Friday, November 29, 2019

Dominos Pizza Essay Example

Dominos Pizza Essay This price is only high because there are many things that make this price up. The things that Id get, is the right to use the Pizza Hut trademarks, its system for preparing, marketing and selling food products, its information and specifications. Those were only some of them. There is also some allowance, which is included in the total investment cost but isnt part of the initial fee, for management and staff training. The equipment cost is also included in the total price although; it will vary depending on the site. The franchise agreement is a 10-year term with a 5-year break. Pizza Hut gives the most comprehensive training that there is around. They say that they wont just hand over the keys and let me get on with it; they will train me until I feel comfortable and confident. They will give me about 13 weeks of training. This training is before I open up. Within these weeks, Id get experience in existing stores and we also get tuition in the classrooms. As this goes on, I get on going support from a dedicated Franchise Business Manager and their Restaurant Support Centre. Once Id have started up, I wouldnt have to worry about creativity, production or media costs. We will write a custom essay sample on Dominos Pizza specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Dominos Pizza specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Dominos Pizza specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer This means that Id benefit from their national advertising and PR. On top of all of this, Pizza Hut are always developing new products and bringing them to the market. This is a process that involves a huge amount of research; therefore this is another worry that I would have to bother with. So, all Id have to do is take their ideas, put them into practise and then sit back and watch the money roll in. If you think about it, this training course is pretty impressive. Once Id have chosen the site that I decided to build on. Pizza Hut says that they will give me a list of approved designers, contractors and proprietary equipment suppliers. This is so that I can choose from them to construct the unit. Even though Id get to choose whom I want to build the site, the specifications would have already been agreed. As Id go along, Pizza Hut would approve all the drawings and would be attending all the site meetings, just to ensure that the store is completed to their specifications. This would then minimise the risk of any costly mistakes. If I wanted a third party contractor, to provide a complete project management service, Id have to pay extra. Pizza Hut says that they cant tell me what the pay back time is. Conclusion From all the research that I have done, I have decided that I am going to open up a Dominos Pizza franchise. There are many reasons for why I have chosen this franchise. The investment costs are one of the main reasons. Dominos Pizza has an investment cost of 160,000. Pizza Hut has an investment cost between   150,000 and 185,000. Even though, Pizza Hut says that Id have to negotiate with them for the final amount, I still think that after the final amount is agreed, there will still be costs that I will have to pay for. Also the investment cost for Dominos Pizza is including every thing that Id have to pay for, Pizza Huts isnt. Another reason is that Dominos Pizza says that the pay back time is five years. Pizza Hut says that it all depends on the way the manager runs the restaurant, but I think that theyre just avoiding the question. One other main reason is because there are fewer hours with Dominos Pizza. I dont want long hours everyday. Therefore, Dominos Pizza seems like the best option.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Hamlet Review Essays

