Health Services Administration

Health Services Administration Angelina House HSC 111 10-26-12 Health services administrators can also be called medical services managers or healthcare executives. They are responsible for managing the business of healthcare at a facility, or within a department of a facility. Their job duties can vary, depending on their level of management, the size of the facility, their level of education, and work experience. Healthcare administrators play an important role in healthcare services.Most healthcare administrators have at least a bachelor’s degree, and many have a master’s degree as well. In addition, although it is very rare to pursue it, there is also a Ph. D. available. There are some bachelor’s degree programs online, and even more master’s degree programs. This is because many administrators gain some experience in the field, before deciding on a master’s program. Therefore, an online degree is designed to accommodate working individuals, as well as give them the opportunity to immediately implement their new knowledge in the workplace (Guide, 2012).The typical college courses required to obtain a degree in healthcare administration include hospital organization and management, accounting and budgeting, human resources administration, marketing, strategic planning, health economics, law and ethics, and health information systems (Bureau, 2012). Master’s degree programs, which usually have a competitive admissions process, also include a one year residency in a medical facility (Health, 2012). There are many different settings in which someone with a degree in health services administration can be employed.These places are hospitals, physicians’ offices, dentists’ offices, home healthcare services, other practioners’ offices, outpatient care centers, ambulatory healthcare services, medical and diagnostic labs, and nursing and residential care facilities. Nursing home administrators must also b e licensed through the state. Requirements for licensing vary from state to state but, in order to obtain a license, one must also pass an exam, and be under supervised practice for a set period of time.As well, they must complete continuing education classes to keep that license valid (Guide, 2012). The Nursing Home Administrators State Board of Examiners regulates these licenses (Health, 2012). The job duties of healthcare administrators can vary depending upon their position and the facility of employment. Generally, they are responsible for improving the efficiency and quality of healthcare services, by implementing and creating policies and procedures, and in connection with that, must stay up to date on new laws and regulations.They hire and supervise staff in their department or facility, create work schedules, and keep organized records of services. They may manage the finances, such as, patient fees and billing, and ordering necessary supplies. They must also effectively co mmunicate with medical staff, other department heads, and higher ranking administrators (Bureau, 2012). Sometimes healthcare mangers are required to travel, for meetings, conventions, or to oversee other affiliated facilities (Guide, 2012).Health services administrators usually work a full-time schedule, forty hours a week, or more. They may be required to work days, evenings, midnights, and weekends, because the facility they are employed at may operate twenty-four hours a day. Typically, entry-level administrators work forty to fifty hours a week, while senior level administrators may work over seventy hours a week. Managers may also be called in during an emergency situation (Guide, 2012). The median annual wage for health services administrators is about $85,000.The amount of money earned varies by level of management, type of healthcare service provided, and the size of the facility. Lesser paid managers make about $50,000 per year, while high ranking mangers make up to about $ 150,000 per year (Bureau, 2012). The need for healthcare administrators is expected to grow by about twenty percent over the next ten years, faster than any other occupation. Factors that contribute to this are, the aging baby boom generation, and people living longer. As the demand for healthcare grows, so does the need for someone to mange that increasing demand (Bureau, 2012).Healthcare administrators play a key role in the effective and efficient treatment of patients. There are a wide variety of job positions, and settings, for someone with a degree in health services management. The prospective job outlook and competitive wages make this a promising degree to obtain, as well the personal fulfillment of knowing that you are doing something that can help others. References Allied Health Schools. (2012). Health Services Administration Career Overview. Retrieved from http://www. llalliedhealthschools. com/health-careers/health-care-administrator/health-services-administration-care er-overview Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. S. Department of Labor. (2012). Occupational Outlook Handbook. Medical and Health Services Managers. Retrieved from www. bls. gov/ooh/Management/Medical-and-health-services-managers. htm World Wide Learn. (2012). Guide to College Majors in Healthcare Administration. Retrieved from www. worldwidelearn. com/online-education-guide/health-medical/healthcare-administration-major. htm

Stalin did more harm than good to Russia

The role of Joseph Stalin in the history of post-revolutionary Russia is remarkable as well as the history of the USSR itself. Stalin is associated with great purges, repressions, victory over the bloodiest regime in the WWII, mass deportations and the executions. Stalin’s name is also associated with the huge industrial raise of the USSR at the pre-WWII period, forcible collectivization of peasants and relocation of hundreds of thousands of people. He is also responsible for the bloodiest repression system known as Gulag and suppression of any manifestations of oppositions.The roots of â€Å"the red terror† in Russia go back to the attempt of assassination of Lenin in 1918. The thesis of â€Å"class struggle† became the dominating one and the ideology of the newly established state was programmed for the violence. This thesis correlated with the general course of the Bolshevik’s propaganda of the â€Å"global revolution† and establishing the Commun ist rule globally as the final aim. Joseph Stalin, a student of the Orthodox seminary in Georgia was grasped with the ideas of Karl Marx and joined the students in their protests against tsar.Stalin joined the radical organizations attempting to protest against authorities, was arrested by police and exiled to Siberia. Stalin escaped in Siberia several times, made friends with Lenin and became growing in the hierarchy of the Communist Party. After the revolution of 1917 he took the leading posts in the Communist Party. He took on the roles of political commissar for the Red Army during the civil war, and was the editor of Pravda translated as â€Å"truth,† In these capacities, Stalin was able to become a powerful figure within the party, but he did make enemies.One of them was another key revolutionary figure, a man named Leon Trotsky. By 1922, Stalin was powerful enough to take on the role of General Secretary of the Communist Party. 1 After the end of the Civil War the Bols heviks started to re-evaluate the political course. There were several groups advocating various ways of the future development. Before his death in 1924 Lenin warned his colleagues on the rudeness of Stalin and Stalin opponents tried to get the chance to back him from the power.Stalin presented an argument that Lenin before his death was sick and all his warnings should not have been taken seriously. Ideologically Stalin in contrast to Trotsky advocated an idea of building the socialism in the particular taken country. It contradicted the idea of the global proletarian revolution supported by Trotsky and his followers. Before his death Lenin introduced NEP, the new economic policy based on the partial liberalization of economy, turning it partially to the private sector. This measure was considered to be temporal and brought certain results.Before the revolution Russia was one of the main exporters of grain. After getting power Stalin took certain steps to renew the image of Russia as the main grain exporter. The former economic relations had been destroyed and the new ones were not built. The first wave of repression known as collectivization began. Peasants were forced to enter the collective farms, more or less well-to-do peasants were exiled and their property was confiscated. The military units collected the harvest by force and sent the products to cities.The repression machine started working and people were prosecuted and sent to prison even for to gleaning. One of the most striking phenomena of the 30’s Soviet Union was famine which burst out even in the rural regions of Ukraine famous for its fertile soil. The agricultural products were forcibly collected and sent to the cities. Of course, Stalin was responsible for this. Meanwhile the inner ideological struggle between the Communist Party leaders was going on. Stalin tried to eliminate any influence of the exiled Trotsky.The advocates of the Stalin’s rule stated that the situation of the USSR was difficult, it was surrounded by the countries with the hostile according to Lenin ideologies and the country needed the strong leader to renew the industry and provide the economic growth. Having nothing but the repressive machine Stalin started the great renewal of the industry. The huge repressive machine started its operations in 1936 after the assassination of Kirov in 1934. Huge formation described by Alexander Solzhenitsyn as â€Å"Archipelago Gulag† was established.GULAG is the abbreviation from Russian of Main Department of Prisons. NKVD (secret police) tried to unmask imaginary anti-Stalin conspiracies throughout the country. One of the most tragic consequences of the Stalin’s repression was the elimination of the Soviet military elite before the WWII. Almost all outstanding military leaders were repressed and executed. At the same time all remarkable pre-WWII industrial achievements were associated with Stalin and mass repressions. Article 58 of the criminal code presupposed severe repressions for being â€Å"the people’s enemy†.The interpretation of the code was very broad. The representatives of intelligentsia, science, and army were imprisoned according to this article. This article could be applied to anyone and condemned had to work hard building the hydropower stations, plants, roads and channels. The cheap labor of Gulag was the main reason of the industrial achievements of the 30’s. At the same time the cult of the Stalin’s personality was steadily growing. A number of songs, poems and films were devoted to â€Å"the Father of Peoples†.The adoration was reaching absurd forms very often and it was nothing more but fear to be repressed moved the Stalin’s admirers. This is one of the examples of widely used odes to Stalin: O great Stalin, O leader of the peoples, Thou who broughtest man to birth. Thou who fructifies the earth, Thou who restorest to centuries, Thou who makest bl oom the spring, Thou who makest vibrate the musical chords†¦ Thou, splendour of my spring, O thou, Sun reflected by millions of hearts. 2 The USSR was completely unprepared to the WWII known as the Great Patriotic War in the history of the Soviet Union.It is very complicated issue to discuss the reasons of the war but the role of Stalin was remarkable. By 1941 when German fascists attacked the USSR the personality cult of Stalin was successfully formed and played its certain (though questionable) role in the consolidation of the nation. The political biography of Stalin is a remarkable phenomenon. Millions of people were executed and the bloodiest human hating fascist regime was eliminated. He turned the theory of socialism upside down; he replaced the original thesis â€Å"socialism for people† by his own â€Å"people for socialism†.His saying â€Å"there is no problems if there is no a person† reflects his style of leadership. Outstanding scientists were intentionally imprisoned to work in the secret closed scientific institutes developing the mass destruction weapon. Stalin played his certain positive role in the WWII, but the causes and consequences of the war have not been yet still clearly defined. The victory over Nazism is sometimes presented as the Stalin’s personal achievement and historians sometimes don’t care about the 200 million people and brilliant military leaders who directed Soviet soldiers.The historical evaluation is very difficult thing and the responsibility of Stalin for genocide against the Soviet people is unquestionable. At the same time the dictators are not just villains. This would be a very simplified approach. Soviet people under the guidance of Stalin built one of the world’s most powerful economies though it cost millions of innocent victims. The Soviet leader of the 60’s Nikita Khrushev admitted and unmasked the cult of personality of Stalin but system changes took place o nly in late 80’s under the guidance of Gorbachev

Compare and Contrast Between Comedy and Tragedy

tragedy is defined as beginning with a problem that affects everyone, i. e. the whole town or all the characters involved, the tragic hero must solve this problem and this results in his banishment or death [run-on sentence]. A comedy is defined as also beginning with a problem, but one of less significant importance. The characters try to solve the problem and the story ends with all the characters uniting in either a marriage of a party.Although these two genres are seen as being complete opposites of each other, through further analysis one can gather that though they are different certain similarities can also be seen. One aspect of these genres that can be compared and contrasted is the narrative or plot. A comparison can be analyzed in that both begin with a problem. In Oedipus Rex, the play begins with a plague devastating the city of Thebes. In A Midsummer Night's Dream there is also a plague that is upon the land. However, a difference between these two beginnings is that in Oedipus Rex the citizen are effecte†¦ .. middle of paper †¦ †¦ morous manner that can help them see that their problems may not be as serious as they thought. While the audience sees the subjects dealt with in different ways both comedy and tragedy help them to gauge their own problems in comparison. While comedy and tragedy are usually viewed as two entirely different subjects, there are some similarities between the two. They both begin with serious problems but the true difference is in the way those problems are handled and the consequences that the characters suffer from those problems.

