Public versus private school education Essay

When it comes to the education systems, parents are usually faced with great tasks in choosing the best place for their children in line with the public and private education systems. Parents will basically look for a setting which will allow their children to thrive in their studies. May I start by affirming that the final decision of the parents is based the advantages that one system has over the other. Both the private and the public education systems have differing merits against one another. Many would prefer private education system due to a number of underlying factors and merits over the public school system. Most of the private schools have outstanding and rigorous academic performance and even though there are public schools that also have a tremendous performance in academics, some of these public schools still perform under the bar. Another prominent factor that we consider is the ability by the school to adequately prepare the child for college. Private schools surpass public schools in terms of college preparation this is because for a child to pass in the public schools will depend greatly on the geographical location of the schools unlike the private schools whose performance is commendable irrespective of the location. Another factor that puts the private schools at the par over the public schools is the number of the children per class or rather the entire school population. Naturally, the population in the private schools are quiet manageable than the population that is in the public schools. The public schools are faced with the challenge of admitting any student within the school vicinity and therefore they end up clogged thus making administration burdensome (Sargent, P, 1914). Unlike the private schools which generally has low admission and thus manageable class sizes. Another added advantage of the private education over public education basing on the class and school size is the individual attention that the students in private schools enjoy unlike their colleagues in public schools. Thirdly, the general school environment and the safety measures also dictates the school one attends or is taken to. Parents are greatly concerned with the security of their children and would prefer where the security is readily guaranteed. Since the private schools choose who they enroll their security level is quiet sure than that of the public schools although a good number of the public schools also have safe environments conducive enough for learning. The fact that most of the public schools are funded by the local property tax, their school budget usually becomes a political business thus most of the school activities are refrained as a result of this. There is limited room to respond to budgetary demands especially in areas where the voters live in poor communities with fixed amount of monthly income. However, the private schools are better placed to raise a substantial amount from the development activities and their strong allegiance with their alumni. They can also easily solicit funds from the founders and the corporations. The private schools are less restricted in their development of curricular because they are not subjects to the budgetary limitations imposed the state unlike the public schools. Both the administrators and the educators of the private and the public schools do work to ensure that they create the best learning environment as possible. Although there are good public schools but the best overall schools are usually the privately sponsored. Administrative support is another factor that draws the difference between the public and the private schools. The private are quiet advantaged in that they have a lean management structure since the expenditures comes from endowment income and the operating income. On the other hand, the public schools are characterized by the larger bureaucracy thus making major decisions is greatly hampered. The private schools rarely have or even need teachers unions unlike the public schools which have union contracts and also need political considerations. The facilities in the public schools are sometime mediocre because of the effects of political support and the economic revenues. They are also affected by the economic realities of the surroundings such the rich areas will have schools with best amenities whereas the poor surroundings will lack them Conversely the private schools have the ability to attract the endowments and other forms of financial support thus may have good amenities and facilities than even the universities (Sargent, P, 1914). In as much as one school may outweigh the other, there are still some other underlying factors that must be considered in choosing the best school. For instance the cost, most of the private are not affordable to all the parents thus is only affordable for the rich. Most of the public schools are located within the vicinity of the homes unlike the private which maybe far from home and some public schools offer transport to and from school whereas the private schools may or may not. Public schools offer general programs which are designed for all whereas the private schools have flexibility to create specialized programs such as outdoor tips after class session. At times the private schools create their own curriculum and assessment systems and thus put their students at the advantaged side when they do the standardized tests. The law requires that all public schools educate all children thus they accept any child regardless of race, economic status, religious affiliation or sex. The private schools are not so, they have no law as regards their admission and they have no required educational program for special needs. The enrollment is earned by merit on the grounds of academic performance. If a child becomes unruly the school decides to expel without any intervention from anywhere so also if a child fails to perform as required by the school he or she easily looses admission. Though not all, many private schools have religious affiliations whereas public schools are not affiliated to any religion. It is quiet clear that there is no overall rule as to which school is right and which one is wrong. For parents who are faced with choice of school, the best advice is to outweigh the factors which one considers as important and the settle for the school that meets those factors. Reference: Sargent, P. (1914). The Handbook of Private Schools: Survey of Independent Education

Inventory Management Essay

Companies must predict which products customers will purchase along with determining what quantity of goods will be purchased. The company will in turn produce enough products to meet the forecast demand and sell, or push, the goods to the consumer. Advantages : The company is fairly assured it will have enough product on hand to complete customer orders. This prevents the inability to meet customer demand for the product. Disadvantages : If too much product is left in inventory, it increases the company’s costs for storing these goods. An example of a push system is Materials Requirements Planning, or MRP. MRP combines the calculations for financial, operations and logistics planning. It is a computer-based information system which controls scheduling and ordering. Its purpose is to make sure raw goods and materials needed for production are available when they are needed. Pull System The pull inventory control system begins with a customer’s order. With this strategy, companies only make enough products to fulfil customer’s orders. Advantages : There will be no excess of inventory that needs to be stored, thus reducing inventory levels and the cost of carrying and storing goods. Disadvantages : It is highly possible to run into ordering dilemmas, such as a supplier not being able to get a shipment out on time. This leaves the company unable to fulfil the order and contributes to customer dissatisfaction. An example of a pull inventory control system is the just-in-time, or JIT system. The goal is to keep inventory levels to a minimum by only having enough inventory, not more or less, to meet customer demand. The JIT system eliminates waste by reducing the amount of storage space needed for inventory and the costs of storing goods. Push-Pull System Some companies have come up with a strategy they call the push-pull inventory control system, which combines the best of both the push and pull strategies. Push-pull is also known as lean inventory strategy. It demands a more accurate forecast of sales and adjusts inventory levels based upon actual sale of goods. The goal is stabilization of the supply chain and the reduction of product shortages which can cause customers to go elsewhere to make their purchases. With the push-pull inventory control system, planners use sophisticated systems to develop guidelines for addressing short – and long-term production needs . List atleast eight performance measures for warehouse management A warehouse is a commercial building for storage of goods. A warehouse management system, or WMS, is a key part of the supply chain and primarily aims to control the movement and storage of materials within a warehouse and process the associated transactions. The following activities are common in an y warehouse: a)Receiving b) Put-away c) Order picking d) Storage e) Shipping The eight performance measures for warehouse management are : 1. Service Level : Shipment Service Level (% of Lines shipped on time) Service Level (% of inbound lines put away within time limit) 2. Space: % of space occupied vs. % accessibility Warehouse capacity use rate % = No. of palets stored in warehouse / warehouse capacity in palets no. 3. Inventory: Inventory turnover ratio Inventory Accuracy 4. Productivity: Productivity (Measured in terms of lines picked per hour worked) Number of SKUs picked per hour 5. Quality: Quality in terms of errors per thousand lines shipped. Errors in dispatches Ware housing discrepancies = Products lost value (at cost) / total products shipped value (at cost) 6. Cost: Cost of warehouse operations Storage cost per item Cost of picking per order Cost of shipping per order 7. Cycle Time: Time taken to process a receipt. Time taken for each put-away. Inventory days on hand. Order Pick cycle time per order. Shipping time 8. Utilization: Receiving Dock door utilization % Utilization % of labour and equipment % Location and cube occupied Picking labour and equipment utilization % Utilization of shipping docks in % . What features would make an ideal supplier? Timely delivery: A good supplier is someone who keeps up to timely delivery of goods and supplies. Delayed supplies leads to business losses to the immediate customer and in turn delayed delivery to the end customer. This also opens up avenues for other secondary systems like buffer inventories to keep the chain going in addition to increasing overall costs. Competitive price: Business owners and suppliers add the cost of purchasing materials for a product into its retail price making it costlier. A reduction in this cost will lead to a reduction in the cost of the product as well. Quality: Quality is a very important aspect in determining a good supplier. Providing ultimate customer value is an important objective of business. Minimal paper work: From the placing of an order to the actual buying of an order involves a ton of paper work. A good supplier will find ways of reducing the amount of paper work involved. Quick response/ turn around time: The world of business is highly unstable, and often the gap between demand and supply can be hard to predict. A good supplier will always be prepared to meet such a contingency. Again a frequent and smaller quantity of supplies is the key to eliminating this gap. Inspection of goods: Inspection of goods is a time consuming activity for both the supplier and the buyer. However quality assurance of the goods can again reduce the time spent on inspecting the goods. Taking care of wear and tear and transport damage: Transportation and delivery often involves a lot of wear and tear and a good supplier is someone who recognizes these limitations and takes proactive steps to help reduce or avoid the damage involved. Constant frequency of delivery: If a supplier can keep to supplying goods at constant and smaller frequencies, then the cost advantage is supplemented. Meaning, if a product or part is found to be defective, then the time spent in replacing it is minimal as opposed to having to replace a whole carton or shipment of that item since the delivery is frequent and the supply chain is actively functioning. This is not only cost effective but is also a time and space saver.

