Tuesday, December 24, 2019

The Stigma On Mental Illness Draft - 1108 Words

Alayne Anderson Mr. Johns English Per. 4 4/11/16 The Stigma on Mental Illness Draft #1 Martin Seligman once said; â€Å"One of the things psychologists used to say was that if you are depressed, anxious or angry, you couldn t be happy. Those were at opposite ends of a continuum. I believe that you can be suffering or have a mental illness and be happy - just not in the same moment that you re sad.† In Society people only listen to the stigma that surrounds mental illness which can cause the person suffering to feel worse about themselves and isolate them from society. People who suffer from mental illness such as Depression and Anxiety do not only deal with the situations harrowing with the disease; but also people’s thoughts on the†¦show more content†¦The stigma of mental illness can sometimes make people feel embarrassed to be around, or to just stay as far away from people who suffer with such illness. In two studies in the UK with a ten year gap there was little change recorded in the statistics, †over 80% endorsing the statement that â€Å"most people are embarrassed by mentally ill people†, and about 30% agreeing â€Å"I am embarrassed by mentally ill persons†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (Huxley 1993). One such label to label such people is maniaphobia which means the fear of being mentally ill and the mentally ill which in some extreme cases could explain their situation and their possible fear. Which makes the peoples who are mentally ill or have mental illness are less likely to tell close family and friends which could help them understand their situation better. As well as help them get treatments or a diagnosis to help with peace of mind. Sometimes they are told but refuse to believe that such things exist or that they are weaker than others or selfish. The mentally ill sometimes stigmatize themselves, â€Å"there are numerous personal accounts of psychiatric illness, where shame overrides even the most extreme of symptoms,† (Peter Byrne). They feel like people won’t accept them or that they are somehow different so they lock it away and sometimes don’t

Monday, December 16, 2019

Adapting the Unfamiliar… Through Translation. Free Essays

Adapting the Unfamiliar†¦ through Translation. Marjorie Agosin (born June 15, 1955). Source: Wikipedia. We will write a custom essay sample on Adapting the Unfamiliar†¦ Through Translation. or any similar topic only for you Order Now 07/12/2012 Komal Shah Eng. 101C- 24 R. C. Muniz 333 Adapting the Unfamiliar†¦ through Translation. By Komal Shah. Change†¦ is a very powerful and emotionally supercharged word. It is inevitable and the process of becoming different. The inspiring narrative, Always living in Spanish,  by Dr. Marjorie Agosin, originally written in Spanish, tells of Dr. Agosin’s Chilean childhood and her continuing struggle to embrace the change that came with moving to America. â€Å"Destiny and the always ambiguous nature of history continued my family’s enforced migration†¦ (Agosin, 22)† she states. Her story uses personal details to bring her childhood in Chile to life. It is her clear love for her people and the constant battle to not let go of her identity that inspires her poetry all of which is written in Spanish. For her, like many others, writing and thinking in Spanish is a â€Å"gesture of survival† through her journey from Chile to Georgia, as from her Chilean childhood to American adulthood. Philosophers often say that it is important to find yourself, to identify who you are. But the self is not something one finds, it is something one creates through the process of change. The Encarta Dictionary: English (North America) defines identity as â€Å"the name or essential character that identifies somebody or something† (def. 1). We all have sets of characteristics that we recognize as belonging uniquely to ourselves. This constitutes his or her individual personality for life. The concept of identity in Dr. Agosin’s essay is shown best when she states â€Å"Daily, I felt the need to translate myself for the strangers living all around me, to tell them why we were in Georgia, why we are different, why we had fled, why my accent was so thick, and why I did not look Hispanic. Only at night, writing poems in Spanish, could I return to my senses, and soothe my own sorrow over what I had left behind. †(Agosin, 22) For a while Marjorie was at a loss; the loss of the familiar, and more importantly, the loss of her identity. She found a way to reconnect herself with her identity by doing something that reminded her of language, culture and history she was born with. Bringing all of her characteristics together in a consolidated place where she can let go and just remember herself as she is intact with her identity. In America, when we hear someone’s poor spoken English with a thick accent or when we see someone not getting an American Sarcasm, we may not know what their ethnicity is, but we are sure that the person is an outsider. That is because of the shape of someone’s identity is by the usage and understanding of a language. A Korean- American novelist, Chang-Rae Lee narrates this thought particularly well in her short story Mute in English-only World. She talks about her Korean mother’s mental struggle in an English speaking world by saying, â€Å"In Korean she could be fiery, stern, deeply funny, and ironic, in English just slightly less so† (Lee, 801). All languages have their distinct ways of expressing happiness, sadness and other feelings. Those differences decide how one translates themselves in the society they live in. As Dr. Agosin says, â€Å"Translators are not traitors, as the proverb says, but rather splendid friends in this great human community of language† (Agosin, 24). It is hard to adapt and accept the changes that language barriers bring to our lives when we leave our homes. But that is what brings us one step closure to our true selves and how we were made. Despite of more than seven billion of our own kind on the planet earth, there are times we feel shipwrecked and alone when we are away from the familiar, because as a social animal we have grouped ourselves into ethnicity, cultures and countries. It is where we currently are that has to be our new home away from home. We all secretly desire a perfect life, a perfect family or a perfect boss. After all if a pair of shoes wouldn’t have changed Cinderella’s life then she would be one of us. She would have moved for a better life, learned English, and gotten a better job with a healthcare package. CITATIONS Agosin, Marjorie. â€Å"Always Living in Spanish: Recovering the Familiar through Language. †Ã‚  The Norton Field Guide to Writing with Readings and Handbook 2nd Edition. New York: W. W. Norton ;, 2009. 21-24. Print. Lee, Chang-Rae. â€Å"Mute in an Enlgish-Only World. †Ã‚  Everything’s an Arguement. 4th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2007. 800-02. Print. â€Å"Encarta Dictionary(Online College Dictionary)Review. †Ã‚  Encarta Dictionary (Online College Dictionary). N. p. , n. d. Web. 11 July 2012. ;http://www. really-learn-english. com/encarta-dictionary-online-college-dictionary. html;. How to cite Adapting the Unfamiliar†¦ Through Translation., Essay examples

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Heart Of Darkness Essay Essay Research Paper free essay sample

Heart Of Darkness Essay Essay, Research Paper JOSEPH CONRAD # 8217 ; S -Heart Of Darkness Joseph Conrad? s fresh Heart of Darkness is about a mariner named Charlie Marlow and an experience he had as a younger adult male. Early in the novel it becomes evident that there is a great trade of tenseness in Marlow? s head about whether he should gain from the immoral actions of the company he works for which is involved in the tusk trade in Africa. Marlow believes that the company is nescient of the tenseness between moral enlightenment and capitalist economy. The dehumanisation of its labourers which is so early apparent to Marlow seems to be unknown to other members of the Company? s direction. In this narrative Marlow? s aunt represents capitalist economy. Her attempts to acquire him a occupation are important because of the morally conciliatory nature of the work of which she seems wholly nescient. We will write a custom essay sample on Heart Of Darkness Essay Essay Research Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page When Marlow expresses uncertainties about the nature of the work, she replies, ? You forget, dear Charlie, that the laborer is worthy of his hire? ( 12 ) . It is clear that Marlow has mixed feelings about the whole thought. At one point, seeking to warrant his actions to himself, he says, ? You understand it was a Continental concern, that Trading Society ; but I have a batch of dealingss on the life continent, because it? s cheap and non so awful as it looks they say? ( 12 ) . Marlow eventually takes the occupation, nevertheless, and tells himself that the hurting and remarkably rough intervention the workers are subjected to is minimum. During the trials and the demands that he has to undergo before come ining the jungle Marlow feels that he is being treated like a monster. The physician measures his caput and asks him inquiries such as, ? Ever any lunacy in your household? ? ( 15 ) . In this portion of the narrative Marlow is made to experience little and unimportant. Any feelings or concerns that he has are non of import to the company, and as a consequence, he feels entirely. It is merely logical that Marlow would hold been 2nd thinking his determination and experiencing some affinity with the other ( black ) workers who are exploited, but he does non uncover any such apprehension. Upon making his finish in Africa, Marlow finds that things are merely the same. At the point when he is denied remainder after going 20 stat mis on pes he sees things are non traveling to alter. Marlow so Tells of how disease and decease are running rampantly through out the country, and the company does nil in the manner of bar other than to advance those who stay alive. Marlow? s theory on why the director was in that place was that? # 8230 ; he was neer ill? ( 25 ) . This is a bad state of affairs for Marlow because he sees his foreman as a simple adult male with small else to offer the company other than to be a mindless chief over the operation. This is an illustration of the company depriving ego worth from its workers in the sense that it does non promote or anticipate input from them. This is all important because Marlow discoveries himself in a place where he is giving up a large piece of himself and his beliefs to do money. The tenseness between capitalist economy and moral enlightenment in the first 20 pages of this narrative is apparent. Conrad uses Marlow to picture a apparently charitable individual caught in the center of the common quandary of moral moralss and desire for pecuniary success. Marlow knows that there is a great trade of repulsion in what he is making, yet he discoveries himself forced to cover with it in his ain personal manner, which is warrant it or disregard it. It is clear that the company besides is forced to cover with this same issue, but it does it merely by feigning that it is non dehumanising its full work force. This sightlessness allows the Company to gain and thrive, but merely at the disbursal of the lives of the workers in the jungle who have no manner to protest or flight and the? white neckband? workers like Marlow who have to populate with their lip service.

