Public Policing Vs Private Security Comparison Paper Essay

Public Policing Vs Private Security Comparison Paper - Essay Example Such programs include crime prevention and drug awareness. They have the authority to search, arrest, and detain individuals under the provisions of territorial and other police acts. They have the integral responsibility to protect the public property and places. On the other hand, private investigators usually carry out investigations to locate missing persons or obtain information for civil and legal litigation cases. Some of the other important services rendered by them include, ‘investigating corporate fraud, endowing with risk management consultations, and executing security measures to defend property from theft and fire’ (‘Private investigator, 2011). These personnel are not recruited by the government; instead they are directly employed by security companies and public administration industries. The private security personnel renders their services in protecting the ‘mass private property’, which means venues that are privately owned or run, b ut used widely by the public such as the privately owned airports, sporting arenas, or shopping malls. In the same way they offer many services offered by the public police, but they act only on behalf of the employer and not on behalf of the public. Some Distinctive Features Private security professionals like the ASIS helps to develop security management standards and guidelines. Their commission works with numeral national and international standards-setting organizations to advance their security practices. Utilizing the knowledge and experience, they practice worldwide through development of standards and guidelines (ASIS IT security, July 2011). The primary objective of private security officials is to keep up order and enforce rules at public events and concerns. They also provide a vast variety of services like providing armored car service for transporting valuables, controlling the access to venues, and protecting the property from theft and vandalism. Usually corporate co mpanies directly employ the security personnel for their protection and safety. They are also employed at public administration, banking companies, entertainment and recreation industry, transportation and warehousing, healthcare and social assistance, and accommodation and food services. Private security personnel, acting on behalf of the employer have many of the same cranial law enforcement powers as public police have. They are legally able to arrest and detain individuals. The trespass laws, in particular, are frequently used by private securities, because most of such laws allow them to arrest the trespassers. The Supreme Court of Canada defines that â€Å"the trespass acts are the workhorse of private security services in their patrol of the shopping malls, airports, sports stadiums and other private spaces where the public tends to congregate†( In search of security, 2006). Major Differences in Leadership On comparing both policing, we find that public policing and pr ivate security have many distinctive features with regard to leadership. Public policing is the ability to implement the law and maintain order in the society; whereas, private securities are paid agencies which perform defensive and loss-preclusion duties. Though both forces are handling different services and duties, the ultimate goal is to maintain a composed and tranquil atmosphere in the society. In the same way, as Allen and Sawhney (2009, p. 40) point out, the day-to-day activities of police and detectives differ according to

Lifestyles in Canada and Mexico Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Lifestyles in Canada and Mexico - Research Paper Example Lifestyles are outcomes of several factors present in the environment or location of a group of people including geography, weather, population, economy, government, and available natural and man-made resources. All these factors affect the kind of lifestyle that will develop among the people. Geography and weather determines the activities that people do. These activities include work, hobbies and entertainment. Weather dictates the structure of houses, the way of dressing and the abundance of certain kinds of food. Weather along with geography likewise determines the resources available. Economy and population controls the number and types of jobs available. Economy regulates the consumption and leisure activities of individuals. The government shapes the kinds of activities that the people are allowed to do. Both public and private endeavors are affected by the kind of control the government has on its people. The kind of lifestyle that the citizens practice reflects a great deal about a country and its status within the global arena. It reveals the economic stability or instability of a country and the degree of general satisfaction that the citizens of a country have. The country with the most favorable lifestyle is determined by the Human Development Index (HDI) of the United Nations Development Program, which is published annually. The Human Development Index ranks countries according to the quality of life of its citizens which include criteria such as educational attainment, life expectancy and adjusted real income (Most and Least Livable Countries: UN Human Development Index, 2006). According to the HDI for 2006, Canada ranked sixth and Mexico ranked fifty-third (Human Development Report 2006). Canada, ranking high in quality of life indicates a high economic ranking in the global arena. Provision of free education to all its citizens, availability of a large supply and variety of goods like food and clothing, and provision of high disposable incomes to family earners by both public and private are indicators of a stable and booming economy. Mexico on the other hand is not as economically secure as Canada. There are schools which are government funded but are not enough for everyone so some are forced or by choice enroll their children in private schools which are really expensive (Guide to living in Mexico). Not all consumer goods are affordable in Mexico. Consumer items like appliances, clothing, computers, audio/visual equipment, and cars are relatively more expensive in Mexico as compared to Canada. The benchmark used is the value of money against the cost of the goods mentioned for each country. Automobiles and real estate are also expensive in Mexico. Unlike in Canada , because of the high disposable incomes of the people and the relative affordable costs of automobiles and real estate, they can afford reasonably large homes in low-density areas and highly stylish and functional cars (Connections: Canadian Lifestyle Choices and the Environment, 2005). Canadians are very mobile because of their ready access to private automobiles. Public transportation meanwhile is more popular and more practical in Mexico. Public transportation is made affordable in Me

Why Do Cities Develop at Different Rates?

