Titanic essays

Titanic essays How often are students assigned a homework assignment that they may actually enjoy' Well, I was asked to watch and review one of my all-time favorite movies, the 1997 film classic Titanic' directed by James Cameron. I remember seeing this movie when it first came out in the theater with my family. That memory stands out to me because of the fact that all throughout the movie the audience all around me, both men and women of all ages and various ethnicities, cried during the movie's more intense scenes. Of course, I also loved the Titanic' sound track sung by none other than Celine Dionne. This assignment was just the reason I needed to rent this classic again. I have always had an interest in the maiden voyage of the Titanic but this rendition of the story helped open my eyes and made me want to know more about the ship, the situation and the times. The idea of well over a thousand people freezing to death or drowning in the ocean while the more affluent passengers are rowed away to safety in lifeboats that still had plenty of seating available reminds me of that the world's inequities are not a new phenomena. This review is not simply an attempt to retell the story of the Titanic. It is more of an attempt to provide an insight into some of the film's symbolism, messages of both internal and external human struggle and a review if those struggles got resolved as well as an account of how realistic or believable the movie's setting, This film was a mega hit and was loved by movie goers the world over. In regard to honors and awards for the director, cast and crew, one would have to consider Titanic' a highly successful venture to say the least. I am definitely taking into consideration that the film received numerous honors and awards, some of which include: 14 Oscar nominations: (Best Director (James Cameron), Best Actress (Kate Winslet), Best Sup...

Ducks Unlimited essays

Ducks Unlimited essays Ducks Unlimited, the worlds largest and most effective wetland conservation organization, has helped to conserve over ten million acres if wildlife habitat. They utilize many different methods to preserve the land such as restoring grasslands, they have replanted over 15 million hardwood seedlings in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, where over eighty percent of the forest has been cleared for agriculture, and many other efforts have been put forth for the wetlands. Ducks Unlimited has also purchased many tracts of land and gained easement and access to countless other acres of land. One project that DU has really taken to heart is the purchase of the Goebel Ranch in South Dakota. The Goebel Ranch not too long ago was a working cattle ranch that consists of more than 8,500 acres of prairie pothole region, which has become a vital breeding territory for many species of ducks and geese. The ranch is ideally located near two other extremely large tracts of land owned by the Nature Conservancy and also the federal government, combined the land totals over 20,000 acres of prairie pothole region. This is vital purchase because much of this land is quickly being turned into fields of wheat barley and oats, which dont encourage waterfowl breeding and conservation in anyway. One interesting fact about the ranch is that the seller required that the land continue to be grazed by cattle although it is no longer a working cattle ranch. During the first year of operation they will focus on implementing the grazing systems so that they will be able to concentrate on t he waterfowl research intently after that. I learned of this project through the Ducks Unlimited website which is a very in depth and informative place. On the site, www.ducks.org, a wide variety of topics are presented and many different audiences are targeted. The DU website is targeted to inform a very wide variety of people, from the student that has no...

Real Estate & Property - Valuation and Investment Appraisal Assignment

Real Estate & Property - Valuation and Investment Appraisal - Assignment Example The opinions stated in the valuation are contingent on the assumptions and limitations stated in Section 5 which also forms an integral part of this report. i. An attached brick building includes a single shop unit consisting of an open plan sales area which includes a retail area which extends to the rear. There is also a large basement. The front of the shop is fully glazed and has a number of display areas for terms of inventory. i. Barking Road is located in a very popular and busy shopping and entertainment area. It has a number of restaurants and numerous other shops along the same road and other roads and avenues which are in close proximity. It is also close to the tourist areas. The building is in good condition. Additionally, Barking Road and the streets adjacent to it are clean and well kept. iii. Several hotels and entertainment venues are located in close proximity to Barking Road and so it is accessible to tourists and locals who use their services. More than a few tourists are therefore expected to patronise the business at the location (Rightmove 2012). iv. The Booby Moore Stand of the West Ham United Football Club is located in close proximity – just around the corner from Barking Road. This makes the location ideal for the current tenant and explains the reason for the longevity of the business. There is also some amount of goodwill attached to the business and the location. Goodwill is the excess of the market price over the combined value of the separate assets. It results from the reputation that the business has gained over the years and its quality customer service that keeps customers coming back. It is this reputation that also attracts new customers. viii. The property is in close proximity to the Upton park tube station which approximately 0.4 miles. Two other stations – East Ham and Plaistow are also within a mile of the property (0.8 and 1.0 miles respectively) (Rightmove PLC 2012). x. The

Capitalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Capitalism - Essay Example This essay explores the United States plunged into an economic crisis in 2008 and 2009. This situation escalated, and it became an irresistible opportunity for the United States to pronounce the failure of the type of capitalism that had emerged towards the end of the twentieth century. The French President, Nicolas Sarkozy once said, â€Å"One had expected competition and abundance for everyone, but instead one got scarcity, the triumph of profit-oriented thinking, speculation and dumping." According to Sarkozy, the then economic crisis had signaled the return of the state and brought an end to public impotence illusions. Notably, economists regard the state of capitalism as one in which the governments are limited in controlling markets and posing property rights. The majority of political economists usually make strong emphasis on private property, wage labor, power relation, class, and the uniqueness in the historical formation of capitalism. Generally, capitalism encourages eco nomic growth, and the failure of our economy in 2008 should not be laid at Capitalism’s door. For one year that is between June 30, 2009, and July 1, 2008, the United States’ total economic output experienced escalating inflation that led to drop in the economy at an annual rate of 3.8 percent. Historically, this was the worst twelve months in economic decline that the United States had experienced since the year 1946. The rate of unemployment that had started declining in the year 2008 at the rate of five percent per annum doubled at the fall of the year 2010. This led to a fall in the number of jobs, a situation that lasted for about twenty one consecutive months. Towards the end, of May 2010, the median workers were relieved off their duties for a period of twenty-three weeks this is compared to ten weeks when United States had experienced depths of recessions; that is, between 1973 and 1975. All these economic hard times should not be pegged on capitalism, but on p oor governance and poor approach in resolving economic problems (Ingham 89). Shortly after the election of Ronald Reagan in the United States, a norm of a quarter century become operational, and this is the time or period when the free market approach to economic proved to be superior to economies of state directions (Ingham 43). During this period, the America’s income tax rate was halved; thus, reducing burdens from regulation. Notably, during the same period, the United States experienced a tremendous spread and growth of free market economy. This encouraged, free trade, which produced a remarkable stability and significant prosperity. Between the period 1983 and 2008, the gross domestic product experienced a growth of an average of 3.2 percent per year. It is only once within this period that the output of the United States fell in a calendar year; this only resulted when the percentage was being adjusted to two-tenths point (Ingham 104). Unfortunately, the assets of the real estate exploded resulting to varnishing of growth and stability. This drove the United States into a worse economic crisis. As President Sarkozy said, many would see this recession as an economic setback that could be as well regarded as a death blow (Ingham 119). The policies of conservative economy aimed at reducing the government power and liberating the private sector. Therefore, the introduction of the free market could have been regarded as a way of managing a state economy, but it was extremely brief. The surprising reversal of the economic down fall of the United States actually reached a point of no return in the year 2010. All these cannot or could not be blamed on capitalism, but on Americans who were only â€Å"profit oriented.† American is now convinced that the government has failed to solve the economic crisis; in fact, it has worsened the situation. It is liberal economic policies not conservativeness that is in a quick jeopardy (Ingham 342). Most of the Americans had lost faith in the federal government, and the majority had believed

