamentally as individual. Jenny Holzer, Shirin Neshat and Wenda Gu all explore the cultural implications of language within art. They share a prime focus on the links between culture and identity. They have used language and text to convey their powerful messages and have drawn upon their own personal experiences. Concerned with the human condition, both they and their artworks have had a significant impact on society and the way in which we interpret information. Madison ******** Year 12 Visual Arts Art History and Art Criticism. Essay on Text The inclusion of text in artworks reflects a post-modern concern with the way we receive information in our contemporary society and the importance of language to identity. Explore the cultural implications of language in the work of Jenny Holzer, Wenda Gu and one other contemporary artist. Analyse specific artworks to support your argument.

Misuse Of Opiates Health And Social Care Essay

Misuse Of Opiates Health And Social Care Essay The misuse and abuse of illicit and prescription opiates is a growing problem in the United States. Even though Americans make up less than 5 percent of the worlds population, we consume close to 100% of the worlds supply of hydrocodone and nearly 80% of the worlds supply of legal and illegal opiates . Because of the vast availability of drugs and its impact on many facets of healthcare and the economy, it is imperative that health care providers and policy makers understand what drugs are being abused, who uses these drugs, where the drugs come from, and the health and economic burden on the United States. It is becoming exceedingly important for those directly involved with substance abusers to understand the physiological consequences, psychosocial consequences and withdrawal consequences of drugs. Opiates and opiate derivatives in particular, whether illicit (such as heroin) or prescription (such as Oxycontin) are being heavily abused across the country. These drugs can have serious health implications during use and during abrupt cessation (detoxification or withdrawal). This paper will present a review of the literature on the epidemic of heroin and prescription opiate abuse. Through a critical review, concepts such as the prevalence of the problem, the physiologic consequences of abuse, the current trends in management of the problem and implications for nursing and healthcare will be explored. Background Before proceeding, it is important to briefly discuss the basic pharmacology of opiate drugs. Opiates, otherwise known as narcotics, include the drugs heroin, morphine, codeine, oxycontin, hydrocodone, methadone and other chemically-related derivatives. All opiates are considered dispensable only by prescription in the United States with the exception of heroin, which is illegal in all circumstances. Opiates wield their effects by activating pleasure centers in the brain. The neurobiochemical model of addiction suggests that over time, the brains chemistry changes so that it yearns for the substance when it is not there and can produce physiologic effects of withdrawal when stopped. Heroin for example, which is chemically-related to morphine (the chemical name for heroin is diamorphine) readily crosses the blood-brain barrier to cause a rapid spilling of dopamine into the dopaminergic receptors of the brains neurons. For this reason, the drug is easily addictive and absence of the dr ug causes a sensation of craving and can cause feelings of illness, such as nausea and diarrhea, when stopped abruptly. . Prevalence of the Problem Several researchers in the nursing, allied health and economics disciplines have explored and discussed the prevalence of prescription opiate abuse and hypotheses of the origin of the problem. However, there is a large gap in the literature related to the prevalence of illicit drug abuse (heroin) among different populations. The prevalence data for heroin abuse in the US is largely reported by national survey trends, such as the National Institute of Drug Abuse (part of the National Institutes of Health) Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Even so, the massive survey document pays little attention to the problem of heroin abuse and reports only two percent of the 67,500 survey respondents using heroin in the month preceding the survey (National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2009). The etiology of prescription drug misuse and abuse is discussed more heavily in the literature than is heroin abuse. According to the NSDUH, in 2009 4.8% of the survey respondents aged 12 and older reported using prescription opiates for non-medical reasons. Of those, over 55% reported obtaining the drug for free from a friend or relative, and 4.8% reported purchasing the drug from a dealer on the streets (National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2009). Researchers at Columbia University surveyed adolescents aged 12 to 17 in 2005 and found that 9.3% reported the misuse of prescription opiates over the past month. In exploring the adolescents motives for abuse, the researchers found that the most commonly reported motives were ease of attainment and affordability . Among young adult college students, prevalence of non-medical prescription opiate abuse has been reported between seven and nine percent in the past month to twelve to fourteen percent lifetime prevalence . One of the most at-risk groups for misuse of and addiction to prescription opiates is the chronic pain population. When used appropriately, opiate pain medications are a gold standard of care for serious pain-related conditions (such as post-operative pain, neuropathic pain and so on). In an effort to better manage pain, the number of prescriptions for opiate medications increased 154% in the ten-year period from 1992 to 2002, even though the population of the United States increased by only 13% . Although prescription opiates have been used to treat pain and improve the quality of life among acute and chronic pain patients, the advent of the drugs misuse has led to a wide body of literature on prescriptive practices and monitoring of opiate drugs. There delicate balance between managing pain adequately and the risk for misuse, addiction and diversion has been discussed in the literature recently, largely among the adolescent/young adult and chronic pain populations. Although there is a general lack in the literature of the number of people prescribed opiates for chronic pain . There is a large body of literature which suggests that the increased number of prescription opiates for chronic pain patients has contributed significantly to the drug abuse problem. In studies to investigate the use of prescription opiates for chronic pain, it has been found that pain treatment plans are sparse, good documentation on the patients health history and history of substance abuse is rare, and opiates are sometimes improperly utilized or not indicated at all . Health Consequences of Opiate Abuse Both prescription and illicit opiates have the potential to exert a myriad of acute and chronic negative health effects for the user. Neurological decline, vision changes, cardiac abnormalities, vascular complications, pulmonary disorders and mortality have been studied and reported. In a study of over 500 opiate addicts, electrocardiographic changes were documented in 61% of the sample. These ECG changes included ST-segment elevation, which may indicate ischemic heart damage (or lack of oxygen-rich blood to the myocardium) and QTc prolongation (seen mostly with methadone addicts). Prolonged QTc intervals may lead to inappropriate triggering of the ventricles and may lead to potentially lethal ventricular tachycardia . The use of heroin and other drugs by injection with non-sterile or reused needles may