Society and Social Groups Assignment free essay sample

Assignment 2 Question 1 The first key concept I chose Is society, which Is described as people who Interact In a defined space and shared culture. This definition of society states clearly which variables are used to define and Judge something as a society which make up part of the social world. The second key concept that I chose Is sociocultural evolution, which is the process of change that results from a societVs gaining new information. This term showed me the importance of social change and creates separate social periods which the world went through. The third key concept is New Industrializing Countries (NIC), which are lower-income countries that are quickly becoming high- income ones. This showed me how fickly our social world is and that it is relatively easy to change your ways, if you are able to get the means and have the will power. The fourth key concept I chose is bureaucracy, which is the model for modern business, government agencies, trade unions and universities. We will write a custom essay sample on Society and Social Groups: Assignment or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I have heard this term my whole life, but never realized, until now, the Importance and influence of bureaucracy In the world. The last key concept that I chose Is rationalization of society, which Is the historical change from tradltlon to rationality as the dominant mode of human thought. This concept helped me understand the humongous changes the social world has gone through. Also that the transition went slowly but surely, that every step we made helped us grow. Question 2 Marx expressively stated historical differences in productive systems for the emergence of the modern world, but also pointed out the persistence of social conflict in the human history. Weber tells us that modern societies are guided by ationality Instead of tradition which guided the pre-industrial societies. Durkenheim says that In the modern Industrial societies, mechanical solidarity, based on moral consensus, Is overtaken by organic solidarity, which Is based on productive speclallzatlon. I like bits and pieces of all three theories to be honest. The way we started thinking for ourselves from Webers theory, the thought that society influences us more than we thing from Durkenheims theory and how Marxs theory was one of the first to state the differences between the social classes. I prefer Marx the most, ecause his theory says that the economy dominates all other social institutions when it comes to giving direction to society, which I am realizing more and more. Organizations and seemingly governments are making decisions based more on how to earn or save money, than instead on what is the best option or solution. Question 3 An Important part of our society are the social groups In which we find ourselves. Social groups consists out of people with shared Interests, experiences and loyalties. embers share personal and enduring relationships, and secondary social groups, arge and impersonal social groups whose members pursue a specific interest or activity. Even though we do not like to believe it, most of us conform to fit in a group. The power of peer pressure shapes our behaviour from a young age throughout our adulthood. Most of the time, we use these groups as our reference groups, a social group that we use as a reference in making evaluations or decision s. Formal organizations are secondary groups that want to perform hard tasks in the most efficient way. They can be grouped in utilitarian, normative or coercive organizations. Bureaucracy is a organization model created to perform complex tasks efficiently. There are six key elements to an ideal bureaucratic organization: hierarchy of offices, rules and regulations, technical competence, impersonality and formal, written communications. However, there are some problems with bureaucracy; alienation, inefficiency and ritualism, inertia and abuse of power. Humanizing bureaucracy is to recognize people as the greatest organization source there is. We are part of the network age. Social networks are used to link people all over the world. These developments are chancing group relations. Question 6 McDonaldization of society should be resisted in terms of a social world. The four principles of McDonaldization (efficiency, calculability, uniformity and predictability, control through automation) are great for organization as McDonalds, from which we expect quick results. However, as stated in the book, a lot of things are becoming automated to make actions happen quicker, with a smaller error margin. This decreases the intervention of humans, decreases human creativity . We are interacting less and less because of the increasing use of machines instead of humans.

