Aviation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Aviation - Essay Example At Miami airport, Jeff Bunting is in charge of airport noise mitigation operations and finds better ways of handling complaints filed by the neighbouring community. He has a great experience working with airports and he once helped New York come up with the best noise mitigation programs for helicopters. Noise management is never a one body role but also involves the federal government and also the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that determines the amount of airspace that a plane can cover to ensure safety. While trying to manage noise at their airports, there should be better plans on how the airport is designed including the flow of the runways. The place where land is acquired for constructing airports should also be well analysed in terms of the direction of flow of wind. This not only controls the landing and taking off of planes, but also minimizes the noise that reach community if well structured. Pilots and other stakeholders in airport operations should ensure that th eir planes have fitted noise management equipment from their manufacturers (Young & Wells, 2011). The NPIAS is a body authorized by the FAA and its main purpose is to make sure that public use airports are offering the best services by ensuring safety of its passengers. This body even checks for the safety of landing grounds for helicopters, including airports that are part of the NPIAS. Airports registered with NPIAS must meet some requirements including the fact that it should possess a minimum of ten aircraft within a period of five years and a potential sponsor who might take charge of the airport and develop it (Young & Wells, 2011). On the other hand, the National Airport System Plan (NASP) has the responsibility of assessing the factors to be considered when improving airport facilities. The two organizations are closely linked because NPIAS evolved from NASP so their main purpose tends to be airport services improvement. However, NPIAS is determined to bring change

Communication in careers, and The Self Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Communication in careers, and The Self - Essay Example I thought he is the right candidate for he is very friendly and open in his views. I was also interested in how hospitals are run; and Paul’s experience in this domain made him the ideal candidate. Paul is 47 years of age and works as a Human Resources Manager in a private hospital and what follows is the interview I had with him. Q. What were the greatest challenges you’ve met in your career so far? A. That’s an interesting question, for there is no straight-forward answer to it. I’ve risen to the current position as a HR Manager through a lot of hard work and perseverance. I began my career as an office assistant in a private hospital. From those humble beginnings I’ve now risen to a position where I am completely responsible for ensuring proper management of Human Resources in the hospital. It has not been an easy ride. There were times when I seriously doubted my compatibility to the profession. There were phases in which the monotony and drudge ry of work got the better of me and I seriously thought of quitting. In this respect, the biggest challenge I faced was finding creative ways of making work interesting. And by successfully managing to do so, I learned to apply creative thinking in other facets of life too, which is again a rewarding experience. Q. How important are communication skills to be a successful HR Manager? A. Very important. Indeed, clear and proper communication is essential in almost all professions, but its role is accentuated in the domain of HR. My responsibility as a HR manager is to communicate the vision and mission statements of the organization to all my subordinates. While textual dispersal of this information in the form of pamphlets and brochures is important, it is equally important to convey such messages in everyday interactions. In my years of experience, I learnt that leading by example is the best way to communicate the core philosophy of the hospital. In the private hospital that I wor k for presently, this philosophy is to put the interests of the patients ahead of profits. So the accounts department is notified of this priority, and thereby they are a bit lenient in billing patients from poor backgrounds. Q. How do you manage to make team members work in unison? A. I understand the importance of team ethic and try to inculcate it into my team members. There is an inherent contradiction here, for employees join the organization for fulfilling their personal needs, wants and aspirations. It would then be necessary that such personal motives do not overpower the needs of the hospital; and that employees try to synchronize their goals with that of organization’s goals. My job as a HR manager is to help them in this process, by suggesting and showcasing common ground between these two seemingly opposing tendencies. Q. What is the biggest change you’ve seen in communication methods and mediums in the last twenty years? A. There has been a tremendous chan ge in the way communication takes place these days. When I started out, telephones were the cutting edge in communications technology. But so much progress has happened since then. Today, we integrate personal medical records of all patients into an online-database, which can be cross accessed by physicians down the line. Technology has affected the diagnostic and prognostic procedures as well, making the quality of healthcare much improved.