Why Do Cities Develop at Different Rates? Why do cities and regions develop at different rates and with different trajectories, and  how can planning and development policy address issues of uneven development? â€Å"Development trajectories are not straight forward for local governments to solve† (Hall and Hesse, 2013), there are many reasons why cities and regions develop at different rates and trajectories. This essay aims to explore some of the theories behind uneven development trajectories such as is the world becoming flat and time – space compression or alternatively the fact uneven development does occur with competitiveness and knowledge industry. Secondly this essay will then explain some possible planning strategies and policies that address the issues of uneven development such as land ownership, zoning and bottom up governance. Uneven development occurs across the world and there are many different reasons for different rates growth. some theorists however believe development is relatively even, Friedman (2005) describes the world as becoming flat, this is due to the technological advancements which have resulted in a globalised economy and â€Å"the development of a common global culture† (Held, 2004:88). The location of a company is no longer important; you can be successful anywhere in the world without having to move this is due to the ‘Borderless economy created by technological improvements’ (Sander, 2005). Friedman describes this by stating ‘when the world is flat you can innovate without having to emigrate’ (Friedman, 2005). Friedman’s view has been shared by other economists who describe the levelling effect on the economy to be even in many ways (Florida, 2005:48). Even though borderless economies can improve regions and cities across the world Mander and Ba rker (2002) question whether this development positively affects everyone by stating that â€Å"Economic globalisation makes things worse for poor people not better† (Mander and Baker, 2002:2). Harvey (1989) also shared similar views to Friedman through the idea of time-space compression as a cause to the flattening of the world. Time space Compression is described by Harvey as time and space forced to alter due to technological advancements and capitalism which has â€Å"sped up the pace of life† (Harvey, 1989:240). It creates â€Å"a significant acceleration of social, particularly capitalist, dynamics due to a new global communications network† (Stalder, 2006), Time-space compression simply referrers to the â€Å"Increased velocity of the circulation of goods, people and information† (Thrift and May, 2001:106). It overcomes spatial barriers and opens up new markets through high speed communication, something that Leamer (2007) explains as being an important factor to creating even development. Good communication and technologies enables good knowledge transfer and therefore no need for agglomeration resulting in development that is spread equally. Opposing the above arguments there is the argument that development occurs at uneven trajectories. Florida (2005) describes how there has been explosive growth in population numbers within cities, â€Å"now in some advanced countries three out of four people live in urban areas† (Florida, 2005:48). He explains that this has caused development across the world to be ‘spikey’ due to the world being †full of clusters where location matters, most notably in cities† (Feiock et al., 2008). Florida describes the idea of a ‘creative class’ as a reason why many people migrate to cities as increasing development is seen in these areas. Florida (2002) describes successful regions and cities as attracting the ‘creative class’, these people consist of â€Å"young, upwardly and geographically mobile professionals†. And many are often associated as being ‘bohemians’ and creative people (Stolarick and Florida, 2006), this is described by Millander et al. (2014) as a â€Å"creative milieu†. These people are attracted to the idea of community, the â€Å"attraction and retention of these individuals becomes a centrepiece of economic growth† (Feiock et al., 2008). The clustering of creative classes in cities and areas of technological advancement leaves uneven distribution of knowledge across a nation (Mellander et al., 2014) which often leads to regions having different development trajectories. Nagle (1995:14) Cited from Myrdal (1955) explains the concept of cumulative causation through a core- periphery model, this presents the â€Å"unfolding of events as a consequence of the multiplier effect† (Mayhew, 2009) Regional advantages attract investment creating a core region of development, â€Å"Skilled workers investment, new technology and developments gravitate from periphery regions to the core† (Nagle 1995:14. Demand for goods comes from the periphery areas creating the backwash effect. Finally knowledge overflow and increased demand may create growth in periphery areas; this is known as the spread effect. A Perfect example of this is the silicon valley in California, here a business cluster of innovation and knowledge has resulted in enhanced competition and clustering, creating a core development region and at the same time has periphery regions. The rate of development of a nation often refers to the nation as a whole; this is arguably out dated as â€Å"nations-states were created to meet the needs of a much earlier historical period† (Hashimoto, 2013). Due to a the borderless economy that has been created as a result of globalisation it’s now suggested that nations states should be converted to regional-states, â€Å"regional-states are natural economic zones which are drawn by the deft invisible hand of the global market† (Ohmea, 1995) High levels of innovation create clusters of technology industries forcing greater competitiveness. Porter (2008) describes the importance of competitiveness in determining development trajectories of a certain region as Competitiveness is global as well as regional. â€Å"Competiveness of a region or nation has been a primary focus for governments wishing to seek investment and create jobs† (Porter, 2008), this is due to the potential development it can attract. Porter’s ‘competitive advantage diamond model’ displays the economic benefits clustering can bring to regions through a range of factors contributing to competitiveness (porter, 1990). The model is used to analyse the competiveness through four factors, for example customer characteristics etc. (Walker, 2004:177). â€Å"Improving competitiveness is central to raising the underlying rate of growth of the economy and enhancing living standards† (Shafaeddin, 2012), this therefore suggests that regions and cities which experience more competitiveness are likely to have greater development trajectories. Huggins and Izushi (2011) explain how Porters model can be used to create a competitive advantage; it is this advantage that arguably creates different rates of development in cities and regions. Competitiveness is vital for economic growth however Prasnikar (2006:325) explains it can sometimes lead to unsustainable development and therefore companies must maintain corporate social responsibility. Huggins and Thompson (2010) development index is a way of measuring competitiveness, â€Å"competitiveness involves the upgrading and economic development of all places together, rather than the improvement of one place at the expense of another† (Huggins and Thompson, 2010:4). This can be used by governments to monitor and assess the development of regions. Development rates can differ due to the amount of inward investment a region attracts. Opposing Harvey and Friedman, globalization has arguably been a main cause of uneven development as it â€Å"has been governed in ways that are undemocratic and have been disadvantageous to developing countries† (Stigltz, 2002). It is therefore vital that correct planning and development policies are put in place to ensure cities and regions can develop as one sustainably. It’s important to note that countries promoting the best policies in addressing uneven development use a â€Å"wide range of actors, key participants and influences†¦ which are in almost all cases built upon public – private partnership† (Huggins and Izushi, 2007:118). There are several specific development policies that can be put into place in order to address issues associated with uneven development. â€Å"Good development policy is context specific† (World Bank, 2003:9), this means a policies effectiveness may vary between regions and cities and therefore policies chosen must address specific issues of the region. Globalisation has given way to multinational corporations having large amounts of power due to their size and global reach, â€Å"multinationals and governments competing for control over operations during market expansion† (Luo, 2002:73). As a result many multinationals can gain leverage over governments. As rates of development vary due to context, development should therefore be controlled regionally resulting in differing policy and development plans. The use of governments â€Å"top-down, Centralising, ‘one size fits all’† (Bradbury, 2008:132) polices contradicts the importance of context specif ic initiatives as policy are likely to prove ineffective in some regions. It is therefore suggested that bottom-up planning is introduced; this is more effective as it offers bespoke polies relevant to the characteristics of a region. Das (2005) Explains this will devolve power to regions and cities increasing democracy, as a result this should enhance conditions for sustainable development. A great example where Bottom up planning is being put into action is in England where the introduction of neighbourhood plans though the localism act of 2011 has made way for planning that is more deliverable and realistic in achieving sustainable development (Chetwyn, 2013). Land ownership within development planning is also vital for sustainable development, it’s important that correct development and planning policy is created to ensure arbitrate land use conflicts between social, economic, and spatial use are dealt with (Linchfield, 1980:8). This is specifically important in developing counties where often land rights are distributed unfairly and leave land owners sceptical as to whether or not they will be able to retain their land. By granting Land ownership this creates enterprise, motivation and promotes innovation (Lipton, 2009:2), the uncertainty of land rights can often stall development as investment is reduced which Fatas and Mihov (2009:7) described as one of 4 factors contributing to the economic development of regions. Government intervention plays an important role in the creation of successful development policies; another way of improving the rate of development across a region sustainably is to introduce taxes on land. Shirazi a nd Shah (1991:140) suggest that this will provide additional revenues to central governments allowing them to invest in infrastructure which would attract investment, â€Å"good infrastructure attracts investment by connecting firms to their customers and suppliers† (OECD, 2006:59). In Tanzania and many African nations have seen success form land ownership, it has â€Å"spurred economic growth and improved shared prosperity for the countrys population† (All Africa, 2013) The use of successful development plans is essential in addressing uneven development. There are several aspects such and bottom-up planning already discussed that can contribute to reducing uneven development. Land use zoning is another strategy that is efficient in addressing uneven development. Zoning plans are designed by the government and decide â€Å"what kind of buildings can be built and where in the community they can be built† (Euchner and McGovern, 2003:155). The use of zoning separates different land uses that could perhaps conflict such as â€Å"residential, business and industrial uses† (Soule, 2006:30). It controls new sustainable development that doesn’t affect any existing development. Zoning is able to create even development as it regulates where certain types of development can take place, this can replace previous systems where â€Å"restrictive land use policies have discouraged new companies and new job creation (Baily and Kirkegaard, 200 4:8). By using a zoning scheme â€Å"specific beneficial incentives can be offered in return for specific contributions by the developer† (Silberstein and Maser, 2000:35). This would attract investment to areas of a region as well as improving infrastructure and creating jobs, encourage the creative classes to locate to these areas resulting in more even development. The United States of America has seen â€Å"Great success of Euclidean zoning† (Soule, 2007:27), zoning can be found as the foundation of many American development plans such as Chicago. With population numbers rising and a globalising economy; development is set to increase, it therefor vital sustainable planning policies are operating. This essay has displayed some possible reasons for why cities and regions might develop at different rates though theorist such as Florida (2005) and porter (2008), they suggest that Creative classes and competitiveness create uneven development. Friedman (2005) and Harvey (1989) argue against this idea of development being ‘spikey’ and suggest due to globalisation and a borderless economy; location is not important allowing development to take place at the same rate. Planning and development policy can play an influential role in addressing uneven development as well as maintaining sustainable development. This essay has displayed several effective policy schemes such as Bottom-up governance, land rights, taxation and land use zoning that have proved effective in tackling uneven development. In conclusion uneven develop ment is occurring; it is possible to tackle uneven development though successful policy however it must be remembered that many regions develop at different rates. Many of these are located in less economically developed countries which lack effectiveness in delivering successful policy. As a result its vital that these countries have the support form supra-national bodies such as The United Nations and World Bank in order to achieve development that addresses uneven development and is sustainable for future generations. Bibliography All Africa (2013) [ONLINE] http://allafrica.com/stories/201312300059.html (Assessed 22/1/14). Bailey, M, Kirkegaard, J (2004) â€Å"Transforming the European Economy†, The Institute for International Economics. Bradbury, J (2008) â€Å"Devolution, Regionalism and Regional Development: The UK Experience†, Routledge. Chetwyn, D. (2013) â€Å"Quick guide to neighbourhood plans†, Urban Vision Enterprise CIC. Das, P, S. (2005) â€Å"Decentralized Planning and Participatory Rural Development†, Concept Publishing Company. Euchner,C, McGovern, S (2003) â€Å"Urban Policy Reconsidered: Dialogues on the Problems and Prospects of American Cities. Fatas, A, Mihov, J (2009) â€Å"The 4 I’s of Economic Growth†, INSEAD. Feiock, R, C, Moon, M, J Park, H, J (2008) â€Å"Is the world â€Å"flat† or â€Å"spiky†? Rethinking the governance implications of globalization for economic development†, Public Administration Review. Florida, R (2005) â€Å"The world in numbers: the world is spikey†, The Atlantic Monthly October Edition. Florida, R (2002) â€Å"The Rise of the Creative Class: And How Its Transforming Work, Leisure, Community, and Everyday Life†, Basic Books. Friedman T, L (2005) â€Å"The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century†, Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Hall, P, V, Hesse, M (2013) â€Å"Cities, Regions and Flows†, Routledge. Harvey Hashimoto, H (2004) â€Å"Prospects for a Regional Human Rights Mechanism in East Asia†, Routledge. Held, D (2004) â€Å"A Globalizing World?: Culture, Economics, Politics†, Routledge. Huggins, R and Izushi, H (2011) â€Å"Competition, Competitive Advantage, and Clusters: The Ideas of Michael Porter†, Oxford University Press. Huggins, R and Izushi, H (2007) â€Å"Competing for Knowledge: Creating, Connecting and Growing†, Routledge. Huggins and Thompson (2010) â€Å"UK Competitiveness Index 2010†, University of Wales Institute of Cardiff. Leamer Linchfeild, N (1980) â€Å"Settlement Planning and Development: A Strategy for Land Policy†, University of British Columbia. Lipton, M (2009) â€Å"Land Reform in Developing Countries: Property Rights and Property Wrongs†, Routledge. Luo, Y (2002) â€Å"Multinational Enterprises in Emerging Markets† Copenhagen Business School Press. Mander, J, Baker, D (2002) â€Å"Does Globalisation help the poor†, Special report, International Forum on Globalisation Mayhew, S (2009) â€Å"A Dictionary of Geography†, Oxford University Press. Mellander, C, Florida, R, Asheim, B, T, Gertler, M (2014) â€Å"The Creative Class Goes Global†, Routledge. Nagle,G (1995) â€Å"Development and Underdevelopment†, Nelson. Ohmae, K (1995) â€Å"The end of the nation state: The rise of the regional economy†, New York Free Press. OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) (2006) â€Å"Policy Framework for Investment†, OECD Publishing. Porter, M, E (2008) â€Å"On Competition†, Harvard Business School Publishing. Porter, M, E (1990) â€Å"The Competitive Advantage of Nations†, MacMillan. Prasnikar, J (2006) â€Å"Competitiveness, Social Responsibility and Economic Growth†, Nova Science Publishers. Silberstein, J, Maser, C (2000) â€Å"Land-Use Planning for Sustainable Development†, CRC Press. Shirazi, J Shah, A (1991) â€Å"Tax Policy in Developing Countries†, The World Bank, Vol 19. Soule, D (2007) â€Å"Remaking American Communities: A Reference Guide to Urban Sprawl† Greenwood Press. Soule, D (2006) â€Å"Urban Sprawl: A Comprehensive Reference Guide†, Greenwood Press. Sander Shafaeddin, M (2012) â€Å"Competitiveness and Development: Myth and Realities†, Anthem Press. Stalder, F (2006) â€Å"Manuel Castells: The Theory of the Network Society†, Polity press. Stiglitz, J, E (2002) â€Å"Globalisms Discontents†, American Prospect. Stolarick, K, Florida, R (2006) †Creativity connections and innovation a study of linkages in the Montreal region†, Environment and planning, Vol 38 pp 1799-1817. Thrift, N May, J (2001) â€Å"Timespace: Geographies of Temporality†, Routledge. World Bank (2004) †2003 Annual Review of Development Effectiveness: The Effectiveness of Bank support for policy reform†, World Bank Operations Evaluation Department.

