Change in American Social Values in Thomas Mertons Rain...

A query from Thomas Merton: â€Å"Can’t I just be in the woods without any special reason?† (TMSM, 391). The question returns with each reading of Merton’s earlier works. And, the commonplace response of the newly introduced student to Merton comes not from the Trappist Monk, but from Dorothee Soelle in her book Theology for Skeptics: Reflections on God: â€Å"But must we really speak in this way?† (Sölle, 15). No doubt the gifted theologian realizes the truth in this hypothetical Socratic dialogue; even the most humdrum reader, too, should find the words contradictory but necessary. Indeed, Merton asked his rhetorical question in â€Å"Rain and the Rhinoceros,† an essay written in response to the changing of American (and International) social values,†¦show more content†¦He sought to focus upon the individual as a precursor of change, rather than the institution, or the Church, as the sole mechanism to accomplish informed action. Prec isely. Merton challenged convention. My thesis stands thus: Merton existed allotropically in his early years, focused on a monastic and contemplative life while at the same time promoting social change. Yet, his writing style strongly reflects the modernist thinkers he studied while at Columbia. The paper shall focus on the essays â€Å"Rain and the Rhinoceros† and â€Å"Fire Watch, July 4, 1952,† and present passages from his journals. It will also draw attention from other sources other than Merton’s own. Finally, it will conclude with the ideas of the author. ‘It will talk as long as it wants, this rain.’ â€Å"But they must know that there is wetness abroad† (TMSM, 391). A Thoreauvian statement. A Thoreauvian note as well in the laconic Mertonian reason: â€Å"Perhaps they even feel it. I cannot say† (TMSM, 391). An essay populated by surreptitious tendencies, â€Å"Rain and the Rhinoceros† depicts the culmination of a man leaving the modern world on his own accord. The aspect of the essay is about the attempt, by the hermit, to break away from the herd of everyday civilization and bask in the rain, a gift from the heavens that for the time Merton can simply enjoy, away from â€Å"a womb of collective illusion† (TMSM, 393). It’s an essay of prodigious strength concerning a

The Film Rocky Horror Picture Show The Character Dr. Frank...

In the film Rocky Horror Picture Show the character Dr. Frank-N-Furter sings the words, â€Å"So I’ll remove the cause, but not the symptom† (O’Brien). In this cult classic musical written by Richard O’Brien follows a newly engaged couple through a sexual journey as they lose their innocence and start to conform to traditional gender stereotypes. Today the youth of America are being bombarded with conflicting ideas about gender, race and sex. These conflicting ideas can lead to skewed visions on what defines masculinity and furthermore what defines femininity. Furthermore, sexual assault on college campuses by men and particularly student athletes have come to the forefront of many news headlines in recent years and while some believe that sexual assault stems from â€Å"locker room culture†, rather it stems from a skewed sense of masculinity that has been created over the years of consuming media. Many try to educate these same men on what defines consent and how to properly act in sexual situations, but this is merely trying put a temporary solution on a much larger issue. If people wanted the systemic issue of sexual assault to be reduced, then the root cause must be removed. A twisted view of masculinity is the root cause of many sexual assault because a twisted view of masculinity causes unhealthy understanding of sexuality and consent. Three main terms will be used in this essay and require a definition as to avoid confusion. Masculinity is defined by Merriam-Webster as,Show MoreRelatedProject Managment Case Studies214937 Words   |  860 PagesEDITION - PROJECT MANAGEMENT CASE STUDIES, SECOND EDITION HAROLD KERZNER, Ph.D. Division of Business Administration Baldwin-Wallace College Berea, Ohio John Wiley Sons, Inc. This book is printed on acid-free paper. @ Copyright O 2006 by John Wiley Sons, Inc. All rights reserved. Published by John Wiley Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey Published simultaneously in Canada No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form

Shower Gel Marketing Free Essays

Soap, Bath and Shower Products Issues in the Market The soap, bath and shower category straddles two worlds – at once it falls into the arena of must-have consumer goods, which consumers see as integral to their everyday wellbeing, while at the same time it has an opportunity to tap into a consumer desire for escapism and fantasy. Close to half of women who use bath additives, for instance, cite a long bath as their ultimate pampering treat. How many fast-moving consumer goods segments can claim to satisfy such lofty needs with such a low ticket price? The beauty industry often cites the resilience of the colour cosmetics category in times of crisis – otherwise known as the lipstick index. We will write a custom essay sample on Shower Gel Marketing or any similar topic only for you Order Now It is time for the beleaguered bath additives segment to do the same and position their products as a luxury indulgence at prices accessible to most. Q: How is the economic environment impacting sales of soap, bath and shower products? A: Value sales of SBS products grew in single digits between 2006 and 2011 (with the exception of 2010 when year-on-year growth was more or less flat). The category is buffered somewhat from he inclement economic climate because of the must-have nature of daily cleansing products. At the same time, consumers are clearly under pressure to keep a close eye on household budgets. A third of adults who use shower products are paying more attention to how much they spend on such items because of the economic situation and the same is true for four in ten bath product users and three in ten soap users. Looking ahead, Mintel forecasts the SBS category will grow by 11% between 2011 and 2016, while in real terms (excluding inflation) sales will slip very slight ly. Q: Which segments have most potential for growth? A: There is a clear divide between two promising segments – liquid soaps and shower gels – and two less buoyant ones – bar soaps and bath additives. Mintel expects liquid soap and shower gel sales to grow by 28% and 17%, respectively, between 2011 and 2016, whereas we expect bath additives to slump by 4% and bar soaps by 15% in the same timeframe. The differing performances come down to consumer preference. Adults are much more inclined to use shower gels and creams over bath additives, for instance, likely because showering is uch more convenient and is a quicker option for today’s time-poor consumer. In addition, half of soap, bath and shower product users have switched to taking showers rather than baths in an effort to save water. Meanwhile, liquid soaps have an edge over the more traditional bar format with 89% of women using liquid soaps compared to 77% who use bar soap. While they potentially offer a cost saving over liquid varieties, Brid Costello Senior UK Beauty Analyst bcostello@mintel. com Tel: +44 (0) 20 7606 4533 A self-confessed beauty junkie, Brid tracks the UK’s fast-moving beauty market. Before joining Mintel in 2010, she spent a decade as a beauty editor for fashion and beauty trade newspaper Women’s Wear Daily. Based in the Conde Nastowned title’s Paris office for five years before transferring to its London bureau, Brid acquired expertise across the beauty spectrum. Brid studied Journalism at Dublin City University (DCU). Â © 2012 Mintel Group Ltd. All rights reserved. Confidential to Mintel. Soap, Bath and Shower Products Issues in the Market bar soaps suffer from a somewhat old-fashioned image. With no sign of consumers’ habits changing in the hort term, there is unlikely to be any reversal of these sectors’ performance. A third of bath and shower product users buy whatever product is on special offer, while half stock up when their favourite brands are on special offer. Q: What are consumers’ primary concerns when it comes to buying soap, bath and shower products? A: While the basic premise of SBS products is to cleanse, such items now go above and beyond that call of duty. More than three quarters of adults who use shower products, for instance, want their gels and creams to moisturise or soften their skin, while just over half are looking or an invigorating or refreshing showering experience. When it comes to bath additives, pampering and relaxing are the key concerns for two thirds of bath product users. Women are particularly keen on luxurious soaks, with just over half considering a long bath to be their favourite pampering treat. Soap, meanwhile, has a much more pragmatic bent. Close to half of liquid and bar soap users say that cheap or good value products are their top priority, while suitability for the whole family comes second. Q: Which consumer demographics are most important to the category and how will opulation changes impact sales going forward? A: Changes in the UK’s population make-up will impact the SBS sectors to differing extents between 2011 and 2016. Shower product and liqu id soap sales will likely be buoyed, for instance, given that these sectors’ highest volume users – adults aged 25-34 – will grow in number by 872,000 in the period. Population changes are less favourable for bath additives and will do little to bolster the category, which is already in the doldrums (sales dipped by 2% in 2011). In general, however, the country’s population will increase y more than 3% (or 1. 7 million) between 2011 and 2016. Given the high penetration rates of soap and shower products, this is some good news for the category in general. Q: What influence do promotions have on the market? A: The SBS category is highly promotional with multi-purchase offers and discounts top priorities for consumers. For instance, a third of bath and shower product users buy whatever product is on special offer, while half stock up when their favourite brands are on special offer. It is little surprise then that the multiple-door grocery hains dominate the retail landscape and account for close to half of category retail sales. With large chains – such as Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda and Morrisons – frequently basing advertising on their commitment to low pricing and vying with each other to offer headline-grabbing discounts, it’s unlikely the situation will change anytime soon. This will continue to put pressure on the category vis-a-vis growing value sales as consumers have become accustomed to finding their preferred goods at preferential prices. Â © 2012 Mintel Group Ltd. All rights reserved. Confidential to Mintel. How to cite Shower Gel Marketing, Essay examples