Different Propaganda Means in World War II Essay Example for Free

Different Propaganda Means in World War II Essay 1. Introduction a) General Background We know that propaganda used in war had effects on the outcome of the war from GCSE Modern World History second edition that propaganda means used in war had contributed to the war efforts which directly affected the outcome of the war. Many propaganda means such as movies and songs flourished during this era and even until today. b) Rationale of Research Our paper aims to show how the propaganda means helped to contribute to the war effort by blinding the civilians from facts, so that they would continue to support the government in their war efforts and not lose poise in the war. The sources that we have selected were produced and used at the period of war and thus are eligible as a primary source. c) Research Questions * How does propaganda affect the outcome of war? * How effectual is each different mean of propaganda? d) Scope of Research We will only be looking at the 4 different means of propaganda stated: o Chaplins (1940) movie- The Great Dictator o Almanac Singers (1942) song- Round and Round Hitlers Grave o Clampetts (1942) cartoon- Any Bonds Today o Smiths (1942) propaganda poster about war bonds We will also bring in historical knowledge that we obtained from the books and websites indicated in the bibliographical section. e) Limitations of Research Our paper will only discuss how propaganda is effective in the primary sources that we will be using. We will only mention how effective each of these sources are, bringing in historical background to support our view. Our paper will only be discussing on these specific sources mentioned and not propaganda as a whole broad topic. 2. Literature Review Chaplins and Clampetts movies plus Almanac Singers song criticised the Axis Powers. They were anti-Nazi Propaganda and were efficient in spreading propaganda. Clampetts cartoons and Smiths poster appealed to the Americans to support the war through buying war bonds. Chaplins movie shows that Hitler is uncivilized, as seen in a cake fight whilst discussing war issues with Italy-an ally. Clampetts cartoon shows that the Axis Powers were uncooperative when they stepped on the Dove of Peace. Almanac Singers song lyrics (Appendix 2) was insulting, Wished I had old Hitler /with a rope around his neck and continues about dancing round Hitlers grave. The first movie was produced to ridicule Hitler with very little purpose except for a speech (Appendix 3) because America was still a neutral country during 1940, but in Europe war had commenced. All resources made use of either audio or visual. It was the era whereby poems were no longer effectual and popular means of expression. Hence, propaganda was conveyed in posters, songs aired on radio and movies in theatres worldwide. Audio and visual aids provided a lucid picture of happenings and task definition enabling the government to easily persuade the people to do their biddings. The movies were directed by famous people (such as Warner Brothers, Charles Chaplin), whom civilians thought were trust-worthy and thus easily swayed. Moreover, most propaganda accentuates the importance of war bonds in the War. Bugs Bunny in Any Bonds Today (Appendix 6) was saying that without the bonds, we cant make tomorrows plan, which is to win the war. Even in this song there is a propaganda poster (Appendix 5) on war, patriotism and to procure war bonds (Appendix 4). Smiths poster was specifically on war bonds but just in a different form. The poster illustrates the repercussions without war bonds and shows a Nazi shadow cast over children. Therefore, buying bonds will safeguard them from the Axis. Patriotism resulted in exceedingly successful recruitment and maintenance of peace in the country. Patriotism prevented war at home while combating enemies. It was evoked through a poster signifying victory (Appendix 5), shown as the backdrop of Clampetts movie and also through criticising and making Axis Powers look inferior. Hence, Allies gain confidence. Not all movies were totally censored by the government and thus contained more truths. However, animated cartoons were still successful. The audience were predominantly children and upon listening to the catchy tunes and vivid pictures, persuade their parents into buying bonds for their well-being. The success of war propaganda for bonds reaped 185 billion dollars enabling the vast expansion of arms. Chaplins speech gave Germany hope that when dictators die, liberty will return to the people; this helped alleviate tension in Europe. The song (Appendix 2) was performed by a band formed by the government for propaganda purposes. Their songs were highly popular at that era and helped stir patriotism in the Americans. All the propaganda, even if not asking to acquire war bonds, was useful in convincing the people that the Axis were inferior to the Allies. 3. Research Methodology We have evaluated the germane resources that we can access and selected four sources that we will be using in our paper. These sources are primary sources as they were produced and released during World War II. After the selection of the resources, we analysed each of the sources individually to detect the characteristics of each source. We also accessed the impact they had at that time derived from historical knowledge. We then look at critics standpoint of these sources and found out that reviews and critics on these sources were scarce and extraneous to our paper and we decided to prohibit these critics, as most did not have any relevance to our paper. Subsequently, we look at all the sources and list down their similarities and differences from the examination of each source. 4. Results Analysis All the sources that we have used proved to be valuable in showing us the influence these propaganda tools may even have on us. These sources were used by the Allies to convince the civilians that the Axis Powers are the unscrupulous guys and they are to remove these threats. Chaplins The Great Dictator and Almanac Singers Round and Round Hitlers Grave were aimed at Hitler and the purpose of the movie was to destroy Hitlers reputation. These sources ridicule Hitler and persuaded the people to despise and condemn him. Clampetts cartoons and Smiths poster applied more to the persuasion of the civilians to buy war bonds to help to lighten the burden the economy have to take. These sources use patriotism to persuade the civilians to help to buy war bonds. 5. Conclusion a. Has our research proved our hypothesis correct / wrong? Our research has proven our hypothesis correct. Our research had shown that propaganda helped to collect the necessary resources needed for war, which is money and manpower. In World War II, propaganda means had evolved into sophisticated structure where many factors are included. Propaganda became an essential tool that would be necessary in war, as it would help the government to haul support from the civilians in order to get enough resources for war. b. Questions for further research 1) Why did poems lose popularity as a form of propaganda means in World War 2? 2) How did movies gain popularity as propaganda means in the war? 3) Why were Audio Aids more effective than Audio-Visual Aids in the war as a propaganda tool? 6. Bibliography a) Books: Lowe, Norman (1997) Mastering Modern World History third edition. New York: Palgrave Publishers Ltd Tate, Nicholas (1999) A History of the Modern World 1917-1952 fifth edition. Singapore: Federal Publications Pte Ltd Walsh, Ben (2002) GCSE Modern World History second edition. London: John Murray Publishers Ltd b) Websites: http://www.graham.day.dsl.pipex.com/ww2001.htm http://www.apcpapercollect.com/propaganda.htm http://www.hitler.org/speeches/ http://www.hitler.org/writings/programme/ http://www.earthstation1.com/Tokyo_Rose.html http://www.playwinningpoker.com/articles/mz/war1.html http://www.warfoto.com/entertain.htm http://lcweb.loc.gov/exhibits/bobhope/uso.html http://www.nauticom.net/www/harts/homefront.html http://www.a2zcds.com/cds/history/world_war_2.htm http://www.ingeb.org/WWII.html http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/ww2era.htm http://www.archives.ca/05/0534/053402_e.html http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/presidents/32_f_roosevelt/psources/#a http://www.42explore.com/worldwar2.htm http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~hansenb2/materialsWW2.pdf http://www.historyguy.com/day_of_infamy.html http://journals2.iranscience.net:800/www.internet-magazine.com/tesla.liketelevision.com/default.htm http://members.home.nl/ww2propaganda/index.html http://www.virtualology.com/virtualwarmuseum.com/hallofworldwarii/ http://www.oldeagle.nu/post/ http://www.hitler.org/speeches/ http://www.hitler.org/writings/programme/ http://www.archives.gov/exhibit_hall/powers_of_persuasion/powers_of_persuasion_home.html http://home.nc.rr.com/tuco/looney/lists/war.html http://www.teacheroz.com/WWIIpropaganda.htm http://members.aol.com/FenixFlyte/chaplin.html http://propaganda.ww2.klup.info/ http://www.graham.day.dsl.pipex.com/ww2001.htm http://www.apcpapercollect.com/propaganda.htm http://www.hitler.org/speeches/ http://www.hitler.org/writings/programme/ http://www.earthstation1.com/Tokyo_Rose.html http://www.playwinningpoker.com/articles/mz/war1.html http://www.warfoto.com/entertain.htm http://lcweb.loc.gov/exhibits/bobhope/uso.html http://www.nauticom.net/www/harts/homefront.html http://www.a2zcds.com/cds/history/world_war_2.htm http://www.ingeb.org/WWII.html http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/ww2era.htm http://www.archives.ca/05/0534/053402_e.html http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/presidents/32_f_roosevelt/psources/#a http://www.42explore.com/worldwar2.htm http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~hansenb2/materialsWW2.pdf http://www.historyguy.com/day_of_infamy.html http://journals2.iranscience.net:800/www.internet-magazine.com/tesla.liketelevision.com/default.htm http://members.home.nl/ww2propaganda/index.html http://www.virtualology.com/virtualwarmuseum.com/hallofworldwarii/ http://tesla.liketelevision.com/liketelevision/tuner.php?channel=608format=tvtheme=guide http://tesla.liketelevision.com/liketelevision/vip/alacart.php?channel=687p=5theme=guide http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC/FilmonVideoVid.html http://www.bcdb.com/bcdb/detailed.cgi?filmtml3p=s http://looney.toonzone.net/miscelooneyous/tvtitles/tvtitles1.html http://www.kidscastle.si.edu/channels/history/articles/historyarticle22.html http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smithsonian/issues02/feb02/war_bonds.html http://www.archives.gov/exhibit_hall/powers_of_persuasion/word_document/bugs_bunny_video_description.txt http://wso.williams.edu/~dgerstei/chaplin/nazi.html http://www.splicedonline.com/95andbefore/chaplin1_dvd.html http://www.aicgs.org/resources/daad/1995010.shtml c) Acknowledgements: Many thanks to our mentor Miss Foo Yang Yann for helping us out in many areas of our paper. d) References: Clown Ministry (2003). Text of Charlie Chaplins speech from The Great Dictator, aka Look up, Hannah. http://www.clown-ministry.com/Articles/Poetry/chaplin-great-dictator.html, last accessed 7 Aug 2003. Florit, Luis A. (2003). The Speech of The Great Dictator. http://w3.impa.br/~luis/chaplin.html, last accessed 7 Aug 2003. Geer, Goopy (2003). Goopy Geers Rare Cartoons Page War Cartoons. http://members.fortunecity.com/goopygeer2/, last accessed 7 Aug 2003. Helfert, Manfred (2003). Round And Round Hitlers Grave (Woody Guthrie/Millard Lampell/Pete Seeger). http://www.geocities.com/Nashville/3448/round.html, last accessed 7 Aug 2003. National Archives and Records Administration (2003). NARA | Exhibit Hall | Exhibit Hall Main Page. http://www.archives.gov/exhibit_hall/, last accessed 7 Aug 2003. Rotten Tomatoes (2003). The Great Dictator (1940): Charlie Chaplin, Paulette Goddard, Jack Oakie, Charlie Chaplin. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/TheGreatDictator-1008790/, last accessed 7 Aug 2003.