Essay --

The Fathers of Science Fiction One hundred and forty three years ago, on May Day science fiction was created (May). Some people consider H.G Wells, and Jules Verne to be the Fathers of science fiction. Many people have been influenced by both of the writers work and Stories. Science fiction has changed and adapted through time, but the classics have still remained. H.G wells and Jules Verne have astounded many people with their imagery and how the plot is simple but has little twists here and there to keep the reader on edge. they had both created many famous works such as The Time Machine, War of The Worlds , 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Both of these famous authors have many influences, awards, novels and an interesting biography with some hidden twists. British Author H.G Wells wrote a famous book known as the Time Machine that had been described as an overnight literary sensation (Zohar). When Wells published the novel War of the Worlds Orson Wells broadcasted the book on the radio claiming aliens landed in New Jersey and caused a massive...

Admission to the MBA Program

The European Union and the Government of China combined forces in 1994, to set up an internationally acclaimed Business School. It is the best in China and offers an MBA program that compares favorably with the best in the world. It has the unique distinction of being the only Asian institute to receive international rankings.This school is located in Shanghai and its faculty is the best in the field. Only the highly experienced and knowledgeable are appointed as teachers in this school. Its full time MBA program is excellent. Moreover, there is the added attraction of the comparatively low cost of living in Shanghai (CEIBS – China Europe International Business School, 2005).Globalization has changed the world and multinational corporations rule the roost. This has brought vast changes to the economies of the region. Further, in the Asian region, countries like China and India have proved to be vibrant economies. They are developing very fast and have proved far superior to th e previous Asian tigers, who in the end had wound up as paper tigers.This is the economic situation that interests me immensely and which has possessed my imagination. The Chinese with their skilled and highly dedicated manpower are making a significant difference in the consumer industry and to a certain extent in computer software. They manufacture high quality fireworks, cell phones, television sets and other consumer electronic goods. Moreover, these goods are far cheaper than the goods manufactured in the developed countries.In order to penetrate into this scenario in an effective manner, it is essential to procure an international MBA degree. Such a degree is provided by the China Europe International Business School. Moreover, I want to enhance my contacts with international professionals in this field, in order to gain a mastery over the nuances that govern these economies.The future of economic development will be in the Asian region and I want to be actively involved in th is growth. As a person belonging to this region, I will have the added advantage of being able to identify pockets of potential economic growth. This will make me very good at identifying investment opportunities. In addition, I would like to start an investment fund in Asia, which would cater to the needs of the American investors.I have quite a bit of experience in managing in the most difficult of situations. I was posted as a Non – Commissioned Officer in the Marine Corp. I used to head a thirteen man platoon of marines on daily patrols in Iraq. In addition, to completing my set mission with minimum loss to my platoon, I also used to play the role of the platoon translator, due to my knowledge of Arabic, and I used to liaison with the Iraqis.This stint in the army, under the most adverse of conditions, made me an expert in managing situations, where most of the mistakes had a fatal outcome. This taught me to work without committing mistakes. Prior to my tenure in the army , I had worked with the Central Intelligence Agency. In addition, I have a BBA in finance from the University of Texas at Austin. Moreover, I am an acknowledged authority in dispute advisory services, complex data management, claims management and bankruptcy.Financial modeling is not only complex but also fascinating; I had the opportunity to create an invaluable tool for a billion dollar insurance entity. This tool was instrumental in analyzing policies in the tens of thousands, in order to establish the adequacy of the amount of premium being charged.Another area of my expertise is in the application of Oracle to finance and accounting. In this endeavor, I developed reporting functions for a telecom company, whose turnover was in billions. This company’s offline production database was developed by me. Moreover, I was actively involved in the preparation of a number of crucial reports for the management of that company.In another instance, I used my skill with databases to develop a very useful database for a health insurance company. In this project I used Oracle as well Access. I am very well up in financial consulting and had assisted a multinational banking corporation. In addition to my proficiency with Arabic I am also very well up with Mandarin Chinese.This is just a sampling of my numerous achievements and it goes without saying that I possess quite a bit of practical knowledge regarding management and business administration. It is my heartfelt desire to enhance my practical knowledge in these subjects with exemplary theoretical knowledge and an MBA from the China Europe International Business School would be extremely useful in this regard.ReferencesCEIBS – China Europe International Business School. (2005). Retrieved January 29, 2008, from hobsons MBA

Mattel’s China Experience: A Crisis in Toyland Essay

In 2007, Mattel a California based toy company shockingly recalled 19 million toys that had been manufactured in China. Mattel was founded in 1944, and has produced iconic toys such as Barbie and Hot Wheels. The company had a long established trust with their consumers that had been forged from decades of reliability. However, when the company recalled 19 million toys due to health and safety violations, consumer confusion and outrage soared. The public wanted to know how such an established company’s safety regulations could fail, how Mattel was addressing the issue, and whether consumers could trust Mattel to produce reliable toys in the future. Mattel had been a long time leader in the toy industry. Mattel and its main competitor Hasbro held control of over a third of the toy market, even in an industry with over 900 manufactures. However, there had been shifting trends in the toy industry. New electronics and video games were becoming increasingly popular among older children. Since Mattel manufactured classic toys such as dolls, the shifting trend forced the company to focus on marketing towards young children under the age of 12. While this segment responds well to Mattel’s products, they also are the most at risk of endangering themselves. The younger the children, the more likely they are to put toys in their mouth. This behavior puts children at risk of choking or ingesting harmful chemicals. Even with new adversities in the toy industry, Mattel remained a global leader. As seen in Exhibit A, a SWOT analysis of the company, Mattel had many different strengths that kept it a favorite among consumers. Some of its most significant strengths included its reputable brand name among consumers and its successful marketing of toys through children’s entertainment. Even with changing toy preferences, Mattel was growing internationally. In Exhibit B you can see Mattel’s global sales. While Asia only made up a quarter of Mattel’s sales, they were forecasted to grow 25% annually. Sales in Asia could help combat Mattel’s plateauing market in the United States. The company seemed like it was in a strong position. As early as the 1970s Mattel was manufacturing products in China in order to  take advantage of lower costs and enable corporate resources to focus on establishing the brand. By 2007, nearly 65% of Mattel products were produced in China. Mattel used a combination of company-run plants and a network of contract manufacturers. Exhibit C displays a simplified example of Mattel’s supply chain after moving production to China. Global production obviously had major benefits for Mattel, the country factors of China gave it a comparative cost advantage over producing in the U.S., and outsourcing enabled Mattel to remain profitable in an increasingly competitive toy industry. However, outsourcing does have disadvantages, a global supply chain increases the challenges to regulate and enforce quality. While Mattel had been a leader in safety standard and regulation, even collaborating with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) as well as establishing Global Manufacturin g Principals (GMPs) the regulatory standards in place were not thorough enough. In 2007, quality issues surfaced within Mattel as various products were found to contain levels way beyond U.S. federal toy safety regulations. During the year, other issues surfaced with Mattel products surrounding the safety hazard of magnetic pieces used in their toys. By the end of 2007 Mattel recalled over 19 million toys. The recall of such large quantities of product left consumers shocked and demanding to know how Mattel could be so unreliable. The reason for the safety hazards in Mattel’s products was do to their lack of direct oversight of contract manufactures in China. Mattel wanted to cut manufacturing costs and decrease lead time, which resulted in increasing pressure by their contracted manufactures to find inexpensive materials quickly. Under the same cost-saving initiatives, Mattel was increasing the amount of goods at distribution centers making it more difficult to preform thorough quality checks. Had Mattel ensured their contracted manufactures were sourcing from proper suppliers, and preformed quality checks before products went to retailers, the recall most likely could have been avoided. Instead, Mattel set guidelines, and hoped on little more than good faith that they GMPs were followed. Hasbro, Mattel’s main competitor has a similar supply chain in place, but avoided the lead paint crisis due to their commitment to inspection. Hasbro set standards for lead paint that were higher than U.S. regulatory standards, and took proper measures to make sure their foreign contractors were also following the same standard. Hasbro  placed their own quality assurance inspectors on factory floors, and inspects each product again before it went to retailers. Hasbro’s extra commitment to quality helps the company deliver a safe and reliable product to customers. Due to the lack of quality management Mattel announced a voluntary recall of some products. While they did report the safety hazard, they reportedly took months to gather information and investigate the problem before publically announcing it. However, under regulatory rules, even potentially hazardous products are supposed to be reported within 24 hours. Mattel did explain to the customers that the lead paint was due to bad behavior by their contracted manufactures in China, easing many parents minds that Mattel would correct the issue. Then, Mattel actually apologized to regulatory officials in China, taking the blame for the quality management issue, especially since the dangerous magnetic toy component was Mattel’s design. This action left many customers wondering who was at fault and if they could trust Mattel again. While Mattel’s contracted manufactures should have been following the GMPs regulations set by the company, it is ultimately the responsibility of the company to ensure their employees are preforming to the proper standard. Parents just want to be sure that their young children will be safe playing with Mattel toys, even if the child puts the toy in its mouth. Establishing quality checks similar to Hasbro will enable Mattel to deliver a better regulated, and ultimately safer product to their customers. Exhibit D shows how where Mattel should place quality checks in their supply chain. Quality check one will ensure that the materials being sourced meet U.S. regulatory standards, even abroad. These types of checks could have helped Mattel avoid the lead paint recall. Quality check 2 ensures the overall standard of the product; this type of check could have helped the company avoid the flawed magnetic design recall. Having a global supply chain gives companies like Mattel many comparative advantages, such as lower production costs, but also comes with more responsibility to ensure product quality regulations. When Mattel failed to  take the proper precautions to thoroughly inspect their products they put young children at risk of exposure to hazardous materials. While this significantly damaged Mattel’s public reputation, the company can still take measures to improve its process. By implementing more quality inspections throughout their supply chain Mattel can avoid future scandals like the 2007 recalls, and gain back the trust of their customers. Exhibits: Exhibit A Mattel SWOT Analysis Exhibit B Exhibit C Mattel’s Supply Chain Exhibit D Mattel’s Improved Supply Chain Work Cited Vollmer, Sabine. â€Å"How to Become One of the World’s Most Ethical Companies.† How to Become One of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. CGMA Magazine, 27 Mar. 2014. Web. 03 Apr. 2014. â€Å"Toy Safety.† Safe Kids Worldwide RSS. Safe Kids Worldwide, n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2014. Hill, Charles W. L. Global Business Today. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2006. Print. Teagarden, Mary. â€Å"Mattel’s China Experience: A Crisis in Toyland.† Mattel’s China Experience: A Crisis in Toyland (2007): n. pag. Print.