Brave New World and Political Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Brave New World and Political Theory - Essay Example Huxley draws inspiration from many great political thinkers as well as his own understanding of human nature. The idea of Hobbes, Mills, and Aristotle all inform Huxley’s understanding of the best and worst possible results of different styles of governance, allowing him to create a fictional novel illustrating the dangers of utopian thought carried to the extreme. Hobbes, in his essay â€Å"Of the Natural Condition of Mankind as Concerning Their Felicity and Misery,† holds some paternal notions concerning the liberty of individuals. This and other ideas of his seem to inform the misguided government of Brave New World. Hobbes begins with the statement that men are essentially created equal. Although they may excel in one arena or another, the individual’s strengths are not so great that other influences of civilization do no level the playing field. Huxley utilizes this philosophy with his aphorism that all men are biologically the same. According to Hobbes, the natural state of man is an inclination toward violence, as this is the only way to wrest from another that which is desired but cannot be shared. Therefore â€Å"during the time that men live without common power to keep them in awe they are in that condition which is called war; and such a war, as it is of every man, against every man† (Hobbes 12). In other words, Hobbes does not trust men to act with regard to others unless compelled by fear of retribution from some authoritative figure. This mirrors Huxley’s government, which sees the individual as a child who is not expected to think or behave except as â€Å"hypnopà ¦dia† (Huxley 16) has taught them. It is the basis of patriarchal thought, for only in a society where individuals cannot be trusted to behave can a government rationalize the removal of personal rights. Aristotle believed that a benevolent monarchy would constitute the perfect government. However, he relegated this

Estate Planning (case study) Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Estate Planning ( ) - Case Study Example The next important step in planning her estates is to know what kind of will that is necessary for her situation. By that, it is meant the land ownership, the mortgage and other important details that should be known prior to making out the will. (Estate Planning) The wills that Ursula should be interested in are Wills for Widows and Widowers because her estate has already been an estate after her husband died. It would also be wise of Ursula to consider a living will. " A Living Will allows an individual to make decisions about their health care in advance in case they ever are incapacitated and unable to do so. "(Markesmis and Deakin) Ursula's primary concern is that her children will be catered to after her death and both of these wills will ensure that her wishes will be fulfilled. The current state of the property is as follows: in the estate of Terry, who just died in 2005, all of the property was left to the children, Abby, Ben and Charles, in equal shares, but Ursula remained in possession of the matrimonial home which she had owned jointly with Terry up until his death. The outstanding mortgage debt secured against the home is now very small. Since the property has already been willed to the children and has gone through probate, or will be through it shortly, legally the three children already have the legal rights to the property and it has been deeded to them accordingly. The stipulation that Ursula will have to make in her will concerns who will remain in possession of the matrimonial home upon her death. There also remains the fact that a small mortgage exists. (Estate Planning)Ursula has expressed that she would like these stipulations to be set forth concerning her estate: that the land will remain unsold until the last of her children shall die, that each of her children shall have the right to reside in the house for part of the year, appoint her older brother, Victor, to be the sole independent trustee of the house "to ensure fair play at all times" and to ensure that Abby, who has a degree in estate management, has responsibility for the day-to-day management of the house. These are all important aspects and it is wise of Ursula to have thought of them. However to ensure that her wishes will be granted she must have this put into writing. It should be done by legal counsel and each stipulation should be written out clearly conveying her wishes and the names that she wants to be included in each part of the estate. A personal representative or executor is the first thing that Ursula should choose. She has already named her brother Viktor as she feels he will remain an impartial party. Having a personal representative or executor ensures that the wishes of Ursula regarding the estate will be carried out. A personal representative or executor of an estate is responsible for making sure that the wishes set forth in the will and estate plan are carried out. (Brinkworth and Gibson) Ursula will also be given the option of choosing an alternate personal representative or executor. The alternate will be responsible if something happens to the original executo r.After the personal represen

D-Day Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

D-Day - Essay Example The training and planning for D-Day had began months earlier as the plan came more in focus. The Airbase at Alliance Nebraska had become the center of training and by January 1944, there were 14,000 paratroopers training for the eventual invasion of German occupied France (Flanagan 24). By the evening of June 5, these paratroopers along with glider and C47 cargo aircraft had assembled in airfields in England. When General Eisenhower gave the signal, the aircraft and gliders made the initial advance on France. The 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions would be the first allied troops to land in France (Miller 733). The air operation also included one British division and this initial assault by the paratroopers has been credited with the success of the operation (O'Neill 16). From the moment they touched the ground, they would be confronted by German troops. The Naval armada, one-third American, was moving toward the shore while being protected by an impenetrable air cover. The operation would deliver a naval assault on 5 beaches at Normandy France. The beaches were dubbed Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword, the code names given for the purposes of the operation ("World War II" D-Day"). As they hit the shores, they moved massive amounts of men and armament ashore. The initial assault involved 133,000 men that would increase to 850,000 by the end of June ("World War II" D-Day"). The landing was aided by the recently produced temporary "seagoing harbors" that had been built in British shipyards in total secrecy (Miller 735). These structures allowed the Allies to transform the beaches into serviceable harbors that could resupply the operation pending the capture of a major port at Le Havre (Miller 735). Fierce fighting would rage for days on the beaches of Normandy. Allied troops were faced with terrain that favored the defenders and were met with trained troops from the German Wehrmacht (Zapotoczny 1). Allied planes kept up a constant screen of curtain bombing as the German shore batteries offered fierce resistance. By the end of the fourth day, the German's were wearing down and the once secret French Underground was emerging to join the fight. American Rangers and British Commandos were lunging deep into German held territory at night and destroying the enemy's supply of weapons and communications systems (Miller 738). As the battle continued during the coming days, the German resistance concentrated and became more fierce. Cherbourg was heavily defended by the Germans who had been given an order to fight until they die (Miller 743). On June 22, the allies waged an all out assault on Cherbourg, which began by cutting the German lines of communications (Miller 743). Behind the lines, French Partisans fighting underground paralyzed the German supply lines and blocked the arrival of reinforcements. Fighting would continue in the coming weeks to secure France from the occupation of the German army. The effect of D-Day was to divert German attention and resources away from their battle with the Russians for control of Europe. The invasion of Normandy not only gave the Allied forces a strong foothold in France, it aided the Russian effort. Though the Germans has anticipated a major invasion for some time, the decoy efforts and the massive scope of the invasion was able to scatter and destroy the backbone of the German army in Europe.

Oratorical Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Oratorical Analysis - Essay Example On June 12, 2005 Jobs was asked to deliver the commencement address for Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. His humorous and yet serious speech is available on You Tube and also the text of it is available at the University’s web site (2005). In that talk, Mr. Jobs talked about four distinct points: 1) His early life through college, 2) His tenure and abrupt departure from Apple and career thereafter 3) Jobs’ cancer diagnosis and facing death before fifty and 4) The concluding statements. This paper will then attempt to give an Oratorical Analysis on that speech and including the text, along with the You Tube video, other information will be gleaned as needed from Biography’s work on Mr. Jobs (Biography 2012). I. Early Life Steven Paul Jobs was born on February 24, 1955 in San Francisco, California. His father was a Syrian professor at the University of Wisconsin and his mother, Joanne Schieble, was a graduate student. Yet there were two very big proble ms, at least for the post McCarthy and I Like Ike United States of America of 1955. First, his parents were unwed and that was the time period females were sent away in shame if they became pregnant, for they were in â€Å"trouble†. The second and equally just as terrible major issue was that his biological father was Syrian, Abdulfattah Jandali. Biracial relationships were a definite taboo although his parents eventually also produced a daughter, whom Steve Jobs finally met in the eighties. So his mother decided long before Steve’s birth to give him up for adoption. The one stipulation she had was her child be raised by college graduates and the adoption was arranged for a lawyer and his life. Yet there was a huge problem with that; they wanted a girl and Steve was definitely a boy. So they rejected the infant sight unseen. A hasty replacement was obtained with a couple named Clara and Paul Jobs from the Silicon Valley. Although hard working (Clara was an accountant a nd Paul was a machinist) neither had graduated college. As a matter of fact Paul Jobs had never even graduated from high school! Schieble was so upset that she put the adoption on hold for many months before she finally relented, after a compromise was reached and the Jobs’ promised that young Steven would eventually attend college. He eventually met his mother and knew who his father was, although they did not connect. Jobs sarcastically referred to his birth parents as a sperm and egg bank. By all accounts Steven had a happy childhood and it was probably through Paul Jobs that the boy developed his life’s work, for man and son spent many enriching hours in the family garage tinkering with electronics. Yet for all of his accomplishments the boy was not very good in school, even though he tested so highly in elementary school that the educators wanted to propel him forward to high school, a proposition that his parents did not approve. A good part of Jobs’ free thinking philosophy was no doubt shaped by the turbulent decade of the sixties, the very years of young Steven’s formative years. One needs to only watch singer Billy Joel’

Impact of developing technology on the retail industry Research Paper

Impact of developing technology on the retail industry - Research Paper Example The focus is on improving competitiveness and taking advantage of the available opportunities. The need for shops is increasingly becoming obsolete with the changing technological trends. Online systems have led to the creation of virtual shops that are slowly replacing the convectional shopping centers. This trend is expected to increase with the future predicting a possible phase off for shops. This revolution has been experienced in several sectors, Apple was one of the corporations that championed this paradigm shift through online marketing and use of its applications. Many record shops have been closed in the near past because of the changing patterns in buying of movies and music as initiated by Apple. Purchase of music online has become so prevalent not only in the United States and in Canada but in other countries including the underdeveloped countries. This trend is gaining popularity in the sale of books, Amazon, eBay among others continue to expand for the convenience and efficiency that they give to their customers. Competition has enhanced advancement across the retail markets worldwide. Technology has been the central focus for many retail outlets. Despite the fact that most of the retailers are still on profit, their margins continue to decline. This has prompted a game change that has helped them keep ahead of competition. Home Depot, a company that deals with selling household items has been able to adopt technological changes. The company developed a mobile application that not only did it enhance the customer experience but also facilitated the associates in taking inventory. The company and its customers have received this strategy with a lot of optimism. Competitiveness has also facilitated research in strategies that are predicted to enhance sales as well as increase the customer base. The pressure from competition will force the optimization of the supply chain in order to provide a better customer experience as well as remain on a profi t-making trend. The number of physical stores is expected to dramatically reduce. The so called ‘brick and mortar’ establishments are likely to remain but technological change has to be coupled with the change. However, the change will come with a drastic reduction in these outlets. Another phenomenon expected to be coupled with the reduction in the number of stores is the reduction in their sizes. The main reason for this is the increased business online capable of enhancing the decisions to lease, facilitating merchandising plans and transforming the physical layout. With the reduction of the physical locations and the size of the premises, diversification is of great essence (Sohl, 2012).. The retail market can divert its activities online as well as diversifying to the other areas of the product supply chain. In addition, they can result to offering services. Technology will facilitate the retailers to refocus on customer loyalty while enhancing closeness with the c ustomers. Loyal customers will keep on buying fro the same retailer irrespective of the change. However, in order to facilitate their shopping experience it is obligatory that they keep abreast with change, even loyal customers deserve quality and efficient services. Despite being top on the retail of household items, Home Depot developed a mobil

