Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Religion Essay

Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Paganism are among the principal religions in Ethiopia. Yet, Ethiopia is a chiefly Christian nation whereby most of the Christians are Orthodox Tewahedo Christians (Merahi, 2002). Nevertheless, there are still Christians residing in the country who are either Roman Catholic or Protestant. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is lead by a patriarch and is associated to the communion of the Armenian Orthodox Church, Malankara Orthodox Church of India, Coptic Orthodox Church, and the Syrian Orthodox Church. Christianity started in Ethiopia upon the arrival of the two Syrian Christians named Frumentius and Aedissius (Meinardus, 2006). They went to Aksum and began to inform people about the Christian faith and Jesus Christ. The two had also persuaded King Ezana, who was the ruler of Aksum during the early fourth century. They became successful in converting the king to become Christian. As a result, the king officially declared Christianity as the chief religion in the entire kingdom in 341 AD. Afterwards, he commanded Frumentius to proceed to Alexandria where he was sanctified bishop having the name of Abba Selama in 346 AD. Frumentius then went back to Ethiopia and was hailed as its first bishop and established the first Ethiopian Church (Meinardus, 2006). With the institution of the Christianity in whole kingdom, Ethiopia became a dominant Christian empire until the fifteenth century. Discussion Ethiopian Orthodox Church is considered as the primordial of all Eastern Christianities though the Armenian Orthodox Church is also termed as the oldest strand of Christianity (Yesehaq, 1997). There are, at any rate, three distinct organizations of Tewahedo Church with their own governments in North America and Addis Ababa, Jerusalem, and even in Europe and Jamaica. Occasionally Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is referred as Copic for the reason that until before the fifties the leader of Ethiopian Church was chosen from Egypt and this custom was modified when Haile Sellassie ascended the throne (Merahi, 2002). The doctrine of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is broader than any other Christian associations. The Ethiopian more contracted Old Testament doctrine is consisted of the books included in the Septuagint and recognized by other Orthodox Christians (besides Enoch, Jubilees, 1 Esdras and 2 Esdras, 3 books of Maccabees, and Psalm 151) (Yesehaq, 1997). Nonetheless, the three books of the Maccabees are indistinguishable in label only and rather various in substance from those of the other Christian churches which contained them. The arrangement of the other books is quite diverse from other groups’, in addition. The Church, moreover, has, to some extent, an imprecise wider doctrine that is comprised of more books (Meinardus, 2006). All contemporary written bibles confine themselves to the more contracted canon. Prior to the revolution, there were many Ethiopian clergy since Orthodoxy is generally bestowed in frugal order. Some say that all through the Red Terror, which began in 1975 and lasted for three years, over 200 thousands priests were put to death in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Orthodox priest is the greatest expression of the distinction involving Western and Eastern Christianity. The Ethiopian Orthodoxy claims that there is only one nature of Christ and such is entirely celestial (Yesehaq, 1997). In effect, the Orthodoxy established to realities, the Material reality, which belong to man; and Celestial or Divine reality, which belong to God. Alongside with the Roman Catholic doctrine and principles, the Ethiopian Orthodoxy does not admit the concept of purgatory and argues that there is only Heaven and hell. Another difference in terms of the history of Christianity in the Roman Catholic Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church is that, the latter directly moves away from the earthy matters such as social and political spheres (Marsh, 2004). The Ethiopian Orthodoxy is only concerned about spiritual upbringing and nothing more which is in opposition with how the Roman Catholic Church influenced the founding of the earliest form of government. The Ethiopian Orthodoxy, on the other hand, has been disparaged for its passive character when it comes to politics and government. However, the separation among the social and divine concerns or aspects is an inherent theory and not merely an issue of stratagem and diplomacy. The sole character of Christ is to give emphasis to the idea that there are two realities founded on diverse doctrines (Merahi, 2002). The Orthodox iconography refused to accept the amendment of the art breakthroughs through realism, together with the third dimension point of view. The Orthodox artists believed that God’s time and space are prearranged in a different way from man’s reality (Yesehaq, 1997). The well-known upturned point of view in symbols expressed their consideration that in beatific reality the distant is close and the close is distant. There are various corollaries of the Ethiopian Orthodoxy belief on religion, including the notion of Trinity as well as the philosophy of history. The division between the Western Church and the Orthodox Church is not just about historical such as the thousand years of the Byzantine Empire (Marsh, 2004). However, such is a theological as well as philosophical in thought. There is no way that the Orthodox Church would admit the concept of evolution as how the Catholic Church, in a way, accepts it. In an analysis, there is very modest development entrenched in the Orthodox mindset which is predominantly observed in the Ethiopian Orthodoxy. As how the Orthodox Church expressed the principle, man does not progress gradually. But what is more appropriate to say is that man reaches his full transformation through God’s radical character which He uses to make us updated in every way it may serve for us. In this line of thinking that the Ethiopian Orthodoxy and the Protestant thought are the same (Marsh, 2004). The two regard the role of the Church as one’s personal institution and not merely a social establishment. Having this Orthodox character, the Ethiopian Christianity, on no account, had full-blown â€Å"holy wars† and had been more predisposed to missionary activities (Meinardus, 2006). The Ethiopian Orthodox Church co-existed with various leaders and administrations, lived alongside with pagans and Muslims and had no record of rectification or â€Å"religious wars† as how the Western Christianity underwent (Marsh, 2004). Summary To sum up, the Ethiopian Orthodox (Tewahedo) Christian religion has been regarded as one of the most foremost strands of the Christian religion. Though many of its features as well as its character have an enlarged difference in relation with other strands of Christianity such as the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestantism, it still goes with the principle of one all-powerful and absolute God. The great differences revealed between the Western Christianity and the Eastern Christianity are said to be observed in the entirety of the Ethiopian Orthodoxy. While the Western Christianity is hailed as one of the foundations of government primarily in the European regions, the Eastern Christianity, particularly the Ethiopian Orthodoxy, remained distant with the workings of politics and societal affairs. The Orthodoxy reveals itself as a religious organization which holds no concern on political activities in opposition with how the Western Christianity does. For the Ethiopian Orthodoxy, religion is something which is very personal. With this, Ethiopian Orthodoxy lasted for so may years surpassing other religious associations without undergoing intricate changes and amendments.