Hamlet Review Essays Hamlet Review Paper Hamlet Review Paper Review of Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Performed at The Theatre Royal Plymouth.September 2004 Hamlet is one of Shakespeares most popular and widely produced plays. The story of The Prince of Denmark, whose father, The King, is killed by his own brother.Hamlet receives a visit from the spirit of his dead father who explains the circumstances behind his death.Hamlet seeks revenge and further discovers that His Mother (The Queen) is romantically attached to his fathers murderer.The plot to revenge the murder ensues; Hamlet enlists the help of a group of actors to produce a play which satirises the incident before his uncle.The reaction is enough to convince Hamlet of the truth behind his fathers murder.Hamlets madness progresses, resulting in him accidentally killing a member of the royal council.Ophelias father.In a final and bloody showdown, the Queen drinks from a poisoned chalice meant for Hamlet.Hamlet kills Ophelias and is himself stabbed with a poisoned sword.Before his death, he kills the king. The performance, directed by Legendary Japanese director Yukio Ninagawa, created a truly visual spectacle with undeniably oriental influences.From start to finish, this production of Hamlet was a veritable banquet for the eyes.At the opening of the performance the audience was greeted with a vast black stage, high walls dominate the space numerous light bulbs of varying sizes hang down to pierce the blackness with shards of light.They swung, as if rocked by the wind, together with simple sound effects, we are outside on a cold winters evening.This use of sound effects is a simple conventionwhich is revisited throughout the performance to good effect. The stage space was pierced from floor to ceiling strands of dangerous looking barbed wires.They served as the boundaries between characters; they are the marks of invisible walls, like prison bars, adding an element of Hamlet Review Essays Hamlet Review Paper Hamlet Review Paper Hamlet is a classical adaptation of William Shakespeares original version. We went to see this version on the 1st November 2004 at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle. William Shakespeare is famously known for his writing of well-credited and popular plays. Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-Upon-Avon, but his exact date of birth is not known, therefore is assumed to be the 23rd April. He married Anne Hathaway in 1582 and they had three children. In 158 Shakespeare was recognised as an actor, poet and playwright, when he was referred to as an upstage crow in A Groatsworth of Wit. Shakespeare continued to write many famous plays such as A Midsummer Nights Dream, Macbeth and The Tempest before dying on his 52nd birthday in 1616. Hamlet is a play of lies and deceit between friends and family, which sets out to show the audience the friction of royalty, over power and leadership. When Hamlets father died and the crown was handed over to his brother Claudius, Hamlet is visited by his fathers ghost to tell Hamlet that Claudius murdered him. Hamlet is then forced to gain revenge on Claudius and anyone else that gets in his way. A story of love and hate, truth and lies, in a capsule, put on stage. Hamlet has been very highly reviewed by national papers such as the Guardian saying it was riveting and the Daily Express saying it was a Chilling Hamlet performance. Hamlet is set in Denmark and has been kept Shakespearean through its costumes and language used. Hamlet used music that reflected the situations happening e. g. the hall scene used classical music that was sung and played live, this could represent the power of the royals. : The whole of the production was set on the stage, with entrances and exits, mainly, through the wooden panelled background set. The set of a wooden surrounding encased the audience and actors to provoke a feeling of being trapped and cannot escape. The genre of the play was tragedy, so the general expectations that the audience wanted to see were death, betrayal and shocking revelations. Hamlet was performed in a proscenium arch at the Theatre Royal, with the audience surrounding every side, from the stalls to the gallery. I have also seen The Play What I Wrote at the Theatre Royal. The advertising for this play was quite minimal. Posters were placed outside of the theatre and information was placed on their website, but because the play was originally wrote by an immensely famous playwright it was also publicised by word of mouth. The set was very simple and had very few props, which were brought onto the bare stage. E. g. the goblet of poison and the sword rack. I think the stage was minimalist so as not to overpower the actors and distract the audience from the text of the play towards the set design, although cleverly created to be a blank canvas. The effect of placing the play into the same set throughout, using the same bare stage for each different scene, was highly effective as the audience could take in the set when they first enter, although not much to take in, before the play starts, and concentrate on the storyline from then on. More imagination is used if they have to make the scenery for themselves; this helps to draw the audience in. Also using a minimalist set saves the stage from becoming chaotic with props and clouding the performance. There were certain props that were used that were essential, like chairs, as it would have been hard to mime sitting down for a long length of time. The lighting used was extremely successful as it captured the moments. Dark light was used as Hamlet followed his fathers ghost and when the ghost re-entered to his grave a strip of light was used as if pointing to his grave. A strip light was used around the outskirts of the stage, at the back, often lit in neon blue, but did change to red and purple. The characterisation of each actor was well balanced with each other, from the comic Polonius to the serious Horatio. The language used was very difficult ot follow at times as Hamlet was spoke in old English, using old terminology and phrases, that arent used in this day and age. The stage was quite spacious and was obviously a huge part in the play, therefore the characters had to use the space ton their advantage, constantly moving around and delivering lines from various places. The effectiveness of this technique was to ensure that the audience were captivated as to where they were going to move to next, or what was going to happen next, if they hadnt already seen the play before hand. Each actor and their characters that they played used all parts of the stage. Facial expressions were a major factor for Hamlet to be a success and to gain high popularity, if not higher popularity. Each expression had to be delivered correctly and with correct timing so to have best co-ordination with the script and with the audience. The actors characters were very complex but the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) seemed to manage all right to create an astounding performance with the final result being highly creditable. Facial expressions were what made the comical moments comical, the silent moments tense and the sad moments emotional, and each of them was revealed to the best possibilities of the actors abilities with great effect. The actors were never distinguishable as actors rather than their characters as they played the parts extremely well and never came out of character or fluffed any lines that were noticed. The costumes worn were very symbolic of the time period and the type of people that were being represented. Gertrude wore the most spectacular dresses, always high necklines and lots of frills in a multitude of colours. I think this was to cover the fact that she had just lost her husband, the late Hamlet, and didnt want to show that wanted and needed to mourn him. Hamlet wore very dull and dowdy clothing, as he was a social outcast from the rest of the people, except his sister and mother. His shirt and pants were torn, revealing dirty legs and arms. This kind of portrayal to the audience showed that Hamlet wasnt suited to the royalty that everyone else led. Polonius wore very loud clothing to accentuate the fact that his character was highly comic and his persona was light. He wore colours of gold and black and often purple. I think the gold showed that he was connected to the royal line in some form, as it was only a hint of gold on the hems or cuffs of the gowns that he wore. The ghost of late Hamlet was the most fascinating character for me as he hardly had any lines on stage, and off stage was the riveting line: swear by the sword The way in which Greg Hicks played the character had an eerie quality, the way in which he moved added to the effect of being ghostly.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Marketing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Marketing - Research Paper Example conducting an advertising campaign, and how can companies employ marketing tools to best realise their mission?, will be the primary concern in the paper. Through an analysis of the marketing presentations made by three guest speakers as well as my own secondary research and personal insights, it will be possible to arrive at answers to these questions. Before I came up with this research question, I thought about certain brands that stand out in my mind every time I think about a product. Wrigley’s is the brand king for chewing gum while Coca Cola rules the soft drinks industry; Colgate is quite strong in the toothpaste sector while Proctor and Alan dominate the breakfast cereal market (Boone & Kurtz, 2013). As these names floated through my mind, I began to wonder about the things that make them tick; some of them have been in business for over a century and still maintain dominance. Most of the answers could be found in the presentations while others were hidden in marketing articles, books and journals. The first speaker hit the nail on the head concerning this topic because he summarised it in three words: relevance, credibility and distinctiveness. He did a case analysis on Tourneau Inc., which is a luxury watchmaker headquartered in the US with approximately 37 stores countrywide. The organisation is not an easily recognisable and strong brand because it does not deliver these three qualities every time and in a consistent manner. Selecting Tourneau Watch seemed like an effective idea owing to certain characters possessed; first, it has been in business for over 100 years. It mimics the longevity that other well-known brands like Coke have in the marketplace; however, it did not possess the same market dominance that these other brands have. The presenter compared Tourneau’s performance with another leading brand in Switzerland called Butcherer; he found that there were certain discrepancies between them. If the case study organisation could borrow a