The Secret of Ella and Micha Chapter 8

Ella I realize I have more issues than I thought. As soon as we turn onto the Back Road, a passion combusts inside me. It only flames hotter when we pull up to The Hitch, an old abandoned restaurant stationed at the end of the road. It's the perfect set up for street racing, with a long straight road tucked between the lofty trees on the mountains. The sky is black, the moon bright, but there are clouds rolling in. I cringe, thinking of the night on the bridge. We'd been racing before I'd gone there. Micha gets a text message right as we brink the end of the road. He pulls the car to the side, maneuvering carefully across the pot holes. He pushes the parking brake in and checks his phone, shutting it off, and looking torn up. â€Å"What's wrong?† I ask. â€Å"You look upset?† â€Å"Nothing's wrong. Everything's great.† He's lying, but how can I press him to tell the truth when I'm a liar too? â€Å"So this is your surprise?† I will my voice to sound disappointed, but it comes out pleased. Micha gives me a sidelong glance. â€Å"Don't smile, pretty girl. It'll ruin your whole I'm-neutral-and-don't-give-a-shit act.† I opt to remain impartial. â€Å"Who are you planning to race tonight?† â€Å"You mean who are we racing?† He smiles alluringly through the dark cab of the car. â€Å"Well, I thought I'd leave that up to you.† In front of the trees is a line of cars with their headlights on and their owners standing near the front. They're a rough crowd, mostly guys except for Shelia, a big girl with arms thicker than my legs. She's the only girl I've ever truly feared. â€Å"Well, there's Mikey.† I rub my forehead with the back of my hand. â€Å"Does he still got that piece of crap 6 cylinder in his Camaro?† â€Å"Yeah, he does.† Micha leans back in the seat, examining me amusedly through the dark. â€Å"You think that's who I should go for?† â€Å"It's the obvious choice.† I don't like where my thoughts are heading, but I can't shut off my basic instinct. I've always been a hanging-out-with-the-guys kind of girl and therefor there is an abundance of knowledge about cars stashed away in my head. Lila is the first girl I've been friends with. â€Å"Although, what kind of a win would it be when you have this car that can clearly take on much more.† â€Å"You think I should take on someone in my own league?† â€Å"If you want the win to mean anything, then yeah.† We look at each other, like magnets begging to get closer. Yet flip one the wrong direction and they will push apart. â€Å"So which one is it, pretty girl?† He drapes an arm over the headrest behind me and his fingers brush my shoulder. â€Å"The underdog or the big dog.† There's a dare in the air, teasing the real me to come out tonight. I want to give in, just for a few hours, and let my inner ropes untie. I want to allow myself to breathe again, but I fear the loss of control – I fear I'll have to feel everything, including my guilt. â€Å"Micha, I think we should go back.† I put my seatbelt back on. â€Å"This isn't my thing anymore.† He presses his lips together firmly. â€Å"Please can we have a night? Just you and I. I really need this right now.† I pick up on his strange vibe and the sorrow in his eyes. â€Å"Okay, what's wrong? You've seemed a little out of it. Was it bad news on that text you got?† He traces the figure eight tattoo on his forearm. â€Å"Do you remember when I got this?† I absentmindedly touch my lower back. â€Å"How could I forget, since I have the same one on my back?† â€Å"Do you remember why we got them?† â€Å"I can't remember anything about that night.† â€Å"Exactly, yet you'll remember it forever. No matter what happens, which is completely ironic.† He lets his finger linger on the tattoo that represents eternity. â€Å"There's something bugging you.† I tug the bottom of my shirt down to cover up my tattoo. â€Å"Do you want to talk about it?† He shakes his head, still focused on the tattoo. â€Å"Nah, I'm good.† To distract him from his thoughts, I point my finger at a smokin' hot 1970 Pontiac GTO, blue with white racing stripes. â€Å"What about Benny? Does he still have the 455?† Micha's eyes are pools of black liquid. â€Å"You think we should take on the big dog?† â€Å"I think you should take on the big dog,† I clarify. â€Å"I'll just watch you kick his ass.† His expression darkens. â€Å"No way. I'm not racing unless you're in the car with me. It's tradition.† A starvation inside me emerges. â€Å"Alright, I'll ride with you, just as long as you do one thing for me?† â€Å"Say it and it's yours,† he says without blinking. My hunger urges me closer to him. I prop my elbows on the console, and my arms are trembling. He doesn't move, frozen like a statue as I put my lips next to his ear. â€Å"Make sure you win,† I breathe and my body arches into him on its own accord, before I sit back in the seat. His face is indecipherable, his breathing fierce, his gaze relentless. â€Å"Okay, then. Let's go win us a race.† We climb out of the car and hike across the dirt road toward the row of cars and their owners. I shield my eyes from the headlights and wrap an arm around myself, knowing these guys are going to give me crap for how I'm dressed. Micha swings his arm around me protectively. â€Å"Relax. I got you baby.† â€Å"Well, what do we have here?† Mikey, the owner of the Camaro, strides up to us. He's got black hair, a kink in his nose, and his thick neck is enclosed with a barb-wire tattoo. â€Å"Is the infamous duo back again to get their asses kicked?† I roll my eyes. â€Å"You beat us once and that was by default due to a flat tire.† His face pinches as he takes in my shirt, tank top, and curled hair. â€Å"What the fuck happened to you?† Chandra, his girlfriend, sputters a laugh. Her dress is so tight that her curves bulge out of it and her stilettoes make her almost the same height as me. â€Å"Holy shit, she like turned into a little princess or something.† Micha squeezes my shoulder, trying to keep me calm. â€Å"So who's up first? Or has no one decided yet.† Mikey eyes Micha's Chevelle and there's a nervous look in his eyes. â€Å"You think you can just walk in here and play the game after sitting out for nearly a year?† I mouth to Micha, a year? Micha shrugs. â€Å"What? You were gone. Why the hell would I want to race?† â€Å"Again, you need to move on without†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I trail off. Mikey will use what I say against Micha, so I have to watch my mouth. â€Å"We want to race Benny.† Mikey's laughter echoes the night. â€Å"You and what army?† I point at Micha's Chevelle parked near the road. â€Å"That army right there.† Mikey shakes his head and shoos us away. â€Å"That thing don't stand a chance against the GTO. Now run along and come back when you got something bigger.† He's testing my control. A lot. â€Å"As opposed to yours?† I retort, getting into Mikey's face. â€Å"Because that thing's all looks and no go.† Micha directs me back by the shoulders and a trace of amusement laces his voice. â€Å"Easy there, tiger. Let's try not to get our asses kicked tonight, okay?† Benny hops off the hood of his car, flicks his cigarette to the ground, and leaves his buddies to join us. â€Å"What's up? Did I hear someone wanted to race me?† Benny's the kind of guy that everyone respects because they're afraid of him. When he was a freshman he got into a fight at school with a senior twice his size and beat him up pretty badly. No one knows what the fight was over or what happened, but it was enough that everyone became cautious of Benny. Mikey points a finger sharply at me. â€Å"Princess right here wants to challenge you to a race in that thing.† Benny's eyes wander to the Chevelle as he cocks his shaven head and crosses his muscular arms. â€Å"Micha, isn't that your car?† Micha pats my back and winks at me. â€Å"Yeah, apparently she's my spokesperson.† Benny deliberates this and then turns to Mikey, who's glaring at me. â€Å"I don't see what the big deal is. I have no problem with Micha racing. In fact, it might be kinda nice to have a challenge for a change.† Benny slaps Mikey on the back kind of hard and then pounds fists with Micha. â€Å"Thanks man,† Micha says with a respective nod. â€Å"Are you and I going to line up first then?† Benny bobs his head up and down, nodding as he stares at the road pensively. â€Å"Yeah man, I think that'd work.† They chat a little bit more about the rules and what not, while Mikey continues to scowl at me like an angry dog. Once they're done talking, Micha and I walk back to the car, while everyone else scatters toward the starting line located right in front of The Hitch. â€Å"So what's your plan?† I ask. â€Å"Because beating him won't be easy.† â€Å"You're my plan.† He opens the passenger door for me. â€Å"With you in the car, there's no way I won't win, otherwise you'll never let me live it down.† Tucking my head into the car, I drop into the seat and then look up at him. â€Å"I won't make your car go any faster.† He grins, slamming the door. â€Å"Sure you will.† He slides across the front of the hood and climbs into the driver's seat. â€Å"You're such a show off,† I remark. He starts up the engine and it thunders to life. â€Å"That's like the pot calling the kettle black.† I slump back in the seat and fold my arms. â€Å"I may have been a lot of things, but I was never a show off.† He hooks a finger under my chin and angles my head toward him. â€Å"Taylor Crepner's graduation party two years ago. You were standing on the roof with a snowboard strapped to your feet, telling everyone you could make the jump. I think that's pretty close to showing off.† I make an innocent face. â€Å"But I did make the jump, didn't I?† â€Å"Yeah, but not without breaking your arm,† he says. â€Å"And that's beside the point.† â€Å"You're right,† I admit, touching the small scar on my arm where the bone broke through the skin. â€Å"I was showing off and you had to drive my dumb ass to the hospital, then sit in the waiting room while I had surgery to put my arm back together.† His finger traces a line down my neck and to my chest bone. â€Å"I was there because I wanted to be.† â€Å"You missed a performance because of me.† â€Å"I don't care – never have.† My gaze involuntarily flicks to his lips. Suddenly, I want to kiss him, like I did that night on the bridge. It makes me uncomfortable because the feeling owns me. I lean away, putting space between us. Sensing my transfer of attitude, he revs up the engine and spins the tires, fishtailing the car to the startup line. He shoots me a smug look, cocking an eyebrow. â€Å"Now that's showing off.† Shaking my head, I restrain a grin. Benny lines up the front of his GTO with Micha's Chevelle and his girlfriend struts up between the two cars. She's wearing jeans and a short t-shirt that shows her stomach. She flips her dark hair off her shoulder and then raises her hands above her head. People line up along the road, watching, and placing bets on the winner. I spot Ethan and Lila toward the front, chatting about something, and Lila is doing her flirty hair flip thing. â€Å"When did they get here?† Micha ignores me, eyeing Benny through his rolled down window. â€Å"To the baseline and back?† Benny's arm is resting casually on top of the steering wheel. â€Å"Yeah, man. First one back wins.† They look away from each other. Benny waves at his girlfriend and she nods her head. â€Å"On your mark. Get set. Go!† Her hands shoot down and screeches cut the air. A trail of dust engulfs us as we race off. The trees on the side of the road are a blur, and the sky is one big streak of stars. I keep silent as Micha shifts the car over and over again, but something inside me awakens from a very deep sleep. Benny pulls ahead and makes a sharp swerve right in front of us. His red tail lights are blinding in the night and his exhaust is puffing out thin clouds of smoke. Micha speeds up, inching the front end toward the rear of the GTO. As we approach the end, Benny pulls farther ahead, but it's not over yet. Micha has a thing for flipping the car around, without decreasing the acceleration. It's scary as hell, but it works every time. Besides with the longer body of Benny's GTO it doesn't have quite the turning power. We reach the end and I should probably be nervous. The road cuts off into a steep, rocky hill and the space to turn around is narrow, but I've never gotten scared, not even now. I guess I can't change what's in my blood. The GTO begins to slant sideways as Benny turns it. Micha veers to the side to get around him and shoots for the open gap between the car and the trees. I grab the handle above my head, the brakes squeal, and I brace my feet up on the dashboard. It's like being on a merry-go-round on crack. Everything spins – the trees, the sky, Micha. For a second, I shut my eyes and it feels like I'm flying. It takes me back to the night on the bridge. She said she could fly. The car straightens out and Micha floors the gas pedal. Like I predicted, Benny is having a harder time lining back up. By the time we're speeding up the road again, he's a small distance behind us. Micha punches the gas and shifts the car into a higher gear. The long front end of the GTO materializes through my window and Micha floors it, shooting me a look that lets me know I can tell him to slow down if I want. I don't. People flee to the side, panicking at our dangerous speed as we rip through the finish line. It isn't clear who the winner is or who's going to be able to get their car to stop in time, before crushing into The Hitch. Brakes shriek and dust swamps the windows. My body is thrown forward with the car's abrupt halt and I smack my head on the dashboard. Micha works to regain control of the wheel and straightens the car as it skids to a stop. Everything settles and the dust slowly clears. Micha and I stare out the windshield, breathing loudly, our eyes as wide as golf balls. The front bumper of the Chevelle is a sliver away from a very large tree. â€Å"Holy shit,† Micha whispers and looks at me, his eyes bulging. â€Å"Are you okay?† I lower my hand from the dashboard, my chest heaving with my breaths. Rubbing the bump on my head, I turn in my seat toward Micha. There is an eerie calm inside me and one of my worst fears becomes a reality. I'm an adrenaline junkie. Plain and simple, but I think it's how I've been all along. I just never admitted. I'm no longer in control. As I incline toward Micha, my heart flutters to life in my chest. My eyes shut and my lips brush his, gently tasting him. It feeds my hunger vaguely and I edge back, letting my eyes open. Micha is looking at me, his eyes pools of blue like the deep spots of the ocean hidden from the world. His hand comes up behind my head and he entices my lips back to his. Something snaps inside me, like a rubber band. With one swift movement, and the aid of my own willingness, Micha lifts me over the console and I straddle his lap, looping my arms around his neck. His hands burrow into my thighs and slip under my skirt onto my bare skin. My breath falters at the intimacy of his touch. No one has ever touched me like this before, without me running away. Usually, being this close to someone sends me into a room packed with self-doubt, panic, distrust, and unfamiliarity. My legs tense and Micha leans back. â€Å"Stay here, baby,† he whispers, like he can read my thoughts. â€Å"Trust me, okay? Don't run.† He waits for me to nod and then crashes his lips into mine, keeping his hands under my skirt. I arch my body into him, pressing my chest against his, and my nipples tingle. His tongue sensually plays with mine, tracing every spot on my mouth and my lips. My body starts to fill with a secret longing. Micha moves his mouth away from mine and my legs tremble in objection. He sucks a path of kisses down my jawline, moving to my neck and residing on my chest right above where my breast curves out of the top of my shirt. It sends a shock through my body and my legs uncontrollably tighten around him, my knees pressing into his sides. He lets out a slow, deep groan and his hand slides higher into my skirt as he guides me closer. I can feel him pressing in between my legs and it scares the shit out of me, but not enough to make me stop. It's like all the sexual tension I ran away from has sprung free all at once. My fingers sneak under the bottom of his shirt and trace along the outline of his lean muscles. I don't know where to stop or how to put the line back up. My mind is racing and I clutch onto his shoulders needing my control back. Someone bangs on the window. â€Å"Are you two having fun in there?† I jump back and my cheeks start to heat at the sight of Ethan and Lila staring at us through the window. In his black tee and jeans, Ethan blends in with the night, but his dark, insinuating smile glows. Lila's eyes are magnified and her jaw is hanging open. Micha does nothing to help the situation. A lazy grin spreads across his face as he watches me through hooded eyes, looking very pleased with himself. The adrenaline washes out of me and leaves a numb feeling in its place. I climb off his lap and straighten my skirt and hair before getting out of the car. I calmly walk around the back of the car and join Ethan and Lila. â€Å"So who won the race?† I ask, smoothing the last of the wrinkles out of my skirt. Ethan smirks at me. â€Å"Is that what you're really thinking about at the moment?† I stare at him blankly. â€Å"What else would I be thinking about?† Micha climbs out of the car, stretching his long legs. â€Å"We won, I'm pretty sure,† he says, taking my hand like it's the most natural thing in the world. â€Å"Although, I'm betting there's an argument going on about it.† Ethan nods agreeably and takes a sip of his soda. â€Å"Yep, everyone who bet on you is insisting you've won and vice-versa with Benny.† Micha interlaces our fingers. â€Å"So the same old, same old.† â€Å"You know how these things go.† Ethan pats Micha's shoulder sympathetically. â€Å"They're never going to come to a decision.† My hand is sweating in Micha's. He just cracked me open and my mind is racing with a billion thoughts. I can't do this with him. I can't crush him. I need to repaint the lines somehow. â€Å"We should just leave,† Micha says to me. â€Å"Let's not even give them the benefit of our argument.† â€Å"You want to drive out of here all suave?† I ask. â€Å"And make a grand exit?† Micha smiles and squeezes my hand. â€Å"A grand statement.† â€Å"Which would be?† â€Å"That we don't give a shit.† I let out a shaky breath and nod. â€Å"That sounds good to me.† â€Å"You want to meet up at the house?† he asks Ethan. â€Å"I'm sure we're going to have to do some tuning up on The Beast after what I just did.† Lila scrunches her nose and pops her gum. â€Å"The beast? Do I even want to know what that is?† Micha taps the car door with his free hand. â€Å"Yep, that's what I named it. Kind of like how you call your car your baby.† Lila laughs. â€Å"Oh, I get it. Although, I like my name better.† Micha traces his thumb along the palm of my hand. â€Å"Are you ready to go? Or do you want to go pick a fight with someone first.† I flash a panicked glance at Lila, who knits her eyebrows. â€Å"Maybe Lila and I should ride together. I haven't spent any time with her today.† â€Å"You've spent time with me every day for the last eight months,† she replies. â€Å"I think we're good for a few hours.† â€Å"I'll take care of her.† Ethan chucks the empty bottle of soda across the parking lot and it lands in the back of his truck. â€Å"Really, really good care of her.† Lila lets her blonde hair fall into her face to hide her blush. I've never seen her blush like that. What exactly have the two of them been up to tonight? Micha shakes his head at Ethan. â€Å"Be good.† Ethan rolls his eyes and then walks off with Lila toward his truck. Micha and I get into his car and I prepare myself to make a speech. Micha squeezes his eyes shut and holds his hand up. â€Å"Don't even say it. Just let it go for the night. Please. I need to just feel this.† The pain in his voice causes me to fasten my jaw shut. Opening his eyes, he starts up the car and we drive down the road. Micha waves to Benny as we pass and everyone's eyes follow us. Then the darkness takes over as we pull out onto the main road and the headlights light up the night like a tunnel that leads to the unknown.