Saturday, November 30, 2019

The Politics By Aristotle Essays - Forms Of Government, Politics

The Politics By Aristotle In the book The Politics, Aristotle analyzes different types of political communities. He examines these political communities on two different levels; first as a city and then as a regime. By studying both city and regime you get the full picture of the different types of governments throughout the world. Aristotle uses this dual approach to describe the different types of regimes. Through his evaluation of the city and regime, Aristotle comes to the conclusion that oligarchies, which are governments that are ruled by the few, are deviant regimes because they govern for the good of the rulers, and not for the good of the whole. The city is the first level that Aristotle uses to evaluate different types of political communities. A complete city ?is the multitude of such persons that is adequate with a view to a self-sufficient life? (Aristotle pg. 87). Villages are collaboration of many households that have come together so they can obtain non-daily needs. Since villages are not self-sufficient, they join together to form cities. Cities provide you with the things your household and your village are not able to provide to you. Therefore, the city is the only thing that can exists self-sufficiently, and it exists for the sake of living well. The city is also the most authoritative partnership. The city embraces all other partnerships and therefore, it aims at the most authoritative good of all, which is living well. Aristotle uses ?city? to generally describe political communities. The city only describes the people who inhabit it; it does not distinguish who the rulers are or what kind of rule the city has. The citizens are an important aspect of political communities because knowing the citizens allows you to investigate what type of regime that particular city has or should have. To find out who rules the city you have to study the city's regime. Regimes are the second level of analyses Aristotle uses to describe political communities. A ?regime is an arrangement of a city with respect to its offices, particularly the one that has authority over all matters. For what has authority in the city is the governing body, and the governing body is the regime (Aristotle pg. 94).? A regime is a ?part? of the ?whole? that deals with decision-making. When analyzing a regime, you are determining who is ruling the city and what kind of rule the city has. Examining regimes is the specific way to evaluate political communities; it is the way to tell one political community apart from another. According to Aristotle, there are both correct and deviant regimes. Regimes that aim at the common advantage of the whole city are correct regimes because the regimes are just with moral laws. They allow their inhabitants to be citizens and participate in government on the basis of virtue instead of wealth, birth or beauty. Regimes that aim at a private advantage are deviant regimes because they are excluding part of the ?whole.? An oligarchy is a type of political community in which the rich, who are the few, have the power to rule. The affluent believe they deserve to have total power, because they contribute more to the city from their extensive wealth. Therefore, the wealthy believe they should have greater voice in the city, because they have more invested into it. To analyze an oligarchy you first need to look at it in general terms, meaning you need to observe the city and its individual citizens. The city is composed mainly of poor people, and they receive very little power or opportunities for political involvement. Whereas, the wealthy believe they should have more representation in the city because they own more of the land even if their representation is basis or corrupt. The regime in an oligarchy is a small part of the whole city. For example, the rich only consist of a small fraction of the whole city. The governing element is based upon inequality of authority. The wealthy do not believe that it is fair to give everyone the same amount of authority, because authority should be proportional to the amount of financial support that you give to the city. The affluent do not realize

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Your Best Friend and My Lifes Work - Short persuasive essay about Dog Training

Your Best Friend and My Lifes Work - Short persuasive essay about Dog Training Let's face it, most of us love dogs. Getting a dog can be a good decision that leads to a rewarding loving relationship. It is also a lesson in responsibility and patience. Living with a dog can be a daydream, or a nightmare; the experience depends on the choices of the owner.When most people go grocery shopping, they take inventory of what they have, what is still needed, have a budget to stick to, and then they make a list. But when it comes to making the life changing decision of getting a dog, some people will go out shopping and let the dog choose them! Getting the right dog is just as important as planning and preparing to bring home a baby. Becoming a dog owner comes with many responsibilities. It is important to consider all the ramifications of owning an animal, before a commitment is made that will last for years and affect one's future.Two Doberman PinschersAfter all, the dog will become a family member for the rest of it's life.Making the right choice in breed and plannin g is essential for success. For instance, while planning consider these things: lifestyle, time schedule, budget, and the home environment. All dogs have their own special characteristics that define their particular breed. When choosing an animal a person must also consider even one's own personality. A calm independent individual, might not want to get a Chihuahua that will act like a cling-on, bark at every shadow, and vibrate in his/her lap. People who have little time and money to spend on a dog's hygiene, should eliminate the idea of getting a long haired breed that requires heavy brushing every other day and a trip to the groomers once a month. A Doberman might not be a good choice with...

Friday, November 22, 2019

Presidents and Vice Presidents - How They Are Elected

Presidents and Vice Presidents - How They Are Elected The president and vice president of the United States campaign together and are elected as a team and not individually following the adoption of the 12th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which was drafted to prevent the nations two highest elected officials from being from opposing political parties. The amendment made it more difficult, but not impossible, for voters to elect members of two political parties president and vice president. Candidates for president and vice president have appeared together on the same ticket since the election of 1804, the year the 12th Amendment was ratified. Prior to the adoption of the constitutional amendment, the office of vice president was awarded to the presidential candidate who won the second-largest number of votes, regardless of which political party he represented. In the presidential election of 1796, for example, voters chose John Adams, a Federalist, to be president. Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican, was the runner-up in the vote count and thus became vice president to Adams. How a President and Vice President Could Be From Different Parties Still, theres nothing in the U.S. Constitution, particularly  the 12th Amendment, that prevents a  Republican from choosing a Democratic running mate or a Democrat from choosing a Green Party politician as her vice presidential candidate.  In fact, one of the nations modern-day presidential nominees came very close to selecting a running mate who wasnt from his own party. Still, it would be extremely difficult for a president to win an election in today’s hyperpartisan political climate with a running mate from an opposing party.   How could it happen? How could the United States end up with a Republican president and a Democratic vice president, or vice-versa?  Its  important to understand, first, that presidential and vice presidential candidates run together on the same ticket. Voters do not elect them separately but as a team. Voters choose presidents primarily based on their party affiliation, and their running mates typically are only minor factors in the decision-making process. So, in theory, the most obvious way for there to be a president and vice president from opposing political parties is for them to run on the same ticket.  What makes such a scenario unlikely, though, is the damage the candidate would sustain from members and voters of his party. Republican John McCain, for example, withered from the â€Å"outrage† of Christian conservatives when they found out he was leaning toward asking U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, a pro-abortion rights Democrat who left the party and became an independent. Theres one other way the U.S. could end up with a president and vice president could end up from opposing parties: in the case of an electoral tie where both presidential candidates receive fewer than the 270 electoral votes needed to win. In that case, the House of Representatives would choose the president and the Senate would choose the vice president. If the chambers are controlled by different parties, they would likely pick two people from opposing parties to serve in the White House. Why It's Unlikely thePresident and Vice President Would Be From Different Parties Sidney M. Milkis and Michael Nelson, the authors of The American Presidency: Origins and Development, 1776–2014, describe a â€Å"new emphasis on loyalty and competence and the new care invested in the selection process† as a reason presidential nominees choose a running mate with similar positions from the same party. â€Å"The modern era has been marked by an almost complete absence of ideologically opposed running mates, and those vice-presidential candidates who have differed on the issues with the head of the ticket have hastened to gloss over past disagreements and deny that any exist in the present.† What the Constitution Says Before the adoption of the 12th Amendment in 1804, voters chose presidents and vice presidents separately. When a president and vice  president were from opposing parties, as Vice President Thomas Jefferson and President John Adams were in the late 1700s, many thought the split provided a system of checks and balances just within the  executive branch.   According to the National Constitution Center, though: The presidential candidate who received the most electoral votes won the presidency; the runner-up became the vice president. In 1796, this meant that the president and the vice president were from different parties and had different political views, making governance more difficult. The adoption of Amendment XII solved this problem by allowing each party to nominate their team for president and vice president. Support for Electing Presidents and Vice Presidents Separately States could, in fact, allow separate votes for a president and vice president. But all of them now unify the two candidates on one ticket on their ballots. Vikram David Amar, a law professor at the University of California at Davis, wrote: â€Å"Why are voters denied the chance to vote for a president of one party and a vice president of the other? After all, voters often split their votes in other ways: between a president of one party and a House member or senator of the other; between federal representatives of one party and state representatives of the other.†

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Students with Vision Impairments, another for Physical and Health Research Paper

Students with Vision Impairments, another for Physical and Health Disabilities & Severe Disabilities - Research Paper Example This is also agreed upon by Support Services Office of Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas mentions that it is important to provide accommodations for students with disabilities since it is a part of providing equal opportunities for education without being held back by disabilities (Support Services Office, 2010). In reading the rationale for giving accommodations for students with disabilities, I have learned that they are also capable of learning just like normal people, and as such it is of utmost importance that their conditions be understood so that they can show others that they can learn and be productive despite their disabilities. There are different classroom accommodations suitable for the students’ needs and depending on the kind of disability that they have. In Texas A&M University, students with visual impairments are allowed accommodations such as recorded lectures either by the instructor or by the students since they could repeat the lessons as needed and not have to rely on their limited sight. Another of the school’s accommodation but for students with physical and health disabilities is allowing assignments to be submitted in electronic formats. This can greatly assist students unable to make handwritten assignments (physical disability) or are frequently absent due to chronic medical conditions. Meanwhile, Tyler Junior college allows students with severe disabilities extended time accommodations, especially during exams since these students usually take longer time to finish activities compared to other students. Such procedures are given to measure a student’s knowledge objec tively without being hindered by the disability (Support Services Office, Tyler Junior College, 2010). Having facilities and other forms of assistance available for students with different kinds of disabilities as well as listing other additional strategies to support their education while on campus makes both the Department of Disability Services of the