Puritan effect on Literature Essay -- essays research papers

Literature has always revealed a great deal about the attitudes and beliefs of different cultures. Puritan authors in the late 17th and early 18th centuries wrote poems, persuasive speeches, stories, and first hand accounts that reveal their thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. Described especially was the Puritan’s deep regard for religion and their fear and love of God. William Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation was written in 1630 as a description of Bradford’s experiences in the New World. The main purpose of his account was to persuade those who remained in England to come to America. He described in detail the benefits of religious freedom. Religion played an extremely important role in the lives of early Puritans. Bradford described how God helps the Pilgrims make their way safely across the perilous waters to safety. He wrote: â€Å"†¦they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of Heaven who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean†¦again to set their feet on the firm and stable earth†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Bradford was appealing to the high interest in God’s divine intervention amongst the people. Bradford also described in his documentation the sickness and famine faced by the people and the communal effort to help the suffering. Bradford said: â€Å"†¦in the time of most distress, there was but six or seven sound persons who to their great commendations, be it spoke, spared no pains night or day, but with abundance of toil and hazard of their own health, fetched them wood, made them fire...

Case Study: P.F. Chang serves its workers well Essay

It is suggested by various text books and management tutors alike, that the mastering of the four functions of management; Planning, controlling, organising and leading along with developing technical, human and conceptual skills, should go some way to allowing a manager some degree of success in the field of management. Of course, having skills is just part of being an effective manager, these skills and functions must be communicated in a way that fellow managers and workers can understand and act upon. The case study of P.F. Chang, a U.S based chain of ‘Asian Bistros’ and ‘contemporary Chinese diners’ â€Å"P.F. Chang serves its workers well†, indicates a number of systems in place by the company that allows its managers to plan, organise and lead their workers and control the final product. The communication process is also aided by processes in individual restaurants. Of course, any individual is responsible for their own behaviour and young mana gers develop their own ‘style’ over time, but for a P.F. Chang manager certain skills need to be mastered to assimilate themselves with the culture and values of the company. Of the four management functions that a manager at P.F. Chang would require to manage a restaurant effectively, it could be argued that leading is the most important. The ‘Leadership Grid’ of Robert Blake and Jane Mouton (Schermerhorn, et al., p246) illiterates a scale of ‘concern’ for both people and production. The case study of P.F. Chang restaurants shows the company’s concern for its people, (‘P.F. Chang serves it’s people well’). It can, therefore, be assumed that on the Blake and Mouton scale, the concern for people is ‘high’. As both restaurant managers and workers achieving the ‘shared purpose’ of customer satisfaction. A P.F. Chang manager, would according to the Blake and Mouton grid, be required to adopt the management style of a ‘Team Manager’. As noted in the case study, most the workers are ‘typically young’ and that could present challengers. Developing a ‘hu man’ management skill would be very beneficial for a P.F. Chang manager due to the make up of the most of workers at each restaurant. In a recent study of Generation Y hospitality workers, it was concluded that even though there was a desire by the respondents to work less hours to ensure a positive work/life balance, â€Å"employee engagement can mean high commitment in recruitment, retention and performance.† (Axwell, 2010). Further reading into the management of the members of Gen Y (those born after 1980 and the most likely the age group that makes up the staff members at P.F. Chang’s) show that certain styles of leadership are called for. Eisner suggests that â€Å"Gen Y workers tend to have unbridled energy, endless enthusiasm, and the skills and experience of those much older [and] they should be managed with a coaching style† (Eisner, 2005). Obviously, not all workers at P.F. Chang will be Gen Y, and of course, not all Gen Y employees will respond to the same style of management. So the effective P.F Chang restaurant manger would need to have an awareness of how different style of manag ement would motivate each worker. Each manager at P.F. Chang’s may bring their own beliefs on what makes them effective as a manager. This could prove to be a hindrance if the individual manager is not open to learning (and putting into practice) a different style of management, subsequently re-evaluateing their approach to how they manage their restaurant to bring themselves in line to P.F. Chang’s corporate values. Emphasising that different generations may require different management strategies, Axwell explains that â€Å"Compared with other generations, Gen Y tends to have less respect for rank and more respect for ability and accomplishment. Expectations should be explained to Gen Y from the outset, including the big picture and how they fit into it.† (Axwell, 2010) Along with many other businesses operating in the current economic environment, P.F. Chang’s business relies on customers discretionary spending and P.F. Chang makes a point of putting their customers’ satisfaction at the forefront of their business. This position is illustrated in the 2010 financial report of P.F. Chan g which stated that the company’s aim was to â€Å"strive to create a loyal customer base that generates a high level of repeat business in our restaurants and translates to interest and trial of our retail products [however] Our business is highly sensitive to changes in guest traffic and our operators concentrate on consistent execution of superior customer service while also focusing on additional opportunities for operating efficiencies† (P.F. Chang, 2011). Some workers may struggle with the concept of ‘exceptional customer service’ and a P.F. Chang manager must find ways to organise those workers to meet the companies expectations while upholding the companies values of openness and respect. The case study mentions that ‘restaurant managers face the challenge every day of putting the right person in the right job, creating a team that works well together’. At P.F. Chang, staff meet before every work shift where the manager is able to organise staff, reminding them of them of their duties for which ever role they may occupy. This meeting could also give the manager an insight into which member of the team may be feeling unmotivated and time could then be made to talk to the team member and discuss any issues. By delegating tasks from a manger to an employee it conveys a sense of trust in the worker, and sense of empowerment. Furthermore, it gives the manager more time to complete other tasks. This delegation is evident at P.F. Chang. The case study notes that by giving servers authority to replace meals and the ‘freedom to make decisions’ there is a reported positive impact on staffs attitude and performance. Regional Vice President, Roxanne Pronk says that those freedoms extended to employees have ‘a huge impact on their attitude and performance’. Some research, however has found that not all employees actually want extra freedom to decisions. A front line service worker in a 2008 survey of the empowerment made the comment that they were not paid to make decision, stating â€Å"that’s a supervisor’s job, that’s not my job† Other respondents mentioned they wanted extra money for doing extra things, and they see it (empowerment) as extra things to their work (Ueno, 2008). Conversely, it is suggested that some employees are more likely to improve their behaviour when given added responsibility while others may resent it. A manager should be aware that a ‘one size fits all’ approach where the assumption is that every member of the team wants added responsibility is unfair, not just on the individual worker who is happy with their current work load and level of responsibility, but also for any particular worker who desires increased responsibility, but does not get it. As noted in Chen et al â€Å"managers need to make judgments regarding whom to empower and to what extent† (Ford, Myron, Russ, & Millam, 1995) Ueno concludes that â€Å"empowerment can improve both customer satisfaction and employee attitudes and behaviour† but also â€Å"that high empowerment does not necessarily represent high service quality while low empowerment does not inevitably correspond to low service quality† (Ueno, 2008). Information such as this could help the P.F Chang manger in organising workers, assigning roles that the employee feels comfortable with, acknowledge that while some employees will enjoy extra roles and increase their engagement, some may not and the encouragement of taking on