Writing About History Is Writing Toward Truth

Writing About History Is Writing Toward Truth Writing About History Is Writing Toward Truth Writing About History Is Writing Toward Truth By Mark Nichol The latest chapter in the depressing saga of Sarah Palin’s losing battle with chronic foot-in-mouth disease illustrates a point writers and editors should take careful notes about, because it’s going to be on the test. It has to do with history and repeating, but not with history repeating itself. It has to do with repeating accounts of historical events. Palin was in the news again last week because she recently made some confused statements about Paul Revere’s legendary ride, implying that one purpose of the mission was to warn the British military occupation that colonial militiamen were prepared to oppose their advance through Massachusetts to arrest rebel ringleaders and confiscate munitions. So, where’s the writing tip amid the historical histrionics? First, I readily concede that Palin is not an entirely reliable source of American history. But, in her defense, she actually got it partly right, and her detractors are also mistaken in some respects. Here’s the background: The legend of Paul Revere we all know from history class and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is just that a legend. His ride is historical, but the details, as they’ve been handed down to us, are a bit muddled: Paul Revere was not a lone hero galloping off in the moonlight to rouse unprepared farmers and villagers to repel a surprise British advance. He was just a minor part of a long-prepared, well-organized network of planners, couriers, and militiamen who had rehearsed for the eventuality of the military maneuver, which they knew was inevitable. It was Longfellow’s poem that elevated a fairly trivial historical figure into an icon of the American Revolution. The most egregious issue in the latest Palin controversy is that one of her supporters attempted to revise Wikipedia’s Paul Revere page to deflect criticism of her. The intent was to support her by introducing a comment suggesting that it would have been odd for Revere to cry out, â€Å"The British are coming!† when those who responded to his call identified themselves by that term of nationality. A Wikipedia monitor rejected the change, but the truth is that it’s a valid point: Revere’s warning likely referred to â€Å"the regulars,† not â€Å"the British,† to announce the impending arrival of regular British army units. The British colonists in America were just that: British subjects. Many of them were disgruntled British subjects, but on the eve of the battles of Lexington and Concord, in April 1775, most of them remained loyal to the British crown and wanted not independence, but redress of grievances. Furthermore, British army scouts captured Revere before he accomplished his entire mission. It is at this point that he reportedly informed his captors of the stout defense they could expect if the army unit marched inland; one purpose of this challenge was evidently to try to divert them from the vicinity of the farmhouse where rebel leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock were in hiding. If this is true, then Sarah Palin’s comments are essentially accurate. On this point this post hinges: History is a work constantly in revision. Unfortunately, it is a target also of revisionism, and it is difficult to wade through legend and lore and romanticized heritage to reach the truth. And truth is asymptotic; you will never arrive at it. Walk halfway to a destination. Walk halfway again. And again. Repeat into infinity. You’ll never technically arrive, but you’ll get closer and it is incumbent on writers, when discussing history (or current events), to step ever forward toward the destination of truth. Resist complacent reliance on schoolbook history. Reject the partisan playbook. Read multiple sources of history and information originating from all along the ideological spectrum. Judge what you read and what you write by the standards of objectivity. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:70 "Home" Idioms and ExpressionsSocial vs. Societal35 Synonyms for Rain and Snow

Definition and Examples of Online Reading

Definition and Examples of Online Reading Definition Online reading is the process of extracting meaning from a text that is in a digital format. Also called digital reading. Most researchers agree that the experience of reading online (whether on a PC or a mobile device) is fundamentally different from the experience of reading print materials. As discussed below, however, the nature and quality of these different experiences (as well as the particular skills required for proficiency) are still being debated and explored. See Examples and Observations  below. Also see: ReadingThe Advantages of Slow Reading and Slow Writing Close Reading and Deep Reading How to Become a Creative ReaderOnline WritingReaderReading Speed Writers on Reading Examples and Observations Unlike reading print sources, reading online is nonlinear. When you read a book or an article in print, you follow a reading sequence- beginning at the start of the text and progressing through the text systematically. However, when you read information online, you frequently jump around from source to source using hyperlinks that direct you to a different Web page.(Christine Evans Carter, Mindscapes: Critical Reading Skills and Strategies, 2nd ed. Wadsworth, Cengage, 2014) Comparing Print and Digital Reading ExperiencesCertainly, as we turn to online reading, the physiology of the reading process itself shifts; we don’t read the same way online as we do on paper. . . .When Ziming Liu, a professor at San Jose State University whose research centers on digital reading and the use of e-books, conducted a review of studies that compared print and digital reading experiences, . . . he found that several things had changed. On screen, people tended to browse and scan, to look for k eywords, and to read in a less linear, more selective fashion. On the page, they tended to concentrate more on following the text. Skimming, Liu concluded, had become the new reading: the more we read online, the more likely we were to move quickly, without stopping to ponder any one thought. . . .[P]erhaps digital reading isn’t worse so much as different than print reading. Julie Coiro, who studies digital reading comprehension in elementary- and middle-school students at the University of Rhode Island, has found that good reading in print doesn’t necessarily translate to good reading on-screen. The students do not only differ in their abilities and preferences; they also need different sorts of training to excel at each medium. The online world, she argues, may require students to exercise much greater self-control than a physical book. In reading on paper, you may have to monitor yourself once, to actually pick up the book, she says. On the Internet, that monitoring and self-regulation cycle happens again and again.(Maria Konnikova, Being a Better Online Reader. The New Yorker, July 16, 2014) Developing New Skills for Online Reading- How does the nature of writing and reading change on the Internet? What, if any, new literacies do we require? We are just discovering the answers to these questions (Afflerbach Cho, 2008). First, it appears that online reading comprehension typically takes place within a research and problem-solving task (Coiro Castek, 2010). In short, online reading is online research. Second, online reading also becomes tightly integrated with writing, as we communicate with others to learn more about the questions we explore and as we communicate our own interpretations. A third difference that exists is that new technologies . . . are used online. Additional skills are required to use each of these technologies effectively. . . .Finally, and perhaps most importantly, online reading may require even greater amounts of higher-level thinking than offline reading. In a context in which anyone may publish anything, higher-level thinking skills such as crit ical evaluation of source material and understanding an authors point of view become especially important online.(Donald J. Leu, Elena Forani. and Clint Kennedy, Providing Classroom Leadership in New Literacies. The Administration and Supervision of Reading Programs, 5th ed., edited by Shelley B. Wepner, Dorothy S. Strickland, and Diana J. Quatroche. Teachers College Press, 2014)- [E]ncouraging students to take on a leadership role in sharing their online skills and strategies has proven to be a beneficial means of promoting acquisition of the new literacies of online reading comprehension (Castek, 2008). The findings from this study suggest that students learn online reading comprehension skills best from other students, within the context of challenging activities designed by the teacher. Increased levels of challenge appeared to prompt students to try multiple approaches to making sense of complex information and encouraged them to think deeply about solving problems.(Jacquelynn A. Malloy, Jill M. Castek, and Donald J. Leu, Silent Reading and Online Reading Comprehension. Revisiting Silent Reading: New Directions for Teachers and Researchers, ed. by Elfrieda H. Hiebert and D. Ray Reutzel. International Reading Association, 2010) Reading More, Remembering Less?We might have more access to information than ever before, but reading things online actually has a negative impact on peoples cognition.[In a study conducted at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand,] associate professor Val Hooper and masters student Channa Heraths analysis of online and offline reading behaviour found that online reading generally does not have a positive impact on peoples cognition.Concentration, comprehension, absorption and recall rates when engaging with online material were all much lower than traditional text.This is despite people getting through more material thanks to skim reading and scanning online material.(Internet Makes Us Stupid: Study. Sydney Morning Herald [Australia], July 12, 2014) The Transition to Digital ReadingIts still words being taken in on a computer screen, and for millions of people it is a daily occurrence, one that now seems as natural to them as anything else in their lives. To think that mil lions wont be willing or able to make the transition to an overall digital reading experience is naà ¯ve. In large measure, people already do the majority of their reading digitally.(Jeff Gomez, Print Is Dead: Books in Our Digital Age. Macmillan, 2008) The Lighter Side of Online ReadingAnyway, Ive done lots of research for the past, you know, few hours, and I found out that most people will believe anything they read. And I know its true because, you know, I . . . I read it online somewhere.(Dr. Doofenshmirtz, Ferb Latin/Lotsa Latkes. Phineas and Ferb, 2011)