Tourism Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tourism - Case Study Example Television shows have also played a great part in popularising destinations. And what better example than that of the Australia Zoo; the zoo, located in the Queensland town of Beerwah, became a major tourist attraction by way of Steve Irwin's 'Crocodile Hunter' wildlife documentaries. The Australia Zoo, which started as a small reptile park, became a major tourist attraction thanks to Irwin's popularity as the Crocodile Hunter. (Debbie Olsen, Canwest News Service.) Tourism departments have woken up to the strength of movies in creating the hype about a destination. Though the incidence of movies being made to promote a destination is less usual, the fact remains that movies popularize travel without primarily intending to. When a recce is done to zero down upon a locale, the primary objective is to suit the requirement of the story. In Indian movies or what is more popular globally as Bollywood movies (these are the Hindi language movies that forms the biggest chunk of Indian movies), it is also important that the shot looks picturesque; to shoot a song sequence, the scene can ridiculously shift to the snow-covered Alps, even if the storyline goes nowhere near Europe. However, in the process, movies make certain locales popular and enhance tourism in that place. For example, the Indian film industry has increased the volume of tourism in Switzerland to such an extent that Lakes and Waterfalls are being named after Indian movie stars and produc ers. Tapping the Consumer Base It is a common phenomenon that tourism boards and local administrative bodies offer various incentives such as discounts in accommodation, food, permission for shooting and even cash incentives, to lure production units. (The Financial Express, 2005.) In India, movie making is big business. Over 1000 movies are released every year (the largest in the world), 3.2 billion movie tickets are sold each year (the largest in the world) and 10,000 music tracks hit the market every year. (Indian Entertainment and Media Outlook 2009 Report.) The Indian Tourism sector contributes 6.23 percent to the GDP and generates a total employment of 8.78 percent. In 2008, USD 100 billion was generated by the tourism industry and this is expected to rise to USD 275.5 billion by 2018. (Jaipur Hotel Deals Blog, 2009.) Watching movies in one-screen theatres (I am not talking here of multiplexes, which are expensive) is a relatively cheap form of entertainment in which millions of Indians indulge. Here films a re almost a way of life with the people and movie stars are demigods. The movie songs (no movie has less than five songs on an average) are an industry on its own. No festival or ceremony is complete without film songs. Television shows are churned out based on movies and their songs. No wonder such a huge consumer base is an attractive proposition and even if five percent of this can be converted and directed towards tourism, it would present a huge earning potential. This huge market is up for grabs for both the national and international tourism boards. It works out wonderfully for the producer who gets to save nothing less than 20 percent of the cost. Jaisalmer - the

Effects of Social Media Essay Example for Free

Effects of Social Media Essay For the past decade, society has been undergoing a technological revolution in communication. The creation of the internet was the foundation for the communication practices of today. Internet use began to facilitate asynchronous messaging, which later evolved towards instantaneous communication, synchronous messaging. This communication revolution occurred rapidly and was vastly accepted by millions of people. At an extremely fast rate individuals began creating personal profiles on social networking websites. A new form of communication is identified as social networking, which includes instant-messaging, text-messaging, e-mail, and any internet facilitated form of social interaction. Associating the interaction of these social mediums as a form of interpersonal relationships may have further implications on an individual’s identified norms and values regarding social communication. The person connected via social media is perceived as participating in a social interaction, but communicating by social mediums should not be considered similar to real-life interaction. see more:social media cause and effect Although some of the mediums, now, allow for camera and internet facilitated face-to-face communication, the interaction itself is mediated through a device. There must be a clear understanding of the what is considered real-life interaction, and social medium communication. The notion computational technologies have created an alternative way of thinking is introduced by Sherry Turkle. Further, individuals have begun to alter their way of identifying their ‘self’. The multiple interfaces offered by social media allows people to create an online profile, which allows individuals to illustrate their life experiences, personal appearance, etc. The ability to construct an individuals image may cause complexities regarding ‘self’ identification. Another aspect of change may be associated with computational technologies and the effects they have on they way people process information. On the other hand, there have been positive and negative associations with social mediums effects on the development and understanding of social interactions: social media offers communicative methods in which allow for individuals to become more connected to society through the internet. This study will examine whether or not regular use of social media to communicate with others may have further implications on individual’s sense of self and sense of values he or she identifies with social interactions. This work will relate the aspects of self-identification and the effected values associated with consistent use of social mediums. There is a self-perpetuating cycle regarding the use of social media. â€Å"It is worth noting that the ungrati? ed social and habitual needs of SM use can accumulate through their own endogenous effects over time, and motivate future SM use. In other words, these needs drive SM use, but are not grati? ed by SM use, and grow larger to stimulate heavier SM use in the future. In this sense, SM use gradually cultivates greater social and habitual needs to use SM. This may help explain the increasing popularity of SM. †1 The use of social media allows people to connect with seemingly any other individual. The ability to connect with people creates satisfaction in the user’s emotional, and social needs. If these needs are meet throughout the individual’s experience than he or she will likely develop a preference for online use, which may cause further submergence into the social mediums. Face-to-face interaction, or real-life, may have caused an individual that identifies him or herself as socially inept to refer to social mediums as an attempt to find a way to connect with society. If the individual experiences positive feedback during their use of these social mediums they are more likely to associate themselves online rather than face-to-face. The unbiased acceptance in the social medium facilitates a person’s need for social connection. Anyone can connect. People can find friends by previous associations, recommendations, groups of similar interests, and they can search for people with related interests in political, educational, environmental concerns, etc. The vast expectance of social media platforms has created a society in which any person can meet their needs of social, and emotional gratifications because of the exponential possibility of finding friends with similar interests. Social media is shown to expand the boundaries of social interaction, â€Å"Research has shown that SM [Social Media] provides unprecedented convenience and ef? ciency for creating, maintaining, and strengthening social relationships. Many features of SM facilitate self-disclosure and social interactions, such as the removal of geographic boundaries and the rich interaction opportunities afforded by networks of ‘‘friends’’ and information (e. g. , Ellison, Stein? eld, Lampe, 2007; Lai Turban, 2008). † 2 The contribution social mediums have on people’s ability to communicate across the world is one of the positive associations of connectivity. Creating and maintaining social relationships is exemplified by the ability for individuals to connect with seemingly anyone: the aspect of strengthening relationships may be more associated with the ability to connect with distant friends, or partners. The ease of accessibility contributes to the repeating cycle in which online social media creates through the exponential possibilities of connections; for example, each user is a multiplying factor providing an opportunity for millions of different connections when they join social networking. As consumers participate more through social mediums, they are exemplifying to other individuals that consistent online activity is accepted, as a factor of social interaction. This factor could lead to negative uses of social media, which will be explored later. Furthermore, the use of social media as another form of face-to-face interaction may positively effect individuals, â€Å"Using Facebook and MySpace as an extension of face-to-face interaction to maintain interpersonal relationships may enable users to broaden connections that they otherwise may not have and to strengthen existing friendships. This study reinforces the capabilities of social mediums for relationships; but also, highlights the importance of correct use of electronic media. Rather than using social media as alternative form of face-to-face communication, Carlyne Kujath^ hints individuals should monitor his or her use accordingly in order to avoid crossing the boundary of electronic media becoming a negative factor in society. As Kujath suggests the proper use of electronic media is the practice as an â€Å"extension† of interpersonal communication, instead of using social media as an alternative for real-life interaction. The recommended methods of using social networking facilitate both online and offline interaction. It is important to not exclude offline interaction; although online interaction has more positive effects on individuals who participated via social networking, â€Å"The key finding of this study was the lower social anxiety observed during online interaction than during real-life interaction, particularly in subjects with high social anxiety. †4 Online communication is attributed to easier social interaction. The individual feels more comfortable interacting through social networking. The vast amount of users facilitate a wider range of groups in which individuals can interact with in order to meet their needs of gratification, emotional and social. The lower social anxiety is likely associated with the available connectivity, and the emotional and social support found through social communication. While the higher social anxiety regarding real-life interaction is related to the inability to have control over the interaction. For example, an individual in a face-to-face interaction may not know the proper norms of real-life communication, and how to respond which may cause further disconnection from â€Å"real-life†. It seems the self propelling method of social media emerges, again. Users are compelled to use social media for easier, more controllable interaction. The high social anxiety found in face-to-face communication drives users to find an alternative method to gratify their personal needs. In contrast, the lower social anxiety experienced through online interaction exemplifies the positive effects social media can have on people. Online communication seems to meet the needs of people with various desires and intentions, and also satisfies their needs of personal gratification. Social media facilitates an environment in which people feel comfortable participating within. This use of connectivity contributes to satisfying an individual’s needs, which further compels the person to continue participating. People’s use of social media propels each person to connect further both online and offline, â€Å"These ? ndings indicate a signi? cant positive association between SNS [Social Networking Sites] exposure and social interaction. There is also a positive relationship between cellular-phone communication and social interaction. For every hour increase on average in SNS exposure or cell-phone communication, average face-to-face social interaction increased about 10 to 15 minutes. †5 Assuming each person’s interaction online was of positive influence people feel more comfortable with interpersonal communication. Online connection may be allowing people who feel socially inept to develop the norms and values of interpersonal interaction through practices of interaction. Surprisingly, the more online communication a person had positively effected the amount of face-to-face interaction they experienced. One might assume more time spent on social platforms causes less time for real-life interaction, but there are underlying factors of electronic media that can contribute to more face-to-face interaction. Individuals are who use online networking to communicate may use it to set up events, or communicate with friends or family to meet-up at a specific time and location. Also, individuals who use cell-phone communication, text-messaging, can synchronously converse with others in order to coordinate meeting up. The concept of deciding when a person wants to interact in real-life environments is attributed with the notion an individual can be connected or disconnected to social platforms whenever they want. Each person can decide when they want to respond to a person, or even if they want to respond. This follows the model of social networking sites: they allow for people to communicate whenever they desire through the ability to post a status. Social networks allow for each individual to determine and construct the online profiles. The people have complete control. Controlling the situation is also an aspect attributed with people’s preference for online communication in contrast to real-life. The non-mediated form of communication, face-to-face, does not allow for the people to have easy control over their interaction. For example, individuals who are speaking face-to-face may have an instance in which the opposing person does not feel comfortable causing negative associations with real-life interaction. Social media assists in giving people the opportunity to feel comfortable within their personal interaction with the electronic medium. The person has better control over the communication, and his or her emotions by the option to stop messaging, or log-out. In addition, individuals online can perform this interaction synchronously, or not: people do not have to respond immediately in any electronically mediated interactions. In example of people’s association of social media with communicative interactions, â€Å"In addition, compared to of? ine interactions, the mediated nature of SM interactions offers users a more controllable environment to strategically present themselves in their interactions (Dunne et al. 2010; Walther, Slovacek, Tidwell, 2001)†.   The concept of â€Å"presentation† alludes to the notion people can construct their online image however they desire. People felt more comfortable in the interaction in which they had the most control. They can decide when they want to communicate, which allows for them to develop a better understanding of their emotions in order to respond accordingly. Individuals are now becoming accustomed to mediated synchronous communication in which there is an expected delay between messages allowing for each person to think. Although electronic media facilitates instantaneous communication, people have begin to construct an alternative norm. People developed the concept of thoroughly thinking before responding. This identifies a shift in the values associated with social interaction pertaining to/regarding the transition individuals made from face-to-face interaction to the mediated electronic communication. The effects of this shift told by Turkle, â€Å"A seventh grader once told me that the typewriter she found in her mothers attic is cool† because you have to type each letter by itself. You have to know what you are doing in advance or it comes out a mess. The idea of thinking ahead has become exotic. †7 The transition towards mediated social interaction and the related concept of instant communication has led people to become disconnected with the ability to think as they speak, rather than before they speak. A young child is the example illustrating the effects social media has on aspects of social interaction. Further, individuals’ ability to construct their online environment is reinforced by the capability to predetermine their response: the person can even attempt to coordinate the conversation in order to direct it in their desired way. In real-life this ability to lead a conversation would show a developed understanding of social interaction, but as the child shows people no longer relate those particular values of social interaction with face-to-face communication. People redefined the values associated with real-life interaction. This change is directly attributed to the shift to using electronic media for communication. Moreover, the change in values is correlated to the substitution of social medium for face-to-face communication. Social media has further effects related to individual’s behavior. Another instance of change regarding interpersonal interaction is exemplified by how people manage themselves in real-life social environments. The immediate accessibility to social medium via electronic devices constructs a social environment allowing consistent interruptions of interpersonal communication. People have begun to use their cell-phones to text message, check social networking sites, and receive e-mails. The social world is now filled with the beeps and buzzing sounds of cell-phones, constantly.