more responsibility may actually be detrimental to the business. Being able to master the managerial functions and skills is, of course, only one part of the process for a P.F. Chang manger. How the information is conveyed to the staff of the restaurant is another set of skills that would need to be achieved. Good leaders tend to be good communicators who find ways to overcome barriers to effective communica tion. Restaurants by their nature of being a place where many people gather can be nosy places, the kitchens that serves the talking customers can be even noisier and servers waiting on tables do not generally have access to work stations with computers where they can regularly check email or other forms of electronic notifications. It would be important for the manager to establish systems for effective communication with the staff. One such system seems to have been established, as the case study mentions â€Å"every work shift †¦. begins with a staff meeting†. As noted in the case study, this meeting is used primarily â€Å"to motivate workers to head into their shifts with an upbeat outlook†, and as noted earlier, serves as a function for managers to organise staff according to their strengths. From a communications perspective, this meeting would also be the perfect opportunity for managers to disseminate information that could be useful for front line staff members to pass on to customers, for example, changes to menu items. P.F. Chang’s also places emphasis on respect and open communication between its managers and staff. As noted in the case study, managers sit down and discuss if and how workers external issues may be affecting their performance at work. Part of developing this ‘human skill’ which is essential for a task such as this is ‘active listening’. Schermerhorn, et al. state that â€Å"when people ‘talk’, they are trying to communicate something. That ‘something’ may or may not be what they are saying† (p 462). Further to this, Schmerhorn et al also show that different ways of communicating are more effective than others. This ‘channel richness’ or â€Å"the capacity if a communication channel to effectively carry information† (pg 456) argues that face to face meeting can be much more effective in conveying information than ‘hard copy’ like postings or bulletins. In addition to P.F. Chang managers conducting staff meetings before every shift, they also are engaged in discussions with their staff regarding performance issues. With these meetings being face to face, they would be ‘personal and two way’ and thus, ‘high in richness’. Any outcomes and possible agreements made between the manger and employee to meet a specific target to improve performance is more likely to be understood by the employee. Conversely, by sitting down and having a chat, the manager would gain a broader understanding of any issues that may be resulting in the change of behaviour or lack of engagement on the employee. Having open communication between the manager and employee also seems to have benefits for the business. Authors of a study which looked at service worker behaviour found that â€Å"conformance to service standards [are] more likely to be met if service standards are communicated and understood by all members of the organization, including line employees. Thus, open communication between frontline employees and managers is important for achieving service quality† (Chen, 2010). Developing skills for effective communication for the P.F. Chang manager is of course the key to this communication process being effective, along with having an awareness of barriers to effective communication. Age, gender or generational differences can also prove to be a barrier. Returning to a broad example of younger employees â€Å"Gen Y workers tend to look for instant gratification [and] tend to be constant negotiators and questioners, ‘how’ meetings become ‘why’ meetings† (Axwell, 2010) The afore mentioned poor channels of communication like bulletins along with the more subtle areas such as negative body language and other non-verbal communication and a lack of active listening skills may be covered in the training that P.F. Chang’s gives it restaurant managers. As with a lot of large chains, the overall di rection of the business would come from senior management. Planning as a function of the business as a whole, would therefore not be within the gambit of specific P.F. Chang restaurants managers. Of course, a degree of planning would be required and an awareness of this process would be important to the successful management of the restaurant. Schermerhorn, et al. describe planning as â€Å"the process of setting objectives and determining how to accomplish them† (p20). Referring back to the case study, a P.F. Chang manger may set objectives based on the engagement of their staff. For example, reducing absenteeism on days of the week when the restaurant is busiest. The achievement of this objective may be helped by the attitude adopted by the company in dealing with staff whose’ performance does not meet the company standards – an initiative directed by head office, but implemented at restaurant level. Ultimately, the managerial function of control is important to ensure the final product meets the required standard, in the case of P.F. Chang, the experience of diners – from the service to the food. As Merchant points out â€Å"the need or controls over any particular behaviour or operation within an organization depends very simply on the impact of that area on overall organizational performance. Thus more control should be exercised over a strategically important behaviour rather than over a minor one, regardless of how easy it is to control each† (Merchant, 1982). There are many issues that a restaurant manager must contend with on a day to day basis that will have no direct relation to people management, but due to the importance that the restaurant staff have to the overall business, this is the area that the most time should be devoted too. It can be assumed that controls for managing customers satisfaction would at first managed at restaurant level, indeed, the case study highlights that â€Å"the server has the authority to replace a meal†. Should this not be enough to satisfy the complaint of the customer, it may be escalated to the restaurant manager. Since all employees receive â€Å"extensive training† and their employee hand book, it could be assumed that managing customer complaints would be included in this. Once again, the control function would be lead by directives from further up the management chain, but the restaurant manager (and server) would be equipped with the skills and expectations on how to engage with dissatisfied customers. Schermerhorn, et al states that â€Å"the task of a manager is to bring the organisations resources into alignment with its purpose in a way that is sustainable in the organisations operating environment† (p 19). The case study ‘P.F. Chang serves its workers well’ highlights some of the processes that are established throughout the company that can assist the restaurant manager in effective management of a restaurant. For a restaurant manager at P.F. Chang, the goal of maintaining the motivation of the team of restaurant workers is the skill that would most need to be mastered – the function of leading – through a thorough understanding the workers being lead, how they might be thinking and how they wish to be managed, along with a healthy dose of leadership theory. Similarly, by knowing the personalities of the team, they can be organised to ensure a more productive work business. Those who are facing issues outside of work and those who want more responsibility (and those who don’t) can be managed accordingly. The P.F. Chang restaurant manager has surport from head office by way of systems in planning, but should know that control over staff and how they interact with the customers is of paramount importance. And finally, the P.F. Chang manager must acquiesce effective communication skills lead and motivate in the most effective way, and organised the team with the members that are willing and able to perform varying tasks assigned them and manage discuss in respectful and constructive way when controls in place to ensure performance targets are not met. Bibliography Axwell, G. (2010). Generation Y’s Career Expectations and Aspirations: Engagement in the Hospitality Industry. Journal Of Hospitality And Tourism Management , 60. Chen, H. R.-J. (2010). Empowerment in hospitality organizations: Customer orientation and organizational support. International Journal of Hospitality Management , 422, 424. Eisner, S. P. (2005). Managing Generation Y. SAM Advanced Management Journal . Ford, R. C., Myron, F. D., Russ, D. E., & Millam, E. R. (1995). Empowerment: A Matter of Degree. The Academy of Management Executive . Merchant, K. A. (1982). The Control Function of Management. Sloan Management Review , p. 48. P.F. Chang. (2011, Febuary 16). Form 10-K for P F CHANGS CHINA BISTRO INC . Retrieved January 18, 2012, from Yahoo Finance.com: http://biz.yahoo.com/e/110216/pfcb10-k.html Schermerhorn, J. R., Davidson, Poole, Simon, & Chau, W. &. (2011). Management. Milton, QLD: John Wiley & Sons Australia. Ueno, A. (2008). Is empowerment really a contributory factor to service quality? The Service Industries Journal , 1329.