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

How civil war changed families Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

How civil war changed families - Assignment Example Why should only men be able to fight for what they believed in? Also of course a soldier earned roughly double what any woman, whatever her profession or trade, could earn at the time. A ‘man’ had freedom which a woman could not enjoy, so some of these women kept up the pretence for the rest of their lives, although the majority were spotted at some early point. Jenny Hodgers was one of the women who believed that there were more opportunities given to young men than would ever be available to women at that time. It is even possible that she saw it as the only way she could survive in her adopted country. Righthand gives an estimate of about 400 such women who actually served as soldiers. ( Righthand 2011) Yet in 1909 the United States Army issued a statement, saying that they denied the fact :- Any woman was ever enlisted in the military service of the United States as a member of any organization of the Regular or Volunteer Army at any time during the period of the civil war. (quoted by Johnson, 2009). Jennie Irene Hodgers was one such woman. Born in Ireland into a poor family she somehow managed to survive the famine and eventually arrived in America, perhaps from Belfast. The date is uncertain, but she possibly already dressed as a man. Crombie suggests that she was a stowaway ( Crombie , 2005). One suggestion is that her step father made her dress as a boy in order that she could earn the family necessary money ( Vicksburg National Park , undated). She took work as a labourer, as a shepherd and as a farmhand, but America was already split by war, and had been so since 1861. Aged only 19 in 1862 she enlisted in the 95th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment ( O Coisdealha, 2010). There was a medical examination, but this was only concerned with the eyes and ears of the new recruits. She didn’t even have to commit forgery as she could neither read or write, so just made her mark (Crombie, 2005). There was no space on the form for writing male or female. It simply wasnâ€℠¢t considered as a possibility. There followed a month or so of basic military training and then the company marched off to Kentucky and their real war began. During the next three years Jennie would march some 10,000 miles back and forth as the war progressed. Despite being only 5’ 3†, and so one of the shortest people in the regiment , she held her own in some 40 battles under the leadership of General Ulysses S.Grant. She was simply thought of as a bit of a loner , as when he /she sought privacy for such things as bathing. It is believed that the other soldiers were unaware of her true gender. This she was able to keep up even when she had a severe attack of diarrhea (Vicksberg National Park, undated). She was captured at the siege of Vicksburg, but escaped by knocking her guard cold. She managed to get through the whole war without serious injury, although there were times when many around her suffered serious wounds. This meant her body was never examined closely a ll that time . Years later when her true identity was finally revealed one of her former messmates would say :- â€Å"I never suspected at any time all through the service that Cashier was a woman.† There was agreement that she pulled her weight as well as any other soldier. The men slept in the clothing they had worn all day. Sometimes they would go weeks without undressing and bathing. All of this would help Jenny to keep up her deception. The war was over at last in August 1965, and she, along with all the other soldiers, was demustered with an honourable discharge. She was then left to make her own way ion life , as were all the other veterans. Faced with an uncertain future she decided to keep up the disguise. She returned to the one place she knew well, Illinois , where of course she was

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Kingdom of God Essay Example for Free

Kingdom of God Essay Describing what is meant by the Kingdom of God can be very complex, because so many people has set forth to describe this phrase to the best of their own knowledge, and generally each of these descriptions differs. Personally, besides the many verses in the Bible that are relative to the subject, it is best described by Donald B. Kraybill. In Kraybill’s novel â€Å"The Upside-down Kingdom† he writes; â€Å"The Kingdom of God is a collectivity—a network of persons who have yielded their hearts and relationships to the reign of God. † â€Å"He also notes that people must enter the kingdom because it is a state of affairs rather than a state of mind (p.19).† The Kingdom then, represents God’s power of ruling, his authority, and basically his government. â€Å"His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables† (Luke 8:9, 10). Unless an individual is a born again Christian he will not understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. The Jewish sects Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots are noted as being developed during the time of the second temple through the tenth century. This is the period that it seems that the Jewish sects were most generative. The Jewish people noted only three philosophical sects which are Pharisees, Sadducees and Essenes, of the three Essenes is noted as being the one with the most severe discipline. According to Josephus, [War of the Jews] 1 chapter 8.2 Pharisees, Essenes, Sadducees, Zealots were divided into three groups which were criminal, nationalist and Philosophical (religious). The Sadducees and the Pharisees really seem to be as religious as they were political. History tells us that in ancient societies political and religious laws were pretty much the same. Moreover, the Sadducees and the Pharisees did seem to have a bit more interest in that of political power than what was religiously correct. This we know was absolutely not pleasing to our God. â€Å"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever† (Hebrew 13:8). Regardless to the ways and or the thoughts of the Sadducees, Pharisees, Essenes and the Zealots one thing that remains the same and will never change is the fact that our God does not change his mind or act indifferent towards his children regardless of the mishaps that we may allow ourselves to experience. â€Å"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God† (Romans 13, 1). This verse pretty much says it all when referring to the political convictions discussed by Josephus, God is in control of all situations regardless to whether it is written in the Old or New Testament. According to Josephus, the Zealots were described as political and grouped as nationalists. However, it seemed that their religious beliefs were indivisible from their political convictions. Moreover, this is not an indication that all of the sects of the second temple were more political than religious, the truth of the matter is that there was not much partition between the two. The Essenes, Sadducees and the Pharisees stand out to more people than the rest of the sects because it is said that they were supposedly better known to people than the rest of the sects, and some people seem to think that the Pharisees were forefathers of the Rabbis. The Sadducees; were differ ent in their own way, they were not the Jewish people that simply did not believe in resurrection, nor did they believe that heaven exists. Strangely, the Sadducees were of the group that only accepted the Torah, as authoritative, this strange group of individuals were known to not be very popular with the rest of the Jewish population. â€Å"For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all† (Acts 23:8). During or around the time of 2nd century B.C there existed a monastic Jewish sect that was referred to as the Essenes. They were known to reside somewhere not far from the Dead Sea. They were pretty much isolated from the entire Jewish community. Notably, the Essenes seemed to have had closer relationships towards each other than any other sects, and were said to be Jewish by birth. The Essenes neglected matrimony but choose out of other families children to be of their family and transformed them according to their personal likings, and had a huge amount of respect and obedience for their elders. If at any time they complained against their elders or authorities they would be expelled from their community, more strangely than that if an elder was even touched by a younger person they were casted as being dirty. There is an overwhelming amount of information that openly describes how the Messianic expectation of the various sects, differs from the Messianic role that Jesus presented. Examples would be as follows; The Essenes was known as a Jewish religious sect and was in fact not mentioned in the Bible, but was indeed mentioned on the Dead Sea Scrolls. This particular group adapted to their life according to the law of the Jews, and they opposed Temple priesthood. The Pharisees were different because they were more of a prominent sect of Jewish people in the time of Christ. They were in disagreement with Jesus and his teachings. â€Å"But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus† (Mathew 12:14). The Pharisees had absolutely no love for Jesus and felt that the world would be a better place without him obviously. The Sadducees were additionally, another renowned Jewish religious sect. Their beliefs differed in another way because they only accepted more hideous things like the laws and rejections of the oral traditions; which included immortality of the soul; denial of body resurrection and existence of the spirit world. In addition, they supported families of Jewish patriots of the first and second centuries B.C. whom were totally active in the liberation of Judea from the Syrian rule. Lastly, we will discuss the difference in the Zealots concerning the Messianic expectations. The Zealots will take a total twist here from the above mentioned sects. The reason being is because according to the Bible Simon was a Zealot â€Å"Matthew, Thomas, James, son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot† (Luke 6:15). The Zealots preferred armed mutiny against Rome, in doing so they thought that God would deliver Israel with the sword. Faithfully, acknowledging the Spirit of Jesus, he {Jesus} is lead into the wilderness for the sole intention of being tempted by the devil. â€Å"He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him† (Mark 1:13). This place of wilderness was not fit for human life, water was accessible but it was an unpopulated region. â€Å"When tempted, no one should say, God is tempting me, for God cannot be tempted by the devil, nor does he tempt anyone† (James 1:13), but instead, Jesus is lead, into a situation by the devil that could possibly tempt him. Jesus teaches us to pray that we are not lead into temptations, but yet he is lead into temptations while on earth so this is what the devil set out to do, which was take Jesus through the test of temptations. References Kraybill, Donald B. The Upside Down Kingdom Revised Ed. Scottsdale, Pennsylvania: Herald Press, 1990. 275pg. May 20, 2006 Second Temple Sects The Complete Works Of Flavious Josephus The Pharisees and other sects edited with a preface by Jacob Neusne, Retrieved from http://Judaism.about.com/gi/dynamicof Josephus/.HTM on January 7, 2013

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Finding the Truth in the Situation Essay examples -- Literary Analysis