A Study On Television Studies Media Essay

A Study On Television Studies Media Essay Television is that fantastic media phenomenon that provides us with pursuit at the click of the remote after a long day at the office; the cultural artefact that we can all relate to in one way or another. A large majority of us have our ‘favourite, ‘must-see programmes that we religiously tune into; others simply choose to flick through the channels in hope of finding something ‘worthy of viewing; while many consciously choose not to watch certain programmes as they dislike them- chances being that their friends and colleagues will be talking about that programme the next day, making it almost impossible to be excluded from the discourses of social ideologies and construction that television presents. Each individual produces diverse reactions to television footage; whilst considering the representation of society through television media and flow, only we can conclude what we make of said footage, providing our own encoding of the text, thus possibly coming to a different supposition than another viewer of the text. Meanings are appropriated to the audience in different ways- meanings which are actively produced by the text- and whether we choose to agree with proposed meanings directly affects our own identities and representations. Firstly I am going to consider how far television is aiming to re-produce human identity and to what extent output creates and reinforces ideologies of UK culture. I will discover how genres of programmes can have a diverse impact on the ways in which we see representation in the UK. Using Baudrillard I will revise how ‘reality television can persuade us to conform to a new identity and representation. I will uncover how representations are obtained, and how these might be understood by the audiences. I wish to discover how constructed ideologies have forced us to accept specific cultural norms and values, and how television might reinforce this theory. I will also examine how, through the use of language and signs, media representations are understood in UK culture enabling me to gain a broader perspective on how such issues are reflected and how they may influence UK identity today. Using the theories of Hall and Saussure, I will discover how the use of a common understanding of representations enables us to construct identities today. Finally, I will look at how social class and sexuality are portrayed in television; my reason for this is that not are these matters an extremely apparent dynamic within television output, but it will enable me to correspond to Marxist theory, which I believe hold valid views to the links of power, social class and representation, allowing me to summarise how television output reflects representation. . When considering how evocative television is in the representation of the UK, many points have to be measured. Firstly we have to deliberate what the term representation essentially means. Marsen (2006:12) states: ‘A representation is a constructed pattern or design that describes or stands for something elseA representation could have a likeness with its object or it could be abstract. Language is to a large extent representational because it creates the object that it describes through words. Marsen is virtually saying that we construct representations through the discourses of language and dialect that we use in the UK. Relating this to the output of television, it erects the question towards what extent the system of signs within the TV flow represent how we perform as a society; investigating the theory that through the use of our common English language, this holds the basis of our cultural knowledge and understanding. I will begin by familiarizing Stuart Hall in my essay as I believe his theory of interpretation justifies the reasons behind why we study representation, relating to television output. In his book ‘Representation: Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices, (1997), Hall introduces the theory of the ‘circuit of culture in which ‘meaning is constantly being produced and exchanged in every personal and social interaction in which we take part, (3). New meanings are being created from the basis of language narratives in the media- establishing unique representations and ideologies. Lyotard (1979:32) states, ‘the narrative function is losing its functors, its great heroes, its great dangers, its great voyages, its great goal. It is being dispersed in clouds of language narrative elements- narrative, but also denotative, prescriptive, descriptive Hall (1979) continues with the concept that meaning is also produced by mass media, circulating meanings between different cultures. ‘Meaning depends on the difference of opposites, (235). We recognise binary oppositions to define the diversity of representations within the world, thus have the ability to compare and criticise what would not seem a standard representation on UK television. This connects to my initial hypothesis that television representation is reflective on the ideologies we carry out today; not only through the distinctiveness that we ‘conform to reflected as an ideology in mass media, but these identities are constantly being re-produced, questioning whether we are also changing to be involved in such identities, thus feeling part of a society. ‘Visual signs and images, even when they bear a close resemblance to the things to which they refer, are still signs: they carry meaning and thus have to be interpreted, Hall (18). How signs are decoded by the audience of the UK varies through individual interpretation; television can only produce selected images and sounds, and therefore it could be argued that it eliminates the viewers reality, instead providing a representation securing passivity of the audience. ‘One characteristic of the symbol is that it is never wholly arbitrary; it is not empty, for there is the rudiment of a natural bond between the signifier and the signified, (Saussure, 1966:68). Through the uses of encoding and decoding, connotations and denotations of texts, as a nation it could be said that because of language, we have in common a general understanding of the mediated construction of representations within television. There are so many portrayals of identity throughout the UK today such as gender, ethnicity, religion, sexuality and social class (to name a few), that it is almost impossible to summarise these differences into a single generalised point. We have to ask ourselves who is conducting the representation of culture in television today; and what are the aims of the producer in representing certain characters and themes in specific ways. Speaking of how television representations often come across as biased and almost undermining, Williams Williams (2003:67) say ‘in most British television discussions there are indeed some ground-rules, expressed in abstraction in the concepts of ‘fairness and ‘balance, but these are normally dissolved into actual presentation, and given little or no emphasis. What emerges is a representation of the state of ‘informed opinion, with its own internal differences and nuances. Considering the diverse identities that television produces, we must consider what impact this could have on the representational identity of the viewer. ‘Realism in television can refer to an adequate relationship between what television represents and how it is represented. (Bignell, 2004:206). The viewer often becomes involved when watching a television programme. A television drama, for example, often creates a high impact in the emotions of the viewer; through the use of characterising actors to represent the observer in daunting situations, or by representing the character so as to reflect the lifestyle of the viewer. An example of a realist drama is the 1960s hit ‘Kathy Come Home, directed by Ken Loach; in an attempt to reflect the daily life of urban UK, it represented the experiences of ‘everyday. Drama constructs and mediates a sense of everyday identity. Issues such as the time and channel that the programme is presented on; the ‘target audience of said programme or its definitive place in the television ‘flow can also provide theories into how television output reflects UK representation. ‘Whereas representation attempts to absorb simulation by interpreting it as a false representation, simulation envelops the whole edifice of representation itself as a simulacrum. (Baudrillard, 1981:6) From this quote, Baudrillard (1981) is almost suggesting that although television reproduces representation of ideologies so as not to constantly repeat to the viewer; the repetition of ideologies withholds the notion of representation to the audience, therefore ideologies must be repeated and representations constant in order to keep the viewers understanding of ‘common culture. We recognise and acknowledge certain connotations that we distinguish in UK culture as representations. As Thornham Purvis (2005:134) state, ‘regardless of social class or gender, sexuality came to be seen as the single-most determining aspect of personal identity. Media output has often been underpinned by a heteronormative ideology. Sexuality is often a definitive aspect when it comes to presenting identities; take a look at how homosexual characters are stereotypically presented in genres such as soap operas or comedies; the media often choose to create an identity only representative of cultural ideologies, and therefore does little to reinforce the national representation of homosexuality, as heterosexuality is represented as the norm. ‘We need to see ourselves- all people, not just vanguard intellectuals- as active participants in culture; selecting, rejecting, making meanings, attributing value, resisting and, yes, being duped and manipulated. (Storey, 2006:171). Referring to the quote from Storey (2006), it suggests how the television and the media often successfully attempts to construct our values, feelings and opinions, all through the use of proposing new ideologies upon us, or presenting representations of ambitions we should aim for, and those which we should discard. Therefore, it could certainly be argued that television, in itself, does not represent the UK, but constructs it. Discussing the how similar the representation of the UK in television is to that of ‘real UK life; we must define what we mean by the term ‘real. Reality is such a vague expression when referring to representation; surely we have no definitive proof what reality truly is. The ‘granted centrality of identity as a basis for activity, ideologically inflected reviewing of the arts and the increased stress on the role of the consciousness and culture in our general understanding of why and how things are as they are. (Dyer, 1993:6). Dyer states that the reason we accept representations as they are is because of our cultural understandings through the use of language. Linking such hypothesis to Ferdinand Saussure and Stuart Hall; without language there is no representation; therefore through the commonality of language we can see the ideologies that we maintain uphold our fascination with the media. An example would be the representation of a major celebrity within the media; the media constructs the celebrity as a referent to conform to a certain representation, making them appear in a certain way to the audience, thus objectifying the celebrity. When we see a photograph of said celebrity in a magazine, it is not the actual person that we are seeing; it is a representation of that person, shown via text using discourses of ideologies that present a depiction of an identity to the viewer- therefore how can we ever be assured of what reality actually is? An example of the representation of reality is through the use of documentaries and reality television series such as Big Brother, in which the audience can become actively involved in the production of the show itself. Ideologically represented as ‘truthful, reality television is still not complete real life- people are aware cameras are being used- and even if they did not know this factor, the definitive fact is that through the theory of ideology, we cannot be sure whether we construct what we deem to be representations of ourselves or we simply conform to expected ideologies, and therefore are never ‘ourselves. Documentary on the other hand offers what seems to be contact with the real world which has been dismembered via representation. However, documentaries are still a representation of reality; what we must also consider is that there will never be one collective view from an audience, an audience must always be assumed depending on their social context within society. Using Baudrillards Intervention theory (1981), he speaks of a simulacrum in which he calls the ‘hyper-real, of which there is no original. Representations of experience are mediated to the audience through the use of imagery; television strives for ‘reality, reproducing identities and new found representations of how we should live our lives. Individuals then consume lifestyle produce that equate with that ideological representation. The media produce an ‘ideal for the masses to conform to. Contrasting to this is the Marxist viewpoint in which it is argued that television is in fact constructed around the framework of social order; therefore the knowledge and power dynamic patterns often shift between social classes, thus reinforcing representations. Caughie (2000) speaks of such an instance in new found television drama introduced post 1956, where the central theme was focused around the dislocations of class ability. Caughie (2000:85) states ‘It was a generational identity that seemed new to television, drawing on the culture of commitment and experiencing at first hand the contradictions of class. This occurred right up until the first screening of Coronation Street in 1961, thus offering the fact that social class representations were indeed purely reinforced by the media. Althusser (1984, cited Purvis Thornham, 2005:75) speaks of television acting as a ‘hailing device towards the audience that is difficult to be separate from. Television interpellates the viewer in such a way that it is difficult for them to turn off, transforming the viewer into a subject shaped by an ideological process of representation. ‘The image which Marxism offers of capitalism is that of a system frozen in its fixed modes of representation, yet mobilising a desire which overturns all representation, (Eagleton, 1996:61). Representation of class then, through the eyes of Eagleton (1996) is one which is not only an ‘out of date Marxist theory, but is portrayed in the media in such a way that we can no longer escape from these ideologies of class; a collective class consciousness that we are all aware of reflected through television. ‘Representation in the mediated ‘reality of our mass culture is in itself power; certainly it is the case that non-representation maintains the powerless status of groups that do not possess significant material or political power bases. (Seiter, 1989:131). Relating this quote to Marxist theory and hegemonic social class; through hierarchies, Seiter is stating that in television, the ruling class- the bearers of existent supremacy- do not request mediated evidence, whilst the working class- those at the lower stance of the hierarchy, are relatively ignored by the media. Prohibiting and insertions of such class judgements holds a direct influence on how we view and decode the representations we are presented with in television today; creating a paradigm where identities and representations are obtained, mediated and reproduced by the viewer. After examining how representative UK television output is of the identities of the UK itself, I have come to a number of conclusions. Although television often attempts to construct a believable representation of society as it is today, the way that such representations are interpreted depends entirely on how the audience choose to decode the text. Programme producers constantly need to conjure up new ideas so to keep the general audience interested- this could mean producing new formations of representations that use unexpected ideologies; producers are in competition with one another to cater for the audiences acquired taste; by playing on representation stereotypes or reinforcing previously implemented ideologies, it involves the audience in some way. Siegler, (1994, cited 2000:23) states on the bearing of television programmes, it is ‘what makes the whole thing very precise and empirical, and at the same time totally absurd and unpredictable that captures the viewers attention. Using the theories of Hall and Saussure, I can see how the cultural understanding of language is vital in understanding how representations can be formed and perceived in contemporary society today. Not only is this relevant in the way we subsist our lives, but is also extremely evident in the production of television programmes. UK television output changes with society; when new ideological norms and values are absorbed, television attempts to reflect this. Relating this to postmodernism, we can contemplate the fact that television not only reflects ideologies created by culture, but enforces brand new ideologies, forcing additional representations to be formed. Lyotard (1979:39) sees postmodernism as ‘an internal erosion of the legitimacy principle of knowledge. Therefore, it is questionable whether postmodern television presents a welcomed world of new representations, or whether it simply offends our already imposed knowledge of ideologies, creating new identities. He continues, ‘if we accept the notion that there is an established body of knowledge, the question of its transmission, from a pragmatic point of view, can be subdivided into a series of questions: Who transmits learning? What is transmitted? To whom? With what effect? (48). This clarifies that it is impossible to know how the audience will decode certain television texts thus ultimately it is questionable as to whether television both reflects and produces representations in the UK. Arguably, I can see to an extent how representations are used to reflect a certain stance on society, but at the same time, using the Marxist theory of social class, I can see how representations can sometimes be enforced negatively, and the viewer can either choose to accept and believe it, or oppose it. Overall, I can say that television output in the UK can sometimes represent the UK to a certain extent, through the notion of conforming to certain ideological expectations and values. However, in many ways, it creates false representations of identity and confirms stereotypes, promoting certain feelings and creating a false ideology towards the viewer. Reality television also emits false representations of the UK, as it is never real; it is only an edited representation of what we think is real. UK television therefore is the main bearer and producer of representations within the UK. BIBLIOGRAPHY Baudrillard, J. (1981). Simulacra and Simulation. U.S.A, The University of Michigan Press. Bignell, J. (2004). An Introduction to Television Studies. Oxon, Routledge. Branston, G., Stafford, R. (2006). The Media Students Handbook. Oxon, Routledge. Caughie, J. (2000). Television Drama: Realism, Modernism and British Culture. Oxford, Oxford University Press. Creeber, G. (2001). The Television Genre Book. London, British Film Institute. Dyer, R. (1993). The Matter of Images: Essays on Representation. London, Routledge. Eagleton, T. (1996). The Illusions of Postmodernism. USA, Blackwell Publishers. Gitlin, T. (2000). Inside Prime Time. Berkeley, University of California Press. Hall, S. (1997). Representation: Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices. London, Sage Publications. Lyotard, J.F., (1979). The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge. U.S.A, University of Minnesota Press. Marsen, S. (2006). Communication Studies. Hampshire, Palgrave Macmillan. Purvis, T., Thornham, S. (2005). Television Drama: Theories and Identities. Hampshire, Palgrave Macmillan. Rushton, D. (1993). ‘Citizen Television: A Local Dimension to Public Service Broadcasting. London, John Libbey Company Ltd. Saussure, F. (1972). Course in General Linguistics. U.S.A, Open Court Publishing. Seiter, E. et al. (1989). Remote Control: Television, Audiences Cultural Power. London, Routledge. Storey, J. (2006). Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: An Introduction: Fourth Edition. Harlow, Pearson Education Limited. Williams, E. Williams, R., (2003). Television: Technology and Cultural Form. London, Routledge.