My High School Experience Essay

Everyone has heard or been told, â€Å"high school is what you make of it.† High school is in fact what you make of it, but it is also the time of great change in everybody. They say HIGH SCHOOL is the best part of growing up and being a teenager. It is where we can experience things, which we thought we can never make or do. It is where we discover and learn things in our own and it is where we learn to become independent. In my four years of studying here, I discovered that there is more to life than what we had imagined. I am able to learn many things based on what my teachers had taught me and based on my own experiences. I am able to know and to be acquainted with myself more and I am able to distinguish my capabilities and talents. I am able to gain friends and I am able to socialize and mingle more with the people around me. High School to me seemed like it passed by really fast, almost too fast sometimes. I learned many valuable life lessons as well as made lifelong friends. I learned the value of hard work, dedication, and also how to tell your real friends from the others. It was tough but overall a great experience that I will soon miss. Since being a freshman, I have changed in a major way. Coming into high school I was a shy, unmotivated young man that didn’t really know what he was getting into. I am leaving high school a man who is mature, outgoing, and very sure of himself. If high school has taught me anything, it is that you should always have confidence in yourself. If you believe in yourself and you believe that you can achieve anything you want in life, good things will happen to you. Knowing that I am graduating high school and never coming back hasn’t really hit me yet. These four years has been an overall life changing experience that I will never forget.