Internal Controls in an Organization-Free-Samples-Myassignment

Question: Discuss about the Impact of Implementation of Internal Controls in an Organization. Answer: Introduction A document which sets out the obligations of the parties to a construction project is known as known as a construction contract. A construction project consists of both contractual as well as tortious liabilities for the parties to it. It is in the best interest of the parties understand about the rights and obligations which they have in relation to a construction project so that any further dispute can be avoided. It is essential for the parties to ensure that they document all the rights and obligation which they have in relation to a construction project and oral agreements have to be avoided at all cost. Parties to the construction projects can select a standard form of construction project for the purpose of carrying on with their operations. One of the best standard form of contracts which are used in the United Kingdom is the Joint Contract Tribunal (JCT) standard form of contract. This reports deals with a major construction project in relation to the construction of a flags hip hotel in Springville and therefore the JCT Major Project Construction contract (MP) has been selected for the purpose (Hughes, Champion and Murdoch 2015). The parties to the construction project also owe a duty of care towards each other to ensure that they are not subjected to undue losses or detriments and therefore they are also subjected to the obligations under the law of torts (Burr 2016). The paper discusses the contractual and tortious liabilities in a contraction project by discussing the impacts of major clauses in a construction contract in the light of relevant case laws and legislations. JCT standard Form of contract (MP) This type of contract has been formulated for construction projects which operate on a large scale and which involve major work. Employers who procure large scale construction projects on a regular basis use this type of contract. on the other hand the contractors who have the ability to manage high risk which may be considerably less under other forms of JCT contracts and have experience in relation to large construction projects choose this type of contract. Projects which have been procured through the design and building method are best suitable under this form of contract. Therefore in the given situation the where Madeleine Li is planning a flagship hotel which is worth millions of pounds and the contractor selected for the project Monroe Construction (UK) Ltd (MCUK) is also a big company the JCT MP contract is best applicable. In this form of contract the contractor and the employer have in-house procedures which have been developed by themselves and therefore the contract conditions requires only limited procedures to be set out. As in this case the contractor is subjected to increased risks as compared to other forms of contract they along with the employer and subcontractors are efficient in undertaking projects which are commercially large (Williams et al. 2013). The contractor under this contract has the responsibility of designing and the completion of the project. The extent to which the designing work is to be carried out by the contractor is subjected to variations. The contractor in this case may also be asked to complete the design based the concept which has been given by the employer or their advisors. In other cases the contract imposes a liability on the contractor to undertake the work starting from design till the contraction project is completed through the employment of sub-contractors or through their house teams. Generally this type of contract has a novation agreement which allows the designer or architecture who worked with the employer initially to continue and complete the design under the responsibility of the contractor (Cartigny Lord 2017). Important clauses in JCT MP Standard Form Contract There are various clauses in the JCT standard form contract however this part of the report only discusses about the most importance causes which can have a significant effect on the parties to the construction project in terms of legal and financial liabilities. The MP is divided into four sections which acts as helpful guidance which are the contract conditions, the contract particulars, the third party rights schedule and the pricing document (Eadie et al. 2013). The contract conditions which are set out in section headed format so that similar clauses are kept together contains the primary terms of which the construction work is to be carried out such as time of completion, method of payments and contract variation clauses. The contract particulars which were formerly included in appendix set out all particular information which includes default option wherever applicable (Cooke and Williams 2013). The their party rights schedule sets out the terms in relation to the rights of the third parties and finally the pricing documents set out information required to allow the calculation of valuation of changes and the contract terms. The major areas where the parties need to be careful in relation to the contract includes scope of work, payments, price variation, time variation, project type variation, warranties and bonds, indemnification (Keane and Caletka 2015). Variations A variation order is an order under the construction contract for the purpose of altering the scope of work in a construction project by adding, substituting or omitting the original scope of work. Almost all large construction projects alter to some extent form the original scope of work. The change may however not be easy for the parties to the contract and therefore these in event of such orders the aggrieved party has to be compensated for any loss which have been incurred by them in relation to the change. Variation may also take place when the contract document does not contain specific work which need to be performed and in such cases the other party loses the right to claim any compensation. Therefore it is recommended that all such information is properly documented. Variation can also be in relation to the time when the project is to be completed and in case the project is not completed in the provided time the aggrieved party may be entitled to compensation (Thomas and Wri ght 2016). Indemnification Indemnification clauses are incorporated by the parties to the contract so that the parties are not made liable beyond a set limit. Through these clauses the parties to the construction contract limit their liability to a certain extent and therefore cannot be held liable beyond the Set liability. As the MP has provisions for an indemnity clause the parties to the contract must be very careful while negotiating the close as at the time of any breach the wrongdoer may use such clause to limit the liability which may be detriment to the aggrieved party (Potts and Ankrah 2014). Payments The provisions in relation to how payments are to be made with respect to the construction contract had to be set out specifically and clearly through the terms of the contract. Large construction project may require periodic payment by the employer to the constructor and therefore the provisions in relation to search payment should be clear in order to avoid any dispute. Under the MP it is not allowed to incorporate a term into the contract according to which the payment for the contract would depend upon the performance of any other contractual obligation arising in some other contract (Adriaanse 2016) Adjudication The MP sets out provisions in relation to a statutory adjudication. No parties to the contract is allowed to add a clause into the contract through which only one party would be liable to pay the cost of the process until and unless it is provided by the arbitrator. Dedication has to be done mandatorily before the parties seek any other way of resolving the contractual dispute such as litigation (Tomlinson and Woodward 2014). Construction law cases and legislation in UK Construction contracts in UK are covered the by Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (LDEDC Act). The provisions of Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 have been significantly amended by the new legislation. Which was applicable on most of the construction contracts in the United Kingdom since 1998. The new legislation contents fallback provisions in situation where the construction contract expressly does not contain terms in relation to payments and adjudication. The legislation was a result of constant demand from the interested party with respect to enhancing the perceived weakness in construction projects which fall into mainly two provisions of payment and adjudications. One of the most significant changes in relation to the act has been section 107 which expressly provided that for the act to be applicable the construction contracts have to be in writing which excluded those contracts which were not in writing and subjected search parties to detriment. The new legislation no longer makes it mandatory for a construction contract to be in writing in order for that to be applicable. In the case of Bridgeway Construction Ltd v Tolent Construction Ltd [2000] CILL 1662 it was held by the court that construction contracts can have a Tolent clause in which the cost of adjudication would be borne by the party who has referred the dispute graduation. The provisions was present to prevent a party from referring a dispute to adjudication the new legislation to Section 108 prevents the use of the tolent clause and render any such clause ineffective in relation to construction contracts until and unless power is provided to the adjudicator to allocate the cost of the proceedings. The legislation introduces provisions of statutory at dedication which means that it is binding on the parties to the construction contract until they try to resolve the dispute through the process of litigation. The new legislation also address is the issue of incorrect ruling by introducing slip rule which enables the adjudicator to correct typographical of clerical error in a decision. The previous legislation supported the pay-when-paid clause however the new legislation sets out provisions to invalidate the use of such clause. The rule had been discussed in the case of Midland Expressway Ltd v Carillion Construction Ltd [2005] EWHC 2963 with the court describe the process pay-when-certified, however under the new legislation the payment provisions in a construction contract cannot be linked to the provisions of any other contract until and unless there is an agreement between the parties for doing the construction operation through another party rather than one of the parties to the contract. According to the case of Cavendish Square Holdings BV v Talal El Makdessi and ParkingEye Limited v Beavis [2015] UKSC 67 a penalty clause in a construction contract is added to prevent the other par ty to the contract from breaching and provisions however the real damages are still assessed from the actual loss which has been faced by the aggrieved party to the contract. In the case of MT Hojgaard A/S v EON Climate and Renewables UK Robin Rigg East Limited [2015] EWCA Civ 407 it was ruled by the court that where a contract has an absolute warranty it is the liability of the contractor to achieve a specific result even in case he had complied with specific design guidance where the absolute warranty in the contract is clear and consistent with the other provisions of the contract in the case of SSE Generation Ltd v Hochtief Solutions AG [2015] CSOH 92 it was held by the court that it is necessary for the parties to take into account the impact and purpose of any necessary joint names insurance in the initial stages of the contract and set out in the contract weather the policy is a substitute to any contractual liability or they exist together. Negligence in construction projects The import of a number of professionals are required in most of construction project where is of the professionals have a different role to play in the project starting from designs till the project is completed. Each professional for the duty of skill and care towards the other party. In addition the input of non-professional such as building contractors are also required for the purpose of successfully completing the project (Walker 2015). There are significant risk associated in the construction project which may lead to damages due to the negligence of those who are involved in the project. Who has been at fault in relation to the damages with respect to the input of professionals and non-professionals complicate the argument further. Negligence cases in the construction industry can result in significant damages and therefore the parties to the project have to be very careful in the way in which they carry out the operation. In addition they must always have and insurance in pla ce to mitigate the risk of any negligence which has been committed by their agents. The Architects who has the role of designing the whole construction project would be considered negligent failed objective test and are not able to deploy the skill and diligence which a reasonable professional architect would have done in the same situation. These Architects automatically over duty of care towards the employer and the constructor according to the principles laid down in the landmark case of Donoghue v Stevenson 1932 AC 522. According to the principles of this case any person whose action can cause harm to the other was the duty of care towards each other person. The but for test is also applied in the construction industry to ensure that the elements of negligence have been fulfilled. The test is used to determine the last element of negligence which is causation. According to the test if the damages would have not been caused if the negligent Act was not in place then the person ow ing the duty of care is not liable for negligence. Terms in relation to negligence in construction project must be incorporated into construction contract so that the liability of the parties to the project is clear from the outset. However it is to be noted that under the law of negligence in UK a person is not allowed to add an exclusion clause in the contract with respect to the liability of negligence. Therefore construction contracts and only have exclusion clause in relation to contractual liability but not for the liability of negligence by the parties involved in the project (Brook 2016). Conclusion From the above discussion it can be concluded that construction projects in the United Kingdom are governed by common law horse contract and negligence as well as specific legislations enacted by the parliament. For the purpose of carrying out any major construction work which is to be done in this case one of the most suitable form of standard contracts is the JCT major project contract. The contract provides flexible clauses which can be determined by the parties to it. However the clauses cannot be of such a nature where they are contrary to any existing common law or legislative provisions. Therefore Madeleine Li have to take into consideration the above discussed provisions in relation to construction projects to carry out the operations of the new hotel in Springvill References Adriaanse, M.J., 2016.Construction contract law. Palgrave Macmillan. Bridgeway Construction Ltd v Tolent Construction Ltd [2000] CILL 1662 Brook, M., 2016.Estimating and tendering for construction work. Taylor Francis. Burr, A. ed., 2016.Delay and disruption in construction contracts. CRC Press. by Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (LDEDC Act) Cartigny, T., Lord, W. (2017). Defining social value in the UK construction industry.Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers-Management, Procurement and Law,170(3), 107-114. Cavendish Square Holdings BV v Talal El Makdessi Cooke, B. and Williams, P., 2013.Construction planning, programming and control. John Wiley Sons. Donoghue v Stevenson 1932 AC 522 Eadie, R., Browne, M., Odeyinka, H., McKeown, C., McNiff, S. (2013). BIM implementation throughout the UK construction project lifecycle: An analysis.Automation in Construction,36, 145-151. Hughes, W., Champion, R. and Murdoch, J., 2015.Construction contracts: law and management. Routledge. Keane, P.J. and Caletka, A.F., 2015.Delay analysis in construction contracts. John Wiley Sons. Midland Expressway Ltd v Carillion Construction Ltd [2005] EWHC 2963 MT Hojgaard A/S v EON Climate and Renewables UK Robin Rigg East Limited [2015] EWCA Civ 407 ParkingEye Limited v Beavis [2015] UKSC 67 Potts, K. and Ankrah, N., 2014.Construction cost management: learning from case studies. Routledge. SSE Generation Ltd v Hochtief Solutions AG [2015] CSOH 92 Thomas, R.W. and Wright, M., 2016.Construction contract claims. Palgrave Macmillan. Tomlinson, M. and Woodward, J., 2014.Pile design and construction practice. CRC Press. Walker, A., 2015.Project management in construction. John Wiley Sons. Williams, T., Bouchlaghem, D., Loveday, D. and Law, C., 2013. Principal contractor involvement in post-occupancy evaluation in the UK construction industry.Facilities,31(1/2), pp.39-55.