New Respiratory Poses Potential Threat to Humans

There are a lot of new bacteria and viruses being discovered almost every day. Some of them are new strains of previous species while some are entirely new species that have yet to be studied and usually cause no harm to humans. However, when the Adenovirus, the causative agent of the common cold, which is not a lethal illness to most people, mutates into a new form and mysteriously kills a lot of people, this is a cause for alarm. In this connection, according to an article written by Associated Press and was published in Quad City Times, a mutated form of the Adenovirus has killed 10 people across the United States in last 18 months. In addition, the new form, which is called Ad14, has caused 140 illnesses in states such as Washington, Texas, Oregon, and New York. The virus was first reported last year in New York City, where it killed a 12-day old girl. Based on the article, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was puzzled by the new strain of the Adenovirus, which has only more than 50 variants. However, they emphasized that there was no need to be alarmed as the mutated virus does not pose a serious threat to humans. Moreover, the CDC is also working on a vaccine for the virus which they hope to release in 2009. What fascinated me most about the article is the fact that the Adenovirus, which usually causes mild forms of sicknesses, has mutated into a new and possibly, deadly form. Being a student taking up microbiology, I believe that this discovery of a mutated variant of a virus means that it is possible for other viruses, and even bacteria to mutate into a more lethal and more dangerous form. It is possible that the virus was exposed to certain factors which altered its nutritional requirements and as a result, made it evolve like in the case of certain bacteria such as E. coli. References. Quad City Times. (November 16, 2007).   New respiratory bug has killed 10 people. Retrieved December 2, 2007, from http://qctimes.com/articles/2007/11/16//news/local/doc473e0d1de7e4d991086475.txt