produce powerful toxins in the bloodstream leading to endocarditis, left ventricular hemorrhage and death. Researchers in Ireland reviewed the autopsy findings from eight cases of heroin users and found rapid fatal illness caused by the endotoxin Clostridium novyi which caused fatal subendocardial hemorrhage, spleen enlargement and pulmonary edema in all of the subjects studied . Heroin can cause significant acute peripheral and central nervous system complications such as neuropathy and hearing loss. In a study six of intravenous and intranasal heroin users admitted to the hospital for acute illness, five had documented rhabdomyolysis between three and 36 hours after administration of the drug. In each of the five cases, there was no documented trauma. Typically rhabdomyolysis occurs after a traumatic, compression-type injury where enzymes spill into the musculature and cause rapid neurological decline, loss of muscle tone and coma. In each of the subjects studied, no trauma or compression injury occurred . In a group of patients with a reported history of speedballing (or mixing heroin and cocaine), 2 of the 16 studied experienced sudden, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss four hours after speedballing which resolved within three days. One additional participant experienced sudden hearing loss after speedballing but unilaterally. The mechanism by which th e hearing loss occurred was described as a possible cochlear toxicity or autoimmune reaction related directly to the drugs . Injection of drugs of any type can cause vascular complications, skin and soft tissue infections and infectious diseases such as hepatitis and HIV . In the most severe cases, opiate abuse may lead to death, generally from overdose. Heroin has been related to 1.65 deaths per 100,000 people in the Florida population alone over the last decade and in Alabama between 1986 and 2003, a review of medical examiners reports revealed those whos cause of sudden death was undermined were 5.3 times more likely to have a history of drug abuse . Researchers in the United Kingdom have further investigated heroin deaths and concluded that overdose related to heroin rarely occurs after the use of heroin alone- in 50% of the cases they reviewed, alcohol was also involved . Although studies have been published on the health effects of abuse itself, a review of nursing, medical and allied health literature shows a significant lack of studies on the health consequences of withdrawal (abrupt cessation) of opiate drugs. Several studies have been found relating to the use of pharmacotherapy to treat opiate addiction (such as methadone and similar programs) but no studies have explored the physiologic effects of withdrawal without medication assistance. Searching online databases for relevant articles on opiate withdrawal does not yield any studies other than those using medication-assisted withdrawal therapies (such as methadone and buprenorphine). This is important to populations such as inmates in a correctional facility where pharmacotherapy is not generally used during detoxification and requires further attention . In sum, the potential health-related consequences of opiate abuse can negatively affect a myriad of body systems. The risk of potentially fatal infectious disease, neurological and cardiovascular complications and death by overdose creates a public health problem that demands attention. Health care providers in all arenas must be able to rapidly and appropriately identify those at risk. Implications for Advanced Nursing Practice Nurse practitioners are allowed prescriptive authority in almost any state across the country. Depending on the practice setting, they may prescribe opiates to treat pain. Opiates are the gold standard for treating moderate to severe pain in both acute and chronic pain syndromes . There has been some discourse in the literature on the dilemma to treat or not to treat pain with opiates. On the one hand, effective pain management is not only ethical but also opiates are effective for many patients for pain management and on the other hand there is a fear of misuse, dependence and addiction issues . The ability for advanced practice nurses to identify drug-seeking behavior, issues with addiction and possible diversion of opiates is crucial to the problem of opiate abuse. As it has been documented in the literature, diversion of prescription opiates generally occurs with the patient selling, trading or giving away the medication to another. According to Annie Gerhardt, emergency room nu rse practitioner, drug seekers become victims of their own disease, becoming involved in a tangled web of addiction, drug-seeking, drug diversion and criminal behavior that escalates over time with increased drug use . Gerhardt (2004) suggests monitoring patients treated with opiates for refilling meds before their follow up appointments, patient reports of losing medications, attempting to see different providers for pain medications (which can usually be identified by pharmacies), and scamming providers for more medications by complimenting the provider or the office staff or displaying increased levels of pain in order to procure more medication. When prescribing opiates to treat pain in patients already known to have addiction issues, using sustained-released formulations may reduce dependency while adequately treating pain. Sustained-release formulations usually have a reduced street value and are less likely to be sold and diverted, and the withdrawal from sustained-release op iates is typically not as severe . In terms of advanced practice nursing, prescribers have the unique ability to screen for potential addiction issues, monitor those who are prescribed addictive medications and potentially control diversion of those medications to others for whom they are not prescribed. Ultimately, the knowledge of drugs of abuse and health-related consequences is important for nurses at all levels to possess. Implications for Research To further add to the body of literature on the subject of opiate drug abuse, addiction and withdrawal, several areas still need to be explored. First, patterns of drug use in individual populations and communities should be investigated. The types of drugs most commonly used, the routes of administration of these drugs and their negative health-related consequences should be studied in a variety of communities, both urban and rural, to gain a better understanding of the patterns of use across the country. More research is needed beyond simple prevalence studies on the number of people who use to expand on the actual patterns of abuse. Similarly, the psychosocial consequence of drug use across different populations needs further investigation in order to articulate the negative impact on individuals and communities. Because the abrupt cessation of opiate drugs without medication assistance occurs frequently in specific settings, more research needs to be done on the physiological effects of non-assisted detoxification. The patterns of symptoms of withdrawal and negative health effects among populations such as the incarcerated and the hospitalized need to be explored. The potential for the development of evidence-based protocols for the management of abuse and withdrawal in these settings can occur once the patterns of symptoms and health consequences are documented. Conclusion In sum, the problem of drug abuse (which extends far beyond even opiate drugs) has been reported in multiple sources, and prevalence studies seem rampant in the literature. However, much more work needs to be done on the consequences of drug abuse from a healthcare perspective across a variety of populations in different settings to begin to understand the impact of drugs on communities.