William Shakespeare has yet again created a world of good and evil. In his work Othello, the ideals and principles of this world are just like any other with a twist brought upon by two characters, Othello and Iago. These two characters along with many others employ the central idea of what good and evil entails. However, neither Othello nor Iago possess just one of these traits. Othello is not just the pure perfect guy he is perceived to be and Iago is not just the evil vindictive character he is believed to be but rather both of these men are far more interesting than that. They both have the necessary qualities that get them through life and potentially threaten their lives. Through their actions and interactions with the other characters that they really are is shown. Othello seems to have a really rough time finding the truth in people. The reasoning behind this is simply the way he acts around people. Although Othello is a cultural and racial outsider in Venice, his skill as a soldier and leader is nevertheless valuable and necessary. He is after all a man in high power and is respected for that simple fact. Essentially, the first impact that is made upon the reader of Othello is not one of high quality. He was called many names of which had to do mostly with his racial background some of these names include â€Å"the Moor† (I.i.57), â€Å"an old black ram† (I.i.88), and â€Å"a Barbary horse† (I.i.113). The two characters that begin the cruel introduction of Othello are two trusted comrades, one being Iago. Right from the start, Iago already begins the demise of Othello. Now since Othello made this decision to trust and simply see the good in everyone rather than the truth in everyone his life got turned upside down and st arted to take ... ...re. He is like a chameleon, loves the attention he receives when entering a room, yet he can blend in with the crowd when need be. No one could ever see the real Iago because he never let anyone, even his wife Emilia, know the real him. Both Othello and Iago have many different qualities but the ones that are the same are what proves the point of them not just simply being two sides of one coin. Othello had many weaknesses and Iago plays off every single one of them, the â€Å"hellish villain†(V, ii, 354) that Iago is killed every living ounce that was left in Othello, and once the truth came to the surface, Othello only wished he could awaken and â€Å"arise, black vengeance, from the hollow hell† (III, iii, 507). The fact that Iago had â€Å"ensnared [Othello’s] soul and body† (V, ii, 354) made Othello believe that â€Å"honesty’s a fool† (III, iii, 436) and his life was over.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Smart Kids

Will you ever find a star quarterback on the high school debate team, Chess Club, or any other academic team that would place him as a nerd? According to Grant Penrod and his essay Anti-Intellectualism: Why We Hate Smart Kids this would probably not happen (Bullock,691). You can be a jock, but you can’t be a â€Å"nerd† at the same time. The winning football team always goes down in history, but the winning academic teams are never remembered. Thinking back to high school you can see billboards of the football team winning state, but not for the state brain-bowl winners.Social destruction is possible for those who show too much intelligence. â€Å"Geek,† â€Å"Nerd,† or â€Å"High Achiever† no matter the name given; they are doomed for destruction in the social world. The intellectual student bears a mark on him/her for social pitfall especially in high school. Sometimes this may happen in the early elementary years. They are usually targeted on web sites and blogs; left out of social events. Take the blog excerpt from Talking-Cock. com â€Å"Man how I hate nerds†¦. if I ever had a tommygun with me†¦I would most probably blow each one of their heads off. (Bullock,691) There are other websites that talk about test score postings, and don’t these people referencing nerds and geeks have a life. This miss conception is partly due to the un-intelligent thinking that all smart people do is study. Failing to realize that the intelligent people are the ones that help move the world along; this miss conception it actually leaves the un-intelligent out. The media places celebrities and other public figures without a strong education in the limelight, which is harmful to our youth’s minds.This type of high regards for someone lacking good education, further promotes the way society treats those that are educated. If you take a young high school student who has some athletic ability chances of him/her pursuing the highest academic achievements are less than them going after that athletic win. A choir student may go for the Nashville break instead of pursuing a degree in school. Displaying celebrities’ lives and their income only encourages young minds to seek other ways of living without getting educated.A website that demonstrates this is Angelfire. com it promotes famous high school dropouts like Christian Aguilera, Kid Rock, L. L. Cool J and Sammy Sosa. (Bullock,693) Some people have no regards for the intelligence that lead them to where we are in society today. People would rather choose to be rich than to have some means of keeping their wealth. Ignoring that intelligent people are the ones that helped make the progress of the world, and because they are forgotten this is why many individuals do not finish their education.The anti-intelligent want to blame the media, but in all reality it is the common everyday person who is to blame for ostracizing the intelligent. The following is a poem that was written and appeared on TeenMag. com and illustrates the feelings of a nerd that has been out casted. My loud and bitter screams aren’t being heard No one is there to hear them or to care They do not come cuz I’m a nerd Dealing with this pain is a lot to bear. (Casey F. )Society as a whole needs to take a step back and realize who got us to where we are today; how we got to where we are today. Intelligent people need to be given the due credit for their works in society and not shunned away. Grant Penrod’s Essay Anti-Intellectualism Why We Hate Smart the Kids is very clear on the devastating social destruction of those that are smart. Works Cited Bullock, Richard, and Maureen Daly Goggin. The Norton Field Guide To Writing. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2010.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Poverty Case Essay

Question: Choose an issue of importance to you—the issue could be personal, school related, local, political, or international in scope—and write an essay in which you explain the significance of that issue to yourself, your family, your community, or your generation. My parents had a life where there were no three meals a day, no electricity and so many other things. They used to tell â€Å"you never know how bad poverty is until you experience it†. Poverty is the leading cause of death in every developing county. We all know about poverty but we do nothing to stop it. According to UNICF more than 22000 kids die every day because of poverty. The food that we waste everyday will be enough to remove world poverty. My parents and grandparents came from world of utter poverty. When I talk about poverty I know how bad it is and I want the new generation to everything they can to remove poverty. Have anyone gone hungry for a day or two? We all eat at least three meals a day but there are people in the world who don’t even have a single piece of bread to eat. Mahatma Gandhi once said â€Å"there are people in the world, so hungry that god cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.† We all are living in a country where we have everything but there are people in the world who have to drink dirty water to slake their thirst. In Africa more than 5000 kids die each day because of drinking dirty water. We all know about this but we do nothing to stop world poverty. Remember that today’s kids are tomorrow’s future. If we put the all the billionaires in the world together they may be able to remove world poverty from this world. According to human nature if we want to do something we have the ability to do it but no one is there to take the lead. As a 17 year old teenager I care about my fellow citizens and the coming generation. I don’t want them to see a world of poverty and death. I want them to see a world of evergreen sunshine. Poverty is not something that we can remove in two or three days. It takes time to remove world poverty. As a member of the new generation let’s all make sure that we show our kids that we are living in a country with no poverty.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Essay Sample on Young Women and Smoking The Increasing Numbers

Essay Sample on Young Women and Smoking The Increasing Numbers Young Women and Smoking Essay: The number of young women who smoke has significantly increased over time. As Alkhamees states, more than a third of female students in high schools smoke at least a cigarette in month†. Alkhamees, in his article: â€Å"Young Women and Smoking† explores the reason as to why young women smoke and also provide the possible remedies to help curb the situation. I strongly agree with the writer that the number of young women who smoke has increased. The purpose of this paper is to confirm the causes of smoking among young women and the possible solutions to help managing alarming situation. As Alkhamees suggests, celebrities have greatly had a negative influence on personalities and health of their fans. Superstars including Kate Moss and Amy Winehouse have publicly taken insane amount of drugs without caring the impact it had on the society. Movie stars light up cigarettes in almost each movie. According to a survey conducted by Teen Link magazine, nearly 88% to 92% of the top thirty movie hits on the box office ratings have been involved in tobacco use. What these celebrities fail to understand is that these movies are watched by many people around the world and therefore, the media greatly participates in defining what people in a given region do or consider right or wrong. Some teenage girls lay their hands on tobacco when dealing with stress and eventually ended up being addicted to it. According to results obtained by health Canada, there is a direct relationship between smoking and stress. As observed by Alkhamees, when women celebrities are faced with stressful moments, they regularly smoke to relieve themselves of the stress. Teenagers have consequently learned from the habit and may want to try it out. According to Alkhamees, celebrities should learn to be ethical by rethinking about the impact of their actions in the movies. Pop music icons should support drug free programs instead of propagating use of tobacco. Organisations like Nacada have significantly informed the public through the media on the dangers of smoking and other malpractices. It could even be more effective if the celebrities or models are used as anti-drug images or campaigners. However, there are more reasons as to why teenage girls or generally young women smoke, the globally held notion of smoking to lose weight has additionally led to addiction. Considering America, where all girls want to be slim, many of young girls would smoke to get slim. According to Dr. Van De Graff, smoking among young women can be reduced through the following additional methods. Dr. van de Graff warns young girls to be very careful when choosing their boyfriends. This is because in most cases, it has been reported that males are common at introducing females to smoking. Others include working extremely hard to maintain or up hold one’s personality and seeking advice. Conclusion Female celebrities have contributed to the indulgence of young women in smoking. These celebrities are in a better position to reach people and therefore should use their popularity to help the community by campaigning against smoking and use of other drugs. Young women too need to be careful on their part by keeping themselves busy from any activities which could lead them to smoke or use other drugs. However, the current trend in smoking among women makes it difficult to control or manage the increasing number of young women smokers.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Analysis Of Marketing Mix Of NAPCO Group