Andrew Jackson Interview

For my first question, relate how important you feel the Battle of New Orleans was in setting up your true political career. In your answer, please include your reaction to the fact the battle occurred after the War of 1812 had officially ended. Jackson: Hello! I would have to say that the Battle of New Orleans was a success, because the British acknowledged that we claimed Louisiana and West Florida. Let was a tough battle, but it was successful in the end! This battle, lead to the ratification of the Treaty of Gent.Also, this course of events made America a more stronger nation and proved that I am a good and powerful leader. Because the Battle occurred after the end of War of 1 812, I was not ere surprised that it happened, and a little disappointed, but life goes on. History, AP: Please explain the Corrupt Bargain from your point of view. !! Jackson: So, the presidential election was happening. John Quince Adams, Henry Clay and myself were running. Something that stopped me from winning was the fact that the rule stated that I must have at least half of the votes, which, in my opinion, was totally irrelevant. I know I was the strongest and most suited person to become president, and felt a bit betrayed by me fellow Americans. Anyways, felt like was being left out Of the picture. Since clay had very little toes, and Adams was right behind me, believed that they made an alliance, in order for John to become president , and for Clay to be appointed something in his party. L was a bit discouraged after all this. !US History, AP: To what extent was the election of 1 828 a victory not only for yourself but also for the common man?Jackson: I felt like we still were not the Nation that we actually wanted to achieve. The thing is that a fair election cannot happen since Women, African Americans and Natives could not vote. They are part of the population as well, so the votes would not completely add up. Any ways, it was a huge step cause it didnt matter anymore how rich or if you were part of the clergy, you could vote. Every man had the right to vote. It was fantastic that it was the first election of this type! US History, AP: Your enemies have begun calling you King Andrew. Would you please give any reasons for this epithet?What examples from your life and career would you offer to refute this moniker? !Jackson: Basically, have done many rightful things, and fought for a major cause. I was the one that stopped the legislative branch from getting too much power. Another reason for me being called king Andrew was because I vetoed he Second Bank of the United States. L was called that because I also fought against the Native American removal from the Worcester area-My brave thoughts and decisions made my low class enemies call me that, however love this country as it were my own, and I believe things will get better. US History, AP: Explain how giving governmental positions to your loyal followers is more democratic than leaving these positions with the old officeholders. Would like our country to reach the peak of the ladder. I felt like my fellow , loyal followers deserved this, so offered them governmental positions. Of course, y selection was not blindly made, I selected the most suited people for the job. Wanted change, and change is one part of democracy. L wanted to replace my old officers, because I wanted change, hence taking steps toward democracy. US History, AP: Your own vice president, John C. Calhoun, raised the issue of nullification. Why were you so strongly opposed to this doctrine that you were willing to send in troops to enforce federal laws? Jackson: I personally feel like our country needs a string Federal government, and it was certainly not going to achieve it by having all the states freely nullifying the rowers of enforcement. John, was trying to build up on Mandarins and Jefferson ideas. This was all a bad idea.II-AS History, AP: As a follow-up, what future impact do you think Calhoun doctrine of nullification will have on the United States? Jackson: His ideas were brought from the Virginia and Kentucky resolution. These supported the individual state legislature. L feel like this will be a never resting issue, throughout time, because people will never be satisfied with the way government controls the country. US History, AP: We will now move on to the Second Bank of the United States. Here is a copy of your Bank Veto Message for the Bank Recharge Act.

Understanding Culture Shock Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Understanding Culture Shock - Essay Example In the movie, Ashoke Ganguli (Irfan Khan) brings his new bride Ashima (Tabu) to New York (location change from a book!) from Calcutta. She shrinks his sweaters in the wash, eats her breakfast cereal with peanuts and chili powder, and generally does the best she can to adapt to this cold new country. Their first son is nicknamed Gogol after Ashoke’s favorite author, a placeholder name as they wait for a â€Å"good name† to come from Ashima’s mother in India. This pet name, however, takes hold, at least until Gogol Ganguli (Kal Pen) decides in high school to change his name back to his good name - Nikhil. He grows up, becomes an architect, rebels against his parents by dating a wealthy white girl (Jacinda Barret), then falls for a Bengali girl (Zuleikha Robinson) and attempts to reconcile his two names, two identities Some of the symptoms of culture shock as seen in the movie are excessive concern over cleanliness and the feeling that what is new and strange is "dirty." This could be in relation to drinking water, food, dishes, and bedding; fear of physical contact with attendants or servants; a feeling of helplessness and a desire for dependence on long-term residents of one's own nationality; irritation over delays and other minor frustrations out of proportion to their causes; delay and outright refusal to learn the language of the host country. Individuals differ greatly in the degree to which culture shock affects them.  

Has NAFTA proven beneficial to the American economy Explain Essay

Has NAFTA proven beneficial to the American economy Explain - Essay Example United States also made certain alteration in their international trade strategies. As because of NAFTA, Mexico’s export increased to a significant amount and Canada became huge market for America. It has been claimed that NAFTA has been a success for all the member countries, but reality is little different. It is true that there are certain significant economic improvements that have taken place due to NAFTA, but that is one side of the coin as also there are certain major disadvantages of NAFTA which include job losses, problems regarding environment, declining standards of safety and health etc. NAFTA’s major objective was to remove the trade barriers and increase free trade between its member countries. NAFTA, although, has improved the export growth of its member countries, but at the same time it has resulted into many critical economic as well as environmental problems for its member countries. Among various disadvantages of NAFTA, most important one is the loss of jobs in United States. Manufacturers in United States, because of NAFTA, got the freedom of outsourcing or moving jobs to Mexico. Mexican labors are available at a cost which is much lower than that of American labor. As a result of this manufacturers shifted their production unit to Mexico, and rules in NAFTA allowed them to do so legally. This resulted huge job losses in manufacturing industry in US. Manufacturers, who continued their operation in US, reduced the salary of US workers. Almost 879,280 jobs were lost in US during the time period of 1994 to 2002. There was actually significant increase in job creation from 1994 to 2000. But from 2001 unemployment started to increase and by October, 2003 almost 2.4 millions people lost their job. Apart from manufacturing industry, other industries which moved to Mexico include textiles, electrical appliances, computer etc. States which were badly affected include T exas, California, Michigan and New York. Apart form these job

Family history Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Family history - Essay Example My parents would also take us out for a treat after these classes and this was another thing that made us always look forward to Fridays. Both my paternal and maternal uncles and aunts are also staunch Muslims and as a result of this factor, all of my cousins have been brought up to become Muslims. In retrospect, I guess that I never really understood what it meant for one to be a Muslim until my grandparents paid us a long visit during one summer vacation when I was about 9 years old. When my grandparents paid us a visit, I soon noticed that my grandfather had the habit of rolling out his prayer mat and praying up to five times a day. To me, this was oddly peculiar as I was accustomed to seeing my family pray in the morning before everyone left the house for the day and in the evening when we all got back home safely. My curiosity led me to question my grandfather why he was always praying. I will never forget the genial smile that he gave me as his old wrinkled face beamed at me. He picked me up and settled me on his knees and then explained to me that to him, being a good Muslim was not just praying and going to the Mosque every Friday, instead Islam for him was a way of life. He explained to me that to him being a good Muslim should be evident in all his actions and thoughts. As a nine year old kid, what my grandfather said to me that day did not really make any sense but as I grew older, I came to gradually realize the profound wisdom that was embedded in tha t short talk that I had with my grandfather. Although all my paternal and maternal relatives are all Muslims, their devotion to the faith is quite different. While my father’s family is quite devote to the faith, my maternal family is a bit more liberal and most of them do not pray on a daily basis and at times, some of my cousins sometimes fail to go to the mosque on Friday and instead stay at home either watching movies or playing video games.I once asked one of my maternal aunts why

Case study 3 Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Case study 3 - Article Example Harrah’s marketing strategy Harrah’s marketing strategy is guided by the principle of 80/20 whereby 80 percent of the revenues come from 20 percent of the most loyal and satisfied customers of a business. As such, marketing practices of Harrah’s have always been customer-centric keeping their preferences in mind and avoiding huge and unnecessary investments in infrastructure and property building. Harrah’s not only gained customer loyalty but also rewarded it from time to time which established long term relations with its customers. On the contrary, Harrah’s competitors had been very stereotypic in their marketing approach by spending frivolously on hotels and building properties without paying any attention to capturing greater customer base which ultimately swept them away from competition. Total Rewards Program at Harrah Harrah’s total rewards program, earlier known as Total Gold is a customer loyalty program which retains and tracks the information of Harrah’s customers and also rewards them on the basis of careful segregation of most profitable and active customers. In the context of business intelligence, this program retains each and every entry, exit or gaming information of all the Harrah’s customers and classifies them on the basis of their loyalty and activeness.