The Effectiveness of Sex Appeal in Advertisement Essay -- Sex Media Ad

The Effectiveness of Sex Appeal in Advertisement Sex is everywhere. It's in every magazine, on every television station, and in every movie. Sex appears in advertisements for everything from shoes to food to computers. It is understandable why advertisers use sex appeal since it sets their ads apart from the countless others. Ads with sex can be more memorable, but sometimes too much sex overpowers the ad, drawing attention away from the brand. Overdone sex appeal can offend the target audiences, therefore causing the ad to be ineffective. Sex in advertising also tends to stereotype women and be bias towards men. Overall sex appeal can be effective if used in the correct context, but can also render the ad ineffective if overdone. Many advertisers view sex appeal as one of the most effective marketing practices today. In the endless number of advertisements out there nowadays, ad agencies are desperate to have their ads stand out. Several research studies have found that sex appeal in advertising is attention-grabbing, likable, arousing, and memorable (Severn, B...

Civil Rights/Secret Life of Bees

Bridget Baker Mrs. McQuade Period 2 4/10/12 Racial Discrimination and Segregation In 1619 the very first African Americans arrived in America, coming over for the purpose of forced slavery. It’s been nearly four hundred years since then and African Americans are still not treated completely equal. But throughout the years major steps towards equality have been made and as a whole the United States is close to reaching this goal. The first key action taken was abolishing slavery in 1865, but African Americans didn’t start gaining equal rights until 1955 during the Civil Rights Movement.The African American Civil Rights Movement aimed to eliminate all racial discrimination and segregation in America and demonstrated throughout Sue Monk Kidd’s The Secret Life of the Bees. In America, African Americans were not only treated unequal, but looked down upon to the majority of whites. The Civil Rights Movement was from 1955 all through 1968 and was carried out through bot h violent and non-violent acts with the support of leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. MLK Jr. tood on the side of non-violence, believing that by getting the public’s attention to how blacks were being treated there would be a sense of sympathy and change of heart towards African Americans. During one of the non-violent protests, March of Washington, MLK Jr. gave the famous â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech to 200,000 civil rights supporters who were gathered at the front of the Lincoln Memorial, stretched past the reflecting pool. In this speech he said, â€Å"I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. † These were some of the most powerful words during the Civil Rights Movement and exposed to the people the true hurt blacks felt. MLK Jr. s approach was very successful in the gaining freedom from oppression by white Americans, but Malcolm X also contributed to the movement. Malcolm X believed more in black supremacy and not as strongly about white and black integration.Though some views were different than MLK Jr. ’s, the overall idea was the same, which was shown in his famous â€Å"The Ballot or the Bullet† speech saying, â€Å"Human rights are something you were born with. Human rights are your God-given rights. Human rights are the rights that are recognized by all nations of this earth. Malcolm X talks about the human rights, which includes all races. With the help of leaders like MLK Jr. and Malcolm X, the nation focused on civil rights for African Americans, and slowly began to improve. With each year more rights, such as voting, were given to all blacks and the amount of segregation rapidly decreased. Some racial discrimination still exists, but has reduced majorly since the African American Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Movement is such a significant part of America’s history that it has been an influence in books, movies, and much more.For example, in the novel The Secret Life of the Bees by Sue Monk Kidd black racial discrimination and segregation are exposed. The story is about a young white girl, Lily, who is raised mostly by her nanny and housekeeper, Rosaleen, who is African American. The first obstacle of racism that is shown is when Rosaleen is finally given the opportunity to vote after new law changes, but is taunted by white men on her way and is thrown in jail when she retaliates. Next, Lily finds herself in the house of three African American sist ers, seeking a place to live her.While contemplating lettering her stay, one of the sisters stress, â€Å"But she’s white†¦ â€Å" (Kidd 87). Though it seems as if it’s the white girl being discriminated against, but in reality blacks know the trouble that this gives themselves and how much trouble they could get in for this. The integration of blacks and whites was not only rare because it was looked down upon, but also because consequences would be given. Lily grows more than a friendship with a young African American and regardless of their feelings it’s nearly impossible for them to become anything more because of the fear of him getting in trouble for it.He explains this to her as, â€Å"Lily, I like you better than any girl I’ve ever known, but you have to understand, there are people who would kill boys like me for even looking at girls like you,† (135). Even those whites willing to integrate could not do it by themselves and during t he Civil Rights Movement it brought everyone together willing to desegregate races. It was not immediate, but racial discrimination and segregation have extremely lessoned. From the beginning of America an ongoing battle with African American discrimination has occurred.In the Declaration of Independence written in 1776 it states, â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. † The fight for equality of blacks still is present, even though they are citizens of the United States of America. The Civil Rights Movement was a fight for African Americans to receive the rights and equality they should have been given since day one. Racial discrimination and segregation are what America claims to be against, and it was the Civil Rights Movement that slowly gave the equality to African Americans, as they deserve along with all Americans.

Interior design history Essay

The late Dorothy Draper who lived for eighty years was born to the family of Tuckenman in 1889 and died in 1969. She got married to Dr. George Draper in 1912. The family was blessed with kids. Dorothy Draper received no formal primary education. Far back in the middle 60s, Dorothy was credited as an excellent founder of interior design. She was a well respected designer. She used exceptional traditional materials and styles in designing. In the year 1939, Dorothy, drove by the passion to inspire the world around with the importance and practice of designing, she was an author of many designing books, one laying emphasis to how fun is generated from designing. The book subtitled – â€Å"How to Be Your Own Decorator† received wide attentions in the modern works of interior design. Of the Designer Dorothy, the absence of formal education was not a barrier to the vision of exploring the diverse fields of art. She was inspired by the privileged endowment of pleasant natural environment she lived. A creative task of translating an abstract experience into visible objects for the relish of viewers. Secondly, the reckoning adventure into the designing world was not unconnected to her numerous travelling experience around the cities of Europe. The breakthrough came shortly after her wedding to Dr George Draper when she painstakingly took up the task of decorating their home to taste. The beautiful home received steadfast attentions from their visitors and led to the publicity of her great ability. The Works of Dorothy Draper Sequel to publicity of her home interior decoration, she was consulting for an architectural company (Owned by Franck L. Wright) who hired her on partnership. She was employed to decorate a gigantic 37 floors Hamphire House, a hotel in Manhatten; she had in historical records decorated cars for Packard Company. For Convair airplane manufacturing company, she also made her contribution therein. She was a specialized interior designer of places like clubs, restaurants, hotels, institutions such as hospitals before her demise thirty-nine years ago. Though much of her works were not surviving to the modern age, they were however, serving the foundation upon which modern tips were consulted for design finishing. Some of her works are in the monument of Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York City, U. S. A (created by Donald Albrecht). Howard Johnson restaurants all over reflects the commissioning of Dorothy Draper as a color specialist, this is an important aspect in the act of designing/decoration. Recently, starting about two years ago till now the works of Dorothy is under exhibition. Pictures showing two of her best works exhibited in New York City Museum included that of â€Å"the Arrowhead Spring Resorts and the Green Brier Hotel†. In December ’06 to June ’07, the exhibition at a Museum in Dallas also displayed a snapshot of her project in the Stoneliegh Hotel. Dorothy and the History of Design Dorothy Draper, a founder of interior design, recorded an exemplary dealings that any upbringing designer in the field of interior decoration cannot bye pass. A number of books she authored presently speak volume of her passionate contribution to the modern survival of design. It takes a creative mind to imagine. It takes a brilliant mind to extract the imagination into the reality and express good radiant to every beholder. In addition to her books is â€Å"How to be a popular Hostess†. This book emphasizes the fun embedded in the business of entertaining with designs (Varney, 1988, pp235-37). In conclusion, among women of substance all over the world, not reckoning with Dorothy Draper’s contribution in art industry is an unpardonable omission. References Varvey, Carleton. The Draper Touch the High Life and High Style of Dorothy Draper, New York: Prentice – Hall Inc. , 1988 (ISBN 0-13-219080-X) Jeanette J. Fisher, 2006. Interior Design Psychology, History of Interior Design Available at: http://www. jeanettefisher. com/dorothy_draper. htm Draper’s High Style, The Museum of the City of New York Remembers the Legendary Decorator, Aavailable at: http://www. architecturaldigest. com/architects/legends/archive/draper_article_052006 http://www. google. com. gh/search? hl=en&q=Dorothy+Draper%2C+works+in+design+history&btnG=Google+Search

Hastings College Admissions (ACT Scores, Financial Aid, Costs More)