Analysis of Saudi Arabias Restaurant Industry

Analysis of Saudi Arabias Restaurant Industry Introduction: In this paper we will discuss the restaurant Industry in Saudi Arabia which is growing faster than anywhere else in the region; it is growing at a pace that is exceeding its infrastructure wwith different range of prices and classes, starting form as low as $1.00 USD and going up to $75.00 USD if youre into fancy restaurants  [1]  . The restaurant industry is very divers and large including: cafes/bars, full-service restaurants, fast food, home delivery and street stalls, all types of restaurants have a wide range of food specialization from ethnic, international, and local. There are also three main types of investors: independent owners, international franchise, and local restaurant chains. A restaurant chain is a set of related restaurants, typically with the same name in many different locations either under shared corporate ownership e.g. Al-Baik and Herfy. Typically, the restaurants within a chain are built to a standard format and offer a standard menu. A franchise is a right granted to an individual or group to market a companys goods or services within a certain territory or location. Some examples of todays popular franchises in Saudi Arabia are McDonalds, Subway, and Dominos Pizza. In order to analyze the attractiveness of the restaurant Industry in Saudi Arabia we will employ three different analytical tools, Porter five forces, assessment of the macro market environment known as (PESTLE Analysis), and SWOT analysis. Based on our analysis we will offer an advice to any new firm considering entering the restaurant industry in Saudi Arabia. PESTLE Analysis The effect of the Saudi politics on the restaurant industry Saudi Arabia is ruled by the family of Al Saud who since the establishment of their kingdom declared that it is ruled by the Islamic law. The Al Saud family also affirmed that they are committed to supporting the economic growth and be part of the developed nations. This goal is very challenging to achieve because fundamentalist Muslims refuse the idea of globalization, this lay a moderate political risk on the regime. On the other hand, this political situation affects the restaurant industry positively because the restaurant industry remains the major uncontested method of entertainment among Saudis. Particularly, by law, all restaurants are required to have single-males section separated from the family section to adhere to the tradition and religious requirements. Moreover, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is perceived as the leader of the Muslim world, because it is the home town of Makah; which Muslims from all over the world must visit at least once in their life time to complete the fifth pillar of their religion. This makes Saudi Arabia suffers from a tension in its international relationships mainly after the event of 911 because some of the western countries are holding the kingdom partially responsible for 9/11. This political situation is one of the main strength of the restaurant industry in Saudi; with no cinemas or night clubs, eating out becomes the main source of entertainment for most of the population. There is an appetite for new restaurants that exceeds any other region in the world  [2]  . The effect of the Saudi law and Regulation on the restaurant industry The recent ruler of the Saudi Arabia, king Abdullah, is respected internally and internationally for his efforts to fight terrorism and his large amount of public spending on reform plans have helped the country to overcome  [3]  most of its economic obstacles. The kingdoms major step toward reform was the application for membership of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and making consistent legal changes to meet with its requirements, but still there is mistrust from the Privet sectors toward the government, because of the unnecessary bureaucratic practices and inappropriate regulations that are seen as burdensome for the competitive market. Some areas are over regulated while others are under regulated. It takes almost six months to register a company, and the company must give a proof that it has substantial sum of money to invest, not less than $10,000. However, the regulatory changes made in recent years appear to have been of most beneficiaries to those Saudi companies which are seeking to expand through alliances with foreign investors  [4]  . Nevertheless, the law requires foreign investors to have a Saudi partner and the Saudi partner, individual or company, will have the majority of control over the business. Over all, the legal process is very complex and financially risky whether you are opening a small business or a major enterprise. The government should amend these processes to encourage foreign investments. The effects of Saudi economic on the restaurant industry The Kingdom is experiencing accelerated growth due to recent oil price spikes. The positive effect has been a rise in per capita GDP from approximately $8100 (1999) to $9575, or 18%, by 2005. Combine this with the fact that the Kingdom has one of the worlds fastest growing populations (3.5% per year) and you are faced with an expanding market with good disposable income levels. AC Nielsen research reports that the Saudi economy is expected to grow 8.7% this year, mainly fuelled by the high oil prices as well as strong private sector growth  [5]  Saudi remains the largest market in the entire Gulf. Many view Dubai as the showcase but Saudi proves to be the sales room and cash generator. Due to fact that Saudi Arabia is a third world country, it depends on imported goods and technology, the government commitments to the economic expansion creates job opportunities for professional trained foreigners and depend on them to fulfill the countrys ambitious development strategies. According to HSBC Bank Saudi Arabia is classified as the second in the wealth of professional trained foreigners. Saudi Arabia is ranked twenty two among other countries in the tourism sector. Moreover, Saudi Arabia hosts over five million pilgrims yearly from all over the world coming for Hajj and Ummrah. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam which all Muslims must perform at least once in their life time. The restaurant industry is one of the major Beneficiaries from such advantage. Therefore, the government has been actively considering to expand what is believed to be billions of dollars worth of income in the tourism sector by attracting international tourists to the Kingdoms historic sites, in the mid-2008, a package of new relaxed visa rules were released allowing many groups from Europe to visit the Kingdom with a group tourist visa, which years before was unheard of. This policy has created a new segment for the Saudi restaurant industry. Also, the large number of foreigners, coming as workers or as tourist and pilgrims, with their ethnic background are considered the back bone for the restaurant industry. The effect the social characteristics on the restaurant industry Tradition and religion encourage Muslims to be hospitable and sociable. Inviting guests and friends to banquet in their home is the norm in Saudi Arabia. In Saudi Arabia Segregation between opposite gender exist in most sectors of public eservices, schools, universities, banks, this segregation unlocked job opportunities for large number of Saudi females. In the last few years it became easier to entertain guests and family to a restaurant for the busy working females or even have the restaurant food and staff to entertain them at home. Dining out became a habit among all social classes in the Kingdom with the lack of other entertainment venues due to religious issues. Therefore the trend of eating out is constantly growing among them.  [6]   This social characteristic will have a blooming and flourishing effect on the restaurant industry in Saudi Arabia where the main entertainment is going out restaurant. Perhaps the most pronounced feature of the demography is its young population where more the 59% are under 24 years of age. And part of the Saudi government or reform is to develop its workforce; to achieve this goal the government sends over one hundred thousand young students to peruse their higher education in highly developed countries every year. These large numbers of young people live abroad for almost five to seven years comes back with food and restaurant likes that they adopted during their scholarship.  [7]  This opened the door widely for international franchise in Saudi Arabia Some of the franchises that are currently present in Saudi Arabia, McDonalds, Hardees, Burger King, Popeye, Chilies, TGI, Fuddruckers, Pizza Hut among many others and are very popular among this young population along with foreign workforce, tourist, and pilgrims. The effect of technology and the environment of the restaurant industry The last of the two macro marketing environment forces are the technological and the environmental: In Saudi Arabia Technology in the restaurant industry is not limited to basic kitchen appliances and tools. However, one may not expect some complex equipments are used in the restaurant industry. Many restaurants are leading the way in regards to credit card processing and point-of-sale technologies, introducing new ways to serve their customers and increase the overall convenience of the dining experience. Of course, restaurants chains and franchise are the main benefactors of this development in communication  [8]   In Saudi Arabia there is no significant awareness from the government or most of the population to the environmental issues. All the restaurants that uses recycle paper or green energy are mostly international franchise applying their Owen corporate policy as part of their responsibility Porters 5 Forces Analysis Threat of New Entrants. The restaurant industry is the easiest to enter basically anyone who can cook, with the minimize capital amount can enter the business. Barriers to enter this industry are mainly in the bureaucratic regulation that might take time but this is not considered a serious barrier. Power of Suppliers. While there are plenty of food supplies, but they depend on imported material because Saudi Arabia is not an agricultural country. The import of food and foodstuffs are estimated to exceed $7 billion annually and the Kingdom remains the leading market in the region. Except for date and milk all other raw materials are imported. There are big numbers of suppliers and prices are controlled by the government. Only international food chains franchise might be obliged to buy its raw material from a certain supplier. Power of Buyers. The balance of power is shifting toward buyers. With so many restaurants the competition is very high. Buyers are always looking for the best quality and price. Going to restaurant is not an essential; people are always ready to try something new. With Variety of products to choose from, local, ethnic, and western couple with intense competition lead buyers seeks lower prices and better services. Disposable income levels and an expanding shopping mall culture are assisting this growth Availability of Substitutes. Substitutes for the restaurant industry in general include alternative form of entertainment like cinemas or night club. The available entertainment substitute is the shopping malls, where people will go shopping, or window shopping. Most fast food chains are showing positive growth and are ever present in all the new shopping malls Competitive Rivalry. Even though there are no figures revealing the size of this lucrative market, a high industry growth rate is intensifying the competitive rivalry the presence of so many available substitutes are a particularly challenging situation for some firms SWOT: Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats The Saudi restaurant industry is weak in economies of scale and labor productivity. Its strength is the ability to attract huge capital and labor with it openness to the world market. The restaurant industry is showing significant growth, on the other hand, this open market has intensified an open competition. The diversified culture of Saudi Arabia is the key to exploit Economies of scope. Also, exploiting the economies of scale is also an opportunity. The consumer preference for differentiated and healthy products is also another opportunity to exploit in enhancing the economies of scope. Although, the anticipated low population growth in the future could be a major threat as it would decrease the quantity of demand coupled with the increase in the retail chain the significant increase in small households and working women will create new opportunities for the restaurant industry. Conclusion and recommendation: In this assignment we carried out an analysis of the restaurant industry competitiveness in Saudi Arabia by employing three different analytical tools, PESTLE Analysis, Porter Five Forces, and SWOT Analysis. Based on our analysis we concluded with the following findings and advices to any new firm considering entering the restaurant industry in Saudi Arabia. The strength of the restaurant industry lies on its ability to attract huge capital and labor with it openness to the world market. The restaurant industry is showing significant growth faster than anywhere in the world. Many factors have contributed to this fast growth as such as the political, economical, and low labor market and other socio-cultural factors. The economical and political outlook for restaurant industry in Saudi Arabia is very encouraging, government shows commitment and support to economic growth which is reflected in its double-digit increase in government expenditures on many aspects that are related to the restaurant business. Furthermore, currently, the government economic plan emphasizes the strengthening the growing private sector business opportunities with focus on increasing the national and foreign investments as public spending has increased by 15.8% the government has increased the budget for new projects by 36%. One of the most promising aspects for the restaurant industry is the social changes in Saudi Arabia. For example, the role of females in the social and economic life is dramatically changing as women are now allowed to enter the work force and have huge impact on the purchasing power and certainly a change in womens lifestyle that is favorable to the restaurant industry. On the other hand, the legal process in Saudi is very complex and financially risky whether you are opening a small business or a major enterprise. The government should amend these processes to encourage further foreign investments. Also, the Saudi restaurant industry is weak in economies of scale and labor productivity. Based on the above findings, we strongly recommend and encourage any firm to enter the Saudi market keeping in mind the following points: The restaurant industry is highly competitive in terms of price, service, location, and food quality and is affected by changes in consumer trends, economic conditions, demographics, traffic patterns, and concerns about the nutritional content of foods. shifting dietary preferences among consumers in favor of alternative foods can open the doors for niche market The growth of the restaurant industry is expected to generally stay the same over the next few years and it can be considered a blue ocean. The restaurant industry is affected greatly by globalization and it will continue to be.