Relationship Marketing And Traditional Transactional Marketing Marketing Essay

Relationship Marketing And Traditional Transactional Marketing Marketing Essay The approach of a business towards the marketing discipline can generally be categorised as either being traditional or relationship based. Whilst the traditional approach has held sway for the last fifty years there are signs that relationship marketing may assume the dominant position in marketing thinking and application in the near future. This does not mean that traditional marketing will no longer have a role to play. The evidence from a study of the supermarket chain Asda is that its position as the UK number two supermarket brand has been largely achieved by following a traditional marketing approach. Equally, however, market leader Tesco has embraced relationship marketing using its Clubcard to help it build mutually beneficial relationships with its customers. This approach to its marketing has seen Tescos market share and profits continue to grow whilst Asdas have started to decline. On the face of it this would appear to demonstrate that, when it comes to supermarket marketing, the relationship approach is best. However, it is not that simple. The classic four Ps of the marketing mix, Product, Price Place and Promotion, are the cornerstone of traditional marketing with Price and Promotion having been Asdas primary focus. Also, there is an argument that says in the difficult economic times that consumers are currently experiencing then the price and value for money proposition advocated by Asda has more resonance with consumers than ever before. So, which is the most appropriate marketing path for Tesco and Asda to follow or should elements form both disciplines be adopted for optimum effect? This paper analyses the various points of view of both academics and marketing practioners and draws heavily on case study material to draw some conclusions for a possible way forward. Introduction and Background Relationship marketing, which involves the development, growth, and maintenance of long-term, cost-effective, and mutually beneficial relationships between a business and its customers, may be perceived as being a relatively new phenomenon (Grà ¶nroos, 1995). However, this is not the case as its origins actually pre-date the industrial revolution, a time when products were manufactured on a small scale and consumers had direct contact with the manufacturers and merchants from whom they purchased their goods. As industrialisation gathered pace the mass production of goods meant that direct contact between manufacturers and their end customers was no longer practical and middlemen evolved to bridge the gap. This, in turn, resulted in manufacturers becoming distant from their customers and adopting a transactional rather than customer relationship focus to their marketing and selling activities (Sheth and Parvatiyar, 1995). This transactional approach became increasingly sophisticated as marketing developed into a specialist and separate discipline within organisations, alongside the customer services and product quality control functions. The four Ps of marketing mix i.e. Product, Price, Place and Promotion, first muted by Borden (1964), have been a familiar and successful planning and execution framework for traditional marketing practioners since the 1960s. However, this traditional marketing philosophy has been facing an increasingly serious challenge to its dominant position from advocates of relationship-based marketing (Grà ¶nroos, 1995). The introduction of new technologies, such as the internet, has changed the way in which businesses are able to interact with their customers. This, together with the large scale removal of global trading barriers and the increasing homogenisation of consumer attitudes and purchasing behaviour, have all served to fuel what has become known as the globalisation of world markets (Doole, and Lowe, 2008). This new global marketplace for products has necessitated the adoption of new and more effective marketing techniques and concepts by rival businesses striving to compete for the same customers. So rather than rely on traditional marketing techniques, which are based on identifying new prospects, converting them to customers, and completing sales transactions, businesses have increasingly focussed on developing meaningful relationships with their customers in order to both retain their custom and encourage them to spend more. The management of relationship marketing has been greatly facilitated by a change in attitude to the structure of the marketing, customer service and product quality control functions. Rather than these functions being distinct and disintegrated, as is the case in businesses with a traditional marketing focus, relationship marketing integrates these functions to enable the business to get closer to its customers and thus helping it to benefit from increased customer retention, and the nirvana that all businesses strive for, customer loyalty (Fill and Hughes, 2003). Customer loyalty can be defined as a form of repeat purchasing behaviour reflecting a conscious decision to continue buying the same brand. (Solomon et al. 2001, p. 259). Additionally, the financial efficacy of customer retention versus new customer acquisition is well established. Indeed most academic studies on the subject propound the view that the costs of acquiring new customers can be up to five times higher than tho se costs associated with retaining existing customers (Heskett et al., 1994; Webster, 1994; Cespedes, 1995). In the current global marketplace, Jones (1992) believes that businesses have no choice but to build and retain the loyalty of existing customers if they are to survive and grow. Supermarket chains, such as Tesco and Asda, act as a reference point for attitudes to loyalty, with 72% of consumers feeling loyal to at least one organisation operating in the highly competitive supermarket sector, according to a study by the Logic Group, a specialist in loyalty programmes management, and researcher Ipsos MORI (Fernandez, 2009). Tesco Clubcard a key relationship tool Tesco has been the dominant force in supermarket retailing for the last ten years (Seth and Randall, 2001). It remains the market leading supermarket chain in the UK with a 30.4% market share and has, in the early part of 2010, further widened the gap between itself and its arch rival ASDA, a position which has largely been attributed to the success of its recent Clubcard double points promotion (MacDonald, 2010). To succeed, relationship marketing requires the development and maintenance of strong personal relationships with customers. These relationships should include a high degree of mutual interaction and social exchange (Zineldin and Philipson, 2007). Tescos Clubcard is the cornerstone of its customer relationship marketing strategy. Launched in February 1995, Tescos Clubcard gained five million users within its first month of operation and, significantly and somewhat ironically for a loyalty card, 200,000 new customers also joined the scheme (Seth and Randall, 2001). Clubcard works by enabling its users to collect points when shopping at Tesco stores and online at Tesco.com and also at Tescos catalogue store, Tesco Direct. In addition, points can be collected at Tesco petrol stations and by paying for any goods or services using a Tesco credit card. Tesco Clubcard holders can also collect points when making non Tesco purchases, such as paying for gas or electricity through utilities supplier e.on (Tesco website, 2010). These points are then converted into money-off vouch ers for customers to use in store. However, Clubcard is much more than simply a vehicle to reward customer loyalty. By collecting customer data at registration, Clubcard is also a powerful marketing planning tool for Tesco. It enables the retailer to track customer shopping habits, including the products bought and their purchase frequency, thus enabling Tesco to target specific product and service promotions to specific customers, either at the point of sale or at the customers home via direct marketing. Tesco has attracted some criticism for using its loyalty scheme in this way but it argues that it works in the interests of its customers by aiding the business and product development process. Indeed, Tesco Chief Executive, Sir Terry Leahy, states that: We could not have created the dot-com business without the data from the loyalty card (Humby et al, 2007, page 4). As well developing relationships by creating highly targeted and personalised communications for its customers, Tesco has fulfilled another one of the key objectives of relationship marketing with its Clubcard, namely getting its existing customers to purchase more products. For example, using its Clubcard customer data, Tesco can identify possible target customers for its non-food products. It then mails these customers about such products via the medium of its quarterly Clubcard newsletter. This strategy has resulted in half of all Tescos traditional grocery customers also purchasing non food items from the chain (Humby et al, 2007). Data collected from Clubcard users has also been credited with helping to fuel Tescos recent dramatic international expansion with one third of its entire staff now working outside the UK (Humby et al, 2007). Tesco has extended its Clubcard brand into specific customer market segments in order to enhance its relationships with certain groups with a view to increasing sales to those specific customer segments. Clubcard data revealed that families with babies and toddlers who shopped regularly at Tesco did not believe that they could trust the Tesco brand as the best place to buy baby and toddler related products. These customers tended to place their trust in Boots for such products (Humby et al, 2007). A key identified element of successful relationship marketing is trust: The resources of the seller personnel, technology and systems have to be used in such a manner that the customers trust in the resources involved and, thus, in the firm itself is maintained and strengthened (Grà ¶nroos, 1990, p.5) Tesco decided that it needed to specifically address the issue of trust for these customers and created the Tesco baby and toddler club. Membership of the club enables families with babies and toddlers to get double Clubcard points on certain products as well as giving them free parking spaces close to store entrances, a free magazine and access to specialist parenting advice (Tesco baby and toddler club website, 2010). This relationship marketing initiative directly led to an increase of trust in the Tesco brand for baby and toddler products from this market segment and a consequent transfer of market share from Boots. Now Tescos sales volume of baby and toddler products is more than that of Boots and Mothercare combined (Stone et al, 2010). Effective relationship marketing that truly enhances customer relationships and leads to business improvement also requires that the marketing discipline in an organisation transcends all functions and embeds itself in the ethos of the business (Zineldin and Philipson, 2007). Tesco is totally focussed on its customers and information about customer needs and purchasing trends are disseminated to all parts of the organisation not just marketing. Indeed, Tesco claims that everything its does is rooted in customer knowledge (Tesco Careers Website, 2010). So it can be seen that Tescos Clubcard has certainly played a major role in securing and enhancing its market leading position and, as far as contributing to the bottom line is concerned, then there is evidence that it has also generated incremental sales and profits (Humby et al, 2007). Equally it has not caused an increase in overall marketing spend for Tesco as much of the funding for Clubcard has come from the reallocation of resources from other areas of marketing spend, such as TV advertising (Humby et al, 2007). However, it should also be remembered, of course, that Tesco has not completely disowned the traditional marketing concept as its ongoing aggressive price promotions demonstrate. Asda a traditional price-led approach Some academics suggest that here has been a paradigm shift from traditional to relationship marketing (Grà ¶nroos, 1995) and that traditional marketing does not fulfil the requirements demanded by the modern-day marketing concept (Gummesson, 1995, 2000). Kotler (1997), however, argues that the decision whether to use relationship marketing or transactional marketing depends on the industry type and, more importantly, on the needs and wants of the particular consumer. Some consumers will always adopt a short-term attitude in their relationships with suppliers (Zineldin and Philipson, 2007). In these cases traditional marketing based on the transactional approach will always have an important role to play. Asda is the second largest supermarket chain in the UK with around 17% market share (Macdonald, 2010). Its market ambitions are summed up in it mission statement which is to be Britains best value retailer exceeding customer needs always and in its stated purpose which is to make goods and services more affordable for everyone (Times 100, Asda Case Study, 2010, p.34). Asda has recognised the fickle nature of some consumers relationships with their supermarkets and acknowledges that the purchasing motivation of those consumers will always be based on obtaining best value (Zineldin and Philipson, 2007). Asda has, therefore, consistently adopted a transactional approach to its marketing by focussing heavily on two of the four Ps of the marketing mix advocated by traditionalists namely, Price and Promotion. Asda has built its market position around price and value for money, supporting these propositions through heavyweight TV advertising with its TV commercials having now propounded the virtues of Asda price for well over thirty years. Asdas strategic communications director, Nick Agarwal, defends Asdas traditional marketing approach, which focuses on attracting new customers and increasing transactions through its price and value led proposition, by stating that the current economic times dictate this type of offer in the supermarket sector. He says : Our internal data suggests that people are still very nervous about what will happen on the economic front this year. We need to make sure we serve new customers as well as those who are still feeling financially challenged, especially with the increase in VAT and public sector cuts that are to come. We are very conscious that value is still going to be at the heart of what people want in the coming 18 months.'(Costa, 2010). However, whilst Asda has enjoyed considerable success with its traditional marketing strategy, there are now indications that its approach has failed to reverse a slow decline in sales. According to research from Kantar Worldpanel, Asdas sales have fallen by 0.4% in the second quarter of 2010 and its market share has dropped by 1.7% to 16.9% in the same period (Baker, 2010). Asda seems determined to continue to pursue its traditional approach but independent observers are urging the chain to change to reflect new consumer attitudes. Ed Garner, retail analyst at Kantar Worldpanel says. The market has changed considerably and now consumers feel there is more to life than low prices (Baker, 2010). There are even dissenting voices within Asdas own ranks with Asdas new marketing director Jon Owen believing that the supermarket chain must cease its blinkered focus on traditional price-led marketing in order to compete more effectively (Baker, 2010). Asda has, however, made some concessions to relationship marketing through its corporate social responsibility initiatives. These include community involvement projects through its Asda Foundation (Your Asda website, 2010) and the provision of credit to those customers who have been refused credit by other lenders (Hemingway, 2002). However, it would seem that there are still strong forces inside and outside the business questioning whether or not a predominantly traditional marketing approach remains a viable strategy for future success. Summary and Conclusions From the evidence of two contrasting case studies it is apparent that both traditional and relationship marketing have proven to be appropriate for business success within the supermarket retail sector. However, there are indications that consumers are now beginning to expect more than just low prices and value for money from their shopping experience, they have also demonstrated a desire to engage in a meaningful relationship with their supermarket of choice. This relationship, if managed effectively by the supermarket chain, can increase customer loyalty and can encourage customers to their purchasing behaviour for specific product segments, as well as generating incremental sales from new and existing customers. Tesco, has also shown that a customer relationship strategy based on the development of mutually beneficial relationships can, and indeed does, positively impact the bottom line. Asda, for its part appears to be the subject of a struggle between the opposing forces of traditional and relationship marketing. However, this need not be the case. There is no reason why both disciplines should be in opposition. Even if there is a shift towards relationship marketing, many academics believe that traditional marketing, in terms of the four Ps of the marketing mix, remains valid in all types of businesses including supermarket retailing. The argument being that if a business does not have the right price, product promotion or place (distribution) for its products then it will be impossible for it to enter into a mutually beneficial relationship with its customers (Zineldin, and Philipson, 2007). There is, therefore, strong evidence to suggest that a mix of both the traditional and relationship approach is the most appropriate for the Supermarket sector in the UK. Tesco has achieved this balance but Asda has yet to fully embrace the value of relationship marketing acting alongside a more traditional approach. The view that it needs to do this and quickly in order to grow its business appears to be gathering momentum.