Hastings College Admissions (ACT Scores, Financial Aid, Costs More) Hastings College Admissions Overview: Hastings has an acceptance rate of 64%, making it a largely accessible school. Applicants will need to submit scores from either the SAT or ACT as part of their application. For more information, including important deadlines, be sure to check out Hastings Colleges website. And, feel free to contact the admissions office with any questions, or to set up a visit to the school. Will You Get In? Calculate Your Chances of Getting In  with this free tool from Cappex Admissions Data (2016): Hastings College Acceptance Rate: 64%Test Scores 25th / 75th PercentileSAT Critical Reading: 460 / 500SAT Math: 430 / 510SAT Writing: - / -What these SAT numbers meanACT Composite: 20 / 26ACT English: 19  / 25ACT Math: 18  / 26What these ACT numbers mean Hastings College Description: Founded in 1882 in Hastings, Nebraska, Hastings College is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. Hastings, in the southern part of the state, is about an hour and a half west of Lincoln, with a population of 25,000. At Hastings College, students can choose from over 60 majors, with choices in business, education, and the arts among the most popular. Academics are supported by a 14 to 1 student / faculty ratio. Outside of the classroom, Hastings offers a variety of student-run clubs and organizations, including recreational sports (frisbee, rodeo, bowling); academic clubs (political science club, artists guild); fraternities and sororities; and performing arts groups (bell choir, jazz ensembles, musical theatre). Students have the opportunity to attend chapel services on campus, and can participate in a number of faith-based activities, such as Habitat for Humanity, Chapel Band, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In athletics, the Hastings College Broncos compete in the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics), within the Great Plains Athletic Conference. Popular sports include Football, Track and Field, Softball, and Soccer.   Enrollment (2016): Total Enrollment: 1,246  (1,186 undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 50% Male / 50% Female93% Full-time Costs (2016- 17): Tuition and Fees: $28,250Books: $1,100 (why so much?)Room and Board: $8,880Other Expenses: $3,681Total Cost: $41,911 Hastings College Financial Aid (2015- 16): Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 100%Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 100%Loans: 74%Average Amount of AidGrants: $19,571Loans: $6,486 Academic Programs: Most Popular Majors:  Elementary Education, Music Education, Business Administration, Biology, Sociology, Fine ArtsWhat major is right for you?  Sign up to take the free My Careers and Majors Quiz at Cappex. Transfer, Graduation and Retention Rates: First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 65%Transfer-out Rate: 1%4-Year Graduation Rate: 46%6-Year Graduation Rate: 58% Intercollegiate Athletic Programs: Mens Sports:  Football, Golf, Track and Field, Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Tennis, WrestlingWomens Sports:  Track and Field, Soccer, Tennis, Softball, Volleyball, Basketball, Golf Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics If You Like Hastings College, You May Also Like These Colleges: Regis College: ProfileBellevue University: ProfileDrake University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUniversity of Kansas: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphWayne State College: ProfileUniversity of Wyoming: Profile  | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphColorado State University: Profile  | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphConcordia University Nebraska: ProfileBriar Cliff University: ProfileChadron State College: ProfileCreighton University: Profile  | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUniversity of Iowa: Profile  | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph

Financier Russell Sage Attacked in 1891 Office Bombing

Financier Russell Sage Attacked in 1891 Office Bombing One of the wealthiest Americans  of the late 1800s, financier Russell Sage, narrowly escaped being killed by  a powerful dynamite bomb after a visitor to his office threatened him with a bizarre extortion note. The  man who detonated a satchel packed with explosives  in Sages lower Manhattan office on December 4, 1891, was blown to pieces. The strange incident took a grisly turn when the police tried to identify the bomber by displaying his severed head, which had been remarkably undamaged. In the highly competitive era  of  yellow journalism, the shocking attack on one of the citys richest men by a bomb thrower and a madman was a bonanza. Sages dangerous visitor  was identified a week later as Henry L. Norcross.  He turned out to be an outwardly ordinary office worker from Boston whose actions shocked his family and friends. After escaping the massive explosion with minor injuries, Sage was soon accused of having grabbed a lowly bank clerk to use as a human shield. The badly injured clerk, William R. Laidlaw, sued Sage.  The legal battle dragged on throughout the 1890s, and  Sage, widely known for eccentric frugality despite his $70 million fortune, never paid a cent to Laidlaw. To the public, it just added to  Sages miserly reputation. But Sage stubbornly maintained he was simply adhering to principle. The Bomber in the Office On December 4, 1891, a Friday, about 12:20 p.m., a bearded man carrying a satchel arrived at Russell Sages office  in an old commercial  building at Broadway and Rector Street. The man demanded to see Sage, claiming he carried a letter of introduction from John D. Rockefeller. Sage was well-known for his wealth, and for his associations with robber barons like Rockefeller and the notorious  financier Jay Gould. He was also famous for frugality. He frequently wore, and mended, old clothing. And while he could have traveled with a  flashy carriage and team of horses, he preferred to commute by elevated trains. Having financed New York Citys  elevated railroad system, he carried a pass to  ride for free. And at the age of 75 he still arrived at his  office every morning  to manage his financial empire. When the visitor demanded loudly to see him, Sage emerged from his inner office to investigate the disturbance.  The stranger approached and handed him a letter. It was a typewritten extortion note, demanding  $1.2 million. The man said he had a bomb in his bag, which he would set off if Sage didnt give him the money. Sage tried to put the man off by saying he had urgent business with two men in his inner office. As Sage walked away, the visitors bomb, intentionally or not, detonated. Newspapers reported that the blast frightened people for miles. The New York Times said it had been clearly heard as far north as 23rd Street. In the downtown financial district, office  workers ran into the streets in a panic. One of Sages young employees, 19-year-old stenographer and typewriter Benjamin F. Norton, was blown out a second floor window. His mangled body landed in the street. Norton  died after being rushed to the Chambers Street Hospital. A number of people in the suite of offices received minor injuries. Sage was found alive in the wreckage.  William Laidlaw, a bank clerk who had been delivering documents, was sprawled on top of him. A doctor would spend two hours pulling shards of glass and splinters out of Sages body, but he was otherwise uninjured. Laidlaw would spend about seven weeks in the hospital. Shrapnel embedded in his body would cause him pain for the rest of his life. The bomber had blown himself up. Parts of his body were scattered throughout the wreckage of the office. Curiously, his severed head was relatively undamaged. And the head would become the focus of much morbid  attention in the press. The Investigation The legendary New York City police detective Thomas F. Byrnes took charge of investigating the case. He began with a ghastly flourish, by taking the bombers severed head to Russell Sages house on Fifth Avenue on the night of the bombing. Sage identified it as the head of the man  who had confronted him in his office. The newspapers began referring to the mysterious visitor as a madman and a bomb thrower. There was suspicion he may have had political motives and links to anarchists. The next afternoons 2 p.m. edition of the New York World, the popular newspaper owned by Joseph Pulitzer, published an illustration of the mans head on the front page. The headline asked, Who Was He? On the following Tuesday, December 8, 1891, the front page of the  New York World  prominently referred to the mystery and the weird spectacle surrounding  it: Inspector Byrnes and his detectives are still completely in the dark as to the identity of the bomb-thrower, whose ghastly head, suspended in a glass jar, daily attracts crowds of curious people to the Morgue. A button from  the bombers  clothing led police to a tailor in Boston, and suspicion turned to Henry L. Norcross. Employed as a broker, he had apparently become obsessed with Russell Sage. After Norcrosss  parents identified his head at the New York City morgue, they released affidavits saying he had never shown any criminal tendencies. Everyone who knew him said they were shocked at what he had done. It appeared he had no accomplices. And his actions, including why he had asked for such a precise amount of money, remained a mystery. The Legal Aftermath Russell Sage  recovered and soon returned to working.  Remarkably, the only fatalities were the bomber and the young clerk, Benjamin Norton. As Norcross seemed to have no accomplices, no one was ever prosecuted. But the peculiar incident moved into the courts following accusations by the bank clerk who had been visiting Sages office, William Laidlaw. On December 9, 1891, a startling headline appeared in the New York Evening World: As a Human Shield. A sub-headline asked Was He Dragged Between the Broker and the Dynamiter? Laidlaw, from his hospital bed, was claiming that Sage had grabbed his hands as if in a friendly gesture, and then pulled him close just seconds before the bomb detonated. Sage, not surprisingly, bitterly denied the accusations. After leaving the hospital, Laidlaw began legal proceedings against Sage. The courtroom battles went back and forth for years.  Sage was ordered at times to pay damages to Laidlaw, but he would stubbornly appeal the verdicts. After four trials over eight years, Sage finally won. He never gave Laidlaw a cent. Russell Sage died in New York City at the age of 90, on July 22, 1906. His widow created a foundation bearing his name, which became widely known for philanthropic works. Sages reputation for being a miser lived on, however. Seven years after Sages death, William Laidlaw, the bank clerk who said Sage had used him as a human shield, died at the Home for the Incurables, an institution in the Bronx. Laidlaw had never fully recovered from the wounds suffered in the bombing nearly 20  years earlier. Newspapers reported that he had died penniless and mentioned that Sage had never offered him any financial assistance.

A Beginners Guide to Using Nominalizations in Business Writing

A Beginner's Guide to Using Nominalizations in Business Writing As businesses become more international, so must our writing. Most of the time, good business writing skills transfer very well to global audiences, but there is some confusing vocabulary that global business writers should try to avoid. Avoiding nominalizations Nominalizations are nouns that refer to a process. As a quick reminder, a noun is a person, place, thing, or idea. Nouns are often found as the subject of the sentence: Efficiency is important. But they can also be found as: the object of a verb: This is my or the object of a preposition: Let’s go in the office. Nominalization itself is an example of a nominalization, but more common examples are words like evaporation, condensation, mechanization, and optimization. As you have probably noticed, they often end in –ation/-tion/-ition. These are the types of words often used in science or in highly specialized fields, and they make it easier for us to talk about our fields of expertise. However, they are often difficult to understand for native speakers outside of that field, never mind non-native speakers! So how can we avoid them? Since nominalizations are nouns that refer to a process, there is always a verb hidden inside each one. For example: evaporation – evaporate condensation – condense mechanization – mechanize optimization – optimize hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(41482, '39de76fa-b005-4d0a-9136-a9a423513681', {}); The easiest way to avoid using nominalizations is to rewrite the sentence using the verb of the same meaning. Here is an example: Heating water to the boiling point causes evaporation. vs. Heating water to the boiling point will cause it to evaporate. Even though the second sentence is longer, the use of â€Å"to evaporate† is much clearer for non-native and native speakers alike because the nominalization is less commonly used overall, and â€Å"to† usually alerts readers to a verb. Let’s look at another example, this time with a more involved rewrite: Optimization of our work force is a key goal of our company. vs. Our company wants to optimize our work force. In the first sentence, the actual agent (actor) is unclear – optimization is the subject of the sentence, but optimization doesn’t actually do anything. Our company will be doing the actual action. The revision in the second sentence is much clearer for two reasons: (1) the subject, our company, is the actual agent, and (2) the use of the verb, to optimize, is much easier to identify. As you can see, using nominalizations can lead to more complex writing and can be difficult to understand if the reader is outside the area of expertise. Using the verb hidden inside each nominalization will force you to write more clearly and be more direct. (In case you wondering what the verb hidden in nominalization is, it’s â€Å"nominalize† which means â€Å"to make into a noun.† Unfortunately, even this isn’t very clear, either!) Writing for a global audience is not so different from good business writing. Short, clear, direct sentences help your reader to respond in a timely manner. If you are looking to improve your writing, see our full list of business writing tips.Instructional Solutions offersNon-Native Business Writing WritingClassesfor participants for whom English is not a first language that willhelp youwrite better at work.