Dont Actually Use This Crap Essay

I have decided to research and discuss how we can use heritage to build a nation in order to promote our understanding of a common humanity. In order to discuss and debate the abovementioned question we need to understand some key phrases in the question. In my opinion, that would include the following key concepts, namely; * heritage, * nation and * a common humanity. South Africa has come from a turbulent past where terms such as heritage, nation building and a common humanity meant different things to various population groups and realistically these concepts were worlds apart for the majority of South Africans. In order to achieve a common humanity, we need to respect all the cultures and religions within our country. People learn and are influenced by the place and the people around them. In a country like South Africa many people have learned from stories told to them. These stories carry information and ideas about life and living and shared customs, traditions and memories from parents to children. A person’s heritage is made up of the practices, and traditions that are passed on from parents to children. Heritage is also about what has been passed on from the family, community and place where people have been raised. For example a person may have grown up in a family of medical professionals or in a proudly Zulu family where the old customs are still followed. This is part of their heritage. People also have a national heritage. A person who was born in South Africa has a South African heritage. This also means they have an African heritage because they were born on this continent. There are many South Africans who do not know what our Coat of Arms represents or the meaning of our flag and anthem. In order to be a truly successful nation we need to become more aware of these national symbols. If we achieve this it will contribute to a more powerful form of nation-building. In countries with a huge variety of cultural, ethnic, racial, religious and other social identities, nation-building is a big challenge. This challenge has led governments to take numerous steps to create a peaceful and workable country. In Africa the situation is made more difficult by the fact that there are many identities and cultures. Mandaza describes such states as ‘nation-states-in-the-making’, which are characterised by a lack of essence, weakness and dependency. I think that the role of the curriculum in schools plays an essential role in promoting an understanding of a common humanity in all young people. Researchers often make reference to the neglected role of the history curriculum in the debate on nation-building and the process of forging general citizenship in Africa. In this context, the concept ‘curriculum’ is understood from many people to be the point of view of the political party in power. The curriculum emerges directly from society and is an ideological tool as well as a vehicle of social change driven by the dominant social group. As such, it plays a central role in the development and reproduction of society over time and geographical area. Seen from this perspective, it is no wonder that the curriculum is driven by political regimes in an endeavour to promote common values and form a particular type of citizen. We most certainly can, but it takes a lot of hard work. Each of our many cultures must get a little space in the sun. What we must also realise though is that some cultures are very different from others and that some people might find the things we may want to defend offensive. The question we should ask is whether our practices are more likely to cause division and friction, or whether it is going to bring people of different cultures together. What we should perhaps work on is getting our country to a point where there is loyalty to the flag no matter what. We must be able to really be proud of our achievements as a nation, and not vote people into office that will embarrass us. If we can all stand behind the flag, I think it will be one thing that can unite us. Look what the Rugby World Cups and the recent 2010 Soccer World Cup did for our nation. The whole nation standing for a common cause and goal. There was a real sense of nation-building. Culture is not something you are born with. It is learned from family, school, religious teachings, television and media and the government of a country. Advertisements, magazines and movies are also powerful guides. For example American music videos promote a certain style of dress, values, expression and attitude for young people. Many young people like the cool speak of American pop music rather than talking in their home language. Schools and religious organisations also play a big role. Religion has many rituals that symbolise belonging to a particular culture. South Africa has been called the rainbow nation because it has so many cultural practices. Cultural practices are how we talk and behave, the ways in which we pray, the special things we do when we have festivals, births and deaths. We have groups with different languages, religions, race, customs and traditions e. . Zulu, Ndebele, Khoisan, Hindu, Muslim and Afrikaner people. All of these people are united by being South African and all of their ways of life form part of our country’s identity and culture. It is important to promote and be proud of our South African culture and identity. This helps South Africans to understand and respect each other and to learn from each other’s cultural practices. This is part of the healing that demo cracy has brought after culture was used to divide South Africans in the past. For this reason the government has a project called â€Å"Proudly South African† that encourages South Africans to value each other and the country. The past is all around us. We live our lives against a rich backdrop of historic buildings, landscapes and other physical survivals of our past. But the historic environment is more than just a matter of material remains. It is central to how we see ourselves and to our identity as individuals, communities and as a nation. It is a physical record of what our country is and how it came to be. Building materials and styles can define region’s localities and communities. Historic landscapes or iconic buildings can become a focus of community identity and pride. At a more local level a historic church or park can help define a neighbourhood and create a sense of identity and belonging. The importance that we attach to our ‘heritage’ is growing each year, and that is why events such as Heritage Day are important in enabling people to value and appreciate their local, regional and national heritage. I encourage people of all ages to take this opportunity to visit, tour and experience the buildings and streets on your doorstep and learn a little about the rich heritage of the region in which you live. Port Elizabeth and the Eastern Cape is full of heritage. Nation building enables history to be rewritten, and the apartheid legacy of devaluing and erasing the heritage of black South Africans from the consciousness of the nation to be reversed, facilitating healing and further weakening the feelings of â€Å"better† citizenship of one population group over the other. Attempts to reverse this and give back pride to the African, Indian and Coloured South Africans receive support from many people. This includes government efforts to teach children about African heroes and Africa’s contributions to world history and culture. Nation building is necessary to build trust, which is directly linked with stronger economic performance. If all South Africans were passionate and believed in each other and were not divided on many issues as we are, our country would perform better financially and this would improve international investments and job opportunities. We (South Africans) need to develop the same patriotism and passion that the Americans show to their flag and anthem. We can continue to rebuild our nation with our heritage by raising awareness. There are a lot of South Africans who do not know anything about the Heritage of our country, therefore, by having exhibitions, distributing leaflets, organising work groups (community and schools), quarterly newsletters distributed within the community, media exposure or maybe even raising awareness by means of radio shows , talks and shows, we can continue to build our nation. Only when all Africans own and cherish their cultural heritage, when they identify and embrace the majesty of Mapungubwe, when they speak and learn through their languages and can therefore dream, sing and dance in their own languages, shall we see rapid social economic development of the people of Africa. A nation needs a history. History buys you time to get rid of emotional responses and see things rationally. The English civil war, for example, has taught people of Royalist descent that a ruler who leeches the country for his/her personal benefits shouldn’t be tolerated. On the other hand, descendants of Parliamentarians can see that it’s not enough just to chop off a bad king’s head. You need something good to replace him with. England had eleven years of misery after beheading Charles 1, and couldn’t wait to get another king. Nobody could understand that at the time because they were emotionally involved with one side or the other. It took time for both sides to overcome the hurts and prejudices, and to understand what happened, but eventually, they grew as a nation from the lessons learned. Heroes fall into two categories. They can either be people of great achievement (like Newton or Darwin) or they can reflect some aspect of national character (like Robin Hood or Scotland’s William Wallace). Heroes are people that kids can look up to, people who inspire kids to achieve something, and that all helps to form a single national identity. A common identity – the need to preserve it, promote it and keep it alive is a struggle of both individuals and many nations. Your identity is not only a current thing. It is originates from and is dependent upon the sum-total of your cultural heritage. All the things that your ancestors have done on the cultural front, i. e. their language, dances, rituals, dress, food and all that, contribute towards your present identity. As a young South African I feel that the youth of today need to learn and understand the events of the past so we can understand how to move forward in the best interests of all South Africans. I consider it essential for our future that we all stand behind a common identity namely our flag and anthem. Nation building is important and imperative to create a feeling of belonging and with it accountability and responsible behaviour. Efforts must be made to ensure that all cultures are respected and equal citizenship for all guaranteed. This is important because for centuries the dominant people in power aimed to diminish all culture and history of certain cultures and religions. This â€Å"past† obviously did not use heritage to build a nation in order to promote our understanding of a common humanity.

