Saturday, August 31, 2019
Zodiac Sign
Thomas Hotte                                                                                                  Ms. Boyd Personality profile                                                                                           Period 3 The article on Cancer fits me for the most part. It says my positive traits are â€Å"loyal, dependable, caring, adaptable, and responsive. †A cancer is a very complex person when it comes to independence. They’re very contradicting and they’re independence has to do with there state of mind. I’m like the description of a cancer because it says we have the perseverance and drive to do what we need to do and can be self sufficient. Although we don’t need someone to depend or we prefer to have someone there to help and support us like our family and close friends. What’s not as accurate is that it says we crave attention but I don’t like drawing attention to myself most of the time, I usually just like blending in. Like the horoscope says I am loyal to my friends and family who appreciate me and support me. I always do look out for my friends and I hate seeing my friends who are girls be sad so I always try to make them feel better like it says. Its also true that even though im good at listening to other people I never talk about my own feelings. Its also true because once I get past all of my emotional and personal problems I can do whatever I set my mind to I wouldn’t really say im psychic but I can be intuitive at times intelligent and observing. i have money and financial sensibility. I am complex, unpredictable, and tempermental. Im not really a fragile person, a lot of things don’t bother me. I can be
Friday, August 30, 2019
Minimally Processed Fruits and Vegetables
Minimal processing is defined to include all unit operations such as washing, sorting, trimming, puling, slicing, coring etc. The purpose of minimal processing is to deliver to the consumer a like fresh with an extended self life whilst ensuring food safety and maintaining sound nutritional and sensory quality i. e. at least 7 days domestic consumption and 7-15 days for overseas consumption. Minimally processed products are also called fresh cuts, semi-processed, ready cut and fresh processed.This increasing popularity of minimally processed fruits and vegetables has been attributed to the health benefits associated with fresh produce, combining with the opening consumer trend towards eating out and consuming ready to eat foods. The minimally processing industries was initially developed to supply hotels, restaurants, catering services and other institutions more recently it was expanded to include foods retailers for home consumption. Most popular in USA. In 1998 the sale volume is near about $ 6 billion.Consumer trends are changing and high quality foods with fresh like attribute are demanded. Consequently less extreme treatment and for additives are being required. Within a wider and modern concept of minimal processing some food characteristics are identified that must be attained in response to consumer demands. These are less heat and chilled damaged, fresh appearance and less acid, solt, sugar and fat. To satisfy this demands some changes or reduction in the traditionally used preservation techniques must be achieved.For this reason we are concerned to talk about this topic. ? SOME MINIMALLY PROCESSED PRODUCTS [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] ? PYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES Minimally processed fruits and vegetables are more perishable than fresh as a consequence of tissue damage resulting from processing operation.Wounding, in fact, leads to an increase in respiration activity and ethylene production rate, alters metabolic activity, reduces shelf-life, increases the rate of nutritional and sensory attributes breakdown and leads to browning of tissues. The greater the degree of processing, the wounding response. Mechanical damages, in addition may enhance susceptibility to decay and contamination by spoilage micro-organisms and microbes pathogenic to consumers. The impact of bruising and wounding can be reduced by cooling the product before processing.Strict temperature control after processing is also critical in reducing wound induced metabolic activity. Other techniques that substantially reduce damage include use of sharp knives, maintenance, of stringent sanitary conditions and efficient washing and drying of cut surface. ? MICROBIAL RESPONSES The increasing demand of these minimally processed products represents for a challenge for researches and processors to make them stable and safe. The increased time and distance between processing and consumption may contribute to higher risks of food born e illnesses.Although chemical and physical hazards specific to minimally processed and ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables beside mainly with microbial contaminants. Some of the microbial pathogens associated with fresh produced include Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella sp. , enteropathogenic strains of Escherichia coli, hepatitis A virus, etc. Intact fruits and vegetables are safe to eat partly because the surface of peel is an effective physical and chemical barrier to most organisms. In addition, if the peel is damaged, the acidity of the pulp prevents the growth of organisms (except acid tolerant fungi and acteria). On vegetables, in microflora is dominated by soil organisms. Erwinia and Pseudomonos usually have competitive advantage over other organisms that could potentially be harmful to humans. Changes in environmental conditions surrounding a product can result in significant changes in micro flora. Risk of pathogenic bacteria increases †¢ With film packaging (high rel ative humidity and low oxygen conditions). †¢ With packaging of products of low salt content and high cellular pH †¢ Storage of packaged products at too high temperature.Microbial growth on minimally processed products can be controlled by †¢ Sanitation of all equipment and use of chlorinated water are standard approach †¢ Low temperature during and after processing generally retards microbial growth. †¢ Moisture increases microbial growth. Removal of wash or cleaning water by centrifugation or other methods are critical. †¢ Low pH †¢ Low oxygen and elevated carbon-di-oxide levels, often retards microbial growth. [pic] â€â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€œ CELERY STICKS PINEAPPLE SHREDDED LETTUCE BROCCOLI FLORETS CARROT STICKS PELLED POTTATO DICED ONION MANGOES CHILLED PEACHES MELONS TRIMMED SPINACH JACKFRUITS
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Project Management Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2
Project Management Theory - Essay Example I worked in project to install 100 office cubicles for a call center during a summer. I worked as part of 12 person crew. A person created the layout while the rest of the crew worked on organizing the materials of used cubicles which came in a truck. We had two week deadline and the team worked two eight our shifts. Once we had about 50% of the worked done we took photos and send them to the owner of the company for him to monitor our progress. He was happy with the progress made and we continued and were able to close the project within the established time constraint. LRH products is a marketing company that has a project underway which is mainly a trade show presentation. A member of the marketing team has been assigned the task of becoming project manager for the trade show for the first time. The young project manager must use the PMBOK framework to accomplish the task. Before initiating the project he should interview the members of the team ask them about their experiences with the previous trade shows the company has performed. In the planning phase he has to create the work schedules for the team, the travel arrangements, inventory of materials to be utilized and plan the customer relationship strategy that will be utilized in the trade show by the company representatives. The execution of the plan starts by building the booth and placing all the marketing materials. The training of the employees should be performed by Pat, one of the executives working on the project. The project manager has to closely monitor the performance of his emplo yees. A feedback box is a good tool for clients to express their opinions about the trade booth. This information can be utilized by the project manager to evaluate performance. The project will end after two weeks. At that time the project manager is responsible for cleaning up the trade show area and creating a report for the management team of LHR specifying the operating results of the
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Term Paper on Martin Van Buren Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
On Martin Van Buren - Term Paper Example He had a very busy life following in the footsteps of other leaders. Yet, his life did not begin that way. Initially, Van Buren resided from a humble home. He was descended from a Dutch background, the son of a farmer and a tavernkeeper in Kinderhook, New York (Martin Van Buren, 2010). What inspired him to become a politician stemmed from his career as a lawyer. Van Buren got into New York politics and climbed his way up to become the â€Å"Albany Regency,†which was an effective political organization in New York (Martin Van Buren, 2010). He utilized his position in his favor by commencing actions that were considered shrewd in reference to dispensing public offices as well as establishing a system to encourage voters to vote in his favor (Martin Van Buren, 2010). Van Buren did not stop there. He was not a man to settle on just any career, in fact, he set his rights on higher political standings to which he successfully attained. Van Buren was elected into the States Senate i n 1821 (Martin Van Buren, 2010). Since he excelled, he caught the attentions of President Andrew Jackson just six years later. From there, Van Buren became the principal northern leader, then immediately advanced into the position of Secretary of State (Martin Van Buren, 2010). ... Specifically, Van Buren and Calhoun clashed. The solution arose when Calhoun and the Secretary of War, Eaton, resigned, which allowed the rest of the cabinet to follow suit (Martin Van Buren, 2010). This enabled Jackson to appoint a whole new cabinet, thus rendering Van Buren into the position of Vice President through votes brought on by the election in 1836. Beforehand, President Jackson attempted to reward Van Buren’s diligent work and loyalty by making him the Minister to Great Britain, yet this vote was outdone by Calhoun who declared a martyr of Van Buren (Martin Van Buren, 2010). Van Buren’s political life up to the point of 1837 appeared to be nothing less than a series of accomplishments and moments of great pride. After all, he carried himself in immaculate fashion and become the only individual who carried President Jackson’s trust to the extent in which it was given. Shortly after Van Buren announced his course as newly appointed Vice President was de vote himself to the American experiment as an example to the remainder of the world through his Inaugural Address; every thing came to a crashing halt. Trouble ensued in the form of the cyclical economy â€Å"boom and bust†phenomenon (Martin Van Buren, 2010). Karl Marx discovered a pattern to how depressions come about. Before the Industrial Revolution, there were little to no cycles of inflation and recession, which Marx inherited it to mean, that the business cycles were an inherent factor of the capitalist market economy (Rothbard, 1969). The point of understanding the causes and effects of depressions help politicians to uncover the solution. With Van Buren’s case, President Jackson actually contributed to the event by destroying the Second Bank of the
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
The reality of Global Warming in the Modern World Research Paper
The reality of Global Warming in the Modern World - Research Paper Example Many techniques have been developed to study how for instance the sea levels have changed over the last few millions of years, even before mankind walked the world. Some of the techniques which have been developed include studying annular rings of old trees, coastal fossils, coral reefs and even fossils in the dry land. Most of these techniques have been used to reveal how climatic change has affected the earth and the life in it, even without the help of the human race. Evidence of coral reefs which have been found in what is now dry land indicates that the coastal lines I most places in the world were further inland. This is evidence that temperature changes can and will lead to changing coast lines and this is a very serious issues for the modern world where big cities have been build on coastlines. There is therefore a need to make sure that these issues are well understood by everyone and that everyone understands what hey need to do. Yet, in the modern world, human activities have increased the rate of climatic change in a very drastic way, making it possible for the climate change to be the fastest in the history of the earth. By studying coral reefs, and coastal reefs, it has been revealed that in the past, coastal levels have been changed a lot leading to the extinction of vitreous specials of both plants and live. In the past, climatic change has been in two ways such as towards receding the coastal line as well as advancing it.