Challenges For Afro Caribbean Minorities Social Work Essay Essays

Challenges For Afro Caribbean Minorities Social Work Essay Essays Challenges For Afro Caribbean Minorities Social Work Essay Essay Challenges For Afro Caribbean Minorities Social Work Essay Essay Harmonizing to Wirth ( 1945 ) a minority group is any group of people who because of their physical or cultural features, are singled out from others in the society in which they live for differential and unequal intervention and who hence regard themselves as objects of corporate favoritism. National Statistics ( 2003 ) suggest that in 2001, black Caribbean s established 1 % while black Africans accounted for 0.8 % of the entire 59 million population of the UK. The being of a possible glass ceiling for Afro-Caribbean minorities in the UK and further its impact on them would be discussed. David and Woodward ( 1998 ) suggest that a glass ceiling is the impression of being of a crystalline barrier that kept persons from lifting above a certain degree in corporations. These barriers exist at assorted degrees in organisations. Coyne, Coyne and Lee ( 2002 ) add that it is an upper bound to professional promotion, non readily perceived or openly acknowledged. It would be interesting to analyze the consequence of such a glass ceiling that might be on both male and females of Afro-Caribbean minorities in the UK. Britain ( 2006 ) indicates that black Caribbean adult females in 2001/2 had economic activity rates comparable to white adult females at 72 % . Conversely, African work forces and Caribbean s had really high unemployment rates that ranged between 25-31 % . Dol ( 2010 ) illustrates that glass ceiling research reveals three degrees of unreal barriers to the promotion of minorities and adult females in the private sector which are: Social barriers which may be outside direct control of concern Internal structural barriers within direct control of the concern Governmental barriers Social Barriers: Childs and Storry ( 2006 ) suggest that Afro-Caribbean s are seen as backward, barbarian and inherently inferior to Europeans, devouring unusual nutrient and carrying diseases. Further, the common belief is that most Afro-Caribbean s are nescient, illiterate and lacked proper instruction. Mwakikagile ( 2007 ) states that the perceptual experience of West Africans being dishonest and their monolithic engagement in deceitful offenses does in it self lead to greater favoritism when it comes to employment, proviso of services and publicities at occupation. Internal Structural Barriers: National Statistics ( 2006 ) point out that in 2004, Caribbean group were less likely to hold a grade as their highest making than white British people. Merely 11 % black Caribbean s had a grade compared to 17 % white British people so. This comparing shows that it was less likely of both groups being eligible for a good occupation and on acquiring one progressing due to hapless makings would be hard. Ginn ( 2003 ) argues that the few Afro-Caribbean work forces and adult females employed earn low norm rewards compared to other minority groups in the UK. Baxter and Wright ( 2000 ) argue that the image suggests that although it may now be the instance that African and Caribbean adult females are able to acquire through the front door of managerial hierarchies, at some point they hit an unseeable barrier that blocks any farther upward motion. Potter, Conway and Phillips ( 2005 ) supply support saying that there exists a race thing/barriers in the UK towards Afro-Caribbean people, being overlooked for publicity at work. Governmental Barriers: However, Blanpain, Bisom-Rapp, Corbett, Josephs and Zimmer ( 2007 ) argue that UK has stringent Torahs and ordinances formulated that prohibit such favoritism at workplace. Some of the Torahs stated are Equal Pay Act 2003, Employment Equality Regulations 2003 and Race Relations Act 1976. Yet, facts and figures as stated above suggest that these ordinances and Torahs are weak in preparation, lack vigorous and consistent monitoring and enforcement. Therefore, grounds suggests that there exists a glass ceiling and favoritism towards Afro-Caribbean minorities at the workplace in the UK. As a consequence of the being of a glass ceiling the Afro-Caribbean minority has reacted in varied ways. Potter, Conway and Phillips ( 2005 ) suggest that because of unemployment, low rewards and non being promoted at their work topographic point some Afro-Caribbean s return back to their place state. Further David and Woodward ( 1998 ) suggest that many adult females on the other manus who break the glass ceiling frequently find that they are walked out of more senior direction place. As a consequence Simpson ( 2006 ) points out that 1000s of Afro-Caribbean adult females have turned to self-employment as a manner to gain their ends, gain fiscal and employment independency or to interrupt or get the better of the glass ceiling. Further Simpson states that a new survey from the 1990 Trust showed that black people had the most success running their ain concerns in a society where many adult females from black and cultural minority ( BME ) were non being promoted or were overqualified f or the functions assigned to them. Simpson indicates that the part of the black concern sector is about ?4.5 billion and provides over 70,000 occupations in London s economic system entirely which is important. However, males of this minority might besides turn to offense because of unemployment or favoritism at work topographic point or due to low mean wage. The job here is the deficit of literature that perchance argues such a effect related to Afro-Caribbean males. Finally, the large trade names and large companies need to take an enterprise on the issue of glass ceiling for specific minorities in the UK and help in altering the state of affairs. Pollitt ( 2006 ) points out that no adult females in the UK of all time headed a big company leave entirely one from any minority. However, Cigna invested $ 2mn yearly in preparing and retaining female leaders. As a consequence female director turnover reduced from 50 % in 1998 to 24 % in 2006. Further, due to this 44 % females get promoted to senior direction places as compared to 12 % in 1999. Law and ordinance enforcement requires attending but more so it is the society that needs to alter its attitude towards Afro-Caribbean minorities if any important alteration is expected. Word Count: 958 Mentions Baxter J and Wright E ( 2000 ) The glass ceiling hypothesis a comparative survey of the United States, Sweden and Australia , GENDER A ; SOCIETY, 14 ( 2 ) : 275-294 Blanpain R, Bisom-Rapp S, Corbett W, Josephs H and Zimmer M ( 2007 ) . The planetary workplace: international and comparative employment jurisprudence: instances and stuffs, New York: Cambridge University Press Britain ( 2001 ) . Demography, available at hypertext transfer protocol: //www.britain.tv/community_afro_demographics.shtml visited on 6th August 2010 Childs P and Storry M ( erectile dysfunction ) ( 1999 ) . Encyclopedia of modern-day British civilization, New York: Taylor and Francis Coyne B, Coyne E and Lee M ( 2004 ) . Human resources, care-giving, calling patterned advance and gender, Oxon: Routledge David M and Woodward D ( erectile dysfunction ) ( 1998 ) . Negociating the glass ceiling: callings of senior adult females in academic universe, London: Falmer Press Dol ( 2010 ) . Executive drumhead: Fact happening study of the Federal Glass Ceiling Commission available at hypertext transfer protocol: //www.dol.gov/oasam/programs/history/reich/reports/ceiling1.pdf visited on 9th August 2010 Ginn J ( 2003 ) . Gender, pensions and the life class: how pensions need to accommodate to altering household signifiers, Bristol: Policy Imperativeness Mwakikagile G ( 2007 ) . Relations between Africans, African Americans and Afro-Caribbean s: tensenesss, indifference and harmoniousness 1st edn, Dar es Salaam: New Africa Press National Statistics ( 2003 ) . Population Size, available at hypertext transfer protocol: //www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp? id=273 visited on 7th August 2010 National Statistics ( 2006 ) . Education, available at hypertext transfer protocol: //www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp? id=461 visited on 6th August 2010 Pollitt D ( 2006 ) . Diversity in the work force , Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol.14, No.3, pp 19-21 Potter R, Conway D, Phillips J ( 2005 ) . The experience of return migration: Caribbean position, Aldershot: Ashgate Simpson T ( 2006 ) . Black businesswomen blaze a test to success , Voice Online available at hypertext transfer protocol: //www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php? show=10100 visited on 6th August 2010 Wahhab I ( 2009 ) . Why will no 1 help the unemployed minorities? , Guardian, 6th September, available at hypertext transfer protocol: //www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/sep/06/race-gender-ethnic-minorities visited on 7th August 2009. Wirth L ( 1945 ) . The job of minority groups in Linton R The Science of adult male in the universe crisis, New York: Colombia University Press Being OF GLASS CEILING FOR GAY AND LESBIAN MINORITIES IN THE UK Similar to the Afro Caribbean minority in the UK another type of minority in the UK are the homosexual and sapphic. Gates and Ost ( 2004 ) illustrate that homosexuals and tribades include even those who admit to a sexual attractive force to others of the same sex, irrespective of their sexual behaviour. They engage in sexual activity with others of the same sex. Campbell ( 2005 ) and Govan ( 2005 ) province that 6 % of the population or about 3.6 million Britishers are either homosexual or tribades which is a important per centum compared to the Afro-Caribbean minorities. Yet, Grew ( 2008 ) suggests that homosexuals and tribades have been already identified as minority group in the UK. Campbell ( 2005 ) and Govan ( 2005 ) province that of the 30 million work force in the UK, 1.5 million to 2 million are cheery and lesbians harmonizing to section of trade and industry. Their combined one-year income was an estimated GBP 60 billion. Further, a survey revealed that the mean male income in the UK was GBP 24,236 as compared to GBP 34,168 of a homosexual. Similarly, the income of an mean female was GBP 18,531 as compared to a tribade who earned GBP 24,783. Therefore, this survey suggests that even though homosexual and tribades are a minority, they earn much higher rewards at workplace as compared to average public. Another of import point noted by Campbell and Govan is the figure of homosexuals and tribades working in the UK at assorted appellations. A survey revealed that there were approximately 40 % homosexual and 25 % tribade s professionals working in the UK. Further, 11 % tribades and 13 % homosexual were keeping managerial places and besides 5 % tribades and 6 % homosexual were senior directors. Therefore, these figures suggest that even if there is a glass ceiling for minorities in the UK, it might non hold had much of an impact on the homosexual and sapphic minority. However, Cownie ( 2004 ) indicates that a survey found grounds of a glass ceiling runing against the publicity of cheery work forces and tribades. Further, lesbians faced highest sensed degrees of favoritism and torment. Kirton and Greene ( 2010 ) argue that gender and race can be regarded as the major forming rules of the labour market with disablement, age and sexual orientation being factors that influence employment forms and results. Therefore, these five dimensions of diverseness are chief beginnings of employment favoritism against homosexuals and tribades. Badgett and Franks ( 2007 ) note that heterosexual male foremans have a negative attitude towards gays more than tribades. Further, employers might utilize the sexual orientation of a adult male as a placeholder for the chance that he has or will contract HIV. Conversely, since tribades are less likely to unwrap their sexual orientation in the workplace, opportunity of direct favoritism is reduced. Apart from these stated g rounds, Avert ( 2010 ) states that people might hold a negative attitude towards homosexual and sapphic people because of strong spiritual beliefs that disapprove of sex or homosexualism and deficiency of cognition about gay sexual behavior. The job here is that really small literature sing this subject has been published and therefore comparing any tendency related to homosexuals and tribades that might be to a theory or theoretical account is hard. The UK authorities has formulated some Torahs, regulations and ordinances to avoid favoritism against homosexuals and tribades. Some of the Torahs listed by Cic ( 2010 ) are Employment Equality ( sexual orientation ) Regulations 2003 which intended to take favoritism on the evidences of sexual orientation and Equality Act ( Sexual orientation ) Regulation which extends statute law to forestall favoritism because of sexual orientation in the bringing of goods, installations, services, and instruction. However, there is once more really small literature sing how effectual are the Torahs against favoritism of homosexual and sapphic minorities. Therefore, the rating of their impact might be a mere guess non the existent image. Though literature suggests the being of a glass ceiling for homosexual and sapphic minority in the UK, there are few of this minority who dared to interrupt the so called pink glass ceiling . Some illustrations of such people are Sir Terence Etherton who Verkaik ( 2008 ) provinces was the first openly gay justice to be sworn in as Lord Justice of Appeal or Sir Michael Bishop, president of BMI air hoses helped BMI air hoses become a major force in the short draw air hose sector and Dawn Airey ( female ) Managing Director Sky webs who because of her work is one of the top earners on Television ( The Independent, 2006 ) . Therefore, holding a will to accomplish a end and taking the enterprise to present consequences are of import to interrupt the pink glass ceiling . Besides if these people have set the illustration, it might non be really hard for others to follow them. However, an statement here is whether organisations are taking up the enterprise to alter the bing environment for homosexuals and tribades at the work topographic point. Literature does propose that some organisations have so taken up enterprises towards such issues. For illustration, Metropolitan Police UK Operation Athena is an inaugural to advance anti-racism, racial equality and anti-homophobia in athleticss ( Parliamentary Assembly, 2004 ) . Yet, once more there is a deficiency of literature specific to enterprises taken up by UK organisations to assist homosexual and tribades at work topographic point. Finally, it can be concluded that there is some grounds of a glass ceiling for homosexual and sapphic minorities in the UK. However, grounds besides suggests that those homosexuals and tribades employed earn more than mean British male or female. Thus they are supposed to be financially unafraid, the argument is whether the homosexual and sapphic minority is satisfied with what they have achieved so far or they expect a better societal and work topographic point environment to execute better. Word Count: 953

