Communication via SMS:

The British Journal of Social Psychology published an article in 2007 entitled â€Å"Interacting via SMS: Practices of social closeness and reciprocation†.This paper deals with the sequential structure of communication via short message service (SMS), also known as text messaging, among adults and young adults, aged 25-35 and 50-65.   A collection of 173 SMS exchanges for personal communication, spontaneously composed by participants, was gathered.   Each exchange was photographed from the display of the participant's mobile phone and then analyzed with the approach of conversation analysis.A questionnaire was also administered during the collection procedure. The analysis of the practices organizing the action sequence reveals that exchanges frequently lack openings and closures, show an effort towards reciprocation and use implicit or anticipated actions. Social presence seems then characterized by a sense of constant availability, symmetric commitment and shared underst anding.The article concluded that the sequential structure of mediated communication may give insightful details on the nature of the social presence thereby constituted and may provide a criterion to compare different communication modes (2007).   This paper will attempt to analyze the strength of the evidence presented in this article.Communication via SMS: An Article ReviewThe article entitled â€Å"Interacting via SMS: Practices of social closeness and reciprocation†argues that SMS has developed into a recognizable social place, with its own practices and affordances for establishing social presence and that it is characterized by â€Å"persistency, reciprocation and familiarity† (Spagnolli, 2007).They also found, through conversation analysis that SMS communication is designed around the turn, with very frequent multiple-action turns. The first question one may consider when presented with this article is was this research necessary?   Although not quite neces sary, this research does provide some interesting insights into the ever more popular communication method of text messaging.This research was in supplement to previous research on the same subject.   Some practices of SMS usage are already known, as ethnographic and linguistics studies have been carried out on teenage users.   Some researchers have investigated the communicative setting and its social norms (Grinter & Elridge, 2003).They show that SMS exchanges can be initiated in situations where other modes are forbidden, such as in class or at night, and that their intersection with other activities requires practices of participation management and context messages (Thurlow, 2003).In particular, a group of researchers has collected large numbers of messages and illustrated how SMS writers make the most out of a limited set of the available alpha-numeric characters well beyond the mere use of ‘emoticons’ whose actual rate is often quite low (Ling, 2005).The func tions and topics of an SMS exchange have been categorized and their communicative style identified as a peculiar mixture of morality and writing, spontaneity and care, supporting strategies of self-presentation and linguistic play (Ling, 2005).However, the kind of practice that has been less considered, if at all, is the one responsible for inner structure of an SMS exchange.   That is where this research comes into play.   Since a communicative exchange is a form of interaction conducted through discourse, these practices can reveal important aspects of the social presence created (Spagnolli, 2007).The goal of the research behind this article was to â€Å"investigate the interactional and pragmatic resources that five cohesion to a series of otherwise discrete contributions, and by allowing the sequential organization of these exchanges, create the coordinates along which the encounter is organized† (Spagnolli, 2007).   In contrast to other studies on SMS, which have c onsidered individual messages, this study analyzed each message with reference to the previous and subsequent one in sequence.   It was the exchange of messages that was most important to these researchers.   Another point of originality of this study also relies on the kind of participants involved.   Prior, SMS literature focused on teenagers, who could be considered as ‘core’ users.However, if using this medium is participating in a social place as is argued, then even peripheral users like adults should follow shared practices instead of totally idiosyncratic ones.   Therefore, the researchers chose to study young adults and adults.Next, it is important to determine whether the methods the authors implemented for their research were the proper method and whether they were effective.   According to the authors, given the need for exploring a poorly covered phenom, i.e. SMS exchanges between adults, they looked for natural data, while at the same time, tryin g to collect a fair number of exchanges (Spagnolli, 2007).According to the authors, diaries would have offered a richer, contextualization of the exchanges collected, but they could have also decreased spontaneity during the message exchange and required a more limited number of participants with a longer commitment with the research (Spagnolli, 2007).   Therefore the authors chose to collect 180 exchanges using the following system.They asked people for one series of sent and received messages still present in the memory of their cell phone, regardless of who initiated the exchange, but with the requirement that the series be complete with all messages exchanges (Spagnolli, 2007).   In this way, messages were not composed for the sake of research and the length of the exchanges were naturally defined.   This was very intuitive on the part of the authors as the data they collected was natural and not skewed because of the research method.

A Day in the Life of Brent Dorsey

1. What alternatives are available to Brent in regards to the audit of payables? What are the pros and cons of each alternative? a. One alternative that Brent go do is ask the accountant from Northwest Steel Producers to pull the needed invoices and have them ready in a reasonable time period for review. By doing this it would save Brent time from searching for specific invoices and leave him more time to focus on other audit issues. b. Brent could do as subjected and only pull a minimum amount and take the change of being caught.The pros of this would be that Brent would be able to complete the accounts payable a little sooner but the cons would be that the audit would not be complete and the audit report could have the possibility of not be accurate. I would not recommend this alternative. c. Brent could audit all the payables as required and follow the AICPA regulations. The pros would be that Brent has not violated any regulations and would maintain his job and maintained his eth ical responsibilities. The cons would be that Brent would have to work harder and spend more time working and less time with his wife. . What consequences for Brent, the auditing firm, and others involved, may arise from â€Å"eating time,† as Scott suggested? Similarly, what consequences for Brent, the auditing firm, and others involved, may arise from not completing audit procedures, as Megan suggested? The consequences from â€Å"eating time† as Scott suggested would cause production reports to be incorrect and also would suggest that in the future the CPA firm could possibly perform the audit on a tighter schedule next year.Now if Brent was to follow Megan’s suggestion the auditing firm would not be providing the audit review that is expected and the audit report would be considered incomplete. 3. In your opinion, which of Brent’s alternative courses of action would provide the best outcome and why? What should Brent do? How would you handle the ethic al issues involved in this situation? I feel that Brent’s alternative course of action of calling it a night now and going home and spending time with his wife then getting up early in the morning and going at it again would be the best choice of action based on the alternatives that have been presented.The ethical issues involved in this situation is to not perform the audit under expectations because he is unhappy on the choices he has been given and the choice that has been made. 4. What could John Peters and the other auditors do to better handle the demands of career and family life? John Peters and the other auditors could hire some other associates to provide assistance in the audits which would relieve some of the demands of career and leave more time with family life.