Monday, August 26, 2019
Contemporary US History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Contemporary US History - Essay Example ve many men the first chance at a college education and home ownership that their family has had in generations, which helped bolster and create a large, affluent working class. Unions were on the rise and still relatively powerful, meaning that lower-skilled jobs were still likely to pay a living wage, unlike they are now, and the tax code was much more equitable, with incredibly high rates on capital gains and high incomes – in many ways economic equity was at its height in the 1950s. This all belies, however, significant strife and social issues that were ongoing throughout the decade. The advances mentioned in the previous paragraph were almost entirely situated on white men, black people and immigrants had very little chance of actually achieving a living wage without working many hours and sometimes multiple jobs. Furthermore, the political situation in the 1950s was incredibly tumultuous, with fear reigning supreme and constant feeling of communist threat. Many innocent people, from film makers and politicians to ordinary Americans were detained and interrogated at the mere suggestion of communist sympathy or activity, and there were significant restrictions on constitutional freedoms such as free speech and freedom of association. While the overwhelming narrative of the 1950s was of a peaceful and prosperous country, there were many dark undercurrents of racism and oppression that were not represented by that view. This does not mean there was no truth to it, however, merely that we must temper our historical understanding with the sure knowledge that everything was not as it is often portrayed, and the roots of the uprising of the 1960s were all laid in the oppressions of the 1950s. Question 3: a. At the close of World War II America was posed, for the first... The first question that is analyzed in this essay focuses on Truman presidential decisions. In 1945 Truman faced what might have been one of the hardest decisions any president has ever had to face – whether to use the newest and most powerful weapon ever created on a civilian population. The researcher states that it is impossible to say whether the bomb dropping on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was morally justified – with the hind-sight of history we find the use of any weapon of mass destruction morally reprehensible, but the fact remains it is likely that Truman’s decision saved lives. Second question focused on the standard view of the 1950s in the United States as it is of a peaceful and largely affluent country – this is a fundamental foundational myth of our times, but retains some truth to it. The third question mentioned describes a robust developed economy in the United States that had emerged from the war completely unscathed, along with a political situation that was remarkably stable. The researcher compares economy of the US to other significant countries, such as China, Japan and Russia as examples. In conclusion, the researcher says that it is impossible to make an accurate judgement of whether the United States has been good for the world or bad for the world overall, because people cannot see the alternatives. But the US citizens know, however, that it made many reprehensible decisions, and could have been much, much better than it was – but the alternative might have been worse.
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Bowl Championship Series Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Bowl Championship Series - Research Paper Example The United States Bowl Championship Series is one area that is increasingly becoming notable for its agenda for money other than living up the original dream of breeding great future sports personalities. Ironically, the fracas with the Bowl Championship Series is so tactical that one needs special scrutiny to come to terms that the series has now become a money-making venture for some people. It is therefore the aim of this research paper to take up the task of the scrutiny to expose what is likely to be a future mayhem if not checked What is the Bowl Championship Series The Bowl Championship Series, commonly referred to as BSC is a five-game showcase of college football in the United States of America (BCS Official Website, 2010). The system is referred to as a five-game showcase because it is made of five different bowl games at five different venues among which various colleges battle for the ultimate of two top-rated teams in the series. These top two teams are honored by taking part in the National Championship Game and at the National Championship Games the two top-rated teams are made to play each other. ... History of the Bowl Championship Series The Bowl Championship Series was born out of existing college based football competitions. According to Ours (2007), ‘The first intercollegiate football contest was played on November 6th, 1869, at New Brunswick, New Jersey.’ The system of competitions however kept changing from time to time. The new national bodies in charge of bowl kept coming in place to regulate and regularize the activities of college football. The current bowl game system was formed in 1902 in Pasadena, California and by 1906, there was the formation of the NCAA which oversaw the affairs of bowl games in the country (Billingsley, 2010). The involvement of various college football conferences started in the 1940s as by that time there was the existence of many bowl games across the country such as Cotton Bowl Classic, Orange Bowl and Sugar Bowl. The current college football games followed the system of playoffs as used by the NCCA to select yearly champions un til 1998 when the Bowl Championship Series was introduced (Cummings, 2008). According to Cummings, The new system was necessitated ‘to avoid the controversy created by the 1997 split national championship’. Has the Bowl Championship Series failed on its aims? Controversies and Monetary Accusations. What is the Relevancy of Non-BCS Schools in the BCS System According to the official website of the Bowl Championship Series, it series was ‘designed to ensure that the two top-rated teams in the country meet in the national championship game, and to create exciting and competitive matchups among eight other highly regarded teams in four other bowl
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Busness Skills for proposals and Pitches Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words
Busness Skills for proposals and Pitches - Essay Example ith rise in the disposable income of the household and individuals around the world, expenses are also mounting and therefore the people with less income are also purchasing the floriculture products to decorate or beautify their homes. Those who run flower shop business in Coventry UK also offer an extensive variety of package from stylish and simple reception arrangements to the corporate clients. They provide an efficient, professional and reliable service to the customers (Gilesflorist, 2015). Floriculture industry is considered as a main global industry in developed as well as developing countries. Worldwide trade volume is approximated to be over $100 billion annually. The main consumer markets are UK, Germany, US, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Italy and Switzerland (Ravinath, 2007). People from the entire world make use of floriculture products initially for traditions and customs and then for other purpose (Ravinath, 2007). Organisations and businesses also exploit these products for the purpose of decorations. In the Coventry, UK, the major part of potted plants and flowers are sold through Sainsbury, Waitrose and Tesco’s supermarkets (Ravinath, 2007). In the developed countries, there are artists and local florists selling decorations and ornamentals. The price of the flowers generally goes high during the time of special occasions. One of the ways for the business of flower shop to grow is by establishing affiliations with the event organiser where they ca n offer the flowers according to the event and also arrange it as per the choice of the client. This type of affiliation paves a means for the flower shop companies to grow as well as the growth possibility for this type of business is high (Ravinath, 2007). Strengths: The strengths of this new flower business may incorporate the variety of flowers available in the shop. The company will also provide free shipping on its entire orders. These will be regarded as the positive attributes which will
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) use in health care Essay
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) use in health care - Essay Example ealth care, its advantages and disadvantages, how its use will promote health and safety, the economic factors associated with its use, and how its use will influence my practice as a registered nurse. In an article by Sausser (2002), he enumerates various advantages of PDA use in health care. PDA use is advantageous because it gives health care professionals a chance to keep track of all pertinent information regarding their patients. Data may include contact information, history, treatment, laboratory results, and such other data normally contained in a patient’s chart. The portable nature of the PDA allows speedy and convenient access to patient information. The PDA also allows healthcare professionals the chance to research information using reference materials they can access online or from information database installed in their PDAs. Medical calculations can also be done via PDAs. PDA use will help ensure accuracy of measurements in diagnosis, assessment, and prescription of medications. Prescription writing through PDAs will also give physicians a chance to check and be reminded of adverse drug reactions that may be expected from the medications they are prescribing to patients. The disadvantages of using PDAs in health care mostly revolve around the fact that through wireless technology, â€Å"the risks for breach of patient confidentiality are increased†¦as compared to networked desktop computers†(McWay, 2003). Too much and too easy information access can cause confidential patient information to be made available to unauthorized people. Sausser (2002) also points out that PDAs may break or lose data, may have compatibility problems, can lockout a user, and like all technology, can eventually become outdated. The need to update the technology will eventually demand more expenditure on the product. PDAs will help promote health and safety by providing regular updates about a patient’s condition. â€Å"They have the potential to enhance a
Friday, August 23, 2019
Patient Care Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words
Patient Care Plan - Assignment Example Bumper migration to subcutaneous tissue was found to be one of the most common complications reported after PEG placement (Marks & Dunkin, 2013). Approximately 70% of 97 patients who have percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy (PEG) placement have hospital revisits with complications (Naik, Joshipura, Patel, Haribhakti, 2008). The purpose of this study is to explore the nursing treatment and management of a patient who has been diagnosed with the buried bumper syndrome in a clinical setting (Ramdass & Mann, 2013). It discusses the role of RN in managing the different needs of human beings as a consumer of health care in a patient-centered environment. The paper will base its in-depth exploration on previous healthcare literature and evidence from previous related cases. Currently, the patient has obesity, hypoventilation syndrome as well as obstructive sleep apnea. The woman has obstructive sleep apnea which is characterized by obesity. On 14th October 2014, the patient’s condition was critical because she had a respiratory failure that was requiring endotracheal intubation. Patient’s history revealed that the PEG tube was inserted. The placement of endotracheal tube was delayed leading to a bradycardia asystolic arrest. The respiratory failure that the patient experienced on 14th October 2014 required intubation. However, the CT scan shows signs indicating that the endotracheal tube was not correctly placed. This placement may be one of the causes of hospital revisits. The CT scan revealed a bumper migration to subcutaneous tissue. CT scan also showed purulent discharge at the site of PEG. No edema was found; the patient was alert and oriented. Although hospital policies and current nursing texts do not offer adequate recommendations for care of the patient with PEG tube (Simons & Remington, 2013), it is important not to neglect this area. It is important that care providers are aware of the complications that
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Why I want To Be President Essay Example for Free
Why I want To Be President Essay Hola! â€Å"Why did the chicken cross the road?†Well, according to George W. Bush, the President of the United States, a proper answer could be. â€Å"We dont really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road or not. The chicken is either with us or it is against us. There is no middle ground here.†However, I am not George Bush, and this speech is about me running for president of the Foreign Language Honour Society. But what about language? Let us consider our own language, English, which is considered by many to be one of the hardest languages in the world to learn or speak. I read an interesting quote about the English language that goes: â€Å"Lets face it: English is a terrible language. There is no egg in the eggplant, no ham in the hamburger and neither pine nor apple in the pineapple. English muffins were not invented in England, French fries were not invented in France. We sometimes take English for granted. But if we examine its paradoxes we find that Quicksand takes you down slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. If writers write, how come fingers dont fing. If the plural of tooth is teeth, shouldnt the plural of phone booth be phone beeth. If the teacher taught, why didnt the preacher praught. If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what the heck does a humanitarian eat!? Why do people recite at a play, yet play at a recital? Park on driveways and drive on parkways. You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language where a house can burn up as it burns down and in which you fill in a form by filling it out. And a bell is only heard once it goes! English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race (which of course isnt a race at all). That is why when the stars are out they are visible, but when the lights are out they are invisible. And why it is that when I windup my watch it starts but when I wind up this story it ends?†But back to the real reason for this speech. Why I want to be president? Because I think I would be a good one! Of course, everyone would say that, wouldn’t they? But I really mean it. Every elected official wants to make a difference, and though, not all of them do, they all want to. Yet, I know I can make a difference in this Society, a difference that will not only improve things but make being a member of this Society something to be really proud of. Language is an art and the more languages a person knows then the broader their abilities to communicate with others. Communication is the key to any problem or any situation so when true communication is achieved, then the world can only improve from the classroom to the world of nations. This always reminds me of a quote I once read by a former politican. â€Å"When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldnt change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldnt change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family. Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.†No matter how small a group is, they can always make a difference and as the president of this Society, I know that I can help this Society make a big difference in our school and in our own lives.