All About Plastics

All About Plastics Every day, people use plastics in various applications. Over the last 50 to 60 years, the uses for plastic have expanded to infiltrate virtually every aspect of life. Because of how versatile the material is, and how affordable it can be, it has taken the place of other products including wood and metals. The properties of the various types of plastics make it beneficial for manufacturers to use. Consumers like it because it is easy to use, lightweight and easy to maintains. Types of Plastics Overall, there are about 45 unique types of plastics and each type has dozens of different variations. Manufacturers can change the physical structure just slightly to benefit the application for which they are using it. When manufacturers change or modify things like the molecular weight distribution, the density or the melt indices, they alter the effectiveness and create plastics with many specific properties - and therefore many different uses. Two Plastic Categories There are two main types of plastics, thermoset plastics and thermoplastics. Breaking these down further, you can see the everyday uses of each type. With thermoset plastics, the plastic will hold its shape long term once it has cooled to room temperature and hardened thoroughly. This type of plastic cannot return to its original form - it cannot be melted down into its original form. Epoxy resins and polyurethanes are some examples of this type of thermosetting plastic. It is commonly used in tires, auto parts, and composites. The second category is thermoplastics. Here, you have more flexibility and versatility. Because it will return to its original form when heated, these plastics are commonly used in various applications. They can be made into films, fibers, and other forms. Specific Types of Plastics Below are some of the specific types of plastics and how they are in use today. Consider their chemical properties and benefits, too: PET or Polyethylene terephthalate - This plastic is ideal for food storage and water bottles. It is commonly used for things like storage bags, too. It does not leach into the food, but is sturdy and can be drawn into fibers or films. PVC or Polyvinyl Chloride - It is brittle but stabilizers are added to it. This makes it a softer plastic thats easy to mold into various shapes. It is commonly used in plumbing applications because of its durability. Polystyrene - Commonly known as Styrofoam, it is one of the less ideal options today for environmental reasons. However, it is very lightweight, easy to mold and it works as an insulator. That is why it is heavily used in furniture, cabinetry, glasses and other impact-resistant surfaces. It is also commonly added with a blowing agent to create foam insulation. Polyvinylidine Chloride (PVC) - Commonly known as Saran, this plastic is used in wraps to cover food. It is impermeable to odors from food and can be drawn into various films. Polytetrafluoroethylene - A growing popular choice is this plastic also known as Teflon. First manufactured by DuPont in 1938, it is a heat-resistant form of plastic. It is very stable and strong and is unlikely to be damaged by chemicals. Moreover, it creates a surface that is almost frictionless. This is why it is used in various cookware (nothing sticks to it) and in tubing,  plumbing tapes and in waterproof coating products. Polypropylene - Commonly called just PP, this plastic has various forms. However, it has uses in many applications including tubes, car trims, and bags. Polyethylene - Also known as HDPE or LDPE, it is one of the most common forms of plastics. New formations of it make it possible for this plastic to be flat. Its initial uses were for electrical wires but it is now found in many disposable products, including gloves and garbage bags. It is also used in other film applications such as wraps, as well as in bottles. The use of plastics every day is more commonplace than many might think. By making small changes to these chemicals, new and versatile solutions are obtained.