Save Money in College 9 Useful Tips

Save Money in College 9 Useful Tips The college – or university – years can be considered a cruel time in one’s life: it’s when most students are on the cusp of adulthood, enjoying many of its perks and only some of its responsibilities; yet they’re also not quite adults, a majority of which are more like overgrown teenagers still dependent on their parents for financial stability, among other things. But, see, college tuition is quite expensive. It sets up many middle- and lower-class students for a lifetime of debt. This means these students generally want to graduate with a degree as quickly as possible, which implies they don’t have a great deal of time for making money – but rather a time for classes, homework, studying, taking exams, etc. So what little money students generally have (whether they’re given an allowance or have to work to support themselves), there are trying to hold on to it. The problem is this: ironically, due to the nature of the fundamental conflict most college students face – the aforementioned paradox – college can be a very thrilling, exciting time: being young, broke, healthy but feeling good about getting an education, as well as enjoying the many freedoms of adulthood. But, generally, being financially independent is not one of those freedoms college students get to enjoy.  This reality means being smart with money is even more crucial for the everyday student. 9 Proven Ways to Save Money in College: Set Up a Bank Account Quite a few banks offer college students free checking and saving accounts. This translates to avoiding fees on withdrawals as well as fund transfers; plus, with free checking, students aren’t penalized for having a certain amount, which is often the case with many banks. The student also benefits from having a bank account because they can monitor their own activity, especially with online banking. It helps them keep track of their money, when and where and how they’re spending it, and can help them save and plan as they move forward as adults. Save Receipts; Get Organized When one saves their receipts, they are essentially doing bookkeeping very much like a business would operate to keep tabs on their expenses, which is crucial for a business to grow and thrive. In order for a business to make money, it has to document and monitor spending so that it is not blindly losing money on things unnecessary. The same goes for any person. Perhaps it would be best if students were to record in a journal of all of their expenses, writing down information from their receipts to better budget and understand their spending habits. After a person begins seeing spending patterns, bad spending habits can be eliminated. Set a Budget – and Stick to it No Matter What Setting a budget is basically creating financial goals for certain periods of time. But what matters is adhering to these goals – all with the aim of ultimately saving money. Going back to keeping receipts: a student has to be cognizant of not only their financial obligations, such as paying bills and other required expenditures on time; they also have to be aware of their spending habits, such as going out to restaurants, spending money on retail, expensive outings, etc., so they can make sure they’re not being too frivolous with their spending. Most times, a student should set aside a certain amount of money each week for bills and necessary expenditures. But they should also cap a limit on the amount of money they can spend each week on other non-essential expenditures, like restaurant meals, drinks, and late-night food. Most importantly, to save money, students should put aside money each month that they will not spend – unless it’s an absolute emergen cy. Buy a Simple Phone Plan There are tons of affordable plans out there. But many plans are without Internet access, high-quality cameras, and voice-activated texting. And on a campus, that’s not a bad thing. The Internet can be accessed on almost every inch of a modern-day college campus. So, for those students trying to save money, who have to pay their own bills, it is most certainly a wise choice to buy a simple, cheap phone plan that has the most basic of functions. Buy that nice phone with the extensive plan after landing that first job out of college. Be patient – nicer things will come. Get a Job – It Helps Prioritize Time Again, it’s hard finding time to make money in college. But there are plenty of those who DO find the time. Some have no choice. They have to work to survive. It is very interesting to observe how the more things one has to accomplish in a day, the more they find they can get done. It’s all about time management. It’s about prioritizing what little time there is left in the day aside from classes and homework and studying. Remember: the more people work, the more they earn and save †¦ because they are not spending money while they earn it. Be Creative with (Legally) Obtaining Books for Courses There are numerous ways to obtain course textbooks in college without spending the required exorbitant amounts on brand-new ones. (Legal ways, of course; as in not stealing them.) For one, many books required for college courses – especially literature courses – can be rented from almost any library. On top of that, there are numerous resources that offer students the choice of renting most brand-new and mostly new textbooks for a very cheap price. In this case, the student only has to pay the semester-long rent fee and return the books in excellent condition at the close of the semester. Also, there is the option that students can form a sort of buddy system; they can find someone in their class with which they can share the price of the book needed for the course. Or they can just borrow a classmate’s book. Embrace Free Leisure Activities – Especially Those on Campus (The Ones That Are Deceptively Built into the Price of Tuition) Whether it’s using the campus-provided shuttle that takes students to nearby locations, spending time outside reading or engaging in other fun, free activities, or taking advantage of free on-campus events, such as concerts, talks and seminars and conferences, there’s no shortage of ways students can save money in college and still enjoy themselves. There are times for going out to restaurants; and there are times to stay at home and find creative ways to enjoy one’s time – activities that cost nothing. In other words, fun outings don’t have to cost a thing. Student Loans Can Help Save Money Short-Term The majority of students from lower- and middle-class families have to take out loans to afford college. Some academic institutions cost $30- $40,000 for two semesters; others – probably the majority – are about $15- $20,000 for two semesters. By taking out loans with banks, students can pay for their education years down the road, after they graduate, often in monthly payments, until they pay off their debt. So this way they DO save money while still in college, only they will owe more money over time to the bank because their loans will have accrued interest. (By the way, many students – through getting student loans to fund college – get to live on campus during these years without having to pay a cent. Most times this includes a meal plan, too. It makes sense. But it depends on the student’s financial needs and/or limitations.) Or, Live off Campus and Get Roomies Then, there’s the option of living off campus, in cheap housing, sharing the rent with roommates. It’s a wise choice for those who can afford to pay the rent, either on their own or with the help of their parents.