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
History of Gothic Literature
History of Gothic Literature Composers representations of the Gothic genre havent significantly changed as Gothic characteristics can still be observed in modern texts and films, however, the depiction of these themes have evolved appropriately over time, just as the worldly morals, values and ethical standards have evolved. The social links to the emergence of the Gothic genre, how social and moral standards were being defined and the portrayal of themes that have altered due to changes in attitudes towards the characteristics that define Gothic literature are some aspects of the Gothic texts that can be observed.[G1][G2][G3] The emergence of the Gothic genre was a rejection of the oppressive state and artificiality of the Enlightenment (1685-1815). Edgar Allan Poes text, The Haunted Palace (1839), textually mirrors the effect that the Enlightenment had on the European and Western society. Once a fair and stately palace. But evil things, in robes of sorrows, Assailed  , implies, using visual imagery and personifying robes of sorrows, that the beautiful palace, once filled with joyful spirits, is now home to a hideous throng that laughs without smiling, changing the serene atmosphere into[G4] uncomfortable eeriness. The texts link to the Enlightenment as it was a[G5] core contribution to societys reformation to a constitutional and structured civilisation, governed by scientific thinking and reasoning. However, ethical standards were suffocating, resulting in the establishment of a counter-reformation, the Gothic era. The representation of the Gothic genre is observed through composers relaxed app ropriation of[G6] traditional Gothic characteristics and setting them into modern contexts. Tim Burtons Gothic film, Batman (1989), depicts the social situations of the time, specifically the fear caused by AIDS and juxtaposed hope caused by the fall of the Berlin wall. Its not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me, textually foreshadows the actions of Batman, however, it also depicts the figurative walls built due to the stigma surrounding AIDS sufferers and the literal wall of Berlin being torn down due to gained liberation for Germany. Society in the 1980s was greatly influenced by the fear of AIDS and the suffocating stigma surrounding it, causing sufferers to be isolated from their community, much like Batman, as the disease itself didnt discriminate, only the people who discriminated against it. However, it was not until 1989, when the fall of the Berlin wall, a symbol of segregation and discrimination since 1961, was torn down. This, like the emergence of the Got hic era, signified the hope for a future where society wouldnt be controlled by misconceptions and stereotypes, consequently isolating individuals from the world around them. Due to the secularism of the Enlightenment, the Gothic movement set about to revive religious and supernatural beliefs. Although Edgar Allan Poe mightnt have been incredibly pious, shown in his texts that are often written from an aesthetic worldview, it can be identified in his works, personal values set upon just morals and righteous ethics. In Poes text, The Raven (1845), Poe enquiries after the existence of a supernatural power,[G7] is there balm in Gilead? , in which the Raven, who symbolises Poes mentality and the impending doom, replies with Nevermore. The refusal to a heavenly cure Poe was seeking, caused the mood of the text to change to that of utter despair as he abandons hope that he may see his Lenore again. During the Enlightenment, the social instability, much like Poes fall into insanity, led to political schisms, religious wars, heresy trials and witch burnings, meaning that the underlying tone of the Enlightenment was really that of chaos and lack of stability and ethics. In contrast, society has converted back to national secularism, separating religion from the state and beliefs from believers. In Burtons film, Dark Shadows (2012), the portrayal of religion is not explicitly mentioned in the film, however, the existence of the supernatural is explored.[G8] You must have faithfor if a man can become a monster, then a monster can become a man, is an allegory of presupposed evil that is not always just found in the actions of monsters, but in the hearts of man. However, if Poe has turned his back on God, and Burton has turned his back on men, what is left for the world to believe in? Secularism, thats what[G9][G10]. The portrayal of the Gothic theme of insanity has changed over time due to the change of attitude. In Poes text, The Tell-Tale Heart (1843), the narrator portrays the recurring Gothic motif of deterioration of ones sanity. such a sound as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton but the noise steadily increased, uses auditory imagery to depict the mental decline of the narrator after committing murder. The perception of insanity and madness was viewed negatively, disconnecting the mental illness from its human counterpart, dehumanising those suffering from mental illnesses and to be ostracised from society, often deemed lunatics. The representation of Gothic themes was changed to depict it into a more humorous portrayal of the dark genre. Burtons film, Batman (1989), depicts characters encased in their own insanity. I am the worlds first fully-functioning homicidal artist, juxtaposes the creativity of an artist and destruction of a murderer to create the dysfunctional[G11][G12] charact er, the Joker. Burton has used this as a means of humour but still portraying the seriousness of mental illnesses that causes an unbalanced psychological state as it reflects Jokers fears of the reality of living between a man and monster. In comparing the two texts, it is evident that the theme insanity has remained relatively constant, disregarding the humour intended in many modern Gothic texts. The Gothic genre was a literary outlet to reject the oppressive state of a society governed by the scientific reasoning and ethics of the Enlightenment.[G13] Poe and Burton both textually represented the state of their society, rejecting social standards by creating fictional worlds drawing a fine line between reality and fiction.
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Some Statistic About Playing Online Games In Vietnam Media Essay
Some Statistic About Playing Online Games In Vietnam Media Essay 1. Introduction The development of technology in the 21st century has been bringing to us many advantages. One of these is online games-a popular kind of game among teenagers. Online games can be simply defined as games which can be played online over the internet. Online games also can be played against different users in different locations. The trend of playing online games is getting more popular due to the different advantages they offer. Playing online games has a lot of benefits because it helps us to relax and entertain. However at the same time, online games also have disadvantages if we play too much and people should be careful. Therefore, there are many different views about online gaming. This paper, with the purpose of helping stop game addiction, will discuss the questions of what impacts do online games can bring and what should we do to avoid gaming addiction. 2. Discussion of findings 2.1 Some statistic about playing online games in Vietnam A survey done by Education and Training Department in 2010 in 1121 schools in Hanoi had shown that there were 12.724 students playing online games more than ten times a week and there were 626 students spending ten hours playing online games each time. Especially, 2920 students said that spent at least 20 VND each time. To get the money for playing, 121.365/370.387 students asked from parents, 65336 students asked sisters and brothers, and 35615 asked friends. Others sources were from their money for breakfast and tuition. That means teens were dependent on adults and they could not afford to play games. There are many kinds of online games in Vietnam market. At 2010, there were 69 approved online games; however; there were actually 102 games already circulating for sale. Many games likes Vo Lam Truyen Ky, Chinh Do involve virtual fighting, destruction, killing, dying and many images of knifes, swords and some kind of weapons like that. Most gamers have a desire to become the strongest. Therefore, they pays lots of money and effort to purchase weapons, spend plenty of time playing online games to increase their level and participate in individual or group no matter night or day. 2.2 The advantages and disadvantages of playing online games 2.2.1 The advantages of playing online games The first benefit we can see is that online games are much more convenient than traditional games (Jim 2009). After a busy day from school, children can go home or go to the Internet shop to play games. Just by few clicks, they can play a lot of different games. Everything is done on computers so it is also easier for children. Moreover, the cost of online games is cheaper than other ones, so online players can enjoy free games and just need pay from five to ten VND to the shop (gamek.vn 2011). According to some researches on the Internet, playing online games allows players to be more flexibility and variety, and can stimulate the players, even make the players become more resourceful and clever. As the network game, there are many and varied tasks or fight for gold to carry out, so it can train that players thinking and adaptability. When playing games, teens can make friends through the Internet and learn how to deal with relations and mutual respect. In addition, although the virtual world is a fictional world, the friends are still real so they can feel the friendship between players. By playing online games, teens can learn the spirit of unity, cooperation and teamwork such as how teams work together to deal with evil powerful enemies and do team tasks. When teens with their team join in the war, they need to find many ways to help and to save each other, so that they can beat the rivals and finish the game (itemah.com 2011). 2.2.2 The disadvantages of playing online games Of course along with the advantages, there are a few disadvantages of playing online games but only if teenagers have no control over their actions. Online games can be very addictive, and the addiction can seriously have a negative influence on the younger in term of physical and mental health. Online game is an indoor and sedentary activity. Therefore, spending a lot of time playing games can lead to some health problem like headache, short-sightedness, stress, absent-mindedness and many more. The article Online games ruin gamers lives (Saigon-gp.com.vn 2009) has given an example of a gaming addict-a young girl who stayed at the shop for one week and barely left her computer for one minute or a boy played online games continuously for six days-smelt very bad and looked exhausted. This example indicates that teens now can spend most of their time sitting in front of the computer screens from early morning until midnight without eating anything or doing something else. Moreover, this can lead to lack of physical activities among teens and they will lose or gain weight quickly, become lazier, less active and communicative. Troubles with work, psychological and breakdowns in personal relationships are some consequences too. They also do not care about everything around or talk with no one else (John 2012). Furthermore, online games addiction was found to be associated with lower grade point average and school performance (Daria and Mark, 2012, p.10, cited in Chan and Rabinowitz, 2006; Gen-tile, 2009; Choo et al., 2010; Gen-tile et al., 2011) Another obvious consequence of online game addiction is violence or crime. Tauqueer H (2011) stated: This will not only harm individuals and families but it will also have an extreme negative impact on the society. Most of the disasters that happen in families start from online gambling activities that encourage the players to attack their family members or steal their assets besides committing other offences. Also having the similar opinion, Prof Bushman also said: Those who played violent online games always looked at the world through the aggressive eyes and that the world is a place of aggression and hostility. He concluded: Gaming is not the only cause of aggression but it is a very important factor affecting to teens behavior which grows over time. (C.Nguyen 2012). They emphasized the fact that violent can seriously affect children through online game and this can not be dismissed if we do not want bad things happen to our children. 2.3 Solutions It is has been suggested in the article Toa thuoc nao khi con nghien game (baomoi.com 2009) that there are four ways to prevent gaming addiction. The first way is letting teens play if his grade is good. That means if he did well at school like pass the exam with high scores or his grade is better than before, being allowed to play games can be considered as a reward. The second step is letting the child use computer if you sit next to him/her. Of course he can be uncomfortable but that is the only way you can watch him and tell him when to stop playing. The third important solution is encouraging teens to participate in outdoor activities like playing sports, camping, shopping. This action can help them more active, flexible and help them to forget about playing online games all day. However, if teenagers have been addicted for playing online games for a long time, you may have to delete the software associated with the game or block the related websites. People can also go to the psychologists to ask for advices. 3. Conclusion: From the findings above, it is clear that game online addiction in Vietnam is still a big issue. The number of teenager playing online games is increasing and adults somehow can not control their children. However, there are also reasons to believe addiction in online games will decrease in the following years if we know how to take advantages of online games and the solution to avoid addiction. Then, hopefully, no one will have to worry about letting their children play online games. (Word count: 1334 words)
Monday, August 19, 2019
Essay example --
Emotions and the physiological stress reaction can affect the everyday life? It is a way of expressing oneself in life. Positive emotions can open the door to learning for you. Negative emotions-especially overwhelming stress-can literally make to impossible to do well. This is subject that I know too well. The emotional state of mind also has a big part in our success. (Why Learning Is Not All in Your Head), Neurophysiologist Carla Hannaford writes: â€Å"Our mind/body system learns through experiencing life in context, in relationship to everything else, and it is our emotions, our feelings that mediate that context. In order to learn, think or create, learners must have an emotional commitment.†Becoming more aware on the state of mind a person is in makes a difference on how a person can be more proactive on a better quality of life. I’ve always want to be a better person too! I am challenged with many problems that makes performing my best difficult. We have to work to develop the right mindset and attitude that it takes in order to create the lifestyle that we all truly want. Change...
