Experiment: The Dumb Jock

There were two groups in their experiment. The experimental group was exposed to hints of negative stereotypes through a questionnaire before the examination while the control was exposed to the negative stereotypes after the test. The questionnaire brought to their attention the possibility that they may have been given special treatment and considerations due to the fact that they are athletes. Somehow, the experiment proved that there is a negative correlation between the exposure of the athletes to negative stereotypes and their performance in taking tests.More exposure to negative stereotypes brought lower scores while less exposure to these stereotypes brought higher scores. For the experimental group, it is possible that answering the questionnaire that exposed them to the dumb Jock stereotype lowered their self-regard that led them to getting low test results. The questionnaire gave them the idea that they are only accepted in the university because of their athletic skills a nd not because of their academic skills.With this kind of thinking, they might have exerted less effort in nswering the questions of the test because they do not believe that they will get a high grade. He might probably think that the societys expectations regarding his test scores won't be high and that he, himself, is led to believe that he is accepted in the university as an athlete rather than a student. Similar to the placebo effect, the subject immerses himself to the popular belief and concept of a dumb Jock that might have led him to flunk the test unconsciously when he was given the idea through the questionnaire.The dumb Jock stereotype probably started when the people performing well in thletics happened to be less educated because they spend most of their time honing their athletic abilities rather than their mental abilities. Because of this, people expected less from these athletes and these athletes tend to cling unto mediocrity and expect special considerations beca use of their situation. I think the athletes, themselves, try to fit their description to the society's norms. This observation came from years of experience in an NCAA school where a large portion of the population is comprised of athletes.Although IVe seen some who perform well n academics and athletics, it cannot be denied that there are lots of student-athletes who refuse to exert more effort into their academics simply because they think it is not expected of them to do so. In my past school, they nave tried to explain to us now there are several kinds ot smarts and that each and every one of us simply has our own fortes. I think that what's important is that they are reminded that they are good students who happen to play for the school and not athletes who are required to study while they play.Not only does this straighten their focus, but they are also given the idea that they are accepted as a student not as an athlete. There were instances wherein prestigious schools rejec ted great athletes not because they weren't good enough in their field of sports but because they weren't able to pass the entrance examination. It is important for them to know that they are in their position not entirely because of their athletic prowess but because they are students first and that representing the school comes second.

Gattaca Film Essay

Gattaca 2. 10 Gattaca by Andrew Niccol Robbie Bentley In the film Gattaca by Andrew Niccol, an important scene that conveys meaning in the film is the night club/alley scene. It shows us Vincent’s feelings towards Irene and how desperate he is to not getting caught. I chose this scene to write about because it uses multiple aspects of film to convey meaning in the text. The aspects I’ve chosen to analyse are Mise En-Scene, Camera, Sound and Editing. In the night club/alley scene, an important aspect used to get across meaning is music and sound effects.When Jerome and Irene are sitting in the night club there is relaxed, low-tempo music playing which gets progressively louder whilst they dance, until it builds up to the kiss which is interrupted by the detective. This is a good use of music as it fits the elegancy of the scene. Nice easy going, almost dreamlike as it builds up, drawing in the audience audience into the moment. The music cuts out, snapping everything bac k to reality as the detective walks in. Another important example of sound is when Jerome and Irene are escaping through the alley.The use of both music and amplified sound in this part of the scene helps build tension. When they start running, a sort of low aching strings music comes in which sounds almost tortured and off-note. This gradually gets louder the longer they run to help the audience understand the tension in this part. Also their footsteps are amplified to emphasise the desperateness in their escape. After Irene slips and they hide in the alley, the music cuts out and Anton yells â€Å"Vincent! † The cut out of music shows the seriousness of this part due to the very sudden cuts of music.Another important aspect of film in the alley scene is camera work. An example of this is when Jerome and Irene are escaping through the alley. When they start running, the camera starts tracking their feet. This is to show the audience directly they’re running away. The camera slowly pans up to an almost point of view shot, trailing behind them. This is a good film technique because it makes the audience feel as if they’re being chased by the camera, which in this shot symbolises not only the detectives but Jerome’s fear of being caught.It then moves into a shot from the front of them, still running they pass the camera into another follow shot. I think this is a good shot because them passing the camera shows the speed at which they are going. A third effective film aspect use in the night club/alley scene is editing. In the night club scene, the length of each shot is very stretched out. This a good use of editing because the slow transitions of shots and the relaxed music makes the scene seem very relaxed.It also lets the audience stop and take in the environment of the night club. This contrasts well when the scene changes in the alley. In the alley everything picks up pace, with the shots transitioning much faster as Vincent knoc ks out the bodyguard and they escape. This sudden speed up from the previous scene draws the audience into the moment as the tension lifts dramatically. After Irene trips over and they go to hide in the alley, the shots start to drag out again. This helps show that they’re safe.A serene sort of music comes in which supports the slow transitions, taking the feel of the scene back to that slow sort of romantic feeling. A useful film technique used in conjunction with sound, editing and camera work is mise en-scene. The set in the night club is made to look very elegant, with chandeliers hanging from the high-arched beautifully decorated ceiling. The lighting fits into the look as well with a dim low yellow light. The night clubs seat really compliments Irene’s dress.This is done on purpose to show the audience Vincent’s feelings that he has towards Irene and to highlight her significance to him in the film. The contrast moving from the elegant night club to the da rk, gloomy alley is quite a significant one. This transition helps change the mood of the audience from being happy/lovey dovey to a more serious, tense mood. The use of the alley being lit by the green light from the cop car is a good example of effective lighting because as Irene and Vincent are running it looks like a fog light almost, chasing for them.The walls of the alley almost look wet, this gives it a gloomy, cave like look. I think this is used to symbolise Vincent running into a big dark cave in which he can’t turn back in. The night club/alley scene is an important scene in Gattaca because it shows the audience how Vincent feels towards Irene but also how desperate he is to not get caught. I think Andrew Niccols purpose of this scene is to show the passion between Vincent and Irene to the audience by using several film techniques used to pull the two parts of the scene together and convey meaning.

Place-names (linguistics) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Place-names (linguistics) - Essay Example Particularly in the case of England, the power of naming becomes a key insight into the history of conquest from foreign powers that the island has experienced in its long life. These conquerors understood the act of naming as the linguistic equivalent of driving a flag into the soil of the vanquished foe’s garden – a means of solidifying and extending the message of their invasion and subsequent occupation throughout time. Such is the power expressed through names and naming processes. As Rose-Redwood, Alderman and Azaryahu (2010, p. 454) note, â€Å"the naming of places is one of the primary means of attempting to construct clearly demarcated spatial identities†. For the purpose of the following essay, these spatial identities are to be thought of as political identities as well. â€Å"As a place-name becomes opaque and the original meaning is lost over time, the name comes to feel like a word, in that it feels like an arbitrary combination of sounds used to r efer to a certain item or idea† (Radding & Western 2010, p. 396). The same is true of a conquering force, as this essay will demonstrate. This essay argues that the study of place-names requires â€Å"a critical analysis of the social and political struggles over spatial inscription and related toponymic practices† (Rose-Redwood et al. 2010, p. 455). As such, the study of place-names becomes more informative about the past – about the role that naming played in the military, social and cultural history of England. However, what this essay will also demonstrate is that the social and political act of spatial inscription and place-naming still occurs in the present day, and still functions as a highly effective method for a conquering power to secure its presence over the emotional and psychological space of the invaded populace. This essay will compare the Norman Invasion of England of 1066 with the United States invasion of Iraq in 2003 to illustrate how the topo nymic practices continue to serve key political functions. Despite the thousand year gap between these two military campaigns, the core activity remains the same – rename the conquered space using conqueror language in order to cement physical power with linguistic power. This essay will also show how place-naming served a crucial political function even after the use of maps as a means of demarking political territory became widespread. Linguistic and toponymic practices have been used by invaders not only to stake a claim in the conquered lands and to demonstrate their ownership literally, the power of naming extends that power across the centuries, simply because the town or village will adopt the name, people will continue to use the name over and over, and as time passes, the name becomes part of the cultural vernacular and assimilates into the new order. As Radding & Western (2010, p. 395) explain, â€Å"names are given intentionally, to impart a certain meaning. They can be the converse of arbitrary. Yet, over time, people can fail to remember the original, specifically intended meaning and attribute other ones†. In addition, the act of saying the name repeatedly, over many centuries, continues to assert the dominance of the original source of the name. Thus the individual or group that claims the place via the name also lays claim to the psychological, social and cultural space of the invaded peoples, by leveraging the insidious and viral nature of language itself. As Rose-Redwood et al. (2010 p. 454) note, â€Å"

Women Studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Women Studies - Essay Example The author would like the reader to walk away from reading this book with an understanding of feminism, that is not just local or national but international as well. She takes "the perspective that cultural diversity must be respected but that it must not be used to excuse the maltreatment of women" (p.5). She wants the reader to understand that although what a woman in one culture might take for granted as a right might be something a woman in another culture is still fighting for but it does not make it any less of an issue under feminism. Burn wants to "give you some overall sense of the varieties of issues affecting women and the variety of their response, and how both these are affected by culture and women's roles as reproducers" (p.5). 1. The study of lesbianism is important to the topic of women across cultures because almost every country in the world has a lesbian sub-culture living somewhere in it, whether they want to admit it or not. The consequences of proclaiming yourself to be lesbian can be emotionally trying especially in societies that have very strict social roles that are to be maintained. Numerous countries deny having any problems with lesbianism because they have laws that outlaw it so it cannot possible exist.

Teaching science Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Teaching science - Essay Example Not only does the technique influence the amount of understanding a child gets, it likewise has its effects on the manner by which a child develops his thinking and decision making skills. The method by which science is taught is highly relevant to the amount of learning of that the student gets. However, teaching science is not as simple as it may seem. Teaching science, most especially to children requires more than reading from textbooks and writing down lectures on the board. Various considerations need to be made in order to successfully make students scientifically proficient. Part of determining the best way to teach science is to understand the importance of several elements. These elements help define what the student learns and how he learns. As previously mentioned, these two principles are both important for they both have their own functions later on in one's life. One of these elements is the development of a student's scientific habits of mind. Teachers must realize the value of developing a child's scientific habits of mind to his total scholastic development and scientific learning as well. Basically, one's scientific habits of mind describe the essential thinking skills which serve as tools for both formal and informal learning in science and for life-long participation in society. These skills include problem solving, reasoning, communication, and making connections. These habits of mind are valuable skills that are necessary for a student to develop his scientific knowledge. More importantly, these skills are valuable to the total development of an individual's mind. As such, teachers must inculcate these values in students. In learning science, an individual goes through the process of inquiry. (Golberg, 1997) Many pedagogy experts have suggested that science is best learned not by the traditional methods of learning from the book but through an inquiry-based model. With such a model, one's scientific habits of mind are developed and are necessary tools in the learning process. The student learns by active participation through asking questions and discovering scientific knowledge on his own. Teachers need to see this as an opportunity to teach children not just about science but about essential lessons that are integral parts of one's life as well. (Golberg, 1997) The development of a child's scientific habits of mind is not only beneficial to the total development of the child; it is likewise a valuable tool that teachers can use in order to facilitate better learning. With the development of such skills, the teacher can concentrate on using the inquiry-based model. In doing so, she lessens the strain on her teaching skills since learning science becomes a process of self-discovery rather than the traditional teacher-centered methods. (Golberg, 1997) Another important element in teaching science is active science discussion. This requires the active participation of the students in the learning process. In an active science learning environment, there is less emphasis on book-based learning and more weight is placed in learning by inquiry specifically through a discussion with the teacher and with peers. (Golberg, 1997) In the traditional methods of teaching, the teacher dominates the classroom since