Performance Measurement Methods Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Performance Measurement Methods - Assignment Example Consequently, it is important to have a form of performance measurement tool or method that matches the exact form of performance variable being measured. It is against this background that different types of performance metrics have been devised. Likierman (2009) attempted to discuss some of the key performance measurement methods by focusing on things that organizations must avoid if they do not want to fall into the trap of wrong performance measurement. One of these traps was mentioned to be describing against yourself. This is the process of looking to one’s organization alone when measuring performance. As this is seen to be a trap, it means the best method for growth is to measure performance by having benchmarks that makes an organization look beyond itself. In my current organization, there are several ways that performance can be improved with we are to set benchmarks in our performance measurement. Very specifically, it is important for the organization to look at some of its key competitors and the output of work that comes from these companies. Based on such figures, out organization may also set its own goals so as to make it an industry leader rather than focusing only on its internal efforts. In another instance, Likierman (2009) makes mention of looking backwards as a major trap that defeats the goal of achieving effective performance measurement. Reviewing the annual reports of most companies, it would be seen that the companies quantify their output of work based on what was achieved in the previous year. Likierman (2009) however refuse to see this as an effective way of measuring performance. This means that the right method is to forecast by making projections of what the company wants to achieve. This method can clearly be applied in my current organization to ensure its growth and development. To do this, it would be important for the

The Athletic Trainer Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Athletic Trainer - Research Paper Example An Athletic trainer is a medical expert concerned with various areas of an athletes care. The athletic trainer teaches and instructs the athletes on ways to avoid injury during competitions by use of exercise practices and warm-up schedules. In case an injury occurs to an athlete, it is the duty of the athletic trainer to examine the injured athlete and establish whether the athlete requires medical attention from a doctor. Athletic trainers are also involved in the management and administration of rehabilitation of athletes for instance through exercise and training. In addition, the athletic trainers engage in monitoring the progress and performance of athletes to avoid further injuries. They are also involved in applying and fixing supportive gadgets for instance support braces or tensor bandages. Generally, the work of athletic trainers involve ensuring that the athlete is fit and in god health. In this case, these trainers also work closely with other professionals involved in t he affairs of the athletes for instance the athletes’ doctors and coaches (Hand, 2011). It is evident that athletic trainers hired by sports teams concern themselves w primarily with preventing injury, examination of injuries as well as rehabilitation of the athletes. It is also evident that as the name suggests, the major function of the athletic trainer is not to train the athlete on the specifics of the competition but rather to ensure that the athlete is fit for the competition. Even though the athletic trainers mainly occur in professional sports, others occur in the public domain (Beach, 2011). Heron (2011) affirms that athletic trainers concern themselves with institution, amateur and professional athletes in addition to normal people injured while participating in various sports. Athletic trainers should undergo a system of education and training before they

Environmental Analysis and Long-term objectives Essay Example for Free

Environmental Analysis and Long-term objectives Essay The organization selected for this paper to discuss the environmental analysis and long-term objectives is Dunkin Donuts. The main focus will be on the forces and trends operating in the environment which have a considerable effect on the running of the organization. The paper will first discuss these forces and trends in detail and then provide an insight to how these forces effect the organization and align themselves with the vision and values of the organization. The trends selected are: 1. Social responsibility 2. Environment 3. Fuel Social Responsibility One of the environmental trends is social responsibility which adds to the credibility of an organization. Social responsibility basically refers to the responsibility or the duties of an organization, government or even an individual towards the society in which it functions. Every organization has a responsibility to keep their actions and practices in the best interests of the people living in the society so that it does not endanger them in any way. Instead organizations should work to provide comfort and help to the society as a whole. This is a part of their corporate social responsibility. The company can also be involved in eradication of unethical practices and behavior taking place in the society so that the lives of the people could be made easier. For example, some companies take initiative in planting trees or constructing gardens in an area which serve a place for community people to come together and meet each other (Kotler and Lee, 2004). Social responsibility at Dunkin Donuts has actually helped the organization in a considerable manner. The restaurant holds a respectable position in the society due to its charity and community involvement programs. The company as well as their employees contributes for the community service organization in order to make the lives of the people better. Moreover, they are extremely committed to the environmental responsibility. The restaurant follows the environment regulations and promotes cleanliness. The restaurant itself is very clean and tidy with a proper system to discard the garbage. The company supports charitable programs and takes initiatives for supporting and participating in the welfare of the community people. They even sponsor educational programs in local community schools and provide funds for different events like Special Olympics, AYSO soccer teams etc. Recently Dunkin’ Donuts has entered into a relationship with a non-profit organization ‘Coffee Kids’ for supporting families in the coffee-producing regions of Mexico and Central America. On 22 May, 2008, the company went ‘green’ by initiating its first LEED (Leadership in energy and environmental design) restaurant which is a part of their corporate social responsibility commitment. This way the company hopes to improve the quality of life of the community people by making the area clean and green (Kotler and Lee, 2004). The trend operating in the environment must be aligned with the mission, vision and values of the organization for it to work in the best possible way. At Dunkin’ Donuts, there are seven core values and one of them is responsibility towards the environment and the community in which they are functioning. They are committed for improving the people’s quality of live. The first LEED being built up by the company is an effort towards promoting a healthy life for the people and improving their quality of life. The social responsibility practices of the company reinforce their mission, vision and values which are focused on making the ‘world a better place live and work’ (David, 2006). Environment The second force the paper talks about is the physical environment in which the organization is functioning. The trends in the environment have a much larger impact on the organization; here we are discussing the physical environment. Changes happen in the physical environment without any notice which might result in shock or disaster or even opportunities. Organizations need to have a contingency plan to deal with such contingencies resulting from the physical environment (Shaffer, 2000). In the physical environment outside the Dunkin’ Donuts Company and restaurant, variable changes can take place which can sometimes help the organization or hinder its processes at some other instances. The environment can provide opportunities as well as threats to the company. Since Dunkin’ Donuts has now essentially become a beverages company so it can specialize in different kinds of beverages and become a market leader. Moreover, the increasing number of suppliers in the industry can also result in new opportunities. Threat comes mainly from the substitutes and the new entrants. The company faces tough competition from Starbucks and their success becomes a threat for the company plus the industry doesn’t offers high barriers for the new entrants so more beverages company can be set up thus giving rise to the competition. Apart from this, the physical environment also includes the threat from natural disasters which can cause huge losses to the company so the company needs to have contingency plans for dealing with them. Thus, the physical environment can both help and hinder Dunkin’ Donuts depending on the situation (Reeve, 2002). The organization strives to accommodate any changes emerging in the physical environment in its strategy. The company was essentially based on donuts first but now it has developed into a beverages company. This was because it saw greater opportunities for itself in serving the beverages market. It saw the changing taste of people towards coffee and decided to establish a strategy based on a coffee company. Today Dunkin’ Donuts is known as the no. 1 retailer in hot and ice regular coffee. Thus, this shows the organization’s strategic adaptability towards the changing forces resulting in the environment (David, 2006). Rising Fuel Costs The burning issue facing the organizations today in their environment is the rising fuel prices. Companies have to face rising costs due to this shooting up in fuel prices which have almost doubled this year. As the costs are increasing so the companies have to raise the prices of their products and services which decreases their sales. This way many companies are facing problems due rising fuel costs which in turn decreases their average sales. Therefore, the third issue is of fuel which this paper will examine (Reeve, 2002). The rising cost of fuel is a trend in the environment which hinders the company by raising the costs of doing business and thus, decreasing the sales and profits. Since electricity is produced through fuel so increase in fuel costs also increases the electricity cost. At Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants, the food including the donuts and beverages is prepared to sophisticated machines which run on electricity. They have to pay higher for electricity which increases the cost of inputs and simultaneously, the cost of doing business. The company has raised the prices of its products worldwide recently but that has caused the sales to decrease and thus, it earns lower profits. This way fuel is actually a hindrance towards high profits for the company and simultaneously, its long-term objectives. Since rising fuel costs are hindering the company’s sales and profits, Dunkin’ Donuts is trying to find out ways of producing the products efficiently so that they involve low costs and the profits of the company could be increased. The company tries to specialize in certain beverages which can be produced with hands so that machine use could be limited thus, saving up the electricity. The company tried to adjust for these rising costs so that it can acquire an increasing number of customers to boost up its sales as well as profits (Shaffer, 2000). Conclusion The paper has discussed in detail the environmental analysis pertaining to social responsibility, environment and fuel. It first discussed what these forces actually mean and then identified their relevance with the organization and how organization adapts to these forces operating in the environment. Social responsibility at Dunkin’ Donuts is aimed at winning the hearts of the masses through charity and community involvement activities. The mission of the company is to improve the quality of life and this is effectively done through their social involvement programs. The company also takes immediate action to the changing environment which may involve rising incomes or changing tastes of the people and tries to accommodate the change in its strategy as it did from shifting to beverages industry from donuts industry. Finally, the company is also trying to cope up with the rising costs of fuel through cost efficient methods and increasing the prices since the income of a common man has also increased. All these forces or trends help or hinder the organization and its strategy in their own way. Thus, it can be said the Dunkin’ Donuts is a very capable organization who has effectively dealt with difficult times and has become the no. 1 retailer in coffee throughout United States (David, 2006). References David, F. R. (2006). Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases. Prentice Hall. Kotler, P. , Lee, N. (2004). Corporate Social Responsibility: Doing the Most Good for Your Company and Your Cause . Wiley. Reeve, R. N. (2002). Introduction to Environmental Analysis. Wiley. Shaffer, J. (2000). The Leadership Solution. New York: McGraw-Hill