Discuss About The Analysis Of Digital Marketing Mix Of The NAPCO Group? Digital marketing can be used a term that collectively includes all the marketing activities that are done utilizing the technology. It uses digital channels such as social media to market its products.   Today’s organisation utilise digital marketing to achieve new heights of success. The major motive of digital marketing is to create brand awareness and engaging the customers. Social media promotions have turned out to be the most important and productive medium of digital communications. This report deeply analyses digital marketing mix of an Saudi Arabian company NAPCO group which deals in packaging. It also studies the marketing mix of its competitor firm. The report involves recommendations for the company that could be taken for the betterment of the digital marketing mix. NAPCO is one of the leading manufacturing groups in Saudi Arabia. As seen in the appendix the company has well designed , simple and   attractive logo. The company has its headquarters in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. NAPCO is a commercial organization working to maximize its profits. Today the company conducts its business around the globe and it is one of the top ranked companies of Middle East. The group owns 10 companies with over 5540 employees. It basically deals in three strategic segments consumer products, flexible packaging, and paper containers. (NAPCO 2017). From the appendix it can be seen that NAPCO’s consumer products brands range from baby care products to family care and household products. NAPCO’s brands are licensed from INDEVCO. NAPCO’s flexible packaging segment serves the Europen, GCC, Middle East in African markets. This segment consists of 7 companies situated in Dammam and Jeddah in Saudi. The paper container segments serve European, GCC and Le vant markets. This section produces a wide range of corrugated containers to serve the needs of various industries. The major competitors of the company are   FIPCO, Saudi Pack, Al Sharq Flexible Packaging Factories, Al-Ghadeer Group, Saudi Arabian Packaging Industry WLL, Noor Carton & Packaging Industry and Gulf Packaging Industries Ltd.   The customer base of the company includes both B2B and B2C companies. The company’s current digital marketing practices include responsive website design and social media presence. The company is does not have well developed digital marketing activities it is working in this field to enhance its digital marketing and grasp more opportunities. The company is a popular name in the Middle East. Middle East is on the verge of digital revolution. Digitalisation has increased with high smart phone adoption rate and increased use of social media. The Middle East companies are ready to lead digitally enhanced lives. Although businesses and government have still not exploited those opportunities (Elmasry, Benni, Patel, Jan and Moore 2016).Three opportunities presented by changes in external environment- This is the most emerging opportunity in Saudi markets. This technology will replace the old search engine optimization. The new SEO trend would provide a better way to target the potential customers (Albhaishi, Wahsheh and Alghamdi 2014). The online audience optimization will encourage the target audience participation by social media networks, innovative and creative blogs and informative online articles. This technology will help not only in advertising but also effectively integrates mobile strategy (Lee, Jalali and Dasdan 2013). This is a kind of new digital platform is an emerging opportunity for NAPCO group. It can implement this technology. This technology provides the benefits of linking to the potential clients more effectively and efficiently. The use of mobile phones has increased worldwide. More and more people now own a smart phone. This provides the businesses and opportunity to do their marketing and reach to the potential customers through smartphones. According to a report, 90 per cent of the sales of the connected device will be smartphones and tablets by 2020 (Lunden 2015). To exploit best from this opportunity the companies should provide a mobile friendly content on their websites. Also, they should approach their customers utilizing this technology. It is necessary to provide a great experience to the customers that are browsing company’s websites through mobile phones. It provides benefits of enhanced customer relation, maintaining a constant touch with the customer and gets more genuine clients than the competitors (prolines 2015). Another opportunity is available in the field of content marketing. To exploit this opportunity company must publish high quality and informative content on popular websites (Jà ¤rvinen and Taiminen 2016). For Saudi markets optimizing unique Arabic content will help the firm to attract more B2B customers. The Arabic content marketing strategies such as press releases, blog posts, articles, newsletters etc. will help to reach millions of customers. This will ultimately enhance the profitability of the firm (prolines 2015). In today’s era customer is considered as the king of the market. Today’s customer does not rely only on to a single firm. He has a variety of options available in the market. The customer does not rely only on the company website and marketing force for getting information about the products of the customer (So, King, Sparks, and Wang, 2013). The customer has various other sources such as review sites, blogs, and social media to gain information about strengths and weakness of the product.   Today’s customers have complete control over the buying process. Therefore today’s marketers need to develop effective digital marketing strategies to create an outstanding experience for its customers. The customers now are now well informed and they have various choices therefore if the company does not want to lose its customers it needs to be customer focused.   Right digital marketing strategies can only be developed if the company is customer focused. It is a lso very important to analyze customer behavior if the company uses customer behavior statistics it will be able to create hyper specific digital marketing strategies. The company’s digital marketing strategies will only be successful if it helps customers to discover the value. To make the appropriate digital marketing strategies for the customers it is required to get insights about customer behavior so that the ideal experience in terms of customers can easily be predicted. NAPCO should identify different needs of its customers both for the B2B segment and B2C segments. This will help the company to build different digital marketing strategies that will effective strive at each of the segments. Also, it needs to develop different digital marketing strategies for markets of Europe, Middle East, Africa and GCC. Consumers in every market have different characteristics and analysis of these character tics is necessary to develop effective marketing strategies.   Analyzing co nsumer behavior is more important for determining effective digital marketing activities because it gives the ideas about the trend in the market (Polizzi 2016). Example: 80% of targeted customers use smartphone they are tech savvy, will help the firm to develop digital marketing strategies taking smartphone as an important tool. Therefore, importance of being customer focused and understanding the consumer behaviour for developing effective digital marketing strategies cannot be neglected. How company uses digital marketing across marketing mix The digital marketing mix of NAPCO can be categorized into 4Ps. The digital marketing mix is simply an adoption of traditional marketing mix it is impacted the growing use of the internet. The company has expanded its product portfolio. Initially, the company just manufactured just paper products but now the company has expanded its product portfolio to consumer products, flexible packaging, and paper containers. The effective product can only be developed by using technology and conducting online surveys (Gruner, Homburg and Lukas 2014). These online surveys helped the firm to know what customers actually want and saves the time and efforts. NAPCO also does research and development using technology. Online sources have given the firms access to know how much the product actually costs and they can also really know the prices of the competitors. NAPCO does not make use of online sources to determine the prices of the products. It has adopted the value based pricing strategy and prices are quoted according to the value that it provides to the customers (Armstrong, Kotler, Harker, and Brennan 2015). Company’s products are available in the Middle East, European and African market. The company takes orders online but it does not have a well-established e-commerce website. It takes B2B orders through emails. The company does not take retails orders online. The company also do not have a proper product catalog with prices on its website. It just sends the catalog to its regular customers. The company makes an effective use of digital marketing activities for the promotion of its products. Apart from the traditional sources such as TV, Radio and print media, it is using various other sources for promotion. The company is shifting its focus from traditional promotional sources to digital marketing. It is using social media, content writing and providing a responsive website to its customers. The digital marketing mix of the company demonstrates although the company is effectively using digital media in research, development and promotional activities it is not using it effectively to determine the price. The customers of the company also expect an online e-commerce website so that it becomes easy to shop for the products but currently the company does not hold any such website. The company should make more effective use of digital marketing to stand up to the customer expectations. Gulf packaging Ltd is the competitor of the company. The digital marketing mix of Gulf packaging is given below: The firm does not have wide product portfolio. It produces all types of BOPP films (gulfpack 2015). The product portfolio of NAPCO is much wider than the Gulf packaging. The company works in its selected portfolio and does not use technology for further research and development. The firm uses the technology to fix the prices of its products. It constantly monitors the prices of its competitors and the market trends and frames its prices accordingly. It charges different prices in the different nation by drawing information about each of the nations.   This helps the firms to generate more profits. The firm sells its products in Europe, North America, and the Middle East. This firm does not accept online orders they accept the big orders from the regular customers over the phone. The company do not provide product catalog to the customers over the website it sends the quotation for different products over the email, on demand. South American Commercial premises of the company are responsible for marketing and promotional activities. The company is engaged in traditional promotional activities basically using print media. The company does not use much digital marketing activities from the promotion. But recently the company has opted for social media marketing as a promotional activity. Gulf packaging Ltd does not make effective use of digital marketing. It has used technology for deciding the process of its products and also uses social media marketing for the promotion of its products. The digital marketing mix of the company is not well developed.   The firm does not sell its products online. The digital marketing mix of the company is just in the growing phase. The digital marketing mix of the company is can be improved in various ways. It can be improved if a company the company learns few things from its competitors. The company should use technology for determining the prices of its products. It should learn from its competitors they use the same strategy to earn its profits. Also, the NAPCO is in the beginning phase of digital marketing. The company should engage in activities such as press releases, use LinkedIn profile this will help to build a network and attract more B2B customers (Hannouz 2015). The customers of the company expect an online website for buying and selling of products. The company should pay attention to this expectation and offer its products for sale online. The other measures that can help the firm to improve its digital marketing strategy are finding creative ways for customer acquisition by using digital media. The company should utilize its data efficiently to create a personalized experience for its customerâ €™s web analytics solution can help the company in collecting and analyzing the data. The firm is already engaged in social media marketing activities, the firm can make use of live streaming to develop its digital market mix. Live streaming is the recent trend in digital marketing but the content chosen in live streaming should be really brainstorming (Shoolian 2017). Another way in which firm can effectively use the ephemeral content. Now a day’s websites such as Instagram, snap chat, and Facebook provide the opportunity to upload data that automatically disappear after a set time period.   This can help the companies to upload special offers and deals. SMART objectives of the company can be defined as the goals which are specific, measurable, actionable, relevant and time bound (Bjerke and Renger 2017). The two objectives for the company to enhance online customer experience are: Achieve online 10% online revenue contribution within 2 years To increase the online revenue by 10% NAPCO needs to work very hard. First of all, it needs to set up its e-commerce website. The company needs to take feedbacks from the customers about the website and make all the possible changes required. The company needs to effectively manage the delivery time so that the orders are reached to the customers within the time range. The companies should also provide a column for customized orders from the customers. The next step is spreading awareness in the customers about the online availability of products using the digital media for advertisement. The company should also provide some offers at the initial stage when the website is launched. All this will help the company to achieve 10%online revenue contribution. To increase the brand awareness of NAPCO’s product the company needs to increase the number of followers on twitter. It needs to achieve the target of 1000 followers within a year.Twitter is a powerful business tool and could be a great help if utilized optimally (Moody 2016). There are many ways NAPCO can increase the number of followers on twitter by using tools such as Hootshoot and Sproutsocial. NAPCO can also use Twiends to find the new users whom the company can connect. Another strategy that can be adopted by the company to increase the number of followers on twitter is following more people because there is a correlation between numbers of people followed and the number of followers (Demers 2015). The above two stated are SMART objectives that should be the key targets of the company to develop the digital marketing mix. The company should lay emphasis on enhancing customer experience. Suggested digital marketing mix for NAPCO to improve its online customer experience: The company has wide product portfolio. It can enhance its portfolio by using technology for research and development. It can use integrated tool set for SEO, email and lead intelligence tools to get consumer information and design more customized product to satisfy individual customer demands. The firm operates on value based pricing strategy. To earn more profits the company should use technology to determine the appropriate prices. NAPCO should constantly obtain upgraded data by using information technology to gain information about prices of the competitors and current market trends. The company y needs to sell its products on an online platform. The company should sell its products on the online website to reach a large number of customers. The company can use online network partners to enhance the availability of products at various products (Lien, Wu, Chien, and Lee 2017). The company uses digital marketing activities such as social media marketing. The company should adopt more digital marketing promotional activities such as innovative and creative blogs, search marketing Pay-per-click advertising (PPC), Affiliate marketing and email marketing. People are the main aspect for the success of every company. The company needs to hire some specialist from the field of computers and digital marketing. It also needs to provide training to its staff about successfully implementing digital marketing processes in the organization (Parmenter 2015) There is the need to effectively manage old processes and implement some new processes needs to be implemented. The company needs to implement a new process to start the online sale of its new products. It needs to effectively manage the product delivery process to ensure that goods are delivered within the stipulated time (Stadtler 2015). The suggested changes will also help to attain the above stated two SMART objectives for the company the changes made should help to increase the number of followers and also increasing the online revenue generations these changes are directly related to the Smart objectives. These tactical activities will provide direct benefits to the consumer and thus help to improve online customer experience. The company can monitor and control the recommended marketing mix by various metrics and methods. The company can use Google analytics to monitor and control the recommended marketing mix. This tool provides a huge summary of data related to your website (Cain 2012). NAPCO can analyze this data on the weekly or monthly basis to analyze the effectiveness of the recommended marketing mix. For example data about people that visit the website will help to monitor the trend about brand awareness. Another effective method is designing a response-attribution infrastructure to support all channels. Digital marketing mix uses multiple channels, therefore, campaign hierarchy must account for each channel along with the appropriate roll-ups so that measurement aligns with business goals (Ewald and Krishnamurthy 2009). It includes developing a framework to measure each and every step is monitored individually. The company can also use automated tools for analytics and visual reporting. Nowadays there are a variety of tools available in the market that help to regularly track selected metrics. NAPCO can get access to these tools and effectively analyze its reports regarding the operations. The recommended digital marketing mix for NAPCO has suggested changes in the process by using the latest technology these changes can be effectively monitored if the company uses the automated tools. Their company can monitor and control the effects and performance of recommended marketing mix but there is no set unit of measurement for this. Although the measurement can be done on the basis of ROI and online revenues this will only provide with the estimates, not the exact figures (Holloman 2014). This is because the recommended marketing mix involves both qualitative and quantitates terms. After implementing the recommended marketing mix the company should analyse its ROI and online revenues time to time to know the effectiveness of the process. It can be concluded that NAPCO does not have a well-developed digital marketing mix. The company is in its beginning phase regarding the use of technology in marketing. It has grown tremendously but now it has come to a stagnant position. Its customers now demand online selling of products. The company only takes online orders that also through emails, but not it needs to set up its e commerce website for growing further. The company already uses social media marketing but now it needs to design and use social media marketing campaigns more creatively. The company has already adopted the path of digital marketing, now it just needs to make some recommendations efforts to achieve the corporate excellence. Albhaishi, A., Wahsheh, H. and Alghamdi, T., 2014, May. Evaluating Web Ranking Metrics for Saudi Universities. In  Zaytoonah University International Engineering Conference on Design and Innovation in Sustainability 2014  (No. 156988). Zaytoonah University, Amman, Jordan. Armstrong, G., Kotler, P., Harker, M. and Brennan, R., 2015.  Marketing: an introduction. Pearson Education. Bjerke, M.B., and Renger, R., 2017. Being smart about writing SMART objectives.  Evaluation and program planning,  61, pp.125-127. Cain, K., 2012. Measuring Marketing Effectiveness: 6 Metrics You Need to Track, viewed on 4 August 2017 from https://contentmarketinginstitute.com/2012/10/measuring-marketing-effectiveness-metrics/ Demers, J. 2015. 50 Free Ways To Increase Your Twitter Followers, viewed on 4 August 2017 from https://www.forbes.com/sites/jaysondemers/2015/06/17/50-free-ways-to-increase-your-twitter-followers/#6d92ab9525a8 Edward, B., and Krishnamurthy, R. 2009. Five Essential Strategies for Measuring Marketing Effectiveness, viewed on 4 August 2017 from https://www.marketingprofs.com/9/essential-strategies-measuring-marketing-effectiveness-krishnamurthy-ewald.asp Elmasry, T., Benni, E., Patel, J. and Moore, J.M., 2016. Digital Middle East: Transforming the region into a leading digital economy, viewed on 4 August 2017 from https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj6pcDRkL3VAhVIFpQKHecwAjkQFghFMAM&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mckinsey.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Fmckinsey%2Fglobal%2520themes%2Fmiddle%2520east%2520and%2520africa%2Fdigital%2520middle%2520east%2520transforming%2520the%2520region%2520into%2520a%2520leading%2520digital%2520economy%2Fdigital-middle-east-final-updated.ashx&usg=AFQjCNHioXhFY692mS_Qwa6hkBT6UiXYVg Gruner, R.L., Homburg, C. and Lukas, B.A., 2014. Firm-hosted online brand communities and new product success.  Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science,  42(1), pp.29-48. Gulfpack, 2017. Welcome to gulf packaging industries ltd website,viewed on 5 August from https://gulfpack.com.sa/ Hannouz, M., 2015. Three Ways to Improve Your Digital Marketing Strategy, viewed on 4 August 2017 from https://blogs.adobe.com/digitalmarketing/campaign-management/three-ways-to-improve-your-digital-marketing-strategy/ Holloman, C., 2014.  The Social Media MBA Guide to Roi: How to measure and improve your return on investment. John Wiley & Sons. Jà ¤rvinen, J. and Taiminen, H., 2016. Harnessing marketing automation for B2B content marketing.  Industrial Marketing Management,  54, pp.164-175. Lee, K.C., Jalali, A. and Dasdan, A., 2013, August. Real time bid optimization with smooth budget delivery in online advertising. In  Proceedings of the Seventh International Workshop on Data Mining for Online Advertising  (p. 1). ACM. Lien, C.H., Wu, J.J., Chien, S.H. and Lee, C.Y., 2017. Anxious Attachment, Relational Embeddedness, Trust, Co-production, and Performance: An Empirical Study in Online Business-to-Business Relationships.  Telematics and Informatics. Lunden, I., 2015. 6.1 b smartphone users globally by 2020, overtaking basic fixed phone subscriptions.  Techcrunch. com. Moody, A., 2016. How To Set Digital Marketing Objectives, viewed on 4 August 2017 from https://cariadmarketing.com/digital-marketing-objectives/ NAPCO, 2017. About NAPCO group, viewed on 4 August 2017 from https://www.napcogroup.com/#works Parmenter, D., 2015.  Key performance indicators: developing, implementing, and using winning KPIs. John Wiley & Sons. Polizzi, M., 2016. Why Your Brand Needs a Customer-Focused Marketing Strategy, viewed on 4 August 2017 from https://www.brandfolder.com/blog/customer-focused-marketing-strategy/ Prolines, 2015. 8 Top Online Marketing Trends in Saudi Arabia 2015, viewed on 4 August 2017 from https://blog.prolines.sa/marketing-trends-in-saudi-arabia-2015/ Prolines, 2015. Digital Marketing Service – Boost Your Business Online in Saudi Arabia, viewed on 4 August 2017 from https://blog.prolines.sa/saudi-arabia-digital-marketing/ Shaoolian, G., 2017. 5 Digital Marketing Ideas That Could Improve Your Brand Growth in 2017. The Forbes, viewed on 4 August 2017 from https://www.forbes.com/sites/gabrielshaoolian/2017/01/11/5-digital-marketing-ideas-that-could-improve-your-brand-growth-in-2017/#686c26a92015 So, K.K.F., King, C., Sparks, B.A. and Wang, Y., 2013. The influence of customer brand identification on hotel brand evaluation and loyalty development.  International journal of hospitality management,  34, pp.31-41. Stadtler, H., 2015. Supply chain management: An overview. In  Supply chain management and advanced planning  (pp. 3-28). Springer Berlin Heidelberg.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Solar Panel Energy as an Alternative to Traditional Electrical Energy Research Paper