Scene Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Scene Analysis - Essay Example The Grandmaster was a commercial and critical success since it handled the story, the scenes and the characters very convincingly and took every one on a journey into the time period between 1930 to 1950, through the life story of Ip Man, the lead character of the film. It is indeed surprising that the director chose to open the story with a fight sequence in the rain that shows the histrionics of Ip Man the lead character and familiarizes the audience with his proficiency in the art. As a student of movie making would note, this opening fight sequence superceded all other fight sequences in the movie and the treatment of lights, camera and action were full of montages that are unique and historically significant in the history of Chinese cinema. The Grandmaster is not a very important cult film today which falls in the category of Chinese action movies that deal with Kung Fu masters, combats and is shouldered by the lead characters or fighters in the movie. However, the film has unique montages that have never been created in the history of Chinese cinema before. Take for example the opening fight sequence done in the night in a rainy street (NIX, 2013, 1). The fight is between Ip Man and a number of combatants and uses all possible camera angles to convincingly display his skills. There are moments in the sequence which show rain waters only, whether they are on the floor of the street where they are gathered to form a pool and are disturbed by the fight on goi ng on the same street; or whether they are flying off Ip Man’s rich white hat (Marsh, 2013, 1). These scenes were a different inclusion in an otherwise action movie. The fact that the camera, the light (especially the way it was made to reflect in the rain drops and the water splashing around), and the edits of the footage (Vineyard, 2008, 24) are very swift and shown to the audience in short timings between the fight scenes adds the extra element of

Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 7

Assignment - Essay Example The report by Celal and Parent is timely since it focuses on an area that did not have adequate research prior to their study. SMEs deal with the people directly as they have their management and offices in the communities they offer goods and services as opposed to multinationals that might only have offices for supply reasons and maintain decision-making functions far off in their headquarters. As such, a report that offers insights into how SMEs can survive when faced with such a recession and downturn in future is highly welcomed. The study is a revelation to those in need of a strategic plan to help their businesses stay afloat whenever they are faced with a financial crisis. Application of Celal and Parent’s report cannot be limited to a time global financial recession. The business practices that owners exercised can have wider application to business that needs to reduce their expenses for other internal financial reasons. For example, according to the study business o wners had to use methods like working longer hours, taking a salary cut, acquiring more debt, and cancellation of personal vacations (1). Such methods employed by SMEs owners during recession can still operate in rescuing businesses that need to stay afloat due to their own financial crisis. The study by Celal and Parent is important in minimizing effects of recession in future as it provides a range of changes in their review of the policy measures that business enterprises can use in face of financial crisis. One of the strengths the report has is that the researchers break down policy measures employed by SMEs into finer details. The researchers go further to analyze every aspect of the business strategy on their own before moving on to analyze the strategy as part of the whole effort of saving the SMEs from going under. The report covers all areas in which there were changes effected to ensure the SMEs survive including such area of business operation as business owner’s behavior, markets for the business, sales and marketing strategy employed, measures concerning employment, financial strategies, reactions and most requested policies, growth strategies and fiscal policies. Celal and Parent’s wide coverage of policy changes for SMEs makes it valuable due to the completeness of the analysis. Although Celal and Parent covered most of the areas that SMEs can use to fight recession in future, the analysis is not without some drawbacks, the study limits its scope to SMEs operating in Canada to arrive at its conclusions. Maximum application of the study is possible only when a business enterprise consuming this research finding operates in a business environment that is similar to the one that the SMEs that were sampled in Canada face. The study should have included business organizations in other market environments in their sample to increase the scope of application. Sampling of SMEs in other countries and market environment would also help SMEs in Canada. This would have provided insight into policy measures SMEs outside of Canada put into practice to survive the recession. The entry noted in the study by Celal and Parent as ‘other’ on the graph is not specified to indicate what they might include. There are instances when the entry goes up to 11 per cent in the analysis of changes in employment (3). Such changes

Managing People, and Marketing sections Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Managing People, and Marketing sections - Essay Example Cummins Westport Inc. manufactures in China with Dong Feng Engine Co. They are headquartered in Indiana, Columbus USA and have 500 Distributor locations, they have a presence in 131 countries and have 24200 employees worldwide. Cummins has been providing CNG, Diesel and other engines to Bus manufacturers. Their basic product line is manufacturing of electric generators powered either by diesel or even by LPG. Due to the lucrative margins in the CNG bus manufacturing market, Cummins is evaluating the possibility of launching their own CNG bus. Their long term vision is to diversify into the production of alternate fuel heavy vehicles. They believe they have the necessary market intelligence, technical experience and knowledge, manufacturing edge and the brand â€Å"Cummins† has a repute of quality and reliability in the engine & generator market. However, there are pitfalls in this seemingly lucrative opportunity including the marketing of the new product and its launch and most importantly the human resource aspects including how to motivate employees? Finding the right leadership? And team friction. As identified by the management of Cummins in their brief to Creative Chaos, they would like to explore the CNG bus market manufacturing potential in which they already operate and are well-known for their high quality and reliable CNG engines that they manufacture. The only difference is that this time they want to manufacture & assemble the complete bus. However, the current market for CNG buses in USA is waning and has reached saturation. This is a statement supported by the following facts: A high number of Alternative Fuel Vehicles made available every year include the E 85 type vehicles (hybrid technology). CNG vehicles comprise of a very small number(AFDC Alternate Fuel Development council) It has been observed that from the year 2002, when the CNG buses manufactured were as many as 1200,the number of CNG buses

Leadership Styles and Their Effectiveness Essay Example for Free

Leadership Styles and Their Effectiveness Essay Peer Editor: Faculty: Certification of Authorship:I certify that I am the author of this paper and that any assistance I recieved in its preparation is fully acknowledged and disclosed in this paper.I also have citedd any sources from which I used data,ideas,or words,either quoted directly or parapharased.I certify that this paper was prepared by me espcifically for the purpose of this assignment,as directed. Praxis II Leadership Styles and Their Effectiveness Ike Hall EDAD-8021 Pro-seminar Leading Community Practice Dr.Duhon Praxis Paper Submitted Feburary 24,2008 in Partial Fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education (ED.D.) Leadership Styles and Their Effectiveness Introduction The late Harold Geneen, man behind the success of the International Telephone and Telegraph Corp. (ITT), once said â€Å"Leadership cannot really be taught. It can only be learned’. Essentially leadership is always tied to the individual who takes on the role. Throughout history, many great leaders emerged. They brought with them either positive or negative influence. They are considered great leaders because of their undeniable contribution in shaping the events of time. But what in their leadership style makes them great? There are many definitions of leadership however usually it is defined by the results it produces, both in the situation and the people under it. More commonly leadership is defined as the influence of one over those he leads (Clark 2007). There are many facets to leadership. In fact it is one of the most studied subjects around. Many researches have been conducted to tap it. Many programs have been designed to enhance it. Many individuals seek it. And many scholars have tried to explain it. One of the most common inferences of leadership is that leaders are made not born (Clark 2005). This paper will try to identify what makes a great leader. By studying the different styles of leadership, it aims to present a more concrete explanation of the subject. Going through the merits of the different styles will essentially broaden understanding. By assessing the different points of leadership, a clearer picture of its influence, particularly in the school setting will be achieved. While leadership remains subjective and relative (Bittel, 1989) this paper will seek to create a more objective view of the subject. It will expose its most important components. It will present a few of its tested formulae. By doing so, it will identify what are essential to becoming an effective leader today. Evidence from Literature A great number of books have been written on leadership. Experts have been very generous in sharing their thoughts about it. In fact, in the last 30 years alone there has been an influx of experts in the subject. No matter how it is explained, or what terms are used to describe it, the view on leadership remains essentially the same. Even John Maxwell, arguably the most popular expert in leadership summarizes it as simply the influence of one over others (1998). Not surprising, experts bring with them different views on leadership. They also encourage people to subscribe to their own brand or style of leading. However while there seems to be a whole lot of choices, leadership style can very well be broken down into three (Goodworth 1988) general classifications. These are Autocratic, Laissez Faire and Democratic (Vaccio 1988). Autocratic or Authoritarian Leadership is defined as one that dominates (Bittel 1989). Its most common attribute is the all-encompassing rule over team members or followers. Most likely Autocratic Leaders will not admit they are. However, the reality of it is that it is the easiest and most common style in leadership. It is so common that usually individuals adapt to it more quickly. Even though this style is viewed as abrasive and often times unproductive as it stirs team members or followers toward passive resistance, it can be highly effective in situations requiring urgent action. The greatest dictators of history all possess autocratic leadership characteristics that they maximized to propel them to infamous success. One of the most obvious evidences of this particular style is it takes advantage of the weaknesses of team members or followers in every situation. While the Autocratic Leadership suppresses input of team members or followers, it is entire the opposite in Laissez Faire Leadership. Also named as Free Reign (Goodworth 1988), this particular style places decision-making on the hands of the team members or followers. It is described as having very little involvement from the leader. It gives little direction and motivation. This leadership style is ideal only in groups composed of individuals who are highly motivated with great initiative. Laissez Faire Leaders totally empower their members to achieve goals. It is important that the members are therefore worthy of empowerment. The third style is the Democratic Leadership. It is also referred to as Participative (Clark 2007). The Democratic Leader consults with team members or followers in decision-making without relinquishing control over the team. Participation is encouraged, hence the name. Similar to Laissez Faire, Democratic Leadership empowers members as well. The distinct difference between the two is that Democratic Leadership has more leader involvement. Although the team members and followers are given an active role in decision-making, final judgment still remains with the leader. The three general classifications otherwise known as leadership styles are very different from one another. Each has a set of good and bad points that makes them distinct. However no matter how different they are, they all define leadership the same way. Leadership is influence. This is one irrefutable fact of leadership that experts agree on. Critical Analysis It was mentioned in previous paragraphs that leadership is relative (Maxwell 1998). Its effectiveness depends on the individual who takes on the role. Each style of leadership offers up both positive and negative traits. Each is ideal in certain situations. Each has the capacity to achieve success. In a school set-up, leadership is often a combination of the three classifications. This is not an ideal practice however this is probably the most common. In many instances teacher and student have an autocratic relationship. Teacher speaks and students listen. Teachers give instructions and students follow. This practice however is slowly becoming old-school. Today, teachers and students have a free exchange of ideas. In fact there are times that teachers allow students to take control of discussions. Particularly in school teams, coaches are often accused of allowing their team to have a free reign during games. The trust level is so high that empowerment is effortless. Democratic style of leadership is one which is commonly desired. An open sharing of views and balanced decision-making are often claimed. In the school setting this style of leadership is evident in organizations. Teachers and students are leveled with each other. The school paper is the best example of this kind of leadership. Although teachers hold the final decisions in publications, students are given the opportunity to bring their point across without fear of being shut-down. School is the best place to exercise leadership. There are so many opportunities to try out different styles, put them together to create a more stable form. Schools encourage leadership. Exposure to the different styles allows students to decipher for themselves which are suitable for certain situations. Conclusion It has been mentioned time and again that leadership is influence. The school is an ideal place to hone leadership potentials of individuals. In other words, the school provides an opportunity for individuals to acquire skills in influencing others. Leadership style will always be relative to the individual. Even experts agree to this with their different takes on leadership. However in all the study of leadership one thing remains. No one leadership style is generic (Clark 2005) enough to be applicable in all situations and all individuals. There will always be a need to put two or three different styles to make it work. References Bittel, L. (1989). ‘The McGraw-Hill 36-hour management course’. US: McGraw-Hill. Clark, D. (2005). ‘Leadership styles’. Retrieved on February 17, 2008 from http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/leader/leadstl.html Clark, D. (2007). ‘Concepts of leadership’. Retrieved on February 18, 2008 from http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/leader/leadcon.html Goodworth, C. (1988). ‘The secrets of successful leadership and people management’. US: Heimann Professional Publishing Maxwell, J. (1998). ’21 irrefutable laws of leadership’. US: Thomas Nelson Publishing. Veccio, R. (1988). ‘Original behavior’. US: Dryden Press