Social Responsibility in Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Social Responsibility in Business - Essay Example It is, however, underlined that all definitions of Social Responsibility focus on interrelationship between the economic, social as well as environmental and social aspects plus impacts of the organization’s activities. The following definition of Social Responsibility is advised to be used: â€Å"Social Responsibility means a balanced approach for certain companies to address and look for solutions to resolve economic, environmental and personal problems so that it benefits people, as well as whole communities and society in general† (International Institute of Sustainable Development, 2004). Social responsibility, therefore, underlies the ethical way of running any type of business. It, however, should not be confused with business ethics even if sometimes these two terms are used interchangeably. Social responsibility, according to William & Ferrell, is a broader concept which describes the impact of all business’s activities on our society while business ethi cs refers to decisions made by an individual or a group (Ferrell & Fraedlich, 2012, p. 39). In her turn, Jennings observes that social responsibility is just another layer of business ethics which describes the ways of considering the interests of all stakeholders and general public while resolving the ethical problems it encounters (Jennings, 2012, p. 48) The term â€Å"social responsibility† is referred to differently across the globe. Specifically, in the United Kingdom the term â€Å"corporate social responsibility† is common, in India this is â€Å"corporate citizenship†, in Chile – â€Å"Enterpreneurial Social Responsibility† , and in South Africa either â€Å"corporate social responsibility† (CSR) or â€Å"corporate social investment†, or â€Å"sustainable development†, etc (International Institute of Sustainable Development, 2004). While the social responsibility of business has been emphasized by the efforts of the gen eral public and its outcries, as well as by government regulation, social responsibility depends on the management’s attitude. The latter depends on which of two contrasting philosophies (models) has been chosen as dominant. Specifically, the economic model of social responsibility maintains that society gets the biggest benefit when the enterprises is left alone with its production and marketing of profitable goods needed by the society. It is based on traditional understanding of business as a venture that exists only to produce goods and services of high quality, earn nice profits, and give job opportunities (Pride, Hughes, Kapoor, 2012, p.52). In contrast, the socioeconomic model is based on recognition that the business has a responsibility not just to its stakeholders but to the general public, its employees, consumers, and suppliers. To illustrate, may firms today not merely accept social responsibility, but take pride in their social responsibility records winning awa rds in a variety areas, e.g. community involvement, environment, etc. These are such companies as Coca-Cola, Colgate-Palmolive, Hewlett-Packard, and Starbucks Coffee (Pride, Hughes, Kapoor, 2012, p.52). Despite obvious advantages of the second model, its benefit has been debated. Similarly, the viability of the economic model has been debated throughout years. Major arguments for enhanced social responsibility are as follows: 1) Since business is a part of a society, it should not neglect social issues; 2) Business possess necessary