Historical Significance of Mona Lisa Painting

Historical Significance of Mona Lisa Painting Mona Lisa is a 16th-century painting made from oil and popular wood. Due to the paintings mystique and technical mystery, it is one of the worlds most famous paintings. Mona Lisa is also known as La Joconde or La Giocondo was made by a Renaissance Man, an Italian artist known as Leonardo Da Vinci (Sassoon, 2002).The painting was later bought by the France King at that time King Francois. Mona Lisa presently hangs in the museum in Musee de Louvre, Paris and is currently a French Government property. Many theories have been brought up regarding the woman sitting on the painting and the painting itself. The painting has been reproduced and can be found at almost every museum. THE MONA LISA HISTORY According to Vasari, Leonardo first took four years to make the painting after which he set it aside (Barolsky 22). He thereafter moved to France to paint at Clos Luc à © upon King Francoise request. Where he resumed working on the Mona Lisa. It took Leonardo three more years to complete the painting. The painting according to Farago (1999) is said to have been commissioned by Francesco Del Giocondo, a wealthy silk merchant and his wife Lisa. In spite of the continuous debate. It is a common belief that the lady in the portrait could as well be Lisa Del Giocondo. The couple requested the painting at the birth of their second child since they wanted it for their home (Van Dyke, 2008). A contrasting theory suggests Da Vinci did not paint a picture of a woman but his own portrait in feminine clothing. Mona Lisa painting shows a woman whose facial expression is enigmatic. The half-length portrait shows a woman who is gazing at the viewer with a smile (Farago 184). The smile has raised many questions with many people arguing that the smile has a hidden mystery. Most people who had seen the portrait say that her eyes follow someone across the room if you gaze at her. The painting has been an object of continual fascination due to the ambiguous expression of the woman, the half-figure composition monumentality, the atmospheric illusionism and the subtle modelling forms (Sassoon, 2002). Da Vinci used a rare design of a pyramid to place Mona Lisa calmly and simply in the paintings space. On the front corner of the pyramid, he placed the form of her folded hands. Lighting was well used as her neck, breast and face glow with similar light as the one that models her hands (Van Dyke, 2008). Da Vinci used the formula used for the image of seated Madonna that was popular at that time to creat e the seated female figure. He used a modification of this formula whereby he created a distance between the observer and the seated woman through visual impression (Farago 216). SIGNIFICANCE Mona Lisa and the viewer are divided using the armrest of the chair. Mona Lisa shows a reserved posture as she sits markedly upright her arms folded across the chest. She welcomes a silent communication to the observer through her gaze, which is constantly fixed to the viewer. The viewer is greatly attracted to Mona Lisas face by the brightly lit face that is framed practically by darker elements of the veil, hair and the shadows. Da Vinci created Mona Lisa in such a way that her composition will evoke an ambiguous effect to the observer. The painting shows a divine creature with a lot of mystery (Farago, 1999). The observer is attracted to her but her divinity and mystery create a distance. The painting depicts no kind of dialogue between the woman and the observer (Van Dyke 268). MONA LISA AND FASHION DESIGN Mona Lisas clothing indicated the fashion design of that time (Titians) which was well designed to suit her personality, her social status and physical condition (Barolsky 78). Mona Lisa is a figure of a woman, dressed in the fashion of her days known as Florentine fashion. The painting represents Lisa Del Giocondo a wife to a Florentine silk merchant who was wealthy (Farago 202). Therefore her dressing represents class and wealth. Her dressing signifies magnificent enigma and mystery especially the dark silk swathes. The Florentine fashion worn by Mona Lisa presents a challenge to the modern fashion design some wishing to replicate her costume. Her garment which is made of sheer dark silk has some gathers around the neck (Barolsky 93). The garment has loose sleeves that roll back at the elbow embroidery or gold braid trimmings at the neck. Beneath her garment seems to be a well-structured garment that supports her bosom. A strip of white gathered fabric is visible beneath silk rapin g at her left shoulder. Further at the shoulder are sleeves that have a different color from the rest of the garment tied to an invisible garment (Van Dyke 63). Mona Lisa is wearing a veil made of finest black silk. The veil is stopped from falling by a line at the back of her head. Mona Lisa style of dressing and fashion had several controversies. The white linen that was visible from the shoulder suggested that she had worn a chemise beneath. Her outer garments showed a type of garment known as guarnello which was made of linen worn by pregnant women and children of those days. Mona Lisa had made such a garment made of silk (Van Dyke 208). When Leonardo made the painting Francesco and Lisa were celebrating the birth of their third child. It is therefore very significant in the type of Lisas dressing. The use of the fabulous sheer silk dress, the veiling on her shoulders portrays wealth and promotion of Francescas business (Sassoon 108). Leonardo da Vinci made Mona Lisa clothing design to match with her pregnant body and her social status as a wife to a wealthy silk merchant. Leonardo explains his design and the reasons why he used the specific materials. The gown was made from black silk damask so that it would not show through the guarnello which was made of sheer silk (Van Dyke, 229). To show that the woman was recently pregnant, da Vinci used black velvet bands to edge and frost-fasten it. Her bodice was lightly boned and stiffened and then linen lined and fastened with concealed rings. A single ribbon was drawn from the bodice and a pleated trained skirt and cartridge pleated to it. During the time women were wearing full chemise with raglan cut sleeves and gathered neckline (Herald, 1981). This could be indicated through painting such as Titians The Woman with the Mirror. Leonardo decided to use a less full chemise which was less bulky. The Titians women also wore sashes which Leonardo used to fold the sheer si lk guarnello and draw in the gathers in order to give the gown in painting a controlled form (Sassoon 88). The major aspect that measures female beauty is physical attractiveness which specifically covers fashion design. Mona Lisa was one of Da Vincis numerous works which are a masterpiece to marvel at to date. The picture of Mona Lisa has also been used to date to grace many magazines, objects such as cups and souvenirs among others (Farago 267). Da Vincis work has challenged fashion design industry especially is construction and couture execution. A good fashion designer does not need to only be artistic but also a critical thinker. Most people argue that Leonardo da Vinci created a picture of himself as a woman and from what can be seen he was a good fashion (Barolsky 73). According to Farago (1999) Leonardo da Vinci through the Mona Lisa painting creates a challenge to the modern designers, especially in fashion. Fashion design involves having an inherent talent and passion for fashion. Fashion design is known to be the art of designing and sketching attractive and beautiful dresses (Sassoon 188). A good fashion designer should have traits that are significant in order to produce exemplary designs. The figure of Mona Lisa is said to be one of the exemplary ancient works because da Vinci used the right materials to design it. Van Dyke (2008) aptly states that choosing the right materials plays a very crucial role because even if a designer is good on paper, using substandard wrong materials could result to a substandard design. The perfect way that Leonardo has combined the rare design of a pyramid and sfumato to create Mona Lisa indicates that a good designer should be an expert in mixing colors and designs (Van Dyke, 266). Da Vinci portrays that a designer should have an aesthetic sense such that he/she can gamble with colors. A good designer should be sensible enough to design something that is suitable for the clients body type and personality. Da Vinci portrays this character by painting a picture of Lisa Del Giocondo (Barolsky 63). CONCLUSION Mona Lisa was one of Da Vincis numerous works, which is a masterpiece to marvel at to date. Mona Lisa, which hangs on the walls of Musee de Louvre currently, depicts a feminine mystique of a mysterious woman. Although controversies have risen over the identity of the woman on the painting and the significance of the painting, many art historians and scholars have appreciated Mona Lisas enormous success. People from all over the world often gaze and wonder at the mysterious and smiling painting of Mona Lisa. Mona Lisa also means Lisa, of bare eyebrow. The picture of Mona Lisa has also been used to grace many magazines, objects such as cups and souvenirs among others.