Harry Potter Essay Example for Free

Harry Potter Essay Harry Potter is a series of seven novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books is the chronicle adventures of awizard, Harry Potter, and his friends Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School. The main story concerns Harrys quest to overcome the Dark wizard Lord Voldemort, whose aims are to become immortal, conquer the wizarding world and destroy all those who stand in his way, especially Harry Potter. Since the release of the first novel Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone on 30 June 1997 and the last on July 2007, the books have gained immense popularity, commercial success worldwide As of June 2011, the book series has sold about 450 million copies, making it the best-selling book series in history, and has been translated into 67 languages. The last four books consecutively set records as the fastest-selling books in history. Question 1: To what extent was the Harry Potter series simply a loss leader for the hypermarkets? Harry Potter simply a loss leader for the hypermarkets because it’s just a marketing strategy which was used to gain enormous market share of the Harry Potter books with the acceptance of millions dollars loss. Question 2: Should such price cutting be outlawed or regulated to protect smaller retailers? Price cutting should be regulated to not only protect smaller retailer but also prevent market from many consequences such as leading to loss profit and price war, cheapen a brand, etc when price cutting is not controlled. Question 3: Bookstores in Kuala Lumpur withdrew the book in protest. Was their reaction justified? The action of bookstore in Kuala Lumpur withdrawing seventh Harry Potter in protest is justified because it protects their own benefit from being loss and claiming their objection attitude toward the loss leader strategy of other giant retailer.

Is Scientology Dangerous?

Is Scientology Dangerous? A religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious. Scientology was made up by L. Ron Hubbard, a man who wanted to create a practical religion for all races, color, and gender. He believed this as a route to previously unimagined spiritual heights (scientology.org). Scientologists believe highly in reincarnation and that their spirits are immortal and flow through to every new person when they die. L. Ron Hubbard is a man who created this cult to liberate the human soul or thetan; a word derived from the Greek letter theta. Hubbard is a god to the people who believe in him. People who are in Scientology are more brain washed than the celebrities in Hollywood. The only difference is that the people in Scientology are the people in Hollywood. Scientology is a cult based on one mans crude version of reality. Scientology is classified as a cult in most peoples minds because of their strict rules and unorthodox ways of going about things. It is considered a cult because people are treated badly and are harassed if they dont agree with a rule. There are cases of very unorthodox forms of repenting in the Church of Scientology. People have stated that when they were under the belief of Scientology they were told that everything bad that has happened to them is all their fault and they have to make up for it by spreading awareness of Scientology so they can help others atone for everything. The journalist Joel Sappell reported that in his 5 year study of the Church of Scientology, The tip of the spear, that his dog appeared to be having seizure from which the vet couldnt determine the cause of. This comes after he had previously reported on a Scientology related civil trial. Soon after it died, Sappell received a call from Supreme Court judge Ronald Swearinger(Sappell) who called claiming to h ave. Even though Sappell had never previously spoken to this man they both had something in common. Swearingers dog has been drowned, which made him very concerned since his beloved collie would never go near the water on his own(Sappell). Sappell states that people had warned him to keep an eye on pets(Sappell) while he and a colleague, only named in the article as Bob, left town to keep their heads low while theyre investigating the church. Maybe it was coincidence many highly suspect the church targets peoples pets since so many people have reported that their animals suddenly die or disappear when they speak openly about the misgivings of the church. The current leader of Scientology is David Miscavige who is also in command of the Sea Org or The Sea Organization which is a odd mixture of military and corporate managementwith staff members living in army-like conditions (exscientologykids.com). They have such unorthodox ways of going about their religion that they restrict peopl e from having children while working for Sea Org. If you get pregnant you are either pressured to abort the baby or you must leave.(exscientologykids.com) Cover ups and pay offs may be the reason they are never caught for their bad deeds. Scientology really challenges the meaning of church and it should never be called one and only be considered a cult. In May of 2010, another case was opened about child sex abuse allegations. Of the people putting out these accusations was the daughter of the president of the church in Australia (New Zealand Herald, pg.19). This goes to show that even the people of the highest standings have come forward and spoke against the church. Many reported claims of forced abortions, imprisonment,(New Zealand Herald, pg.19) and disconnection. The strict policies of Scientology and the impact on the people who follow this belief system are in some ways both corrupted by the thoughts of Hubbard. In an interview from April 2016, the parents of two followers of the Church of Scientology, Phil and Willie Jones, begged for their children to come forward and speak to them again. Claiming that the last time they spoke to Michael, the son who they claim was stolen from them by Scientology after the church deemed them as suppressive people, was two years ago.(Gadi Schwartz) After being blocked twice from putting up a billboard to get their childrens attention in Hollywood they finally found a site where they could unveil their sign. Other parents who were excommunicated from the church or were forcefully disconnected from their families came to support the Jones family. A lot of cases against Scientology have to do with freedom of speech. Written in the Constitution, freedom of speech has given the people of the United States the f reedom to speak freely. Scientology has found a way to squash and subdue the first amendment. Hubbard created his own version called Fair Game. This policy forces all believers to ignore moral and ethical tenets (Jose Liy). Hubbard let his followers harass people until it became bigger than it seemed. Thus forcing him to claim that followers harassing and breaking laws were misguided and misunderstood(Jose Liy). If everyone who harassed people for not believing in the same things as them were just brushed off as misguided and misunderstood then there would be no such thing as religious fanatics. They go as far as pulling South Park, a Comedy Central show, off the air because it poked fun at Scientology. Tons of religions are made fun of or joked about on different TV shows and/or movies, but since Scientology is a bigger deal in Hollywood they could not take the chances of looking silly in front of their peers. Yet other actual religions are more made fun of than Scientology wants t o maintain their scary appearance and keep people second guessing them. Disconnection is a very common thing in Scientology. When you are labeled as suppressive you are not allowed to speak too your family. From an article in which the people affected by disconnection told their story and still remained scientology loyal. In this article the names were changed to keep the people safe. Mary was raised in Scientology(leavingscientology.wordpress.com) by her dad Sam who is a dedicated Scientologist(leavingscientology.wordpress.com) and joined Sea Org along with her brother. One day Sam found out Mary was labeled as a suppressive person because she messed up a operation at Sea Org. Sam worried about her being disconnected and knew he had to disconnect from her since it is a policy. Even though Scientology insist that Disconnection does not exist (exscientologykids.com/disconnection) yet it seems to pop up more often. Since Sam cannot speak to Mary until she gets her good standing back he branches off and commits the crime of contacting Ex-Scientologists. Whe n Mary started to consider a lawsuit, the church offered her a deal if Mary would shut up about the abuses, and agree not to be part of any lawsuit, then her SP declare would be lifted (leavingscientology.wordpress.com). Fearing for his daughters safety Sam researched some ex-scientologists who were not named and learned their stories. Mary did not want to be disconnected and they told her that dads betrayal will be forgiven as well as hers. Mary signed. She gave in and let them take her back out of fear and possible loneliness. There are different arguments for disconnection. Some are pro, some are con. From the families of disconnection the arguments are con, yet for Scientologist it is considered likewise to excommunication. Even though excommunicated people are not permitted to take any of the sacraments or receive blessings, their families and friends are not pressured to abandon them (exscientologykids.com). Scientology may deny disconnection, but it is one of the worst kind o f excommunication since it does not only focus on disconnecting the person considered a suppressive person; it pushes the family to go as far as never speaking to the person again or disowning them. Not claiming a son as their own or thinking of a father as someone who helped in the process of your creation. In conclusion, Scientology may not be the average sacrificial virgin cult, but it is in fact a dangerous cult. Modern society needs to be more aware of Scientologys rule over people. Since the media down plays Scientology as something to poke fun at no one really questions Scientologists. If asked many people would probably not even know what Scientology is. Instead of answers you will receive questions likewise to is that science? or is that something to do with biology? Younger people are more unaware of Scientology than some may think. Unless they follow people like Leah Remini or watch shows like South Park and learn how Scientology messes with people in real life. Some things that will make people actually think, what really is Scientology? Once society realizes the dangers of Scientology then the numbers of Scientologists possibly will fall and people will feel safer because they will not be a radical threat anymore. Scientology is a cult and a lot of innocent people are unawar e of what they are walking into. Works Cited Abuse? In My Church? Leaving Scientology, WordPress , 10 Apr. 2011, leavingscientology.wordpress.com/2009/07/15/abuse-in-my-church/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2017. COLUMN: Church of Scientology Infringes upon Right of Free Speech. U-Wire, 2006. Educators Reference Complete, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=GPSsw=wu=j020902v=2.1it=rid=GALE|A148688058asid=9d53a7cdb20653018d927a5954846b7e. Accessed 2017. Disconnection as Spiritual Blackmail. Leaving Scientology, WordPress, 10 Apr. 2011, leavingscientology.wordpress.com/2009/07/16/disconnection-as-spiritual-blackmail/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2017. Disconnection. ExScientology Kids, SkyHawk Studios, exscientologykids.com/disconnection/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2017. L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology Founder Biography Quotes. Scientology, Church of Scientology International, www.scientology.org/l-ron-hubbard/?video-play=lrh_bio. Accessed 21 Feb. 2017. Ross, Rick. What Makes a Cult? | Rick Ross. Cif Belief, Guardian News and Media, 27 May 2009, www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2009/may/27/cults-definition-religion. Accessed 21 Feb. 2017. Sappell, Joel. The Tip of the Spear. Los Angeles Magazine, 2013, p. 88. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=GPSsw=wu=j020902v=2.1it=rid=GALE|A314716972asid=ed39321a51f5fc8ae69e80246fe380a2. Accessed 2017. Sea Org. ExScientology Kids, SkyHawk Studios, exscientologykids.com/sea-org-2/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2017. This Family Has Tried Nearly Everything Just to Reach Their Son and Daughter in the Church of Scientology. Today, July 2016. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=GPSsw=wu=j020902v=2.1it=rid=GALE|A448889575asid=a7b812f9b7a31c5d0b16388a69d2e982. Accessed 2017.