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Analysis of Transaction Processing Systems :: Computer Science Technology Essays
Analysis of Transaction Processing Systems It is the processing in which a system respond to a user’s command to carry out some operation to and fro. The request or command is called TRANSACTION, and the system carrying it out is called TRANSACTION PROCESSING SYSTEM e.g cash machines. Transaction processing systems are the systems working at a low level of any organizational structure being operated by data entry operators etc to collect and store data which is needed to be transported then to decisional level of organisations. But it is important to make sure nothing goes wrong at this level of handling data before it is transported to upper level to be manipulated and then making decisions based on information provided. â€Å"There is some support for the propositions that (1) Transaction processing systems should be able to be managed within each work group in an organisation, managed that is with respect to work stations in use and functionality available on those workstations. (2) exhibit very little model behaviour. (3) support a high degree of operator independence or asynchornity.†REFERNCE: http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~cavram/papers/tp/tr94-02h.html There are 9 types of transaction processing models 1: Batch systems: 2: Monitor systems : 3: Time sharing systems 4: Advanced virtual terminal front end systems 5: Client server systems 6: Electronic mail and forms 7: Database based groupware 8: (IVR) systems 9: (EDI) systems â€Å"Transaction processing systems are information systems which collect data and distribute operational data both within and between organisations. The wide spread use of networks and personal computers (used as terminals) has provided feasible new options for the design of transaction processing systems†b. DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS: â€Å"Decision Support Systems (DSS) are a class of computerized information systems that support decision-making activities. DSS are interactive computer-based systems and subsystems intended to help decision makers use communications technologies, data, documents, knowledge and/or models to successfully complete decision process tasks†Reference: http://dssresources.com/ Decision support systems are the computer information application which collects and analyze data and then present it to the decision making people of organisation i.e managers . decision support system as the name suggest help and support managers to make effective ,right and timely decisions. These systems store and process data at a much higher and efficient speed and then represent the information in multiple forms which could be regular text , graphical representation, numerical etc which really enable managers to come up with timely and right decisions. As the decision makers could be different so can be the systems as some work individually while other work in teams there are differences in decision contexts, types, and makers. â€Å"There are certain common traits that decision-making processes tend to exhibit. They typically involve the phases of intelligence, design, and
Solitude and Isolation in One Hundred Years of Solitude :: One Hundred Years of Solitude
Solitude and Isolation in One Hundred Years of Solitude            "†¦Races condemned to 100 years of solitude did not have a second opportunity on earth." These powerful last words of the novel One Hundred Years of Solitude ring true. The book demonstrates through many examples that human beings cannot exist in isolation. People must be interdependent in order for the race to survive.            Solitude. Examples are found of this idea throughout the one-hundred-year life of Macondo and the Buendia family. It is both an emotional and physical solitude. It is shown geographically, romantically, and individually. It always seems to be the intent of the characters to remain alone, but they have no control over it. To be alone, and forgotten, is their destiny.            The novel begins with geographic isolation. Jose Arcadio Buendia shouts, "God damn it! Macondo is surrounded by water on all sides!" Whether it is, in truth, an island is irrelevant. The town believed itself to be cut off from the rest of the world.  In addition, Jose Arcadio Buendia and Ursula are looking for solitude. The founding of Macondo was a result of escaping Jose Arcadio Buendia's murder of Prudencio Aguilar. Aguilar's ghost haunted them, eventually forcing them to retreat.            The family seems to remain very involved within itself. Much of this is Spanish culture. In Spanish-speaking countries, it is not uncommon to find many generations of the same family living in one house. The Buendia house always has various relatives within it. Yet, this is not the only explanation. The incest of the family is a theme throughout the novel, and is a significant factor in the solitude of this family. If a family rarely turns to others to branch out, it eventually becomes completely turned in upon itself: isolated and detached.            Occasionally, the family poisoned with the fate of solitude does reach out. Those who interact with this family share in its unfortunate fate. First to Pilar Ternera, the sexual companion of two of the Buendia boys. Following this sexual interaction, Pilar spends the rest of her life alone. The same pattern is seen with Petra Cotes, simply with another generation. Another example is demonstrated by Remedios Moscote. She is another outsider, paired with Aureliano Buendia. Soon after their marriage she dies unexpectedly and violently. Solitude and Isolation in One Hundred Years of Solitude :: One Hundred Years of Solitude Solitude and Isolation in One Hundred Years of Solitude            "†¦Races condemned to 100 years of solitude did not have a second opportunity on earth." These powerful last words of the novel One Hundred Years of Solitude ring true. The book demonstrates through many examples that human beings cannot exist in isolation. People must be interdependent in order for the race to survive.            Solitude. Examples are found of this idea throughout the one-hundred-year life of Macondo and the Buendia family. It is both an emotional and physical solitude. It is shown geographically, romantically, and individually. It always seems to be the intent of the characters to remain alone, but they have no control over it. To be alone, and forgotten, is their destiny.            The novel begins with geographic isolation. Jose Arcadio Buendia shouts, "God damn it! Macondo is surrounded by water on all sides!" Whether it is, in truth, an island is irrelevant. The town believed itself to be cut off from the rest of the world.  In addition, Jose Arcadio Buendia and Ursula are looking for solitude. The founding of Macondo was a result of escaping Jose Arcadio Buendia's murder of Prudencio Aguilar. Aguilar's ghost haunted them, eventually forcing them to retreat.            The family seems to remain very involved within itself. Much of this is Spanish culture. In Spanish-speaking countries, it is not uncommon to find many generations of the same family living in one house. The Buendia house always has various relatives within it. Yet, this is not the only explanation. The incest of the family is a theme throughout the novel, and is a significant factor in the solitude of this family. If a family rarely turns to others to branch out, it eventually becomes completely turned in upon itself: isolated and detached.            Occasionally, the family poisoned with the fate of solitude does reach out. Those who interact with this family share in its unfortunate fate. First to Pilar Ternera, the sexual companion of two of the Buendia boys. Following this sexual interaction, Pilar spends the rest of her life alone. The same pattern is seen with Petra Cotes, simply with another generation. Another example is demonstrated by Remedios Moscote. She is another outsider, paired with Aureliano Buendia. Soon after their marriage she dies unexpectedly and violently.
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Computerized Payroll System for GTZ Printing Press Essay
I am find no words at my command to express our deepest sense of gratitude to the almighty GOD, the most Gracious, the most Merciful and the most Beneficent, who gives us the talent to complete this task successfully. He is the one who gave us the courage to do this. I am are much obliged to our beloved parents whose prayers have enabled us to reach this stage. At this occasion we can’t forget our parents for their guidance at the crucial moments of our life. I am are very thankful to Marmolejo Naryvic T. whose guidance is always with us. Who always encouraged us and his guidance us to complete this project. We are greatly thankful to our adviser Ms. Cecilia Abaricia who helped us in proposal writing and gave us a lot of helping material and suggestion. Her specific comments, corrections, critiques and criticisms were the most helpful. Acknowledgement The researcher would like to acknowledge the following persons in making this research work successful: Almighty God, for the gift of wisdom and strength in creating this kind of research work; Ms. Cecilia Abaricia thesis adviser, for her time, patience, and effort in sharing her knowledge in correcting this research work; Naryvic T. Marmolejo for his instructions and tips in the development of the system that was developed by the researchers. Mr. Alex Hipolito, Finance Officer, for sharing his expertise in payroll procedures of their company And above all to the Great Almighty God who give us strength, courage presence of mind, guidance and inspiration to finish my study.
Friday, August 16, 2019
Ethics case study Essay
1) What are Joseph’s ethical problems? Joseph is faced with some ethical problems such as honesty, conflicts of interest, fairness and bribes. He found out that Carl and other employees were using (kickback) with their customers. Even if the Alcon’s hand book didn’t say anything about the kickback, but it include this statement†our company stands for the right thing at all time and giving our customers the best products for the best price†so Joseph and the employees known that the kickback is unethical and do not represent the company policy of doing the right thing for their customer because he known that kickback reduce fair completion, which eventually leads to reduced quality and increase prices for customers. 2) Assume that you are Joseph and discuss your options? Joseph should address the situation with Carl and the other employees to explain to them the ethical problem with the kickback, try to inform them that is not acceptable to continue in it and the problems that it can cause, if this didn’t work he directly should report this behavior to the president of the company because not reporting this can make him lose his job or faces criminal charges. 3) What other information do you feel you need before making your decision? Some the information that are needed to make decision are to know for how long this action is going on is it for long time or not .how they mange to hide this act form the manger of the company, try to understand how, why and when this act started. 4) Discuss in which business areas the ethical problems lie. There are many ethical problems in this situation for example: Abusive behavior which can be seen in the respond of Carl when Joseph converts him with the information that he found. Conflicts of interest which exist when individual must choose whether to advance his own interest; Joseph was facing this because he was afraid that if he repots this it will affect his wife new job. He also facing bribery ethical problem which in retune of his silent his wife will having the job. Fraud Joseph could be engaged in deceptive practices to advance his own interests. Also he will be lying and not honesty.