Writing issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Writing issues - Essay Example Even if I understand that a written message should be coherent and properly organized, I have realized that my essays always lack this quality. After a careful evaluation of my written works, I found out that I am not well organized, creative and thoughtful (Chandler 26). My efforts to communicate through my writings do not bear fruit since my messages are not arranged in a flowing, interesting and convincing manner. Most of the times, my points are left hanging without being justified. Besides, I find it difficult to use comma. As one of the punctuation marks, comma should always be properly used. It has a lot of uses that vary from time to time and from article to article. For the message to be delivered to the readers, it needs to be appropriately used. However, because I do not know how to use it, my writings have been confusing. At times, they even lose meaning as they are misinterpreted by the readers. In order to appeal to my audience, I need to be more organized in my writings. Meaning, I should be keen on the way I use words and phrases. A part from using conjunctions to make my work coherent, I need to properly structure my writings. They should always start from the introduction and end with the conclusion (Rogers 40). If this is done, the writings will be readable and understandable to anyone who gets an opportunity to access them. Besides, I need to learn to be thoughtful, imaginative and creative. Writing should not just be done for the sake of it. It should be a means of communicating to others. However, if it bores, no one would waste their time reading them. In this regard, I will have to ensure that I improve on these areas. They can make my writings to get the approval of the readers. Otherwise, I will be writing for myself (Boltz 722). On the other hand, I need to look for ways through which I can improve the use of comma. First, I should spend adequate time at the Writing Centre. Here, I

Industry Analysis, Target Market, and Competition Analysis of Plastic Essay

Industry Analysis, Target Market, and Competition Analysis of Plastic Surgery Center in Morris County, NJ - Essay Example Plastic Surgery Center in Morris County, NJ is one of the most well-known centers in this region. The present marketing activity of Plastic Surgery Center in Morris County profiles as well as overviews industry and situational analysis. A comprehensive overview of the SWOT and industry on the whole give insights on marketing strategy to follow in order to retain existing and attract new customers, who would become regulars. Thus, the analysis identifies marketing problem and offers marketing focus, objectives, program as well as tactics for the marketing plan implementation. The final part provides information on evaluation and control of the marketing implementation. The Plastic Surgery Center provides beauty services to men and women. The main types of services are Breast augmentation, Breast lift, Breast reconstruction, facelift, liposuction, total body lift, Botox, laser skin resurfacing, chemical peels, different types of message, etc. Plastic Surgery Center surgeons pride themselves on superb-quality services with innovative and stunning technology that provide excellent value to the customers. Plastic Surgery Center has positioned itself as a provider of superior service and products to all clients at an affordable price in convenient locations appealing to all family members. The centre has managed to position itself on the high-end of the service providing due to high standards for its customers, who are specially trained for high performance and consulting (Black 44). The strategic focus of all companies in this industry is providing hairdressing services with the superior quality and value for the customers. Efforts are aimed at providing friendly, efficient service from professional surgeons who are well-trained doctors to make the experience memorable and provide for loyal customers. The efforts are incorporated with the Centre's mission and vision as well as with the corporate culture instilled in the team, which according to the company's belief are the things that can bring a big difference (Doyle and Stern 98). The Plastic Surgery Center vision statementis to be a great business that is based on principles of: Profitability Friendliness Creativeness Consistency Great Value Cutting Edge Community mindedness ("Practice Philosophy". 2009). The Plastic Surgery Center puts emphasis on its clients receiving a service of a great value. The goal of marketing campaign, thus, is to retain existing customers and attract new customers, who would become long-term regular loyal customers, by the means of primary services as well as pleasant additional elements, which range from prices to the superior professional and products in terms of provided services. Situation analysis provides an insight on the Centre's position within the industry as well as overview of competitors, customers, industry trends. SWOT analysis outlines Plastic Surgery Center key strengths and weaknesses as well as describes opportunities and threats that its salons may face (Plastic Surgery Center in Morris County NJ 2009). Strengths Established brand equity and name in the industry Strong and business committed franchisees Well-trained medical professionals with high standard skills and creative customer-focused approaches Convenient locations and physical evidence elements in the centres, which are located

Writing issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Writing issues - Essay Example Even if I understand that a written message should be coherent and properly organized, I have realized that my essays always lack this quality. After a careful evaluation of my written works, I found out that I am not well organized, creative and thoughtful (Chandler 26). My efforts to communicate through my writings do not bear fruit since my messages are not arranged in a flowing, interesting and convincing manner. Most of the times, my points are left hanging without being justified. Besides, I find it difficult to use comma. As one of the punctuation marks, comma should always be properly used. It has a lot of uses that vary from time to time and from article to article. For the message to be delivered to the readers, it needs to be appropriately used. However, because I do not know how to use it, my writings have been confusing. At times, they even lose meaning as they are misinterpreted by the readers. In order to appeal to my audience, I need to be more organized in my writings. Meaning, I should be keen on the way I use words and phrases. A part from using conjunctions to make my work coherent, I need to properly structure my writings. They should always start from the introduction and end with the conclusion (Rogers 40). If this is done, the writings will be readable and understandable to anyone who gets an opportunity to access them. Besides, I need to learn to be thoughtful, imaginative and creative. Writing should not just be done for the sake of it. It should be a means of communicating to others. However, if it bores, no one would waste their time reading them. In this regard, I will have to ensure that I improve on these areas. They can make my writings to get the approval of the readers. Otherwise, I will be writing for myself (Boltz 722). On the other hand, I need to look for ways through which I can improve the use of comma. First, I should spend adequate time at the Writing Centre. Here, I

The Readers Response To The Novel Essay Example for Free

The Readers Response To The Novel Essay Written by Mary Shelley in 1816, Frankenstein is a novel that conveys several messages and themes. It was written at a time of social and political upheaval: the incredible advances in science and movements in art and culture were changing the way people lived dramatically. For example, the use of electricity, the French Revolution and the Romantic Movement, were leading people to have totally radical, bohemian lifestyles. Shelley allowed these revolutionary ideas to move and inspire her, enabling her to write one of the most remarkable and intriguing pieces of literature in the world. In the novel, Shelley uses three narrators: Robert Walton; Victor Frankenstein; and the monster, or modern Prometheus, as he was intended to be. The purpose of this essay is to explore what effect this has on our response to the novel overall. I shall do this by explaining how they affect our understanding of the main themes of the novel; the complex time and structure; and the narrators as characters. Mary Shelleys classic novel discusses three major themes: ambition and its consequences; the importance of family; and community and isolation. Victors horrific tale shows how blind ambition and ruthlessness can destroy you morally and physically. This happens to Victor as he loses everything dear to him and eventually his own life. Upon hearing Victors story of death and revenge, suffering and loneliness, Walton gives up his own ambition of discovering the North Pole, realising that he has sacrificed his sister for his obsession with success. Thus he is saved before it is to late. Victor on the other hand has caused his own downfall: he becomes so obsessed with his creation that he neglects his family by refusing to go home when Elizabeth writes to him. This ultimately leads to the deaths of his family, Justine and William are killed in the monsters fit of revenge, and his suffering and loneliness begin to devour him. The theme of the importance of family is reinforced throughout the novel. From Victors idyllic childhood, My mothers tender caresses, and my fathers smile of benevolent pleasure while regarding me, are my first recollections, to the monsters grief at his fathers death, close family relationships are regarded as precious and wonderful. This may be because Shelley lost her own mother when she was very young, and used her own personal experience to inspire her. Both Walton and Victor take their relationships with their sisters for granted, sacrificing them to pursue their own dreams. Victors experience shows that you cant have both: your family and your career to flourish. This idea id introduced very early in the book, when Victors departure to university is delayed by the death of his mother from Scarlet Fever.