Dreams Essay -- science

Dreams A dream is a hope, a wish, and an aspiration. People have dreams about what they want to be when they grow up and what they want their children’s future to be (like). Not all of these dreams come true, though. Even if you work really hard and put your heart into it, there is no guarantee that you will fulfill your dream. â€Å"What happens to a dream deferred†(Hughes)? Langston Hughes, author of the poem, a When something is deferred, it is put off until a later date; in other words, postponed. The cherry blossoms can be deferred due to a sudden freeze, and a surgery can be deferred because of complications. A deferred dream is put on the â€Å"back burner of life†, and it matures to its full potential, and is waiting when you are â€Å"ready to pursue it†. The important idea is that the deferred event, though later than hoped for, eventually comes true. Dreams are a significant component of â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun†; the word â€Å"dream† is used a total of fourteen times throughout the play. Mama, from â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun†, experienced a â€Å"dream deferred† (Hughes). Mamas dreams were for the happiness of her children, and a new house. She and her husband Big Walter put everything they had into getting that house â€Å"with a little garden in the back† (Hansberry). When she gets the insurance payment after her husbands death and puts money down on a house in Clybourne Park, she is ecstatic. The dream was deferred many times. She and Big Walter simply didn’t have the money to purchase...

Paideia of Freedom as a Truth and Paideia of Truth as a Freedom :: Philosophy

Paideia of "Freedom as a Truth" and Paideia of "Truth as a Freedom" ABSTRACT: This paper traces the development of the idea of Paideia as 'freedom as a truth' in Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance to the idea of Paideia as 'truth as a freedom' that characterizes the present and is directed toward the future. It comments on the ideas of Schelling and Heidegger which have contributed toward this transformation. W. JÃ ¤ger (1) ("unitary method") presents "Paideia": both as medicine, and as Goodness, and as bringin-up justice in the state (governers, guards, citizens, women and children). It practically includes all riches of culture. It is possible to argue about definition for a long time. To us the classics is closer. In greek Platon's "Paideia" (IV ad.) a problem about an possibility and limits of attempts to improve man's life was put in a classical form. There are three classical approaches: Education of each separate citizen of a society (sometimes groups of the citizens) directly through introduction of ethical norms, developed by sages. Education of the elite of a society at first in conspiracy from most people, who then will transform a society in general. Or, finally, third "average" approach of the special influence on free activity of the person, with the purpose of understanding him of Truth of the Boon. If, certainly, both Truth and Boon still appreciated by the man of Freedom. Presently the classical statement of a problem has got other form. How will the concept of the Boon and Paideia be transformed, if the relations between Freedom and Truth will considerably change to opposite? In such form the problem is put in the title of the article. Actually before the terms "Freedom" and "Truth" a word "essence" is omitted. Classics talk about "essence of Freedom" and "the essence of Truth". One should remember and mentally "thought" about it. The complete name should sound like: "Ambiguity of Schelling understanding of "essence of Freedom as of a Truth - God" in comparison with ambiguity of Heidegger understanding of "essence of Truth of Being as Freedom" in struggle of philosophical ideas on a problem of con-crete (total specific) "se lf-development – self-creativity – self-creation" of Paideia. "in a whole" "now-and-here" "in this person" today". The understanding of relations between Freedom and Truth by Schelling appears to be the representation of understanding of relations between Freedom and Truth by Heidegger.