SUZUKI STYLE METHOD: BREAKING DOWN CULTURE BLOCKS :: essays research papers fc

Suzuki Style Method: Breaking Down Culture Blocks The topic I am choosing to write about is the Suzuki style of music education, or better known as the Suzuki method. It was brought to my attention by the lessons teacher the different methods of teaching flute and other instruments. She preferred to teach me music from the Suzuki method book and after doing some of my own research I realized what a good method the Suzuki style is for teaching children, especially children at a young age. The point I want to prove is the Suzuki style method is the best way of teaching a child how to play and understand music from modern times to early music and from all over the globe. This topic is important because I believe this is the best way to teach a child to not only learn to play an instrument, but to love to play their instrument and to love making music. Not only will they love the music but they will become more open to different kinds of music and cultures. I think every culture has its own music style, and most people become comfortable with what is around them so they don’t think to venture out. With this style more children will grow up to appreciate the classics of our country and other countries and to not be so closed minded. If I can prove this method to be the best way of learning/teaching, then I think we have found a solution to culture gaps all over the world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I have a few books and internet sources lined up for my paper. Many of the books I plan on getting soon and already have include parents speaking of their ways of training their children, and a hands on book from someone who has learned the Suzuki method. I have books from teachers and 1 book in particular is an observer of the style who travels the world seeing children playing in concerts and sees their lessons and practicing method. One novel I am reading is written by the creator of the style, Shin’ichi Suzuki, and explains how he made this method, his observations compared to other methods, and why he thinks this is a good way of learning. I only have a few internet sources, and I am using them to have an inside look on the world wide association for this method and to know a little more about what this method is about.

My Problem With Standards: Implementing Group Work in the Non-Traditional Enlish Classroom :: Learning Teaching Essays

My Problem With Standards: Implementing Group Work in the Non-Traditional Enlish Classroom This experience opened my eyes. I learned a lot, and my ideas and ideals have changed since I completed the first part of this project. As a student teacher in a vocational program, academics were not the priority of these studentsà ³their specialties and there outside jobs were. At first, I found this challenging in a negative way; but gradually, I saw possibilities. The biggest challenge that I saw as far as my inquiry project went lay in how I would implement all of the research that I had done on à ¬ how great group work is all around.à ® Mainly this was due to the fact that I approached this topic with a very idealistic, wide-ranging view. The first part of this project was very much a à ¬head knowledge/research approvedà ® paper. As I read over it now, I could not possibly have had a lot of hard ideas on how I could actually implement ità ³and even if I did, I doubt that would have profited me. As I entered my class eight weeks ago, I had all of those wonderful ideals of collaborative learning before meà ³it is what I wanted to see. But, as my grandmother always told me when I was little (and occasionally now), à ¬I want doesnà ­t get.à ® I see now that if all of my ideals had come easily to me in this experience, I wouldnà ­t have learned a thing, and I definitely wouldnà ­t have learned how to deal with the personality types and the needs of the students that I had. The class itself was within a non-hostile environment for the most part. The students were used to having too much autonomy, and thus my research statistic of à ¬70-90% teacher talk in most classroomsà ® was put out of touch. The problem consisted in not only the studentà ­s having control of the class, but the fact that they had plenty of oral language abilities, and there was no need for me to try and develop them. These seniors had been working on one assignment since the beginning of the year, and they were tired of looking at it. Having said that, 80% of the students only had three, pencil corrected pages to show for a yearà ­s worth of work. All of them were not responsive to correction. After my four weeks of observation, I was doubtful that these kids would do any learning, much less group learning, at all.

Learning Team Reflection Essay

Statistics refers to the use of numerical information in everyday life to calculate facts and figures in limitless circumstances. In addition, statistics refers to the scientific collecting, classifying, summarizing, organizing, analyzing, and interpreting numerical data. This week the class’s objectives were to apply the steps in testing a research hypothesis, to compare the means of two or more groups, and to calculate the correlation between two variables. Learning Team D’s members have reflected on each of these issues and share their insights on these objectives. Testing a Research Hypothesis The purpose of testing a research hypothesis is to prove or disprove the research question. The first step in testing a research hypothesis is to state the problem in the form of a question. The second step is to state the research question as it relates to the null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis. Then the parameters must be set to test the null hypothesis. The fourth step is to calculate the probability of the test statistics or rejection region. Finally, the findings from the tests must be stated. The hypothesis was familiar to one group member, so she felt comfortable with the topic. She did not struggle with any particular topic this week. This week’s topics directly relate to her field of study. As an accountant it is important to have a good understanding of mean, median, and mode, as well as statistical probability. These topics are all a part of learning to analyze information and make educated and well-thought business decisions. Compare the Means of Two or More Groups The experimental method of comparing the means of two or more groups is a pretty common occurrence in statistical research. The procedure for estimating and testing the hypothesis when using a single sample population will also apply in a case scenario with two or more groups or populations;  however, modifications are required for accuracy. In other words, the 5-Step Hypothesis Testing procedure is used with multiple sample experiment, as well. Whenever the area of interest involves the differences, comparison, proportions or variability, then data can be collected on two or more groups—this would be considered the target parameter (Lind, Marchal, & Wathen, 2011). In a quantitative analysis the interest is more likely to compare means or variances; whereas, a qualitative experiment with two outcomes is more likely to focus on success or failure. When comparing the means of two or more groups these populations can both or all be independent and the expectation is to determine the reason for a difference in the means—this would deliver a result where the means are other than zero. The typical assumption is that there will be a normal distribution and that a random sample is collected for each of the populations. Another characteristic of comparing means of two or more groups is that when standard deviation is known or unknown and the population sample is large, then a z distribution (z-test) is used and in the case where it is unknown and the sample size is small, then a t distribution (t-test) is used. However, in the case where the experiment calls for a test of two or more dependent samples for one group or population, then a paired t-test is used to draw results (Lind, Marchal, & Wathen, 2011). Calculate the Correlation Between Two Variables When calculating the correlation between two variables, the objective is to see how one variable is influenced by another variable. The bivariate relationship displays the connection between two variables (x and y) and correlation shows how to measure their relationship. The correlation is calculated using the coefficient of correlation. This measurement calculates the power between the two variables (x and y). (Coefficient correlation) The coefficient correlation will have limits between -1 and +1, and doesn’t rely on the initial values of x or y. The coefficient correlation would suggest the higher the number, the higher the correlation, and the lower the number, the lower the correlation (but this is a linear correlation). A value of zero will indicate no correlation. In conclusion, the team learned that once a hypothesis has been formed the next step is to test it for acceptance or rejection. An experiment must then be created to determine if  the predictions were correct or not. In many situations the interest lies in discovering relationships between the means of two or more groups. T-tests and analysis of variance are widely used statistical methods to compare group means. Moreover, the team learned how to calculate the correlation between two variables to determine the relationship or affect of one variable upon another. The correlation between two variables suggests that a change in one variable will cause a proportional change in the other variable. Reference Lind, D. A., Marchal, W. G., & Wathen, S. A. (2011). Basic statistics for business and economics (7th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

Negative effects of video games Essay

The US video game market reached nearly $ 21 billion in sales in 2008. On an average an adolescent spends about 10-13 hours per week playing video games. The cause may be attributed to the fact that video games today have become a necessity more than a luxury. They are a unique form of entertainment because they encourage players to become a part of the game. However, video games have both positive and negative impacts on players. While some of them are fun and entertaining, others have drastic effects on children. On one hand, video games are a source of leisure. People play video games because they want to get away from their everyday stressful life since these games are fun and interesting way to spend time. Another major advantage of playing video games includes improving children’s computer literacy since most of the games nowadays require internet. Also research studies show that video games tend to increase one’s hand eye coordination as well as their ability to make quick and reasonable judgements. Educational games provide practice in problem solving and logic and are thus becoming more prevalent as teaching tools for youth in primary and secondary schools. However this is just one side of the coin. Video Games with violent content have far reaching effects on children. Research studies suggest that violent video games increase aggressive behavior among youth. Since violent acts are often rewarded and continually repeated in a game, it highly influences them. Children who see a lot of violence are more likely to view violence as an effective way of settling conflicts and are more likely to assume that violence is acceptable behavior. Also, if one buys an intriguing game, he may get addicted to it, which may lead to drastic consequences. An addiction may lead to physical problems like obesity, headaches, damage to eye, decline in schoolwork productivity, spending problems and confusion between real and unreal. Over dependence on video games could also foster social isolation, as they are often played alone.

NAFTA: Gainers and Losers

Economic cooperation has been a trend in neighboring countries to promote a free-trade zone for the benefit of its constituent countries. The largest of such, the North American Free Trade Agreement, was found in 1994 by the three North American countries. The members of NAFTA are the US, Canada and Mexico which includes a total of 416 million people and a GDP totaling to $12 trillion (Pohlmann, 2006). NAFTA aimed to totally remove trade barriers between the members for 15 years, which is scheduled to be in 2009. It also reduces the non-tariff trade barriers like sanitary regulations significantly. Although NAFTA major advantages, many are against it. Most of them are in the non-economic areas, and following are examples: US labor unions, environmentalists and Mexican farmers. They believe that NAFTA has unfavorable effects on them. Not all Mexicans are against it, in fact some of them had high hopes that the implementation of this contract would help boost their economy (Pohlmann, 2006). The NAFTA issue is debated in the Congress, with three major subjects: employment, environment and immigration from Mexico to the US. Tariffs had been an important factor in NAFTA for tariffs are taxes on imports and it usually makes imported products more expensive in order top benefit local products. NAFTA participants agreed to cut down the tariffs by 50% and they also agreed to reduce tariffs to 0 in the succeeding fifteen years. Economists clearly saw the benefits NAFTA could have with all its participants. They based their reasoning with the principle of comparative advantage wherein their country would be more organized in creating their goods. Thus each country would produce the goods wherein they are more efficient in producing and they would trade those goods with the goods of other country (which they are very good in producing in their own). However, there are those who contested the free trade contract believing that it would have certain effect on employment as well as on income. There are those who argue that there would be a great deal of unemployment because of rivalry in Mexico. They argued that since wages are much lower in Mexico as compared to United States, then businessmen would start moving their businesses in Mexico. However, there are those who argue that the reason behind higher wages in US lies on the fact that worker efficiency is greater in US as compared to Mexico. NAFTA proved to have great consequence in terms of employment in US. According to a study conducted by the US International Trade Commission (ITI), the US government could gain moderately from a free trade agreement with Mexico. A historical study also showed that NAFTA could produce about 134, 000 jobs in the US. However, a simple method of study conducted by Baldwin and Kahane showed the effects NAFTA could have in terms of employment. The particular study had been conducted in order to see which division would have employment gains and which would undergo job losses. A tabular data had been used in order to create two variables, that of â€Å"gainers† and that of â€Å"losers†. Among the gainers are electrical and non-electrical machinery alike as well as rubber chemicals. However, on the side of the losers we have textiles, glass, leather products and the like. It is important to distinguish gainers from losers and thus an explanation is provided in the quotation be low. The term GAINERS is associated to the number of employees in areas that were projected to have job gains, while the term LOSERS is related to job losses (Kahane, 1996). Thus, the effect of NAFTA allowed a rise in trade in both Canada and Mexico. There is also no clear evidence that US indeed lose jobs because of Mexico. And all in all it showed that there are industries which gained because of the NAFTA agreement while there are also those industries that had had their share of losses as had been mentioned in this paper. Reference: Kahane, L. (1996). Congressional voting patterns on NAFTA: an empirical analysis – North American Free Trade Agreement [Electronic Version]. The American Journal of Economics and Sociology. Retrieved June 4, 2007 from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0254/is_n4_v55/ai_18910967. Pohlmann, D. (2006). The Economic Impact of NAFTA on Mexico [Electronic Version]. Scholarly Publishing House. Retrieved June 4, 2007 from http://www.grin.com/en/preview/67522.html. Rosson, P., Runge, F., & Moulton, K. S. Preferential Trading Arrangements: Gainers and Losers from Regional Trading Blocs [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 4, 2007 from http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/agecon/trade/eight.html.      

Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 15

As soon as twilight fell, I sneaked down the stairs, opened the back door, and tiptoed out onto the grass, already wet with dew. I was extra cautious, since there were torches surrounding the estate and I knew Father would be displeased that I was venturing out after dark. But the carriage house was only a stone's throw from the house itself–about twenty paces from the porch. I stole across the yard, staying in the shadows, feeling my heart pound against my rib cage. I wasn't concerned about animal attacks or creatures of the night. I was more concerned that I'd be found by Alfred or, worse, Father. But the notion of not being able to see Katherine that night made me feel hysterical. Once again, a heavy fog blanketed the ground and rose to the sky, an odd reversal of nature that most likely was due to the changing of the seasons. I shivered and made sure to look away from the willow tree as I ran to the bridle path and up the porch steps of the carriage house. I paused at the whitewashed door. The curtains on the windowpanes were pulled shut, and I couldn't see any candlelight seeping under the windows. For a second, I feared I had come too late. What if Katherine and Emily had retired to bed? Still, I rapped my knuckles sharply against the wooden door frame. The door creaked open and a hand grabbed my wrist. â€Å"Come in!† I heard a rough whisper as I was swept into the house. Behind me, I heard the click of the lock and realized I was standing face-to- face with Emily. â€Å"Sir,† Emily said, smiling as she curtseyed. She was dressed in a simple navy gown, and her hair fell in dark waves around her shoulders. â€Å"Good evening,† I said, bowing gently. I glanced around the little house, allowing my eyes to adjust to the dim light. A red lantern glowed on the rough-hewn table in the living room, casting shadows against the wooden beams of the ceiling. The carriage house had been in a state of disrepair for years, ever since Mother had died and her relatives had stopped visiting. But now that it was inhabited, there was a warmth to the rooms that was absent in the main house. â€Å"What can I do for you, sir?† Emily asked, her dark eyes unblinking. â€Å"Um †¦ I'm here to see Katherine,† I stammered, suddenly embarrassed. What would Emily think of her mistress? Of course, maids are meant to be discreet, but I knew how servants talked, and I certainly didn't want Katherine's virtue to be compromised if Emily was the type to engage in idle servant gossip. â€Å"Katherine has been expecting you,† Emily said, a glint of mischief in her dark eyes. She took the lantern from the table and led me up the wooden stairs, stopping at the white door at the end of the hallway. I squinted. When Damon and I were little, we'd always been vaguely afraid of the upstairs of the carriage house. Maybe it was because the servants had said it was haunted, maybe because every floorboard had creaked, but something about the space had stopped us from staying very long. Now that Katherine was here, though, there was nowhere else I'd rather be. Emily turned toward me, her knuckles on the door. She rapped three times. Then she swung the door open. I walked cautiously into the room, the floorboards creaking as Emily disappeared down the hallway. The room itself was furnished simply: a cast-iron bed covered by a simple green quilt, an armoire in one corner, a washbasin in another, and a gilt-plated, freestanding mirror in a third corner. Katherine sat on her bed, facing the window, her back to me. Her legs were tucked under her short white nightgown and her long curls were loose over her shoulders. I stood there, watching Katherine, then finally coughed. She turned around, an expression of amusement in her dark, cat-like eyes. â€Å"I'm here,† I said, shifting from one booted foot to the other. â€Å"So I see.† Katherine grinned. â€Å"I watched you walk here. Were you frightened to be out after dark?† â€Å"No!† I said defensively, embarrassed she'd seen me dart from tree to tree like an overcautious squirrel. Katherine arched a dark eyebrow and held her arms out toward me. â€Å"Y need to stop worrying. ou Come here. I'll help you take your mind off things,† she said, raising her eyebrow. I walked toward her as if in a dream, knelt on the bed, and hugged her tightly. As soon as I felt her body in my hands, I relaxed. Just feeling her was a reminder that she was real, that tonight was real, that nothing else mattered–not Father, not Rosalyn, not the spirits the townspeople were convinced roamed outside in the dark. All that mattered was that my arms were around my love. Her hand worked its way down my shoulders, and I imagined us walking into the Founders Ball together. As her hand stopped at my shoulder blade and I felt her fingernails dig through the thin cotton of my shirt, I had a split- second image of us, ten years from now, with plenty of children who'd fill the estate with sounds of laughter. I wanted this life to be mine, now and forever. I moaned with desire and leaned in, allowing my lips to brush hers, first slowly, as we'd do in front of everyone when we announced our love at our wedding, and then harder and more urgently, allowing my lips to travel from her mouth to her neck, inching toward her snow-white bosom. She grabbed my chin and pulled my face to hers and kissed me hard. I reciprocated. It was as if I were a starving man who'd finally found sustenance in her mouth. We kissed, and I closed my eyes and forgot about the future. All of a sudden, I felt a sharp pain on my neck, as if I were being stabbed. I called out, but Katherine was still kissing me. But no, not kissing, biting, sucking the blood from beneath my skin. My eyes flew open, and I saw Katherine's eyes, wild and bloodshot, her face ghostly white in the moonlight. I wrenched my head back, but the pain was unrelenting, and I couldn't scream, couldn't fight, could only see the full moon out the window, and could only feel the blood leaving my body, and desire and heat and anger and terror all welling up inside me. If this was what death felt like, then I wanted it. I wanted it, and that was when I flung my arms around Katherine, giving myself to her. Then everything faded to black.

Future Innovative Design in Virgin Galatic Case Study

Future Innovative Design in Virgin Galatic - Case Study Example Virgin has been associated with change and innovative idea, during this era of design and innovation manufacturers are experimenting with technology and introducing new services and creating opportunities for themselves. It has one of the successful space tourism groups in the industry and also the first one of its kind. Virgin is a large group therefore this organization has got access to more funds and tools to research and therefore they are able to come up with great creativity. They are trying to explore the satellite business through their efforts of launching satellite based services and science missions along with the idea of passenger flights which is expected to come as a successful venture in the space industry (Aaker, 2008). The world has become a place of complexity and unpredictability therefore businesses need to be very careful and in order to sustain the competition, they constantly need to update themselves and cope up with the changing needs and wants of the consumers. Therefore design has become an excellent tool to create a sustainable competitive advantage in the industry. Due to the importance of this subject and its relevance in the business set up and functioning there are various researches and studies that have been done. Design - Inspired In... e on the need for firms in UK to incorporate design in their work in order to differentiate themselves by other nations and other organizations and compete on factors other than price, this is called the differentiation strategy. Designing is a creative experience altogether where one has to think out of the box. There are companies all around the globe that have long history of success and innovative designs such as Apple which is the king of innovation in the industry, then there is Toyota Motor Corp which has constantly shown evidence of efficiency in the manufacturing while Procter & Gamble has adopted an open house innovative strategy. Virgin got a strong backing on the decision on using UK as a base for its launch plan. Currently the contribution of the UK space industry towards their economy is 6.5 billion pounds and it is providing employment to around 68000 employees which is significantly a large figure. The economy is hoping to achieve success in this sector in the near future and a 5% growth rate each year by 2020 which will help the space industry to come out of its recession and it is said that the space industry is probably one of the success stories of UK currently. Therefore knowing the potential in the industry Virgin Galactic has portrayed itself an example of excellence in ideas, modernization and development (Bennett & Craun, 2008). The company wants to give their consumers a memorable experience along with safety which is an integral part of the entire manufacturing at the same time. Initially people didn't believe that this idea will be implemented and that soon Virgin is going to launch its airplane for commercial purpose as it surprised all of them when they gave a first look of their new Space Ship two's planes it took them two years to

Jeffersons and Hamiltons Differences Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Jeffersons and Hamiltons Differences - Article Example    Jefferson considered agriculture to be the foundation of the American economy, while Hamilton favored commerce and industry. Jefferson opposed Hamilton’s proposal to establish a national Bank of the United States, to provide government subsidies to manufacturers and to impose tariffs to provide temporary protection to new firms. Jefferson argued that the establishment of a central bank was not sanctioned by the constitution and opposed the promotion of industry over agriculture. Hamilton suggested that the Federal government take over the unpaid public debts of the states and pay off the national debt. (Tours). In the area of foreign policy, Jefferson feared undue English influence and believed that America was obliged to actively support the French Revolution. On the other hand, Hamilton tended towards England and warned against involvement in France. (Pearson). I think that both Jefferson and Hamilton held strong, valid positions. ... Interpretation of the constitution, the debate on the expansion of the federal government’s authority and the emergence of the two-party political system have their roots in this conflict. The Democratic-Republican Party and the Federalist Party are the precursors of the present political divisions. America could fuse the philosophies of Jefferson and Hamilton for the good of the fledgling nation. # 5: The Separation of Powers. Although the framers of the U.S. Constitution did not explicitly define the Separation of Powers, the concept is implicitly enshrined in the structure of government as laid down in Articles 1, 2 and 3. The functioning of the three branches of the federal government - the legislative, the executive and the judicial - are clearly demarcated and separated. Article 1 states that â€Å"All legislative powers...shall be vested in a Congress.† Article 2 vests â€Å"the executive power...in a President.† Article 3 places the â€Å"judicial power of the United States in one Supreme Court†. The Legislative is composed of the House and Senate. The Executive is composed of the President, Vice-President, and the Departments. The Judicial is composed of the  federal courts  and the Supreme Court. The framers of the Constitution believed the Separation of Powers to be essential â€Å"because a concentration of political power is inherently dangerous and will sooner or later lead to the abuse of power and to oppressive government† (McClelland, Part 1V B).  Ã‚  

Week 3 Conference Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Week 3 Conference - Essay Example This order was issued on 13 November 2001. I do not agree that the military tribunal provide constitutional right fully because they do not provide tor the right of the due process of law that has been accorded to all accused persons in the United States. In that, any evidence or testimony from previous trials can be admissible during the trial, which I not the case in the criminal civil courts that means that the tried person is not accorded the right to due process. According to the constitution adopted in 1787 gave the president who is the command in chief of the armed forces power to determine and punish war crimes committed by the offenders and the terrorist. (Article 1, section 8, clause10). In the case of Exparte Milligan (1866), the court illustrated that the constitution protects the law of the land. It also tried to justify the fact that every person should get a fair trial. Where upon Appeal it was held that Milligan should have been tried in a regular court, and not a military tribunal as the law protects every persons and they are equal. Korematsu had a right of fair treatment as any other American resident but since he was Japanese, the government felt that they had a right to protect their country during war times. Moreover, if they saw him as a threat then they had a right to send him away from his home where he had refused to come out of, as he believed it was his right. The court felt that it was impossible from them to separate the friend from the foe or the royal and the disloyal as Korematsu was from the imperial Japan. This was the same case as the Chinese where they were denied to open laundry places at this time. The exclusion order 9066 at that time that is the 1942 to 1944 was seen as constitution because the courts sided with the government as they were trying to protect the country during the time of war. It was also held that the individual right of Mr. Fred was not as important as the rights of

TESCO company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

TESCO company - Essay Example Not surprisingly, these results are reflected in the profits reported by each company. TESCO’s continuously growing turnover led to progressively increasing profits, reaching an almost 100 per cent gain during the period. At the same time, Sainsbury continuously reported losing profits, actually entering the negative range in the period between 1996 and 2004. These profit losses actually reached as low as  £12 million British in 2001. While it can be seen that Sainsbury had a higher sales cost than TESCO, these differences were too great to be explained solely by this difference. Another possible factor for Sainsbury’s unfavorable results could be attributed to other factors such as solvency.Solvency refers to whether or not a company is able to pay out its debt. In determining this, it’s equally important to determine how the company manages debt, short-term liabilities, and long-term obligations. There are three main considerations in looking at solvency. The se include immediate solvency which is also often referred to as liquidity), short-term solvency and medium- or long-term solvency. The ability of a company to meet obligations on time is what is meant by liquidity or immediate solvency. Related to this issue is the concept of short-term solvency, which generally refers to a slightly longer period, generally not longer than a year, in which the company would have the time necessary to sell stock as a means of meeting any obligations it might have that cannot be covered immediately.