Gotta Go Right Now Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Gotta Go Right Now - Essay Example According to Patrick (2004), the average capacity of the human bladder is 600mls. However, the urge to urinate becomes apparent when the bladder holds water urine above 250mls. Intake of a lot of water increases the amount of the urine contained in the bladder and as a result, the urge to urinate increases. This leads to the frequent urination. This problem can be curbed by use of replacement approach. According to this approach, an extremely active person or someone living in a hot climate region will naturally need a lot of water. This is because he loses a lot of water through sweat. This approach involves drinking a lot of water that equals to the lost one. Therefore, to increase the water intake without having to increase urinating frequency calls for being active to ensure water is lost through the bowel movements, breathing and sweating. This, when combined with the water needed for metabolism, then, one can reduce the water lost through urinating. On the other hand, frequent urinating can also be managed by spacing out the water drinking

Research Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Research - Assignment Example Research findings, clinical knowledge, knowledge resulting from basic science as well as opinion from expert are all regarded as â€Å"evidence† (Drake and Goldman 32). Practices that are based on research findings, however, have high chances of resulting into outcomes that match the desires of patients across different settings as well as geographic locations. The challenge for evidence based practice is caused by the pressure from health care facility due to containment of cost, larger availability of information, greater sway of consumer regarding care and treatment options. This kind of practice demands some changes in students’ education, more research which is practice-relevant, and a working relationship between researchers and clinicians (Drake and Goldman 38). Evidence-based form of practice also brings an opportunity for nursing care to be more effective, more individualized, dynamic, streamlined and opportunities to maximize clinical judgment effects. When there is reliance on evidence in defining best practices but not for supporting practices that exist, then nursing care is said to be keeping pace with recent technological changes and benefits from developments of new knowledge (Drake and Goldman 49). Although many young professionals have embraced this new approach, it has come with its challenges. A number of researc h studies have indicated that perception of nurses towards EBP is positive and they regard it useful to better care of patients. This research will critically analyze the barriers towards full acceptance of EBP. This will be a descriptive research design. Qualitative research does not, by definition, aim to precisely estimate population parameters or test hypotheses. However, most qualitative projects do attempt. This design was identified as the most convenient and ensured that the data obtained gave answers to the research questions. Descriptive design also offers the opportunity for a logical structure of the inquiry into

Does money motivate people Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Does money motivate people - Essay Example The question if money matters has been posed by many people. Many reputable scientists have argued that it actually depends on which society one is referring to. In other words, which historical period one is talking about. They refer to how people used to live some time ago. During the Stone Age period, there was no money. People used to exchange goods as a means of trade. This means that workers were paid by being given goods, such as food, jewelry and pieces of cloth to wear. They, thus, argue that there was no money and yet workers were motivated. Money is, thus, not considered a motivator by scientists, because even presently such agreements do exist. In some cases, they have referred to the African traditional way of paying bride price. Dowry is paid in form of domestic animals and not money (Blass, 2009). Wealth can be measured in many ways and the amount of money one has is one them. Every person does his best to gain wealth, but people perceive wealth differently. Some peopl e regard material wealth more highly than money. These are the people who might not consider money as a motivator. Just like the traditional African society, some people in the modern would still prefer material wealth as a motivator rather than money. There are cases where employers have bought houses and vehicles for their employees as a means of appreciating their good work. The employees have ended up working even harder, because they have been motivated by goods. In other different cases motivation can be something much different from money. When a student is praised for doing well, that’s enough motivation and can make him to perform even better. Thus, money can be a motivator to some people , but not everyone. Does Money Motivate? Employers pay their employees money as a major means of motivation. This is the most common means compared to others and reminds one about Shaw and Gruptas article. It stated with the idea that everybody wanted money was just propaganda. It w ent on to say that it was circulated by wealth addicts who wanted to feel better about themselves. Other means used in organization to motivate employees include praises, promotions and giving employee’s gifts and presents. In the present world, people need money to carry their day to day activities (Collins and Moore, 1970). It is for this reason that Trade Unions are fighting tirelessly for workers to be paid a good salary. They fight for pay rise and good working conditions. Few organizations provide their employees with food at their work places. It is for this reason that employees must be paid well, so that they could buy food, because they cannot work on an empty stomach. The employees may also have other dependants, like families and friends. This implies that even if they are given enough food at work, it is not convincing for them not to be paid. Money is also used by employees to meet other basic needs that they may have. They need clothing to wear. Studies show th at employees spend a large amount of their income to buy clothing in order to look smart. Other firms provide uniforms to their employees which they wear during working hours. Generally, they are supposed to be presentable in their places of work, thus, they need money to buy clothing. Shelter is another basic need that employees should have. They should, therefore, be paid money that will enable them

Demonstrate appropriate and effective techniques in written and verbal Essay

Demonstrate appropriate and effective techniques in written and verbal formats to prepare and deliver presentations, including the effective use of research, organization, visual aids, and APA citations - Essay Example The situation or message is clear, it is about positive thinking. The message is universal. There is no specific audience being targeted by the presentation. It is directed to all individuals. The aim of the video is to encourage all those watching the video to think positively. In lieu of a speaker, the thoughts of the creator of the video are expressed through the captions. Simple sentences are used yet they are very meaningful and effective at driving the message to the audience. The sentences are easy to understand; thus, it is able to reach out to audiences of different intellectual backgrounds. The background music that accompanies the presentation serves to enhance the video. It helps to capture the attention of the audience. The music chosen is appropriate with the message that wants to be communicated to the viewers. The second video is â€Å"How to change your negative thoughts† (Melnick, 2008). The message of the presentation is also about positive thinking. In this video, one sees a speaker talking in front of an audience. The author is obviously persuading her audience to change their perspective in life, that is, to eliminate the negative thoughts and convert them to positive thoughts. The speaker is able to get the attention of her audience through eye contact, changes in her intonation and pitch, and through her nonverbal skills. She emphasizes various points in her speech through changes in her facial expression, tone, pacing and volume. She is able to send concise messages with the help of the body language which she employs to stress a point. She uses counterarguments to convince her audience. One observes though that she speaks quite fast which may be a hindrance in communicating to her audience because they may not be able to accurately receive and comprehend her message. Comparing the two videos, one thinks that the video on â€Å"The Secret† is more effective at communicating the message on positive thinking.

Installation art of Olafur Eliasson Research Paper

Installation art of Olafur Eliasson - Research Paper Example Art allows artists the freedom to exercise with just any material to express their creativity. In the recent past, artists have taken this freedom to higher unique levels and have been using elemental materials such as humidity, water, air temperature, and light to come up with unique pieces. One such artist is Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson. Olafur Eliasson transforms the perception of reality by inserting massive installations of nature into public spaces as this research study will reveal. To create The Weather Projectin London’s Turbine Hall, he made a large circular disc using multiple monochromatic lamps to create a sun radiating yellow light. Additionally, he created artificial mist in the hall using humidifiers casting a mixture of water and sugar then finished it by covering the ceiling with a large mirror1. The installation comes off as a large sun casting yellow rays into a dense mist. Visitors lie on their back and see themselves as tiny black shadows immersed in an ocean of yellow light. The purpose of the installation is to create an artifice of the sun, allowing visitors to â€Å"engage† closely with nature2. The New York Waterfallsinstallation at the New York harbor is a composition of four gigantic [artificial] waterfalls ranging between 90 to 120 feet high3. Eliasson created the project to allow people in the city to experience and appreciate their relationship with nature of immense nature. The size of the installations, which rise high above eye view creates an enhanced feeling of rare experience that the townsfolk are rare with. In this case, he brought the perception of reality (waterfalls) into a public space (New York City), allowing people to familiarize with the proportion of such occurrences as they are in nature without visitng them4. The Infinite Staircase in Munich, Germany, is yet another of Eliasson’s unique perception of reality in a public space. It

Changing of International Order in the Last Century Essay

Changing of International Order in the Last Century - Essay Example This paper argues that changes in international order were in a way that people attained more rights and powers over their day to day life, and states improved their international relations. In the first section, the paper will address various concepts of international order. Subsequent sections will discuss factors contributed to the international order change over the last century. International order changes Historically, it is observed that global countries depend on each other for trading activities, technological and education progress, and infrastructure development. The emergence of globalisation greatly contributed to increased interaction between global countries. Scholars opine that the concept of international order creates a link between economic and political dimensions as political stability significantly influences a country’s economic landscape. Generally, concepts of international order give specific focus to states and consider war as a vital evil to be exor cised. Evidently, wars can make notable changes to the international order. â€Å"One widespread notion of international order equates order with international stability, that is, stable, predictable and controlled relations between states, in which turbulence, chaos and violence are largely (though not necessarily completely) absent† (Maull, 2005, p.94). ... To illustrate, the constructivism theory connected the evolution of international order to international relations. As discussed earlier, wars can have a great influence on the international order. Evidently, the World Wars I & II notably changed the international order. Although the World War I was considered the ‘War to End All Wars’, it directly led to World War II. These two World Wars significantly fuelled the international order changes over the last century. Many authors opine that the interwar period was characterised with radical changes in the international order and it observed notable changes in the balance of power approach that had existed in the pre-World War I Europe. According to Ikenberry (2008), the World Wars led to the advent of the American era which in turn contributed to the formation of post-World War II international order. Throughout the post-World War II international order, an American dominance has been evident. Significant changes in the in ternational order over the last century can be attributed to many structural changes in the global context and other global developments. Evidently, changes in the Soviet Union and Europe were a prime cause for international order changes occurred during the last century. The changes in East-West relations emerged over the last century could be directly ascribed to Soviet Union, specifically the presidency exercised by Gorbachev. Sociologists point out that domestic reforms including ‘perestroika and glasnost’ executed by Gorbachev and Soviet foreign policy ‘new thinking’ markedly contributed to the development of a new international order. It is an undisputed fact that