Rwanda Genocide Before, During and After Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Rwanda Genocide Before, During and After - Essay Example The Tutsi were also ruled by a King or Mwami and are thought to have first migrated into the area around the 14th century via a slow invasion that was mostly peaceful. The Tutsi owned lots of cattle and were advanced combatants and used these to achieve economic, political, and social control over the Hutu people. Over time ownership of land was taken from the Hutu and became the property of the Tutsi Mwami. The economic relations between the Hutu-Tutsi took the form of a trade by barter contract called the ubuhake. Both tribes could for example exchange Tutsi cattle for personal and military service. These evolved though as the ubuhake became a feudal-type class system with power resting firmly in the hands of the Tutsi minority. Rwanda was governed by various colonial powers including Germany and Belgium. Under the Belgians the political power of the Mwami was eroded, the ubuhake system was modified and the payments of tribute were abrogated. After several years, Rwandans were subsequently integrated into the political system after the United Nations (UN) was formed. The integration was meant to produce far-reaching socio-economic reforms, which would lead to political progress and social stability. However, this program allowed the Tutsi minority gain political, economic and social domination over the Hutu majority and was a contributing factor that led to civil unease in the country. After years of escalating conflict between the Hutu and Tutsi, the Belgian administrators with the support of the UN General Assembly, granted recognition to the republican Rwandan (and Burundi) State in order to avoid more social unrest. On June 27, 1962, the General Assembly voted to terminate the Belgian Trusteeship Agreem ent, paving the way days later for Rwanda to attain independence. Post-Independence The new Rwandan nations first President was Gregoire Kayibanda, a Hutu leader. Rwanda introduced its own national unit of currency, the Rwanda franc. On November 7, a political system with multi-parties was legalized. Ethnic violence broke out in February 1993 causing hundreds of fatalities amongst both Hutus and Tutsis. On April 6, 1994, President Habyarimana and the President of Burundi were murdered when the airplane carrying both men was shot down in Kigali. This led the rounding up and eventual murder of Tutsis. After the genocide, the government of Rwanda began reconstruction and reconciliation processes. A grassroots village-level justice system, known as gacaca was put in place, to address the enormous backlog of cases. By the end of 2006, 818,000 genocide suspects had been identified by the gacaca courts. Victims of genocide were over 1 million people. The Economy Rwanda's major exports are coffee, tea, tin cassiterite, wolfframite, and pyrethrum. Agriculture contributes more than 40% of the nation's GDP. Principal food crops include bananas, sweet potatoes, cassava, sorghum and beans. Till date the majority of Rwandans are subsistence farmers who still live in the rural parts of the country. Intense demographic pressure, the shortage of arable land, and lack of access to the Indian Ocean have been three critical problems in Rwanda's economic development. It is a fact that Rwanda has one of the lowest urbanization rates in Africa. Since independence, the ruling party has allocated government positions primarily on a controversial ethnocentric patronage