Papa John’s

Papa John’s Analysis Alex Quiquia 3/19/13 MGMT 4800 Strategic Analysis of Papa John’s Introduction–We already know that Papa John's is a major player in the Pizza industry but what does the future hold for them. One of the business-level strategies that Papa John’s implemented was product differentiation through the use of fresh dough and superior-quality ingredients. John Schnatter believed that other pizza restaurants used inferior ingredients and that he could do it better. This strategy was implemented from the very beginning in the United States.Another successful business-level strategy that focused on product diversification employed by Papa John’s was the use of technology to order pizza. In 2001 they became the first pizza company to offer online ordering. The most significant corporate-level strategy used early on by Papa John’s was mergers and acquisitions. In the late 90s, the company acquired 205 â€Å"Perfect Pizza† resta urants in the UK. They continued aggressively acquiring international restaurants until the early 2000s when they began to focus their acquisition efforts domestically.In just under 30 years since opening its first store, Papa John’s has added over 4,000 stores (papajohns. com). That’s an average of over 140 new stores every year since inception, an incredible pace. They also decided to use the franchisee model. Although this model has its critics, it can be a very useful way to generate revenue without adding to store overhead, etc. The franchisee model has been successful for Papa John’s. Papa John’s was enjoying a 5+ percent average revenue growth rate for the previous five years. The company also boasted one of the highest returns on invested capital in the restaurant category of the markets.Total assets grew steadily from 2003 to 2007 as well. This growth was financed mostly by debt, but debt/equity ratios remained healthy. Apparently Papa Johnâ€⠄¢s holds a competitive advantage in its fresher, higher-quality ingredients. When a customer is looking for a restaurant-quality pizza with ease of delivery, they turn to Papa John’s. External Analysis– During this study, the pizza industry was extremely competitive. Barriers to entry were few and competitors could drive prices for pizza ingredients extremely low, enabling them to easily undercut other competitors’ prices.Food commodity prices also took a 20 percent jump in 2007, which didn’t make the industry any more attractive. One of the attractive features of the industry is that because pizza ingredients are commodities, supplier power is very low. Suppliers cannot dictate prices to buyers, because they can go somewhere else. Buyer power, however, is very high. If someone doesn’t wish to buy a $12. 00 pizza at Papa John’s, they can go across the street to Little Caesar’s for a $5. 00 pizza that tastes almost the same. The two m ajor competitors of Papa John’s are Dominos and Pizza Hut. Both of these companies enjoy a larger market share than Papa John’s.These companies are focused more on price savings than Papa John’s, who is focused on quality pizza. Just like any other sub-section of the food industry, thousands of pizza restaurants are opened each year, which continues to make profits more difficult to obtain. Internal Analysis–The commissary system is an important part of what gives Papa John’s an edge over its competitors. Every Papa John’s restaurant belongs to a subdivided region, and each region has what is known as a commissary. These commissaries send fresh ingredients and cleaning supplies twice per week to all the Papa John’s restaurants within their region.This ensures fresh ingredients and all the supplies needed to clean the restaurants. This also maintains consistency from restaurant to restaurant as all of the commissaries are controlled at the corporate level. By servicing several units from one commissary, labor costs are also driven down. Papa John’s international growth is also an advantage it has over many of its competitors. By taking advantage of all different markets around the world, Papa John’s ensures that business is most likely thriving somewhere at all times. All of these factors create a competitive advantage for Papa John’s.Recommendations Based on this analysis of Papa John’s, the following recommendations are made to help the company continue its profitability. 1. Expand internationally as much as possible. With several stores in diverse locations throughout the world, Papa John’s will be well diversified and able to absorb losses in one area better. 2. Continue to move more toward the franchisee model even more so than they are currently doing. By furthering this model, overhead and administrative costs at the corporate level are drastically reduced. Papa John’s Papa John’s Analysis Alex Quiquia 3/19/13 MGMT 4800 Strategic Analysis of Papa John’s Introduction–We already know that Papa John's is a major player in the Pizza industry but what does the future hold for them. One of the business-level strategies that Papa John’s implemented was product differentiation through the use of fresh dough and superior-quality ingredients. John Schnatter believed that other pizza restaurants used inferior ingredients and that he could do it better. This strategy was implemented from the very beginning in the United States.Another successful business-level strategy that focused on product diversification employed by Papa John’s was the use of technology to order pizza. In 2001 they became the first pizza company to offer online ordering. The most significant corporate-level strategy used early on by Papa John’s was mergers and acquisitions. In the late 90s, the company acquired 205 â€Å"Perfect Pizza† resta urants in the UK. They continued aggressively acquiring international restaurants until the early 2000s when they began to focus their acquisition efforts domestically.In just under 30 years since opening its first store, Papa John’s has added over 4,000 stores (papajohns. com). That’s an average of over 140 new stores every year since inception, an incredible pace. They also decided to use the franchisee model. Although this model has its critics, it can be a very useful way to generate revenue without adding to store overhead, etc. The franchisee model has been successful for Papa John’s. Papa John’s was enjoying a 5+ percent average revenue growth rate for the previous five years. The company also boasted one of the highest returns on invested capital in the restaurant category of the markets.Total assets grew steadily from 2003 to 2007 as well. This growth was financed mostly by debt, but debt/equity ratios remained healthy. Apparently Papa Johnâ€⠄¢s holds a competitive advantage in its fresher, higher-quality ingredients. When a customer is looking for a restaurant-quality pizza with ease of delivery, they turn to Papa John’s. External Analysis– During this study, the pizza industry was extremely competitive. Barriers to entry were few and competitors could drive prices for pizza ingredients extremely low, enabling them to easily undercut other competitors’ prices.Food commodity prices also took a 20 percent jump in 2007, which didn’t make the industry any more attractive. One of the attractive features of the industry is that because pizza ingredients are commodities, supplier power is very low. Suppliers cannot dictate prices to buyers, because they can go somewhere else. Buyer power, however, is very high. If someone doesn’t wish to buy a $12. 00 pizza at Papa John’s, they can go across the street to Little Caesar’s for a $5. 00 pizza that tastes almost the same. The two m ajor competitors of Papa John’s are Dominos and Pizza Hut. Both of these companies enjoy a larger market share than Papa John’s.These companies are focused more on price savings than Papa John’s, who is focused on quality pizza. Just like any other sub-section of the food industry, thousands of pizza restaurants are opened each year, which continues to make profits more difficult to obtain. Internal Analysis–The commissary system is an important part of what gives Papa John’s an edge over its competitors. Every Papa John’s restaurant belongs to a subdivided region, and each region has what is known as a commissary. These commissaries send fresh ingredients and cleaning supplies twice per week to all the Papa John’s restaurants within their region.This ensures fresh ingredients and all the supplies needed to clean the restaurants. This also maintains consistency from restaurant to restaurant as all of the commissaries are controlled at the corporate level. By servicing several units from one commissary, labor costs are also driven down. Papa John’s international growth is also an advantage it has over many of its competitors. By taking advantage of all different markets around the world, Papa John’s ensures that business is most likely thriving somewhere at all times. All of these factors create a competitive advantage for Papa John’s.Recommendations Based on this analysis of Papa John’s, the following recommendations are made to help the company continue its profitability. 1. Expand internationally as much as possible. With several stores in diverse locations throughout the world, Papa John’s will be well diversified and able to absorb losses in one area better. 2. Continue to move more toward the franchisee model even more so than they are currently doing. By furthering this model, overhead and administrative costs at the corporate level are drastically reduced.

Queen Anne Style Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Queen Anne Style - Essay Example This offers various means of designing the inside of the house, enabling different shapes of rooms and corners to present a rather complicated but purposeful form. The steep roofs common in Queen Anne homes give the Victorian touch, giving a sense of antiquity which to me symbolizes wealth. Probably, what make the style so attractive are its ornamental spindles and brackets that give off a romantic ambiance to the home, making it simply a welcoming place to stay in. The beauty in the aforementioned parts of the house reflects the strength and artistic design of an era that survived until the modern age because of its value not only historically but aesthetically as well. Having a touch of Queen Anne in my dream house may give the magical sense of being in another age, near famous people who built this modern world with their wisdom and artistry. For the centuries that the style survived, it only shows the immortality of such art and I wish to be a part of those who preserve such beauty in my

Ariel Plumbing Service Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Ariel Plumbing Service - Assignment Example The sales force acts as a critical connection between the organization and its customers that is why APS should also employ sales force to promote their business (Kotler, Armstrong, 2008) in the new region. The company currently is only concentrating on B2B sales; therefore the sales force will play an important role in winning contracts with medium and small clients. The sales force will conduct market research, will provide customer service, build contacts and win contracts with organizations (Kotler, Armstrong, 2008). Through employing a sales force, the company will be able to know its customers better, develop market intelligence and gain an edge over its competitors. The right organizations and businesses will be targeted with the help of sales force and the relationships with these prospective clients and existing clients will be maintained by the sales force. The services of APS will be promoted through personal presentations to the corporate customers by the sales force. The purpose of these presentations is to make sales to the prospective customers and to build long-term relationships with the customers. The sales force represents the company when it is with the clients, informing the clients about the company and about the services and answering any clients' queries (McGraw-Hill Companies, 2003). When they are inside the company, they represent the customers, stating the clients' needs, interests and expectations to the company. The information that the sales force brings about the customers is very vital for the company, so that it can modify the services or introduce any new service that is in demand. The sales force can be organized into product sales force structure in which the sales force specializes in selling only a segment of the company's products or services (Spiro, Stanton and Rich, 2003). In this type of sales force organization, the sales people should be expert in the product that they are selling. APS provides a range of plumbing services like drain cleaning, leak detection and repair, toilet repair, etc. Therefore under the product sales force organization, the sales force of APC will need to be specialized to sell a single category of service. The second type of sales force organization is territorial sales force structure (Spiro, Stanton and Rich, 2003). Under this structure, each salesperson is given an exclusive geographic location to sell the full line of products or services of the company (Spiro, Stanton and Rich, 2003). The salesperson who is assigned a particular territory will be responsible for the sales to all the customers in that territory. APS will b e using sales force only in the eastern region where it is thinking to open up a new office. Therefore the eastern region will be divided into different territories and the assigned to a sales person. The third type of sales force structure is customer sales force organization (Spiro, Stanton and Rich, 2003). Under this organization, the salespeople will specialize in selling to only particular customers or industries. The company can either organize its sales force along the industry line or for serving particular customers. The most appropriate method of organizing the sales force for APS would be territorial sales force structure. This is because through this organization, each salesperson's role and responsibility will be defined and each

Codes of Professional Conduct in Accounting Essay

Codes of Professional Conduct in Accounting - Essay Example A code of ethics ensures that the professionals do not get into conflicts with the society as the professionals become more aware of the limits to which their activities can go. A code of ethics is important in that it specifies the ethical responsibilities of the accounting professionals something, which is meant to minimize any dilemmas that come whenever professionals act in contravention of the code of conduct1. The code of ethics for Accounting professionals is designed so as to ensure that, any issues facing the professionals and is likely to impact on the American society is taken care of. In addition, the code of ethics is more of guidelines, which specifies the extent to which a professional can go especially in regard to news, or reporting of a given event. The professionals' code of ethics for the Accounting professionals is also meant to protect the actions of the professionals from harming the American society and curb financial scandals. For the Accounting professionals, honesty and trustworthy is indispensable. The professionals must always ensure that they are consistent otherwise they risk losing credibility. This is why a code of conduct is very central to the functioning of the Accounting professionals. ... In addition, honesty and trustworthy are key tenets of Accounting practice especially given the fact that, for a very long time, the Accountants in the United States have been blamed for perpetrating scandalous activities. The AICPA professional code of conduct needs to be modified to reflect the changing nature of the Accountant's duties in this era of information technology and especially concerning the increasing menacing threat of cyber fraud. The code of ethics stipulates what a professional can or cannot do. This has ensured that, accountants remain professional and committed to their duty in honesty. The code of ethics has ensured that, the AICPA professionals understand that, it is their duty to serve Americans in honesty and trustworthy. The Nursing code of conduct calls upon all nurses to conduct themselves in a manner consisted with compassion, respect, dignity, worth in terms of professional relationships and practice. The code of conduct for nurses requires them to be committed to the patients' in spite of whether the patient is an individual, family or a group3. The code of conduct for nurses requires them to promote the health safety and rights of patients by being committed to their duties. The code of conduct for media professionals on the other hand is designed to ensure that, the media professional present balanced and true information which must not hurt the society. If not well taken care of, media professionals can create a lot of disharmony in the society. It has happened in other countries. For instance the 1992 Rwanda massacre was partly ignited by a largely biased media profession, which never gave credence to the media professional code of ethics. As a result, the