Public Interest Is Used To Justify Regulation Media Essay

Public Interest Is Used To Justify Regulation Media Essay Public interest is a concept that can be high-jacked by journalists themselves: a plea of in the public interest is a favourite defence for journalism under attack. It is at the heart of the argument about the extent to which prying reporters and cameras should be allowed to invade personal privacy. The Ofcom code says that Where broadcasters wish to justify an infringement of privacy, they should be able to demonstrate why in the particular circumstances of the case, it is in the public interest. Examples of public interest would include revealing or detecting crime, protecting public health or safety, exposing misleading claims made by individuals or organizations or disclosing incompetence that affects the public. The BBC also has its own guidelines as it seeks to balance the public interest in freedom of expression with the legitimate expectation of privacy by individuals. There is no single definition of public interest, it includes but is not confined to: exposing or detecting crime, exposing significantly anti-social behaviour by those holding high office, preventing people from being misled by some statement or action of an individual or organisation, disclosing information that allows people to make a significantly more informed decision about matters of public importance. However, neither media code or attempts a full definition of the public interest. The BBC requires a higher public interest test for secretly recording in a private place where the public do not have access, secretly recording medical treatments, secretly recording identifiable people in grief or under extremes of stress both in public and semi-public. There are also some arguments over the media whether they are serving the public interest or interesting the public. Public/social purpose media should be informing and educating, but medias are more likely to weigh up the market-driven news values nowadays. The news media are failing to serve the public interest because of the following points: Firstly, abuse of individual right to privacy Privacy and alleged invasions of privacy by the media are central issues in the ethics of journalism. Clearly, we live in a society that values personal privacy, and is concerned about intrusions into privacy from whatever source, including the media. Yet, perhaps paradoxically, we also live in a society that thrives on publicity, or at least one in which many individuals depend on publicity for their lives and activities. This seeming paradox is usually defused by drawing a distinction between the private and the public aspects of peoples lives, and by further claiming that there is indeed a right to privacy, but that in certain circumstances the right can be overridden in the name of the public interest. This account of the matter accepts that in such circumstances an invasion of privacy has actually occurred but that the invasion can be justified by an appeal to a greater good. The right to privacy is no more than a presumption ( though an important one), and that where some information about an individual that he or she would prefer to keep private should be in the public domain, then putting it there is not overriding that individuals right to privacy because no such right ever existed concerning this aspect of the persons life. There is, on this account, no such thing as a justifiable invasion of privacy because justification is in fact a demonstration that no privacy could properly be claimed in the first place. On this account, all invasions of privacy are unjustifiable. This is particularly important in the case of politicians and others who occupy similar positions in society. Thus a politician who has his or her secret love nest exposed in the press is not the victim of an invasion of privacy, because scandalous behaviour of this nature cannot legitimately claim the protection of privacy. This is not simply because politicians are in the public eye, but because they, and others in business and the media as well, wield power in society, and all aspects of the exercise of power must be open to public scrutiny. This is the only way to avoid corruption in public life, and by corruption. I mean more than financial chicanery. I do not say that politicians are not entitled to privacy, but that they are not entitled to abuse the right to privacy. In a democracy those who wield power cannot decide for themselves where to draw the boundary between the public and the private aspects of their lives. In spite of the recent introduction in the UK of some legislative safeguards in the first two areas, there is a little that members of the public can do to assure themselves that their privacy is not being abused here. They simply do not know what is going on an cannot find out, for such abuse is normally hidden at source, even though it might have actual consequences for peoples lives. With invasions of privacy by the press it is wholly different, for here the victim obviously knows. This might explain why there is a considerable outery against invasions of privacy by the press even though this is less harmful to individuals and the democratic political process than abuses in the other two areas for here is an open target, easily identifiable, to soak up the publics concern and wrath. Hence the demand for the press to clean up its act, either voluntarily or, if this fails, through controls imposed by legislation. This threat of statutory restraints prompted the editors if the national newspaper in Britain to issue their own Code of Practice in 1989 to add the codes promulgate by bodies such as the Press Council ( now defunet) and the National Union of Journalists. The editors code and the Press Council code were later absorbed into a newspaper-industry code, monitored by the Press Complaints Commission, in which the voluntary protection of privacy, without legislative intervention, was a primary aim. Secondly, interesting the public rather than serving the public interest According to the trend, the pursuit of profit has replaced that of serving the public interest as the driving force of journalism. News producers even those like the BBC which are free of direct commercial pressures have been required to become more an more oriented towards ratings, subordinating the journalistic obligation to inform to the more audience-friendly task of supplying entertainment. The result of these pressures has been an explosion of infotainment journalism in which entertainment values take precedence over information content, presented at an intellectual level low enough to appeal to the mass audiences which comprise the major media markets( the lowest denominator, as critics frequently express it). Lower, too, than a healthy democracy demands. Political journalism is said to be conforming to the pressures of tabloidisation observed elsewhere in the media: a term which used interchangeably with dumbing down and infotainment, functions as shorthand for the offence, as it is often characterised, of catering for popular tastes. One manifestation of this trend would be the medias contemporary fascination with elite deviance( sexual, financial or moral), as in the cases of Conservative and Labour politicians in Britain throughout the 1990s, an of course Bill Clinton, whose sex addiction was a prominent theme of political journalism in Britain as well as the United States during the 1990s, exemplified by coverage of the Monica Lewinsky scandal in 1998-9. The sleaze agenda which featured prominently in British and American political news for most of that decade was alleged to be driven by market forces rather than public interest, in so far as the relentless commodification of journalism an the ever-increasing competitiveness of the media market put a commercial premium on sensationalism an prurience in coverage of politics. Although journalists like to envision themselves as independent pursuers of truth, the public sees them as employees who are only trying to help corporations make a pound. More than two-thirds say: News papers are concerned mainly with making profits rather than serving the public interest. I believe that newspaper frequently overdramatize some news stories just to sell more papers. Journalists chase sensational stories because they think itll sell papers, not because its an important story. Journalists sometimes see themselves in heroic terms. Lurking in the back of their minds are phases like eyes and ears of the public, representatives of the citizenry and the publics watchdog. By keeping tabs on the politicians, they can ensure that the public will be properly served by the government. The public, however, is convinced that politicians are more ethical than journalists. Many journalists shrug off such findings. Journalists are not supposed to be popular, they say. Theyre supposed to be tough observers of government and society. Thirdly, lies: publish and be damned degenerates to publish and be sued we can afford it: The law is a conservative profession. Most legal advisers first impulse will be tell news organisation Dont publish. The paper is at liberty to ignore the advice: to publish and be damned. But because of the complex risks involved, this is not a decision for an individual reporter or sub-editor to make. It needs to be made collectively and at policy level. Many news reporters start their careers with a stint on the court beat. This is considered good training in the need for discipline and accurate fact-gathering in journalism. Many young journalists, however, find the courts intimidating, confusing, and stultifying boring. Often, thats because they dont know the ropes. News media nowadays tend to pay for the punishment than actually avoid treading lines. They are more likely to step into the grey area on the ethical issues. Fourthly, abuse of the public interest defence (especially by some elements of the news media) : Journalists damage their case further when their stories go too far, as they often do. Tabloids have behaved as though the public interest argument stretches indefinitely, that once established it justifies anything. But a legitimate public interest in an aspect of the private behaviour of a public figure cannot automatically justify disclosure of any private information about the individual. Legitimate public interest certainly justified the story that the heir to the Britain throne, Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, had had an affair with Mrs Camilla Parker-Bowles after his marriage. Public interest would probably also has justified the story, were it true, that Charles have sex with Camilla at his home while his wife was upstairs. The case was compromised, though by publication of pictures inside the Parker-Bowles home and bedroom against their will. They were not justified by a pub lic interest. The chairman of the PCC, Lord Wakeham, gave a strong warning to editors early in 1995 against abuse of the public interest defence. He said the Commission would not tolerate spurious use of the defence when considering complaints. Soon afterwards, the PCC severely critised the biggest selling British newspaper, the Sunday tabloid, the News of the World, for coverage of the illness of Lady Spencer, wife of the brother of the Prince of Wales. The paper has shown sad pictures of Lady Spencer, taken evidently without her knowledge, while she was being treated for an eating disorder. No genuine public interest was involved an Lord Wakeham took the unusual step of writing to the owner of the paper, Rupert Murdoch of News Corporation, about it. As a result, Murdoch publicly rubuked the News of the World editors. Specious and spurious arguments and dubious cases aside, the public interest defence is widely recognized as valid within limits. The committee appointed by government to examine media intrusion and suggested what public interest defences might be used. Journalistic intrusion could be justified if the information collected expose crime, other wrong-doing or a danger to public health. The PCC adds a further consideration: intrusion can be justified if it would prevent the public from being misled by some statement or action of an individual or organisation. This could be strengthened further by adopting the public interest defence that already exists in the Obscene Publications Act. An intrusion could be defended if the material gained exposed any matter of serious concern to the general public. Critics regard generalized exceptions as weasel words designed to allow disreputable journalism to proceed unhindered. But plainly interpreted, a wide-ranging defence of the kind envisaged would offer some protection for public figures, would reduce the risk of commercial villains sheltering behind a privacy law and would not damage protection for ordinary people when they deserve it. Lastly, Outings by media which are couched as serving the public interest. To conclude , the news media are failing to serve the public interest because of abusing of individual right to privacy, interesting the public rather than serving the public interest, lies: publish and be damned degenerates to publish and be sued, abusing of the public interest defence (especially by some elements of the news media) and Outings by media which are couched as serving the public interest.

India and Pakistan- Conflict over Kashmir Essay -- International Confli

Introduction In late 1947, the newly created states of India and Pakistan went to war over the valley of Kashmir. A United Nations brokered ceasefire divided the state into Indian and Pakistani controlled territories, and resolved that a referendum would be held in which the people of Kashmir would be able to choose to join either country. The referendum has not been held to this day. India granted its portion of Kashmir a special status within its constitution, allowing for a great degree of self-autonomy. However, successive Kashmiri governments have been dissolved by the government of India, and elections have only been held in the presence of its armed forces. In 1965, Pakistan and India waged a second indecisive war over Kashmir. In the 1980s, resistance within Kashmir itself against the Indian government took on a violent nature, with guerilla attacks against Indian army bases. India responded with heavy army clampdowns, and since then the situation has only escalated and get worse. It is e stimated that well over 34,000 people have died within the valley, and the relations between the two countries have become increasingly acrimonious. India blames Pakistan for the militant uprising, claiming Islamabad is supporting cross border terrorism. Pakistan responds that it merely provides diplomatic and moral support arguing, furthermore, that India’s history of human rights abuses in the valley is to blame. With both countries now in possession of nuclear arms; the recent war in KARGIL and the increasing number of civilian deaths, refugees, and other human rights issues within Kashmir, the conflict seems to be taking on a more serious nature. In this paper I will discuss the Kashmir conflict in some depth, examining the problem in... ...there is poverty. Kashmir is the finest place to start, and not merely because it is the core of the Indo-Pakistan conflict. Our histories, cultures and religions have converged in Kashmir. Our rivers begin there, mountains meet there, and our dreams rest there.† Works Cited "The Hindu : A View from Pakistan: Resolving Kashmir Now." The Hindu. Eqbal Ahmad, Nov. 1996. Web. 16 Nov. 2011. . "BBC News | SOUTH ASIA | Protest against Kashmir 'disappearances'" BBC News - Home. 10 Mar. 2000. Web. 16 Nov. 2011. . Kashmir - A Way Forward. Web. 16 Nov. 2011. . "Indian Predicament In Kashmir | Pakistan Daily." Pakistan News | Pakistan Daily. 26 Aug. 2009. Web. 16 Nov. 2011. .