Solar Panel Energy as an Alternative to Traditional Electrical Energy for Residental Dwellings - Research Paper Example The solar energy is a significant source of energy to all living things on the earth. Traditionally, individuals depended on fossil fuels such as coal and oil for electricity production. However, coal and oil being fossil fuels are infinite and cannot be renewed or regenerate themselves. According to research conducted, it is evident that the fossil fuel reserves will become exhausted in few centuries to come. Traditionally, there existed a belief that an alternative fuel to coal and oil would be nuclear power. However, its rate of nuisance is characterized by the 1986 Chernobyl catastrophe in Japan. This has made solar energy to be regarded as the best replacement for fossil fuels. This is because of its greatest accuracy and safety. In addition to that, it is the most reliable and impressive energy source. For instance, the solar radiation on an average day can be five times higher in summer as compared to winter. Nevertheless, in winter to be precise during the sunny day, it is po ssible to capture a radiation of 4-5kWh/M2 /day. This is possible in regardless of the temperatures within the surrounding (Brown, 2006). Solar systems and panels are significant in solar power exploitation and have application in various dimensions. These are such as, domestic hot water preparation, heating of pool water, technology process heating and heating of buildings via heat input. In residential dwellings, there is incorporation of solar thermal systems that are modern without any difficulties in the facilities of the building (Hodgson, 2008). Furthermore, the systems have a longer lifespan (more than 20yrs) thus making them to be effective in complementing the modern technology of heating. Thus, the purpose of this proposal is to analyze solar panel energy as an alternative to traditional electrical energy for residential dwellings. Problem Statement The demand for energy in the world is increasing rapidly. People require energy to communicate, light their houses, and prep are their meals among other functions. The demand is as a result of increased population growth and individuals living standards. The utilization of energy in the world has doubled over centuries. The main source of energy being utilized in the world is oil whose production is projected to peak in the coming few years. Another most utilized source of energy is coal. Coal and oil greatly pollutes the environment. For instance, they are the major causes of climate change and acid rain. That is why the world needs urgently cleaner energy to satisfy its energy demands and reduce negative environmental impacts as a result of traditional method of electrical production. Justification of the study Many environmentalists and scientists perceive that the world needs to reduce on its greenhouse gas emission for purposes of decreasing global warming. Greener energies such as solar power provide a solution to this problem. Even though solar energy is a cleaner alternative source of energy, ther e exist many challenges that need to be addressed. The challenge is such as its ability to be utilized on a wide scale and replace the utilization of fossil fuels as the principal source of energy. In comparison to other methods of electricity production, solar energy is a renewable form of energy that is clean; the solar panels can be utilized sufficiently and effectively to heat homes and water.