Bridge of Madison County Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Bridge of Madison County - Essay Example The man in the pickup is Robert Kincaid, a photographer for National Geographic (Clint Eastwood), who has come to finish an article on the local bridges. He, however, is having some difficulty finding the Rosamunde Bridge. Francesca has problems describing how to get there so she goes along to show him. They seem to become friends quickly. Francesca, during the conversation invites Kincaid back to the farmhouse for dinner. Household meals are normally quiet and this one has lively conversation and interest. They seem to have a quick connection as they discuss their dreams. Francesco realizes though that she is attracted to this man and she has been very loyal to her husband is conflicted about the thoughts of betraying him. Francesca is in emotional turmoil as she falls in love with Kincaid but cannot betray her family or the man she is married to. While she is with Kincaid, she is a whole different person and of course as many people’s lives are sometimes changed by others, she cannot remain that way. Kincaid is also in love with Francesca and he tries to tell her that this kind of lover only comes along once in a lifetime and please do not throw it away. The favorite scene happens when Francesco has come to town with her husband. She goes out to get in the truck. As she sits there in the rain, a pickup truck pulls up. Kincaid is in the truck. He gets out, standing in the rain looking at Francesca and Francesca looking at him. She wants to go to him but doesn’t. When her husband comes out of the store, he gets in his truck. He pulls out and her husband pulls in behind him. He reaches in the glove compartment and pulls out her necklace and hangs it on the rearview mirror. She almost gets out of the truck to go with him but doesn’t. You are on the edge of the seat the whole time. You also know it is wrong for her to go but you want her to anyway. She doesn’t. In reality the movie tells the story of what happens when life

Global Entrepreneurship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Global Entrepreneurship - Essay Example   The scientific management resulted in great evolution of US business and the innovation management and sub division of labor helped the US business to grow at faster pace than the rest of the world. Research and development, mass production, efficiency and increased wages for the labors also provided adequate boost to the American business and the vast growing firms geographically expanded and took over the European markets through their corporate Americanization. At the same time, problems emerge in the system like agency problems, separation of control from the ownership, unrelated diversification, etc. US businesses stay sustainable through innovation and change management however economic meltdown obliges them to downsize. German business system has been able to sustain the non-price sensitive markets through collective bargains and consensus management and their primary focus is on long term strategy of production and export.UK business system is also quite similar to that a nd follows long term strategic planning. In the UK, businesses tend to expand geographically like that of US corporations e.g. Tesco, BT, etc. French business system is driven by functionality and rigid hierarchy and is found more directive than collaborative. The focus is to produce and supply hi tech products to the international markets.    European business systems endeavor to stay sustainable in the economic crisis through strategic management that helps them to cope up the crisis like merging, joint venturing, co-branding, etc.

Explain Internet and distributed application services Essay

Explain Internet and distributed application services - Essay Example Different forms of clusters exist and each has its failures, and advantages that paper intends to examine. Introduction The term cluster is used in the computer technology to refer to a group of loosely coupled computers that are configured to work as a unit. Every node often operates as a complete unit as opposed to the operations of a tightly coupled multiprocessing system. Clustered computers usually have independent CPU, I/O, and memory (Englander, 2003). Clustered computers may constitute multiple processing systems. A computer in a cluster refers to a node (Englander, 2003). The main aim of clustering computers is to make the users to see them as single machines, which they are not in the actual sense. There are the main reasons for clustering computers; however, each reason has its challenges and better share of benefits. The main advantages of clustering include increasing the computing power of computers by combining the individual power of each computer. Notably, a computer has the power to process data independently (Englander, 2003). ... Fundamentally, clustering is a significant practice in computer technology since it is a sure way of increasing or designing highly performing computer systems. The processing problem including parallel processing units can be solved by breaking the problem into subtasks and then distributing them to different or parallel processing units among the nodes thereby solving the problem in parallel (Englander, 2003). Clustering also intends to create fault tolerant systems because each computer with the cluster is able to operate alone without the assistance from other computers within the cluster (Englander, 2003). Therefore, a node failure will not lead to standstill operational since the entire cluster will not be closed. The software controlling the entire cluster is capable of switching processes to other nodes within the cluster in a process referred to failover. Therefore, failures of certain nodes, the failed nodes’ processes can be switched to other functional nodes within the system; this switching will facilitate the continuation of processes that were running on the failed node or computer (Englander, 2003). Nonetheless, a cluster that has never experienced any form of failure can be designed and this is often advantageous for systems that process critical applications. Clusters are also vital in creating high available systems where computers within the cluster can be distributed geographically over a wide area (Englander, 2003). Therefore, users can access the closest computer system with the cluster. In most cases, this phenomenon creates a natural balancing of loads among different or series of computer nodes

The American Revolution Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

The American Revolution - Research Paper Example Even though the Great Awakening was a reaction to the Enlightenment it also emphasized on individual freedom, equality and questioning spirit. It can also be seen that the enlightenment thoughts and the spirit of the great awakening also helped the Americans to form a shared common identity and culture which kept them united amidst crippling governmental policies. This paper seeks to explore the major causes of American Revolution and in doing so the paper evaluates how the effects of French and Indian war, philosophies of enlightenment and great awakening, American culture and identity, and imperial policies and taxations after 1783 have contributed towards the great rebellion. Effects of French and Indian War A probe into history clearly demonstrates that the huge financial burden that Britain suffered in spite of winning the French and Indian war was the starting point that triggered the American Revolution. The seven years’ war came to an end with the Treaty of Paris on Fe bruary 10, 1763 whereby France was forced to yield Canada to Britain in return for Guadeloupe and Martinique. Even though Britain and its allies were victorious the long war plunged Britain into great financial debt. As pointed out by Hickman, it was â€Å"in an effort to alleviate these financial burdens, the government in London began exploring various options for raising revenues† (Hickman) and this resulted in a number of colonial policies and legislations among American colonies. Thus, â€Å"the revolution was caused primarily by the mercantile policy by means of which Great Britain sought to monopolize the trade of her colonies for the benefit of the people of the home country† (Johnson/hist Commerce V1123). With this view in mind, the British parliament imposed a number of legislations and taxations on the American colonists. Some of the major acts, in this respect, consist of the Proclamation of 1763, Sugar Act of 1764, the Currency Act of 1764, the Quartering Act of 1765, the Stamp Act of 1765, Townshend Acts of 1770, the Tea Act of 1773, and the intolerable Acts of 1774. All these acts curtailed the liberty of the colonists and made their life miserable. These colonial policies not only created unrest and dissatisfaction but also caused a sense of unity and identity among the colonists under the revolutionary leaders. Effects of Philosophies of the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening The philosophies of the enlightenment and the great awakening contributed immensely to the American War of Independence. Many of the revolutionary leaders got inspired by the Enlightenment philosophical ideas of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Montesquieu and it is from these enlightenment leaders that they imbibed â€Å"the concepts of the social contract, limited government, the consent of the governed, and separation of powers† (Kelly). The political theories and principles of the colonial leaders were strongly rooted in th e postulations of these European enlightenment leaders. This has been pointed out by Wilson and Reill when the authors observe that the intellectual strands of the Enlightenment thinkers are â€Å"merged in the works of writers such as Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, John Jay, Samuel Adams, Richard Price, and Joseph Priestley to create theoretical support for

Petitions of African Chiefs Essay Example for Free

Petitions of African Chiefs Essay 1. When the slave trade was abolished in certain regions of Africa, the Africans were forced to find other alternative sources of livelihood such as entering in a legitimate trade of shipping various products.     Ã‚  Instead of selling human beings as merchandise, the Africans accepted the timber trade when it was introduced by the Europeans.   However, when   the timber trade did not succeed, they turned to growing and exporting ground nuts and when this too did not come through, the Africans resorted to palm oil trading – the subject of King Ockiya’s letter to the Earl of Derby. 2. Since the abolition of the African slave trade, Africans having been trying to find other sources of income and livelihood.   Among such is the valued palm oil which they collected from the hinterlands.   However, greedy British traders wanted to bypass them and go directly to the source of these valued commodity.   Hence, the African leaders were asking the British to let them have their own source of livelihood, free of intervention from the Europeans who were already encroaching on their trading posts thereby stopping the African trade completely. The petitions and demands of the African leaders show how powerful the Europeans are that even building huts or places of abode are considered taxable.   Nonetheless, these ruthlessness of the Europeans paved the way for the Africans to wake up and saw all of these as an assault to their customs, livelihood and traditions. Lin’s Letter to Queen Victoria 1. The rise of the opium trade in China according to Lin has poisoned and injured its people.   The laws of the country have been disregard in lieu of the temptations and addiction of the opium drug. 1. Lin tries to convince Queen Victoria to stop the opium trade by appealing to their conscience and strict morality. He tries to emphasize that since opium is forbidden in Britain and brings harm to the British people, the Queen must condemn it as well especially its importation.   As Lin proudly said, China has only exported things that are beneficial to the people and opium is not one of them. By giving the impression that China only exports things that are beneficial, from which the world has undoubtedly benefited, Lin thinks that Queen Victoria and the rest of Britain might be convinced of his argument.   However, the tone of Lin’s letter is also threatening whereby he gives the appearance that China in consonance with its laws will not hesitate to execute anyone caught selling and using the prohibited drug. Hence, the response of the British will naturally be to disregard Lin and his contention, even get angry at such preposterousness.