Inflation and Consumer Price Indices Essay Example for Free

Inflation and Consumer Price Indices Essay A literature Review5 Methodology6 Statement Of The Problem6 Objectives Of The Study10 Summary and Conclusions10 Abstract Consumer price index has been confused by a lot of people in recent times. CPI, which is one of the most frequently used statistics to identify periods of inflation is also sometimes viewed as an indicator of the effectiveness of government economic policy. The government, business, labor, and private citizens uses price changes information provided by the CPI in the Nations economy to guide them in making economic decisions. The Consumer Price Index, as implied by the name is an index, or â€Å"a number used to measure change. Investopedia (Investopedia, N. D) defines CPI as A measure that examines the weighted average of prices of a basket of consumer goods and services, such as transportation, food and medical care. This paper attempts to explain what inflation is, types of inflation and how it is measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is the most commonly used measure of inflation. The paper also attempts to discuss the inflation behavior in Malaysia. Keywords: Inflation, Consumer Price Index, types of inflation. Introduction CPI and inflation has always been thought to be same because CPI is widely used as a measure of inflation. However the current rate of inflation is not given by CPI itself. To know the increase or decrease in the prices of goods nd services, the index must be used in the calculations. The Bank of Canada (2010) defined inflation as a persistent rise over time in the average level of prices in the economy. As demand for goods and services exceeds the economys capacity to supply those goods and services, prices tend to go up while an excess supply of goods and services tends to put downward pressure on prices. Its important to understand the difference between the many different types of inflation. When inflation is more than 50% a month, it is known as hyperinflation. There is no known history of hyperinflation in Malaysia, but it is known to have occurred in Germany (costantino bresciani-turroni, 1937) before World War II, and in Zimbabwe (michael wines, 2006) in the 2000s. Stagflation is when inflation occurs despite slow economic growth and the last time this happened in the U. S. was in the 1970s. When inflation affects different parts of the economy, its known as asset inflation because it affects just one asset. This occurred with stock portfolios when the Dow reached its peak (Google finance 2007) of 14,164. 43 on October 9, 2007. Asset inflation mostly occurs during oil-price shock. This is usually as a result of gas and oil demand predictions done by the commodities trader that the demand would go up during summer vacations. When traders become more concerned that oil supply would likely be cut off, just as during the Iran threat to close the Straits of Hormuz in 2012, (Aljazeera, 2012) traders will increase the price of oil. And as a result, price of food, which is usually transported long distances would likely be hiked. A literature Review Cheng and Tan (2002) examined in? ation in Malaysia using quarterly data over the period from 1973QI to 1997QII. The study used the Johansen (1988) cointegration, vector error-correction modeling, impulse response functions, and variance decomposition of the Sims (1980) approach. They included 11 variables in their analysis, namely CPI, money supply, interest rate, income, private expenditure, government expenditure, exchange rate, trade balance, capital in? ows, the rest of in? ation in ASEAN, and in? ation in the rest of the world. The empirical results of their study showed that external factors such as exchange rate and the rest of in? ation in ASEAN are relatively more important than domestic factors in explaining in? tion in Malaysia. Cunado and De Gracia (2005) examined the impact of various of oil price shock on in? ation in six Asian countries, namely Japan, Singapore, Korea, Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia using quarterly data over the period from 1975Q1 to 2002Q2. The study also examined the asymmetries impact of real oil price change on in? ation. The study used the Johansen (1988) cointegration method and Granger causality test. The main results were that real oil price change has a signi? cant short-run impact on in? ation and becomes more signi? cant when real oil price shock is de? ed in local currency rather than in $US. Furthermore, the impact of real oil price change on in? ation is di? erent across economies in Asia. The real oil price change and in? ation relationship appears to be more signi? cant and more general than the real oil price change and output relationship for Asian countries. For Malaysia, the relationship between real oil price change and in? ation is less signi? cant. Moreover, there is no evidence of Granger causality from real oil price change in $US to in? ation. However, some evidence was found when real oil price change is measured in domestic currency. Also, some evidence was found for the asymmetric impact of real oil price change in $US and in domestic currency on in? ation. Methodology This paper uses data for a time span of 2005 to 2012 to analyze the inflation rate and also uses more data with a span of Jan 2011 to jun2012 to analyze the Consumer Price Index for that particular period in time. Statement Of The Problem The inflation rate in Malaysia has averaged at 2. 77 percent from the year 2005 to 2012. During this period, it would be noted from the graph below that, its highest inflation rate which is measured by Consumer price index was recorded at 8. 00 percent in July 2008. When compared to previous years, it is the highest recorded since 1986. Its lowest was also recorded at -2. 400 percent in July 2009. Exactly a year from the highest recorded.

Size Reduction and Screening Essay Example for Free

Size Reduction and Screening Essay Size reduction and screening The purpose of this experiment was to determine the affect of vibration rate and time on the size reduction and size separation of particles. The objective was successfully completed and the initial sample of soil was separated by vibration into finer particles with a large amount passing through the smallest diameter screen which was 0. 0278 inches producing a final product of fine soil particles which are now easier to transport and store. As can be seen from the graph below (figure 1) undersize particles verses screens, all three different vibration settings (45%, 65%, 85%) produced similar results for the screening process. At the beginning of the experiment (time zero) all of the soil sample was placed on the first screen, number 5, and after repeated screening (vibrating) the sample was broken down in more uniform sizes leaving larger pieces of soil left on the screen while smaller sizes fell through finally producing a fine powder left in the bottom pan. As can be seen from the graph below, after six minutes (the fourth bullet point on graph each bullet point represents two minutes of vibrating) the soil had mostly been sorted into its final sizes. This occurred for all three different vibration settings indicating that after a certain time period, six minutes for this particular experiment, the screening process is 90% complete and may be more cost effective to stop the process as only a small percentage is then sorted into smaller sizes. It can be seen though, that after a few minutes of screening, the original soil sample was sorted into a much more manageable sample making storage and transportation much easier. With regards to retained soil over time, again all three percentage settings produced similar results. The pan weight increased over time as more soil was broken down and this was to be expected as this is the purpose of this particular procedure. Screen 5 and 12, with the larger diameter holes contained the larger, unbreakable soil samples slowly decreased in soil being retained until only the large unbreakable matter was left. All the screens, screen number 14, 16, 20 and 25 kept a rough constant weight indicating that a certain percentage could be broken down and pass through the screens while the rest had reached its optimum broken down size. The higher vibration setting, 65% and 85% had more constant weight and this was due to the sample being vibrated at a higher setting and being broken quicker and thus settling. To conclude, from this small scale experiment alone it can be seen that size reduction and screening is a very useful and effective procedure in reducing the size of a sample making transportation cheaper and easier and taking up less storage space and in a world of cutting costs, this procedure has become vital to a number of different industries