Study Abroad Essays - Student Exchange, , Term Papers

Study Abroad Learning new cultures is my favorite thing to do. I interact well with others and enjoy networking with new people. I have found that my ability to meet new people is a trait that makes every visit I have taken to different countries an enjoyable visit. I wish to participate in this program because it has always been a goal of mine to study abroad. By participating in this program I hope to learn another culture, make international contacts, and gain valuable international business skills. Within this program I assume that I will experience different points of views from the American professors who will be teaching. Along with these different points of views, the Italian culture and interacting with other American students will be experiences I could not other wise have. International business is becoming increas- ingly more important, and although I have received great education while in college, I am eager to par- ticipate in this program because the first-hand experiences I will have cannot be equaled here in America. As a sixth grader I participated in Children's International Summer Villages in Finland. While in Finland I stayed with a host family for a week and lived in a school with forty different delegates representing ten separate countries. It truly was the best time of my life. In addition to my visit to Finland I have visited Jamaica four times and also have traveled to the Caribbean Islands and Mexico. I am confident that I will succeed as a student, as an American representative, and as a tourist in this program because of my many travels abroad and strong desire to succeed. Acceptance Essays

Women In India Essays - Rituals, Sati, Suicide In India, Free Essays

Women In India Essays - Rituals, Sati, Suicide In India, Free Essays Women In India Joseph Borstein November 29, 2000 Gandhi's India Paper #3 The Conflict of Women in 20th Century India Throughout recorded history, women the world over have been held to different standards than men. They have been consistently oppressed in nearly all aspects of life, from political to personal, public to private. In the 20th century, great strides have been taken to end this oppression and level the playing field. In India however, a number of deeply rooted traditions have made this effort particularly difficult, and as a result, women's triumphs over oppression in India are all the more intriguing. To understand the position women found themselves in at the dawn of the 20th century, one must have a general understanding of the numerous historical women's conflicts unique to the Subcontinent. It took the overwhelming success of Gandhi's nonviolent revolution to unite women politically and create the an atmosphere whereby women, empowered by the times, could take a stand for their equality. The 1970's saw the beginning of a highly organized modern women's movement in India. Violence against women was one of the main focuses of the movement. Harassment, wife-beating, rape, and dowry deaths were all too common, and police enforcement was ineffective as were most attempts at prosecution. Commonly called atrocities against women, these acts occurred frequently. Why then, if these events were happening so often, was there so much apathy towards them on the part of the courts and the police? To answer this question one must look back upon a history marked by religiously and culturally accepted forms of oppression such as female infanticide, polygamy, purdah and sati. Purdah, still practiced today in many Moslem societies, is the practice of covering a women in cloth to protect them from the gaze of non-family males, in order to maintain their purity. This practice became common in India in the days of the sultanate. From a traditional western perspective this is a very repressive requirement. Gandhi took a particular pleasure in bringing women out of purdah, and involving them in the political movements of the times. Sati is another story. Early British rule in India was careful to stay out of the traditions and private lives of the natives. They ruled indirectly, typically demanding monetary tribute from local leaders in exchange for allowing them to rule as they pleased. This philosophy changed dramatically under the governor-generalship of Lord William Cavendish Bentinck which began in 1828. He began a much more interventionist policy that included the an increase in transportation facilities, industrialized cloth production (which displaced the ancient commercial structure) and he abolished the ancient tradition of sati (female infanticide was also outlawed by the British). The last of which caused a great rift in India's intellectuals and businessmen. Sati is an ancient Hindu tradition whereby a widow is burned in the cremation fire of her departed husband. This practice was abhorred by British missionaries and businessmen. However, to many of India's intellectuals it was an act of bravery a nd dedication on the part of the widow, to be admired. This is evidenced by the first petition against the intervention, which stated, Hindoo widows perform (sati), of their own accord and pleasure, and for the benefit of their Husbands' souls and for their own, the sacrifice of self-immolation called Suttee (another spelling of sati)- which is not merely a sacred duty but a high priviledge(Stein, p. 222). For those who did not take part in this practice, the life of a Hindu widow was a very restricted one. A census conducted in 1881 showed that one-fifth of all women were widows, so these restrictions were very important. The Dharmashashra of Manu (a Hindu text) talks about how a Brahmin widow should act stating, but she may never mention the name of another man after her husband has died.(Stein, p.94) As child brides were common in the Subcontinent, one often saw young widows unable by traditional law to remarry and make an attempt at a new life. Furthermore, they rarely had the education to support themselves. Education was historically bestowed solely upon the males. In the 19th century only the wealthiest of families sought after any sort of formal education for their female children, and there was no movement

Caffein Blues

Despite the short encounter between coffee and North American culture, coffee has gained popularity and gained worldwide reputation. It is not difficult to find a group of people drinking 'Latte Coffee' while reading a morning newspaper, or a group of business executives drinking 'dark barbecue'. On campus, students hold textbooks on the one hand and Mocha on the other hand. According to Starbucks, net profit in October 2005 alone reached $ 550 million (Starbucks). The origin of caffeine is unknown. However, Caffein Bruce: talks about the hidden dangers of waking up the first medicine in the United States, Steven Chernike, M. S, the story, and traces its discoveries to the house of Ethiopian ranch. Apparently, the shepherd is looking at a bird that eats the fruits of a wild evergreen shrub. To my surprise, these animals began to jump suddenly unexpectedly. Then he tried some fruits and began to jump immediately (13-14). They called it a coffee factory and became an Arab monk in the 1 3th century. Then they discovered that the beans of this plant can become drinks, so ... to make coffee. Finally, there is no longer any falling asleep when praying (Cherniske 14) American coffee addicts are more likely than any other type of drug addicts. In his book Caffeine Blues, Stephen Cherniske pointed out cocaine, heroin, even even marijuana. The main substance is caffeine. Does anyone know how much caffeine is contained in 6 ounce coffee? There are 100 mg. 1 cup of coffee or 6 oz of caffeine. People who care may think like this, 100 mg takes 6 hours. Looping away from the system. Starbucks' small coffee and tall coffee is 12 oz. It is caffeine 200 mg. If you are drinking Starbucks at 3 pm and then after 9 pm, you will still have about 100 mg in your system. You may still fall asleep, but your body will be deprived of the benefit of a deep sleep. People who care, I can still sleep 8 hours a day, you have to think again. That's why the next day you feel bad, you need to compe nsate for your system with caffeine. Caffeine Caffeine is a stimulant that can ruin our ability to fall asleep. Just because I think that it does not mean that it does not affect your body. If you want to drink coffee it is best to do so early in the day to allow caffeine to wear out. Please set a deadline for 2 PM for yourself. Electronic Devices Artificial light may interfere with sleeping, so you may stay up late at night by phone, laptop computer or television. It is best to keep these devices away from the bed or separate rooms so that your bedroom will be a place to sleep rather than surfing the internet.