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Customer Services at Tesco Essay
I am doing a project based on Customer Services for Tesco. I am doing research into the company and with my findings I am going to provide recommendations to improve Customer Services at Tesco. The areas that I am going to be covering are: * What Customer Services does there company provide. * How do they measure Customer Satisfaction. * How do you know that their customers are happy. * What legislation affects their customers at Tesco. * How do they segment their target market. And * What is their Customer profile. From the above I will provide recommendations for improvements. Theory Of Customer Services. Customer Services is the overall activity of identifying and satisfying customer needs. â€Å"Most people entering a shop or contacting a firm by letter or telephone, have suggested that by this action they have a need†1 I think that this suggestion is true because people go to the shop and need somewhere to park and what kind of parking they need, if they need to use the toilet facilities, also just going into the shop buying the products. The customer must be treated and advised accordingly, and the advice that they are given must be accurate. â€Å"After sales service is an essential element of customer service in any type of organisation, it may cover faulty goods, refunds, exchange of goods, complaints about goods, service or hygiene.†2 Many customers go back to the store in which they have received something and have a query about the service or product in which they have received. Sometimes it may be food things but other times its not. A lot of good will be refunded or goods exchange will take place. It requires a salesperson to be aware of the consumer’s charter and the relevant laws on the sale of goods trade descriptions. Many shops/stores have a â€Å"customer service department†to deal with queries which certain people might have. Measuring Customer Satisfaction. It is important for Tesco to measure how satisfied their customers are so that if they need to they can make improvements to products or the service in which they provide. The ways in which Tesco measure Customer Satisfaction is by: * Sending out questionnaires to customers through post or email. This shows if Tesco need to make any improvements to their service or any of their products. * The Tesco Loyalty card- This is provided by Tesco and it has the customer’s details. Tesco can use this to see how often the customer shops there and to see if there are any product/products in particular that they buy. If they see that that customer has not shopped in Tesco for a few months they might post them some product vouchers (e.g. money off coupons) to bring that customer back to the store. If Tesco do this it makes the customer see that Tesco’s are willing to help the customer in all sorts of ways to bring there custom back. This helps Tesco measure the satisfaction of individual customers. * They record some of their calls that are made by customers for training purposes. * On the spot questions from staff. * Observation (e.g. mystery shoppers.) * Customer panels or interviews. * Customer comments on the web site or in store. From this they can analyse the sales performance e.g. sales levels, number of customers, records of products brought and from the loyalty card records. All of this is part of market research and they get the feed back from their customers. What Customer Services Tesco Provides From my findings at Tesco I have found out the following: Products: Most of the products that are sold at Tesco are of good quality (apart from the food that looks untidy on the shelves, and that it looks like it has been thrown in.) I think that most of the products are reasonably priced. No complaints have been made from customers and from myself asking a few customers their thoughts on the prices. The products are safe to use, on the packaging they give detail about what the product contains and on some products they suggest how to use/cook the food product. Most of the goods are packaged safely but some of the goods may have fallen on the floor and may have been spilt open, which some people/some staff then just pick up and put it back on the shelf. This does not good for Tesco as a whole. Some of the prices on the shelves are covered up by other product prices. The sale signs cover up the original prices so you cannot really see if it is an actual sale. This is like it for some of the products in the store. These are some of my findings as an example to what I have wrote above: * The meat that was displayed looked like it had been thrown in. * All the reduced things looked like they had been hidden away in the Bacon, Fresh pasta and ready meals section. * Salad in meat section (moved.) Staff: I think that the people that I saw that where working in the Tesco in Hertford where correctly dressed and it was suitable. You could clearly see whole was higher than others (meaning the managers compared to the till staff.) I think that most of the staff are helpful but some of them may talk rudely to you if you ask where something is. On my visit I had this happen to me. The staffs that have been working in the store for quite a while know where certain products are in the shop so if you were to ask they would be able to point you in the right direction or even take you there their self. They also know about the deals etc that are going on in the store at that moment in time which is also good because if you go to the till and there is a deal on a precise product you have brought they will say â€Å"did you know its by one get 2nd half price†(made up example) Premises: Some of the store is not safe e.g. * Trolley in way. * There’s a pillar in the middle of the isle (obstruction to customers) what did not help the matter was the fact that Tesco food trolleys (that they stacked the shelves with) was in the way too. * Slippery floor with no sign to say so. On the ceiling they have posters hanging off to show where each section of the store is (e.g. fruit and veg.) From my visit I saw cleaners cleaning whilst people where shopping, so they do keep clean but then again the floors are left wet and maybe slippery and the cleaners may get in the way of the customers. In the Tesco store they did have disabled parking and a toilet for disabled people and also trolleys for disabled people. The layout of the premises was good and easy. I think that they keep it easy and simple so that the customers can find the products that they want without fail. The facilities that I saw that where provided for the customers where the toilets/baby and changing rooms, the photo-boof and the pay phone. Delivery: There was no information that I could see in the store about delivery but I did find the following information on the Tesco website (http://www.tesco.com/help/page.asp?choiceA=groc&choiceB=9&page=/termsandconditions/termsconditionsgroc.htm) â€Å"Delivery will be made to the address specified by you on the completed order form. We will deliver your order to the main entrance of the delivery address. At your request, our driver may carry your order into the delivery address, for example, to a particular floor in an apartment block or into your kitchen but only if: a. the driver has your permission and b. our driver believes that it is safe and practical to do as you request. We always reserve the right to deliver only to the main entrance of the delivery address. Please note that we deliver goods only to specified regions within the United Kingdom. To check that the online Grocery service delivers to your area, please enter your postcode at http://www.tesco.com/register/signup.asp. Delivery times will be agreed with you at the time of placing your order.†Payment: The different ways of paying at Tesco are: 1. Cash 2. Credit/debit card. 3. Cheque Field Research Findings. Notes Based On Tesco In Hertford I carried out some field research at a Tesco near me. Here are my findings:- * Bigish car park but not big enough. Plenty of disabled parking but people not disabled parking in them spots. Same with parents and child parking. * Vegetables nicely laid out. * Prices cover up over prices. * Isles labelled * Trolley in way. * Lots of leaflets. * Salad in meat section (moved.) * The meat that was displayed looked like it had been thrown in. * All the reduced things looked like they had been hidden away in the Bacon, Fresh pasta and ready meals section. * There’s a hot deli selling hot chicken of different sorts. * Certain isles crowded more than others. Some isles empty. * There’s a pillar in the middle of the isle (obstruction to customers) what did not help the matter was the fact that Tesco food trolleys (that they stacked the shelves with) was in the way too. * Slippery floor with no sign to say so. * Car equipment at the end of food isle. * Empty cardboard boxes on the shelves. * Posters not really explaining what’s on each isle. * About 10:45 am on Tuesday morning just the old people doing shopping and a few moms with toddlers or babies. * Christmas things already displayed on shelves. * Fresh mean, raw meat, diary products in separate counters but with the diary products they are all bundled into one counter. * Ticket service for meat and diary products. * Tesco brands on bottom shelves. * Labels over CD’s covering up the names of the CD’s (e.g. â€Å"Security protected†) * The books on the shelves in a mess (the ones on bottom shelf) but the ones nearer the top look in order. * Cat and dog food etc clearly laid out. * Cleaning things all nicely laid out. * Tablets, shampoo, deodorant etc all down one isle. * Baby things all down one side of the isle. * With the frozen food all the weight watchers items in one compartment. * Ice cream section is pretty empty. * Vegetarian food all in one section. * Halloween things all in one section. * Buy one get one free posters hung from the ceiling. * Loads of Christmas things displayed more than the Halloween things. * Community news posters. * Photo vision right in the corner of the shop near the tills. * Batteries all displayed together. * Champagne And Sparkling drinks are all together. * Spirits, Liqueurs, Malts etc all separated into different sections but with the name of what consists in that section. * There is a time limit in which to buy alcohol (which it 8am until 10:55 pm) * Promotional things displayed on every section of the shop (meaning top of every isle) * I saw 3 fire exits. * Not many seats at the end of the till for the customers. * There was one customer pay phone. * There was a magazine section and a section for the different newspapers. * There where toilets for the men, disabled, baby changing and for the girls. * There’s a small customer services desk. * 1 Cash machine * Parking clearly labelled Legislation Acts for Tesco. The Consumer Protection Act is a consolidation of consumer protection legislation. Parts III and IV of the Act are the former Consumer Products Warranties Act and Unsolicited Goods and Credit Cards Act. Part II of the Act offers protection to Saskatchewan consumers from unfair and unscrupulous marketplace practices. The Act also sets out consumer responsibilities, such as attempting to resolve a dispute with a supplier before taking further action. * Unfair practices * Remedies * Warranties * Unsolicited goods and credit cards * Consolidation of The Consumer Protection Act * Consumer Protection Branch Food Safety Act Under the Food Safety Act 1990, you: * Must not sell (or keep for sale) food that is unfit for people to eat. * must not sell food that isn’t what the customer is entitled to expect, in terms of content or quality * must not cause food to be dangerous to health * must not describe or present food in a way that is false or misleading It’s important to be able to demonstrate the positive steps taken by your business to ensure good food hygiene. If you were prosecuted under the Food Safety Act 1990, you would need to convince the court that you had taken all reasonable steps to avoid the offence you had been accused of . Health and safety regulations of 1974 Act It states that all employers have a responsibility to ensure health and safety requirements of their employees. All companies regardless of their size must have a written safety policy ensuring implementation of Health and Safety Act and indulge themselves in carrying out the risk assessment on all their activities. Risk Assessment included: * à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Noise Assessments under Noise at Work Regulations. * à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Control of Substances harmful to health and safety regulations. * à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Display Screen Equipment Regulations. * à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Workplace Welfare and health safety requirements. * à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations. * à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Manual Handling Regulations. Trade Description Act. This Act has offered protection to consumers and legitimate traders for over three decades. It is an extremely versatile piece of legislation which has been used to tackle all manner of different forms of unfair trading eg.: * car clocking * misdescribed holidays * distribution of counterfeit goods The Act makes it an offence to: * Apply a false or misleading description to goods (e.g. by writing it down, making a verbal statement or by turning back a car’s odometer); or * Supply or offer to supply goods to which a false or misleading trade description is applied. A person