Huggies Pull Ups Diapers Marketing Essay

Huggies Pull Ups Diapers Marketing Essay Kimberly Clark is a multinational company, its headquarters is based in America and they have been in business for 140 and has branched out to many countries including New Zealand. It has previously ranked first in the personal category in Dow Jones Sustainability world index five years in a row from 2005 to 2009 and has contributed $323.1 million in cash and products to charitable causes in 2011(Kimberly Clark.com) Kimberly Clark New Zealand does manufacturing for Huggies diapers and it is located Manakau, Auckland, New Zealand. They have a wide range of paper based products which are facial tissues, toilet papers, scientific cleaning wipes and Huggies disposable diapers (Wikipedia 2012) The specific product that will be the focus of this assignment is Huggies Pull Ups is a brand of disposable training pants made under Huggies brand of baby products; It is designed for boys and girls. (Im a big kid now!) This is the products slogan (Wikipedia 2012) Several changes were made since the product first came out, the first one was the addition of magic stars/flowers on the front of the pant that fade when the wearer wets it as a way to discourage wetting. Next was the easy open sides which made it very similar to underwears, it was easy for parents to check if the wearer soiled it and to quickly change the messy product. Statistics New Zealand records show that there are approximately 200 000 two to four year olds in New Zealand, because of the high demand of Huggies pull-ups the company has decided to increase the price of Huggies pull-up diapers The target market for this product is the parents of kids between the ages of 2 and 4 years. It is especially for kids who have started walking. Huggies Pull ups makes it easier for parents to change their childs diapers. Huggies pull ups comes for girls and boys also comes in different sizes. Boys and girls diaper size 2 and between 8-15 kg the price of pull up pack is $13.99 (plunketshop.co.nz) Consumer need the product seeks to satisfy-The product seeks to make life easier for parents that are making their child wear a diaper can be hard because at the targeted age children move and play, using Huggies pull-ups is less time consuming. Market of Interest, Trends and size Market of Interest: Pull-Ups is a brand of disposable training pants made under the Huggies brand of baby products. It is a product for boys and girls who have already started to work and its product slogan is Im a big kid now. Several changes were made since it came out, the first one was the addition of magic stars/flowers on the front of the pant that fade when the wearer as a way to discourage wetting. Next was the easy open sides which made it very similar to underwear`s, it was easy for parents to check if the wearer soiled it and to quickly change the messy product. Huggies Pull ups is for parents who prefer to give their child training using toilets. This report will discuss on Huggies Pull Ups diapers and the best way to achieve profitable sales in the country and overseas. Trends and size of the market: According to statistics New Zealand there are approximately 200 000 two to four year olds in New Zealand in the year 2012 these are babies who have started to work and parents prefer them to use toilet and Huggies Pull ups is the best Diaper that can encourage a child to use toilets.The Personal Care segment manufactures and markets disposable diapers, training and youth pants and swim pants, having a net sales of 43.7 % and 61.6% of operating profit(Wikiinvest.com). This shows that the market size for Huggies diapers is large External environment impact Technology: Online Websites A buyer can get all its information regarding a product from online websites. It is very important for a company to have a online informational website of its a product and information about the company. Everyone who excesses the website should get all the information they need regarding the product. The current focus is upgrading the website and adding new features. Technology (Mass Media) Magazines and Television Since the target for the product (huggies diapers) is mums the company can use other sources like of mass media to advertise their product such as television. Many people watch television and come across commercials which can catch their attention; therefore having commercials of Huggies diapers will surely catch the attention of mums. Magazines is also a better Mass Media, a lot of mums read womens weekly and having a advertisement of Huggies diapers will get mums to buy the product. Demography A good market for Huggies pull up diapers is parents of children who are the ages of 2 to 4 years of age. Since at that age children start to walk parents prefer their child to start using the toilets and Huggies Pull Ups is the best diaper which encourages children to use the toilet. Huggies Pull Ups is also easy for parents to make their child wear diapers. Huggies Pull Ups targets middle upper class families and upper class families since Huggies brand of diapers are of good quality and prices are high. Political and Legal The most important concerns for business firms are the political and legal forces which are implemented in countries in which they plan to conduct business. Some foreign governments are unsteady, that is, there may be frequent, dramatic and irregular regime changes and/or political unrest. Government regulations may change constantly therefore it can affect Kimberly clark New Zealand who produce Huggies brand of diapers, for example if labour rate increases which means the company will have to spent more on labour therefore the funds allocated for other purposes will be used to cater for the change. Economics Huggies Pull Ups has competition from treasures and pampers diapers since both come in different sizes depending on the weight of the child. The price range of the three products is also close ranged small pack priced $13 to $18 and big pack is $44 to 49. Huggies targets higher classed families therefore profit is made easily. Social and cultural Kimberly Clark New Zealand works together with plunket where they help mothers when mothers are having a new born and plunket also help parents in giving advice relating to their child. The Huggies diapers needs to be safe for example the baby should not have any rachises when wearing the diaper. Competition Analysis The current and main competitors of Huggies Pull Ups diapers are three other popular diaper brands which are sold in New Zealand Today. Using the SWOT analysis the strength, weakness, threats and opportunity of Huggies diapers and its competitors will be examined. Current Situation Huggies Pull Ups diapers are a world famous brand and are also a popular brand in New Zealand. Kimberly Clark New Zealand is the manufactures of Huggies Pull Up diapers in New Zealand. Huggies Pull Ups goal is to do changes to the Huggies Pull Up diapers until they can get the best product out of it so the customer need of this product can be satisfied. Huggies Pull Ups diapers target market is middle upper class families and upper class families. The manufactures of Huggies Pull Ups Kimberly Clark are also in partnership with plunket therefore other customers are also concentrated on. Problem Identification The main problem that huggies Pull ups Faces are competition by top diaper brands which are in the New Zealand market. It becomes very hard to meet customer demand since customers have a wide brand to choose from. Opportunity Since Huggies brand of diapers already exist in the market, it has already created an image for its self which is quality. Huggies Pull Up diapers team should add more features to the product to improve on its quality and have promotions to attract the customers in order to have even a greater percentage of market share. Greater market share means greater profits Treasures Diapers (lower prices) Treasures diapers come in different sizes, depending on the Childs weight. Two to four year old weigh between 10 to 20 kilogram and treasures diapers comes in those sizes. Treasures diaper comes in different packs which are small packs and large packs. Large packs have twenty diapers packed in it and cost $29.90 SWOT for Treasures Strength Weaknesses Cheap world renounced Customer loyalty/relationship Leading brands in most countries Lower quality diaper Lower price diaper means lower Opportunities Threats Expansion of product Competition from other diaper brands http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQrHK9eU23qT3hfM_junxbCkyctj7Evfvlb3sUyJceHPf0jO_PWVg Luv diapers Mid Priced (Jambo pack) Luv diapers is made by proctor and gamble and comes in different sizes, kids who can walk and are of two to four year olds can also wear the diapers. The price range for the luv diapers is $34-90. According to Wikipedia (2012), since the product was first introduced in 1976 there have been a lot of changes made to the product; the latest change was made in 2007 where bear hug stretch was introduced SWOT for Luv diapers Strengths Weakness Good quality In business for a number of years Brand recognition International brand Price is mid ranged ,confuses customers on what to buy Opportunity Threats Luv diapers can add on more features and improve the product in order to attract more customers These are competition from other diapers that are of cheaper price and diapers who are at a higher price with quality. http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSMZ5-aV9JwaPhBpFNTSYTlRWPd27vf3FlBQWsqbPhE9UEUdRGahw Pampers Diaper (jumbo) High priced Pampers is a brand of baby products marketed by Procter Gamble. Pampers diapers comes up to size seven. The price range for pampers diapers is $49.90. Pampers diapers is high priced due to it high quality. SWOT for Pampers diapers Strengths Weaknesses Very good quality International brand Large number of customers In business for a number of years Expensive to buyers opportunities Threats Can add more features to pampers diapers Competition from other diaper brands http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR-FdE9aOTWgqii-14GzyINpIPJmC5gQxwOXWQiOlGFtCiyDhnS5w http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQG9M6wiJybv-Q0B9nrpGcCCgiouFJm7OcSTbuerbKaNmQI06zT Huggies pull up diapers (jambo) Pull-Ups is a brand of disposable training pants made under the Huggies brand of baby products (wikipedia 2012). Kimberly clark makes all huggies brands diapers. Huggies Pull Ups diapers prices are expensive and it targets higher class families, its price is $49.90 SWOT for Huggies Pull Ups diapers Strengths Weaknesses High quality product In business for a number of years Large number of customers International brand Very expensive Opportunities Threats Add new features to the product Competition from other diaper brands http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRz57ETiCSX8zC3X2sR6yfCHy45Qbt75TBv1X9c4Jk6g__gyV8A Target Market segment Profile The target market for this product is the parents of kids between the ages of 2 and 4 years. Huggies diapers are for upper middle class families and upper class families who prefer quality rather than price. Kimberly clark New Zealand is in partnership with plunket so they can give the best care to mothers by helping the nurses. Parents want a diaper that can fit their needs and brand loyalty is big amongst members of this group. This group is likely to choose this diaper product. Huggies Pull Ups is especially for kids who have started walking. Huggies Pull ups makes it easier for parents to change their childs diapers. Huggies pull ups comes for girls and boys also comes in different sizes. This target group needs quality brand of diapers; loyal customers probably prefer to stick to this brand of diapers over all others Situational Analysis Huggies brands of diapers are sold in different supermarkets and stores all over New Zealand it has created a good image on the minds of its customers, its quality is also the reason why many customers prefer to buy Huggies diapers. Huggies pull Ups diapers has got many competitors in the market, some competitors are pampers diapers, treasures, luv diapers. Huggies Pull Ups diapers have got competition from a wide range. Huggies Pull Ups will understand how to best penetrate its new market after carrying out full examination of its competitors. Competitor analysis Huggies diapers have been in business since 1989 it has made a good name for its self. Since 1989 to 2012 there have been a lot of changes made to the product, depending on the changing needs of the customer Ever since Huggies Pull-Ups became popular, several other diaper brands tried to copy their product (Wikipedia 2012). The product seeks to make life easier for parents that are making their child wear a diaper can be hard because at the targeted age children move and play, using Huggies pull-ups is less time consuming Internal Environment Impacts Personal Care (43.7% of net sales, 61.6% of operating profit): The Personal Care segment manufactures and markets disposable diapers, training and youth pants, and swimpants; baby wipes and incontinence care products. Products in this segment are mainly for home use and are sold under a range of brand names, including Huggies, Pull-Ups, Little Swimmers, GoodNites, Kotex and other brand names Internal organisation and structure The current board of directors of Kimberly-Clark Corporation are: John Alm, Dennis Beresford, John Bergstrom, Abelanrdo Bru, Pastora Cafferty, Robert Decherd, Thomas J. Falk, Claudio X. Gonzalez, Mae Jemison, Linda Rice, Marc Shapiro, and Craig Sullivan. Also in 2000, the company bought virtually all of Taiwans S-K Corporation; the move made Kimberly-Clark one of the major manufacturers of consumer packaged goods in Taiwan. In 2001, Kimberly-Clark bought Italian diaper maker, Linostar, and announced it was closing four Latin American manufacturing plants. Kimberly-Clark Sub-Saharan Africas vision is determined nothing less than turning the $250 million business into a $1 billion business by 2015. Manufacturing process A prototype is an early sample or a model built to test a proposal or method or to act as thing to be fake or learned from. If a picture speaks 1000 words, then a prototype must speak 10,000. Which means a prototype of your new product is a must-have when developing and explaining your big idea. People use prototypes to prove, test and refine their ideas to all kinds of things. (Huggies.co.NZ) Human Resource It is the policy of Kimberly-Clark to hire, promote and support the professional Development of diverse global work force, employee safety and Industrial hygiene is a fundamental value of the organization. Effective leadership lays the foundation for a solid safety and hygiene management system by establishing facility-specific policies, providing resources, assigning responsibilities, establishing expectations, and evaluating performances Management The manager that managers the leadership team at Kimberly clarks New Zealand are Senior Brand Manager Kleenex at Kimberly-Clark New Zealand, Grant Hartley Head of Marketing at Kimberly Clark NZ,Geeta Uka Senior Brand Manager Huggies. Research and development In 1989, Huggies introduced Pull-Ups brand disposable training Pants. In 1992, single-sex Pull-Ups training pants were introduced with customized absorbency placed where boys and girls wet the most and also gender-specific prints, trucks for boys and pastel colored animals for girls. In 1997, Disney character designs were introduced, featuring Mickey Mouse for boys and Minnie Mouse for girls. Also in 2003, the slogan that was used in the original late-1980s and early-1990s commercials, Im a big kid now, was recycled for the products recent commercials. In 2004, single-sex underwear was introduced with customized absorbency placed were boys and girls wet the most and also gender-specific prints. In 2005, Pull-ups introduced training pants called Pull-Ups Wetness Liner Training Pants. These Pull-Ups are similar to the Learning Designs training pants, but contain a liner that makes the wearer feel when he or she is wet by having the liner have an unpleasant feel to it when it is wet. In 2010, Pull-ups offered this phone call service accossiated with Disney. Mainly, as a reward for finishing potty training, the parent of the wearer could request a phone call in which the caller pretends to be a Disney Princess or Toy Story character. This was a limited time offer and is now a currently defunct service. In 2011,Goodnites halts its connection with Huggies but is still connected with Kimberly Clark. In 2012, the sides on the boys Pull-Ups were recolored from blue to red.(Wikipedia 2012) Location Level 1, 86 plunket Avenue, Manakau City, South Auckland New Zealand. External Relationship The Kimberly-Clark Foundation, together with funding from the company and our employees, responds to causes and programs with financial contributions, product donations and volunteer time. In 2011, Kimberly-Clark and our employees contributed $32.1 million in cash and product donations for charitable causes worldwide. As part of that amount, the Kimberly-Clark Foundation matched $1.25 million in employee giving, and awarded nearly $860,000 in grants to charities where our employees or their spouses volunteered more than 84,000 hours of their time. Kimberly-Clark has long-term partnerships with several charitable organizations that share our commitment to improving the health, hygiene and well-being of the worlds families Competitive Positioning High quality Huggies Pull Ups pampers low Price High Price Luv Diapers Treasures Low quality Ethical Standings Huggies New Zealand has put all their baby care tips, techniques and information into 1 place, to help make newborn baby care as easy as possible for new mums and dads. Becoming a parent is a big change! Having an online resource to support you through this life-changing event can help make this time even more special. Trust us, it will be over quicker than you think. Enjoy every minute.( Huggies.co.NZ) Kimberly-Clark New Zealand the makers of huggies diapers, has appointed specialist creative agency Green Team as its lead sustainability and social responsibility agency to assist with the roll-out of a new sustainability and social responsibility platform for its Australia and New Zealand operations. Green Team will develop the creative for the program that will be implemented in phases initially focusing on employee engagement before launching externally. (campaignbrief.com) Others (Culture of Excellence) When it comes to culture and excellence huggies is in partnership with plunket in supporting the development of healthy families. Were committed to health promotion, providing services according to principles. (plunket.org.NZ). BABYCARE Category Winners The Best Products for Baby As Chosen by New Zealand Parents (ohbaby.co.nz) BABYCARE CATEGORY GOLD AWARD SILVER AWARD Best baby skincare lotion Johnsons Baby Bedtime Lotion Weleda calendula baby lotion Best baby wipes Huggies unscented wipes Silk baby wipes Best bathtime product Johnsons Baby Top to Toe Ecostore Baby Sleeptime Bath Best cloth nappy brand Real Nappies Itti Bitti Best disposable nappy brand Huggies Treasures Best nappy balm Bepanthen Ointment Sudocrem Best teething product Bonjela Weleda teething powder Situational Analysis Summary Huggies diapers pull Ups environment scan has determined that huggies Pull Ups has a number of advantages over the other diaper brands in the market. As a quality brand, it exceeds diapers in the lower and mid-price ranges. Huggies Pull Ups is a high priced diaper and its major competition in that price range is pampers diapers both are quality brands and are demanded by parents. A SWOT analysis was done of Huggies pull ups and its major competitors in New Zealand. A positioning map was also created that shows where Huggies Pull Up diapers stands together with its competitors. The positioning map shows that Huggies is a high quality and high priced diaper therefore its target markets are upper middle class families and upper class families.