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Decision-Making Models Math Problem Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Decision-Making Models - Math Problem Example The researcher states that the amount of inventory that Company A needs to order can be determined with the use of economic order quantity (EOQ) model. According to Williamson  EOQ models are used for identifying the optimal order quantity. In order to do this the model minimizes the sum of certain costs that vary with order size and the frequency of orders. Williamson (2012) describes three order size models – the basic economic order quantity (EOQ) model; the economic production quantity (EPQ) model; and the quantity discount model. The basic EOQ model is used to find the order size that would minimize company A’s total annual cost. The formula and the calculations follow. Q0 = √(2DS/H) Where, Q0 is the order quantity in units D is the annual demand in units S is the order cost for each order made H is the holding or carrying the cost for each unit of inventory per year Company A’s information is as follows: - Annual demand (D) is 18,000 units per annum - Ordering cost (S) is $38 per order - Holding cost (H) is 26% of the cost of the inventory which is $12 per unit Q0 =   Ã¢Ë†Å¡[(2 x 18,000 x $38)/(0.26 x $12)]   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   = √(1,368,000/3.12)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   = √438461.54 = 662 units   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   = 662 units The results indicate that the economic order quantity that will minimize total annual cost is 662 units per order. Company A produces the goods that it sells and so the economic production lot size model is the most appropriate model for use in this scenario (Williamson 2012). The formula for performing the calculations that provide the results is as follows: Qp = √(2DS/H) √[p/(p-u)] Where, Qp is the economic run quantity p is the production or delivery rate u is the usage rate    Qp = √[(2 x 15,000 x $84)/(0.28 x $19)] √[60,000/(60,000-15,000)]   Qp = √(2,520,000/5.32) √1.33 Qp = 699.25 x 1.15 Qp = 791 The results indicate that the economic production lot size that will minimize total annual cost id 791 units per production run.

Monday, November 18, 2019

Literature review on patient discharge instructions Research Paper

Literature review on patient discharge instructions - Research Paper Example A convenience sample was used of 287 patients. In this particular ER, full understanding was found in 72% of the parents that had children discharge from the ER. The results showed that overall, there was a fair understanding in this case while 20% still showed very little understanding post discharge. Supporting the results of that study but getting poorer results, Gilroy noted in a study done in 2009 that patients who are discharged from the emergency room have a difficult time remembering the instructions, especially those that are given about such things as wound care and medications. In a study performed in an emergency room, doing call back 1 week after discharge, 68% could not tell the call back nurse what the instructions that were given were. In a study performed by the University of Michigan Health System (2008), it is noted that around the nation there are 115 million patients that visit the emergency room. Of those patients, 3/4 leave with an impression of what happened or what should happen next. Most ER care teams including University of Michigan would like to see much better than 75% remember what to do next. What they found to be even more upsetting was that 80% of those that understood what to do next were "pretty sure what to do". Northwestern Hospital of Chicago (2008), performed a similar study, reviewing making post ER calls over a 6 month period and collecting data from those calls. Researchers at Northwestern, led by Engel, reported more than 75% of ED patients interviewed after discharge had deficient comprehension or less than complete memory. Further 20% of the patients who had difficulty with comprehension felt they were having problems understanding what the doctor was telling them in the first place. Isaacman, Pur4vis, and Gyuro (2001), performed a study in an attempt to determine whether standardized instructions enhance communication of discharge information. They had 197 parents of children with otitis media. They studied three different groups. The first group got verbal instructions, the second got standardized instructions, and the third group received verbal instructions plus a typed copy of what was said. Parents were questioned about prescribed medications prior to leaving ER and again 2 days later on the phone. When data was calculated the parents who received standard instructions, in all cases, showed much better understanding and retention of information given them in the ER. Understanding of the importance of implementing discharge planning, Barnard & Chapman (2009), completed and reported on a study which was conducted to describe emergency department nurses understanding and experience of implementing strong discharge planning and discharge instructions from the ER. For purposes of data collection, nurses were interviewed in a semi-structured process. The study was a phenomenological qualitative approach. ER nurses showed a great deal of interest in updating this process in the ER. However, there are many barriers here. The ER must provide sufficient time per nurse, clear policies and standards of discharge and professional enhancement and commitment. In Ireland Dunnion & Kelly (2005) looked at the discharge of older adults from the emergency room and the effects of discharge planning and instructions on discharge. They found that approximately 65% of patients above the age of 65 went home without a complete picture of what was to happen next and because of this made medication errors and often did not see follow up when necessary. They had two groups in which patients were assigned randomly. Patients in group one were discharged using the nurses usual method and the other had a discharge management team. This tam

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Stress: Causes, Effects and Reflection Paper