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Discrimination Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Discrimination Law - Essay Example Sex inequality issues in the United Kingdom By assigning the recognition of â€Å"protected characteristic† to sex as a criterion for maintaining equality in the United Kingdom, the Equality Act 2010 complicates issues in several ways. The history of inequality with regard to sex in the UK has spanned decades, and still evolving. It is such a complex matter that could not be easily rectified through the mere reform of the UK discrimination law. The following examples demonstrate why sex inequality is such an endemic crime in the United Kingdom. Though progress has been recorded recently in every facet of UK public life, however, the society is still largely dominated by males (Coveney et al., 1984). There are reports of gender inequality in education all across the UK (Riddell and Salisbury, 1999). 2 Male dominance has become ingrained into the UK society that it seems it is just the natural thing to do. It is a known fact that discriminating against women in terms of educatio n (as it was done many years before) has a far-reaching impact on the womenfolk. First, it makes women to be unequal with men in knowledge acquisition and subsequently turns them into unqualified people. This trend had made it impossible to find women who were as qualified as men to take up challenging positions in both private and public offices. Although things have changed drastically in this modern dispensation, but there are still disheartening reports that sex discrimination is still a viable problem in UK labour practices (Perlman and Pike, 1994). Employers look down on women and consider men for jobs based on different reasons. It is believed that most women do not maintain continuity in their jobs because of other responsibilities that include marriage, children-bearing and other domestic concerns; men, on the other hand, are regarded as strong and more professionally minded. Using these reasons to discriminate against women is not appropriate, but employers are mainly conc erned about the success of their businesses. If they are eventually employed, women still face serious issues of discrimination in their workplaces. There are indications that some UK companies offer better pensions and insurance benefits for their male workers than those given to their female employees (Perlman and Pike, 1994). Similarly, wages for male and female workers are not the same, even though they do the same amount of job at their respective workplaces. This 3 preferential treatment of male workers over female workers stems from the fact that United Kingdom’s industries were founded with a focus on males as the viable workforce (Mosley et al., 2002). And this perception has not changed much in this modern day as employers still dismissed female workers because of flimsy excuses like dating a fellow worker or getting pregnant during the peak work period (FL Memo Ltd., 2005). An interesting case to illustrate the tediousness of the male versus female tension in UK la bour markets is Webb v EMO Air Cargo (UK) Ltd, where Ms Webb was seeking claims for unfair dismissal based on her pregnancy. Those she was chastised for using the argument that if male workers could be allowed to treat themselves when they fell sick, why shouldn’t a pregnant woman be allowed to go for child-rearing; her employer (Air Cargo (UK) Ltd was criticised for firing her based on pregnancy, an action that was illegal and contravened the United Kingdom labour law (Collins et al., 2005). This

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Battle between operating systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Battle between operating systems - Essay Example (White, 2011) Fast forward 5 years and we witnessed the release of the iPhone 4S in October last year, with cumulative sales in excess of 183 million units. Currently Apple holds 15% market share globally. The latest model of the iPhone is the 4S which is essentially looks the same as the previous model the iPhone4 (released June’10) but feature wise is much more powerful. The 4S has the better A9 1 GHz dual core processor compared to the single core A8 processor, an improved camera, 8mp over 5 mp, and a natural voice command service called the Siri. The 4S also features the capability to record video in 1080p FullHD quality, compared to the 720p HD quality of the iPhone 4. iPhone 5 is still under development and the rumor mill is running high regarding the design and specs of the new gadget. (GSMArena Team, 2011) Coming to the iPhone iOS, it offers a user experience which creates ‘sticky’ customers i.e. they find it difficult to switch to other companies. With propriety services such as Siri, iCloud and iMessage along with an access to iTunes and the AppStore, the iPhone users have now become a bunch of dedicated loyal customers accustomed to the particular interface which the others do not offer. Furthermore with the presence of other products such as the iPad, iPod, Mac and Apple TV, Apple is trying hard to integrate them as much as possible. This will further help in retaining customers. As far as the support services are concerned, Apple provides an online support service to tackle with any technical problems, other than that there is the option of checking the online forums for support, as there is a dedicated number of online users ready to provide assistance to others. The reason why Apple may succeed in the battle of the OS is because it has a loyal number of consumer base available to them. The iOS has now become synonymous with ease of use and customer