A Study On Power Of Media

A Study On Power Of Media Gods great gift to humanity is communication. Freedom of speech is a right of every individual who have expressed their thoughts, because of their free will desires, and aspirations through the mass media (Russell, Norman and Heckler, 2004). Communicating liberally with other affirms the self-esteem and merit of each and every member of society. Freedom of phrase is vital in the achievement and growth of knowledge. Communication brings ahead a variety of ideas and information. People nowadays are well-versed and more open-minded thanks to flourishing press freedom and rising mass media here and in many parts of the world (KRCMAR and Kean, 2005). All points of view are represented in the souk of ideas and culture benefits from question about their worth. In addition, this is how media influences culture as it leaves a large shock on the individuals (Potts, Richard, Dedmon and Halford, 1996). As it has an innate power to hold and influence the total person. It leaves a sensible and lasting impact on equally the conscious and subconscious. While media informs and educates, it also corrupts and exploits, leading it to adjoin to the moral disgrace of society (Russell, Norman and Heckler, 2004). Medias function in society is to update, educate, and amuse. It tells the truth and provides optimistic motivation that can build up descriptions and reputations the right way. Therefore, media has contributed deeply in ways that both enlighten and supplement society, but in additional ways have deteriorated and perplexed it. It is not a shock to learn, then, that media is the most powerful source of information, and nothing else in todays world influences public insight as heavily (Salzman, Philip 1993). Media in the Philippine is simply a sign, an outgrowth, and a mirror of society as a whole. In spite of everything, media has been thought to have such a great authority over people. But, rather than performing its work in society, media has strayed, having a more harmful than constructive implication. It destroys descriptions and reputations, covers up the truth, stimulates negatively, and imparts the wrong messages (Anderson, Eugene, Fornell, and Lehmann, 1994). Moreover, people practice a freedom of the press that becomes a flood of contradictory information and opinion. It confuses even as it is thought to inform, it assails the sanity even as it is thought to cleanse them, it entertains more than it enlightens, it gossips more than it informs (Salzman and Philip, 1993). Media has become ethically and ingeniously bankrupt. Media shows no ethics and morals and the substance is packed with no other topic but aggression and sex. As a result, media mirrors society by reflecting it as a society with little ethics, with offense, sex, and pornography. It contributes to the nationwide breakdown and the moral disgrace of society. It has dishonored and broken the freedom of the press (Miller, 1995). Media teaches by means of sensations and descriptions that leave a superior effect on the youth. People become victims of medias misuse as they are being inclined for the bad. Because of the influences that shape the subconscious, all forms of media should be taken more significantly so as to prevent harmful effects (Potts, Richard, Dedmon and Halford, 1996). 1.2 Modern Media The medias main impact is psychological and intellectual. Media and entertainment companies form public opinion and assist in framing the terms of public discussion. The media is what we interpret, listen to and observe. In equivalent, through its close affiliation with advertisers, the media also exerts a great influence on the decisions we put together, the products we buy, and the kind of questions we put when we make our daily choices (Gerbner, 1990). The long view of the past proves medias power by presentation that the medium itself, in the extended run, is more influential than the messages it carries, because the medium determines what can be communicated and how we imagine about that communication (Potts, Richard, Dedmon and Halford, 1996). Television, radio stations, newspapers, magazines, and internet sites are mainly owned by profit-making businesses. 1.3 Changing Media Values, Study of Pakistan Media is one of the significant organs in forming national identities. For the last ten years media in subcontinent is conquered by India. To begin with the domination was in the form of movies but once the advent of satellite television they have altered the lives of people of subcontinent (Malhotra, Iqbal 2000). Following the liberalization of Indian media Indian satellite channels principally entertainment channels were launched swiftly. This all started in 90s, at that time rest of the countries of South Asia together with Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka etc were far behind India. Through that era they all were relying on national televisions. Television programming was going to full circle now. It started of with Doordarshan. Then comes satellite television. From local content it becomes more national (Sonwalkar. Prasun, 2001). Public of these countries were not having any right of entry to moderate media like Zee TV or Star TV Asia. Indian entrepreneurs just took benefit of this fact and launched plethora of satellite channels one by one. In 1999 Pakistani government allowed private television and radio channels to be aired from the soil of Pakistan, until this time Pakistani audience were used to Indian entertainment. Pakistani government tried to vanish Indian satellite channels from the TV lounges of regular Pakistani family in the course of imposing bar on Indian satellite channels, but they were unsuccessful (Gholam Khiabany, 2003). In this age of Globalization the majority of the regions are affected by commercialization and uneven stream of Information. The worst victims of Globalization are developing countries those are victims of uneven stream of information from urban countries. In South Asia case is totally different, this region is dominated by India, which itself still comes in the category of emergent country. The thought of writing this text is to write something about non-western world (Sardar, Ziauddin 1993). India is improving in media industry, this is not only influencing Indian society but also its influence stretched to its neighbors, Pakistan Bangladesh, Nepal and even Sri Lanka is reliant on their media (David and Crawley, 2001). Language and ethnicity played important function in the growth of Indian Media industry, Urdu language bind India and Pakistan. Everyone in Pakistan understands Urdu, and there is no visible difference in Hindi and Urdu. Elites of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka always speak about cultural imperialism of India. Pakistani government tried to stop this influence by banning Indian channels in Pakistan, but Pakistani people are now more inclined to Indian media. Zee TV, Sony and Star Plus (Indian Satellite Channels) have penetrated in the upper middle class Pakistani homes as never before (Sonwalkar. Prasun, 2001). According to UNESCO India is the lowest importer of Television programs, only 8 percent of the programming showed on television in 1990 was imported from abroad. Indian satellite channels dispersed from the control room of cable operator to the subscriber home, not only shows film and television dramas but also showed political and supplementary events to grip advertising (David and Crawley, 2001). The soap opera culture which was in fact western idea was ideally adopted by Star Plus. In nineties while Indian media liberalized from the control of Door Darshan, and star network began there satellite channels, then primarily star network laid the foundation of westernized form of entertainment. Like Stars Channel V, Zees Music Asia channel is a booming indigenized adaptation of Western models such as MTV and Channel V (Mowlana Hamid, 1996). Going on in step with the liberalization of the market, television has brought about a liberalization of culture inside India over the past decade. This has meant, on one hand, admission to sources of news and entertainment not controlled by government but, on the other hand, exposure to a tele-visual culture at odds with conventional norms and morals (Gholam Khiabany, 2003). Yet as it may have been Western programs such as The Bold and the Beautiful that led this cultural invasion, the resulting competition for audiences has clearly been won by those channels that have developed programs based on Indian accepted culture, mainly film and film music, and have normally been able to indigenize the worldwide forms of commercial television. Indian satellite television networks particularly Star Plus have cached the overseas formats and tried with the Hindi versions. Kyon kai saas bhi kabhi bahu thi(Indian satellite channel Star Plus famous soap opera) is most prominent soap opera in South Asia (John Ellis, 2000). In South Asia soap opera culture was introduced by Zee TV, in 1992 Tara (Zee TV Soap opera) was first and praised by community all across South Asia. Before soap opera Pakistani Dramas were very famous, but due to soap opera traditions the whole television drama creation industry is on the edge of fall down. Even Pakistani satellite channels are replication same format. This is the sequence of globalization, Indian media engaged western structure of entertainment and they experimented (Butcher, 2003). Indian television programs and films are integral part of Pakistani society. Over the years through videos and TV, there has been an recognition of Indians as similar people, so it would be very hard to get rid of Indian videos and TV programs from Pakistani society. The accessibility of international television channels by means of satellite at the start of the 1990s forced the liberalization of a television market formerly held as a national monopoly by the state broadcaster Doordarshan. There remain important technical boundaries on the degree to which television can give out as the stage on which new convergent information services can be delivered (Banerjee, 2002). As language and region increasingly dominate media content and viewership, concept of Imperialism and hegemony acquires new meanings in localized settings. Language and traditions played important role in the development of Indian Media industry, Urdu language bind India and Pakistan. Everybody in Pakistan understands Urdu, and there is no visible dissimilarity in Hindi and Urdu. Elites of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka at all times talk about cultural imperialism of India. Pakistani government tried to prevent this persuade by banning Indian channels in Pakistan, but Pakistani people are now more inclined to Indian media (Butcher, 2003). Zee TV, Sony and Star Plus (Indian Satellite Channels) have penetrated in the upper middle class Pakistani homes as never before. The coming of Satellites television has posed peculiar problems for the official custodians of Pakistani culture because it has breached the ideological boundaries of the state in a much more intensive way then ever before (David Page and William Crawley, 2001). 1.4 Importance of this research: Media industry (drama/soaps) in Pakistan is at it growing stage and due to the reason it lacks many important resources in terms of capital and infrastructure it gets dependant on the copy art and starts taking influences from the neighboring countries. Such research would be able to highlight different aspects of the industry and the weakness that are the causes of the failure to capture the audience. Similarly how these weaknesses can be tempered and taken care of. Efforts can be put on those areas for improvement. This research will benefit the producers that are produce dramas/soaps, the production companies and the TV channels involved in this area. Pakistani industry has a lot of talent in terms of the human resource but they are not being utilized at the potential. By highlighting the issues and their remedies one can easily understand how to improve the quality of the product. 1.5 Theoretical Framework and Research Question The reason to conduct this research was to study and understand the correlation between the connectedness with the program while watching any TV program. This research will try to identify the existence of any sort of relation between the viewership and the connectedness of an individual with the program. In order to prove such relationship the frequency of viewership will be questioned and level of connectedness with the program will be analyzed. In this research five variables have been taken into consideration for studying the relationship between connectedness and the viewership of the program as proposed by (Russell, Norman and Heckler, 2004): Escape Modeling Aspiration Imitation Fashion The current media situation in Pakistan Entertainment sector is that producers of the dramas/soaps have an understanding of what the viewer wants to see. This comes from the high involvement of Pakistani viewer in the Indian dramas/soaps. Due to this producers are producing content that is in turn a copy of the Indian dramas/soaps. If we see this from the perspective of a viewer there is lesser viewership of Pakistani entertainment channels as compared to Indian channels, then why is the producer producing such content? There is a gap in the understanding of the viewer and the producer of the dramas/soaps in Pakistan. We can study this by studying the television viewing and the factors that are influencing the viewer to watch on program more than the other. Connectedness is a newly developed construct of audience viewing behavior, and it proposed to be one of the important antecedents of audience satisfaction with positive relationships. We will find out if the viewer is willing to watch any other content on the Pakistani channel and can relate to it. In order to analyze the correlation between the connectedness and the frequency of viewership following Hypotheses are being proposed: Frequency of viewing a particular program has no relationship with the time spent in watching television. Frequency of viewing a particular program has no relation with the connectedness of the program Connection with the favorite particular program has no relationship with the number of hours an individual spends in front of a TV. 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Television viewership Robinson in a studies concluded that television seems to have a superior influence on the structure of daily life than any other novelty in this century (Gabriel Weimann, Hans-Bernd Brosius and Mallory, 1992). Television has altered the daily life of more people in this century then any other medium or discovery. In a US poll, 68 percent stated that watching television was their main resource of enjoyment (Gabriel Weimann, Hans-Bernd Brosius and Mallory, 1992). Children are watching television as a firm routine around the age of two and a half and a typical mature or child watching an average of two to three hours per day more time that they utilize on any other activity except working and sleeping. No wonder that this influential medium has become one of the principles of modern culture (Jeanette K. Chan, Marcia Ellis, and Auria Styles, 2005). Moreover, adults are thought to obtain their images of actual and ideal truth and it also interacts with the childrens developing perceptions of reality, both on a communal and individual level (Jennifer M, Lawrie 1998). The last decade had witnessed noteworthy changes in the media system of many societies. The development of the cable television , undeviating broad casting satellites, teletext and additional broadcast television joined existing competitors for audience attention time, money and pleasure.