exposing goods for supply (e.g. in a shop) or having them in his possession for supply (e.g. in a storeroom) is deemed to offer to supply them for the purposes of the Act. These offences are strict liability offences i.e. it is possible for a trader to commit an offence without intending to do so. Recommendations From studying my company Tesco I have got to know the business quite well. From this I have provided the following recommendations: Disabled People: Disabled people are not able to reach the high shelves which makes things difficult for them, because the majority of the products are high on the shelves. I would recommend that there should be a sign for disabled people to go to get staff help. Also with disabled people there are not many trolleys and the trolleys could be hard to use for them, I think that maybe they should lower the trolleys so that life would be made easier for the disabled people. Staff: I think that there should be more staff to give a helping hand to there customers. Most of the staff are on tills, packing shelves or on the go to do something else and it seems that some of the staff have no time to actually help the customers with there queries. The customer services help desk is meant to be there to help but there was one case where my dad had a complaint and one of the staff members was trying to tell my dad that he was actually in the wrong but actually he was in the right. This was soon resolved when I higher member of staff came to help sort out the situation. Also with the staff I think that they should check that the food is in the right place and not on the floor or damaged etc. Signs: The signs that are hung from the ceiling don’t really explain what are on each isle. On one isle it says pasta but in that same isle it has biscuits etc. I would recommend that the signs should be a lot clearer to help customers find there way around the shop then maybe staff would not have customers coming up to them asking where things are. Isles: A suggestion that I would make about the isle is that they do get really crowded, so if Tesco know that that certain isle is popular then maybe they should widen the isle. Also they should not put a pillar in the middle of an isle because it is an obstruction to customers and even more so little kids who may be running around and might run into it because there might be a slippery floor etc. This would make Tesco a more safer environment.  1 Taken from Advanced Business Osborne Books. 2 Taken from Advanced Business Osborne Books
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
The Alchemist Mood
Besides language, techniques to convey purpose in the alchemis: Through concrete diction and imagery, Paulo Coelho exhibits his purpose in writing the Alchemist and supplies an ambience in which the readers are prompted to learn and evaluate their own relationships, dreams, feel hope and ambition. Since the novel has a very serene tone, Coelho uses dictation to add interest to the novel. When a reader can visualize a situation, they can more easily relate to it by connecting memories that they have to those Santiago is experiencing in the novel.Coelho uses concrete dictation by showing a situation instead of just telling it to the readers. In order to do this he has to use very descriptive language. Once the reader can picture Santiago’s emotions, they are free to interpret the lessons taught into their own circumstances. In Coelho’s novel, the setting has a lot to do with the emotions and lessons learned. Santiago achieves his personal legend of discovering who he is t hrough the desert and acceptance of his conditions.The way that Coelho teaches his lessons to Santiago and the readers is by connecting them to forces of nature. â€Å"Treasure is uncovered by the force of flowing water, and it is buried by the same currents. †(p. 24). The readers are comfortable with the thought of nature and can connect the lessons by picturing something that they are familiar with. Imagery and symbolism are highly connected in the Alchemist. Coelho uses a desert to represent the mind of Santiago.On his travels through the desert, he is given peace and quiet to think about his own life; to meditate. As the readers progress in his adventure with him, they learn things about Santiago as he learns them. This is because Coelho uses dictation and imagery to help the readers and Santiago visualize themselves in relatable situations and uses the techniques to create a tranquil mood in his book, The Alchemist.
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
Female offenders are more likely to be referred to psychiatric Essay
Female offenders are more likely to be referred to psychiatric counselling than men. Discuss, taking into account the impact of gender stereotypes in the criminal justice system - Essay Example That, however, does not mean that women are more likely to be referred to psychiatric counseling than men. It appears that, as the number of female inmates continues to increase, prisons and jails fail to catch up with the pace of change in inmate demographics. Like many years ago, the criminal justice system lacks resources needed to meet women’s health needs. The corrections system continues to ignore the health care needs of female prisoners, turning mental health complications into the most viable explanation to women’s criminal acts. That women-offenders are more likely than incarcerated men to display the signs and symptoms of mental health complications has been abundantly established. The current state of research provides a wealth of information concerning the most serious mental health challenges faced by incarcerated women. Understanding the mental health trends in women offenders is crucial for the development of more relevant criminal justice frameworks and detecting the stereotyping and bias affecting female inmates in the corrections system (Freudenberg 2002). According to Covington (2007), when it comes to mental health, 73% of female inmates in state prisons display the signs of mental health disorders, compared to only 12% among the general population. 75% of those who meet the criteria for mental health disorders also display the symptoms of substance dependence or abuse (Covington 2007). This is probably why the largest percentage changes in delinquency have been noted in female youth (Cruise, Mar see, Dandreaux & DePrato 2007; Snyder & Sickmund 2006). However, the link between mental health complications and crimes committed by female offenders are beyond the scope of this discussion. More important is the current state of mental health in women-prisoners and its implications for the criminal justice processes affecting the corrections system. In this sense, the results
Monday, August 12, 2019
Shyness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Shyness - Essay Example Shyness reactions can occur at any or all of the following levels: cognitive, affective, physiological and behavioral, and may be triggered by a wide variety of arousal cues. Among the most typical are: authorities, one-on-one opposite sex interactions, intimacy, strangers, having to take individuating action in a group setting, and initiating social actions in unstructured, spontaneous behavioral settings. Metaphorically, shyness is a shrinking back from life that weakens the bonds of human connection. The percentage of adults in the United States reporting that they are chronically shy, such that it presents a problem in their lives, had been reported at 40%, plus or minus 3%, since the early 1970's. Recent research indicates that the percentage of self-reported shyness has escalated gradually in the last decade to nearly 50% (48.7% + /- 2%). The National Co-morbidity Survey in 1994 revealed a lifetime prevalence of social phobia of 13.3%, making it the third most prevalent psychiatric disorder. (Encyclopedia of Mental Health, Academic Press, San Diego, CA, SHYNESS, Lynne Henderson The Shyness Clinic, Portola Valley, California, Phillip Zimbardo, Stanford University, Stanford, California). In humans, shyness is the feeling of apprehension or lack of confidence experienced in regard to social association with others, e.g. being in proximity to, approaching and being approached by others. In zoology, shy generally means "tends to avoid human beings". Adolescence can be a challengin g time with youth experiencing biological, psychological, and social changes. Both normative stressors (such as moving from middle school to high school), as well as non-normative stressors (such as parental divorce) have been linked to an increased risk of such internalizing behaviors as depression and anxiety. The first thing to understand about shyness is that neither is it a symptom of cowardice or inferiority. Shyness has nothing to do with cowardice or inferiority, so no one should make the association, either consciously or unconsciously. As a part of the growing or adolescence comes the necessity of "showing performance", often this competition or the need to prove one's self starts at home among the siblings. If a boy of 13 to 16 years of age is very shy in nature and finds a problem in interacting with people as any other physically and mentally normal boy of his age would do with ease, a peep into his family frequently exposes a very dominating elder sibling. Other than t he sibling often very dominating, criticizing, discouraging and strict parental behavior also contributes immensely in forcing the child to withdraw and eventually become shy and afraid. As a result of this stress and of the fear of being judged and criticized, often the person is unable to unearth his/her own capabilities; they deprive themselves of the chance of doing something worthy. Even though they have the potential they lack the confidence to pull a job efficiently, they themselves become their worst critics. One of the most common and prominent reason among the others that lead adolescents to become shy and introvert, is the inhuman experience of any sort of physical and/or sexual abuse during their childhood. In their childhood children are often prey to these
The Caroline Doctrine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
The Caroline Doctrine - Essay Example As a result, they believed the conduct of the British force had been, under the circumstances, justifiable by the Law of Nations1. Harrison administration was of the opinion that while the Constitution of the United States created very clear fields of jurisdiction, Federal Government was the one concerned with foreign relations and as a result it was to intervene with the State of New York and obtain the release of a foreign national. NATIONAL SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE POLICY "What an immense mass of evil must have result from allowing men to anticipate what might happen" Leo Tolstoy. Hans Blix, Chair of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission, stated that it would be a violation of international law to take military action against Iran in response to its pending nuclear weapons program because such action would fail to comply with the international law doctrine of self-defense against imminent attack2. However, if so, the international community should revisit this doctrine in the context of nuclear counter-proliferation to ensure that there is a legal and practical doctrine of international self-defense. This has influenced the Americans allot when Caroline doctrine was cited with approval by Iraq. Therefore, the Caroline doctrine was to be modified for purposes of counter-proliferation3. The practical inability to sufficiently eliminate a nuclear threat once a nuclear weapons program by an aggressor state has been fully developed. For instance, taking the actual words used in the NSS itself, various commentators describe the situation as preemptive self-defense or rather Bush doctrine. However, others think that the NSS can be interpreted as promoting the doctrine of preventive self-defense which a number of present writers are in agreement with. present writers hold a belief that the term anticipatory self-defense is well documented and
Sunday, August 11, 2019
Marketign Strategies Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Marketign Strategies - Research Paper Example According to Neyman (n.d.), there are three fundamental strategies that can be used to maximize profits in a business: 1. Maximize every order’s dollar size 2. Maximize the frequency of sales 3. Maximize the volume of customers. Some of the useful ways in which each of these three marketing strategies can be implemented are discussed below: Businessmen should look out for ways in which they can increase their sales, without having to compromise upon profitability. One way to achieve this is by making use of the â€Å"buy one get one free†strategy. For instance, let’s suppose there is a businessman who owns a pizza hut. The businessman can achieve the three objectives mentioned above by offering the customers to have one personal size pizza for free upon purchase of a family size pizza. Then, when a considerable number of customers are able to make use of this deal, the businessman can upgrade the offer by offering the customers a family size pizza for free upon purchase of one family size pizza but with an addition of only five dollars. A customer loyalty program can often work wonders when maximization of profits is the goal. Such programs require the owner to provide the customers with a pre-defined discount upon shopping of a certain level. For instance, if a customer spends up to $100 at a shop, he/she can be granted a discount of 10 per cent upon the next order.