Spyware in the Enterprise Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Spyware in the Enterprise - Essay Example It first appeared in the late nineties, although the name spyware is attributed to Zone Labs founder Gregor Freund who is suspected to have introduced it in 2000 (Wikipedia 2007). In referring to the present state of spyware, Gartner computer analyst John Pescatore reported "It's rapidly turning into a very serious problem. Last year, it was mostly annoying with all the pop-ups, but now it's leaving behind more serious problems," (Mark 2004). This report gives a detailed overview of the problems, and the various solutions currently available for combating spyware at the enterprise level. Multi-level preventive measures are essential in resolving the issues caused by spyware as they can considerably impact the its affect on the overall productivity of an organization. At this point, it is virtually impossible to fully eliminate the problem off a network, but there are several methods to control its influence at a level that minimizes its effect on the integrity of company networks and resources. Spyware has progressively become a serious technological concern for most enterprises which must rely on internetworking for business. According to a recent report it is the second largest network related security issue in enterprises (Sophos 2007). Commonly spyware is referenced as a combination of adware (ads, pop-ups) and application level data mining software. It is heavily financed by advertisers as a marketing approach to retrieve time-critical and sensitive information on the habits of online users. These financial backers in turn obtain relevant information to better target their advertising in part, or to resell the obtained data to the adequate parties, such as market research companies and the like. When it comes to the enterprise, the information targeted can be highly confidential as it is with our organization. After reading this report, the average employee is expected to be familiar with the meaning of spyware and related terms, the risks it entails, and some simple methods and practices to combat it on the enterprise network. How do we address the issue of spyware What are the various steps that can be implemented as an organization to reduce the risk presented by it Is installing an Anti-virus a sufficient strategy What could be the consequences of confidential data loss In this segment, we answer these questions as we offer a tour of spyware and its relevance as a security hazard in the workforce. Unlike other items, this issue concerns us all as we each share an internet connection at work; and thus are likely to have been infected by some form of spyware already. The problem and its impact on enterprise According to the National Cyber Security Alliance in the United States, about 90% of US PCs were reported to have some sort of spyware on them (NCSA 2005). This staggering number in the US alone gives an idea of the size of the problem. Even though, we do not have an estimate of the percentage of the Australian PCs infected, we are estimating it is comparable in percentage based on government research (Australian Government 2005). The problem is widespread because spyware passes through standard layers of security easier than most of us are prepared for. Spyware mostly infects a computer or laptop through its browser; an application we all use to access information on the

How Do Privacy Rights Extend To Sexual Orientation Essay

How Do Privacy Rights Extend To Sexual Orientation - Essay Example The different laws that have been enacted in the United States of America and the roles that have been played by the Supreme Court and the political parties have to be taken into account when one is analyzing the reasons for the marginalization of the homosexual community and the reluctance that society has had in opening up to this community. In certain cases, the Supreme Court has refused to accord the same status to homosexual couples as heterosexual couples (Government by the People). This automatically assigns to these couples lower status that would induce them to conceal their sexual orientation a secret. In a lot of cases, people fail to recognize their own orientations because of the social stigma that is caused by judgments that place them on a lower level than their ‘straight’ counterparts. In these cases, there is a covert intrusion into the lives of these people that the state effects. While invading the privacy of these groups by marking locations where the ir sexuality can be expressed in terms of the very geographical boundaries within which people of a certain sexual orientation are allowed to make their sexual choices (the rights that homosexual couples have varies from one state to the other), the state also drags their problems into the public domain, thus making them face the stigma of a homophobic society. There are also cases when individuals of a homosexual orientation are not allowed to participate in certain associations which consist of only members of their own sex (Government by the People). This limits the choices that people of this community have and makes them make decisions that affect their privacy greatly.

Org behavior Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Org behavior - Assignment Example They do this by managing costs, increasing costs or undertaking both. Essential product positioning, innovation, and targeting marketing can cause an increase in sales, while improving processes and controlling overhead expenses can reduce costs. Also, managers provide timely and effective revelation of information that is relevant to all the stakeholders. The revelation of this information highlights the organization’s respect towards their stakeholders. In addition, organizations set up code of ethics or rules and regulations for their employees and managers. These rules and regulations direct the way managers and organization’s employees handle and relate with other stakeholders (Brickley, Smith, Zimmerman, & Willett, 2000). Entrepreneurship creates value and satisfactory results for stakeholders by instigating innovative business ideas that promote future prosperity and wealth building in an organization. Moreover, entrepreneurship promotes the health and progress of an organization. It achieves this by creating fresh opportunities of business in all areas of the organization. On the other hand, entrepreneurship promotes innovation and increases profits of an organization. Lack of entrepreneurial action may make an organization not to get to its maximum capability (Brickley, Smith, Zimmerman, & Willett, 2000). Nonetheless, any knowledge that enters or is produced by the organization should create value to all the stakeholders. Organizational theory, design and change, structure and culture, have an interconnecting role in an organization. Organizational theory refers to the duty of an organization on the impact of the surrounding on the operational outline of the organization and how the organization works in the environment. This depicts an association with the cause and effect law. The organizational design and change points to how and why a variety of methods are selected. This helps the organization to manage its culture

Fast Food Essay Example for Free

Fast Food Essay Obesity is an epidemic that is sweeping over the United States today. It’s affecting both adults and children. With the increase in fast food availability and a decrease in the time most Americans have to prepare nutritious meals at home, it’s obvious why more people are eating at fast food restaurants. Obesity is a growing problem in the United States and more and more children are being affected. But do uneducated families have the right to put the blame on fast food restaurants for the health issues they could easily prevent? I believe that we are taking it too far by blaming fast food restaurants for obesity and that it is an individual’s responsibility to take the blame. While R. A. Ames The Food Isn’t to Blame and Richard Daynard â€Å"You Want Fries with That? † use different themes of blaming fast companies and individual decisions to underscore the effects of fast of food on America, the Rahul K. Parikh in â€Å"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Fats Kid† picks up the same theme, he blames advertisements for America’s Obesity. In the article, â€Å"Fast Food Isn’t to Blame? † R. A. Ames states that weight difficulties are the responsibility of the individuals and we should not blame the fast food industry or other biological and environmental causes. Human beings are individuals with the freedom to make their own choices. Nobody forces us to eat anything we do not want to. Choosing to eat fast food is all our own decision, and we put ourselves at risk for obesity. Obesity due to excessive consumption of fast food can only be blamed on our own actions. Fast food chains appear everywhere in today’s world. Home delivery of various foods is more accessible than ever before. These are common excuses when overweight people blame fast food industries for their bodies. Before reading these essays, I already had an opinion about fast food in my mind. I believed that if someone was overweight or obese, that it was no one’s fault but their own. In his essay, however â€Å"You Want Fries with That? † Richard Daynard explained why he believes that today’s fast food industry is largely responsible for the dramatic rise in obesity cases in both children and adults of America. Daynard discussed how the fast food industries played a large role in deceiving the public into buying their food. Daynard said that society needs to find a happy medium when dealing with the fast food industry, whether it be through lawsuits or some other action! Daynard also backed up his claim by using supporting statistics surrounding fast food and obesity in America over the years. Ames’s essay on the other hand used no statistics. He based his entire essay on personal opinion. His frequent use of the word â€Å"I† also made the essay less effective. Overall, Richard Daynard had a much more objective argument about fast food than R. A. Ames. Daynard used specific statistics, and facts about the fast food industry, and he kept himself out of the article for the most part. Daynard was very effective in making me believe his argument. Another essay I have compared R. A. Ames is with Rahul K. Parikh’s â€Å"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Fats Kid† . Both of these essays had strong opinions concerning who is to blame regarding obesity in America. The Fast Food Isnt to Blame was more persuasive I thought because it placed the blame for the obesity problem on the individual person and what he/she put into their bodies not on the fast food industries. According to R. A. Ames, â€Å"Americans tend to drive to Burger King and order a Double Whopper with Cheese with a King size fries instead of driving to a supermarket and pick up some turkey and whole wheat bread† (326). They are obese because they make a choice to eat fast food themselves, not because fast food chains force them to stop by their restaurants to eat their food. Ames went on to say that instead of people taking responsibility for being obese they are blaming the fast food industry. Ames compared obesity to smoking. He made this comparison because both can be deadly and that in the end you still have to put the cigarette in your mouth the same way you put a candy bar. After this Ames said that in the land of the free we are able to make our own decisions but with this freedom we as people have to be responsible for our decisions. Rahul Parikh said in his essay that â€Å"Parents need to take charge of what foods they’re buying and how they’re preparing those foods† (1). This statement is suggesting that instead of blaming fast food companies parents should control their children’s food buying habits. They should limit their television hours where they see all those advertisements that attract them to eat fast foods. Rahul said that companies use superstars, action heroes, cartoons to promote their products in the market that attracts people and mainly children’s. Rahul compared child advertisement to obesity and suggested that today children will see 40,000 advertisements in a year. In this huge number of advertisements, two third of those are for junk and fast food. Ames and Rahul were both arguing that it is our individual choices to eat fast food, so we should not blame companies who provide them. In our society, we are always looking for someone or something to blame for our problems. We seem to want to avoid taking responsibility for our actions and their consequences. Overall obesity has nothing to do with the fast food industry and genetics, but rather the choices. People should be encouraged to take personal responsibility for their actions and realize what they put into their mouths, and that how much exercise they do contributes to their health and well-being. When overweight people admit that they cause their own obesity, they can swiftly move away from being obese and recognize a healthy lifestyle. While in R. A. Ames The Food Isn’t to Blame and Richard Daynard â€Å"You Want Fries with That? † use different themes of blaming fast companies and individual decisions to underscore the effects of fast of food on America, One other hand Rahul K. Parikh â€Å" Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Fats Kid† has same theme has R. A. Ames essay, he blamed advertisements for America’s Obesity. I have discussed the Ame’s essay with my friends and family. Most of them are agreed with the essay but there were also some people who were disagreed. I eat very precisely, before eating anything I check calories and fat of the product I am going to eat.