Stress: Causes, Effects and Reflection Paper LAI Mincong Stress is a common problem that affects us in our daily lives. When we encounter a number of changes, difficulties or challenges in life, for example, change jobs, exams, marital problems, and we will feel pressure. What is Stress? Stress is a state of tension of both physical and psychological phenomenon when we feel there is not enough capacity to meet the requirements of life or facing challenges and threats. According to Taylor (2012), Stress is a negative emotional experience characterized by predictable biochemical, cognitive, physiological and behavioural changes aimed at either changing the stressor or adapting to its effects. Stress is also combined by two components: Stressor and Stress reactivity. (Greenberg, 1999) Conceptualizing Stress Chronic stress refers to experiencing a long-term stressor, while acute stress experiences a short-term one (Pearson, 2014). Personality Factors Stress Type A personality pattern reacts to stress in emotional ways, while Type B personality pattern reacts it in rational ways (Pearson, 2014). Major Sources of Stress The infinity hope and requirements of human in the limited real life cause both conflict and frustration, for example, when we face some daily hassles and major life events such as death, we may feel stressful. Those are the stressor. Greenberg (1999) said, a stressor is a stimulus with the potential of triggering the fight-or-flight response. The stressor will produce feeling of pressure, it depends on the degree of personal attention to the stressor, the capacity of relevant things and situation management, and expectations of their own. Physiological Stress Reaction Most of the stressors arouse anxiety, which means the disagreeable feeling of nervousness or worry, We usually cope with the stress by using defence mechanisms, which can protect us from the awareness of anxiety, and help us to maintain a sense of self-worth in those situations. (Pearson, 2014) For example, we will justify our unacceptable behaviour with reasons, which is called Rationalization. Selye (1991) found there is a characteristic pattern of nonspecific physiological mechanisms that are activated in response to almost any stressor, he called this pattern the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS). It is made up by three progressive stages (Pearson, 2014): Alarm reaction: When we first time exposed to the stressor, it will produce the biochemical changes and defence mechanisms to maintain our body normal functioning and trigger the fight-or-flight response. Resistance stage: The reactions of the alarm stage disappeared; our body resistance to the stressor will increase to cope with the continued stress. The cost of this resistance is our body’s defence system would be weakened. If the stressor hasn’t been successfully dealt, then we will enter the third phase reaction. Exhaustion stage: When the body is constantly exposed to the same long-term stressor and still unable to adapt it after adjustment, the body can no longer to adapt to chronic stress, and the physical symptoms of the alarm reaction reappear. Managing Stress There are two methods of managing stress, they are modify our environment and alter our lifestyle (Pearson, 2014). Application Two years ago, when I was going to take my first Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE), I have to finish studying my form.6 lessons, the Independent Enquiry Study project (IES), and lots of tests finish many past papers from different subjects after school. But I also need to review the lessons that I have learnt before. I was very stressful and that time. Not just because of the heavy workload, but also the Importance of the HKDSE, it would affect the result that I can enter the university or not. Another reason is the high personal and family expectation to my HKDSE result. When I realised that I have lots of assignments and important exams were coming, I was facing a chronic stress, which means the coming assignments and exams are long-term and on-going stressor. It triggered my fight-or-flight response, on the very beginning, I was choose to flee from those heavy workload, I was keep telling myself that I still have plenty of time to finish my assignments and do the revision, try to rationalize my unacceptable behaviour. Afterward, I realised that the time is running short and I have to confront with these stressor, I felt very stressful and I started to sweat, my heart beat and my breath have been faster than before. Those are the biochemical changes results in my body when I was in the alarm stage, it helps my body to ready for dealing with heavy workload and keep its normal functioning at the same time. Moreover, when I start working on my assignments, my sweat, rapid heartbeat and breath disappeared, The physical reactions of the alarm stage disappear. I felt that I have enough energy to focus and finish my IES. Those are the signs of my body defence rise to cope with the continued stress which means the IES project during the resistance stage, also to return my body normal functioning. However, it takes a few days for me to finish it, and I barely worked overnight in those days. My body resistance to infections decreased, so I felt stomach pain and headache afterward. Finally, my body defence has broken down, I was suffering from insomnia, and I got sick and fever afterward. Though I have finished my IES, but there are still lots of assignment, test and revision coming. Facing this extremely tight schedule, I was getting more stress. I was worrying whether I can finish them all or not, and my HKDSE result everyday. And it just makes me felt frustrated and stressful. So the physical reactions of the alarm stage reappeared. The stress makes me feel anxious and decrease my working performance on my school and the exam. So my HKDSE result is very poor, and I have decided to repeat the form.6. After the above experience, I usually react to the stress in worry, anxious and time-urgent ways, so I have found that I have the characteristics of Type A personality pattern. Improvement There are two categories of methods of managing stress (Pearson, 2014): Frist, It is modify the environment. We can use different ways to modify what happens around us, such as assertiveness, withdrawal and compromise. Second, we can alter our lifestyle. We can modify something about ourselves and our behaviours. In fact, we may have more control over ourselves than over the environment. Action Plan After the above experience, I decided to improve myself by altering my lifestyle (Pearson, 2014). First, I have to set a timetable for my daily life, try to rearrange my working time and rest time, so I can allocate my time appropriately and prevent the stress when the workload is high. Second, I have to do more exercise, such as swimming and running. Our body will release endorphins during exercise, which can help me feel good and burns away the stress. Also I can reduce my stress by doing relaxation, such as listen some soothing music or engage in deep breathing. Finally, I can seek out for social support by sharing my painful feelings to my friends and support group, they can provide emotional support through their expressions of concern and affection, and also the information and advice that can help me to get more effective solution. Those actions can help me to manage stress. Conclusion To conclude, Stress is everywhere. It may cause positive or negative impact to our mental and physical health. It can sometimes help to motivate us or make us feel anxious and decrease our working performance. But there are also different ways to manage can cope with stress. References Clarke, Deborah. (1994). Stress management : trainers notes. Cambridge: National Extension College. Division of Social Sciences. (2013). DSS10103: Practical psychology for   everyday life course materials. Kowloon Tong, HK: CCCU. Pearson. (2014). Practical psychology for everyday life. Quarry Bay, HK:  Pearson Education Asia Limited. Greenberg, Jerrold S. (1999). Comprehensive stress management (6th ed.). Boston: WCB/McGraw-Hill. Taylor, S. E. (2012). Health psychology (8th ed.). Singapore: McGraw-Hill International Edition.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Sharks Essay examples -- essays research papers fc