Saturday, August 10, 2019
Research paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 5
Research paper - Essay Example The banjo can have four or five strings and is made from a gourd, used as the sound box, covered with hide or plastic. The instrument developed from African instruments (banjar, bandora, banza) that were introduced by slaves (Banjo). The banjo’s predecessor was played in seventh century Africa (Mazbrow). In the seventeenth century, the instrument consisted of a long pole and attached gourd with three or four strings, made from horsehair, catgut, or hemp plant. At first it was played by West African wandering musicians, but by the eighteenth century was played by slave musicians in the West Indies. Knocking and beating was the style used. Notes began to slide and bend once tuning pegs and a flat board for fingering was added (Banjo). This â€Å"banjar†instrument was played in Maryland and Virginia from the mid-eighteenth century. It had a skin head, pegs, and a short thumb string. In Africa, the banjar was played with the talking drums but, in response to a slave uprisi ng in South Carolina, drums and horns became illegal, and the traditional way of playing was adapted to banjar solos (Banjo). The combination of banjo and fiddle, at the core of Appalachian music, was played exclusively by black musicians for about 100 years, before white musicians adopted it (Mazbrow). Just as spirituals were used to communicate escape plans, black banjo songs communicated subversive methods to survive slavery. Many of these songs used cunning animals, like foxes and snakes, to camouflage their message (Banjo). Black banjar music began to have a strong influence on the fiddle playing of Appalachian immigrants from Scotland and Ireland. Soon, white Appalachian musicians were playing the instrument in the same thumping style as the black Appalachian musicians. For some time, white banjo players depended on black banjo players, not only for rhythm and style, but even for acquiring a banjo in the first place (C. Conway 146). Mutual interest and instrument design collab oration soon modified the banjar, replacing the gourd with a wooden rim and open back. Sweeney, an Irish American added a fourth melody string, and the short drone thumb string was kept, so now the banjo had five strings (Banjo). Although African-American Appalachian musicians played the banjo throughout the nineteenth century, white Appalachian musicians dominated the emerging radio and recording technology (Banjo). The first white banjo player to achieve fame for his music, Joel Walker Sweeney, learned how to play the banjo from a neighboring plantation slave, and mid-nineteenth century white banjo players usually performed in black-face (Mazbrow). It was white performers whom people connected to hillbilly music, even though white banjo players had adopted a black musical tradition (Mazbrow). In fact, there has always been a lot of white pride in fiddle and banjo music, by those whose tradition came from Appalachian ancestors, and would never conceive of any black African American contribution to their musical heritage (Mazbrow). Appalachian fiddle and banjo music is popularly thought to be Irish and Scottish, but is syncopated and polyrhythmic, showing African history (Mazbrow). Polyrythm is alien to European music and central to African (Mazbrow). The typical way of strumming the banjo is to brush down with the backs of the fingernails while the thumb plucks the
Friday, August 9, 2019
Leadership and Organizatioinal Change Research Proposal
Leadership and Organizatioinal Change - Research Proposal Example Background to the Study Leaders are critical in change process given the role they play in the entire process. Leaders, for example, develop vision and strategy for the organization, create the need for change, identify new approaches to adopt, and even empower employees to take part in change process (Seidman and McCauley, 2011, p.47). As a result, leaders are critical to the success of change process. However, modern organizations due to internationalization and globalization have people from different cultures, backgrounds, ethnics, and so on. Given that, these people have to work together and help organizations achieve their goals, best ways have to be found on how well such people from diverse cultures can work together for the good of the organization. This therefore requires leadership teams of organizations to identify and implement the best strategies in order to establish cross-cultural teams that help organization achieve its goals. Although there is growing literature con cerning the positive role cross cultural teams plays in enabling organizations realize goals (Voutsas, 2011, pp. 116-117) there is little literature concerning how leadership teams can participate in establishing the most effective cross-cultural teams. Statement of the Problem Due to numerous dynamics in the environment, business managers and leaders have found change to be inevitable. Organizations have found out that having a heterogeneous workforce in globalized world is unavoidable. As a result, more and more people from different cultures are likely to work together in one organization. Due to this, organizations’ leadership has to find the best ways of establishing and managing effective cross-cultural teams in order to achieve objectives of the organization. Purpose of the Study The aim of this study is to establish the appropriate ways organizational leadership can take part in establishing effective cross-cultural teams in an organization. This will be achieved thro ugh analyzing a number of international firms that have heterogeneous workforce. Objectives The objective of the study is to identify and analyze strategies used buy firms to establish effective cross-cultural teams. The understanding is that organizational change can effectively be carried out through the input of cross-cultural teams. Research Questions This study will be guided by the following research questions: What strategic role can cross-cultural teams play in change management of an organization? How can organizational leadership create and sustain effective cross-cultural teams? Hypothesis Effective cross-cultural teams should promote good: communication, decision-making, conflict resolution, interpersonal relationships, leadership, and collaboration, which in turn are likely to results into effective organizational change. a) Independent variable The independent variable to be studied includes the function of cross-cultural teams in an organization. b) Dependent variable The dependent variables to be studied include skills with regard to communication, decision-making, conflict resolution, interpersonal relationship, leadership, and
Thursday, August 8, 2019
Translation theories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words
Translation theories - Essay Example zes, and utilizes translation principles to arrive at three main translation categories that are translation theories founded on source-oriented perspectives, linguistic translation theories, and recent translations. While source-oriented translation approaches developed from the 2nd century B.C to the 20th century A.D., the linguistic translation theories began during the second decade of the 20th century and lasted for 50 years. However, the last three decades of the 20th century led to the birth of the descriptive branch of translation that was subdivided into process-oriented, function-oriented, and product-oriented translations. The recent translation includes the target-oriented approach to translation that includes Toury’s norms in translation (Venuti, 2000, p. 198). Different translation theories are used in different translation purposes. This paper evaluates the differences between Gideon Toury’s Norms in translation theory and Lawrence Venuti’s translator’s invisibility theory. The comparison begins by placing the norms in translation theory in wider context, offers a description of the translator’s invisibility theory, compares the two theories, and finally, performs an assessment and evaluation of the implication of the two theories for practical translation. At the start of the present translation period was the descriptive translation branch in Israel since 1970s. During this period, Israeli researchers affiliated with descriptive research used the polysystem theory by Even-Zohar in 1990, and the aspect of norms established by Gideon Toury in 1995 (Benjamins, 2008, p. 64). Since Israeli is a multilingual and multicultural state, translation of other languages into Hebrew was committed to a target-oriented approach. The polysystem theory of literature and culture involves all cultural, literary, linguistic, and social aspect, but did not account for single-text translations. Instead, polysystem viewed single-texts as a system operating
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Comprehensive Australian Programme of Law Reform Essay
Comprehensive Australian Programme of Law Reform - Essay Example This move has been geared towards ensuring that the scope of potential liability is narrowed, for example through the limiting of personal liability borne by medical practitioners who give assistance to those people at a higher risk of injury or who need emergency medical help; and reducing the damages that may be awarded in such cases so as to confine the exposure of underwriters so that they could be able to give better and more affordable cover to those who need it. One important element to point out at this stage is the fact that most of these reforms actually did contrast with the recommendations put forward by the IPP Committee Report, which was in favour of national and uniform law response to the jurisdiction crisis on cases of liability, negligence and award of damages (Ellison, 2005). Indeed various governments that have come up since 2002 have tried to enact and implement law reforms that addressed liability, negligence, and damages. ... 2.0 The law reforms 2.1 Establishing liability The liability laws take into consideration the common law and statutes of federal and states governments. In these provisions, a person who is injured or has suffered a loss or otherwise incurred damage may institute an action aimed at compensation on the basis of the tort of common law of negligence that is based on fault; breach of contract; and breach of the provisions stipulated in the Australian Consumer Law that was effected in 2011 that replaced provisions of the Federal Trade Practices Act 1974 relating to product liability and safety of produce. In establishing the liability of a person in tort, the issue of foreseeability comes into play. A person has a duty of care to another person as per the law of tort. The defendant had a case to answer if he was in a position to see in advance reasonably, that the injured person would suffer loss or was at risk of doing so but the defendant failed to take necessary preventive action (Aust ralian Government Treasury; 2002; 2004; Harlow, 2005). This component of contributory negligence is comprised of two components namely the foreseeability of risk relating to harm and a calculation of the level of negligence also called the ‘negligence calculus’. Based on the above provisions, a person is free from liability for failing to take precautions if the risk in question is unforeseeable and can be established as being so. To know whether a risk is foreseeable or not, it is provided that such a risk should not be so probable to an extent that any reasonable person or someone in his or her common senses would ignore it (Trowbridge & Deloitte, 2002). Having already established the aspect of
Serving in Florida Essay Example for Free
Serving in Florida Essay She admires her, educated tongue, her graceful walk, her ability to swoon a listener when she reads, her success, her communication skills where she skillfully varies the way to she talks to depending on who she is talking to. 3. She is ashamed because she fails to use the proper verb and verbiage which in her eyes is disrespectful. When they talk with each other it is if they were paternal sisters separated only by education. 4. Their first meeting was not only at Mrs. Flowers house but that this meeting was filled with aromas of freshly cooked food (tea cookies), the cold taste of lemonade on the palate and an atmosphere laden and rich in success. â€Å"It was the equivalent of attending church â€Å" and attending church made her feel comfortable and so did Mrs. Flowers. This all influenced her because she learned that the person she liked, â€Å" liked â€Å" also liked her and this impressed her, and that coupled with all of the physical senses she now felt the emotional ones as well. And this would develop her into her mentors â€Å"way†of life. Answer to questions 1-4 in the Close Reading and #2 in the Writers Craft. 1. Para. 4 The aftermath of an historical hurricane†¦. †the smell of a dead city††¦para. 6 †this new urban landscape†. 2. Urban floodplain depicts the initial encounter to what the author sees and of which is just the surface of what to come in the latter part of the essay and segways into the â€Å" Life after Katrina â€Å". 3. In â€Å" Starting Again â€Å" he depicts how the most basic necessities are being established and provided to re-ignite and revive the once normal daily activities by way of the Salvation Army bringing primordial needs to the workers who will then bring back residents which then bring back the businesses and so on. He includes this because he notes that after destruction comes the re-building†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Still, destruction on a biblical scale also offers Noah-like opportunities for restoration after the flood â€Å". 4. I would define it as a person who possesses this â€Å" eco-geek†title as someone who is ecologically friendly, and an environmentalist who is also a tech-savvy academic in the intellect society of foremost thinkers. Writer’s Craft. #2. â€Å" I get out of my car, half suspecting the sweet, rotting smell of death†, â€Å" the main sewage plant†, â€Å"reeking of mold and rotted cat food††¦. He brings clarity and vividness which brings sympathy and association to the five senses to which the reader can identify with.