Zen and the Enlightened Mind Essay -- Philosophy Religion Essays

Zen and the Enlightened Mind "I have forgotten everything. I don't remember a single word"(Masunaga 36). This is the mind of one who seeks the Way. In A Primer of Soto[JS1] Zen Dogen explains the Way of the Buddha and stresses the importance of "sitting in meditation" or zazen as a means of reaching the manifestation of wholeness. The manifestation of wholeness is a state in which one abandons both mind and body and empties oneself of ignorance, delusions, and dualistic modes of thinking. One who is free from dualistic modes of being enters a world in which both subject and object exist. This is a non-objective mode of being where "all self-centeredness has been emptied, where words and concepts are used not to divide but to unite, the self enters into a mode of being of the other and identifies itself completely with the other"(Taitetsu 130). Thus, the result is openness and liberation beyond the dichotomous world. It is important to note that Dogen believes that this state of being cannot be obtained however w ith any thought of this gain, rather one should study Buddhism only for the sake of Buddhism. Dogen places importance on the urgency to study the Way by pointing out the impermanence of life. Dogen believes that because of the transiency of life one should "avoid involvement in superfluous things and just study the Way"(Masunaga 83). This enforces the emphasis of detaching the self of worldly affairs. For Dogen there is also a detachment from language and written scriptures for it cannot serve as a means of explaining philosophical truth. Dogen instructs that no mater how elegant prose might be, "they are merely toying with words and cannot gain truth"(Masunaga 33). Language only obstructs the understanding of Zen Buddhi... ... there is no Enlightenment to obtain. One just simply is. The world of ignorance, greed, and self-centeredness is non-existent for the Enlightened mind is completely open and liberated. Works Cited Earhart, Byron H. Japanese Religion: Unity and Diversity. 3rd ed. Belmont; Wadsworth, 1982. Kasulis, T.P. "Nagarjuna: The logic of Emptiness" from Zen Action/ Zen Person. Honolulu: U of Hawaii P, 1981. Matsunaga, Reiho, trs. A Primer of Soto Zen: A Translation of Dogen's Shobogenzo Zuimonki. Hawaii: East-West Center P, 1971. Reps, Paul ed., Excerpts from Zen Flesh, Zen Bones. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1957. Taitetsu, Unno. "When Broken Tiles Become Gold" from John Ross Cater, Of Human Bondage and Divine Grace. LaSalle: Open Court, 1992. Tsunoda, Theodore de Bary, and Donald Keene. Sources of Japanese Tradition. 1 vol. New York: Columbia U P, 1958.

Comparing The Scarlet Letter and Long Black Veil :: comparison compare contrast essays

Comparing The Scarlet Letter and Long Black Veil      Ã‚  Ã‚   The song, "Long Black Veil", written by Johnny Cash has many similar elements to The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Both have to do with the sin of adultery that ends up hurting the characters in the stories. In "Long Black Veil" a man is convicted of a murder because he cannot provide an alibi for the night that another man was killed. It turns out that the night of the murder, this man had been "in the arms of his best friend's wife." The man ends up being executed while the woman punishes herself for not saving his life by wearing a long black veil. "Long Black Veil" and The Scarlet Letter both demonstrate how secrets can destroy one's life. This theme is shown through the sin of adultery, the punishments that the characters go through and the symbolism of the long black veil and the scarlet letter.    The original sin of adultery is what starts the events that end up ruining the characters' lives. "Come up hither, Hester, thou and little Pearl...Ye have both been here before, but I was not with you. Come up hither once again, and we will stand all three together!" (p. 133). Though it is never said out in the open, you come to the realization that Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale have committed the sin of adultery and when Hester becomes pregnant, she is convicted for that sin. "I'd been in the arms of my best friend's / wife" The man and his best friend's wife also commit the sin of adultery and when he cannot give an alibi to a judge because he does not want anyone to know where he was that night, he is convicted for murder and executed. Adultery is what ends up destroying the characters lives because none except for Hester are willing to admit to the sin of adultery.    The punishments that the characters must undergo are worsened by the fact that they do not tell the whole truth. Hester has been found guilty of adultery but when she is asked to tell whom it was that she committed the sin with she refuses saying "Never.

Shouter Baptists

Ordellia Darlington 00011164 Portfolio Entry IV At first, the notion of Shouter Baptist being considered a religion was a joke to me. Whenever, I heard the name Shouter Baptist only one thing came to my mind â€Å"obeah people†. There were times that I will see them in prayer and I will cross the street. Nevertheless, the electrifying power point video accompanied with other sources has taught me a great deal on the religion, the people and their rituals.I had always assumed that all the Shouter Baptists had to offer was â€Å"catching power† by means of shaking and speaking in tongues. I had believed that the Shouter Baptists were spiritually possessed. However, never had I known that speaking tongues is similar to conversing with God. Evidence of this is shown in the book of Acts. 2:1-8. Speaking tongues is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit referred to in the Bible. It can be described as a phenomenon during which the believer speaks in languages unknown to him / he r in his / her everyday life.Another aspect I never understood was the significance of some of the symbols the Shouter Baptists frequently use. Symbols such as the bell, lothar, incense and flowers play an important role in the Shouter Baptist faith. The bell is used at the beginning of the service to call members to worship, at the end of the service or according to spiritual instructions. It is said to awaken the believers’ souls to the presence of the Holy Spirit. I now understand what is meant by the saying â€Å"Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings†?The lothar is a vessel used in the church. It symbolizes the holy state of man before God in worship and contains water and flowers. The flowers beautify the church and symbolize peace, love and joy, which are kept alive by the water of life. Flowers are God’s handiwork and are used to decorate the altar, center pole and corners of the church. It also represent man’s first habitat, the Garden o f Eden. What I admire about the Shouter Baptists is their willingness to give back to society.They give thanks to God various times throughout the year feeding the children in their community. For Thanksgiving, Shouter Baptists express gratitude to God for his blessings through, full gospel and prayers, singing, clapping and rejoicing. The children in the community are given food and snacks. The Thanksgiving is held after special occasions in members’ lives, such as success in an undertaking, or recovery from an illness. It also recognizes God’s mercy.The Shouter Baptist belief in giving thanks is supported by Luke 14: 12-14 (â€Å"Then Jesus said to his host, â€Å"When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbours; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13  But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14  and you will be ble ssed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. †)

Controversy on the Mixing of African and Cuban Culture Essay

The personal narratives, â€Å"Afrocubanismo and Son† by Robin Moore, â€Å"Dance and Social Change, â€Å"Rumba† by Yvonne Daniel, and â€Å"Buena Vista Social Club† by Dir. Wim Wenders offer an extensive look at the Afro-Cuban music and dance. Moore writes his article based on the Son. Son is a mixture of African and Spanish influence. Daniel in both of her articles talks about rumba, which is a dance and music genre that originated in Cuba in the mid 1800s. She talks about the different kinds of rumba, which are the Yambu, the Guaguaco, and the vacunao. Wenders is providing us with an image of how Cuban musicians play their music, providing us with some the most popular songs from Cuba. Thousands of African slaves were brought to Cuba, and although treated like animals, their music has had a major influence on Cuban that any other type of music from other countries, creating a bond between both cultures. I found all three articles very informative. Moore, Daniel, and Wenders exposed a number of new information into my mind, and maybe into any other individual that didn’t had much knowledge about Cuban music and dance. As an example, I hadn’t thought about the fact that after much discrimination against Africans, they were going to end up mixing their music and dance with African music and dance. I really like the fact that Cubans ended up accepting part of Africans Culture. Although, we see that the government in many occasion prohibited the people to play the Son and many other influences from African Culture, it was not enough from them to stop the people from mixing both cultures. We also see in â€Å"Buena Vista Social Club† a man who brings together a group of mostly aging and forgotten artists. I don’t like the fact that political events and social issues have played a role in the segregation of these artists. I don’t believe that those people should have been discriminated in such way just because they were mixing both cultures. As the slaves were able to buy their freedom an increased interaction and ethnic mixing among Cubans and Africans was the result. As I was reading that both cultures began to combine, it came to my mind that African people really have a nice heart because by uniting with Cubans they are demonstrating that they had forgiven all the suffering they went through. An example of they unity is the son, and the different kinds of rumba mentioned by Daniel and Moore. We see that the people that were coming together were mostly from working class Cubans and Africans. I find it shameful that most rich people weren’t accepting African culture, and to make it worse ended up making people like those musicians that we see in Buena Vista to be forgotten. In reading Daniel’s articles, I was able to see how people enjoy dancing rumba and many other kinds of dances. And how people especially among the working class uses dancing and music as a way to blow off steam and have fun. Now, I can see why African were always dancing and singing, because that way they could forget about the pain and suffering that they were going through. I didn’t like the fact that the government was calling most of the dancing and music from Africa â€Å"immortal†. I don’t believe that it was appropriated to call their dancing that way. In conclusion, although there was a lot of controversy on the mixing of both cultures, it wasn’t enough to stop the people from mixing it. It was like a destiny meant by God to mix those cultures, to create not just Afro-Cuban culture, but Cuban Culture.