SHARKS There are more that 250 species of sharks, ranging from the harmless whale shark to the ferocious great white. I will describe the feeding habits and localities of the three greatly known to mankind: the great white shark (Carcharodon Carcharias), the tiger shark (Galeocerdo Cuvieri), and the bull shark (Carcharhinus Leucas). The great white shark, known as Carchardon Carcharias, feeds regularly on marine mammals, such as seals, sea lions, otters, dolphins, and whales. Samuel Gruber in Discovering Sharks writes that the great white consumes marine mammals when they come across a deceased one. Even though the great white has the reputation of a man-eater; they attack thinking that the diver or surfers on a short board are part of its natural prey. The San Francisco area is known as the great white capital, because of the â€Å"Red Triangle.† The red triangle is the breeding ground for its natural prey, seals and sea lions. The triangle’s boundaries are north of Tamales Point, south of Monterey Bay, and west of the Farallon Islands, states Rodney Steel in the book Sharks of the World. The sharks also are found in quiet, shallow waters, along with in Australia. The tiger shark, known as Galeocerdo Cuivieri, feeds regularly on marine mammals also. Tiger sharks do end up with curious articles in their stomach like license plates, lamps, and sheep. The tiger shark is a cannibalistic shark, which means it will attack its own kind when needed. Tiger sharks will feed on anything th...