How to Make Game of Thrones Wildfire

How to Make Game of Thrones Wildfire Wildfire is the fictional green green substance used in  George R. R. Martin’s epic fantasy world to immolate foes when dragon fire isnt handy and swords just arent enough. According to the HBO Game of Thrones series, the liquid burns in the presence of urine and burns so hot it melts  wood,  stone... even  steel... and, of course, flesh! Oh, and it burns with an emerald green flame. In the television series and Martins A Song of Ice and Fire novel, the secret of wildfire was pyromancer magic, but we all know the best magic is simply science that isnt well-understood, right? Martins fictional goo resembles modern napalm (except for the green color) and Greek fire, a real-life weapon used during the Byzantine era (also, probably not green). Make (a Safer) Wildfire This wildfire recipe wont be of much use if you want to melt stone, but it makes nice ambiance lighting when youre reading Martins books or need to find your way back to the kitchen for a snack during Game of Thrones. You end up with a green liquid that burns bright, vivid green. It spreads out nicely, like pyromancer wildfire, but it doesnt burn as long or as a brightly. Wildfire Materials Borax  Green Food ColoringMethanol (Methyl alcohol is available as Heet fuel treatment or as a lab chemical.)Hand Sanitizer Gel (The alcohol-based stuff is what you want. You only need this if youre making the gel.)Heat-safe container.   You can get a similar result using high proof grain alcohol or rubbing alcohol and copper(II) sulfate (usually sold as an algicide) if borax is unavailable. Its not as good as the borax-methanol mixture, though, so dont substitute if you dont have to do so. Lets Make Wildfire Pour a bit of methanol into your container. You dont need a lot. Dont taste it (youll get a headache or go blind if you drink enough) and dont splash around in it (its absorbed through your skin). There are warnings on the label youd do well to read. Oh, and its flammable, but thats kind of the whole point.Stir in a drop of green food coloring. Pretty right?Break up any clumps in your borax and stir a spoonful into the liquid. You dont need an exact measurement. It only takes a small amount to get green flames. If you add too much, youll have white sediment in the bottom of your container.Light your creation and admire the pretty green fire. If you do this indoors, be advised your smoke alarm likely will sound (mine did). Blow out the flames when youre sufficiently amused.Now, if you want to make a gel out of this, you can stir in hand sanitizer until you get the consistency you want. Hand sanitizer is a mixture of water and ethyl alcohol. Because there is ethanol in it, you can mix it in with the methanol without too much trouble. Adding the water also means you have a chance to add powdered copper(II) sulfate, which dissolves in water, but not so well in alcohol. You dont need to add copper sulfate... Im just throwing it out there as an option. Ignite the gel. Still green, but not quite as bright, right?If you want to try again, all you need to do is add more methanol. It is important you only add more fuel after the flames have been extinguished. Use common sense. You can blow out the flames. You can also extinguish the fire with water, but then you wont be able to re-light it. Safety Considerations Yes, this is a real fire. Yes, it can burn you or ignite your hair or clothing if you spill it while its lit, just like any other type of alcohol lamp. Responsible adult supervision is required. Responsible is the keyword. Dont play pyromancer. Wildfire, Greek Fire, and Burning on Water Although it wasnt green, Greek fire or sea fire was a real incendiary weapon used in naval battles from around 672 onward into the 12th century. Its formulation is unknown but may have included ingredients such as pine resin, calcium phosphide, naphtha, niter, quicklime, and sulfur. It was almost certainly a mixture based on bitumen, petroleum, or sulfur. While the mixture floated on water, its unclear whether or not it could actually be ignited by water. An Italian recipe from the 16th century that supposedly burns underwater is made from willow coal, sulfur, wool, camphor, incense, alcohol and some sort of burning salt and pergola. You can try to decipher the Italian text, or just rely on modern chemistry to ignite a green flame with a drop of water.

Nonveral Observation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Nonveral Observation - Essay Example The two people observed, both female, one estimated at 45 years of age and the other at 20 years of age, are having lunch in a small cafe within a large shopping mall. They were already seated at the table when I came into the cafe and were engrossed in conversation, while having already ordered their lunch, they are busy eating. The first thing I notice is that the two women are not sitting directly opposite each other as is usual at a table for two; instead they are sitting across from each other making them closer. Even though they are close in proximity they are still leaning forward towards each other while conversing, even while eating, and their legs under the table are turned towards each other rather than directly in front of them; the younger of the two has her knees crossed but still leaning towards the older woman. They maintain a lot of eye contact and seem to recognize when the other is about to speak before they speak. They seem to know from the other’s gesture or eye contact that they have something to say. Their facial expressions connote a closeness and feeling of warmth and understanding and there is an apparent intimacy illustrated by their constant touching either by a hand on the shoulder or a touch on the arm.

Literature Jarhead, Anthony Swafford Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Literature Jarhead, Anthony Swafford - Essay Example Men are smart and men are animals, in that they don't want to die so simply for so little" (Jarhead 199). Being a fighter and a combatant, there would be some desire to fight and to kill. But striving to live in the battle is stronger and more urgent. They enter in the academy knowing that their lives are very much in danger. Being a soldier they know the consequences of their lives. They are the one who choose where to spend their lives. As a man of armor, their lives are important to us, the people whom they are protecting. They are the one who choose their purpose in life. They die in serving the nation. They die as a hero. Being a patriotic, a heroine man. Soldiers are parents too; they choose it just to give the best life that they can give to their love ones. As a parent who chooses by God to dwell a life they also feel the pain of being apart to their love ones. For my opinion, I disagree to the statement of Swofford. Being a human I also respect lives. I also treasure ones life. Money can be change, even other material things can be change. But our only one life that God given. It cannot be paid by money. This is for sure, we have only one life. We must live our lives to the fullest. Because a time that we are in need to face the Lord we cannot found a second chance. A point of view here is being a soldier is not an easy task. We need to sacrifice many things but what are they. It is depend to the person who chooses to be a soldier, maybe they want to serve. But we can serve without sacrificing one thing. But anything that need to go through in to our lives we must realize that apart from GOD we can do nothing. Apart from GOD we are nothing. We must face any consequences into our lives. Everything that we choose we must be ready and alert, face any tasks and responsibilities. We need to move on. To go for what we want to go. But always be ready for what it takes make sure that it will not going to be a consequences to other. We must stay in the word, of our commandant saying. Be always ready to listen. Make sure that you are willing to obey. Before we go t o our destiny we must acknowledge the power of the Supreme Being who strengthens to us. Be alert, always ready.Marine who never really gets fulfill his mission. Jarhead help us to see the real meaning of work of a soldier Their lives has been jeopardized & sometimes it has been deteriorated, horribly, & incredibly killed. This story, is a is a story of a man who designated his life to the battle field. Being a soldier, they have a principle in life; to obey what is told to do, and to protect who is need of protection. Soldiers are always on call, always alert, always ready. They intend to protect and to be command. In the point of view of a story; jarhead is a story of a soldier who has a purpose in obeying what is told to do. In significance to human experiences, we are also a soldier. We have also our own battle field. We are calling it in many ways. Sometimes we call it problem, sometimes we call it a test, sometimes we call it a test. But the real one is we are calling it a spir itual warfare. Into our lives, we are facing many problems, temptations, deceptions, test, and accusations. We have also our own enemies. Sometimes they are our friends, relatives, classmates, and even we. But the question here is how we going to face our