ICT in the Leisure Centre :: ICT System Essays

ICT in the Leisure Centre The current ICT facilities used in the leisure centre at the moment are 1 standalone 486 PC in the reception area. It does not have a printer connected to it, and there is an out of date word processing package on the machine, it is only rarely used by Andy Cawson who is head receptionist. The computer also has other software on the computer, but Andy is not sure how to work it. The Admin office has two Pentium 100 PC's that share a jet ink printer. One of the computers in the admin area holds personal details. There is word processing software installed on the computer it is regularly used. In the bar, restaurant and shop there are a number of points of sales terminals that are used within the leisure centre. In the finance department, Martin Dolphin the finance officer uses his own laptop, he records financial data on the laptop and also produces financial documents. He uses is own laptop, because he is unable to work on the 386 PC that is in his office. He is also unable to print from his laptop and PC 386 because there is no printer, if he wants to produce any print outs he has to go to Admin. In the leisure centre there are telephones that are used to communicate, but it is mainly manual systems that are used to run the leisure centre. Problems with the existing ICT system within the leisure centre are: Â · the poor standard of ICT equipment, Â · most work is done manually and when the work is done using the computers work is made more difficult than it should be, For example in reception there is no printer connected in there so the receptionist have to go else where to get work printed off. In addition, due to the poor ICT within the leisure centre it is causing problems such as: Â · Information has been lost which leads to numerous customer complaints, because sporting facilities are being double booked etc.