Monday, November 11, 2019

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is a story that explores the experiences of Chinese and Japanese Americans during World War II with both insight and compassion. The story begins in 1986 with Henry, an elderly Chinese-American man walking past the Panama hotel in Seattle, which has been boarded up since the war. Memorabilia within the basement of the hotel take Henry back to 1942 and his fifth grade true love, a beautiful Japanese girl named Keiko. Henry and Keiko are the only Asians in their all white elementary school, to which they are â€Å"scholarshipping† and do not feel a sense of belonging or acceptance within the dominant culture. Because Henry’s nationalistic father has a hatred for Japan, Henry keeps their friendship and his love a secret until all contact is lost when Keiko’s family is sent to an internment camp. Tension between Henrys father’s traditional Chinese values and Henry’s American perspective is a key theme when forty years after meeting Keiko, Henry, now a widow sits in the basement of the condemned hotel, holding long lost items which take him back to his childhood memories, thoughts and feelings. Henry recalls his early days of being tormented by his peers, while wearing an â€Å"I am Chinese† button daily, as his father did not want anyone mistaken about Henry’s nationality. He also recalls risks taken to befriend Keiko, and their combined love for Jazz music, as well as times spent before the inevitable evacuation of her family and of a love lost. While reading Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, we learn that Henry shares his life story with his own son, in hopes of preventing the dysfunctional relationship that he had experienced many years ago with his own father. This story teaches us to examine the present and think twice, so that we do not repeat injustices within our own families. Feelings Experienced from the Reading There were multiple emotions that were provoked in reading Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. Disheartenment and anger were feelings provoked when Henry’s father enrolled his son into an all-white school. Henry was called derogatory names, pushed around and forced to do â€Å"chores† at school. Henry’s father gave him a pin that said, â€Å"I am Chinese† and told Henry he needed to wear it constantly. Not only were kids at Henry’s school making fun of him for wearing the pin but other Chinese kids would tease him on his way to school. Henry’s father wanted Henry to be â€Å"Americanized† however, the pin labeling him Chinese and living in a household where he was the only one who spoke English triggered a combination of anger and Disheartenmen. There was realization of what Henry’s father was attempting to do but the anger was triggered from putting his son in a situation that he was bullied on a daily bases instead of sending him to a different school. When Keiko enrolled in the school Henry attended the readers felt relief since Henry was able to relate with Keiko and develop a friendship with her. Henry was no longer the only non-Caucasian student at the school. This allowed Henry to bond with another student his age and relate to someone else that was dealing with similar situations. However, Henry and Keiko were assigned to serve in the cafeteria where it appeared that only kids who were in trouble were sent. The readers were upset that even the teachers and school staff were singling Henry and Keiko out. One of the most heart wrenching scenarios was when the Japanese American families were forced to relocate to internment camps. Feelings of empathy and sadness for their displacement were expressed by these readers for the families. The families had less than two days to gather only things they could carry and leave their homes. Henry promised Keiko he would keep her family’s belongings they were not able to take with them that identified them as Japanese in a safe place in his house. Terror set into the readers when Henrys father found Keiko’s items and disowned Henry. As Henry struggled to find himself he connected more with Sheldon who played Jazz music in the streets. This gave the reader a sense of comfort that after losing Keiko and his father he was able to connect with someone who respected him and supported who Henry was. Mrs. Beatty who was the cafeteria cook asked Henry to help her in the internment camps to serve the people living there. This scenario brought hope to the reader that Mrs. Beatty understood and empathized with what Henry was feeling when Keiko was forced to leave. Each time Henry connected with Keiko at the internment camp it elicited happiness that Henry did not allow the difference in him and Keiko to impact his feelings. It was disappointing to read Keiko never returned from the internment camp. Henry’s decision to move on with Ethyl was shocking and somewhat disappointing. After being married and sharing a son, Ethyl passed away which was another gloomy experience in the book. It was a surprise when Henry chose to look for Keiko’s items that she left behind. Henry’s reflection on his relationship with his son, Marty and the desire to improve it was heartwarming as was the relationship Henry developed with Samantha, Marty’s fiance. As the story came to an end and Henry was face to face again with Keiko it brought delight to the reader that after all these years and all the heart wrenching experience they were able to reconnect like they had never been apart. Reactive Behaviors from the Cultural Proficiency Continuum There are three points on the Cultural Proficiency Continuum that describe cultural intolerance, which include cultural destructiveness, cultural incapacity, and cultural blindness (Corwin, 2010, p. 1). According to Cross, et. al. (1989), four barriers to cultural proficiency lead an organization or individual to intolerance, including unawareness of the need to adapt, resistance to change, presumption of entitlement, and systems of oppression (p. ). Ford (2009) provided many scenes that can illustrate both the three points on the continuum reflecting both the attitudes of cultural intolerance, as well as the four barriers to cultural proficiency in the novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. According to Cross, et. al. (1989), unawareness of the need to adapt is seen when people do not think an organization needs to accommodate diversity, but instead feel as though members of non-dominant groups need to adapt to the organization (p. 1). Some illustrations Ford provided of an unawareness of the need to adapt took place in Rainier Elementary School and the United States government (Ford, 2009). The elementary school forced Henry and Keiko, the only students of color, to spend their lunch time serving all of the white students and cleaning the kitchen, and allowed them to be bullied mercilessly by classmates (Ford, 2009). Public Proclamation One, written by the United States president and the secretary of war, was distributed and executed (p. 124). It demanded immediate evacuation of all persons of Japanese ancestry (p. 124). This proclamation illustrates that the United States government was apparently unaware that it is wrong to imprison people based on their status as members of a non-dominant group. According to Cross, et. al. (1989), resistance to change is seen when organization members stick to methods that do not work for people (p. 1). Ford (2009) provided illustrations of resistance to change within the following organizations: Rhodes Department Store (pp. 12-4), and Henry's family (pp. 125-9). Primarily, in Ford's novel, Keiko was overjoyed to buy a special record for Henry, but the Rhodes Department Store clerk did not want to sell it to her as she appeared to be of Japanese heritage (p. 113-4). The clerk eventually begrudgingly sold the record to Henry when he showed her his, ‘I am Chinese' button (p. 114). The clerk showed a resistance to change in that she did not want to do business with people who appeare d to be of Asian descent. Secondly, Ford (2009) described Henry's exchange with his family once Public Proclamation One was posted, in which his father stated, â€Å"better them than us† (p. 125). Henry's mother went on to explain the trouble the family could encounter if they attempted to help Japanese American families, and explained Henry's father's background of war between China and Japan (p. 126-7). Taken together, the comments of the parents do not deny that it is wrong to force members of the non-dominant group to evacuate their homes and be imprisoned, but rather resist the idea that anything should be done about it at the current time. Ford weaves illustrations of another barrier to cultural proficiency, systems of oppression and privilege, throughout the novel. Examples of this include the way that Keiko and Henry are singled out to serve in the cafeteria, the way that Henry is bullied by his classmates, and that those of Japanese ancestry are forced to go to concentration camps. A thematic element that ties many of these scenes together is that of the â€Å"I am Chinese† button. Henry’s disdain for the button because of it hurtful meaning with his father who sends him mixed messages that he must be both â€Å"Americanized†, yet declare his Chinese ancestry through the wearing of the button is contrasted by his use of the button at times to gain privilege, such as when he was allowed to purchase the album at the store, while Keiko was not. Despite this small gain in privilege from wearing the button, it also served to foster oppression by his classmate, Chaz, who bullied him for his non-membership in the dominant culture, even ripping the pin off Henry (location 339 of 4683). The button can further be used to illustrate a final barrier to cultural proficiency: entitlement. While Henry clearly hated the button, there were also times when he used it or attempted to use it to his advantage and to the advantage of Keiko and her family, whom he cared about. For example, when the police raided the jazz hall that he and Keiko were at and arrested several Japanese couples in attendance, he used it to protect him and Keiko because there was a level of entitlement to civil rights that was inherent to being Chinese rather than Japanese (location 896 of 4683). Another clear sense of entitlement at the government level was documented by the taking away and selling of property that was owned by Japanese people. (location 1372 of 4683). Proactive Behaviors from the Cultural Proficiency Continuum The following three points on the left side of the Cultural Proficiency Continuum are proactive behaviors, shaped by principals; culture is a predominant force, people are served in varying degrees by the dominant culture, and people have individual and group identities. According to Cross et al, (1989) culture is a predominant force. It is the essence of the societal existence and cannot be over looked. In the book, Hotel on The Corner of Bitter and Sweet (Ford, 2009) Henry relates to other Chinese notables like Bruce Lee and His own son Brandon because he is of Chinese decent. Incidentally, the place was lonely because people did not talk to their neighbors due to some cultural differences. The life of Henry was lonely like a grave; this displays a cultural aspect of burying the dead which is not common in the Chinese culture. According to Cross et al, (1989) people are served in varying degrees by the dominant culture. Ford (2009) described Henry's exchange with his family once Public Proclamation One was posted, in which his father stated, â€Å"better them than us† (p. 125). His father had participated in the war between the Chinese and the Japanese. The Americans helped the Japanese American families and this made Henry’s father feel inferior to others due to the treatment such families had. Even in schools, the treatment of people was predominantly dictated by the dominant culture and teachers turned a blind eye to mischief. In a society people have individual and group identities that define their ways and behavior (Cross et al, 1989). A good example from the book is described when Henry follows a news crew to the hotel that seems to stand between life-times just like him. The news crew members form group while the camera-shy onlookers walked away to form a clear path have individual identities (Ford, 2009). Henry himself forms his own individual identity as a man in a place full of strangers (Ford, 2009). Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford, evokes the feelings that are described in the title throughout the telling of the incredible story of one of the most conflicted and volatile times during American history (Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Reading Group Guides, 2013)The story is told from the point of view of a young Chinese boy and simultaneously from his observations and reflections years later of the time period in which Henry witnessed and experienced the internment of Japanese Americans in his neighborhood and prejudices toward himself from being of Chinese heritage. The story elicits feelings of bitterness and sweetness: Bitterness toward unfairness, injustice, discrimination and how the experience of fear can lead to irrational actions and the inhumane treatment of others, sweetness of innocence, understanding, kindness and sympathetic responses to those same conditions. The novel inherently addresses The Tools of Cultural Proficiency (Corwin, 2010) and demonstrates examples from the continuum of destruction, incapacity, blindness, precompetence, competence, and proficiency. The author covers these phases of cultural proficiency while the reader is at the same time experiencing the conflicting emotions of bitter and sweet, hope and disappointment, and witnessing acts of fear and courage. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet has a lasting impression on the reader. While telling the lifelong personal story of Henry it incorporates many lessons that would be difficult to forget. The reader gains knowledge of the historical account of the Japanese Americans internment during World War II, the personal effects of discrimination on individuals and the greater culture, and insight as to examples of how kindness, empathy and knowledge can be powerful forces for society to use in overcoming the result of fear, judgment and discrimination. The social work profession can gain a better understanding of generational trauma that has had a lasting result of the survivors and family members of Japanese Americans that lived this experience as well as cultural proficiency vs. the effects of prejudice and discrimination can be gained by reading this novel. The most important â€Å"take away† from this book would be incorporating the knowledge gained regarding cultural competency and utilizing it in the field of social work as well as in developing personal relationships with others.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Lebenseborn essays