Green engineering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Green engineering - Essay Example In the contemporary world, many people have installed the technologies to maximally benefit from solar energy. It is not only efficient, but a sustainable energy that can be relied on even in the future. The sun provides energy in two ways; by heating and through lighting. It radiates great amount of energy that travels through space and spreads all through the earth’s surface. Naturally, the inner core of sun produces the energy through a nuclear fusion of the hydrogen and helium atoms, radiates onto the sun’s surface, and consequently emits electromagnetic radiation onto the earth using a wide variety of wavelengths (â€Å"Alternative energy† kennesaw.edu). Upon reaching the earth surface, it is harvested for greater use in various processes. Solar energy is of great importance in supporting the life and processes of plants, as well as those of humans. Specific Aspects of how Solar Energy works There are two specific technologies of converting solar energy into electricity. These are the commonly known photovoltaic systems and solar thermal systems. They both employ very distinct mechanisms to produce power from the suns light. Photovoltaic energy This system of sunlight conversion uses solar panel technologies with the photovoltaic cells as the core element in generation of power (European communities 5). Solar panels are devices or modules of a connected assembly of photovoltaic cells, with the capability of collecting the sunlight photons for conversion. The solar panels are developed in different sizes of rectangular shape, from which several can be used as a combination to produce enough electricity. The solar cells in the panels are made up of semiconductor materials (silicon is very common), whose conductivity can be increased by introducing impurities (European communities 5). Basically, in the presence of light or sunshine, some of the radiant energy that hits PV cells is absorbed and transferred to the electrons within the atoms of the semiconductor. Because of the continuous transmitting energy from the sun, electrons of the cells tend to shift from their positions as they move towards a preferential side of attraction in the cells, creating an electric voltage that can be collected and channeled (â€Å"How do solar† nwwindandsolar.com). As the electrons move, they create space for others to move into, and hence generating the current in the electrical circuit (direct conversion of sunlight into electricity). Generally, once the energy as electricity is produced, the direct current generated and collected is converted through an inverter, into alternating current required to run most electronic appliances. The electricity can also be used by connecting the inverter to any load, or connect to the battery banks to store energy for further use. Suppose one switches into solar generated electricity using this technology, he has to enquire and seek suitable number and sizes of the solar panels that can be placed on the roof s, away from shade, and in a suitable position (South facing installations on the roof recommended), with correct angle inclinations to benefit

The comparative case study of Developed (G-8 & G-20 countries) Term Paper

The comparative case study of Developed (G-8 & G-20 countries) - Term Paper Example The United Nation’s definition of the poor indicates that they are such persons living on less than a dollar a day. The more alarming indications that the developed economies classified under the G-8 and the G-20 have their share of economic problems points out the seriousness of this issue. The world’s giant economies are classified under the G-8 whereas the G-20 are the fast growing economies of the world that have continued to be a threat to the developed nations in terms of economic power. The World Bank has made projections to the effect that developing countries or the G20 are likely to reach full capacity in terms of growth and consequently slowing growth from the year 2010’s 7.3 percent to a region of around 6.3 percent annually as from 2011-2013. On the other hand, the G8 will encounter a slowed growth from the lower growth reflected by the 2010’s 2.7 percent to the year 2011’s drop to 2.2 percent. They will experience a rise of up to 2.7 percent in the end of 2012 and a further drop to 2.6 percent in 2013, which shows a fluctuating economy in the giant economies1. If these statistics are to be believed, the developing world is steadily catching up with their developed counterparts even though there are obstacles that they must overcome. This paper examines the macroeconomic indicators of two selected countries (United States and Saudi Arabia) that are in the G-8 and G-20 categories. The period of examination shall be in the last five years a nd indicators such as the GDP, unemployment rates, GNP, consumer and producer price index and GDP per capita among others will be used to analyze their macroeconomic conditions. United States is slowly picking up from the worst economic downfall in decades. On the other hand, the Arabic nation of Saudi Arabia has not been affected much by the global economic crisis but that does not mean that the citizens of the

Types Of School Essay Example for Free

Types Of School Essay All children in England are entitled to a free place at school from the age of 4 until they are 16 although the law was changed in 2008. The new law states that young people, until the age of 18 if they were born on or after 1st September 1997, must stay in either: Full time education Training schemes such as apprenticeships Part time education or training as well as part time work whether that be paid or voluntary There are many different types of schools across England. Each with different working practises and different funding methods. Children are able to enter infant schools from the age of 4 until they are 7. They then move onto the junior section which from 7 until 11. From junior school they progress to secondary school at the age of 11 until the age of 16-18 depending on their birth year. Pre-schoolSame Sex School Grammar SchoolBoarding SchoolForest school Boarding SchoolSteiner School Types of School Faith SchoolAcademies Language schoolComprehensiveBehavioural Units Art/Dance SchoolPrivate School A local education authority maintained school is one that is funded by the local education authority where pupils have to follow the national curriculum and will be one of the following: Foundation school Community school Voluntary controlled school Voluntary aided school Nursery school. Early education for eligible three and four year olds may be offered in nursery schools, nursery classes or in reception classes in  primary schools. All these are examples of LEA maintained schools. Special school. Some special schools are local education authority maintained schools. These could be community, voluntary or foundation special schools. Pupils at a maintained special school usually have been assessed and given a statement of special educational needs (SEN). Some special schools are independent schools. Community schools Community schools are funded by the local education authority who also employ the staff. Pupils have to follow the national curriculum and the admissions policy is usually set out and delivered by the LEA. The governing body is responsible for the day to day running of the school but the LEA owns the school site. The local education authority is expected to provide support services to community schools such as educational needs services and psychological services. Voluntary schools There are two types of voluntary schools:- Controlled Aided Voluntary controlled schools A voluntary controlled school can also be called a religious or faith school. The local authority fund these schools, employ the staff and provide the support services. The land and buildings are owned by a charity, often a religious organisation such as a church. The charity have the authority to appoint some members of the governing body but the LEA is responsible for the running of the school. The admissions policy is set out and administered by the LEA. Voluntary aided schools Voluntary aided schools are usually called religious schools or faith schools. In a voluntary aided school the land and buildings are owned by a charity, as with voluntary controlled schools, but the governing body is responsible for running the school. The governing body employs the staff as well as determining the admissions policy in consultation with the LEA. The LEA provides the support services for these schools. Foundation schools In foundation schools the land and buildings are owned by a governing body, who are also responsible for running the school. The local education authority funds the school and the governing body employs the staff as well as providing most of the support services for the school. The admissions policy is determined by the governing body, in consultation with the LEA. There are various sorts of schools that are not maintained by the local education authority. Most of these schools do not have to follow the national curriculum. These include: Independent schools City technology colleges Academies Special schools not maintained by the local education authority Early learning organisations. Independent schools In an independent school the governing body is responsible for the day to day running of the school who also determine the admissions policy with the head teacher. They are funded by fees paid by parents and sometimes by charitable trust funds. The head teacher with the backing of the governing body employs the staff and either the head teacher or the governing body manage and be responsible for the running of support services. City technology colleges City technology colleges are independent non-fee paying schools and are situated in urban areas. Pupils follow a curriculum that is similar to the national one with the addition of an emphasis on technological and practical skills. The department for children, schools and families (DCSF) along with commercial sponsors fund the college and share the responsibility of the running of the school with the company that owns it. The governing body employs the staff as well as buy in and manage support services. The admissions policy is determined and administered by the governing body. Academies Academies are independently-managed, all-ability schools which operate outside the control of the local authority. In a city academy the government  funds the schools running costs and employs the staff. Special schools not maintained by the local education authority Some schools for pupils with special educational needs are not maintained by the local education authority. In some cases the local education authority may pay the fees so that a pupil with special educational needs may attend one of these schools if this school best meets their needs. Early learning organisations Early learning for eligible three and four year olds may be offered in independent playgroups, private day nurseries or independent schools. A part time place will be free, but a parent will usually have to pay fees if a child is attending on a full time basis.

Pollution Essay: Don’t Blame Me for Global Warming -- Environment, Clim

More than 17,000 scientists have signed a petition saying human activities do not threaten to disrupt the climate. This overwhelming amount of people has been told to be wrong by one body of people. This body is our government, for many years now they have spoke of the horrendous situations stemming from global warming. This makes no sense; with the facts and information that we have received over the years they still support this preposterous idea. Humans do nothing to contribute to global warming; the irregular climate events are just natural occurrences. These occurrences are no stranger to our history either. (â€Å"Global Warm Up†)(â€Å"An Inconvenient Truth†) The most recent case of significant warming was between the years 1850 and 1940. Most scientists say this rise in warmth was not caused by greenhouse gasses. If this was not caused by greenhouse gasses, it proves that there are times of irregular warming of the world. There have been other occurrences of irregular warmth. The biggest and most influential occurrence is called the MWP. (â€Å"The Real 'Inconvenient Truth'†) (â€Å"Medieval Warm Period†) The MWP, or Medieval Warm Period, occurred between AD 950 and AD 1250. It was a period of warmth, exceeding the temperatures of the late 20th century. People for global warming have said that human activities contribute to causing global warming. Using the MWP as proof, we know that we humans were not contributing to greenhouse gasses. Supporters of global warming say that we contribute to greenhouse gasses which in turn affect the temperature. If this is true, why would the temperature rise 1000 years ago if we didn’t even create greenhouse gasses? It’s because what is happening right now, is just a natural event. To counteract this sta... ...eenhouse effect. I know that people have their opinions, some educated and some not, my opinion is that we do not cause the greenhouse effect which in turn means we don’t cause global warming. Works Cited Barry Wigmore â€Å"Global warming? It’s natural say experts† DailyMail. 13 September 2007. Web. 22, 2010. Gore, Albert. An Inconvenient Truth: the Crisis of Global Warming. New York: Viking, 2007. Print. Gore, Albert. Our Choice: a Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis. Emmaus, PA: Rodale, 2009. Print. Manav, Tanneeru â€Å"Global warming: A natural cycle or human result?† CNN. 11 June, 2007. Web. 22 Nov, 2010. Morgan, Sally. Global Warming. Chicago, IL: Heinemann Library, 2003. Print. â€Å"Global Warm Up† A Round Table. N.d.Web. 22 Nov, 2010. â€Å"The Real 'Inconvenient Truth'† Junk Science. N.d. Web. 22 Nov, 2010. â€Å"Medieval Warm Period† Wikipedia. N.d. Web. 22 Nov, 2010.