Representation of Love and Marriage in Pride and Prejudice Essay

Although love is considered significant in the world we live in now, it was not the case in the 18th century- Austen’s time. As time progressed, so did education, fashion styles, medical practises and most importantly social constructs and values. Love and marriage in Austen’s century, though it had some similarities, it was considerably different. Pride and Prejudice, a romance novel by Jane Austen, first published in 1813 depicts the manner of marriage and love in the Regency era. It is a story of transformation, in which the protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet and her counterpart change to believe that love does transcend all things. The novel delves into the passion and excitement of love, but also the detachment that exists between loveless couples. Marriage in Austen’s time can be described as a business transaction. For the women, the man’s income was all they could depend on. And usually for men, the women’s dowry or ‘portion’ would be taken under consideration. In Pride and Prejudice, the marriage between Wickham and Lydia was purely based on money, and perhaps Lydia’s foolish adoration towards Wickham. Wickham married Lydia for the money, which he lacked. Before their matrimony Mr Gardiner stated in a letter â€Å"They are not married, nor can I find any intention of being so,† however after there was a discussion between Darcy, Wickham and Mr Gardiner regarding the ‘payment’ behind their marriage Wickham was more than ready to marry Lydia. Mr Darcy was willing to pay off all Wickham’s debts and give them another thousand pounds if Wickham was to marry Lydia, and Wickham would only marry Lydia if those conditions were provided to him- this is a marriage com pletely based on a monetary deal. Furthermore, the narrator says, â€Å"Wickham still cherished the hope of more effectually making his fortune through marriage.† This clearly shows that not only women, but men also gained financial means from marriage. Another example in the text where marriage is represented as a business deal is when Colonel Fitzwilliam states, â€Å"there are not many in my rank of life who can afford to marry without some attention to money.† Austen uses dialogue, to reinforce the fact that marriage is money and the bluntness of Austen’s choice of words results in the reader of the modern era to be strongly opposed to what marriage use to be. The novel represents marriage as a business trade, shown by the relationship between Wickham and Lydia. Each gains wealth from the other, and not care, trust or love- the morals of a marriage in today’s society. Men looked for women who had many ‘accomplishments,’ not necessarily if they loved them, or if they were intelligent or had good personalities. â€Å"A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, dancing, drawing, and the modern languages†¦,† stated Caroline Bingley. Not only accomplishments were to be perfected, men looked for beauty as well. In the case of Mr Bennet, he followed the social trend where he married based on appearances and accomplishments. Mrs Bennet was a beauty, however she turned out to be a frivolous, foolish and oblivious character, resulting in an inharmonious marriage. A woman in a marriage was about presentation, to be beautiful and accomplished- to not embarrass the husband. Therefore men did not search for their soul mate, but rather a woman who was presentable. Not only did Mr Bennet marry to a beauty, it is also the case for Mr Bingley who loved Jane for her beauty. Austen represents marriage to be decided on by a woman ’s charm and accomplishments, in order to win a man’s heart a woman had to be talented in all the art forms. To be accomplished was a vital requirement for women. Marriage for women is represented as their ultimate goal in life, because it was impossible to live independently- especially the women who belonged to the genteel class. Genteel women were not allowed to pursue professional careers or university degrees. The only accepted occupation was to be a governess, however they were not highly respected. Consequently, women depended on marriage to have money of which men would be the one who provided it. Charlotte Lucas did not, â€Å"think highly either of men or of matrimony, marriage had always been her object†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and that was the reason for her to marry the pompous Mr Collins. Charlotte did not love Mr Collins, she was twenty-seven and still dependent on her family- the only goal she had was to be married, and she was desperate. For women to be dependent on family was something to be ashamed of and the only way to escape out of under the protection of family was to marry. Using characterisation, Austen represents marriage as the most important event, the only respectable option for women. Marriage was a must for those living in the regency era, unlike today, where living independently is accepted and even encouraged. Not only was marriage from the Regency era different from today, so was the concept of love. Love was not sought for in Austen’s time, rather it would just be convenient if you were really in love with your fiancà ©. Pride and Prejudice represents love as an unnecessary asset in a relationship. It is not required to love someone, in order to be with him or her and even be married with them. In the case of Charlotte and Mr Collins, love was not apparent. After Charlotte accepted Mr Collins’ proposal, the narrator states that, â€Å"his attachment to her must be imaginary.† Charlotte did not love Mr Collins, but accepted his hand in order to obtain a comfortable home. She was not looking for love to be happy, she wanted social security, which could be provided by the clergyman. Charlotte’s view on love represented society’s view, which is that love is not a vital component of marriage, but rather gaining financial security. The absence of love within a marriage was acceptable. Another type of love was radical, new, true. Mr Darcy and Elizabeth represented true love, though it was formed from misunderstanding and disagreeable first impressions. Love grew despite the differences; Austen’s protagonists are in true love, the type of love where they can conquer all things. Elizabeth, â€Å"†¦with tears in her eyes [replied], ‘I love him,’† though her pride influenced her to misjudge Mr Darcy she overcame her wall of prejudice and was deeply in love him. Similarly with Mr Darcy, he disregarded his embarrassment and preconceptions and confessed his love for Elizabeth. Austen composed the two central characters to fall in true love, implying the idea that true love is the better and more rewarding. Elizabeth did not totally conform to the social constructs, she was self-reliant and romantic- she wanted love, unlike Charlotte who wanted a comfortable life. And because she did not follow the ways of conduct books, she was rewarded with true love. Though the two characters were deeply in love, they were not hopelessly in love, another radical aspect of the relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth. Mr Darcy confessed to Elizabeth that he,† ardently admire and love you [Elizabeth].† He uses the word ‘admire,’ showing that there is respect and equality between the two, Mr Darcy did not love Elizabeth only on her appearances but of her ‘impertinence’ and ‘liveliness of your mind.’ Love, in Elizabeth and Mr Darcy’s case is represented as the first step towards eternal happiness, it is the ideal marriage with a balance of emotion and rationality. Both the social and radical perspectives of marriage and love were represented in Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Through Jane and Bingley, Charlotte and Collins and Lydia and Wickham the social standard of marriage is presented. And through Elizabeth and Darcy, a new outlook of marriage and love was formed. Today’s society revolves around love, but in Austen’s time finding marriage was far more crucial. Jane Austen renews the ideas of love and marriage and re-presents them by moulding them with her values. Though she writes in the romance genre, she ventures away at times to create her idealistic true love. In conclusion, marriage is represented as a business transaction, love may be thoughtless but to find true love is to fall in love with ones personality and not only their appearances. Austen believes that marriage is based on the strong foundation of true love and intellectual unity within the marriage.