Conversation between nick and jordan Essay

One of the reasons that Gatsby has become so famous around New York is that he throws elaborate parties every weekend at his mansion, lavish spectacles to which people long to be invited. I made the short walk to Gatsby’s house and joined the festivities, feeling somewhat out of place amid the crowd of ecstatic strangers. Gatsby’s party is almost unbelievably luxurious: guests marvel over his Rolls-Royce, his swimming pool, his beach, crates of fresh oranges and lemons, buffet tents in the gardens overflowing with a feast, and a live orchestra playing under the stars. Liquor flows freely, and the crowd grows rowdier and louder as more and more guests get drunk. In this atmosphere of opulence and revelry, Jordan and I, curious to see this â€Å"Mr Gatsby† set out to find him. At midnight, Jordan and I went outside to watch the entertainment. We sat at a table when a very well dressed man said that I looked very familiar to him and explain that we served in the sam e division during the war. He then man introduced himself as none other than Jay Gatsby. His speech was so elaborate and formal, and he had a habit of calling everyone â€Å"old sport.† As the party went on , I felt myself being increasingly fascinated with Gatsby but Jordan was always there on the back of my mind. The more time I spent in the company of Jordan Baker , the stronger I was drawn to her. It might have been the alluring way her slender figure snaked itself In and out of the scandals of Tom and Myrtle as well as Daisy and Gatsby , or her cool manner of simmering down daisy when things got heated between tom and daisy and they were bickering over something trivial. Nick was never a man to let a girl know how he felt about her , so he simply watched from a comfortable perch as Jordon sauntered around gatsby’s mansion , encountering old girlfriends , previous competitors and former lovers. Her dress was a simple style , pressed tightly against her , and her golf club was always secured at her side. Nick felt something brush against his shoulder. Fa irly accustomed to drunken partygoers , he ignored it. â€Å"It’s all quite marvellous , isnt’t it ?† a voice prompted him. Jordan had found her way back to him , apparently bored of all the glitter and intrigue. â€Å"But it’s quite ridiculous as well† she rolled her eyes draggin her club across the staircase railing. Nick felt an overwhelming desire to remain silent and allow jordan’s dominant personality to steer the  conversation whenever she intented it to go.However , her kohl-enhanced eyes widened in expectation. â€Å"Quite marvellous indeed† nick piped up, fiddling with the cuffs of his suit sleeves. â€Å"I received an invitation , you know.From mr.gatsby himself† Nick attemped small talk , but was unaware that dabbling in gossip would ensure jordan’s commitment to the conversation. â€Å"I hear he killed a man â€Å" Jordan arched her brows with a smirk, â€Å"but then again , they probablu say the same thing about me.† â€Å"why ever would yo think such a thing?† nick shuffled uncomfortably Jordans eyes danced with laughter and she stood back to survey nick with amusement â€Å"a women with a flawless golf record and a string of pearls?† she gave him a sceptical glance, â€Å"Now nothing good can come out of that† Nick pursed his lips , not quite sure how to respond. â€Å"Well you seem quite content with your lifestyle,† he pointed out gingerly. Jordan chuckled under her breath. It was as though she found nick’s innocence endearing. â€Å"Of course I do , Mr. Carraway . I love to golf , but you see , I love to party as well† she gestured to the grand party around her, â€Å"and this frightens most men†¦.. and women† she sighed dramatically. To Nick, seeing a woman like Jordan, one who drinks and gambles, he wouldn’t assume that she was too. â€Å"Although , you don’t seem too afraid† Jordan noticed, â€Å"maybe you’ve benn spending too much time in New York , Mr . Carraway.† â€Å"well I – ,† nick fumbled on his words , â€Å" I †¦ I do believe my cousin daisy enjoys your company.† â€Å"Yes Daisy and I were inseperable in our youth . but now she thinks I’m a fool.† â€Å"Well , personally I think – â€Å" but nick was interrupted. A man had leaned In toward Jordan to mumur â€Å" Mr Gtasby requests your presence , Ms Baker.† â€Å"Me?’ Jordan was dually incredulous and fascinated. â€Å"Well , a girl must go where she’s wanted, â€Å" she laughed and winked at Nick , as though they now shared a special Secret. Watching Jordan walk away Nick felt a special attraction to Jordan but brushed it off as though to say he would just be another fling to her. One of the reasons that Gatsby has become so famous around New York is that he throws elaborate parties every weekend at his mansion, lavish spectacles to which people long to be invited. One day, Gatsby’s chauffeur brings Nick an invitation to one of these parties. At the appointed time, Nick makes the  short walk to Gatsby’s house and joins the festivities, feeling somewhat out of place amid the throng of jubilant strangers. Guests mill around exchanging rumors about their host—no one seems to know the truth about Gatsby’s wealth or personal history. Nick runs into Jordan Baker, whose friend, Lucille, speculates that Gatsby was a German spy during the war. Nick also hears that Gatsby is a graduate of Oxford and that he once killed a man in cold blood. Gatsby’s party is almost unbelievably luxurious: guests marvel over his Rolls-Royce, his swimming pool, his beach, crates of fresh oranges and lemons, buffet tents in the gardens overflowing with a feast, and a live orchestra playing under the stars. Liquor flows freely, and the crowd grows rowdier and louder as more and more guests get drunk. In this atmosphere of opulence and revelry, Nick and Jordan, curious about their host, set out to find Gatsby. Instead, they run into a middle-aged man with huge, owl-eyed spectacles (whom Nick dubs Owl Eyes) who sits poring over the unread books in Gatsby’s library. At midnight, Nick and Jordan go outside to watch the entertainment. They sit at a table with a handsome young man who says that Nick looks familiar to him; they realize that they served in the same division during the war. The man introduces himself as none other than Jay Gatsby. Gatsby’s speech is elaborate and formal, and he has a habit of calling everyone â€Å"old sport.† As the party progresses, Nick becomes increasingly fascinated with Gatsby. He notices that Gatsby does not drink and that he keeps himself separate from the party, standing alone on the marble steps, watching his guests in silence. At two o’clock in the morning, as husbands and wives argue over whether to leave, a butler tells Jordan that Gatsby would like to see her. Jordan emerges from her meeting with Gatsby saying that she has just heard something extraordinary. Nick says goodbye to Gatsby, who goes inside to take a phone call from Philadelphia. Nick starts to walk home. On his way, he sees Owl Eyes struggling to get his car out of a ditch. Owl Eyes and another man climb out of the wrecked automobile, and Owl Eyes drunkenly declares that he washes his hands of the whole business. Nick then proceeds to describe his everyday life, to prove that he does more with his time than simply attend parties. He works in New York City, through which he also takes long walks, and he meets women. After a brief relationship with a girl from Jersey City, Nick follows the advice of Daisy and Tom and begins seeing Jordan Baker. Nick says that Jordan is  fundamentally a dishonest person; he even knows that she cheated in her first golf tournament. Nick feels attracted to her despite her dishonesty, even though he himself claims to be one of the few honest people he has ever known. He had one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. (See Important Quotations Explained) Analysis At the beginning of this chapter, Gatsby’s party brings 1920s wealth and glamour into full focus, showing the upper class at its most lavishly opulent. The rich, both socialites from East Egg and their coarser counterparts from West Egg, cavort without restraint. As his depiction of the differences between East Egg and West Egg evidences, Fitzgerald is fascinated with the social hierarchy and mood of America in the 1920s, when a large group of industrialists, speculators, and businessmen with brand-new fortunes joined the old, aristocratic families at the top of the economic ladder. The â€Å"new rich† lack the refinement, manners, and taste of the â€Å"old rich† but long to break into the polite society of the East Eggers. In this scenario, Gatsby is again an enigma—though he lives in a garishly ostentatious West Egg mansion, East Eggers freely attend his parties. Despite the tensions between the two groups, the blend of East and West Egg creates a distinctly American mood. While the Americans at the party possess a rough vitality, the Englishmen there are set off dramatically, seeming desperate and predatory, hoping to make connections that will make them rich. Fitzgerald has delayed the introduction of the novel’s most important figure—Gatsby himself—until the beginning of Chapter 3. The reader has seen Gatsby from a distance, heard other characters talk about him, and listened to Nick’s thoughts about him, but has not actually met him (nor has Nick). Chapter 3 is devoted to the introduction of Gatsby and the lavish, showy world he inhabits. Fitzgerald gives Gatsby a suitably grand entrance as the aloof host of a spectacularly decadent party. Despite this introduction, this chapter continues to heighten the sense of mystery and enigma that surrounds Gatsby, as the low profile he maintains seems curiously out of pl ace with his lavish expenditures. Just as he stood alone on his lawn in Chapter 1, he now stands outside the throng of pleasure-seekers. In his  first direct contact with Gatsby, Nick notices his extraordinary smile—â€Å"one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it.† Nick’s impression of Gatsby emphasizes his optimism and vitality—something about him seems remarkably hopeful, and this belief in the brilliance of the future impresses Nick, even before he knows what future Gatsby envisions. Many aspects of Gatsby’s world are intriguing because they are slightly amiss—for instance, he seems to throw parties at which he knows none of his guests. His accent seems affected, and his habit of calling people â€Å"old sport† is hard to place. One of his guests, Owl Eyes, is surprised to find that his books are real and not just empty covers designed to create the appearance of a great library. The tone of Nick’s narration suggests that many of the inhabitants of East Egg and West Egg use an outward show of opulence to cover up their inner corruption and moral decay, but Gatsby seems to use his opulence to mask something entirely different and perhaps more profound. From this chapter forward, the mystery of Jay Gatsby becomes the motivating question of the book, and the unraveling of Gatsby’s character becomes one of its central mechanisms. One early clue to Gatsby’s character in this chapter is his mysterious conversation with Jordan Baker. Though Nick does not know what Gatsby says to her, the fact that Jordan now knows something â€Å"remarkable† about Gatsby means that a part of the solution to the enigma of Gatsby is now loose among Nick’s circle of acquaintances. Chapter 3 also focuses on the gap between perception and reality. At the party, as he looks through Gatsby’s books, Owl Eyes states that Gatsby has captured the effect of theater, a kind of mingling of honesty and dishonesty that characterizes Gatsby’s approach to this dimension of his life. The party itself is a kind of elaborate theatrical presentation, and Owl Eyes suggests that Gatsby’s whole life is merely a show, believing that even his books might not be real. The novel’s title itself—The Great Gatsby—is suggestive of the sort of vaudeville billing for a performer or magician like â€Å"The Great Houdini,† subtly emphasizing the theatrical and perhaps illusory quality of Gatsby’s life. Nick’s description of his life in New York likewise calls attention to the difference between substance and appearance, as it emphasizes both the colorful allure of the city and its dangerous lack of balance: he says that the city has an â€Å"adventurous feel,† but he also calls it â€Å"r acy,† a word with negative moral connotations. Nick  feels similarly conflicted about Jordan. He realizes that she is dishonest, selfish, and cynical, but he is attracted to her vitality nevertheless. Their budding relationship emphasizes the extent to which Nick becomes acclimated to life in the East, abandoning his Midwestern values and concerns in order to take advantage of the excitement of his new surroundings.