Early Religion Essay

Religion is something unique to a man. It makes us different from any other animals. Nowadays, religion has a great impact on man’s life. It one of the major factors why man still manage to survive in this cruel and unfair life. It helps man to keep holding on especially in times of down. It is something man can lean on. But those religions we are affiliated today are not the exact same religion in the early times. Even the simplest religion has a very complex history indeed. Religions have developed over thousands of years ago due to its adaptation to environmental changes such as social and ecological (Hopfe and Woodcraft, p. 15) Although archaeologists and anthropologists have found remains and of ancient people and society, still, evidences for early religions were hard to interpret. Writings were very few because they don’t actually write in their times. They preferred vocal communication. Sad to say but these gave us limited knowledge of early religions. However, their arts and symbols somehow gave little information about their religion. There was also transmission of myths from one generation to another. Stories about gods’ relationship with man are common to every religion. These stories are myths telling the truth about the religion. It helps man visualize abstract concepts (Hopfe and Woodcraft, p. 25). Like every other religion today, early religion also has initiation. After proper training, a man or woman will be initiated which serve as the end of their social cohesion and individual fulfillment (Ellwood and McGraw, p. 31. ). Shamans have a big role in spirituality of early religion. They are believed to have special powers like healing and confronting gods. Ceremonies and rituals that went with hunting and gathering were also present (Ellwood and McGraw, p. 49). Early religion, even somehow have a lot of difference with today’s religion, have shaped the lives of early people. Just like today, religion is a part of their everyday lives. Whatever the differences they may have, religion still have one good reason for existence—guidance to mankind. References: Ellwood, Robert S. and McGraw, Barbara A. Many Peoples, Many Faiths: Women and Men in the World Religions, Seventh Edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall. 2002 Hopfe, Lewis M. and Woodcraft, Mark R. Religions of the World, Eighth Edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall. 2001

Naming of Parts Essay

1. What is the ‘naming of parts’ that the title of the poem refers to? The naming of parts refers to the riï ¬â€še lesson in the poem, with the soldiers being taught about the parts of the riï ¬â€še. 2. The ï ¬ rst stanza identiï ¬ es the timeframe of this poem. Explain why ‘yesterday’, ‘today’ and ‘tomorrow’ might be signiï ¬ cant. This talks about the past, present and future, which is why it is signiï ¬ cant. 3. Explain the simile that compares Japonica to coral (lines 4-5). Japonica is a pink ï ¬â€šower that blossoms in bunches on trees in the spring. The poem compares the colour of the japonica to coral, and how it glows and shines. It talks about the beauty of the ï ¬â€šowers, and compares it to that of the coral. 4. In which lines is the title line repeated? What is the effect of this repetition? The line is repeated four times in the whole poem, three times in the ï ¬ rst stanza and once in the last. The effect of the repetition is that it ties the poem together, and it puts emphasis on the title. 5. Who do you think is speaking in this poem and who do you think is being addressed? Give reasons for your answer. I think that the speaker in this poem is a soldier that has just been recruited, and is being taught about how to use his riï ¬â€še. In my opinion, the poem is addressing the soldier himself, or maybe the world, and people in war. 6. In the second stanza, what is meant by the metaphor concerning the branches, and what is meant by the description of them as making ‘silent, eloquent gestures’? I think that Reed is describing the simple beauty of nature, and perhaps how the branches can be compared to human limbs, with gestures that are elegant and expressive. 7. Why do you think the poet has drawn attention to the piling swivel, â€Å"Which in our case we have not got† (line 12)? I presume that Reed has drawn attention to the piling swivel to show that the soldiers are in training, and have not yet received their own riï ¬â€šes, and therefore do not have the piling swivel. 8. The word ‘ï ¬ nger’ is used in two different contexts in the third stanza. What is the meaning of each, and what do you think is the effect of using both in close proximity? The ï ¬ rst mention of the word is a literal context, meaning that they need to use their thumb to release the safety catch, and not their ï ¬ nger. The second seems to me as if it is a comparison of the instructor and the blossoms of a plant. I think that it is so because the soldier has drifted off, and is looking at ï ¬â€šowers while listening to the instructor talk about not using ï ¬ ngers. 9. The fourth stanza begins with the word ‘And’ (line 19). What is the effect of this? It seems like it is a continuation of another sentence, or something that the instructor has said before. It gives us a way to link the ï ¬ rst part of all the stanzas together, as if the nature part of the previous stanza was something completely different. 10. In the same stanza, the phrase ‘easing the spring’ is used twice with two different meanings. What effect is created when these two ideas are considered side by side? The ï ¬ rst meaning is to ease the spring in a riï ¬â€še, a mechanical and literal reference. In the second mention however, the word spring is capitalized, and is referring to the season. When these two are compared to each other, the ï ¬ rst seems like a comparison to war and destruction because of the riï ¬â€še’s use to do so, and the second contrasts with references to reproduction and giving life. It makes a contrast between giving and taking life. 11. There is a lot of imagery associated with sexual reproduction. Give some examples of these words and explain how this language might contribute to the theme of the poem. The â€Å"easing of the spring,† where Reed writes â€Å"rapidly backwards and forwards,† could be associated with sexual reproduction. 12. In contrast, what ideas in the poem evoke the idea of death and destruction? The instructor’s mechanical and almost cynical explanation of how to use the riï ¬â€še, or how to kill and destruct in the war, evokes this idea very clearly. 13. Comment on the phrase: â€Å"..and the point of balance, / Which in our case we have not got†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (lines 27-28). Perhaps this is talking about how the soldier feels that their lives have been thrown out of balance, or how the world is out of balance, engaging in warfare instead of appreciating the beauty of nature around them. 14. Why do you think the poet drew attention to the silence of the almond blossom? (line 29). I do not see any other reason than him wanting to draw attention to the incredible beauty of nature, and how this contrasts with the destructive warfare going on. 15. In your opinion, what is the main theme or message of this poem and how effectively has the poem communicated it? In my opinion, this poem is about the contrasts between the beauty of nature and war. I think this poem communicates this in a very good way once one has read it a few times and identiï ¬ ed the contrasts and metaphors that are hidden. 16. Lastly, write some comments about how your interpretation of the poem has developed since you ï ¬ rst encountered it. Don’t forget to reï ¬â€šect on your artistic interpretations last week – how did they help (or hinder) your growing understanding? Since I ï ¬ rst heard the poem, I have understood more and more of the meaning behind it. At ï ¬ rst, I only grasped the fact that it talks about a riï ¬â€še lesson, and that it probably had a connection to soldiers and war. I did not comprehend the relationship between war and nature that I interpret as the underlying theme now. I didn’t get very much out of the artistic interpretation last week, other than exploring the nature/war relationship more. The destructive versus growth aspect was also explored, and this helped me grasp the meaning of some of the metaphors.