Poverty in Africa the oil-rich Country Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Poverty in Africa the oil-rich Country - Essay Example Major oil producer countries in Africa are Nigeria, Angola, Sudan, equatorial, Guinea and republic of Congo. Major oil producer countries in Africa are Nigeria, Angola, Sudan, Equatorial Guinea and republic of Congo, Gabon, Cameroon, Chad. But the oil is not always a boon. It increases corruption and is responsible for grievance, relative poverty and instability. Studies have shown that countries with oil wealth in Africa grow more slowly, less equitably, more corruptly and more violently. Angola has huge oil reserves but the civil war in Africa made it hard to reach till 2002. Angola is second large producer of oil in the sub- Sahara region. But in Angola, the corrupt government officials and the well connected business man grow immensely rich using oil resources. The ruling dynasty uses oil wealth to consolidate its own position. The common man grows poorer. It is estimated that the government collected more than $10 billion in oil revenues in 2005 and this amount expected to go hi gher as the production peaks. But the riches are not evenly spread. More than 70% Angolans are still under poverty line. Nigeria is the largest oil producer in Africa and has huge oil serves but it has also set records for corruption. Nigerian government’s anticorruption wing, the economic and financial crimes commission calculates that between 1960 and 1999, the countries rulers stole $400 billion in oil reserves. In the last 47 years, Nigeria lost one million people due to civil war as they mostly fought to control oil-rich areas. It has also seen 30 years of military rules with six coups in 47 years. More than 67 percent of populations live under poverty line. Gabon was once a huge producer of oil and its oil reserves are drying up. The country still ranks 124th on human development index. Sudan has some reserves of $63 million barrels of oils but is one of the poorest countries in the world. Majority of African nations are undeveloped

Your views stand out among others i have read and here is why Personal Statement

Your views stand out among others i have read and here is why - Personal Statement Example However, it is an undeniable fact that American society observed new horizons of life and learned new lessons. People were afraid of the loss of work and the hardships that would accompany with the economic calamity. Depression was not only an economic devastation, but it changed the social perspective entirely. For instance, women find it easier to get low-wage jobs that opens new opportunities for them although it was a clear deviation from ideal gender roles in a family at that time. Farmers could not bear the heavy burdens of banks loans and saw the commodity prices fall sharply. The event forced mass agricultural based population to move in urban settlements to find a job. By the introduction of CCC, NWA, and WPA, people start thinking that their government is actually working for them. The government had more control and an increased influence on people’s life and that lingers on till today. Just when the American economy was reshaping itself and recuperating from the de pression, United States was forced to enter into the WWII. Ironically, the war helped the economic activity and reduced employment that had surged to more than 11 percent. However, economists believe that the real prosperity started not before the war ended. What bothers me most is the concept that freedom comes through government. Ideally, government should protect its citizens from internal or external violent and destructive elements. Should government be allowed to start a war?

Confucius and Gautama Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Confucius and Gautama - Essay Example First of all, Confucian philosophy is based on the principles of decent way of life in order to create a strong and functioning state where people happily live together and respect each other. Thats why Confucian philosophy is engaged with obedience and mutual respectful treatment of citizens of a state. While Gautamas principles mostly talk about some abstract enlightenment people should try to attend throughout their lives and the process of ascension above everything material and temporal. Still those who say that these philosophies are similar also right, because the ways that Confucius and Buddha propose to become good and descent are concerning obedience and respect, tranquility and personal growth. Even though Confucius and Gautama can frequently be considered as quite similar, still their philosophies are about different things. Confucius considers state as the highest priority for every citizen and human, when Buddha says that people should strive to the personal enlightenment and mental

Within the context of 1881-1991, how far was the Cuban missile crisis Essay

Within the context of 1881-1991, how far was the Cuban missile crisis the low point in relations between the USSR and the West - Essay Example Graham’s Essence of decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis explains in great detail the situation of both the United States and Cuba during the crisis and presents the decisions that the authorities and military leaders of the two states had to make. Gaddis’ The Cold War: A New History discusses about the cold war in depth and analyse the relationship that existed between the US and the Soviet Union over several years. Andrew Kydd on the other hand analyzes the relationship that existed between different countries of the world; especially the major powers. Years of Russia, the USSR and Collapse of the Soviet Communism traces the history of the USSR and its ultimate collapse as a world super power. The book follows the relationship that the USSR and Russia had with the United States, Cuba and other countries. Many of the books that have been used present similar facts or points of view. Although sources authored by the CIA, Cimbala Fenno and Parrot were referred to and were quite useful in getting insights into the state of affaires at during the Cuban missile crisis, they have not been directly referred to in the body of the paper. Several reputable websites have also been used in the study. All of the online sources referred to are published by reputable organizations or persons. Ibiblio, for example traces the events that led to the missile crisis while Nuclear Files shows the timeline of the events of the time. The US State Department on the other hand shows the Act that was enacted in the country in view of the Cuban crisis and the relations that the country had with Russia and the USSR. In general, all the sources that have been used are reputable and reliable although some may be considered to be outdated. Many of the sources agree on different topics although they are written and published in the United

Goals and Commitment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Goals and Commitment - Essay Example I would plan my studies by highlighting different topics covered in class and setting time-bound deadlines within which I would revise the work. This enabled me to finish revising all the courses in good time. Another way was that I set to improve my grades after every exam. I was supposed to add at least five points per subject. The goal was measurable and I managed to evaluate my progress and improve my academics. Writing out help you to be committed to a task since you can always evaluate if you are working towards completing the task. Moreover, you are able to identify areas you could be having problems and seek help. In order to achieve a goal, it is important to be committed. There are different ways of showing commitment and a signature is used as a symbol to show your commitment to a goal or task. It is a pledge and a commitment to oneself and shows your strong dedication to achieve a goal.

Bank for International Settlements. Include assessment of extent of Essay

Bank for International Settlements. Include assessment of extent of overvaluation or undervaluation of the Chinese yuan over recent years compared to the situations ofthe US dollar, Euro, and Japanese yen - Essay Example Using the relative PPP, a 2006 studt (Sinnakkannu & Nassir) shows that it was actually overvalued from January to October 2005 and was undervalued in the next months after. Meanwhile, the RMB was overvalued compared to the Japanese Yuan from January 2005 to March 2006 but its value started dropping soon afterward. Lastly, when compared with the Euro, the RMB was overvalued the entire 2005, then was undervalued in 2006 onwards. Using the reference exchange rate, we can see that, the value of the RMB vs. the Japanese has increased by about 47.65% from its 2006 while it has decreased by 2% from its original value in 2005. One will remember that the RMB was still pegged to the USB in 2005, hence, one may say that the Chinese Yuan was still undervalued at the time, as proven by the balance of payments approach presented in the previous sections. Meanwhile, it is not appropriate to compare the Yuan with the Yen using the international trade parity since published data are typically in U.S. Dollars. National Bureau of Statistics of China, 2010. Reference Exchange Rate of Renminbi (Period Average). China Statistical Yearbook 2010. Available at: http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/ndsj/2010/html/R0602E.HTM [Accessed November 18, 2011]. Sinnakkannu, J. & Nassir, A.M., 2006. A Study on the Effect of De-Pegging of the Renminbi Against the US Dollar on the China’s International Trade Competitiveness. International Research Journal of Finance and Econnomics, (5),

Goals and Commitment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Goals and Commitment - Essay Example I would plan my studies by highlighting different topics covered in class and setting time-bound deadlines within which I would revise the work. This enabled me to finish revising all the courses in good time. Another way was that I set to improve my grades after every exam. I was supposed to add at least five points per subject. The goal was measurable and I managed to evaluate my progress and improve my academics. Writing out help you to be committed to a task since you can always evaluate if you are working towards completing the task. Moreover, you are able to identify areas you could be having problems and seek help. In order to achieve a goal, it is important to be committed. There are different ways of showing commitment and a signature is used as a symbol to show your commitment to a goal or task. It is a pledge and a commitment to oneself and shows your strong dedication to achieve a goal.