Importance Of Both Financial And Non Financial Motivation Commerce Essay

Importance Of Both Financial And Non Financial Motivation Commerce Essay It is widely believed that an effective management system of motivation in a company will directly influence employees to achieve their goals and businesses objectives (Accel-team, 2010). According to Accel-team (2010), motivation can be explained in financial and non-financial aspects. Financial rewards can be defined as using money as an incentive to employees for improving productivity. In contrast, non-financial rewards motivate employees by job enlargement, team working, and quality control circles etc. The below argument will show that financial and non-financial motivations are both determinants which affect employees through investigation. Taloy year pointed out that the best way to motivate people at work is by money. In other words, those workers who produce more in a fair day can receive more payment (Accel-team, 2010). The main reason for workers to go to work is that they can earn money to consume (Accel-team, 2010). Thus, workers are encouraged to work as efficient as possible they can (Accel-team, 2010). For example, Tesco is one of the top three retails in UK (Thetimes100, 2011). There are over 3700 stores and 440000 employees globally, which is very difficult to organize well (Thetimes100, 2011). However, Tesco makes good use of incentive payment to motivate employees (Thetimes100, 2011). Tesco not only give employees increased income, but also use targeted benefit to support the varied lifestyles of employees (Thetimes100, 2011). Furthermore, Fringe benefits prefer to provide their worker some in kind rather than in crash (Accel-team, 2010). For instance, company cars and private health insurance may lead to good performance of employees in a company (Accel-team, 2010). As another example that the fortune magazine states that Google is a company which is listed on the top 50 companies to best work for (Ezinearticles, 2008). Google provide their staff some usual perks which certain health cares and children facilities by allowing workers to bring their pets to work (Ezinearticles, 2008). The result for these series of Fringe benefits not only reduces the number of sick-leave days, but also can bring a good environment for workers. Nevertheless, financial rewards are not the only method that satisfies employees. There are non-financial rewards, which are as important as financial reward (Changingminds, 2011). Fredrick Herzberg of needs has claimed that both financial and non-financial rewards play significant roles in motivation (Changingminds, 2011). This is show in Figure 1, physiological need is at the bottom of the pyramid, such as wages for worker to be used each week or providing workers a good working environment (Changingminds, 2011). If the physiological needs are satisfied, employees needs will move to the next level which is called safety needs, such as living in a safe area or job security. As the level goes up in the pyramid, the financial factors will not satisfy the workers need while non-financial rewards motivate employees (Changingminds, 2011). Figure 1 (Changingminds, 2011) In order to motivate employees in higher levels in Maslows hierarchy of needs, it is necessary for business to consider more in non-financial rewards such as job enlargement and team work quality control circles. Job enlargement involves giving workers more jobs to avoid repeating doing the same job. In other words, they can change their jobs and tasks, so that they will not feel bored. For example, KFC invested more than 240 million Yuan for 20 million employees over a 17-year period when it entered China market ( Robroad, nd).The reason for KFC to use such a large amount of money to train their employees is that it aims to improve employees ability to deal with different jobs and tasks ( Robroad, nd). Meanwhile, team work is another good way to combine polled talents to work more efficiently. For example, one of the worldwide leaders in luxury automobiles BMW believed that teamwork helps workers trust each other and share their ideas by brainstorming, which hence helps the company run more efficiently (Swampfox, nd). Therefore, BMW spent thousands of money to make workers learnt how to trust and communicate better through a series of practice by using ultimate driving machine (Swampfox, nd). Finally, quality control circles are able to improve the nature of job directly. Staff can meet regularly to study and solve production problems. In addition, they also have abilities to help the company to make decisions. The well known computer company IBM does well in this area, employees in IBM can take part in decision making and bring some useful ideas for the company (Ocities, nd). At the same time employees feel that they are trusted and powerful when they were making an attempt to solve the problem (Ocities, nd). Therefore, non-financial motivation such as job enlargement, team work and quality control circles are also effective ways to motivate employees. In summary, it is necessary for a company to make sure what the employees really need and choose financial rewards or non- financial rewards to encourage them. There is no doubt that fair day pay and fringe benefits are still reasons why people keep working. However, non-financial rewards which include job enlargement, team work and quality control circles are more attracted for some higher educated employees, which are equally as important as financial rewards. Therefore, businesses need to balance each of them and make the most use of them to motivate the staffs. References Section: Accel-team (2010) [Online] Employee Motivation: Theory and practice Available at: http://www.accel-teamHYPERLINK http://www.accel-team.com/motivation/index.html.com/motivation/index.html Access Date: 12, March, 2011 Changingminds (2011) [Online] Maslows Hierarchy Available at: http://changingminds.org/explanations/needs/maslow.htm Access Date: 12, March, 2011 Ezinearticles (2011) [Online] Google sets the standard for a happy work environment Available at: http://ezinearticles.com/?Google-Sets-The-Standard-For-A-Happy-Work-EnvironmentHYPERLINK http://ezinearticles.com/?Google-Sets-The-Standard-For-A-Happy-Work-Environmentid=979201HYPERLINK http://ezinearticles.com/?Google-Sets-The-Standard-For-A-Happy-Work-Environmentid=979201id=979201 Access Date: 11, March, 2011 Qocities (nd) [Online] IBM Ideas Program Guide Available at: http://www.oocities.org/~keithgibby/ibm_ideas_prog_guide.htm Access Date: 12, March, 2011 Robroad (nd) [Online] KFC restaurant managers to do what the main job Available at: http://www.robroad.com/light-industry/index.php/restaurant-training-kfc/ Access Date: 12, March, 2011 Swampfox (nd) [Online] BMW delivers teamwork at Performance Center in Greer Available at: http://www.swampfox.ws/bmw-delivers-teamwork-at-performance-center-in-greer Access Date: 12, March, 2011 Thetimes100 (2011) [Online] Motivation theory in practice at Tesco Available at: http://www.thetimes100.co.uk/case-studymotivational-theory-in-practice-at-tesco132-396-3.php Access Date: 12, March, 2011