Lebenseborn essays The topic of eugenics cannot be discussed without encountering the Holocaust, but this is as it should be. When contemporary geneticists, genetics counselors and clinical geneticists wonder why it is that genetics receives special attention from those concerned with ethics, the answer is simple and can be found in history. The events which led to the sterilization, torture and murder of millions of Jews, Gypsies, Slavs and children of mixed racial heritage in the years just before and during the era of the Third Reich in Germany were rooted firmly in the science of genetics (Muller-Hill, 1988). Rooted not in fringe, lunatic science but in the mainstream of reputable genetics in what was indisputably the most advanced scientific and technological society of its day. The pursuit of genetic purity in the name of public health led directly to Dachau, Treblinka, Ravensbruck and Auschwitz. As early as 1931 influential geneticists such as Fritz Lenz were referring to National Socialism as "applied biology" in their textbooks (Caplan, 1992). As difficult as it is for many contemporary scientists to accept (Caplan, 1992; Kater, 1992), mainstream science provided a good deal of enthusiastic scientific support for the virulent racism that fueled the killing machine of the Third Reich. When the Nazis came to power they were obsessed with securing the racial purity of the German people. The medical and biomedical communities in Germany not only endorsed this concern with "negative eugenics," they had fostered it. Racial hygiene swept through German biology, public health, medicine and anthropology in the 1920s and 1930s, long before the Nazis came to power (Weiss, 1987, Muller-Hill, 1988; Proctor, 1988; Kater, 1992). Many in the medical profession urged the Nazi leadership to undertake social policies that might lead to enhancing or increasing the genetic fitness of the German people (Kater, 1992). Eugenics consumed the German med...

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

East Timor essays

East Timor essays East Timor is located on the small island of Timor (slightly smaller than Maryland). This land is situated between Indonesia and Australia. The other half of the island is Indonesias province of West Timor. This small territory of East Timor is currently under a U.N. transitional government with total sovereignty scheduled for 2002-2003. The past of East Timor has been littered with Imperialism. Starting mid 1500s when Portugal colonized the territory through Japanese occupation during WWII, and again a return to Portuguese rule. Then in the wake of Portuguese de-colonization and civil war, a brutal military occupation by its new neighbor Indonesia. In 1509 the Portuguese arrived in the area of East Timor. They established their first settlements there in 1633. During the time before 1859 these two colonial powers signed a treaty establishing a boundary that divided Timor into the Dutch controlled west and the Portuguese controlled east. During Portuguese control many members of the native population where enslaved. In 1910 a rebellion of native peoples was suppressed after an n 18-month war for independence. During WWII The Empire of Japan occupied the Island of Timor. The Japanese also occupied all of the surrounding islands of Indonesia. During the occupation there was brutal fighting and nearly 40,000 East Timorese where killed in the struggle. After Japanese forces withdrew at the end of the war, rebellion broke out in Indonesia and in east Timor. Indonesias revolt against the Dutch was extremely successful ending in Indonesias independence. While in east Timor the rebellion was quickly and brutally put down by the Portuguese military. The Portuguese would remain in control until 1975 (despite U.N. calls for self-determination) when Portugals government was overthrown by its own military, which began a process of de-colonization. It is during this time that...