American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Essay Example for Free

American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Essay The utility that is currently regulated by a regulatory commission or agency is electricity. The state, federal and local agencies regulate electricity that is delivered to the consumers while at the same time determining the rate of return for the utility. One of the major bodies that perform the duty of regulating electricity rates is the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) (McGrew, American Bar Association, 2009). Regulation of electricity as one of the commonly used utility is done by regulatory agencies and authorities that determine the prices that are charged. Apart from the regulation of prices of electricity that consumers are charged, the regulatory authorities also determine the terms of service to the consumers, the budgets and the various construction plans that have been put in place (McGrew, American Bar Association, 2009).                  Electricity is a crucial utility that needs to be regulated so as to ensure the protection of the consumers from unscrupulous retailers of the utility (McGrew American Bar Association, 2009). The regulatory rules laid down help in setting the retail rates that are charged on consumers while at the same time helping the retailers to recover the various expenses that they have incurred hence provide them with a rate of return on its capital that can be considered to be â€Å"fair.† Regulation of electricity retail rates by government agencies and regulatory commissions is also faced with the problem of allocating the common costs that are involved in the regulation (McGrew, American Bar Association, 2009).                  Furthermore, the utility’s rate of return for the retailers is also affected by the politics, whereby this allows latitude that is involved in the setting of rates for the different consumers in the market (McGrew, American Bar Association, 2009). The regulation by the government as well as the regulatory agencies and commissions also require that the utility serves all the customers as well as be able in planning expansion and additions of facilities for the purpose of anticipating growth in the market (McGrew, American Bar Association, 2009). Deregulation has been part of the strategy that has been found to have some impact on the supply of electricity as well as the rates charged on electricity supply and distribution.                  According to the â€Å"Federal Power Act† (McGrew, J. H., American Bar Association, 2009), the wholesale price of electricity in addition to the charges on transmission, needs to be based on the costs of production (McGrew, American Bar Association. (2009). However, due to deregulation, the FERC tends to accept the prices that are set by the markets as long as the set standards by the agency are met. The main reason for this acceptance of prices set by the markets is to encourage and support competition within the industry and reduce monopoly (McGrew, American Bar Association, 2009).                  The deregulation of the industry in general makes economic sense in that when there is sufficient competition. Competition within a market helps in the provision of quality service to consumers because each of the suppliers tries their best to attract customers (McGrew, American Bar Association, 2009). Therefore, it means that the rates charged on consumers will not be as high as when there is monopoly in the industry. The general policy by FERC of wanting to expand the role played by the markets as well as increase deregulation makes economic sense in terms of revenues that suppliers will make as well as a healthy market for consumers (McGrew, American Bar Association, 2009). Reference McGrew, J. H., American Bar Association. (2009). FERC: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Chicago, Ill: American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources. Source document