Building Services Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Building Services - Essay Example Thermal: If rooms are too hot or too cold the occupants obviously feel uncomfortable and their performance efficiencies are diminished. Excessive cold or heat may also create health problems. Since all the rooms have controlled mechanical ventilation systems it is advisable that, if the climate is too cold, a heat recovery system be installed. Convectional loss can be reduced by having windows with glass panes so that heat loss is contained while natural lighting is made available. The rooms should also be otherwise airtight and the fenestration performance of the building envelope should also be highly efficient. Air change per hr at 0.25 cfm/sq ft of building envelope measured at 50 Pascal is recommended for the building envelope to assure comfortable indoor thermal ambiences. Visual: Inadequate lighting may create eye problems over extended periods of time and headaches and visual problems over shorter ones. Natural lighting of spaces, as for the rooms with external walls, should be considered prior to specifying electric illumination systems. Acoustics: Noise is specifically the most distracting influence on occupants. It can cause undue stress and loss of performance efficiency, especially in a delicate learning environment like the lecture room. The general office will also be susceptible to high noise levels. Noise irritates in two ways - it impairs hearing and it deprives of speech privacy. The second is more irritating than the former. The following ways can reduce noise pollution, specifically in relation to the lecture and general office rooms: Maximum unoccupied noise levels should be kept down to 45 dBA. 0.6 sec reverberation time maximum for unoccupied areas should be maintained. Exterior noises from sources like