Firda Kahlo Art Critical Analysing

Critical Analysis This is an oil on canvas painting by Friday Kohl called Cropped Hair, made in 1940 at a size of coxcomb. It is a self- portrait of her with a scissor in one hand and her hair creeping everywhere on the floor. As you can see in the painting, the fore ground busy because of the long dark hair that is laid all over the floor. In the middle ground of the portrait, it shows Friday Kohl sitting in a chair, wearing an oversized suit, that by the looks of it isn't hers while holding a serious, upset or pain face.As if she was thinking of the pain that someone had caused her, expressing it thought her minting. The way she is position in the painting is out of proportion, from her neck and below it is different from her neck and upwards, making her looks stiff and uncomfortable. The chair also stands out more than the rest of the portrait along with the hands, face and neck; she had used a bright warm yellow to out-stand the other dark and light, warm and cool colors. The ton ing of the middle ground is also very clear, showing all the shadows that are in the suits and her face.The background of the portrait is different from the rest. She had painted it plain, as well s making it look like they are clouds, bring all the attention to the foreground. The top of the background shows some text and music notes. The used of Friday Kohl's Line, Tone, Color, Shape, Pattern and shapes are very unique. She had used manly warm color in her portrait. A cool blue for the suit, a warm red for the floor, a warm yellow for the chair and a mixture of colors for the wall but mostly yellow.The tone's she used made the chair and herself look AD and the rest AD. The pattern she had used is clearly shown in the wall behind her; it is soft and has a repetition of smudge pots making it looks like clouds. This is very different from the rest of the portrait. The texture of the background, her skin, chair and suit are smooth rather than rough. The way she painted the portrait fl oor, from light transitioning into dark to make it seems spacey and how she placed the horizontal line far back.This make also made the room more spacious and wide as if she is in an empty room and by herself. The focal point of the portrait is of Friday Kohl sitting on the chair and the hair surrounding her. Your eyes would be more attacked to the hair that is on the floor cause it gives Off creepy but also sad look to it, your eyes then moves to her in the oversized suit then to the plain background. This it because of her use of red in the portrait, your eyes are usually more attacked to warm colors.Friday Kohl painted this portrait after she had a divorce with her husband, for cheating on her with her own blood sister. She wanted to express the self- independence and self- confidence that she had gain after the divorce. Showing him and other's that she does not need him anymore. I believe that the oversized suit she is wearing in the portrait is Diego. She did this because her h usband liked her to wear dresses and now that he is gone, she does not need to dress to impress. The scissor that she is holding in her hand, tells me that she had cut off all her hair.This was like a sacrifice to her. Her hair was the one thing her husband loved most about her, by cutting all her hair off. She is trying to show that she had cut all ties that she had ever had with her husband. If Diego had left her, then why goes she need the one thing her loved most about her. Your hair is like your Identity. No hair, no identity ‘look it was because of your hair, owe you are without hair, I don't love you anymore' this is what the text in the portrait says. This was a big sacrifice she was willing to make.The portrait looks very empty with Just her in the middle could maybe explain the feeling she was feeling after the divorce, depress, sad, lonely and empty. In my own opinion I dislike this portrait. It looks creepy and gross, with all the hair loosely laid on the ground an d her proportion isn't correct. This is something I would not want to hang up on a wall. It gives off an unpleasant and uncomfortable feeling, like she is looking at you every second, staring at you with hateful eyes.

Triple Jump Phase

Montrail Brooks Dr. Livingston AES 364 Muscular Analysis Introduction Block starts was create first created to help the grounds keeper take better care of the running surface with was made of clay or cinder. Starting blocks has came a long way from being a single holes dug in the ground to the high tech, lightweight, but yet expensive running aid their now. To properly observe and describe the breakdown of the hop, skip, and jump phases, while determining the muscles that cause these movements.The triple jump, referred to as the hop, skip and jump, is a track and field event similar to the long jump. The only difference between the two is that the hop, skip, and jump involve a hop and a step, whereas the long jump involves just a jump. In the first phase of the triple jump, the competitor builds momentum by sprinting down the runway, planting their lead foot at the marked board, and â€Å"hops† into the air, cycling one leg around into phase two.After completing the cycle, the lead foot strikes the ground again initiating the â€Å"skip†, where the opposite leg is brought up and the body goes into the bounding position. Finally as the body is coming out of the bounding position, the opposite leg hits the ground in order to propel or â€Å"jump† the body forwards, aiming for distance rather than height, into the pit. [pic] The phases In the triple jump, there are three joints that aid in movement of the hip, the knee, and the ankle. Together the three joints allow optimum distance and proper stability for the jumper.The hip, which holds the femur and pelvis, allows the jumper to extend as his foot strikes the board. While keeping the knee in flexion, he pushes off into the cycling pattern. In the skip phase, the hip will remain in a flexed position as the trail leg goes into extension. When in the jump phase, the hip allows the leg to go from an extended position, to a partial flexed position. The knee, which hold the fibula, tibia, femur, a nd patella, just like the hip is a very important part of the triple jump process.In the initial â€Å"hop† phase, the knee extends, but quickly switches to flexion throughout the cycling pattern. During the â€Å"skip† phase the knee will remain in flexion, while extending the opposite leg. Following the second phase, the lead leg switches to the trail leg, which remains in flexion for the final â€Å"jump†. Finally, the ankle is made up of three separate joints: the talocrucal joint, inferior tibiofibular joint, and subtalar joint. These joints, just like in the kinetic chain, are where the power originates from.In the â€Å"hop† phase, the ankle of the lead leg will remain dorsi flexed, and the trail leg will be slightly plantar flexed, but will quickly draw up into the dorsiflexion. As the jumper enters into the â€Å"skip† phase the ankle will remain dorsiflex, while the trail leg switches to the front. This will allow the trail leg to go dors iflex, and the lead leg to deliver a powerful push-off into plantarflexion. [pic] The muscles and their functions in the Hop, Skip, and Jump phase.The muscles involved in the triple jump are the quads: rectus fermoris (allow hip concentric flexion and knee eccentric extension), vastus lateralis, medialis, and intermedius (helps the knee eccentric extend); the hamstring muscles: semimembranosus, semitendious, and biceps femoris (allows the jumper to extend the hip and normally pair with the help of the eccentric gluteus maximus); and finally, the lower leg muscles: concentric tibialis anterior, the concentric extensor digitorum longus (which provide the ankle with the ability to perform dorsiflexion), the peroneus longus, soleus, and gastrocnemius (which allow eccentric planterflexion for that last jump push-off). The main stabilizer, the gluteus medius, acts as a front plane stabilizer and restricts the leg from turning in vargus or valgum, allowing the leg to plant. Conclusion An i mportant factor in determining the power and momentum developed in the sprint start is the angle of the front leg in the set position.Most literature accepts that an angle close to 90 degrees is the ideal angle in this position. It allows the knee extensors to work best at the correct time for maximum power and momentum to be developed. An angle in excess of 90 degrees may allow a faster leg speed out of the blocks but will not develop the same power and momentum. Borzov (1980) in his investigations into an optimal starting position varies a little, with a suggested ideal front leg angle of 100 degrees. Opinions on rear leg angle vary between 110 degrees and 135 degrees. Tellez & Doolittle (1984) suggest an optimal angle of about 135 degrees for the rear leg because it allows the lever to move more quickly and allows greater impulse from a static position.They also suggest that an early body velocity provided by the rear leg drive past the front leg is a better mechanical position t o accelerate through a more prolonged application of force. Conclusion An important factor in determining the power and momentum developed in the sprint start is the angle of the front leg in the set position. Most literature accepts that an angle close to 90 degrees is the ideal angle in this position. It allows the knee extensors to work best at the correct time for maximum power and momentum to be developed. An angle in excess of 90 degrees may allow a faster leg speed out of the blocks but will not develop the same power and momentum.Borzov (1980) in his investigations into an optimal starting position varies a little, with a suggested ideal front leg angle of 100 degrees. Opinions on rear leg angle vary between 110 degrees and 135 degrees. Tellez & Doolittle (1984) suggest an optimal angle of about 135 degrees for the rear leg because it allows the lever to move more quickly and allows greater impulse from a static position. They also suggest that an early body velocity provide d by the rear leg drive past the front leg is a better mechanical position to accelerate through a more prolonged application of Reference: Track and Field News Presents: Technique and Drills for the Long Jump and Triple Jump. Gary Derks. Fundamental Aspect of the Triple Jump for Dummies By: Fritz Spence and Gerald Masterson, PH. D.