Essay on the Double Meanings of The Odyssey -- Homer, Odyssey Essays

The Double Meanings of The Odyssey      Ã‚     Throughout Homer's The Odyssey, there are a number of tangible symbols that are used to represent abstract ideas. I would like to suggest that each symbol that Homer uses within The Odyssey has two clear meanings. The double meanings of these symbols are used to represent Odysseus and Telemachus as they strive to meet each other. While each symbol has a meaning that represents the growth of Telemachus, each one also represents, by another meaning, the growth and development of Odysseus. When they meet for the first time, the symbols, and the character traits that they represent confluence, and the resemblance between Odysseus and Telemachus becomes complete. One of the main ideas running throughout the Odyssey is the importance of water. It has the power of giving life and quick, safe travel, but it also has the potential to drown you through the itself. While it is often perceived as being good and usually life giving, it also demonstrates how too much of a good thing can bring harm. It brings much harm to Odysseus as he is traveling to Phaeacia, "At Zeus' command the whole sky is heavy with clouds, the sea is seething, squalls from every corner hurtle together. There is nothing now for me but certain d... ..., et al. A commentary on Homer's Odyssey. 3 Vols. Oxford PA4167 .H4813 1988 Jones, Peter V. Homer's Odyssey : a companion to the translation   of Richmond Lattimore.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Carbondale, IL : Southern Illinois University Press, c1988. PA4167 .J66 1988 Peradotto, John , Man in the Middle Voice: Name and Narration in the Odyssey, Princeton UP 1990 Stanford, William Bedell. Homer's Odyssey. 2 Vols. Macmillan   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thalmann, William G., The Odyssey : an epic of return. New York : Twayne Publishers. PA4167 .T45 1992 Tracy, Stephen V., The story of the Odyssey. Princeton, N.J. : Princeton University Press, c1990.   PA4167 .T7 1990   

Out Of The Silent Planet Essay example -- C.S. Lewis

Out of the Silent Planet By: C.S. Lewis C.S. Lewis produced a book that conveys vivid scenery, relatable characters, and a vague but detailed plot that gave rise to a novel with wonderful clarity. Out of the Silent Planet is an account of the voyage of Ransom, a linguist, who is kidnapped and taken to another planet, Malacandra (Mars). Where he learns that Thulcandra (Earth) is called the silent planet because there has been no communication from it in years. On the voyage there he is led to believe he will be sacrificed. Instead, the creatures that inhabit the other world reveal extraordinary secrets about the nature of man and the universe to him. Ransom is ultimately sent back to Thulcandra with the two earthlings who had kidnapped him. The book is told in such a way that trie...

Existence Of God Essay -- essays research papers

The Existence of God   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ever since I can remember, I have believed in God. I had always thought that he existed in a way that we did not understand and or can not comprehend, and that is spiritually (Almighty). I have always thought that it would be impossible to prove/disprove God's existence (solely based on the spiritual aspect), because if he is the almighty then he can come and go as he sees fit (be seen and unseen as he sees fit, too). There has been a lot that has happened to me, not only in spiritual essences, but also in a physical essence that strengthened my beliefs that God exists. Call it social conditioning, that I have this belief, but my family and friends all have the same belief. Even after the class (First course in philosophy) has ended I am no more clear whether God exist (in a physical manner) or does not (at all). Since I have grown up in the belief that God exists (which has not brought on any harm), then I shall go with what I believe in and state that he does ex ist. Evidence that he does exist is not needed, for this is like a court case you are innocent until proven guilty. So with this in mind, he exist until you can prove his non-existence. Although there are many arguments to disprove his existence none are solid proof. Just like there are many arguments to prove his existence that lack physical proof, too. With this all in mind I will argue that the, so-called, evidence of his existence out ways that of his non-exist...