Leadership And Change Management At Dominos Pizza Commerce Essay

Leadership And Change Management At Dominos Pizza Commerce Essay Change is part of life. Change come in every things with the passage of time either he is a human being or an organization. To accept these changes things try to adopt different process according to different situations. Similarly in an organisation changing can be small or big as well. For example, hiring a new employee is small change and change in mission or use of new technology is big cause of change. Change should not be done for the sake of change .it is a strategy to accomplish the overall goal. Internal and external triggers are key cause of change and these changes can be planned and unplanned as well. There are some common mistakes while attempting to implement the change. For example, delayed decision making, no proper support of managers, could not understand where business will stand after adopting the change. In addition, for the change organisation follow the process and during this process many conflicts occurred. If something is happening that is indication of resistance. There are many signs of resistance like confusion, denial, immediate criticism, easy agreement, silence and many more. What is change management? Change management is accept, control and manage the situation in the organisation and need to bring change in the organisation has effective management is called change management. Different analysis has to do to see the change and managed by well planned strategy. If any organisation has needed to do change then different valid models are made for effective management of change. Some proactive techniques are used to bring and adjust the change in the external and internal performance of the organisation. There is making some effective strategy to plan step by step change. Change management also keep in eye current and modern issues which can affect the change process. There are some solid reasons when change is required. Change management should have up to date knowledge about the of situation surrounding a issues. Change process: There are many reasons due to change is done. That reason can be internally and can be internally. Change process means journey of source of change to the adopting the change is change process. Why change has done? Which type of changes has done either it is cultural, organisational behaviour, organisation policies. These changes can be related to different department of organisation and every department is related to change process and change process is related to the organisation strategies. Real life examples of the change process: In the recent years, the introduction and modification of the computer dominated the list of changes. It has effected nearly every business, industry and home as well. Change in computer will keep effect on people lives. For examples, nowadays people can buy the thing easily at sitting in home by using the computer through internet. Computer has saved the time and expenses as well. We can buy a thing by clicking a button and can pay at time. Moreover, computer has great impact on industrial area as well. New information technology systems have been installed. It is the best way to access the data. Moreover, working condition also often changes. Many organizations moved or remodelled their facilities. For example shifting of staff or offices to new tall buildings from small quarters which are a great change in working process. Polices, rules and regulations are frequently changed. Continues changes are being made in organizations in order to become more efficient and profitable. For examples, a big insurance company is restructuring its organization around the project management area . They mage centralized area to project mange office where the team of workers stayed until they are assigned to various projects. Foe the starting of the project they need trainings and have to learn methodology of project management. Initiative for the change started in information technology and is expanding rest of the life. History of Dominos Pizza: In USA, Dominos Pizza is second largest franchised chain organisation like its competitors Pizza Hut. Two Brother Tom and James Monagha purchased some property and opened with the mane of Dominicks pizza. After few years Tom had changed the name Dominos Pizza. In late seventies there were 200 franchise of pizza and later on in 1983 it went international and open one thousand franchises and same year in Australia they open new franchise. Organisation of Dominos Pizza grew up very quickly and in many countries it was still a traditional company. The menu of Dominos Pizza was very simple and was offering simple crust means regular pizza. Later on due to competition they added medium and large size otherwise there were no side order, just pizza along with the drink. Deep pan pizza was introduced in 1989 and changed the history. By the market demand, on same years, they opened five thousands stores. For many year, they started the policy about the delivery if the delivery didnt reach in 3 0 minutes then you will get free pizza. In 1993, they did not continue this policy. In 1994 they introduced chicken wings and in 1996 they launched Dominos web site. They also invention the cardboard boxes to keep pizza warm and Heat Wave for the fresh and warm delivery. In 1997 they introduced the new logo as well. They have open many franchises all over the world according to the taste and culture of the different countries. Sources of change in the Dominos Pizza: There are many internal and external sources which has brought change in the dominos pizza and its strategy. They accepted these changes and there are some external reasons which are as follows: Changing in market nature is the source of change in the Dominos Pizza. As the consumers know that their choice is matter in the market whatever they demand it will be considerable. Australia is one of the largest countries and consumers of that country markets want healthy food so Dominos Pizza made healthy menu. With the objective of maintaining the competition, business always run according to the rules and regulation. So Dominos Pizza also influenced by political and legal issues. Employer should have to remember about the nutrition laws and information. There is another source which has affected the operation of the Dominos Pizza which is economic growth and location. There are some internal sources which have impact on the Dominos Pizza. New technology system to keep pizza warm and hot for the longer time it has created change and also online delivery order. New internet based is beneficial for the customers. Dominos made easier for the consumer card payments, driver take wireless card machines for the payment of order. Resistance to change: When changes are made then resistance born. There are many reason of increasing of resistance like due to some confusion in the data, misleading and misusing the data, organisation do not know where have to do change, sometime criticism incurred, employees does not agreed with the new polices. Resistance can be intense because of different reasons like a cognitive of different options, due to deeper emotions and deeply embedded. Resistance to change in Organisational culture of Dominos Pizza: Brandon who had purchased Dominos Pizza for$ 1.1 billion. He tried to create very friendly relationship with employees. First day on the work he explained that change is good. With the passage of time, Dominos Pizza brings changes in cultural sector. Proper wearing uniform and given training to the employees and how to work, given them trainings. Employees of Dominos Pizza were eligible. Organisational culture changing is not a easy thing, manager make out the strategy that how to change in the organisation individually and in the group. Innovation of online ordering is new change in the Dominos Pizza. Competition in the industry has increased in the selection of store manager and gives them training. New computerised system has brought changes in organisational culture as well. Resistance to change in Organisational behaviour of the Dominos Pizza: Due to resistance to change in Dominos Pizza, there are some changes incurred in organisation behaviour of the organisation. Staff issues have increased because new technology is using and employment opportunities are decreasing. With the passage of time new modern technology has taken over the jobs. These are the basic issues and change in the organisational behaviour. There are some problems incurred individually to face the change like managers of store. Resistance to change in organisational policies and power: With the passage of time, there are many changes incurred in polices and rules and regulations which was the cause of resistance to change in dominos. Whenever changes comes in the polices managers have to see the difficulties because he have to handle the store and have direct linkage between the employees. Manger have to try to keep saying to employees to follow new polices these policies can be about food hygienic, delivery, taking orders many other things. After facing these changes, customers who are the basic part of dominos strategy have to face the problem. Some time customers does not understand the about the new polices. Polices has implied on every employee of Dominos Pizza so that is cause of resistance to change. Moreover, main power of Dominos Pizza is their customer so they do not like to lose their customers. If dominos will try to change in culture, organisational behaviour and rules and regulation will directly affect the customers. Basic aim and objective of dominos pizza is to make happy customer. In addition, one more power of dominos is finance which has brought changes many times. Sometimes dominos have to face resistance to change due to finance. Changes come due to loss of revenue, low share market and many other things as well. Strategies to overcome the resistance: Dominos is one of the well know and famous organisation in the world. Its business is expanding day by day at global level. They have experience is the profit margin and have competitive advantage. Dominos pizza have good brand image and have a lot of variety of pizza. In market dominos have leadership quality as well it can competent its competitors like pizza hut, papa johns and many other organisations. There are following steps which are taken by the Dominos Pizza. Dominos pizza aim and objective: To minimize the resistance to change dominos has focus on its aim and objective. Main objective of dominos pizza is to great care of customers. Make customers happy and deliver their orders on the time. Through examine the dominos main objective mangers can control the resistance to change. Achievable goals: Managers can understand about the achievable gaol of the Dominos Pizza. Managers should have to do setting of goal. These goal should be reachable and success able. There is one example of dominos pizza is that in 2006 their goal was to achieve 418 outlet but they had 438. Through this approach Dominos Pizza can reduce the resistance to change. Culture of change: Dominos pizza has to describe their culture to change. Dominos is increasing its growth rate. It has gone international level. Whatever changes will come in the cultural. They should have to explain to their customers. It can be helpful in reduction of strategy. Change models: Kurt lewins has introduced this model. It is very simple to understand and managing the change in any organisation according to this model. His thinking is to bring change as can bring change in ice block. It has given name unfreezing, freezing and refreezing. So, Dominos Pizza should have to accept this approach. Sometime employees cannot work as company demands. Some time customer does not come to but pizza. Step 1: Unfreezing means what problems an organisation is facing? Where it should have to bring changes? There should be proper analysis. Through the survey of market, getting feedback from customers, Dominos Pizza can adopt the change and can reduce the resistance to change. Step2: In this step, freezing, how an organisation can make change? How organisations accept this change? It can be successful by motivating the team and managers. Step 3: In last step refreezing mean if any employee does not want to change the habit. Sometimes organisation does not accept the changes. Unfreezing Freezing Refreezing Sources of conflict within change: Some source which has created change in dominos pizza strategy. These sources were internal and external. Dominos did many changes in it whole journey to the success. This organisation met to resistance to change. These resistance was by organisational culture, behaviour, polices and many other things. There are many approach used to overcome the resistance. After using these approaches and strategies Dominos Pizza faced many conflicts which were changing in the working style of the Dominos Pizza. There is innovation of new technology which has taken over the job of employees. They cannot get working hour more. Online order service, misleading with calculation of sales, misleading the data, misuse of branding. These are the main sources of conflict in the change. When changes come then it creates conflicts between the employees. Due to misleading the calculation there were impact on the sales revue and the ratio analysis of the dominos pizza. Approaches to deal with conflicts: When conflict incurred then there should be some approaches to deal with conflicts. To deal with conflict should have to careful about the main objective and aim. If we forget about the main purpose then there is no befit of running the business. To solve these conflicts Dominos Pizza should have to take some steps which are as follows: Dominos Pizza had to do some promotional activities to keep its image maintain. These activities make customer happy and create more attraction. To reduce the conflicts, Dominos Pizza had to increase the working hours of employees and have to offers some compensation, holiday packages, bonuses. Dominos pizza had to arrange some motivational workshop for the employees like customer service workshop, team work, training of staff. Dominos pizza had offers some new meal deal to the customers to increase the sale and revenue level. Conclusion and Recommendations: At the end, changes come in ever field of organisation. Whenever change needed it comes . For the acceptance to change there are some elements which have to keep in eye. In Dominos Pizza many changes come and due to these changes it has create resistance to change in it. These resistances were in organisational behaviour, organisation cultural, traditional changes, changes in rules and regulation and power. These changes come not individually but it also comes in group of shape. After analysis of Dominos pizza, we came to about the approaches and strategies which had used in the reduction of resistance. After resistance there are some problems and conflict born. Dominos pizza used different techniques like offering the different meal deals, free vouchers to the customers, workshop for the employees and many other things. Dominos pizza is well known and best competitors organisation in the market. It gained high profit and revenue. Bibliography: Paton. R .A and McCalman J (2008) Change Management (3rd Ed) SAGE, London. Tobin. R(1999)overcoming resistance to change (2nd Ed) Kogan Page, UK.

Greco-Roman Influence in Shakespeares Antony and Cleopatra Essay

Greco-Roman Influence in Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra    Greco-Roman mythological images seem to dominate Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. Ever since the humanist revolution started, Renaissance writers, including Shakespeare, systematically tried to revive Greek literature and Greek mythology. It was an attempt to establish an alternative authority to Catholic scholastic dogma that has the stamp of antiquity.    Shakespeare's knowledge of mythology was almost exclusively Roman, especially in relation to love and war. As a matter of truth, the Romans did not have created gods of their own, because '' They were a people of deep religious feeling, but they had little imagination.''   In fact, the influence of Greek art and literature were powerful in Rome. Thus, they adopted Greek gods, and the Greek mythological figures turned into Roman mythological figures to suit their society. For example, Ares, who is the Geek deity of war, turned into Mars, the Roman god of war. ''The Roman liked Mars better than the Greeks liked Ares,''   because Ares was not a typical deity of war, so Mars became the embodiment of military virtues and the defender of Rome.    In fact, a thorough understanding of the mythological figures and images in Antony and Cleopatra like Phoebus, Furies, Venus, Mars, Hercules and Bacchus, can be the best guideline to a perceptive interpretation of the play. These mythological figures can be mirrors which reflect the nature of a specific character or the culture of a society. Therefore, the function of these myths is very important in Antony and Cleopatra being one of the ways to approach the play.    The values and culture of the Egyptian societ... ...while once she seems to help him in putting his armor on. Hence, Cleopatra gives him the spiritual support when he goes to war.    Obviously, the previous mythological figures are not accidentally mentioned in the play. They are another source which enables the reader to understand the characters and the cultures of Rome and Egypt in   Antony and Cleopatra. Therefore, these myths are very important in an indirect approach to the play.    Bibliography Hamilton, Edith. Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods   and Heroes. New York: Warner Books, 1969. Miles, Geoffrey. Ed., ''A Rough Guide to the Gods''and ''A Mythical History of the World,''  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Classical Mythology in English Literature: A Critical Anthology. London: Routledge, 1999. Shakespeare, William. Antony and Cleopatra. London: Longman, 1981.

Andrew Carnegie: The Man Behind the Steel :: American History Essays

Andrew Carnegie: The Man Behind the Steel I chose to right about Andrew Carnegie for the two following reasons. The first being his Scottish heritage, and second being his close ties with the city of Pittsburgh. I happen to have some Scottish blood in me but more importantly I am from Pittsburgh. Andrew Carnegie’s story of rags to riches is slightly more inspiring than that of Henry Clay Frick, his partner. As a Scottish immigrant Carnegie made his ways through the ranks of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Upon passing on an offer for the superintendent of the Pittsburgh division of the Pennsylvania Railroad; Carnegie and his brother Thomas purchased an already running mill (Burgoyne 6). From here Carnegie built up the largest and most lucrative iron and steel works in the world. His character was often challenged by certain individuals and defended by others. It is common knowledge that Carnegie viewed himself as a man of the people since he came from humble beginnings. Conversely labor historian Harold Livesay was quoted in saying, â€Å"that certainly by the standards of ethics and conduct to which we would like to hold businessmen today, he indeed operated extremely ruthlessly (www.pbs.org).† Carnegie’s character, views on labor and actions regarding Homestead will be discussed more in depth further. The Homestead Strike of 1892 is known as one of the bloodiest and most bitter labor strikes in American history. Many though would consider it to a necessary progressive movement even taking into account the many lost lives. In order to understand what exactly occurred in Homestead during the summer of 1892 it is first necessary to understand the town of Homestead itself. It is important to point out the fact that without the mill there would be no Homestead, therefore making the mill the nucleus of the town. The mill was located along the Monongahela River in the south of Pittsburgh. Not having seen the mill myself I’m sure that it would have been a beacon to Pittsburghers, encompassing 600 acres of the river’s bank (Burgoyne 1-2). The entire of economy of Homestead was centered on the mill with all other businesses depending on the revenue dispersed by the mill. Store owners, bartenders, and seamstresses all alike depended on paychecks from the mill to spend at their respective proprietorships. There for the lockout of the mill did not simply affect the mill workers but rather all 12,000 residents of Homestead (Burgoyne 1). As for Andrew Carnegie, well he became the richest man in the world. In the year 1900 Carnegie sold the company to J.P Morgan for $480 million.