Forensic Report Final Essay

Forensic Report Final Essay Forensic Report Final Essay Forensic Report Case Number: 2013-12-09-2 Kelsey Williams 2/16/2014 Forensic Scientist Introduction After recording all of the evidence of the room, and its surroundings, my forensic science team collected a sample of the blood stained on to the table, as well as collected a sample of the hex nuts for farther analysis of the hex-nuts on the table. We also got blood samples from the 5 suspects at the crime scene, who had hex nuts in their car. Procedure To determine the blood type found at the scene we used a process called agglutination using Anti-A serum and Anti-b serum to test for a positive or negative agglutination. We also took both the hex-nuts from the crime scene and the hex-nuts we found at the crime scene and did a test called water displacement to figure out if each sample is made of the same material, to get a more accurate result we tested each size hex-nut 3 times using the exact same methods each time. Results After the agglutination test you can see what the blood type was found at the crime scene and what the suspects blood type is. Table 1: Agglutination tests of blood found at crime scene Anti-A serum Anti-B serum Blood Type - - AB Table 2: Agglutination tests of blood drawn from suspects Blood source Anti-A serum Anti-B serum Blood Type Suspect #1 + + A Suspect #2 - + B Suspect #3 +

ART110 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ART110 - Essay Example Contour lines are predominantly used as well in the painting to add to the visual effect of the real images of the clouds, the tigers and lions as well as the hunters. Short broken lines gave realization to the texture of the horse’s mane and tail, the lions’ and tiger’s hair and claws as well as the hunter’s clothes and bodies. The blend of primary colors created just the right hues to bring real pigments to the animals and men. The saturation of colors on the gray horse’s mane brings a bright effect reflecting the additive light’s natural influence on the artwork in contrast to the dull colors created in the middle and bottom part of the painting. The illusionistic three dimensional space presented in the painting add color and action to the drama between the animals and hunters, giving it a seemingly photographed picture of real events. The proportion of the images is realistic as well. Reference Kleiner, Fred S. Gardner’s Art Throu gh the Ages: A Concise History of Western Art (2nd Edition). USA: Cengage Learning, 2010. Print

Analysis of a Business Narrative Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Analysis of a Business Narrative - Essay Example Both, Baidu and Google history describes the story of their origins. However, narrative style adapted to describe their history of origination by both companies, is quite different (Reissman, 1993). It is very important for any narrative to have a plot, a central idea, theme on which the entire construction of narration relies. The plot for business narratives can change according to the customer’s response and needs for that particular company. For example, if a company wants to build an emotional connection with its customers, it will try to make the narrative empathetic and would demonstrate the understanding of emotional, social and cultural values. Similarly, if a company emphasizes on the product, it will focus on its product development procedure and how that product can help provide the consumers with the solutions they want (Fritz, 2008). By keeping the above mentioned key point. Baidu search engine narrative and Google timeline is analyzed. Baidu narrative chooses an emotional plot. It shows cultural connection through one of the poem of the Song Dynasty. Then it further describes, as to how this search engine is best suited to the Chinese people as it is sensitive to the various nuances of the Chinese language. Consequently, Google narrative also builds an emotional connection with its consumers, but the style varies. ... The way the story of Google’s initial years is written, it develops a sense of familiarity for American youth. Almost every university student and graduate in America can identify the sentiments for aims, fears, and unleashed zeal to achieve targets and to find a person who shares the same dream as yours and who works along to fulfill those dreams. The story for Google tells the consumer how this conglomerate was started as a university project by two students, who were no different than the average student today. Thus, it develops a relation of similarity with it users by describing the originators as average students. The timeline mentions every person who has been associated with Google in its initial years, even the cook. This shows the emphasis on the element of respect and contribution for even the smallest participation by people who chose to believe in the company at a time when there was no guarantee of success. By telling the story of its inception in a simple manner and recognizing the input of every person, Google conveys the idea of valuing its employees and their contribution even if it’s of a meager kind. Thus, Google considers its employees as an asset, which are important enough to be mentioned in its history. The company conveys the idea of following one’s dream, even if there are numerous hardships and obstacles along the way. The story of Google is a perfect example of how a small startup, which started in a garage, has now become the world’s largest search engine. The company went against the odds, and even though there was competition present in the form of Yahoo and MSN, Google still managed to create a place for itself. Google’s startup and its values represent American culture from which

Business Strategy Report of Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc Essay

Business Strategy Report of Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc - Essay Example According to the research findings, it can, therefore, be said that The Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc also known as RBSG is an international company dealing in banking and financial services. The company offers a wide range of products as well as services and serves the commercial, personal along with the large institutional and corporate customers. The Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc tends to operate through its subsidiary named the royal bank and the National Westminster Bank Plc also referred to as NatWest. Some of the financial services offered by the Bank include commercial banking, investment banking, and services of wealth management. The bank offers the product through its various brands like RBS, Direct Line, NatWest, Churchill, Ulster Bank, Coutts and the Citizens. The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) forms it’s headquartered in Edinburgh and serves about 30million customers in Europe, UK, and America, Middle East and also Asia and employees about 130,000 staffs glob ally. Some of the major product and services of RBS includes, credit cards, insurance products, retail issue charge card and service offered by the Bank are foreign exchange finance, money market, deposit and investment, treasury services, electronic services, insurance, loans, development along with other services and information technology operations. The banking and financial sector has encountered unprecedented change and turmoil globally. Failure of some of the renowned financial leader like the Lehman Brothers had focused attention towards interconnected debt. Credit along with interbank liquidity had frozen across the globe and it was since then the government across the globe has been pumping money in order to bail out the failing banks in order to normalize the activities of the financial institution and prevent meltdown down of the global financial system.

Human society Essay Example for Free

Human society Essay Human society, as we know it, is becoming lazy and antisocial. Its pretty much useless to deny it. Compare us to fifty years ago, and you will find weve let ourselves go. Compare us to a hundred years ago, and youll realize weve morphed into beanbags with brains. In the 1890s they got by fine without even using cars. Or credit cards, for that matter. Of course, they couldnt show skin at the beach, but thats another matter. Take the Segway scooter for instance. For those of you not in the know, its a slow, ugly, two-wheeled, battery-powered (ooh ahh), upside-down coffee table, with some junk in it that makes it impossible to fall off of (in case all that standing gets the best of you). It was designed for city use (like that god awful 1/8 mile from your work to the doughnut shop), and has no other practical use except possibly as a coat hanger/umbrella rack. 45 klicks, top. Can run about 200 kilometers on a battery. Offers little or no protection against cars, which is a moot point because its nowhere close to being street legal. All you have to do is stand. In other words, its a big wheelchair for the able where you dont have to move your arms, legs, or even eyelids for that matter. Makes walking obsolete. Pretty lame invention for 5000 bucks a pop, huh? Here comes the scary part. This Yuppie-Mobile is being hailed as something that will revolutionize the way we travel. Scientists are calling it an engineering masterpiece. The website is taking advance orders because the things are going quicker than they can make them. And very few of these people are actually in need of these services. No, friends, its pure laziness. Next on the chopping block those insta-gas keys at gas stations. Such a stupid idea makes the Segway Scooter look like Edisons light bulb. Im sure you know what Im talking about, but if you dont heres a run-down: For a small fee (your soul), you can get a little key-type deal with a gas station logo on it mailed to you (along with about a million pieces of junk mail). Although they look like toddler toys, they actually hold a lot of fat-gaining power for the modern lazy yuppie. Imagine, if you will, life before the Key. Imagine the horror of actually having to labour out of your heated SUV and talking to a low-life gas pump. Imagine social interaction. Imagine returning to find your (instant) coffee slightly less warm. Before the Key, all of these things were, in all their horror, a reality. Now, you can just beep the key in front of the reader, pump your gas, and get a friendly greeting from the meter such as have a nice day. Nothing puts you in a good mood like being complimented by an LCD screen. The gas is charged to the credit card or other easy pay billings system. Again, these mechanisms have alarming popularity. Shell introduced them to their gas stations about a year and a half ago, and now you would be hard-pressed to find a gas station that doesnt have some form of instant-payment tool. Even the mom and pop stations are getting in on the fad. Only theirs involves paying 25 dollars for a rock, and proceeding to throw it at the pump when the gas is pumped. Gas pump deaths are at an all-time high. Just kidding, kids. Perhaps the most disgusting example of lethargy comes from the same people who bring you Enforma Diet Pills (for those too `busy to diet. Damn slobs). I am talking about none other than the queen of the late-night infomercials, the talk of the trailer park, the (drum roll please) AbTronic. This is their angle: The AbTronic(TM) is so effortless that you can be watching your favourite television program, reading a book or even cooking dinner while getting your body into the shape you want it[1][1]. Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. I cant even begin to tell you whats wrong with this one. You apparently dont even need to go to a gym anymore to get `rock-hard abs. Sure, youll be porky in other places, but your abdominal muscles will be `rock-hard. And ab muscles are enough for the modern ultra-lazy consumer. Who cares that this device has uncertain long-term effects? Who cares if it doesnt work half as well as ordinary sit-ups[2][2]? Who cares? Its easy, its expensive, and thats good enough for the average American consumer. The scary thing is, unlike most infomercial products, the demographic this product is reaching extends far beyond the crackhouses and backwoods. American teens from all walks of life are throwing out their gym memberships for a shot at insta-abs. The decline of civilization at its lowest. Of course, I could be wrong. Maybe these innovations are for the better. Who knows what can be accomplished with the increased amounts of free time? Maybe the time saved by these devices could be put towards creating world peace. Or forming a perfect system of government. Or inventing life saving devices. Yeah right. _______________________ [3][1] Store.yahoo.com/wonderfullbuys/abtronic.html . The wonderfullbuys site is actually a haven of lazy-person tools. If this kind of stuff floats your boat, I recommend it. [4][2] [5]www.streetcents.cbc.ca. Great consumer review site. [image001.jpg] The Segway: Motorized Stupidity [image002.jpg] The AbTronic: The Pinnacle of human idiocy References Visible links 1. file://localhost/var/home/acumen/svn/trunk/engine/docs/working/11538/11538.html#_edn1 2. file://localhost/var/home/acumen/svn/trunk/engine/docs/working/11538/11538.html#_edn2 3. file://localhost/var/home/acumen/svn/trunk/engine/docs/working/11538/11538.html#_ednref1 4. file://localhost/var/home/acumen/svn/trunk/engine/docs/working/11538/11538.html#_ednref2 5. http://www.streetcents.cbc.ca/ Hidden links: 6. http://www.coursework.info/