Outline of the Final Lab Report Essay

*This template will provide you with the details necessary to begin a quality Final Lab Report. Utilize this template to complete the Week 3 Outline of the Final Lab Report and ensure that you are providing all of the necessary information and proper format for the assignment. Before you begin, please note the following important information: 1. Carefully review the Final Lab Report instructions before you begin this assignment 2. The Final Lab Report should cover all 3 experiments from your Week Two Lab 3. As you plan your final paper, think about how you can combine these laboratories to tell a fact-based story about water quality. For example, consider how your experiments can be linked to issues at water treatment plants or the amount of bottled water people purchase. 4. For further help see the Sample Final Lab Report for an example of a final product on a different topic. 5. You may simply replace the text following the bold terms with the appropriate outline information to complete this assignment. Make sure to pay close attention to the information called for and provide all necessary material. Title Introduction Body Paragraph #1 – Background: All flourishing, healthy and thriving communities all have one thing in common and that is clean water, free of harmful contaminants because our bodies depend on clean, pure water to survive. As maintained in Mishra, S., & Nandeshwar, S. (2013), â€Å"Water is crucial for the well-being of people. Due to industrialization, growing  population , illiteracy the provision of safe drinking water will undergo global indust in near future†(pg. 599, para 5). In view of the fact that many diseases and viruses can be transmitted though water, dirty/contaminated water is extremely hazardous and it negatively impacts our health and the health of all living things. Water quality is influenced naturally with climate changes for instance, and by our actions. Unfortunately we don’t clearly see the immense damages that our negligent behavior is causing. In turn it leads us to falsely assume that water must be resistant to pollution damage and th at we have an everlasting supply of clean, drinkable water at our disposal. This is why we should all try to create awareness on water contamination, educate ourselves and others in our community to recognize and accept the fact that water contamination threatens our health, our lives and consequently our existence. Water quality research is very important to our society because it gives us insight on contamination issues, brings up awareness and allows us to learn preventative measures. As stated in Broderick, K. (2008), â€Å"The importance of process and participation for adaptive management suggests that success can be judged in terms of learning outcomes† (pg. 303, para 1). Our drinking water can be contaminated and we might not even realize it, because of all the contaminants that are transported through water regular evaluation of septic systems should be required in all towns/counties around the country. As stated in Gunnarsdottir, M. J., Gardarsson, S. M., & Andradottir, H. O. (2013), â€Å"Drinking water contamination, leading to waterborne diseases, is a recurrent event worldwide. A recent study established that more than one out of every three water borne outbreaks in affluent nations was caused by sewage contamination in ground water† (pg. 1114, para 2-3). In this study, drinking water was tested and indeed it did show signs of contamination testing positive for norovirus. Therefore demanding periodic septic systems evaluations in every town should be mandated. Body Paragraph # 2 – Objective: How do we know if our drinking water is in fact contaminated? What can we do to prevent our water from harming our family members? These are just a couple of concerns and questions that you may ask yourself. The purpose is to inform society of the importance of having a supply of clean, free of contaminants running water in their community. Additionally, to be able to recognize the significance of raising awareness on water, for  instance to be aware of what helps maintain or improve the quality of water and what environmental and human behaviors puts the quality of our water at risk for contamination. In view of the fact that we depend on water for survival, water pollution is an environmental issue that shouldn’t be looked over. Body Paragraph # 3 – Hypotheses: Hypotheses Experiment #1: Oil hypothesis = the water would probably change consistency, probably thicken up and change color Vinegar hypothesis = the water would probably stay the same color if the vinegar is white but there will be a change in smell Laundry detergent hypothesis = the water will change in consistency and would probably have suds/bubbles, smell and color (if detergent is colored) would also be altered. Hypotheses Experiment #2: When I tried to filtrate the water to remove the contaminants, I am not completely successful because the water is not 100% contaminant free since the water has a rancid smell. Hypotheses Experiment #3: If bottled water is supposed to be free of contaminants, then bottled water should contain significantly less contaminants than tap water because that is why bottled water is sold to the public. Materials and Methods Body Paragraph # 1: Experiment #1: Effects of Groundwater Contamination In order to know if soil is capable of actually removing contaminants from our drinking water I used three ordinary items that one way or another end up dissolving and polluting our water supply they are oil, vinegar and laundry detergent. Aside from using the three pollutants I used a permanent marker for labeling, soil, a funnel, cheesecloths and of course water. First I labeled a total of eight beakers and divided them into two groups of four. I filled four beakers (#1-4) with 100 ml of water then I added to beakers #2-4 with 10 ml, oil, vinegar and detergent, after mixing what I incorporated into the water I watched to see if any physical changes  occurred and smelled the solution. I noted what I observed for each beaker and proceeded with the experiment. Next I lined the funnel with cheesecloth and placed 60 ml of soil in it. I took beaker #5 and poured the contents of beaker #1 into the cheesecloth lined and soil covered funnel and I let it stand for about one minute and obse rved what happened to the water after it was filtered. I performed this same process for the rest of the beakers. Experiment #2: Water Treatment To determine if a filtering method is as effective as it is believe to be. The essential materials that I used in this experiment were potting soil, sand activated charcoal, gravel, alum, funnel, cheesecloth, bleach, and a stopwatch. First I made a solution of 100 ml soil and 200 ml water and this was labeled as the contaminated water of which 10 ml was set aside. I let the solution sit and lined a funnel with cheesecloth and poured some sand, activated charcoal, and gravel. Next I poured in some clean water for a number of four times and this is how I solidified the filter. I poured in some of the contaminated water into the filter after five minutes it was considered as filtered water and a couple of drops of bleach were added to the water as well. Now it was time to make a comparison between the water that I just manually filtered with the 10 ml of contaminated water I had set aside and noted the differences. Experiment #3: Drinking Water Quality In this experiment I tested the water quality of two different types of bottled water and water from the tap. I used Dasani and Fiji brands as my bottled water and water from the tap. Ammonia, chloride, 4 in 1 test strips, phosphate and iron test strips and most importantly a stopwatch. I used all of the test strips I was provided with in the different types of water and recorded my findings. Some of the strips I used tested for ammonia, chloride, phosphate and iron in both bottled and tap waters. Body Paragraph # 1: 0 mg/L ammonia and chloride were found in both bottled and tap water. In the 4 in 1 test strips tap water had a ph of 2, alkalinity 0,2 mg/L, chlorine 40 mg/L, hardness of 0 mg/L, phosphate 0 ppm and iron 0 ppm. Dasani bottled water had a ph level of 1, alkalinity, chlorine and hardness all measured 0 mg/L and phosphate and iron both measured 0 mg/L. Fiji bottled water had a ph of 8, alkalinity measured 10.0 mg/L, chlorine measured 40 mg/L, hardness 120 mg/L, phosphate measured 50 mg/L and iron 0 mg/L. Discussion Body Paragraph #1 – Hypotheses: The hypothesis in experiment #1 was confirmed because after all of my observations the water mixed with the contaminants did react the way I envisioned they would. Changes in smell, color and composition occurred when I mixed water with each of the three contaminants and even after filtration contamination was still present. Disposing of contaminants such as oil should be done so correctly. Hypothesis #2 was confirmed because I predicted correctly when I stated that the water was going to have traces of contamination even if it was filtered. However, I’m going to have to deny hypothesis #3, I was wrong when I thought that bottled water was more likely to be less contaminated then tap water. When bottled water Fiji showed to have more contaminants then tap water with a higher phosphate, ph, alkalinity, hardness and the same amount of chlorine as tap water I knew that my hypotheses was wrong. Body Paragraph # 2 – Context: The billion dollar bottled water industry suggests that bottled water is the best option however in my personal opinion and after performing experiment #3 I don’t think it’s worth it to buy bottled water. Considering that there isn’t much of a a difference between bottled water Dasani and tap water, plus bottled water Fiji even showed to have higher contaminants than tap water. For example, it had phosphate 50 ppm while tap water had 0 ppm. As stated in Potera, C. (2002), â€Å"Over half of Americans drink bottled water spending 240-10,000 times more per gallon for bottled water than they do for tap water, a trend largely fueled by the belief that bottled water is safer and healthier than tap water. Is the cost worth it? Controversial reports from the World Wide Fund for Natrure (WWF) in Gland, Switzerland, and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in Washington, DC, say no† (pg. 76, para 1). Body Paragraph #3 – Variables and Future Experiments: In Experiment #1 Effects of Groundwater Contamination the possible factors that could have possibly affected my results would be the timing. For instance, if I had waited a little bit more instead of smelling and observing immediately when I mixed the water with the detergent, oil and vinegar could it have made a difference? I could control this by waiting the ideal time and carefully timing everything with a stopwatch. I can also test this by doing the experiment and waiting at different times, for instance I can wait one minute, three minutes and five minutes. With experiment #1 I was able to recognize that contaminants that seep into the water are capable of causing consequences that can possibly affect our health. In Experiment #2 Water Treatment, the outcome indicated that filtered water isn’t 100% free of contaminants. Perhaps if I extended the filtration process the contaminated water might have been clearer. Some possible factors that might’ve affected the final result would be how contaminated the tap water in my area is and the state of health that I was in. For instance, if I had a cold my sense of smell would not be as potent as they would be if I were cold-free. I could control this in the future by first investigating if my town’s tap water isn’t extremely contaminated. Also, if I was sick I could ask someone else to smell the solution to get more accurate results. In Experiment #3 we were able to determine that bottled water isn’t as safe and healthy as it is perceived to be. The possible factor that could’ve affected the accuracy of the results is the  timing, if I went over/under the time that was indicated to check the strip for the end result. I could control this by being attentive and careful and making use of the stopwatch that was provided. We know that contaminants are present in our water, so we consume it daily. Is it harmful or irrelevant? We can test this by giving groups of people the same water (tap water from their town) for a predetermined amount of time and then evaluate them. Does one group have more energy than the other? Is anyone experiencing any discomfort? dIf so, how could you control for these in the future? You should also propose some new questions that have arisen from your results and what kind of experiment might be proposed to answer these questions. Conclusions Body Paragraph #1: The key point of experiment #1 is that we should be more cautious with the way we discard our food and products because they can be contaminating our drinking water. In experiment #2 the key point is there is a big difference between contaminated and treated water, the filtration process is five steps long and even then contaminants may still be present. In experiment #3 the key point for me was that tap water isn’t as bad and unsafe as it is perceived to be, the bottled water franchise is definitely deceiving. The main message that I would like people to have from this report is that they can make a difference and that by simply changing one of their behaviors and making it more â€Å"greener†, this possibly can make a difference in their water quality. References Broderick, K. (2008). Adaptive Management for Water Quality Improvement in the Great Barrier Reef Catchments: Learning on the Edge. Geographical Research, 46(3), 303-313. doi:10.1111/j.1745-5871.2008.00525.x Gunnarsdottir, M. J., Gardarsson, S. M., & Andradottir, H. O. (2013). Microbial contamination in groundwater supply in a cold climate and coarse soil: case study of norovirus outbreak at Lake Mà ½vatn, Iceland. Hydrology Research, 44(6), 1114-1128. doi:10.2166/nh.2013.076 Mishra, S., & Nandeshwar, S. (2013). A study to assess water source sanitation, water quality and water related practices at household level in rural Madhya Pradesh. National Journal Of Community Medicine, 4(4), 599-602. Potera, C. (2002). The Price of Bottled Water. Environmental Health Perspectives, 110(2), A 76. SCI207.W2.LabReportingForm