Concepts Of Consumer Behaviour And Mobile Phones Marketing Essay

Concepts Of Consumer Behaviour And Mobile Phones Marketing Essay Mobile phone occupies a fundamental place in peoples daily life. It has become one of the most important tools for personal communication across the globe during the past fifteen years. Consumer behavior is the study of when, why, how and where people do or do not buy products (Sandhusen; Richard, 2000). One of the things that can be categorized as both needs and desires is mobile phone. This chapter introduces the concept of Consumer Behaviour and shows the various components applicable to the mobile phones purchase in Mauritius. This will include the key factors influencing the Mauritians buying behaviour for mobile phones. The different criteria consumers consider in their buying behaviour will also be exemplified. Concepts of Consumer Behaviour and Mobile Phones In todays world consumer behaviour is one of the most fascinating topics. Consumer is the ultimate user of every product, without any consumer there is no market as such (Baker, 2004). Consumers are considered the king therefore it is very essential to study the behaviour of consumers. Blackwell et al. (2001) described consumer behaviour as the activities, in which people acquire, consume and dispose products and services. In the same view, Kundi et al (2008) stated that consumer behavior refers to the mental and emotional process and the observable behavior of consumers during searching, purchasing and post consumption of a product or services. McGraw-Hill (2005) defined consumer buying behaviour as the behaviour in the quest to satisfy needs which products and services were acquired to satisfy these personal consumption needs. Customers make purchases in order to satisfy needs. According to Christ (2009) some of these needs are basic and must be filled by everyone on the planet whi le others are not required for basic survival and vary depending on the person. It probably makes more sense to classify needs that are not a necessity as wants or desires. On the other hand, Peter and Olson, (1993) mentioned that interactions between the peoples emotions, moods, affection and specific feelings is called consumer behavior, in other words in environmental events which they exchange ideas and benefits each is called consumer behavior . Figure 1: Influential factors of consumer behaviour Source: Kotler Armstrong, 2008 By understanding consumer behaviour deeply, different authors have given different information about the consumer behaviour and how consumer buys the products. Consumer behavior involves the psychological process that consumers go through in recognizing needs, findings ways to solve these needs, making purchase decisions, interpret information, make plans and implement these plans (Perner, 2008). Consumer behaviour towards mobile phones The emerging technologies, one that promises greater variety in applications, highly improved usability, and speedier networking (Robert Godwin-Jones, 2008). Mobile phone is a constant companion to many people. Mobile phone which is fundamentally a communication device has undergone several transformations making its functionalities transcending the traditional voice communication between two individuals (Kushchu, 2007). Mobile technology is a daily communication device that allows people to communicate worldwide within seconds. Different researchers have diverse view about mobile phones. Xiaowei Huang (2011) identified mobile phone as one of the cultural commodities in todays world. According to Bassett (2006), today, the functions of mobile phones are not only for making and receiving calls, but also for providing other functions such as mailboxes, digital cameras, video recorders, personal radios, personal organizers, and even MP3 players. It is sometimes assuming that the mobile becomes each of these objects rather than simulating them, or re-mediating them; that it takes on the most advanced characteristics of each media stream it subsumes, and also assumes the development trajectory, or even the nature, or ontology, of these media (Bassett 2006). Nowadays mobile phone users are more adaptive, definitive, and subjective to how they use the communication device (Murni Mahmud et al, 2010). Mobile phone is not only a medium for communication but an entertainment device, an educative tool. Consumers used the technology as designed by the designers to satisfy different purposes beyond the conception of the designer (Carroll et al., 2002; Bar et al., 2007). Mobile technology were used and interpreted by users of mobile phones in their distinctive ways rather than how the designer had conceptualised the use of the mobile phones. Likewise mobile phone usage became more meaningfully through how the technology is used, the purposes it serves, and the context of its use through choice of functions and features (Okabe, 2004; Lindqvist and Svensson, 2007; Wirth et al., 2008). Overview of the Mauritian Mobile Phone market The Republic of Mauritius, a small island state with a population of 1.3 million inhabitants, is nestled in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Mauritius was the first country to launch cellular operations in the Southern Hemisphere on 29 May 1989 (Minges, Gray Tayob, 2004). Mauritius has been the first with the many telecommunication innovations in the African continent, who aims to be known as a cyber island. Telecommunication had an early beginning in Mauritius, the first telephone line was installed in 1883, seven after the invention of the telephone. The privatisation of telecommunication industries since the mid-1990s, most mobile phone markets have been characterised by competitive industries due to the presence of more than one operator (Bailard, 2009; ITU, 2011). The result is more affordable and reliable mobile services. People also do not have to wait for long periods of time to have a mobile phone installed. The Mauritian telecommunications sector was fully liberalized in Ja nuary 2003 pursuant to the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) commitment made by Mauritius in 1998 (WTO, 2012). Currently there are 3 main mobile phone operators in Mauritius namely Orange, Emtel and MTML. Orange is the market leader, while Emtel and MTML are the challengers. Emtel first launched the 4G Mobile in Mauritius, Tassarajen Chedumbrum Pillay, Minister of Information Technology and Communication (ICT), which officially launched the 4G mobile phone service on May 29, 2012 (Lexpress.mu, 2012). Mobile penetration rates have exploded from a mere 1.05 percent in 1995 to a staggering 92.79 percent by the end of 2010. Mobile cellular subscribers rose by 9.6% to reach 1,190,900 in 2010 from 1,086,700 in 2009. Prepaid subscribers increased by 8.5% from 1,013,000 in 2009 to 1,099,200 in 2010. Mobidensity or the number of mobile cellular phones per 100 inhabitants increased by 9.2% from 85.0 in 2009 to 92.8 in 2010 (Central Statistics Office, 2011). Figure 2: Mobile cellular subscriptions in Mauritius C:UsersRachnaDesktopchart.png Source: World Bank, 2011 Consumers purchase preferences and satisfaction level for mobile phones For perspective of globalization we cannot change the system of tastes and preferences of Consumers. Another instance demonstrating the ignorance of local tastes in the wake of globalization features the multinational mobile phone makers, Nokia had tasted success with its soap-bar designed phones and ceased producing the flip phones that consumers found irritating to use (Zaccai, 2005). Every consumer has their own tastes and preferences. So, every consumers opinions and preferences are different from one another. It has also been pointed that many decision strategies used by consumers can change due to person-, context-, and task-specific factors (Dhar, Nowlis and Sherman, 2000; Swait and Adamowicz, 2001). Consumers tend to utilize different approaches to make choices. Mobile phone choice and use has also been found to be related to prior consumption styles. According to a survey of Finnish young people aged 16-20, it was found that mobile phone choice and especially usage is consis tent with respondents general consumption styles (Wilska, 2003). Customer value perceptions are found to significantly impact and drive consumers intentions in terms of repurchase intent, word-of-mouth referrals, customer commitment and loyalty (e.g. Brady and Cronin, 2001; Cronin et al., 2000; Duman and Mattila, 2005; Christou, 2003). In general, a common distinction to be made is that while the utilitarian goods usually are primary instrumental and functional, hedonic goods provide fun, pleasure and excitement. It has been noted that many choices have both utilitarian and hedonic features (Batra and Ahtola, 1990), and thus it can also be proposed that the choice between mobile phones has both utilitarian (e.g., communication, time planning) and hedonic (e.g., games, camera) features. Quite similarly, consumer choice can also be approached from the perspective of conscious and non conscious choice (e.g., Fitzsimons et al., 2002). On the other hand, direct marketing activities have big impact on every consumer, every company knows about the behavior of every consumer in the market. This theory helps for the organization and sub-organizations to know the consumer behavior in different market environments, taste and preferences of the consumer behavior (Thomas, 2004). Kalpana and Chinnadurai (2006) found that adverti sement play a dominant role in influencing the customers but most of the customers are of opinion that promotional strategies of cellular companies are more sale oriented rather than customer oriented. Nandhini (2001) examined that attitude of the respondents using cell phones was not influenced by either education or occupation and income Usage functions and features as a key driver of consumer acceptance of mobile phones Another important aspect that has risen from different studies is that consumers purchase new phones due to the fact that their existing ones capacity is not appropriate referring to the idea that new technology features such as built-in cameras, better memory, radio, more developed messaging services, and color displays are influencing consumer decisions to acquire new models (In-Stat/MDR, 2002; Liu, 2002; OKeefe, 2004; Karjaluoto et al., 2005). Thus it can be expected that new features will influence the intention to acquire new mobile phones. The consumer will respond according to the product quality and reliability, the fundamental understanding of products is necessary to understand the product features, products reliability and product benefits (Baker, 2004). For example, researchers like Chang and OSullivan (2005) showed that concrete feedback provided when keys are pressed offers a good satisfaction experience among the mobile phone users whilst Lesher et al. (1998) and Nesba t (2003) re-designed the keypads to expedite text entry. Moreover, studies involving elderly users found them to prefer large, clear and bright screens (Kurniawan et al., 2006; Nizam et al, 2008). Mobile phones are often criticized as being too small to be held and handled (Balakrishnan and Yeow, 2007). In a recent paper, V. Balakrishnan (2011) investigated mobile phone messaging satisfaction among Malaysian youths. It was found that mobile phone users have mixed feelings towards text entry speed, keypad design and health-lower extremity and thus, they are unsure about their overall SMS satisfaction. Hence this indicates that consumers lay more emphasis on the design of the mobile phone while choosing which cell phone to buy. The younger the consumer the more hedonistic features consumers tend to value in mobile phones (Wilska, 2003). Though, in Africa, the use of SMS and chat services has been widely accepted, but people are still reluctant to engage in other mobile data services, such as MMS, mobile banking and web browsing amongst others (Brown, Gordon, Janik Meyer, 2005). The major portion of the population uses SMS, chat services and some leisure based services such as ring tones and games but they are still reluctant to engage in other more advanced data services (Goldstuck, 2005; Bouwman et al., 2006). Mobile value-added services are digital services added to mobile phone networks other than voice services, including short message service, games, entertainments, web surfing, software applications and functions for achieving specific purposes (e.g. performing electronic transactions (Kuo et al., 2009). Among all m-commerce applications, mobile value-added services have been recognized as having a remarkably promising future in the telecom service market because customer values, such as time-critical needs and arrangements, spontaneous needs and decisions, entertainment needs, and efficiency needs and ambitions, can be met by using these services (Anckar and DIncau, 2002). Consequently, mobile phone technological advances allow customers to participate in the mobile services development, design, production and delivery process, mobile phone users increasingly demand for affordable and reliable services that correspond exactly to their specific individual needs, lifestyle and preferen ces (Sigala, 2002). Generally speaking, a positive attitude with regard to new information technologies can be found among the younger, male and high-income categories (Brown and Vemnkatesh, 2005; Gefen and Straub, 1997; Ilie et al., 2005; Rice and Katz, 2003; Wei and Lo, 2006). Not all types of mobile phone are successful in entering the market because some types of the mobile phone have a negative perception of user (Jaya Suteja and Stephany Tedjohartoko, 2011). While some people find using mobile devices to conduct transactions relatively easy, others experience difficulty with the small screen size and small keypad. Data input becomes a problem, and this can lead to wasted time, errors and frustration experienced by users, hence making usability less attractive (Chen Frolick, 2004).However, the mobility of mobile devices also increases the risk of losing them (Tarasewich, 2003). Mobile users are worried about the safety of their devices as these can easily be lost or stolen. Branding as a major factor affecting purchase of mobile phones Brand image is perceptions about a brand as reflected by the brand associations held in consumer memory (Keller, 2003). Brand is considered as a warranty not only of the quality and performance but also of the difference and emotional relationship with the product (Bahmanziari et al., 2003; Jiang, 2004). Moreover, the technological advancement lead to product features becoming more and more similar, as such consumers are often incapable or reluctant to distinguish between brands on rational attributes alone (Temporal and Lee, 2001). Likewise Riquelme (2001) examined how much self knowledge consumers have when making choice between different mobile phone brands based upon six key attributes (telephone features, connection fee, access cost, mobile-to-mobile phone rates, call rates and free calls). The research showed that consumers with prior experience about a product can predict their choices relatively well, although respondents tended to overestimate the importance of features, call rates and free calls and underestimate the importance of a monthly access fee, mobile-to-mobile phones rates and the connection fee. Brand image acts as information prompt (Bhat and Reddy, 1998). Moreover, brands can accelerate consumers information transmission (Kotler, 1999). Brand image helps to create positive attitudes and feelings. Brand effects for mobiles have been investigated by various authors. Luca Petruzzellis (2010) studied the hedonic and utilitarian value dimensions to better understand the brand effect. Previous research has shown that consumer brand image would affect consumers opinions on brand equity, leading to brand loyalty. Brand equity significantly affected purchase intention (Chen, 2010). Brand equity is referred to the marketing results that accrue to a product with its brand name as compared to those that would ensue if the same product did not have the brand name (Aaker, 1991; Ailawadi et al., 2003; Keller, 2003). The brand equity influences consumer-level constructs such as attitudes, awareness, image, and knowledge and company related outcomes like market share, prices, revenues and cash flow (Ailawadi et al., 2003). Accordingly brand equity drives to brand loyalty. Likewise, Chaudhuri and Holbrook (2001) added that affective responses to brands are of utmost importance as brand effect is a strong driver of brand loyalty. Additionally, in the context of the mobile communications industry, Baker et al. (2010) examine the importance of brand equity in generating greater consumer demand for mobile communications products/services. In a similar vein, Jurisic and Azevedo (2011) address the need to increase brand equity by building and maintaining customer-brand relationships, which can be done by valuing the issues that customers value the most in order to increase their emotional attachments to the brand. Personality influences on mobile phones Mobile phones have been recognised as a form of self-expressive identity (Mannetti, Pierro, Livi, 2002; Walsh White, 2007) with many mobile phone users personalizing their phones to express their identity by decorating their phones and having unique ring-tones (Goggin, 2006; Katz Sugiyama, 2005). Self-identity has also been found to predict level of mobile use, with use increasing as self-identification as a mobile phone user increases (Walsh White, 2007). These findings suggest it may be worthwhile to assess whether self-identity is related to the level of involvement that people have with their mobile phone to improve our understanding of the connection between material objects and behaviour. As the mobile phone supports interpersonal interaction, mobile phone use might be a function of personality (Sarah Butt James G. Phillips, 2008). Historically, a mobile phone has been pricy with the market dominated by business users (Kendall, 1997). It has been considered a status symbol for the rich and famous during the early 1990s all over the world. The mobile phone is, however, more than a communication tool or piece of furniture: it is an extension of their person, and expresses their identity and selfhood in a variety of ways, including both how it is used and how it is worn (Helen Haste, 2005). It has been argued that a young persons mobile phone is a central expression of their identity (Brown et al. 2002). Young people are increasingly using and adapting mobile phones not only to interact with their own worlds, but to create and structure their worlds (Spero Stone, 2004 Referral influences for mobile phone buyers behaviour Consumer behaviour research on consumers social and interpersonal environment has indicated that the mobile phone consumers final purchasing decision will also be influenced by reference groups (such as friends, family, work associates and etc.) on whether to buy a specific product and which brand or model to choose among competing alternatives (Moschis, 1976). Wooten and Reed (2004) suggested that consumers with high susceptibility to normative influence tend to use protective self-presentation to avoid undesirable disapproval. In the studies of Jiaqin Yang et al. (2007), reference groups have a significant influence on US mobile phone consumers in their purchasing behavior. The target population for the survey was Chinese people, they consume similar brands or products that their peers consuming. In comparison, individualism is a popular trait among US consumers, so most American consumers focus more on their personal needs and less concerning about the opinion of others. It can be further supported by a recent research (Mourali et al., 2005). The research of Tiana Tucker (2011) illustrate that friends were the most influential people for young adults when looking to purchase a new mobile phone. Sernovitz (2009) described word of mouth marketing as all about consumers sharing their experiences of products by ways other than direct marketing to consumers. When an idea is transferred to the consumers and they send it to fellow customers, that is, a form of real word of mouth communication. Word of mouth seems desirable to achieve positive perception and thus preference for a brand in the customers mind (Sweeney et al., 2008). One way that offers a distinct point of advantage is positive word of mouth (WOM). Early studies suggested that WOM is nine times as effective as traditional advertising in converting unfavorable or neutral predispositions into positive attitudes (e.g., Day, 1971). More recently, Hogan et al. (2004) showed that WOM can triple the effectiveness of advertising. Table 1: Types of Reference Groups Type of Reference Group Definition Example Formal Clearly defined structure and membership Soccer club Informal Has no formal rules Families, friends and peer groups Primary Has face-to-face interaction Students in a class Membership Members of a certain group and model behaviour on others in the group Members of a church or a social club Non-membership Do not have membership but may still model their behaviour on members of this group Non-member of church may still be influenced by members behaviour: helping those in need Aspirational Groups that people aspire to belong Movie stars and famous personalities (Ryk Neethling) Dissociative Groups that you avoid or reject Gangs Source: Cant et al. (2006); Strydom, et al. (2000) Mobile technology within the social and occupational spheres influence buying patterns Social needs are the needs for social interaction of an individual that represent the need for communicating with friends, family and affiliation such as group membership, clubs, churches and work affiliations (Tikkanen, 2009). Social need is one of the determinants of consumers dependency on mobile phones (smartphones) because the mobile phones have become much more versatile, allowing consumers increased usage for communication and maintaining relationships between and among individuals (Lippincott, 2010). This is supported by the Mafe and Blas (2006) study which found that consumers high dependency on smartphones is positively correlated with consumers future purchase behaviour. Currently, TV-individual interaction through text messages includes participation in programmes in order to vote, downloading a variety of content, expressing opinions and appearing on screen, taking part in draws or competitions and even TV screen chats (Beyer et al., 2007). Mobile phones have in the firs t place been enhancing friendships and family interaction and have resulted in the tightening of social cohesion among close friends and family members (Ling Horst, 2011). In Wei and Los (2006) research, it was found that consumers were highly engaged with smartphones when there was a positive correlation between social needs and dependency. Consumers with a high need to socialize and be connected were found to increase their usage rate on mobile phones because Bodker et al. (2009) claimed that interaction or social networking has been embedded and conveyed through the mobile phones itself. Consequently, consumers with a lower level of social needs are expected to have a lower usage rate of smartphone (Morgan, 2010). According to Hundley and Shyles (2010), consumers fulfils their social need by engaging with mobile phones and have concerns about being socially disconnected, uninformed and excluded from friends and their social activities. Research has consistently shown that many young people believe mobile phone use enhances social inclusion by allowing them to remain in contact with friends and peers at all times (see, e.g., Ling, 2004; Peters ben A llouch, 2005; Wei Lo, 2006). Additionally, some mobile phone users report feeling loved and valued when they receive contact on their mobile phone (Walsh, White, Young, 2009) and that positive messages are stored on mobile phones so they can be re-read when the user is feeling low (Srivastava, 2005). Young people are heavy users of mobile phones; they are the majority of the population who users mobile phone the most (Dickinger, et al., 2004). As such the younger generation is keener to have high technology devices, for example latest technology mobile phones than the older population. Mobile phones are more as a fashion accessory to the young generation than a communication device (Robins, 2003). Mobile devices are more likely to be used in the presence of other people and may even be seen as a fashion accessory (Lu et al., 2005, 2008). More public use of these portable systems may mean that users are more open to circumstances of social judgement, criticism and censure. Young people are using and adapting mobile phones more and more not only to interact with their own worlds, but to create and structure their worlds (Spero Stone, 2004). Mobile phone is now a common part of youngsters lifestyle. Research showed that mobile phones enable young people to be associated to their fa mily and to their peers and allows them even more freedom to connect and explore. The impact of culture on mobile phone purchase Culture is identified as the collective mental programming of individuals in an environment (Hofstede, 1980). This means that culture is not genetically inherited, and it cannot exist on its own but acquired from the society. An individuals behavior is a result of that individuals cultural value system for a particular context which are changed and developed over time (Luna and Gupta, 2001). According to various authors, culture is believed to have a great influence on consumer behaviour. Culture has a profound influence on how and why consumers purchase range products and services, (Blackwell et al., 2001). Cultural groups influence the consumption patterns. Moreover, ethnic background and geographical locations play a large part in culture and establishing culturally acceptable and unacceptable consumer behavior. Subcultures exist with culture groups. According to researchers obtaining a mobile phone is a milestone that indicates success, not only financially but also culturally in term of the integration within society, (Castells et al. 2007). On the other hand, Marquardt (1999) has claimed that mobile phones affect social relationships and this is a disintegration of communities. Mobile phone usage has resulted in greater electronic interactions between friends and family at the expense of face to face interaction which have been dramatically reduced. Consequently, it could be proposed that mobile phones are changing individual cultural norms and values (Rauch, 2005). Conversely, HUANG Xiaowei (2011) argued that the mobile phone, with its dramatic development and peerless functions, is not a myth but a consequence of social development. The study from Choi and Geistfeld (2004) showed that functionality design, feature images and brand images are highly positive correlated with cultural characteristics of the users. Research showed that in some of Shanzhai mobile companies develop special models of mobiles for sub-cultural group consumers, for example, for Buddhists they have gold plated mobile with Buddha picture as inter face and sutra (Jun Li, 2010). Subcultures comprise of nationalities, religions, racial groups, and geographic regions. Further, Lee and Kacen (2008) discovered that subjective cultures tend to influence the buying intention of consumers. Gay et al. (1997) defined culture as the what-everybody-knows about the world without consciously knowing where or when they first learned it. The research work by Monthathip Srikes et al (2009) demonstrated that differences in national culture impact on the buyer behaviour of the Thai and British consumers when purchasing a mobile phone. For example, for Thai consumers, it is important to note that social acceptance acts as the main buying decision factor alongside their cultural attributes. In contrast, a strong correlation occurred between buying Intention self- direction and price -hedonism with British consumers (Monthathip Srikes, Panos Louvieris, Catherine Collins, 2009). Mobile phone choice as a learning device Mobile technology is dominating the world rapidly. In the educational system, Ling (2003) argues that communication systems between students have always existed. Students have always communicated to each other by passing notes, whispering, using hand signals, and the like (Ling 2003). Furthermore, the use of the mobile phone to send SMS eliminates the physical note, thus allowing for discretion-the message cannot be seen or read by others (Ling, 2003). Mobile learning devices such as mobile phones now have the emerging potential to achieve a large scale impact because of their portability, versatile features, and low cost (Roschelle, 2003). Many researchers have analysed the effectiveness of mobile phones. Taher Bahrani (2011) believes that mobile phones offer promising opportunities for learning in informal setting outside the classroom borders. Moreover, the increase in processing power, storage memory, and connectivity through the internet or the Bluetooth technology have resulted in an extensive growth in media richness that can provide access to highly personalized learning environment for everyone in informal setting (Pea Maldonado, 2006). As the matter of fact, the conventional mobile phone is more than just a device to make a call. In recent years, there have been many studies and projects using the relevant mobile technologies such as mobile phones or ipods for both formal and informal language learning (Chinnery, 2006; Kadyte, 2003; Kiernan Aizawa, 2004; Levy Kennedy, 2005; Norbrook Scott, 2003; Paredes et al., 2005; Thornton House, 2005; Ogata Yano, 2004).Mobile phones can provide the learner with frequent engagement opportunities to language problems all the time increasing the learning chances by allowing the learner to use many sources of authentic audio/visual and print materials once motivated (Beaudin et al. 2006). Nevertheless, there is no formal theory of mobile language learning developed to date (Joseph Uther, 2006), but still emerging mobile technologies increasingly suggest potential language learning solutions and environments that will be highly interactive, ubiquitous, and convenient. On the other hand, in countries such as India, cell phone ownership is growing fast. As a result, many educational projects are taking advantage of that development to create applications that run on mobile phones (Robert Godwin-Jones, 2008). However, research carried out by Ozhan (2004) reports that as educational level increases, the level of negative attitude toward mobile phones increases also. In the same vein, Pressley (2002), reading is about constructing meaning from a text so that the goal of reading goes beyond decoding and recognizing words. Also, reading is purposeful only when a learner can build meaning from a text and connect it to his or her everyday life. A lack of comprehension leads to negative attitudes and a loss of motivation (Graves et al., 2003). Additionally, Murphy (2006) also emphasizes the need to consider cultural and social factors when designing mobile learning activities. Similarly, Cobcroft et al. (2006) suggested to be well aware of the limitations a nd challenge, bearing in mind the potential impact on transforming current cultures and practices. Price as an influential factor in the purchase on Mobile Phones Besides new technological advances price was the most influential factor affecting the choice of a new mobile phone model. Price of the phone has b