George Washington :: essays research papers

Washington was born in Westmore County, Virginia, on February 22, 1732. He is the son of the late Augustine Washington and Mary Ball Washington. Augustine was a tobacco farmer and a stock raiser. Washington spent most of his early childhood on the Ferry Farm in Fredricksburg, Virginia. He attended school up until his fifteenth year. Washington married Martha Dandridge on January 6,1759. Washington spent his early adult years as a farmer and as a surveyor until he was appointed adjutant for the southern district of Virginia by Lieutenant Governor Robert Dinwiddle. The next year he became the adjutant of the Northern Neck and Eastern Shore. In 1753, Dinwiddle warned the French to stop their infringements on the Ohio Valley land that was claimed by the king. Dinwiddle sent one messenger, but he failed. He gave Washington the order to warn the French on October 31, 1753. His party consisted of an interpreter, a guide, two men that were experienced traders with the Native Americans, and two others. Washington left in November from Cumberland, Maryland, and traveled to Fort-Le Boeuf. When he arrived, he discovered that the French would fight for their land. The party nearly escaped from the French. Washington was next appointed lieutenant colonel to an expedition to the Ohio Valley. In April, 1754, he set out from Alexandria with 160 men to reinforce a fort in southwestern Pennsylvania, only to find that the French took control of the fort and renamed it Fort-Duquesne. Washington then cautiously set up his own post within 40 miles of the French position. He attacked the French post on May 28,1754. He managed to kill the commander and nine others. They then took the rest prisoners. Washington immediently received a promotion to a full colonelcy. On July 3, 1754, the French drove him and 350 men into Fort Necessity. The French then took controlled of it with 700, men and forced Washington to surrender. They sent the unarmed colonials back to Virginia with honours of war. He had to then sign paper saying that he would not build a fort on the Ohio Valley for one year. In that same year he resigned his commission. Washington was elected to the House of Burgesses in 1758 and served for seventeen years. He was elected to the First Continental Congress in 1774 and to the Second Continental Congress in 1775 because of his service in the House of Burgesses and his response to the British policies.

Symbolism in Flannery O’Connor’s “Revelation”

Flannery O’Connor belongs to the school of writing called American Southern Gothic. Her fiction revolves around people from the South and the volatile relationships fermenting in their society. The significance of being a writer from the American South has something to do with the immediate context from which the stories are written. The extent of slavery and racial prejudice in the South presents Southern writers with subject matter ranging from racism to moral decay (Wood 1) Apart from being rooted in what is considered a backwater, Bible-fundamentalist society, O’Connor’s staunch faith in Roman Catholicism also plays a part in her fiction. Many of her works have been read with symbolism of spiritual realities. Martin asserts that the symbolic nature of her work comes from the plausibility of her characters’ action or the circumstances in which they find themselves, and the metaphysical meaning these actions or circumstances take (137). To O’Connor, however, her fiction is not symbolic but sacramental in that the actions, which are often violent, are seen to be intrusions of God’s grace into the physical world (Revel). The ability of O’Connor to translate abstract matters such as good, evil, grace, and redemption into a concrete, mundane, and very real scenario infuses her fiction with rich symbolism. The effective use of symbol is demonstrated in the short story Revelation. Like most of her stories, Revelation is set in the South, in a little town where ordinary folks live. It is a world familiar to O’Connor, having been brought up in Georgia. The protagonist in the story is Ruby Turpin, a stocky woman who has a penchant for thinking about people in relation to her own sense of righteousness. Along with her husband, Mrs.Turpin is found at the beginning of the story in a clinic waiting room in which she joined several people. Immediately, she surveyed the room and sized them up according to her own sets of labels: a white trash woman, a fat, ugly teenager, a pleasant woman, and ordinary-looking folks. Not long after, she strikes a conversation with the pleasant woman who turns out to be the mother of the ugly girl. They talk about how important it is to observe propriety and maintain a positive outlook even when they have to deal with â€Å"niggers. † They then share sentiment about being thankful for whatever God has given them. All this time, the ugly girl named Mary Grace is smirking, obviously irritated and furious at the conversation of the two women. The white trash woman, on the other hand, tries to join the conversation by sharing comments which only showed her ignorance. At that point, Mrs. Turpin exclaims, out of a sudden burst of joy, how thankful she is to Jesus that He made things just the way they are, and that she was not somebody else. Then, without warning, Mary Grace throws a book to Mrs. Turpin’s face and lunges at her with her hands strangling the stout woman’s neck. Appalled by the violent act, Mrs. Turpin demands the ugly girl to explain herself, and with contempt, Mary Grace commands her to return to hell. Mrs. Turpin takes the incident to be a revelation from God. In her exasperation for not understanding why God would condemn a virtuous woman like her, she demands God for an explanation. All at once, a strange light reveals to her a vision in which all sorts of abominable people are leading a march to heaven with people like her trailing behind. One of the recurring references in the story is the eye. The title itself, Revelation, gives clue as to how eyesight will play out in the entire story. Revelation involves exposing something into view, and in the story, Mrs. Turpin realized the prejudice she hides beneath the courteous demeanor. Through O’Connor’s sleight of hand, Mrs. Turpin’s epiphany gains resonance throughout the story precisely because of the symbols which O’Connor employed. In Writing Short Stories, O’Connor says that a particular object or action becomes symbolic when it accumulates meaning from the beginning of the story until it reaches the denouement (O’Connor 1546). At the onset of the story, O’Connor directs the reader’s attention to the physical appearance of Mrs. Turpin, most significantly to her eye. Her little bright black eyes took in all the patients as she sized up the seating situation† (O’Connor 818). It was through the appearances of people she sees in the waiting room that Mrs. Turpin judges whether they are agreeable or not. It was also through her eyes that she communicates. Upon meeting the eye of the pleasant woman, she seems to have an understanding with her regarding the sorry state of other people inside the waiting room: â€Å"The look that Mrs. Turpin and the pleasant lady exchanged indicated they both understood that you had to have certain things before you could know certain things† (O’Connor 822). O’Connor uses eyesight as a symbol of the inner being of Mrs. Turpin and the rest of the characters in the story—true to the aphorism that the eye is the window to the soul. This is further demonstrated in O’Connor’s description of the white-trash woman’s eye as having a â€Å"cast,† which could literally be a physical eye ailment but could also mean a failure to see things as they rightly are. As a contrast to Mrs. Turpin, the ugly girl who is significantly named Mary Grace responds to the pathetic conversation with a scowl. Mary Grace was the kind of person that Mrs. Turpin could not make sense of or judge as easily as she could others. This suggests that Mary Grace and Turpin do not share the same sentiments regarding other people. Mary Grace, described to have a â€Å"peculiar eye,† sees through Mrs. Turpin’s hypocrisy and uses her eye to condemn it. As Mrs. Turpin’s prejudice gets more blaring, Mary Grace fixes her piercing look at Mrs. Turpin who was starting to get confused at Mary Grace’s hateful look. Mrs. Turpin ignores the ugly girl and blurts out a prayer not unlike that performed by a Pharisee in the Bible. Upon hearing this, the ugly girl throws a book and hits Mrs. Turpin’s left eye. In Oedipus Rex, eyesight and the lack thereof is used ironically to demonstrate how the king’s blindness turned to sight (Bush). Similarly, Mrs. Turpin saw her prejudice through an impaired eye. She sees a vision, while in her backyard, revealing how her prejudice would get her behind the ranks of people marching to heaven. Eyesight, throughout the rest of the story, is used as a symbol of Mrs. Turpin’s prejudice as well as her redemption. Another recurring object in the story which accretes symbolic meaning is the pig. Commonly associated with uncleanness, the pig symbolizes the moral state of Mrs. Turpin. It is no coincidence that she and her husband Claud raise pigs in their backyard. O’Connor reinforces this symbol when Mary Grace calls Mrs. Turpin a warthog. Sparrow sees another meaning to the use of pigs in Revelation. According to him, the act of cleaning the pigs before they are sent to the slaughterhouse symbolizes the act of purging in Purgatory. In the story, Mrs. Turpin violently hoses her pigs as she asks God with insolence why she experienced the humiliating incident in the waiting room. This is a parallel to the act of cleansing that humans must undergo before they can reach heaven. Symbolizing Purgatory is evident in the final revelation Mrs. Turpin receives at the end of the story. The bridge connecting earth to heaven is a place where â€Å"virtues and vices will be equally purged. Shame and pride will be no more. Clean and unclean, sane and lunatic, white and black, gentile and Jew, slave and free, woman and man will enter in a single throng, the last being first, the first being the last. † (The Black Cordelias). The waiting room where Mrs. Turpin experiences her first revelation is another symbol in the story. Filled with people that come from different walks of life, the waiting room is used as a microcosm of the society wherein â€Å"niggers† and â€Å"whites,† rich and poor brush shoulders with each other. O’Connor employs a similar technique in Everything that Rises Must Converge where she set the story in a bus, a scaled-down image of the world. In Revelation, people inside the waiting room inevitably take symbolic meaning. Five types of people can be seen inside the waiting room, relating to different kinds of people in society. The white trash woman, with her ignorant comments and hasty judgment, symbolizes people who are uninformed and uneducated. They view the world with a sharp dichotomy: white and black. This is especially true in the South which was steeped with racism. The Negro represents those who are oppressed and marginalized in society. In most of O’Connor’s story, black people prove to be nobler than whites who think they are superior. Consistent with her strong Catholic beliefs, O’Connor puts preference to the oppressed. Mrs. Turpin of course represents the prejudiced and hypocritical. She is typical of some Christians who wear a mask of righteousness to hide their real feelings towards people they do not agree with. In Revelation, O’Connor puts hope in God’s sovereignty to transform people like Mrs. Turpin, and for O’Connor, God’s intervention in the physical world is possible because of the sacraments, the visible signs of God’s intangible grace. Finally, the presence of Mary Grace symbolizes people who fix the unbalance in the world brought about by prejudice and cruelty. Her name alludes to two Catholic beliefs: Mary, the intermediary between man and Jesus, and Grace, the unmerited favor which God bestows man. O’Connor uses Mary Grace to redeem Mrs. Turbin from her blindness and restore the balance in her life. The use of symbols in Flannery O’Connor serves her purpose of translating into everyday circumstances the abstract truths and teachings of her faith. Her Christian worldview is reflected in her characters and the transformation they experience. Despite being a staunch believer and defender of her faith, her fiction, as demonstrated in Revelation, does not come as a didactic propaganda. Her deft writing and understanding of fiction enables her to create realistic and believable characters which, in turn, enable readers to see the world as it is.