Power Balance Bands Conclusion Essay

The intent of this experiment was to one time and for all answer the inquiry. â€Å"do the Power Balance Bands genuinely have an consequence on a person’s balance strength and flexibleness or is the whole thing a cozenage? † The company claims that the these watchbands have a holograph in it and when the holograph comes in contact with your body’s energy field. it allows your organic structure to interact with the natural. good frequence stored within the holograph. ensuing in improved energy flow throughout your organic structure. But is this true? The original claim for this experiment was that if people are have oning the power balance set while take parting in assorted balance. strength. and flexibleness trials so the set will in fact non hold any consequence on the individuals balance. strength. or flexibleness. The information showed a really little difference between the public presentation of the â€Å"fake† and â€Å"real† Power Balance Bands. All three trials showed no more than a. 3 % difference between the agencies for both sets. This experiment was basically an experiment proving the placebo consequence on the usage of the Power Balance Bracelet. The placebo consequence is the mensurable. discernible. or felt betterment in wellness or behaviour non attributable to a medicine or invasive intervention that has been administered. The end was to convert people the â€Å"original† Power Balance set really worked. and that the â€Å"fake† one didn’t. My consequences showed small to no alteration in public presentation regardless of which band the pupil was have oning. This observation confirmed my hypothesis that neither set would hold any affect on a person’s public presentation. The systematic mistake in this experiment was that I was non able to prove 50 trials capable. I was merely able to prove 36 which fortunately still allowed me to acquire accurate consequences. The Random mistake in this experiment was that it was hard to mensurate the betterment. or aside of the participants. for both the Balance Test and the Strength Test. The merely recorded restriction for this experiment was the fact that while executing the Balance and Strength Test if each participant made to 10 seconds while equilibrating they were stopped and had their abilities observed and recorded. The generalizability of the consequences can use to all worlds nevertheless ; this experiment is sole in that it can non be generalized for all other objects. insects. or animate beings. For future waies I would increase the sample size. and besides change the trials so that they can be measured by something other than clip.

Victim Blaming

According to the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime, victim blaming can be defined as â€Å"a devaluing act that occurs when the victim(s) of a crime or an accident is held responsible — in whole or in part — for the crimes that have been committed against them†. It can appear in forms of negative social response from authoritative organizations (lawyers, police, etc. ) or from the victim’s social circle (friends, family, school, etc. ) towards the crime that has occurred. In our case, the crime that has occurred-or, more accurately, might occur-is rape.The exam question subtextually sends this message: â€Å"If you do not want to be raped, do not behave this way. If you do not behave this way, rape will not happen. † If we want to stop rape, should we not, instead, teach rapists about the wrongness of nonconsensual sex (sexual intercourse while under the influence of alcohol does NOT count as consensual sex, explained in the next paragra ph)? If we keep telling our women to cover up and avoid ‘trouble’, we are making no attempt to stop the assaulter. We cannot constantly tell women to run away when we are making no, or little, attempt to educate the men.We constantly give conditions to rape: if she was drunk, walking around alone at night, wearing clothing deemed ‘provocative’, etc. then it is not rape. In some cases, the victim is in a drunken state and therefore is unable to give proper consent. This is when they are taken advantage of and are raped. However, when someone is drunk they are unaware of their surroundings and therefore unaware of their actions. We cannot blame someone for getting raped while drunk. I agree that they should not get drunk in the first place, but they are not responsible for another individual’s actions.