Sunday, October 27, 2019

The meaning and of managing change

The meaning and of managing change The word change itself tends to be very confusing and everybody fears and tends to refuse change. If you ask any employee about change, he/she will have negative responses to change. Despite being complex and confusing yet it is very important due to the changing economic situations facing the world nowadays. However, the meaning of managing change varies according to people. For some people it maybe, a new way toward success for others it may be seen as a way to put its business onto new waves and so on. According to Michael Armstrong, Change management is the process of achieving the smooth implementation of change by planning and introducing it systematically, taking into account the likelihood of it being resisted. Success of implementing change depends largely on the way change it is managed. In this chapter, there will be an overview on different perspectives, importance on change management, including various tools used by researchers to asses change management. 2.2 CHANGE MANAGEMENT 2.2.1 Conceptual matters A.P Sloan (1967) stated that The circumstances of an ever-changing market and an ever-changing product are capable of breaking any business organization if that organization is unprepared for change. In other words, if an organization decides to change it cannot just happen it should be managed properly. 2.2.2 Typologies of change There three types of changes namely: Strategic Change Strategic change is defined as changes in the content of a firms strategy as defined by its scope, resource deployments, competitive advantages, and synergy (Hofer and Schendel, 1978). It is about changing the organizational vision, mission and objectives for a longer term for its betterment. Operational Change Operational change consists of changes occurring in the organizations structures, new systems, procedures or technology, which will contribute towards a better human productivity or increase profitability. According to Gartner, operational change is primordial in the provision of a high IT service quality. Transformational Change Transformational changes occur when there is a shift in the organizational culture resulting from a change in the organizational processes and strategies. 2.2.3 Change Process It is important for organization to understand the change process steps well and subsequently initialize those steps. According to Robert Bacal, it comprises three phases; preparation stage, acceptance stage and commitment stage. Figure 2.0-The steps in the Change Process Preparation Phase: Contact Stage: The very first stage whereby, an individual have direct contact with the possibility of change occurrence. Awareness Stage: The individual is aware that change is being considered. Acceptance Phase: Understanding Stage: Occurs when the individual shows a certain degree of understanding of the nature and intent of change. Positive Perception: The individual starts developing a positive view about change. Commitment Phase: Installation Stage: The change is being implemented and operational. Adoption Stage: The individual has now adopted the change and it is being long time enough to exhibit its positive result and impact. Institutionalization: Change is fully incorporated in the organization and has shown its worth, durability and continuity and is now considered as a routine operating procedures. Internalization: Individuals have become committed to change as they themselves consider it as compatible with their working behaviours, goals and organizational systems. 2.2.4 Change Models Over the past years there have various change models being used, some of the models are described below. Kurt Lewin (1951), The basic mechanisms for managing change In this model Lewin talk about three processes; unfreezing, changing and refreezing. Unfreezing implies changing the current attitudes and behaviours existing at the workplace. However, this process can lead to resistance, so change agent should analyze the possible problems and resolve them. Besides, changing is a process of transition whereby, change starts to be operational. While refreezing occurs once change is implemented and is in need of stabilization. Nevertheless it is a time consuming process, as people will have to adapt to this new development. The process is shown below: Figure 2.2- Lewin Three-Stage Approach to Change There is also a methodology proposed by Lewin for analyzing change, known as Field Force Analysis. This method analyzes the restraining or the driving force which will have an effect on the transition. The restraining force includes those who have a negative view on change. It assesses which one of the two forces has the balance of power. Subsequently, it allow practitioner to take necessary meausres to increase driving force and decrease restraining force. This can be illustrated diagrammatically; Figure 2.3- Source: http://www.valuebasedmanagement.net/methods_lewin_force_field_analysis.html Richard Beckhard (1969), change programme Beckhard initiated the following processes; The organization should set out desired goals and future organizational conditions after the change. Identify the current situation of the organization in relation with the goals. Identify the activities and commitment required during the transition to meet future goals. Develop appropriate strategies and action to manage this transition, taking into account factors that might affect this change. Beckhard alongside with David Gleicher developed a Change Equation which is shown below: Figure 2.3-Source: http://www.greatleadershipbydan.com/2009/01/beckhards-change-equation.html According to them the above factors is necessary for any organizational change, which is applicable before and after the change. Keith Thurley (1979) five approaches to managing change According to Thurley, there are five approaches to manage change which are; Directive This is done without any consultation and is imposed onto the people in times of critical situation or when other methods have failed. Bargained Here change is being bargained whereby employer and employee discuss, negotiate, and compromise before implementing change. The views of the employees are being taken into consideration. Hearts and minds This approach force to change the current attitudes, values and beliefs of the workforce. Through this approach, management seeks commitment, and shared vision from the workforce which does not mean participation. Analytical Analytical approach demonstrates clear definition of problem by diagnosing and analyzing the situation. Afterwards, collect data to set objectives and design change process and finally evaluating the result. This theoretical approach is very difficult to do in practice. Action-based It starts with a broad idea of the problem and it uses trial and error to get a better solution. It is less analytical and more involving. 2.2.5 Resistance to Change People resist change because they fear of the unknown, and thus create negative feelings about change. People want stability and equilibrium in their lives as well as working life and so resist changes. 2.2.5.1 Joan Woodward (1968), reasons for resisting change According to Joan Woodward (1968), resistance to change are due to: Fearing the unknown Many people are suspicious about change because it will disturb their method of work, or working conditions, thus they have a feeling of insecurity. Economic fear People may feel if changes occur they might lose their job. Inconvenience They think changes will make their life difficult. Symbolic fear Changes may affect some symbolic issues that people are attached to, like separate offices etc. Threat to interpersonal relationships They believe that changes may disrupt their working relationships. Menace to status and skill They tend to associate change to a method of de-skilling or a reduction in the status level. Competence fears If changes occur, they fear that they will not be able to adapt to new working demands and lack competencies. 2.2.5.2 Overcoming resistance to change Resistance to change is a problematic situation which organization should overcome. Organization can use the Six Change Approaches (Kotter and Schlesinger) to deal with resistance to change, for example: Education and Communication One of the reason people resist change is because, there is a lack of sharing of information. So management must, share and communicate information about the motives behind the change to its people. Participation and Involvement When employees are involved and participate in the change, they are more enthusiasm about change and hence do not resist change. Facilitation and Support Upper management must support and facilitate the transition; they should help them to overcome their fears, through counseling, mentoring and so on. Negotiation and Agreement Managers may negotiate with group of employees which possess enough power to influence resistance to change. They may offer incentives or make agreement between them to combat resistance. Manipulation and Co-option Kotter and Schlensinger have proposed a method of manipulation and co-option when all other methods seem to be ineffective. This technique manipulates people who are resisting change. An example can be, giving a symbolic role in decision making to a leader. However, if they find out they are manipulated, they will drive resistance to change higher. Explicit and Implicit Coercion This is the last resort that managers used, that is forcing employees to accept change, this can be effected through fear, by threatening employees lost of job, no career prospects and so on. 2.2.6 Implementing Change Nadler and Tushman (1980) have developed some guidelines for effective implementation of change: Motivate people to accept and adapt to changes. Good management and control should be ensured during and after transition through communication and proper image of the future. Ensure that politics dynamics support changes rather than reject it. Build stability of new structures and changes. In addition to these guidelines, changes will take place smoothly with the help of a change agent who can be internal or external. 2.2.7 Organizational Transformation Organizational transformation as per Cummins and Worley (2005) is A process of radically altering the organizations strategic direction, including fundamental changes in structures, processes and behaviours. John P Kotter ((The Heart of Change, 2002) introduced strategies for organizational transformation, which is summed up below: Increase urgency Make real and achievable objectives and drive motivation. Build the guiding team Build a team with right people possessing right kind attitudes, skills, commitment and so on Get the right vision Make the team build simple vision and strategy and focus on emotional and creative aspect for more efficiency Communicate Communicate to people and encourage them to participate. Empowerment Organization should empower its people, remove all obstacles, provide 360 degree feedback, support and recognize and reward them accordingly. Create short term wins Create short achievable aims, which are easy to attain. Organizations should also finish existing aims before starting new ones. Never give up Always encourage and motivate and communicate forecasted results. Stabilize change Once change is implemented should make it stick, by creating a culture of change in the organization. 2.2.8 Role of HR in managing change According to Ulrich (1997) the key role of HR practitioners during change, is to act as a change agent and thus provide for organizational transformation and cultural change. 2.2.8.1 HR practitioners as change agents There are four dimensions according to Caldwell (2001) that classify HR change agent: Transformational Change These are changes having a great impact on HR policies and practices of a business. Incremental Change It is gradual modification of HR policies and practices that have little effect on its activities. HR Vision Set of values and beliefs relating to HR functions which are a strategic business partner. HR Expertise HR professionals can use their expertise and knowhow to contribute for business success. 2.2.8.1 HR contribution in change management Ulrich (1998) says that HR practitioners are not fully comfortable or compatible in the role of change agent. Therefore their duty is not to perform change but is to ensure that change is implemented. Their contributions are mostly about implementing structures, systems etc that support change. So they will have to motivate, communicate and involve people in change management. HR specialist must also provide proper training and development programmes so that employees can upgrade their skills, behaviours to adapt to change. 2.3 Conclusion Changes always happen, so to remain up to date organization should invest in change management. Upper level management should feel the need for change and communicate to its people. Additionally, management should never be demotivated even if there is resistant, they should be perseverant and continue to encourage people to accept change. You should be the change that you want to see in the world Mahatma Gandhi. Information from this literature was used to develop the research methodology in Chapter 4.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Introduction To Hard Times :: essays research papers

The shortest of Dickens' novels, Hard Times, was also, until quite recently, the least regarded of them. The comedy is savagely and scornfully sardonic, to the virtual exclusion of the humour - that delighted apprehension of and rejoicing in idiosyncrasy and absurdity for their own sakes, which often cuts right across moral considerations and which we normally take for granted in Dickens. Then, too, the novel is curiously skeletal. There are four separate plots, or at least four separate centres of interest: the re-education through suffering of Mr. Gradgrind, the exposure of Bounderby, the life and death of Stephen Blackpool, and the story of Sissy Jupe. There are present, in other words, all the potentialities of an expansive, discursive novel in the full Dickens manner. But they are not and could not be realised because of the limitation of length Dickens imposed upon himself. The novel was written as a weekly serial story to run through five months of his magazine, Household Words, during 1854. Dickens had to force his story to fit the exigencies of a Procrustean bed and, in doing so, sacrificed the abundance of life characteristic of his genius. That, at any rate, was the general view of Hard Times until in 1948 F.R. Leavis, in his book The Great Tradition, suggested that it was a "moral fable," the hallmark of a moral fable being that "the intention is peculiarly insistent, so that the representative significance of everything in the fable - character, episode, and so on - is immediately apparent as we read." By seeing it as a moral fable, Dr. Leavis produced a brilliant rereading of Hard Times that has changed almost every critic's approach to the novel. Yet a difficulty still remains: the nature of the target of Dickens' satire. Both Gradgrind and Bounderby are emblematic, to the point of caricature, of representative early-nineteenth-century attitudes. Dickens tells us that Gradgrind has "an unbending, utilitarian, matter-of-fact face"; and the novel has been taken as an attack on the philosophical doctrine known as utilitarianism, the doctrine that the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the guiding principle of conduct. But utilitarianism can also mean the doctrine that utility must be the standard of what is good for man. Perhaps the two meanings come together in the famous Victorian phrase, "enlightened self-interest," the meaning of which will turn entirely upon the definition of "enlightened." Utilitarianism in the philosophical sense , as taught by the noble-minded John Stuart Mill, has had a profound and abiding influence on Western life and thought, and Dickens was certainly not competent to criticise it as a philosophical system.