Ethics in the Workplace Essay

The case study provided in Craig E. Johnson’s book, Ethics in the Workplace , is a moral and valuable lesson regarding the blurred vision between a for profit and a nonprofit. This example, while it may be considered severe, is an excellent one that leads the reader to more important questions. The question of whether nonprofits should operate as businesses encourages the reader to think about the pros and cons of each. If a nonprofit were to operate as a business, it would basically eliminate the unending concern about funding. Nonprofits, operating as a business, would be able to reap the benefits of for profit companies making more money for the organization but not necessarily the mission. However, this would ultimately lead to more expenses as the budget would have to include higher amounts in staff pay, marketing, and benefits. Another con of operating as a business is taxes. Nonprofits would no longer be exempt from paying taxes and once again, the cost would greatly increase the budget. Probably the most dangerous aspect of a nonprofit run as a business is the loss of the mission and vision. One may be concerned that the need for money and greed will usurp the original mission of the nonprofit. Should businesses operate more like nonprofits? This question is a difficult one to answer. Nonprofits exist for social justice, in many cases nonprofits pick up where the government has left off. While our economy is based on supply and demand, there is societal pressure to be charitable and giving. If businesses were to be as charitable as a nonprofit, they would undoubtedly lose money and perhaps close due to lack of funding, yet, their sense of social justice would be fulfilled. Since there will always be consumers, thus a demand for goods and services, businesses should not operate as nonprofits. As cited in the case study in the introduction by Johnson (Johnson, Ethics in the Workplace, 2007), the Goodwill Branch in Portland, Oregon does compete on the same level as businesses in the area. The Branch pays their top staff over $100,000 with the CEO’s salary at a whopping half a million. Yet, because they are registered as a nonprofit, they are exempt from paying taxes on goods and services, people utilizing the nonprofit get services for free, and they are able to pay their staff lower than competitive wages. If, as cited in the case study, a nonprofit competes on all levels with a for profit business, then the competition must be fair. Either the nonprofit has to begin to pay taxes or taxes for the business should be eliminated. It is important to note, however, that the elimination of taxes would devastate the economy. When it comes to salaries, businesses definitely have the upper hand. Because businesses operate to make money, they can afford to hire only the best in the fields. Nonprofits, relying more on government funding, are unable to afford those astounding costs. Furthermore, nonprofits operate under the definition of social services. For a nonprofit to lose sight of that and pay top dollars for staff, is a vision they can not afford to lose. Thus, executives of nonprofits should in no way be compensated or expect to be compensated at the same rate as their business counterparts. The services offered are meant to be taken advantage of by disadvantaged citizens and pay rates should reflect that mission. In the case study previously mentioned, Michael Miller, the CEO of the Goodwill Branch in Portland Oregon, is receiving a salary of $500,000 not including benefits and expenses. Moreover, some of the workers at that same branch are making below minimum wage. It is immoral for Mr. Miller to receive such a high salary, not only because his staff is making considerably less but more importantly because the salary is not in line with the overall charitable mission of Goodwill. It is unreasonable to believe that staff pay will remain the same as a nonprofit expands. However, certain standards must be in place to substantiate higher salaries. Standards may include: overall budget of the nonprofit and allocation of funds, effective service of the nonprofit based on data taken from all available programs, how the nonprofit compares to others in its region or state, and how well they are fulfilling their mission. The question as to whether this writer would charitably donate to the sight mentioned in the study can best be answered by weighing morals against greed. This writer believes that they would not donate to the sight unless there was documented proof that at least 90% of the donation was going to the people it was intended to help. Since this branch is more likely to document exaggerated salaries such as the CEO’s, it is unlikely a donation would be made to that particular branch.