( Lin, Carolyn A. 1993). Watching television is today more than ever a significant attribute of the modern life, capturing a major slice of our spare time. This has led quite a few scholars of mass communication to draw their attention towards television-its content, construction, usage as well as outcomes and control. 2.2 Media globalization: An Indian perspective It is not an understatement to say that the 1990s have been moderately vital to the conversion of Indian media networks and industries. Considering the fact, that the Indian media for a long time was principally restricted national wide . Indian cinema had active regional division networks in Africa, the USSR, South East Asia, and the Middle East, but here the cultural broadcast of the Hindi film greatly outweighed any severe economic returns in comparison to Hollywood, or what was to approach in the 1990s. Television only advanced after the 1980s, with a huge state network that crossed the country boundries. The 1980s were no doubt important as cassette culture changed the music industry and outweighed the iron grip of international music forms that had conquered the old LP record business. As Peter Manuels work shows, cassette culture drew new markets, created new artists and music forms, and enormously expanded the market (Ravi Sundaram, 2005). Thus the media bang of the 1990s, generally going under globalization, was not without a background, but was obvious by a mixture of both media forms and temporal stepping up. Within a few years India experienced satellite cable television advancing from just a a few to a total of 80 channels, and the increase of other media in the shape of cassettes, CDs, VCDs, MP3s, and DVDs. Media ownership was enormously varied. New empires came up from satellite television, going into circulation, and later on into film production. For the most part television circulation remained extremely erratic; cable was largely retailed by minor independent group of actors in the neighborhoods. By the late 1990s, multi-service providers came forward, pushed by large television networks contributing franchises to local troupes, but this only enlarged difference at the local level between competitors. Mostly, cable distribution stays in the informal zone and a source of disagreement over intellectual possess ions. In the music sector, a huge new production network now exists in the informal subdivision, producing a range of remixes, religious, crossovers and versions of registered film music. The larger companies have tremendously profited by lowered costs of manufacture and the capability of the small company to immediately respond to musical tastes and produce new artistes. Film music, once a leading part of the market (80%) has witnessed its share slipping slowly, at any tempo piracy makes market control impossible (Ravi Sundaram, 2005). In the case of Bombay, the picture remains unclear with the industry moving from crisis to crisis. Most of the expression seems to be against piracy as a reason for losses, but the quality of wordings has been declining, a constant objection in the industry. This situation has led to a small opening for new medium-budget productions with new actors and directors. Concisely, we can differentiate the media in India from the 1990s whose relationship can at best be described as permeable. At one level are the new media enteritis: the business owners of satellite television channels, large software industries located in the techno-cities of Bangalore and Hyderabad, and the advertising companies in Bombay. The great software companies have been the most gainful in the stock market, and operate in real time with Western companies, and hire thousands of programmers. The second level is the huge and vibrant informal and often illegal media zone of urban India, which has, practically, retailed the new cultural group to the group of citizens. This includes the thousands of small cable television networks, millions of publicly operated phone booths in neighborhoods, street music sellers, pirate and non-copyright media producers, and public internet entrà ©e points (Sonwalkar. Prasun, 2001). In India especially Delhi, a considerable part of the media experience of the 1990s emerged from networks that were part of this society of the copy, a world that I have called pirate modernity. Pirate modern culture transformed production and movement of commodities using the ill-legal media copy as a major form for producing and reproducing products in the city. In Delhi the media copy exists in a balanced relationship with all other objects and industries: clothes, cosmetics, medicine, household goods, and also car and machine parts. As is clear, copy ethnics pits piracy right into a global social disagreement on definitions of property (Ninan, 2004). Media and film research in India has now given way to chronological and modern studies, as well as digital networks and the upcoming industrial form of the media itself. Research is at an initial stage, but given the seriousness of the task and an extensive list of issues, some thrilling interventions should be predictable in the next few years (Ravi Sundaram, 2005). An efflorescence of the media in India during the 1990s, mostly in television has changed the south Asian media. After the innovation of the overseas channels declined in the early 1990s, Indian channels strengthened their position, experienced highest viewers rating and enforced foreign channels to significantly adopt local programming. The late 1990s supplemented a new aspect with region/language-specific channels. Besides, Indian media products are gradually being viewed as cultural imperialism within South Asia similar to as the western products were during 1960s-70s. Indias media power and effervescence appears to pose some tests to the trope of media imperialism (Prasun Sonwalkar, 2001). The concept of media-scape as battle ground is often suggested in economic terms, but this can well de broadened to politics as well, as the situation in South Asia. For example, cream of Pakistan, Nepal Bangladesh and Sri Lanka not normally speak of Indian cultural imperialism. Zee TV and Sony have entered into the upper middle class Pakistani homes as never before (Amit Baruah, 2000). As Pakistans information minister, Javed Jabbar, put in I am worried about the pressure of Indian satellite television on our people (Sanjaya Baru, 2000). Foreign channels like Star TV were first to affect in the early 1990s, but its initial uneasiness of a cultural invasion appeared lost as their viewership declined when local channels like Zee came up. In 1992 viewers switched to channels with programs that closer to their culture. This is obvious from the program-based viewer-ship examples across eight major Indian cities. This however, this let down most foreign channels to make a good ranking. Many viewers seemed to decline Indian channels like Doordarshan, Zee TV or Sony (Prasun Sonwalkar, 2001). This has enforced major overseas channels like Star TV to initiate Hindi language programming. According to, Patrick Cross (BBC worlds managing director), additional programs in Hindi were going to be introduced. This was the first time that BBC World was going to broadcast in aregional language anywhere in the world (Anjan Mitra, 2000). According to Peter Mukerjea (CEO, Star India), they had to get into regional language programs in India and speak the tongue that the Indians were at ease in (Anjan Mitra, 2000). Furthermore, Star TV reintroduced their programming by moving popular English-language soaps like Santa Barbara, Baywatch and Bold and the Beautiful to Star world to make way for Hindi shows (Prasun Sonwalkar, 2001). Doordarshan had dominated the market before 1991, but the growing attractiveness of satellite channels has affected its returns even though it sustained its vast viewership (Hasan Suroor, 2000). In 1992, the Indians were alarmed that a cultural invasion could take place, but it was an out-vasion which occured. Sony and Zee are viewed in some African countries, in the Middle East, the UK and Europe, and Star Plus is streaming across Asia. Each one of them represented what is relevant to Indians (Iqbal Malhotra, 2000). Not only the entertainment channels but also the Indian news channels receive normal response in the newsroom from many spectators and politicians in Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, etc. who regularly call up newsrooms to comment on news stories which are live or offer suggestions for coverage (Prasun Sonwalkar, 2001). In conclusion is can be said that, the western communication of cultural/media imperialism comes in for a dispute even as national continues to be a key determinant in the cultural scene thats permits new language and regional force to appear within and across nation states due to new media and trends in communications technology (Prasun Sonwalkar, 2001). 2.3 Soap Operas and Gossip Soap operas are extremely accepted cultural forms, attracting more than 10 million viewers daily, the majority of which are females. From the economic point of view, they produce significant profits for the network (Hasan Suroor, 2000). Regardless of their abilities to draw large number of audiences and to produce large profits, soap operas have long been seen as an object of disrespect. One of the criticisms leveled at soap operas is that they are slow-paced. Soap operas are multifaceted, with large characters and plot lines which build up slowly over large periods of time. Viewers tend to get emotionally involved to the characters in a soap opera (Hasan Suroor, 2000). Viewers themselves penetrate vicariously into the imaginary soap opera community. There are many long-term audiences, some of whom have been watching soap operas for as long as 35 years. Soap operas are planned around a cylindrical cycle of the real world in which viewers live. The lives of characters run corresponding to the lives of viewers in time. Thus it is the time not plot which comes to control the description process (Hasan Suroor, 2000). The organization of time and the durability of certain characters, allows the viewers to turn into very familiar with the characters histories, well ahead of the time-frame of any one episode. These histories are reactivated in the minds of long-time viewers in scenes where the characters talk about the implications of a particular occasion or action. Scenes filled with gossip are in fact essential to how events on soap operas are interpreted by audiences (Hasan Suroor, 2000). Gossip among characters and a soap opera to give the viewers a running commentary on the action, providing information and details about the latest facts of the plots. It helps bind together various plots and characters so that the audiences can interpret how an action will affect other characters not directly involved in the plot, giving a certain plot line a depth (Hasan Suroor, 2000). The intensity of this model complexity is evident at a soap opera wedding, funeral, and other traditional events, allowing audiences to revive memorial events of their own minds. Viewers of soap operas tend to talk about its characters as if they were real people and also have a tendency to get personal about them (Hasan Suroor, 2000). The wider fame of soap operas extends discussion ahead of the television and into the categories through which people live through the dialogue they excite in the media. In these ways, we see that the idle talk (gossip) in and generated by soap operas has a superior impact on our lives then previously envisioned (Hasan Suroor, 2000). Americans watch a lot of television; a study conducted in 1978 indicates that for a U.S. household, he television set is on an average of six hours and eleven minutes daily. At the same time as TV Audience program preferences are rationally well documented, the base for these preference lies in what the viewer is offered. Thus, an understanding of the quantitative rate and the qualitative content of what programs are available (the menu) is a qualification to a more complete understanding and conceptualization of what the audience prefers. Clearly, prime time is vital to the network. The program lineups assembled for this time period have been manufactured and designed to attract most viewership. Although less commercials minutes per hour are permitted in prime time, the actual dollars per second are much more expensive during these hours than any other times due to large number of audiences (Mazzarella, 2003). For the network programmer, critical attention must be given to the calculated succession of the shows during the prime time. Successful television programming involves far more than simply arriving at come capricious sequence of program product. Of course, networks want to collect large, static audience for their prime time line-ups. There is also a desire to constantly increase ones own audience size. 2.4 Television Audience Satisfaction To help increase the efficiency of television broadcasting and advertising, studies have been conducted on audience viewing manners by investigating the background and consequences of audience satisfaction of television programs. Consumer satisfaction has long been recognized as a vital concept as well as an significant goal of all business activities (Anderson, Fornell, and Lehmann, 1994). High consumer satisfaction has many paybacks for the firm, such as amplified consumer loyalty, enhanced firm reputation, condensed price elasticity, etc. comprehension of its importance has resulted in a proliferation of research on consumer contentment over the past few decades (Anton, 1997). Considering television programs as products, media researchers study audience liking and satisfaction from the marketing perspective. The audience activity constructs as an dominant factor in the gratification-seeking course and examines the viewing motives, activities, and satisfaction of adolescents (Lin, 1993). In addition to studying audience satisfaction from the viewpoint of viewers behavior, it is no doubt that TV programs presentation should play a role in audience satisfaction. Rather than studying the performance at product level, Gardial et al. (1994) point out that consumers are more likely to eevaluate of their post-purchase practice of satisfaction at an attribute level. An attribute-based approach enables researchers to conceptualize usually practical phenomena, such as consumers experiencing assorted feelings toward a product or service. An attribute-level approach to satisfaction affords managers a superior level of specificity and analytical usefulness compared with the product level or overall approach. The link between products attribute-level presentation and overall satisfaction has been considered by many marketing researchers (Mittal, Ross, and Baldasare, 1998; Oliva, Oliver, and Bearden, 1995). When adopting such a concept on an audience satisfaction study, we can say that a TV programs performance at quality level is one of the significant antecedents of audience satisfaction. When examining the theoretical and logical significance of the link between attribute-level performance and overall satisfaction, it is vital to recognize that the relationship could be asymmetric according to the well-known prospect theory (Kahneman and Tversky, 1979), which postulates that peoples judgments show loss aversion. Psychologically, a one-unit loss is weighted more than an equal amount of gain. On the basis of this theory, we propose: Connectedness is a recently developed construct of audience viewing behavior, and it is projected to be one of the important antecedents of audience satisfaction with optimistic relationship. Study confirms the legitimacy of connectedness and supports it as an antecedent of audience satisfaction. 2.5 Behavioral measures of television audience appreciation Study on audience reactions to television programs dates back to the 1960s. A variety of private research firms and public broadcasters