Exam preparation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Exam preparation - Essay Example y relate to administrative functions, and this creates room for specialization and empowerment to the job itself other than the person doing it as such retains the skills within an organization. Besides, it makes it easy in moderating calculations for each employee with consideration to tackling individual cases in an organization clarify (Swedberg, 2005). Based on Max Weber theory of management, both scientific management theory and school theories for of social relation are both perquisites to improve employee’s productivity through motivation (Swedberg, 2005). However, the two have conflicting ideology because scientific management entails improving employees’ prosperity and shifts occurring within different job strategies while human relations management is all about improving human resource towards achieving better organizational results. Left and right wing ideologies are political ideologies that aim at improving healthcare challenges by advocating for freedom and modern technologies in healthcare systems. The ideologies advocate against the ones that have previously been in existence. The two wings are different in the sense that left wing advocates for state responsibility in medical care while the right wing believes that everything can still operate with less government intervention (Agarwal, 1986). Capitalism entails as an economic system where private individuals own most industries in the nation. Capitalism economic system mainly constitutes huge labor cost and minimal returns from the industrial sectors. Marx criticizes such economy as quite prone to initiating hostility leading to two different classes in the society and highly susceptible to clashes (Agarwal, 1986). McKenna (2002) clarifies that several debates have existed as to whether management is a profession or not. Despite the fact that most managers own status more similar to engineers or surveyors, I totally disagree with the notion that management is a profession. Based on

Letter to the Instructor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Letter to the Instructor - Essay Example Similarly, your classes provided me with opportune period to improve on my grammatical weaknesses such as punctuation and sentence structures. The awareness of my strengths and weakness as a writer have facilitated my personal development through optimization of my excellent skills and mitigation of my writing weaknesses. I was most driven and pleased by the narrative essay among the four forms of essay that we covered in the course work. The utmost level of creativity and anecdote pertaining to the narrative essay demanded prolific and versatile writing skills from the writers hence I found it more interesting to work on. On the other hand, summary and response essays did not elicit my creativity and hence were less pleasing to me. In addition, summary and response essays proved cumbersome as one had to critically understand the subject topic and related metadata such as the author’s name and the context of the narrative. Additionally, my examination of the four forms of essay that we covered, revealed varied level of difficulty for each. Personally, I classified the narrative essay as the most complex and challenging. The skill of conceptualization which is the foundation of every spectacular literary work was highly demanded in the development and completion of the narrative essay. Closely related to the narrative essay was the explanation of the concept a research paper which was basically the theoretical framework of a research paper. The theoretical framework is characterized by robust research concerning information from other sources, theories and concepts pertain to the subject topic, followed by elaborate synthesize and synergy of the varied information to develop a single holistic viewpoint. I found the difficulty level of the summary and response essay to be moderate. Unlike other forms of essays, I was readily provided with materials

CocoBanas cocoa beans Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

CocoBanas Cocoa Beans - Research Paper Example This is because Canada has lower manufacturing costs compared to America. As a matter of facts, Canada accounts for 2/3 of the total cocoa imported to America. It has been observed over the past years that many American based plants are either transferred to Canada or Mexico to lower the production costs. The cocoa product market in Canada is expected to continue growing despite increased health concerns. In 2012, the consumption of chocolate was increased by 4% and was projected to increase further in the year 2013-2014. Canadians have been known for their love of sweet foods and snacks which accounts for 24% of their overall food consumption. The growth in the industry is as a result of population growth combined with expansion into new markets.   The market is expected to continue growing at a constant value of 2% up to the year 2017. The growth trend will be defined by two factors: planned purchases by consumers as the expansion of the luxury products market ((PrideM., Hughes& Kapoor, 2012: 235). 2.2 Target Market of CocoBana and their Characteristics in Canada Chocolate consumption is higher among the females than males with 8% of males and 91% of female reported to consume chocolate products. The younger people, below the age of 35 are seen to consume more chocolate and candy compared to the older generations. This is because the youths are less concerned about their health and may not have many health complications like the older generations. Consumption of chocolate is uniform across earning levels. Despite the economic recession, people consider the consumption of chocolate as an affordable luxury. This explains why the consumption has not been affected.  