Supply side factors of drop out for students

Harmonizing to the National Plan for 2003-2015 ( 2003 ) of the Royal Government of Cambodia, Education for All ( EFA ) is the first critical and inevitable measure for bettering and sharpening human resources, which are needfully needed for Cambodia ‘s economic fight in an progressively planetary and regional economic system. Driven by a figure of development be aftering enterprises by the Royal Government of Cambodia, the constitution of EFA, which was approved by the Royal Government of Cambodia in 2002, came into consequence. In add-on, the National Plan emphasizes that, to develop the state ‘s economic system, Cambodia needs to guarantee its ain countrywide basic instruction, primary and lower secondary instruction, since the Government firmly believes EFA is the first and inevitable mechanism for Cambodia to make its ain Socio Economic Development Plan II ( SEDP II ) by agencies of equalising educational entree among its both advantaged and disadvantaged kids. This E FA program is besides encouraged by the on-going Poverty Reduction Strategic Plan ( PRSP ) of 2002, which aims at poorness decrease in Cambodia since the Government found that it has been the chief trap well lending to hapless pupils ‘ dropouts in Cambodia Basic Education. A paper by United Nations Children ‘s Fun ( UNICEF ) ( 2007 ) , which outlined the cosmopolitan primary instruction by aiming making the unapproachable in Cambodia, emphasizes that, to guarantee EFA in Cambodia, it is necessarily necessary to guarantee correlativity between both supply and demand-driven factors since the two factors are inseparable, intertwined tow-side consequence. This research, conducted by agencies of literature reappraisal from several beginnings, purposes to reply the undermentioned inquiries: What are these demand-side and supply-side which may forestall hapless kids from remaining in school? What does the Kampuchean Government do to cut down the influence of these factors on drop-out? The followers are the illustrations over the above research job, which chronologically includes the present state of affairs of drop-out in basic instruction in Cambodia, both supply-side and demand-side factors which may forestall hapless kids from remaining in school, and the Kampuchean Government ‘s solution in cut downing the influence of these factors on drop-out.Present Situation of Drop-out in Cambodia Basic EducationWith necessary engagement in their household ‘s economic activities, Kampuchean pupils in basic instruction normally face late school entry and early school dropout ( ILO, UNICEF, 2006 ) . The same research by ILO and UNICEF ( 2006 ) besides explains that about 16 per centum of Kampuchean kids are already active in their household ‘s economic work at the age of six while over half of them are involved at the age of 10. Therefore, kids engagement in economic activities exceeds that in school by the age of 15. In this sense, most of them merely ana lyze entirely, so they consider dropout. A study by World Bank ( 2005 ) shows that dropout rate becomes the highest during the pupils ‘ passage from primary schools to take down secondary schools. While the pupils are making their basic instruction, some of them choose to drop out of school without even finishing it. The study, furthermore, identifies many grounds of dropout, in which poorness seems to be the most influential ( as cited World Food Programme, 2007 ) . The tabular array below is the illustration by MoEYS/UNESCO ( 2000 ) , and NPRS ( 2005 ) on different grounds why pupils in Cambodia basic instruction bead out of school:ReasonsMales ( % )Female ( % )Parents ‘ poorness 22.3 19 Needed at place 1.6 21.1 Poor instruction 0.4 0.4 Distance to school 2.9 2.9 Schooling is non utile 0.4 0.3 Family migration 3.9 3.9 Other grounds 11 8.8 No response 37.5 43.6 Beginning: MoEYS/UNESCO ( 2000 ) /NPRS ( 2005 ) ( as cited in World Food Programme, 2007, p. 5 ) Harmonizing to the tabular array above, MoEYS/UNESCO ( 2000 ) /NPRS ( 2005 ) shows that poorness is the most influential factor forestalling pupils from traveling to school and hence doing them to drop out. It besides shows a great difference in the figure of pupils who reach the last class in primary schools and the proportion of pupils who continue their survey to take down secondary schools. The study moreover explains that, despite the abolishment of primary school fees, the secondary schools ‘ fees are non free. Therefore, possibly these are the grounds why pupils decide to drop out of school during the period of their passage from primary to take down secondary school since their parents or households can non afford their go oning instruction. The same determination by MoEYS/UNESCO ( 2000 ) and NPRS ( 2005 ) illustrates that, despite increasing proportion of pupils traveling to primary schools, there are still a big figure of pupils dropping out of schools or non inscribi ng for their go oning instruction in lower secondary schools ( as cited in World Food Programme, 2007 ) .Supply-side FactorsA statement by UNICEF ( 2007 ) identifies three chief supply-side factors, which prevent hapless kids from remaining in school, viz. unequal public outgo on primary instruction, high pupil-teacher ratio, and uncomplete school substructure. The study shows that, even though 80 to 84 per centum of entire Kampuchean instruction budget has been allocated to basic instruction, turn toing the issue of unequal public outgo is still a job, which to boot involves deciding issues of distance from school, installations and substructure of school, and instructors ‘ preparation and Numberss, peculiarly for entree to primary schools in distant and rural countries. The account, furthermore, emphasizes â€Å" aˆÂ ¦though investing in instruction has helped to increase the net registration rate in Cambodia by over 20 per centum over the period 1997 to 2004, a signif icant figure of kids still denied instruction opportunitiesaˆÂ ¦ † ( UNICEF, 2007, p. 8 ) . In add-on, high pupil-teacher ratio is besides a job. â€Å" Pupil-teacher ratio in schools in the poorest 300 communes averaged every bit much as 79 students per instructor compared with 46 in schools in the richest 300 communes † ( World Bank, 2006, p.101 ) . Another statistics sing high pupil-teacher ratio in primary instruction shows: The pupil-teacher ratio in Cambodia does non compare favourably with that of other states in the regionaˆÂ ¦ Cambodia has one of the highest pupil-teacher ratios in the part, between 1.8 to 2.9 times more than other states. The high pupil-teacher ratio has a direct influence on attending and larning results, and it peculiarly affects those kids populating in underserved countries of the state ( UNICEF, 2007, p. 9 ) . UNICEF ( 2007 ) , furthermore, shows that uncomplete school substructure besides affects students ‘ survey in schools, particularly who chiefly live in distant countries and those who can non afford their day-to-day transit. The determination proves that, despite to-some-extent betterment in structural substructure in basic instruction in Cambodia, a figure of uncomplete schools remain still. Those uncomplete schools is the chief cause of primary school students ‘ drop-out since they can non travel upward as those uncomplete schools can non supply higher classs for them. Similarly, a 2004 World Bank study peculiarly points out four of import factors from supply-side: deficient school preparedness, a big figure of uncomplete primary schools, low quality of instructors, and unequal wellness attention installations, viz. H2O and latrines and such acquisition installations as library. The study posited the roots of students ‘ dropouts on poorness trap, stating that: Poverty is the first factor that predisposes kids to drop out of school. Poor households are unable to pay the cost of schooling that could be every bit high of 79 per cent of the per capita non-food outgo of the poorest 20 per cent of the population. Children ‘s deficiency of school preparedness frequently a consequence of malnutrition and deficiency of preschool experiences is another factor that particularly impacts negatively on Grade 1 repeat and drop-out ( as cited in UNICEF, 2005, p. 9 ) . Mainstreaming Inclusive Education Undertaking by Voluntary Service Oversea ( VSO ) ( 2006 ) conducted a little pilot survey of a little sample of kids ( n=32 ) on primary school dropout in Kampot state, and it provided similar account on supply-side factors. One of the grounds is excess costs for school. The research shows that students are supposed to pay more for their excess lessons, or they would neglect in their survey. The 2nd ground is that their places are distant from schools. The research show that some pupils spend at least an hr each from place to school and this is the chief ground for their school dropouts. The concluding ground in the findings is instructors ‘ behaviour. The study emphasizes that physical penalty, harmonizing to 25 % of the kids, continues to be in school and is a factor that discourages some of them non to go to school ( VSO, 2006 ) .Demand-side FactorsIn the working documents by UNICEF ( 2007 ) on Universal Primary Education: Reaching the Unrea ched, demand-side explains three factors as the grounds for pupils dropouts, viz. poorness, geographics and ethnicity. First, poorness is really likely to be the most influential facet. Without even nutrient to eat for their day-to-day endurance, kids are required to work by their household. Cambodia Child Labor Survey emphasizes that around 50 % of all kids in Cambodia, aged from 7 to 14, were much more actively involved in economic aid in 2001 if compared with other with-similar-income states ( ILO, UNICEF and World Bank, 2006 ) . â€Å" Together with the demand of significant domestic work, this economic activity delays the chance that a kid would get down primary school by the official school entry age of six † ( UNICEF, 2007, p. 10 ) . In the same statement, UNICEF ( 2007 ) found that costs of kid schooling is the issue. Since cost of basic education-both direct and indirect-is high in Cambodia, hapless pupils find it disputing to remain in school, but sing dropout might be the better pick. Poverty is besides a chief cause of hapless pupils ‘ late entry into primary school. World Bank ( 2005b ) has found that â€Å" Children in Cambodia enter school well subsequently than the official school enrolment age of six, averaging 7.6 old ages as of 2001, † ( as cited in UNICEF, 2007, p. 11 ) . Therefore, this delayed start in school seems to be a terrible disheartenment in their academic continuance and it therefore appears to be the account about why hapless pupils decide to drop out of school. Second, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports ( 2006 ) shows geographical location earnestly affects hapless pupils ‘ survey in footings of non merely farness but besides school conditions. Students whose agencies of transit is non low-cost have to travel to school on nutrient for long distance. At the same clip, the school conditions in distant countries are normally much worse than those in the urban countries. With no longer tolerance t o this regular state of affairs, most hapless pupils choose to discontinue school ( as cited in UNICEF, 2007 ) . Third, the study by UNICEF ( 2007 ) illustrates that cultural minorities largely live in rural countries, and they therefore do non truly mean to remain in school since survey can assist them with about nil. Therefore, dropout would be their better manner. In add-on, the same pilot survey by VSO ( 2006 ) besides identifies four factors from demand-side as the grounds why pupils drop out of schools, viz. demand for kids to work, deficiency of personal resources, deficiency of assurance, and unwellness. Need for kids to work to back up their household is largely inevitable for hapless kids in Cambodia. The determination states that around 25 % are required to assist their households with any necessary plants. The study adds, â€Å" in these state of affairss, school is frequently an excess load. Children become exhausted and therefore unable to concentrate on their survey † ( VSO, 2006, p. 16 ) . Consequently, this difficult work may forestall them from traveling to school. In add-on, guaranting adequate resources for their survey is besides the issue. â€Å" Similarly, 12.5 % of the interviewed kids [ n=32 ] in Kampot state are found unable to afford books or pens, so they can non take portion in lessons. Even though this ground is non given as a chief ground for dropping out, but it is at least in concurrence with other grounds † ( VSO, 2006, p. 17 ) . VSO ( 2006 ) adds that deficiency of assurance partially affects the pupils ‘ survey. 9 % of those kids dropped out as the consequence of their ain hapless public presentation in school. With deficiency of assurance in head, pupils are more likely to discontinue school. The account adds that, of those grounds, unwellness is another since, even though it is a rare instance, pupils are more likely to discontinue school when they are earnestly sick.Government ‘s SolutionsTo cover with this dropout issue, the Royal Government of Cambodia, with Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports as executive mechanism, needs to guarantee effectual execution for the undermentioned undertakings. UNICEF ( 2005 ) emphasizes that the MoEYS foremost needs to implement and vouch that all Kampuchean kids, particularly the hapless, are given equal chance to acquire choice instruction and to accomplish just entree to instruction. Second, the MoEYS besides needs to endeavor to supply more chances for vulnerable groups to acquire mine old ages of basic instruction. To accomplish these two chief aims, the MoEYS has outlined some of import, relevant schemes in ESP/ESSP. These include abolishment of the cost barrier to basic instruction and other illegal Acts of the Apostless by agencies of first doing enrolment run effectual ; 2nd providing to the demand and scholarship for secondary instruction, chiefly for those hapless and vulnerable kids ; 3rd extinguishing uncomplete primary schools by constructing extra schoolrooms and more lower secondary schools in underserved countries ; four turn outing school operational budget ; 5th cut downing repeat and drop-out chiefly in Grade 1 to 6 ; 6th supplying more chances for kids out of school to re-entry ; 7th making plans for out-of-school young person to acquire equal instruction ; eighth spread outing l iteracy plans for grownup ; and eventually seeking to enroll instructors from remote and cultural minority country. In a more elaborate account by EFA ( 2003 ) , to cover with these issues, the Royal Government of Cambodia has introduced a figure of strategic programs, in which some are in the procedure of execution while some are the future programs. First, it was necessary for the Government to set up both â€Å" Poverty Reduction Strategic Plan ( PRSP ) and Socio Economic Development Plan ( SEDPII ) † since the Government believes that long-run EFA sustainability, particularly to help the hapless or other deprived pupils, will ne'er be ensured without these two programs ( EFA, 2003, p. 19 ) . In another broader context, about comprehensive instruction reform has to be implemented with thorough accent on following cardinal mileposts 2000/2002: â€Å" Design and execution of PAP for primary instruction, concentrating on cut downing cost load on the hapless and publicity of improved internal efficiency in early 2000. Formulation of preliminary instruction policy and strategic model, as portion of interim PRSP in mid-2000. MoEYS hosting of Government, givers and NGO seminars on international experiences of sector broad attack to education reform in mid/late 2000. Formal understanding to education partnership rules by MoEYS, givers, NGO advisory group in early 2001, alongside revival of donor instruction sector w0rking group. Joint reappraisal and assessment of ESP and ESSP, climaxing in joint ESSP assessment study and collaborative forward program and high degree instruction unit of ammunition tabular array in mid 2001. Design and execution of assorted mode instruction sector support plan and complementary capacity edifice aid plan by cardinal donor Alliess in early 2002. MoEYS and donors/NGO readying of poorness impact, sector public presentation, revised ESSP and donors/NGO study as portion of first ESSP public presentation reappraisal in late 2002. Formulation of preliminary PRSP and MTEF, pulling on the policy and strategic waies set out in the revised ESSP 2002/6 in late 2002 † ( EFA, 2003, pp. 19-20 ) .DecisionWith elaborate amplification in response to the above research inquiries, brief decision on dropout grounds in Cambodia basic instruction can been seen as an interconnected factors between both demand-side and supply-side, which need necessary solutions from the authorities. In supply-side factor, dropout is affected by five chief grounds, viz. unequal public outgo on primary instruction, high pupil-teacher ratio, uncomplete school substructure, low quality of instructors, and deficiency of school installations, which are largely the duties of the authorities. Likewise, demand-side factors are besides the instance, in which pupils necessarily face several challenges: poorness, geographics, ethnicity, demand for kids to work, deficiency of personal resources, deficiency of assurance, and unwellness. Of all the gro unds from demand-side, poorness seems to be the most seeable ground in the pupils ‘ dropout. As can be see in the above literature reappraisals, their household ‘s fiscal crisis is the most influential barrier which causes their late school entry and ignorance. With these challenges, pupils seem to hold less motive in their survey, and they therefore end up with dropping out of school. To manage this issue, the Royal Government of Cambodia should make four prioritized undertakings: equalising basic educational entree to all pupils, supplying more chances to vulnerable groups, set uping Poverty Reduction Strategic Plan ( PRSP ) , and developing Socio Economic Development Plan ( SEDPII ) . With all the undertakings successfully accomplished, drop-out rate is expected to diminish consequently.