Monday, November 4, 2019

What is literacy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

What is literacy - Essay Example Within the parameters of intensively competitive labor and job markets, on the one hand, and global markets for goods and services, on the other, literacy, in all its variant forms and manifestations, has assumed unique importance.Whether as relates to immigrant L2 communities in the United States or native citizens, literacy often emerges as a non-negotiable criterion for employment and hence, the capacities and abilities of individuals to integrate into their societies and become constructive members therein. Given the importance of literacy, both on the individual and the societal levels, understanding what literacy means, clarifying the variances between L1 and L2 literacy and outlining the socio-cultural and ideological implications of literacy emerge as the primary concerns and objectives of this paper.Popular understandings of literacy as the ability to read and write, while accurate, effectively obscure the inherent complexities of the term and over-simplify its implications. As Speilmann and Radnofsky (2001) contend, literacy extends beyond the narrow parameters of the aforementioned definition to encompass the communicative skills requisite for both integration in society and the realization of individual career and social potentials and aspirations. Concurring with the aforementioned Kern (2000) defines literacy as "an elastic concept: its meaning varies according to the disciplinary lens through which one examines it." It is, from this definitional perspective, a mercurial and fluid concept, both difficult to pin down and even more problematic to pin down. Not withstanding the fluid nature of the concept or the multiple contending definitions which surround it, Tompkins (2001) defines concept as functional/basic and computer/post-modern literacy. The former refers to the capacity to read and write with some degrees of skill and competency. The latter, whose importance has expanded with the onset of the present century, references computer skills and an individual's ability to use and work with computers and other information technologies. The proliferation of computers as a primary medium of communication and information exchange has, according to McGrail (2007), made computer literacy as important as basic/functional literacy, insofar as the former is needed just as much as is the latter for employment and social integrative, let alone communicative, purposes. In further testament to the highly complex and multi-dimensional nature of literacy Baynham (1995) identifies six literacy models. These are the (1) skills development, (2) the therapeutic, (3) the personal empowerment, (4) the social empowerment, (5) functional and (6) the critical models of literacy. Taken together, these models effectively underscore the extent, to which literacy facilitates all of personal development, social integration and the acquisition of career/job skills, on the one hand, and allows an individual to realize his/her potential, on the other. Proceeding on the basis of the literature reviewed in the above, it is evident that literacy encompasses far more than reading and writing skills. Indeed, it may very well be defined as the primary predicator of social and professional success. The concept, complex enough as it is, is rendered even more so upon its contextualization with L1 and L2 frameworks. 3 L1 and L2 Literacy Within the context of an L2 setting, the definition of literacy, as outlined in the preceding section, retains both its validity and viability. Hayes and Schrier (2000) make this amply clear when they define L2 literacy as socio-communicative skills within a non-mother tongue environment or linguistic setting. In the L2 setting, just as in the L1, being literate means possessing reading and writing skills and having the capacity to utilize those skills in both

Saturday, November 2, 2019

An Artistic and Intellectual Revolution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

An Artistic and Intellectual Revolution - Essay Example The greatest service that the Renaissance was the liberation of the human spirit and the birth of an original thought. This led to rapid progress in all spheres of activity. It also led to various movements, which took place at the same time, such as the emergence of new geographical discoveries and political reform movement that inaugurated the modern era. Renaissance spirit that emerged during the Middle Ages. Currently in Europe lived in the spiritual tyranny of the church. As the dogmatic attitude of the church was a spiritual concern, as quiet and patient, the development of thought. Seeds of independent thought, which are seeded trees grown in the Middle Ages in modern times. Several factors have contributed to the success of the Renaissance. Ideas that are not based on reason cannot continue indefinitely. The clergy in the church, in practice, acted contrary to the principles of true Christianity that is preached. This faith in the ideas of commitment to the universal Church a nd the universal rule. Original thinkers like Roger Bacon and Peter Abelard succeeded in weakening the intellectual authority of the church with new trails. Peter Abelard (1079 1142) considered it essential to apply the principles of reason to Scripture. In his view, the mysteries of Christianity are not taken for granted. They were examined in the light of reason and intelligence. Original thinkers like Roger Bacon and Peter Abelard succeeded in weakening the intellectual authority of the church with new trails. Peter Abelard (1079 1142) considered it essential to apply the principles of reason to Scripture. In his view, the mysteries of Christianity are not taken for granted. They were examined in the light of reason and intelligence. Another revolutionary thinker was Roger Bacon (1214-1294). Aristotle criticized the church severely. He agreed in the past, everything that was reasonable and worked patiently for the cause of the new spirit. With an open mind and the spirit of scien tific research, studied subjects like math, physics, natural sciences and philosophy. He had the vision to anticipate the latest invasions and wrote about the possibility of having a boat without oars, without draft animals, vehicles and flying machines. However, because of the bold approach of Bacon and original thought, he earned the enmity of the church, which was punished, and Peter Abelard. The Fall of Constantinople led to a widespread and systematic study of the Greek heritage. After Constantinople, the great center of civilization and culture, fell to the Ottoman Turks, the Greek scholars fled to various parts of Europe that emit the great ideas of ancient Greece. Thus, the enthusiasm for the study of the classics was injected into the minds of Europeans. (Pink Monkey, 2011) The rapid spread of ideas was made possible by the introduction of printing. A mid-15th century, Johannes Gutenberg was able to operate the first movable type in Mainz in Germany, where the