Faith, Belief and Healing Essay -- Research Essays Term Papers

Faith, Belief and Healing I became interested in researching faith healing as a means of understanding belief and the idea of the brain healing the body. I knew a little about Christian based faith healing: the evangelical preachers on T.V. who smack the heads of the skeptical, and then they fall backwards, unconscious, and are healed, but I wanted to learn more specific information about the general practice of faith healing. What are the different forms faith healing takes? What are the underlying beliefs of the proponents of this form of belief and healing? How are these people portrayed and delivered over the Internet? Is there anything substantive to the notion of faith healing? What I found was a mix of strange ideas, which I simultaneously believed and scoffed at, depending upon their contexts and the information used to back their claims up. To begin with, I learned about a type of faith healing performed in the Philippines called psychic surgery. It is an ancient practice that was used to relieve pain and promote healing. However, the context it finds itself in today is much more complex than that. To begin with, let me describe what might occur in a session, because it does not embody exactly what the name implies, although many believe it to. There is a lot of "laying of the hands, balancing of magnetic forces, and massaging with divinely sanctioned oils;" these are the pre-"surgery" activities that are performed while "awaiting spiritual guidance." (1) At the meeting of actor Andy Kaufman and a psychic surgeon, the actor was hoping to have his lung cancer removed. After the surgeon received "divine intervention," he appeared to have pulled out "the offending material" in the midst of a lot of blood. (1) Howeve... ...ershadow the truth: which is that belief cannot cure organic diseases existing independently from mind-control, however closely tied the mind and body are to each other. References 1)The Facts About Faith Healing, ever heard of psychic surgery? read this!!! some pretty weird stuff http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro02/web3/www.quackwatch.com01QuackeryRelatedTopics/faith.html 2)Natural Hygiene: Nobody Knows, Understands, or Practices it. Why?, kind of fanatical support of Natural Hygiene http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro02/web3/www.healself.org/alternative.html 3)Deborah Elizabeth Shepherd, interesting piece on a fundamentalist Christian family who lost their daughter due to their faith in God and desire to forego medical intervention until it was too late http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro02/web3/www.geocities.com/robbi01/