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Word Length effects in visual word recognition
Word Length effects in visual word recognition The way letters in words are processed in our orthographic system is subject to considerable controversy. Theorists argue that letters in words are processed either in series or in parallel. This study attempts to resolve this debate by examining the effect of Word Length on decision speeds for words in a lexical decision task. A multiple regression analysis which included other linguistic descriptors such as Familiarity and Age of Acquisition was performed. The analysis indicated that Word Length is not a determinant of decision speed which implies that letters in words are processed via a parallel processing system. Further research needs to be conducted in this area in order to answer the research question. Implications of these findings in relation to word recognition models are discussed. Introduction Are letters within a word processed one at a time, in series, or does the skilled reader process all the letters in a word in parallel? Despite the deceptively simple nature of this question, researchers are still in disagreement as to how exactly we execute such a complex process. Early models of word recognition argued that words are read letter-by-letter serially from left to right (Gough, 1972). This model is consistent with Herons (1957) findings that when English speaking participants are briefly presented with a sequence of letters, they are more accurate at recalling left-hand letters compared to right-hand letters. This observed effect is reversed in readers of Yiddish (who read from right-to-left) which supports the notion that letters are processed in series (Mishkin Forgays, 1952; Sperling, 1963). The serial letter recognition model has been criticised for the fact that it fails to explain the Word Superiority Effect, which demonstrates how readers are better able to identify letters in the context of a word than in isolation (Paap et al., 1982). Over the past few decades, psychologists have therefore developed parallel distributed models (PDP) of reading which assume that letters in words are encoded simultaneously and draw heavily on what we know about the human neural system (Seidenberg Harm, 1991). http://www.microsoft.com/typography/ctfonts/science_of_word_recognition_files/Figure4.gif Figure ; Rumelhart McClellands Interactive-Activation Model (1981) An example of a PDP model is shown in Figure 1. According to this model, when a reader is presented with a word such as WORK, each letter either stimulates or inhibits different feature detectors (e.g. a circular shape for O, or horizontal and vertical bars for K,). These feature detectors then stimulate or inhibit different letter detectors, which finally stimulate or inhibit different word detectors. Each activated connection carries different weights, and therefore the word WORK in Figure 1 is activated more than any other word and is the one recognized by a reader. Although most recent findings are generally assumed to support the parallel processing hypothesis; a model which has recently gained attention is the Self-Organizing Acquisition and Recognition (SOLAR) model which implies an element of serial processing (Davis, 2010). Davis argues that visual word recognition relies on the formation of a spatial code to understand the orthographic input which is formed by a rapid left-to-right scan across letter representations that combines letter identity information with letter position information. A common way of studying how letters in words are processed is by measuring Word Length (WL) effects in Lexical Decision Tasks (LDT). In these tasks participants are presented with a word/non-word and their correct Decision Speeds (DS) are measured. The SOLAR model strongly predicts a WL effect in such tasks as the length of vector across the input layer should impact processing time. In contrast, parallel models such as the Interactive-Activation model predict no WL effects as it shouldnt matter how many letters there are in a word because they are all processed simultaneously. Several studies have examined WL effects however the findings are inconclusive with some observing significant WL effects; Forster Chambers ,1973; Whaley ,1978; ORegan Jacobs ,1992; Gilhooly Logie, 1982, whilst others failed to find a significant effect of WL; Frederiksen Kroll , 1976; Richardson ,1976. It is therefore clear that more research needs to be conducted in this area in order to resolve these conflicting findings. One of the main problems faced in investigating WL effects is the observed collinearity between over properties of words such as Familiarity, Age of Acquisition and Frequency which have been observed as predictors of DS in previous word recognition tasks (Gernsbacher, 1984; Gerhand Barry, 1998). Therefore when conducting an experiment which seeks to examine WL effects it is also important to account for other linguistic properties. A multiple regression analysis allows the experimenter to calculate the unique contribution of each linguistic predictor to the variation in DS and so is a popular method employed by many researchers in this area of research where collinearity amongst other variables is so high. The aim of this experiment therefore is to examine the effect of WL on DS in a LDT in which the linguistic stimuli has been generated taking into consideration; WL, familiarity, frequency, Age of Acquisition (AoA), Number of Neighbours (NoN) and Imageability, which have all been found to predict DS in previous research. If WL emerges as a significant predictor of DS then this is evidence for serial word processing and thus provides experimental support for the SOLAR model (Davis, 2010), whereas if no WL effects are found then this supports the assumptions underlying PDP models. Method Participants 12 second year undergraduate Psychology students (M= 19.75 years, m=2, f=10) from the University of Bristol with normal/corrected vision were recruited via an opportunity sample. Materials A computer based LDT was created using DMDX software. The stimuli in the task comprised of 150 words (all of which were nouns) and 150 non-words which were manipulated by the experimenter by changing a vowel in a word to another vowel or a consonant to a different consonant (Appendix 1). Linguistic stimuli were generated using the MRC psycholinguistic database (Coltheart, 1981) which selects lists of words, together with linguistic descriptors based on a number of selection criteria. Table 1 shows the linguistic descriptors and selection criterion of stimuli used in this experiment. Design This experiment used a within subjects repeated measures design. The LDT comprised 300 trials split into 6 test blocks; each block contained 25 words and 25 non-words which were randomly intermixed. Linguistic stimuli were displayed on the screen for 100ms. There was a 50ms break in between trials and participants had 2000ms to make their decision before the next trial commenced. Participants were given a break in between blocks to reduce fatigue effects. The experiment lasted approximately 30 minutes. Procedure In the computer based LDT Words or Non-words were presented individually to participants in the centre of a 1414 computer monitor in size 14 bold black Arial font with white background. Participants were instructed to press the Right Hand Shift button if they saw a Word or the Left Hand Shift button if they saw a Non-Word. Participants were informed of their confidentiality of results. Data analysis Participants correct Decision Speeds (ms) were recorded. Non-words were used as fillers and were not statistically analysed. Words with error rates of over 25% were excluded from the data set. Participants who responded incorrectly to over 50% of stimuli were excluded. Table 2 shows the 16 words that were removed from the data set as they failed to meet the criteria. The final data set is based on N=134 words and 12 participants. Results In the LDT, speeds of correct responses to words were recorded (M=669.62ms, SD=81.54, Error rate=8.28%). The experimental hypothesis aimed to examine the relationship between DS and WL; no significant correlation was found between WL and DS (r=.04), which is visually presented in Figure 1. Figure 1; Scatter graph demonstrating the non-significant correlation between Decision Speed (ms) and Word Length. A significant negative correlation was found between DS and Familiarity, which suggests that participants respond faster to words that are highly familiar (r= -.34, p Word length was found to be intercorrelated with AoA, Imageability and NoN (Table 3) which highlights a potential problem of collinearity. Correlations among measures of word attributes and decision speed, together with summary statistics. N=134 words. A simultaneous and a stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted on the correlation matrix to assess the contribution of the independent variables in predicting DS. In the simultaneous analysis all variables were entered into the regression at the same time and the effects of all other variables were partialled out from each other (Table 4). The overall fit of the model was R2=.121, F(6,132)= 3.24, p Simultaneous multiple regression analysis on correct response speeds in the LDT. Next, a stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted (Table 5). This analysis differs from the simultaneous analysis in the way that it enters variables into the regression one at a time on the basis of their contribution to improving the predictive power of the equation. The findings of the stepwise regression analysis was essentially the same as the simultaneous regression with Familiarity emerging as the only variable in predicting DS (F1,132= 18.693, p Stepwise multiple regression analysis on correct response times in the LDT. Discussion This experiment failed to demonstrate that Word Length (WL) is an effective factor in visual word recognition. There was no correlation between WL and decision speeds (DS) on the lexical decision task (LDT) which refutes the notion that letters in words are processed in series and therefore questions the theory underlying the SOLAR model (Davis, 2010) which postulates that we recognize words by performing a left-to-right scan across letters and so would have strongly predicted WL effects in the performed study. The results from this experiment therefore imply that letters in words are processed in parallel and thus support the assumptions embedded in parallel and connectionist models of reading (Seidenbery Harm, 1999; Rumelhart McClelland, 1981). The only linguistic predictor to emerge as an effective factor in decision speeds was familiarity, which is consistent with previous studies that have reported its contribution to the efficiency of word processing (Gilhooly Logie, 1982; Connine et al., 1990). The fact that familiarity emerged as a predictor of DS may in fact provide support for parallel processing. It can be argued that if a participant is more familiar with a word, this suggests that they may have formed some internal representation of the word within their mental lexicon and therefore recognize it faster by processing letters in parallel. In this study WL was significantly correlated with several of the other linguistic descriptors such as AoA and NoN which highlights the problem of collinearity and so it is difficult to draw any clear conclusions from our data. Another factor which may have affected our results is the fact that WL was restricted to 9 letters. In a study conducted by Gilhooly Logie (1982) they used words of various lengths and found WL to be the strongest predictor of DS. This raises an interesting research question as to whether there is a maximum capacity of letters that we can process in parallel and then perhaps after a certain length, the demands on our processing system are too large and so we have to rely on other processes. It is therefore plausible that visual word recognition may involve a combination of both serial and parallel processing depending on WL, which challenges the assumptions of current models of word recognition. It would be interesting to expand upon this study by making several alterations; firstly by abolishing the word letter restriction to see if we observe WL effects, and also by increasing the number of linguistic stimuli used and the number and age range of participants. Furthermore it would be of interest to examine saccade movements whilst participants are doing the LDT which may provide further insights into whether words are processed in parallel or series. One of the aims of this paper was to try and clear up some of the confusion in the literature surrounding serial and parallel processing models; unfortunately we were somewhat unsuccessful in doing so. However the findings from this study do provide several interesting thought questions and future research expansions and suggest that maybe word recognition relies on elements of serial and parallel processing. References; Coltheart, M (1981). 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