Caferoma Case Study

Caferoma is a well known brand of coffee, promoted as an exclusive product with a strong and slightly bitter taste. The main problem is Caferoma's market share has declined by almost 30%. Let me Summarise the reasons for this change †¢ Consumers have become less loyal to the brand †¢ supermarkets are producing the similar products under their own label are selling at much lover prices †¢ Competing products have lower prices (30 to 40 %) †¢ Caferoma becoming less fashionable Brand image: not up to date s we can see from the chart 2 years ago Caferoma’s sales in Hotels was 30% but last year it was 25% in restaurants 2 years ago Caferoma’s sales was 10% but last year it was 15% In supemarkets 2 years ago their sales was 45% but last year it was 30% In specialist shops 2 years ago Caferoma’s sales was 10% but last year it was 25% Conducting the market survey we have the following results: Majority [m d r? t? ] people suppose Caferoma is old-fashio ned 70% of people think Caferoma has a good quality 60% of people consider that Caferoma is expensive little bit more than half of the respondents believe Caferoma is exclusive a less than half of people said Caferoma is value for money and almost a third of respondents think Caferoma is ecxiting. I can propose the following solution: Create a new coffee with a new taste and a new name for example „Cafferissimaâ€Å". To introduce the new coffee it will be good to have a limited edition (maybe coffee with taste of chilli). It is necessary to create a new package with an exclusive design for example in gold. Furthermore we give special introduction prices for both coffees.Most people want to try out new brands just to know how it tastes – this is our advantage. In order to bring the old brand back to life, will be a good idea to give small additional samples on the new coffee package of „Cafferissimaâ€Å". Moreover we need a new design of the logo, as the old on e is boring. There is no relation between this logo and the exclusive taste of the coffee. Maybe it could be similar to the package of Caferoma (golden, italic type). The next step will be a change of advertising. It is necessary to find the typical Italian style for old and young people.I think it would be great to have two different ads. One ad with an old woman, dressed very exclusively and the other one with a group of young people who are having fun, laughing and so on. But both ads will be made at the same place for example a typically Italien square. E-Mail To: From: Subject: RE:Caferoma decaffeinated; Premium Blend Date: 9th September Dear Mario, the first thing I have to mention is, that the „decaffeinated productâ€Å" is available in all supermarkets, but placed on botton shelves! Customers won't find the product as easy as other products.Most supermarkets sell their own brands because they make more money with it. I think that we can raise our profit by offering t he managers cash for displaying our product in a better position. Here some measures to improve the premium blend sales: As far as I can see, the price for the premium blend is too high and the packaging looks old-fashioned. Therefore we should reduce the price and launch a new packaging design. We should also start a new advertising campaign with focus on the brand's qualities. For instance some tasting sessions in big stores. Best regards

Business System Technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Business System Technology - Essay Example These three operations can be accessed from the top level menu shown in the screenshot below. The first option allows the user to enter the details of a rental by selecting the appropriate rental type, the place of issuing the rental, the date and duration of the rental period as also the name of the customer. With this, the details can be registered in the system. Also, the users can get an estimate on the sales achieved by each rental outlets for the preceding 7 days on a segment as well as on an overall basis by selecting the appropriate outlet from the drop down list. The application can further be enhanced by developing it across several perspectives. Firstly, several aspects of the operations of the company can be included into the system as separate modules. For instance, the cost of operation, maintenance of cars, the inventory, spare parts used, the wages paid out to workers in the company etc. can be managed by the system. as the capabilities of the system grow, it is advisable to transfer the database from an Access application to a highly capable SQL Server or any other database server as this allows for more features apart from improving the overall performance and quality of the system. the application can be migrated to the web, so as to allow customer to be able to log in and make online bookings. Such a feature will eliminate the need to maintain several offices and further relieve from the need to enter every sale made as the system could then be configured to handle sale and purchase features automatically. As such, these are some of the areas where the application can be enhanced further. Visual Studio is one of the most magnificent applications ever to have been used by software developers. Unlike competitors such as Eclipse or Borland, Visual Studio, a product from Microsoft has succeeded in capturing a major chunk of the market. Three major

Female Sexual Autobiography Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Female Sexual Autobiography - Personal Statement Example It was very early that I discovered something unusual when I find young men and boys looking at me with deeper meaning in their eyes. I started feeling strange and uncomfortable by someone's intense gaze or meaningful smile while I was entering my teenage. Early teenage interaction with opposite sex assured me of some fiery attraction and bond. Later, Biology class lessons and discussions; television programs; magazines with exposing pictures; books and literature, and socialization led me discover the real meaning and process of sex. At that time, I felt excited but feared by the consequences of doing it in the form of pregnancy. I was clueless about where â€Å"babies come from† until six. One day I heard some kids talking about it in school cafeteria. In utter disbelief, I shared this newly got but awkward information with some of my street friends, few of them came up with similar stories. With more confused than ever ideas in my head, I came back home and talked to my mother about it; she told me that it’s true. I was quite shocked; it was certainly true because my mother was the ultimate source of information. I felt that it is a gross idea and babies can come out by mouth instead, funny idea I know, but that was something popped like popcorn in my mind when I was settling with this phenomenon. I thought but how the kid goes in, an immediate answer was, the way it comes out, but I couldn't give much thought to the later part. I also imagined myself coming out of my mom’s bottom; it seems funny now but was a terrible thought then. Post this information, I became more curious than ever to such information aired on television, magazines, and books. I was aware of the fact that girls and boys are different from my early childhood. I started noticing the differences between male and female body around 7-8 years of age. Whenever I saw a new born without clothes, I naturally observed that boys are different from girls. I felt that little girls have more beautiful body than little boys but boyish thing was interesting for sure. My biology class proved to be the solid fact-checking machine as I could not only read but question whenever I felt confused. After studying the structures and functioning of male and female organs, I was very thrilled. My own changing body and new experiences, such as, periods made me felt like I am transforming into women, ready for a sensual life full of surprises ahead. While I learned about the connection between male and female, I was not able to appreciate my own body. I was interested in what is in outside world. Masturbating was somethi ng that came to be naturally and made me realize the beauty and feelings within. Though, I started doing it around the age of 8 or 9 but I was not aware of the fact that I was doing it. I have no clue what it is and why I enjoy touching myself. However, it was not that real masturbating as I used to stick my finger there and move slowly for feeling the sensation or releasing the itch caused by some hard cloth or jeans. I learnt about the â€Å"golden moment† (as I refer to orgasm) in my teenage from some dirty magazines where people shared their experiences of