Health Care Industry Paper Essay

Introduction In today’s society, healthcare and the issues surrounding the topic has went through some major changes within the last decade. Some of these changes in my opinion were decent and very important when it comes to providing exceptional quality care in this health care industry. Although some of the changes were not so reasonable in the eyes of most, these changes were in the best interest for the economy and for the improvement of the healthcare industry as a whole. In this paper the author will attempt to explain how the healthcare industry has changed over the last 10 years, the biggest change in healthcare in the next 10 years, and the role the author plan to have in the health care industry in the near future. The author will also explain how she would adapt her skills along with the industry’s needs, and how her perception has changed over the course of the program here at University of Phoenix. Finally the author will explain the most significant impact of the program, the role technology will play in healthcare organizations in the upcoming decade, and the financial and economic issues that will affect the healthcare industry in the next 10 years. Optimistically after the reader has carefully observed the content in this paper, he/she will have a better understanding of the delivery of healthcare and the changes that are made to ensure a better future for our health. How has health care changed in the last 10 years? Health care has changed dramatically over the last 10 years and the changes for the most part has been very successful in regards to delivering quality service in healthcare. One major change that has been very significant in healthcare is the dramatic decrease in the mount of hospital stays after a major surgery or procedure is done. In the past, an individual that  participated in a major surgery would have stayed confined to a hospital for at least a week to ensure proper healing and recovery. Now 10 years later several individuals may have the same surgery procedure conducted and will be home in a couple of hours, days, and in some cases the same day depending on the severity of the surgery. Technology has been a major contributing factor behind the improvement and delivery of quality healthcare within the last 10 years. According to Burchill 2010, technology is intended to assist several organizations accomplish specific tasks easier and more rapidly. An organization has to stay ahead of all the new changes and frequently shifting routines within the health care system (Burchill, 2010). Technology has ensured faster service when admitting patients, recovering patient’s information, and when providing surgical procedures that reduces the amount of time a patient has to spend in the hospital for recovery. What do you think will be the biggest change in health care in the next 10 years? There are some significant changes that I have observed recently that will be a dramatic change in healthcare in the next ten years. Some of those significant changes are; the rising costs of healthcare, lack of procedures covered under certain insurances, lack of access to care, and uninsured individuals. The most significant change is that now all individuals have access to care and are covered with insurance u nder the Affordable Care Act. By allowing all individuals to receive healthcare insurance and be given access to care this should more than likely reduce illnesses and motivate individuals to take advantage of the resources that are available under the insurance to better take care of themselves. Another big change that will be very significant in healthcare delivery will be through telemedicine. Telemedicine is where physicians and other healthcare providers can actually see and evaluate patients over the Internet. Many smaller communities in the United States are already utilizing telemedicine to great advantage (Burchill, 2010).Although telemedicine is a great way to deliver quality healthcare in a timely fashion, there is also a downside to the procedure as well. Telemedicine will in some way hinder the face to face communication between the doctor and patient that is vital in reducing errors. Most patients have a better understanding of what is expected of them when it is communicated clearly and effectively by their physician. Communication is the process of understanding and having meaning (Du Pre, 2005.) and it is  also the process of relaying information between people by the use of words, letters, symbols, or body language (Sallee & Forrest, 2005,). In my opinion I feel that telemedicine will decrease the moral as far as the Dr. and Patients are concerned. Although telemedicine may decrease a portion of the healthcare cost by less visits to the doctor, it will lose the value and importance of actually sitting down and talking with your doctor and receiving that one on one face to face time. Most patients are not even in tuned with technology and this can result in many errors and communication issues. What role do you plan to have in the industry? I think once I have entered the healthcare industry I will play a vital role in implementing fair but tough decision making when it comes to delivering efficient, friendly, quality healthcare. I feel that I will make reasonable decisions based on the enhancement of the facility while considering the needs of my patients and stakeholders as. I will be a leader that encourages a comfortable work environment where individuals are relaxed when reporting to work that will ultimately result in a productive staff that provides quality healthcare to our patients. How will you adapt your skills to evolve along with the industry’s needs? The skills that I have adapted here at University of Phoenix has changed my way of thinking. It has also assisted me with analyzing specific situations thinking outside of my way of thinking. So once I start working in the health care field, I will first observe my strengths and weaknesses within the organization, I would attempt to ask for advice on my weak areas, I will shadow other health care administrators, and I would also be willing to further my education to evolve with the industry’s needs if necessary. Has your perception of health care changed over the course of your program? What has had the most significant impact? Since I have been a student here at University of Phoenix my perception of healthcare has changed dramatically. I now have a better understanding of the different legal and state regulations that are involved, the stakeholders, and also how physicians and patients are billed for services received. This program has opened my eyes to a variety of situations that I did not know about in regards to healthcare. The most significant impact to me is the amount of individuals that were not covered under any type of insurance. I did not know that there were so many  uninsured individuals in the world. Now that I am aware of the problem of the uninsured, I am very satisfied with knowing that the Affordable Care Act will be something in motion to guarantee that all citizens will be covered under some type of insurance. What role will technology play in health care organizations in the coming decade? Technology will play a very important role in healthcare in the coming decade because technology in my opinion will become more advanced. I really do believe that most services such as x-rays, cat scans, etc. will be conducted without the patients leaving the comfort of their own home. What financial and economic issues will affect the health care industry in the next 10 years? I believe that with all the new technology out there, there will be more ‘baby boomers† and individuals living and this will have a significant impact on the health care industry in the next 10 years. The healthcare cost will rise significantly because with these individuals living longer there has to be individuals there to care for them and health services must be provided. Conclusion In Conclusion, The author explained how the healthcare industry has changed over the last 10 years, the biggest change in healthcare in the next 10 years, and the role the author plan to have in the health care industry in the near future along with how she would adapt her skills along with the industry’s needs, and how her perception has changed over the course of the program here at University of Phoenix. Finally the author explained the most significant impact of the program, the role technology has played in healthcare organizations in the upcoming decade, and the financial and economic issues that will affect the healthcare industry in the next 10 years. Hopefully after the reader has carefully observed the content in this paper, he/she will have a better understanding of the delivery of healthcare and the changes that are made to ensure a better future for our health. References Burchill, K. R. (2010, July/August). ARRA and meaningful use: Is your organization ready. Journal of Healthcare Management, 55(4), 232-235. Du Pre, A. (2005). Communicating about health: Current issues and perspectives (2nd ed.). Boston: McGraw Hill. Sallee, A. & Forrest, S. (2005). Effective communication and conflict resolution. In Contemporary nursing issues and trends (3rd ed.). St. Louis: Mosby

Battle of Montgisard during the Crusades

Battle of Montgisard during the Crusades The Battle of Montgisard took place November 25, 1177, and was part of the Ayyubid-Crusader War (1177-1187) which was fought between the Second and Third Crusades. Background In 1177, the Kingdom of Jerusalem faced two major crises, one from within and one from without. Internally, the issue involved who would succeed sixteen year-old King Baldwin IV, who, as a leper, would not produce any heirs. The most likely candidate was the child of his pregnant, widowed sister Sibylla. While the nobles of the kingdom sought a new husband for Sibylla, the situation was complicated by the arrival of Philip of Alsace who demanded that she be married to one of his vassals. Evading Philips request, Baldwin sought to form an alliance with the Byzantine Empire with the goal of striking at Egypt. While Baldwin and Philip schemed over Egypt, the leader of the Ayyubids, Saladin, began preparing to attack Jerusalem from his base in Egypt. Moving with 27,000 men, Saladin marched into Palestine. Though he lacked Saladins numbers, Baldwin mobilized his forces with the goal of mounting a defense at Ascalon. As he was young and weakened by his disease, Baldwin gave effective command of his forces to Raynald of Chatillon. Marching with 375 knights, 80 Templars under Odo de St Amand, and several thousand infantry, Baldwin arrived at the town and was quickly blockaded by a detachment of Saladins army. Baldwin Triumphant Confident that Baldwin, with his smaller force, would not attempt to interfere, Saladin moved slowly and looted the villages of Ramla, Lydda and Arsuf. In doing so, he allowed his army to become dispersed over a large area. At Ascalon, Baldwin and Raynald managed to escape by moving along the coast and marched on Saladin with the goal of intercepting him before he reached Jerusalem. On November 25, they encountered Saladin at Montgisard, near Ramla. Caught by total surprise, Saladin raced to reconcentrate his army for battle. Anchoring his line on a nearby hill, Saladins options were limited as his cavalry was spent by the march from Egypt and subsequent looting. As his army looked upon Saladins, Baldwin summoned the Bishop of Bethlehem to ride forward and raise aloft a piece of the True Cross. Prostrating himself before the sacred relic, Baldwin asked God for success. Forming for battle, Baldwin and Raynalds men charged the center of the Saladins line. Breaking through, they put the Ayyubids to rout, driving them from the field. The victory was so complete that the Crusaders succeeded in capturing Saladins entire baggage train. Aftermath While exact casualties for the Battle of Montgisard are not known, reports indicate that only ten percent of Saladins army returned safely to Egypt. Among the dead was the son of Saladins nephew, Taqi ad-Din. Saladin only escaped the slaughter by riding a racing camel to safety. For the Crusaders, approximately 1,100 were killed and 750 wounded. While Montgisard proved a dramatic victory for the Crusaders, it was the last of their successes. Over the next ten years, Saladin would renew his efforts to take Jerusalem, finally succeeding in 1187. Selected Sources William of Tyre: History of Deeds Done Beyond the SeaMedieval SourcebookBaldwin IV