Oil Palm Industry In Indonesia Environmental Sciences Essay

Oil Palm Industry In Indonesia Environmental Sciences Essay Palm oil industry gives main contribution for economic development in Indonesia. The industry is expected to be able to increase the income of a large number of poor in rural Indonesia. However the increasing demand for palm oil will give incentive for Government of Indonesia to increase national production. In some developed countries, oil palm is used as a substitute for trans fats, which is one of the highly saturated vegetable fat semi-solid form at room temperature. Palm oil is cheaper than other vegetable oils (World Growth, 2011). Palm oil from the oil palm (Elaeis guianensis) is being used for cooking and biodiesel, soaps, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, industrial and agro-chemical products (USDA 2010). The growing demand of oil palm in global market especially in the world trade vegetables oil encourages Indonesia to develop oil palm plantation areal. The development of oil palm plantation will be thread for some forest in Indonesia and causing deforestation and biodiversity (Manurung, 2001). Government of Indonesia set of some policies such as the designation of large land tracts to the expansion of palm plantations, decentralizing control over land-use licensing to provincial governments, and subsidizing credit and establishment costs for smallholders to promoted rapid expansion of oil palm area. The expansion which was done by deforestation had significant impacts on forest dependent communities who rely on forests for a wide range of good and services (Sheil et al, 2006, Belcher et al 2004). Oil palm also was criticized of disturbing human health, destroying cultural heritage, destroying ecosystem, and leading to the loss of autonomy and self-sufficiency (Brown and Jacobson, 20 05). All these may lead to social conflicts which were recorded by NGOs (Sawit Watch, 2008). In contrast, the oil palm is considered one of the most envioronmentally friendly oil crops because oil palms are more productive than other oil crops and to produce the same amount of oil are needed small areas than the other crops such soybeans or rapeseed (Arhem, 2011). There are many studies about aspects of oil palm plantation; contract farming, supply and demand oil palm in global market and environmental impact of oil palm. Contract farming in oil palm has conducted by Susila (2004) and Syahza (2004). Susila (2004) showed the oil palm has positive contribution to economic growth. This is indicated by growth of investment, output, and foreign exchange earning. Around Rp. 5 Rp. 11 Milion or more than 63% of household income of smallholder in Kampar and Musi Banyuasin. Furthermore, Oil palm has significant contribution to poverty alleviation (less than 10% off poor people in oil palm communities) and equity improvement (gini coefficient around 3.6).However, Syahza (2004) showed different between plasma farmers income and independent farmers. The different is caused of price distortion, skill, high cost production and monopsonistic market. Rifin (2010) studied about oil palm Indonesia in the world trade. The result show palm oil products from Indon esia and Malaysia are complementary rather than competing. The increase in the world income compared to Malaysia as reflected by higher income elasticity value can give more benefit to Indonesia. Some authors study about environmental impact of oil palm. Obidzinski et, all found the development of oil palm in West Papua (Manokwari), West Kalimantan (Kubu Raya), and Papua (Boven Digoel) has caused deforestation, water pollution, soil erosion, and air pollution and the household survey showed significant economic gains from oil plantations, however these were not available to all stakeholder and were not distributed evenly. The other study Sawit Watch (2008) showed impact of oil palm plantations on the environment in South East Asia is already well-documented. Indonesia is the third highest contributor of CO2 emissions in the world because fires used to clear the land and peat bogs are drained to plant oil palms, releasing hundreds of millions of tones of carbon dioxide. Plantations are one of the main drivers of deforestation in Indonesia, destroying the habitat of endangered wildlife, including the orangutan and the Sumatran tiger. The unsustainable expansion of Indonesias pa lm oil industry is leaving many indigenous communities without land, water or adequate livelihoods, destroyed of traditional costumes and culture and human rights. OVERVIEW OF STUDY AREA : INDONESIA Indonesia is located between 6 ° N- 11 ° S and 95 ° E 141 ° E. It is between Hindia Sea and Pacific Sea, among Asia continent and Australia continent. Indonesia consists some islands, such as Sumatera Island, Sulawesi Island, Java Island and Kalimantan Island (fig.1). Indonesia map.png Figure 1. Location of geography Indonesia, adapted from wikipedia (http://wikipedia.org,Access on 26 September 2012) Since 2008, Indonesia has been the most worlds producer and exporter of palm oil. Aceh, Java, Sumatera and Kalimantan are producer of oil palm in Indonesia. Palm oil industry in Indonesia a main agricultural industry and national economy.It is contributing 4.5% og GDP and employing over 3.0 million people (USDA, 2010). Oil Palm can grow well in the tropics andin the an altitude of 0-500 m above sea level with a humidity of 80-90%. Oil palm requires a stable climate with rainfall, 2000-2500 mm a year, which is the area that is not flooded when it rains and drought when dry. Annual rainfall patterns influence behavior oil palm flowering and oil palm fruit production. The oil palm fruit are small. It is about 6-20 gr and bunches of about 10 -40 kg, which a bunch holds about 200- 4000 fruits (Tengnas and Sveden 2002 in Arhem 2011). The fruit is orange-red in colour that comprises a kernel enclosed in a shell (endocarp) surrounded by pulp (mesocarp) (fig2). Yusoff and Hansen (2007) divided palm oil into three stages : plantation, transportation to the mill and milling. C:UsersErnah TangimPicturesjambi oil palm harvest.jpg Figure 2. The fruit oil palm (in bunches). Source : own picture RESEARCH PROBLEM Various problems faced in the development of Indonesia palm oil from the technological, economic, social and environmental aspects. Technological issues related to the productivity and value added. Weak government policies in the provision of incentives and the implementation of the policy itself will affect the increase in value added and product development for the strongly structure of the palm oil industry. Economic issues related to competitive oil palm product in the international market and resources access. Basiccally, Palm oil has more competitivenes than the other vegetable oils. Oil palm is the most efficient plants that produce oil in the world.It is around 0.25-0.28ha for produce 1 tonne CPO as raw material palm oil, meanwhile soybean,sunflowers and rapeseed need 1.5-2ha for produce 1 tonne oil seeds. Lack of access resources can be a threat to the sustainable development of oil palm estate plantation. To increase the productivity, Oil palm plantation need a good maintenance management and supported by efficient use of inputs, especially fertilizer and harvest handling of fresh fruit bunches. Oil World inside Bappenas 2008, showed the productivity of oil palm around 18-20 tonne FFB /ha/years (3,6-4 ton CPO/ha),meanwhile produktivity of soybean/seeds around 2-2,5 ton/ha/years (0,45-0,67). The emergence of social problems in the areal of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹oil palm development is about ownership, land use and how to transfer their rights. Vermoulen dan Goad (2006) showed the main constraint covers difficulty farmers to obtain capital because it can not qualify for the collateral relationship financing through a bank, a lack of technical development and market information. There is a problem about the uncertainty of land tenure plasma plantations that have been allocated by the government to communities of the village. There is no official document that can be used as legal basis for public ownership. It is only by agreement between the villagers and the company that the company will build a palm oil plantation to the plasma of 20% of the total area of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹HGU (Plantation permits to use state land (leasehold)). The communities of village want the clarity of the status and location of their land because it greatly affects the value of the land. At first, tends to increase the price of land, but increasingly blurring the certainty of status and time of handover of land / credit agreement makes the land prices tend to decline again. The issues of environmental in the oil palm is about deforestation, biodiversity and climate change. Recent times, the transfer function natural forests and peat lands contribute to the negative form of deforestation, land degradation peat, water resource degradation, and loss of biodiversity. Development palm oil is also claimed to be incompatible with the spatial regulation, and there are coconut groves plantations in areas with high conservation value. Regardless of the issue, basically has many oil palm plantation companies while considering environmental aspects in conduct their business and become a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) (Theo,2010). III. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND This chapter deals with literature review to provide the necessary context in the current research. This includes literature of theory of environmental aspects. Environmental Aspects In economic the environment is viewed as a composite asset that provides a variety of services, such as provides the economy with raw materials and services directly to consumers (Tietenberg, 2006). An element of an organizations activities, products or services that can interact with the environment called environmental aspects. An environmental aspect describes the relevant issues that management needs to address, irrespective of level of abstraction e.g. waste management, global warming, resource extraction, lack of knowledge about process emissions, toxic material management, and biodiversity (Flemstrom, 2003). In addition, Munasinghe (1993), there are some issues of environmental that are related to global and transnational, natural habitats, land, water and urban industrial areas. In the other words, this is called the environmental system. There are some tools to assessing environmental impacts or aspects which called environmental system analysis tools (ESATs), such as Enviro nmental Impact Assessment (EIA), System of Economic and Environmental Accounting (SEEA), Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA), Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), Environmental Management System (EMS), Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA), Risk Assessment (RA) (Ahlroth et all,2011); Finnvede, Asa Moberg (2005)). Significance of the Study There are many issues in the oil palm production in Indonesia such as contract farming, environmental issues and social issues. Teoh (2010) show the environmental issues are deforestation, loss of biodiversity, climate change and use pesticide and fertilizer. Cahyadi and H.Waibel (2011) studied about contract farming in the oil palm in Jambi. Using the probity model and 245 smallholders who are respondents showed the contract participation significant with age of household head, indigenous, size of oil palm plot, and particular planting period. Overall, contract farming has a significant positive effect on smallholder income; it discriminates against the poorer smallholders. Primadona (2011) argue that the implementation of RPSO PC still have opportunities for companies to rectify their behavior by altering management practice in the palm oil Industry, especially for the countries which have poor implementation of regulations. Companies are forced to fix their management or otherwise risk being excluded from the competitive market for market completion and prospects of oil pam in the future. The researcher remains essential to implement of RSPO standards at the national level. Simon (2006) studied to identifiy most significant impacts of il palm cultivation on land,air and water and examines them appropriate to Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Oil Palm by RSPO. World Bank (2010) showed expantion of oil palm plantation can give positive impact to to local people through employment opportunities, improved infrastructure, increases in land value, and income from cultivating oil. However,it can give negative impacts to environment such as loss of acce ss to land without adequate compensation, loss of the benefits of mixed livelihood strategies, and loss of environmental services from natural forests (e.g., water, game, medicinal plants) and deforestation. Oil palm expansion also yields indirect or national level poverty alleviation benefits through government spending. Basiron and Chan (2004) argue three evidences of oil palm, sustainability: (1) oil palm can be used a vehicle for rural poverty eradication in Malaysia, astedy supplier of affordable food,non-food, biocomposites, nutritional and pharmaceutical products and a showcase for environmental improvment.Study by Obidzinki et all (2012) found that the development of oil palm in West Papua (Manokwari), West Kalimantan (Kubu Raya), and Papua (Boven Digoel) has caused deforestation, resulting ini significant secondary external impacts such as water pollution, soil erosion, and air pollution. Meanwhile, in the social impacts, many stakeholder group (employees,out-growers and investing households) report significant gains that were not evenly distributed. The earlier research has analyzed vulnerability of oil palm farmers to potential shock and poverty in several stages and scheme of contract farming. In the contract farming, there will be a share of benefit and risks each others between the company as nucleus estate and smallholders as plasma. Meanwhile in the second phase of this research will analyze about environmental aspects. Generally,this research will be to assess the environmental implications oil palm development using two plantations sites, namely the Bakri Sumatera Plantation and the Agro Astra Lestari as case studies.Analyze of framework is starting from the adoption in contract farming and its determinant factors than analyze environmental aspects in the oil palm industry. IV. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Based on the problem analysis and literature review previously, we formulate three following research questions that will be addressed in the current research. How are the perceptions of smallholder farmers about the long term environmental consequences of oil palm plantation in Jambi? How to asses the opportunities and constraints of sustainable oil palm management practices? And what are the environmental impacts in the oil palm industry? What is the degree of awareness of stakeholders group in Jambi province about the environmental implications oil palm development? How to develop of a set of policy recommendations to implement a more sustainable oil palm production system? The general objective of this research is to assess the environmental implications oil palm development using two plantations sites, namely the Bakri Sumatera Plantation and the Agro Astra Lestari as case studies. It is anticipated that research will have three major output : A better understanding of the perceptions of smallholders farmers about the long term environmental consequences of oil palm plantation in Jambi. An assessment of the opportunities and constraints of sustainable oil palm management practices. Analysis environmental impacts in the oil palm industry. An assessment of the awareness of stakeholders group in Jambi province to about the environmental implications oil palm development. Development of a set of policy recommendations to implement a more sustainable oil palm production system. V. METHODOLOGY Data Analysis To achieve the research outputs outline above the study will follow some methodology such as household survey, case study and key informant interviews. For the analysis of environmental aspects, applied consistently in Muora Jambi and Merangin for the purpose of comparison. As a first step: existing literature and secondary data about environmental aspects of oil palm plantation will be reviewed. For analysis of environmental aspects, different sources of data collection, i.e. smallholder surveys, focus group discussion, and key informant interviews will be used. Some stakeholders will be selected to represent various actors that are directly or indirectly affected by oil palm industry. The smallholder surveys will be repeated in order to update the information of the 2010 survey and to establish a panel data base. As a new aspect in the questionnaire a module on perception of the environmental impacts of oil palm will be added to the questionnaires. To complement information collected smallholder households and to get additional relevant data FGD (Focus Group Discussion) method will be used. Prior to the FGD semi-structure interviews will be conducted with key government official, company representatives, and civil society organizations to complement t he site specific survey data. Finally, this study will analyze environmental aspects using some econometric models. The data will be used to understand the perceptions of smallholder farmers about the long term environmental consequences of oil palm industry in Jambi. In this research, some questions are the same with the phase-1 research such as age, education, and household information, land and crops, oil palm production, off farm employment, asset, saving, oil palm contract participation, investment and future plan and as addition several questions about knowledge and perceptions smallholder farmers of environmental aspects. This information will be included in the smallholder questionnaires. The respondent farmers will be selected by multi stage and random sampling technique. The assessment of opportunities and constraints of oil palm management practices and awareness of stakeholder groups in Jambi province about environmental implications oil palm development will include qualitative approach analysis. The stakeholders group consist of Ministry Agriculture, NGOs local, Company oil palm, Association oil palm, Ministry environmental, research/academies, RSPO, ISPO and palm oil society. Finally, some econometrics models such as OLS (Ordinary Least Square) will be used to develop of a set of policy recommendations to implement a more sustainable oil palm production system. V.2. Data Collection Location Research conducted on oil palm smallholders farmers in the Province of Jambi since has established a data base of some smallholders farmers, 291, in two districts of Jambi province. A household surveys has been conducted in 2010 in three village in Merangin distric and one village in Muaro Jambi district. Province of Jambi is one of the main estate regions in Indonesia that produces rubber, coconut, coffee, tea, cinnamon oil palm, and cacao. Jambi is located in Sumatra which is still home to the majority of the national palm crop, with 75 percent of total matures palm area and 80 percent of total palm oil production. Jambi is chosen because it is one of the largest oil palm producers in Indonesia. There are totally 159,583 households cultivating oil palm in Jambi. It is noted that 59 percent of them are contractual smallholders and 41 percent are independent smallholders. They are distributed in 9 districts, namely Batanghari, Muaro Jambi, Bungo, Tebo, Merangin, Sarolangun, West Tanj ung Jabung, East Tanjung Jabung, and Kerinci. Generally, contract scheme in Jambi consists of PIR and KKPA scheme. For this project, we decided to select Muaro Jambi and Merangin districts. Locations are chosen purposively representing several stages, schemes, and geographic conditions which promote various problems. Source of Data To obtain the required information and meet the aims, it is essential to combine some methods to collect data. This study used primary data and secondary data. Primary data were gathered through field visits to the research area. The method used was surveyed and in depth interviews. Survey A formalized, pre-coded questionnaire will be developed and pre-tested. The questionnaire will include questions on household characteristics, assets, inputs and output of oil palm production activities and marketing, other sources of income, factor and product prices, credit, contractual arrangement, perception of contract farming and the partner (nucleus estate), and perception of changes over the previous five years and environmental aspects will be spread in two districts for totally 291 oil palm farmers in Jambi. The respondent farmers will be selected by multi stage and random sampling technique. Interview Interview will be done to explore concept, process, problems and players behavior in the oil palm contract farming. It also allows us to obtain qualitative data deeply and comprehensively. The interview will involve stakeholders and key players in contract farming in the oil palm industry. Several key stakeholders will be interviewed regarding the partnership policy in the oil palm supply chain in contract farming including: Ministry of agriculture, The Association of Oil, Palm Plantation Companies, Bank, NGO, and Roundtable Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