Hamlet Review Essay

Primary Characters: * Hamlet- indecisive, isolates himself, plans his â€Å"antic disposition† * Claudius- murder of King Hamlet, Hamlet’s uncle and stepfather, guilty * Ophelia- Polonius’s daughter, Hamlet’s love, drowns Secondary Characters: * Horatio- Hamlet’s friend * Polonius- protective of Ophelia, believes Hamlet is affected by Ophelia’s love * Gertrude- Hamlet’s mother and the queen * Laertes- Polonius’s son and Ophelia’s brother, wants to kill Hamlet after Ophelia dies Point of view and other notable techniques: Most people believe that Hamlet was written in the 3rd person point of view. However, some literary critics argue that Shakespeare’s characters possess individuality too great to be bound under a fixed point of view. Like actual people, they act with intentions we cannot completely comprehend. This lack of fixed point of view allows the work to be up to interpretation, as it has been analyzed in a variety of ways. Shakespeare embodies various structural, literary, and stylistic techniques in his play. He often switches between the use of blank verse and prose when dealing with his different characters. He also uses iambic pentameter throughout the play. Examples of this can be most easily found in Hamlet’s â€Å"To be or not to be† monologue in Act III. Favorite stylistic techniques of Shakespeare include soliloquy, particularly those uttered by Hamlet throughout the play (the â€Å"To be or not to be†¦Ã¢â‚¬  soliloquy remains one of the most famous in English literature). He also uses various allusions to both biblical and mythological references throughout Hamlet, including a reference to the Garden of Eden in the Ghost of Hamlet’s father’s graphic description of his murder. Imagery is another favorite technique of Shakespeare, as he uses his words to paint images of violence, chaos, beauty, and darkness. The language of Shakespeare is in a class of its own, as the old English text he employs throughout the play reflect his own unique manner of writing. Major conflicts and resolutions: * Hamlet vs. His inner self- Hamlet struggles between action and inaction throughout the entire play. Is inability to act out what he feels and kill Claudius ultimately leads to his death. * Hamlet vs. Claudius, Polonius, Ophelia & Laertes: Hamlet has many external conflicts with the other characters that stem from his internal conflict. The conflict between Claudius and Hamlet leads to both of their deaths. Hamlet kills Polonius out of a fit of insanity. Ophelia and Hamlet seem to have various problems, (as seen by the nunnery scene) and in the end Ophelia ends up going insane and drowning. After Ophelia dies, Laertes wants to seek revenge. He and Hamlet fence and because of a mix up of swords, he is poisoned by his own sword. Key Scenes: * A huge turning point in Hamlet is within rising action. The ghost tells hamlet to revenge his murder. Hamlet finds out that it is Claudius, but Hamlet does not kill Claudius because he is in prayer. * The climax of â€Å"Hamlet† is when Hamlet stabs Polonius through the curtain. (III:v). This is the climax because since he violently killed Polonius, Hamlets gets into conflicts with the king. * The resolution is when Hamlet returns from England, changed. Hamlet eventually has a fencing match with Laertes and then the royal family dies and so does Hamlet. (V.). Key Quotations: * â€Å"Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death/ The memory be green†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (I.ii.1-25) * Claudius addresses his court explaining the death of the King and his marriage to Gertrude. * â€Å"This above all,—to thine own self be true; And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man† (I.iii.78-80) * Polonius speaks these words to Laertes as he gives him final counsel before leaving home. * â€Å"To be or not to be†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (III.i. 58-90) * In this famous soliloquy, Hamlet ponders life and death, suicide and the afterlife, as well as action and inaction. * â€Å"Not where he eats, but where he is eaten. A certain convocation of politic worms are e’en at him. Your worm is your only emperor for diet. We fat all creatures else to fat  us, and we fat ourselves for maggots. Your fat king and your lean beggar is but variable service—two dishes, but to one table. That’s the end.† (IV.iii.21) * Hamlet says this to the king. In this humorous scene, he speaks of Polonius’s death. Many think that the manner in which he speaks of the death in these lines prove his insanity. * â€Å"The rest is silence† (V.ii.356) * Hamlet’s last words spoken to Horatio before he dies Theme statements & central questions: After losing a loved one unjustifiably, one may seek revenge and in doing so explore the limits of sanity. * Why does Hamlet delay in killing Claudius? * Was the ghost real or imagined? * When is murder justifiable? * Is suicide okay? * How much thought is too much thought and not enough action? Your reactions: * I found the soliloquy in Hamlet the most difficult sections of the play to comprehend, particularly due to the old English style in which they were written in. Shakespeare’s dated language and implementation of iambic pentameter often confused me, as did his various allusions and colloquialisms, among other literary devices throughout these extended monologues. I had to re-read the â€Å"To be or not to be† soliloquy until I was finally able to understand it. Shakespeare reveals of his character’s innermost demons and troubles through his soliloquy, bringing their emotional instability full circle. Realizing this made me strive even harder to understand every aspect of these speeches, every allusion and image and literary device was crucial, even though it appears to be insignificant in the scheme of things. The details truly matter in his works. * Personally, the â€Å"this above all† quote is one of my favorite quotes. Polonius may have been a fool for trying to teach Laertes this lesson at the last possible moment before his departure, but his words are wise ones. Through personal experience I have found truth behind the advice and hold it very close. I’ve discovered that if I remain true to myself and am honest with myself, it is virtually impossible to be false to others.  I’ll always remember these famous words. * One aspect of Hamlet that really stood out to me was the scenes of the ghost. I personally believe that the ghost telling Hamlet to remember him and revenge his father’s death, was actually within the imagination of Hamlet himself. There is no evidence in the play that suggests that the ghost is all in Hamlet’s mind, however, there is no evidence against it, thus making it an effective claim. Notable literary devices: * Shakespeare’s use of tone creates a unique and completely entertaining style of dialogue for the play. The tone uses imagery and diction to add meaning to the text and make the play sad, funny, dark, or even violent at times. * Shakespeare uses poetry in â€Å"Hamlet† and it is written in Iambic Pentameter. â€Å"Hamlet†, having been written in poetry, is portrayed beautifully and because of the meter, is executed properly. * The use of symbols is evident in â€Å"Hamlet†. The skull and the ghost are obvious symbols of death. However, other symbols can be analyzed like Ophelia and flowers, or Ophelia and innocence. Hamlet can be looked at as the â€Å"tragic hero†, and many characters have symbolism behind them. Good for the following prompts: This text would be best implemented in either an analysis or an argument prompt. For the analysis prompt, the student would be presented with a short excerpt from Hamlet and be required to discuss different techniques the author uses throughout the passage, connecting back to the overall meaning of the work as a whole. Any selection from Hamlet highlights Shakespeare’s use of iambic pentameter, as well as his mastery of imagery and allusions. An argument prompt requires the student to analyze a given position in said argument, and either defend, challenge, or qualify the position using their own knowledge of the work. Anything goes with this prompt, so a total understanding of the various interpretations of Hamlet is necessary to succeed. Students must develop their own interpretation of the work and pinpoint elements in the work that contribute to their understanding of it. Hamlet would be an excellent choice when faced with any prompt dealing with revenge, avenging the death of a loved one, insanity, or family values, a few of the central themes of Shakespeare’s work.

Life Without Music Essay

Music is in many ways the fabric of our lives and the definition of society. It is a reminder of how things once were, an indication of how things are, and a view of where society is headed. Music is a direct reflection of the picture of society. Music can be a way to deliver messages, a poetic medium, a fine art, or nothing more than a source of entertainment. No matter what it is used for, music is the perfect art and our lives would be that much less complete without it that life as we know it would not at all be the same without music. Music is the perfect art. It has movement, because it progresses over a set period of time. All musical works have a beginning and an end. However, music does not restrict the audience in the way that movies or graphic art does. The listener can create whatever image she or he wants to when listening to music. It is an art that appeals to the conscious mind, but the best music also appeals to the subconscious. No thought is required to enjoy good music, though it is often thought-inspiring. Instrumental music does not bind the listener into a fixed template in the way that literature and poetry do: the reaction to music is different from person to person. Although it is probably the most difficult to produce the desired imagery in instrumental music, it can be done. Beethovens Opus 27, Number 2, Piano Sonata No. 14, First Movement gives the image of a tired old man writing by the light of the moon and his passion without using any words at all. Music with lyrics is often referred to as â€Å"words set to music.† This is not always the case. Sometimes it is more accurate to refer to music with lyrics as â€Å"music set to words.† This form both widens and restricts the composers artistic range. Lyrics make it easier for composers to bring out their main ideas without expressing them in notesNnot all composers have the power of Beethoven! However, they restrict the images of the musical work in the same way that prose and poetry limit their subject. Whether instrumental or lyrical, music comes from the people and can enlighten us all. It was during the 1960s that the social revolution and the struggles for civil rights inspired such musicians as Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin and Joan Baez to write songs of protest. In turn, the music of th ese artists, and many others, influenced the younger generations and spread the word of the revolution. Without music, many teenagers of the time would not have been given the influence of the time or its associated mentality. Music was, and continues to be, a kind of social education to the younger generation. Teenagers turn to popular music for their philosophies and get a sense of their place in the world. In fact, cliques of young people are often defined by the music they listen to: â€Å"punks† listen to punk rock and heavy metal; â€Å"nerds† are reputed to listen to classical music; the â€Å"in† crowd listens to the latest material alternative music has to offer; the â€Å"loners† listen to obscure pop artists or classic rock. Youth culture would be much less vivid than it is if the world had no music. Generations would not be sparked to action without music. The war drums of primitive peoples were a kind of music. It was they that stirred the Cavemen and the Vikings to participate in decade-long wars. Musics social influence is ever-present. Our so ciety is shaped by it. Not only is music the chisel of society; it is a constant thread that runs through nature. Music is everywhere: the sound of falling water, the rustle of leaves underfoot, the call of wild birdsNeven the sound of rush-hour traffic is a kind of music. The common definition of music is â€Å"a series of pitches and rhythms that have an overall coherence.† This definition is limited to man-made music. â€Å"Synthetic† music is really just one kind of music. The sounds of nature are all part of the greater Music of the universe. Man-made music is entirely influenced by the true music of nature. The pulse of the heart is the constant bass drum. The sound of walking feet is the alternating snare drum. The rustle of leaves in the wind is the highest string section. A rivers flowing sound fills out the harmony. The Symphony of Nature is the mother of mans own music. The absence of the greater Music cannot be considered. Music is the Universe. The idea of an absence of man-made music would be almost as inconceivable. For humans to create music is inevitable. It is as natural as thought. With mankind being surrounded by natures Music, he has no choice but to make music of his own. Therefore, the idea of a world without music is highly hypothetical. One would sooner consider a life without experiences or a year without days. A day in a world without music might proceed like this: One would awaken to the sound of a radio announcer speaking about politics. On the way to work, the radio show would consist of interviews with famous personalities. The work day would be terribly boring, since the office would not have any decorations (these would have been made by artists who had been influenced by music). That evening, the television commercials would have no jingles, only women promoting kitchen cleaners in white kitchens. The contestants of Jeopardy! would write down their questions for Final Jeopardy in complete silence, without the famous tune. The evening movie would be almost mute. It would seem to be like a silent film, with no incidental or theme music to augment the otherwise bland actors. In the restaurant, the date would be boring and unenlightening. Neither he nor she would be able to come out with any remotely intelligent ideas without music in the background to keep the brain working. The nights dreams would not be scored with a happy tune or a slow nocturne. They would take place in silence, a drab, dark world of nothing. This â€Å"world without music† seems to have incoherences and cracks in it. It does not make sense and does not quite explain itself. Music is essential for the world to even make sense. It is as fundamentally inherent as gravity is in the universe. Any attempt to restrict or control music, such as is made in communist politics, is both vain and unrealistic. One cannot challenge the broadloom of the universe when making political policies! To think that the natural urge to create music in the image of the greater Music can be repressed is an exercise in na*vet. Music is societys mark. The history of human musicians is rich, and has many fine people lining its ranks. Music has changed the artistic and non-artistic world immeasurably, such that a world without music is nothing more than a terrifying fantasy. The very prospect is difficult to consider. A world without music would be a quiet place indeed.