5 Simple Marketing Strategies for First-Time Authors

5 Simple Marketing Strategies for First-Time Authors 5 Simple Marketing Strategies for First-Time Authors Brent Jones recently  gave up his freelance career as a social media manager to pursue creative writing full-time. At the end of this past February, he published his debut novel,  The Fifteenth of June, and in  the following month, Brent has been focused on what he knows to be an equally important part of an author's job: marketing.  In this article, he  shares 5 simple marketing strategies that all first-time authors can (and should!) try, and how his efforts have already started to pay off. I had the good  fortune of hiring  Laura Mae Isaacman  to edit my book through Reedsy - she worked tirelessly to make my debut release,  The Fifteenth of June, as powerful as it could be. But no matter how great a book is, publishing it is only  half the battle. For new authors such as myself, it takes a lot of work to  market a novel and find our first readers. To quote Amy Collins, author of  The Write Way:â€Å"Writing a great book is a basic requirement for simply being allowed a chance to succeed in the marketplace.†I will be outlining in this post some of the launch strategies I used  to market my debut novel.This list is not intended to be exhaustive, and I am not an expert marketer of literary fiction. But there's a lot we can learn from  one another, and I hope to start a productive discussion in the comments below.Ready? "Publishing a book is only half the battle. The other half is marketing it." @AuthorBrentJ 1. Run a free Kindle promotion 685 people entered my giveaway, but more importantly,  300+ users added my book  to their  to-read  shelf. And when a user adds a book to one of his or her shelves, it appears as an update in their feed, meaning their friends on Goodreads  can see that they have added my book!Most of those 10 print copies have been delivered, so it will be interesting to see in the coming weeks how many of those winners read the book, write a review, or recommend it to a friend. One recipient, Denise Levendoski, has already written a glowing review of The Fifteenth of June on Goodreads.The bottom line?It's been about a month since I published my book, and  I've sold close to 100 copies of my book at regular price, not including revenue generated through the Kindle Unlimited Lending Library.As far as I'm concerned, I’m off to a great start, considering  some of my marketing initiatives, such as reaching out to book bloggers, haven't even begun to pay off. Not to mention that many who  downloaded  The Fifteenth of June  haven't read it yet.In the meantime, I'm focused on my next novel, which I intend to publish by  August. I've heard from other  self-published authors that it generally takes four titles to gain  some traction. Not true in every case, I suppose, but  a fair guideline nonetheless. "Writing and marketing is a tough balancing act, but must be maneuvered to succeed." @AuthorBrentJ It's a tough balancing act - writing and marketing - but both aspects of the job have to be maneuvered in equal measure if we, as writers, hope to be successful author-entrepreneurs.The Fifteenth of June is available in paperback from Amazon and on Amazon Kindle!Head to Brent's website  to subscribe to his newsletter, or follow him on Twitter for more!Have you tried any of Brent's marketing tips? How did they work for you? Or do you have marketing ideas for first-time authors that weren't included in the list?  Leave any thoughts, experiences, or questions for Brent  in the comments below.

News Literacy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

News Literacy - Research Paper Example Obviously, these distinct categories all set out with a different purpose, and if one is not careful, he or she will be caught in the Net of deception and fall prey to manipulative tactics that vie to gain one’s allegiance or financial support. In order to demonstrate this modern-day dilemma, three apparent news articles will be examined to see if they pass the test as being news ? or drift into another neighborhood. The three stories ? one about an up-and-coming hypnotist weight-loss doctor, another about a new canned chicken product fighting food poisoning, and the last about a dog strangely contracting a horse disease – all have the initial presentations of legitimate news stories, but once one digs deeper and measures them with the tools of a savvy journalist, only one comes out passing for authentic news. Because news today covers such a wide range of topics, it is often easy for some articles to blur the lines as to what information neighborhood one is actually in , but fortunately, the discerning reader can always fall back on a GPS system, if you will, to find out where one really is. Let us begin with an article titled â€Å"You’re getting sleepy†¦ and thinner†¦Ã¢â‚¬  out of Toowoomba’s Style Magazine. ... After diligently trying to disarm readers from believing that she is trying to promote the hypnotist, Tony Kyprios, she spends the entire article lauding the advancement and success of the lap-band surgery procedure, while commending the innovator’s heart to help others. This presentation immediately shoots up red flags for the cautious reader, and the story content, which only divulges the positive side of the procedure, makes one even more wary of the author’s intent. The slant, or story angle, definitely pushes the reader into embracing the hypnotist as an ambitious and benevolent out-of-the-box thinker whose medical practice is worthy of the readers’ support. After all is said and done, one remains skeptical as to whether this piece was set out to merely inform the audience, as a genuine news story should. One reason is that it lacks verification, as there are no reported studies proving the procedure’s success ? only unverified percentages of supposed success rates from abroad. With regards to independence, one cannot draw any apparent ties between the magazine and the practitioner, but a skeptic may argue that Kyprios either had a friendly contact at the magazine, or gave it some incentive to publicize his efforts. In lieu of accountability, the journalist has the credentials of a credible member of the media, but because of the one-sided reporting on the hypnotist and procedure – not mentioning any drawbacks, apprehensions, or failures – the reporting has all the signs of being biased. When walking past the six different information neighborhoods, one would clearly bypass putting this story in the â€Å"news† locale, but rather the â€Å"publicity† zone, as its intent is to enhance an image, rather than to inform; its client is a personality