the false consensus effect :: essays research papers

Research Demonstration: The False Consensus Effect In science, we emphasize systematic, careful observation as a key to overcoming the limits of other methods of acquiring knowledge. That is, we trust systematic observation more than we trust our own intuition. We can actually investigate this issue. The following description provides you with the details necessary to conduct a simple study to investigate the accuracy of human intuitions. We often believe that others are more like ourselves than they really are. Thus, our predictions about others' beliefs or behaviors, based on casual observation, are very likely to err in the direction of our own beliefs or behavior. For example, college students who preferred brown bread estimated that over 50% of all other college students preferred brown bread, while white-bread eaters estimated more accurately that 37% showed brown bread preference (Ross, Greene, & House, 1977). This is known as the false consensus effect (Ross et al., 1977; Mullen, Atkins, Champion, Edwards, Hardy, Story, & Vanderlok, 1985). The false consensus effect provides the basis for the following demonstration, which emphasizes the need for systematic rather than casual observation. You can use the set of six questions, below, to investigate this. Before describing the false consensus effect, have friends, roommates or classmates (other classes, not PSY250) answer the questions listed below. Next, have students predict the UB undergraduate mean for each question. Keep a record of the responses for each person who participates. According to the false consensus effect, students' predictions about the UB mean should be influenced by their own positions. Consequently, a student whose position is below the UB mean is likely to make a prediction that will be below the UB mean as well. There are ethical constraints on the use of human participants that you must follow if you wish to try this with people. 1. Do not collect any identifying information on your participants. The answers to these questions should be anonymous. Even though you may know the person, do NOT record any identifying information. 2. When you ask someone to participate, explain the basic nature of the study. You want to ask people how often they do certain things, like laundry, and how often they think other UB undergrads do these same things. You are doing this as part of a class on learning the scientific method. If they participate, they will be asked to answer six questions about themselves and other UB undergraduates. They can choose not to answer any question. Tell your prospective participant that all answers are anonymous and no information identifying them is being recorded. 3.