Inustrialized Food Production

Industrialized Food Production: A Dangerous Path When visiting the grocery store, shoppers are bombarded with pleasant photos of farmers in their fields. This idyllic agricultural way of life may have existed in the past, but today’s farms are much different. In our modern era, a revolution has taken place and food production has changed dramatically. The industrialized method of food production has created a dangerous and unsustainable system. Choosing locally sourced foods is beneficial to the planet, health, and local economies. The 100 mile diet has brought attention to this important subject and made people aware of the impact of food choices. Humans began farming over 9000 years ago, and many technological advancements have occurred since that time (Mintz, Du Bois, 101). Most significantly in the modern era, the green revolution changed the way food was grown. The green revolution allowed for intensification of food resources, intended to alleviate world hunger (Bourlag). Lead by Norman Bourlag, hybrid variations of wheat were bred to produce higher yields and be two to three times more resistant to disease. Success was achieved, but has created more issues. From 1950 to 1999 production on the same size acreage increased 170%, producing 1. 9 billion tonnes of grain (Bourlag). However, copious amounts of fertilizers need to be added to the soil to support this production; this leads to more chemical run-off and contamination of water sources. Another major problem is that the hybrid seeds lead to development of genetically engineered seeds. These grains are patented by large corporations, causing costs to rise and taking control away from farmers. The local farmer no longer has control over how they grow crops or run their farm. Large companies like Monsanto hold all the power. The genetically modified seeds that are needed for the high yields are patented, and farmers are forced to purchase new seeds each year (Food Inc. ). For centuries, farmers have been able to save seeds from their crops for planting the following year. With the introduction of patents, farmers now face massive lawsuits if they try to reuse seeds. Even though many farmers do not want to use the modified seeds, it is nearly impossible because of cross contamination. Mark Anslow provides an example of one Canadian farmer: Percy Schmeiser. He found that sixty percent of his crop had been contaminated by Monsanto engineered seeds carried onto his land by the wind (12). Even though Schmeiser did not plant or want the seeds, he still faced intimidation and lawsuits from the giant biotechnology company (Anslow, 13). The power held by these agribusiness giants controls what farmers can do. The control held by corporations is not limited to grains and seeds, it extends into poultry and livestock. The high demand for meat created by the multitudes of fast food restaurants has completely changed the way animals are raised. Factory farming techniques produce plump animals from small areas. About 10 billion animals are raised and killed for food every year in the United States, many of these inhumanely (â€Å"Humane Eating : The Humane Society of the United States. â€Å"). Laying hens are kept in cages so small they cannot even move. In addition, animals have been bred for meat production, leading to chickens with breasts so heavy they can barely walk; chickens often die from their own weight (_Food Inc_. ). Cattle are raised in small pens with no area to graze. Instead, they are fattened up with corn (Nierenberg, 22). These feedlots are seas of manure and disease. Farmers are pressured by that large companies they hold contracts with to have the latest technologies. This means taking on massive debt that forces farmers to continue producing for that company, even if they do not agree with the practices. For example, poultry producers working for Tyson, one of the largest companies, have been forced to â€Å"upgrade† chicken houses to be large sheds with no natural light, with thousands of chickens packed inside (_Food Inc_. ). As with grain producers, livestock producers are caught in a debt cycle by powerful corporations. Major health issues are caused by industrialized food production. The close quarters and filthy conditions where the animals are raised are perfect conditions for the spread of disease. Animals raised intensively arrive at slaughterhouses covered in feces, which raises the risk of contamination during the processing (Nierenberg, 22). As well, a variety of antibiotics are used to as feed additives to prevent disease and encourage growth in livestock and poultry, which are then ingested by humans, increasing antibiotic resistance worldwide (Sayre, 78). The crowded, stressful conditions of intensive farming, combined with ammonia released from waste and lack of sunlight facilitate the spread of disease among animals and to humans. As well, the manure from these animals is contaminated with the antibiotics; if a manure lagoon bursts or seeps into the water supply, anyone using the water to drink or bathe can be infected (Sayre, 77). One way to reduce these issues is to eat less meat, reducing demand and the need for intensive factory farm operations (Pollan, 33). Another solution is to choose locally raised meat. This allows consumers to get to know the farmers and practices used to raise the livestock. In addition, it is more likely that the meat has been processed in a smaller slaughterhouse, reducing chances for cross contamination from many sources. Local food increases the amount of information available to consumers and provides food security. Factory farming not only harms the animals and the farmers, it has huge environmental impacts. The production of livestock and dairy actually contributes more greenhouse gases to the environment than vehicles (â€Å"From Field To Feedlot To Fork. â€Å"). Globally, 18% of greenhouse gas emissions are created from feedlot to dinner table. Animal production creates emissions at every stage. Fossil fuel is required to run equipment, grow crops, transport animals, and distribute products. The production of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides alone require the equivalent use of over 123 million barrels of oil (â€Å"From Field To Feedlot To Fork. â€Å"). Factory farming centralizes production areas, meaning that in order to slaughter and distribute the meat, long distance transportation is required. Aside from the fossil fuel use, greenhouse gases are created by the animals themselves. Grazing animals, like cattle, release methane. While this is natural, the huge amounts of livestock being produced are massive contributors to global warming. As well, the manure produced by these animals exceeds amounts that can be used as fertilizer for fields. The excess amounts are stored in ponds and lagoons, where more gases are released as it decomposes (Nierenberg, 23). By choosing to eat local, consumers negate the creation of much of the pollution. The most obvious reduction is in transportation emissions. On average, a meal travels 2414 km from farm to table. This is over a 25% increase from 1980 (Roosevelt, 78). Shopping at a local farmers market or farm stand reduces the distance considerably. A study in Iowa found that a regional diet consumed 17 times less oil and gas than a typical diet based on food shipped across the country and around the world (Smith, Mackinnon, 65). Another way local eating reduces environmental impacts is though more sustainable practices. Local farms are usually operated on a smaller scale; livestock can graze on grass, and the manure produced fertilizers the field. Another benefit of small farms if the diversity they provide. Agribusiness operations focus on monoculture. One crop is grown over hundreds or thousands of hectares. A small farm features more diversity, attracting and providing habitat for a range of wildlife (Pollan, 62). As well, smaller farms require far less chemical additives like pesticides and fertilizer, both produced with fossil fuels. Recently, the 100 mile diet has brought attention to choices consumers can make and why local choices are important. A couple in Vancouver undertook a year long challenge to only eat food that was grown or produced within a one hundred mile radius of their home (Smith, Mackinnon). At first, this seems like an overwhelming task, but is actually achievable. Some luxury items, like coffee and chocolate, must be given up, but most essential items are available. While it may not be possible for everyone to follow the 100 mile diet completely, choosing local products as often as possible has many benefits. As well as reducing transportation costs and emissions as mentioned earlier, purchasing food from local farmers helps the local economy. The income stays in your local area instead of being absorbed by a multinational corporation. A British study found that money spent at a local farmers market had twice the economic value for the area than money spent at a supermarket chain (Smith, Mackinnon, 112). The reduced transportation time also has health benefits. Produce is not picked until it is ripe, and often sold the same day, so the nutrients are not degraded when it reaches the dinner table. Food production has undergone many changes since the rise of agriculture thousands of years ago. The rise of factory farming practices has brought many negative changes to food. Rates of pollution and disease have risen dramatically, and conditions for animals and farmers are very poor. The recent popularity of the 100 mile diet has brought raised public awareness about food choices. By choosing locally produced food consumers get a more nutritious product, reduce environmental impacts, and support local economies. Works Cited Anslow, Mark. â€Å"Farmer warns: ‘GM will destroy organic industry'. † The Ecologist 38. 10 (2009): 12-13. General Science Index. Web. 30 Nov. 2009. Bourlag, Norman. â€Å"Biotechnology and the Green Revolution (ActionBioscience). † ActionBioscience – promoting bioscience literacy. Nov. 2002. Web. 4 Dec. 2009. http://www. actionbioscience. org/biotech/borlaug. html. Food Inc. Dir. Robert Kenner. Alliance, 2009. DVD. â€Å"From Field To Feedlot To Fork. † Cool Foods Campaign. 2009. Web. 04 Dec. 2009. http://coolfoodscampaign. org/your-tools/global-warming-and-your-food/from-field-to-feedlot-to-fork/. à ¢â‚¬Å"Humane Eating : The Humane Society of the United States. † The Humane Society of the United States. 2009. Web. 04 Dec. 2009. http://www. humanesociety. org/issues/eating/. Mintz, Sidney W. , and Christine M. Du Bois. â€Å"The Anthropology of Food and Eating. † Annual Review of Anthropology 31 (2002): 99-119. Print. Nierenberg, Danielle. The Commercialization of Farming: Producing Meat for a Hungry World. † USA Today (Periodical) 132 (2004): 22-4. Readers' Guide Abstracts. Web. 1 Dec. 2009. Pollan, Michael. In Defense of Food. New York: Penguin Paperbacks, 2009. Print. Roosevelt, Margot â€Å"The Lure of the 100-Mile Diet. † Time 167. 24 (2006): 78. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 4 Dec. 2009. Sayre, Laura. â€Å"The Hidden Link Between Factory Farms and Human Illness. † The Mother Earth News Feb. /Mar. 2009: 76-83. Readers' Guide Abstracts. Web. 1 Dec. 2009. Smith, Alisa, and J. B. Mackinnon. The 100-Mile Diet A Year of Local Eating. New York: Vintage Canada, 2007. Print.