Accounting Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 16

Accounting - Assignment Example But now that he has a colleague that is hardworking and willing to go the extra mile to ensure the business is a success, he does not think twice about leaving. Barrow should renegotiate the agreement and make several changes. First of all, the 50-50 term should be changed, such that each person is paid according to the amount of work he has done or total weekly hours that he has worked. Holiday working and extra hours should also be compensated. He should also include in the agreement that each member can get a live periodically as the other member works. If Robbins still wants them to share the income on a 50-50 basis, then Barrow should also inform him that work is also to be shared equally. Barrow should notify him that he has a family too that he would like to spend time with and it would not be fair if he spends all his time and energy in the business while Robbins is busy enjoying himself. If Robbins declines these terms, then it would be plausible if Barrow worked alone as he is getting

Marketing research and market evaluation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Marketing research and market evaluation - Essay Example An online focus group is one type of research method, particularly falling under focus groups which makes use of the internet, thus people do not meet physically but are able to exchange ideas and converse through conferencing software (Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.). In particular, this is how it is done: "A moderator invites prescreened, qualified respondents who represent the target of interest to log on to conferencing software at a pre-arranged time and to take part in an online focus group. Some researchers will offer incentives for participatingbut this raises a number of ethical questions. Discussions generally last one hour to 90 minutes. The moderator guides the discussion using a combination of predetermined questions and unscripted probes. In the best discussions, as with face to face groups, respondents interact with each other as well as the moderator in real time to generate deeper insights about the topic" (Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.). Some consider online focus group as a breakthrough in conducting market research and is found to be an effective way to lead the select groups to a more in-depth discussion about the topic on hand (BioInformatics, LLC ). This is so as both clients and respondent participants can comfortably participate from their own office or home. This then allows for a greater number of participants and extends the geographic scope of possible participants world wide (Insights Online). Online focus group is a relatively new way of conducting market research. It is one of the innovations brought by an increase in the use of technology. The online focus group is seen to be an alternative to the traditional face-to-face focus group done for the same purpose of market research. "Online focus groups are appropriate for consumer research, business to business research and political research. Interacting over the web avoids a significant amount of travel expense. It allows respondents from all over the world to gather, electronically for a more representative sample. Often respondents open up more online than they would in person, which is valuable for sensitive subjects. Like in-person focus groups, online groups are usually limited to 8-10 participants" (Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.). Basically the methodology observed is this: clients are able to observe the focus group while it is in session. They can also communicate with the moderator; therefore can influence the direction to which the discussion leads without necessarily interrupting the session. Since participants type their own responses, there is no room transcription errors are completely avoided. (Insights Online). Online Focus Groups are conducted in the following step-by-step process: 1. Develop screener and discussion guide. 2. Program screener into HTML/CGI format. (if neccessary) 3. Screen/recruit participants for desired qualifications. (if neccessary) 4. Moderate the Online Focus Group session with client observers. 5. Provide transcript. (normally within 24 hours after group session) 6. Provide topline report. (normally within one week after closing survey) 7. Compile final written or oral presentation. Source: Insights Online Some view online focus group as advantageous compared to the more traditional market research methods. In summary, online focus group has the following advantages: Responses are more objective. Respondents participating in online focus

Heritage Project Essay Example for Free

Heritage Project Essay To me heritage is something that should be of vital of importance, something that has played a part in history and contributed to why I am where I am today. For heritage to be important to me, it must have had an impact on the lives of my ancestors and the choices they made as well as the things which they fought to uphold. Heritage defines who we are, with the different types of foods, buildings and ways of life between the different cultures that bring us together. The stories and memories passed on from generation to generation, bringing us together and giving us a sense of direction. It is the foundation that we are built upon and allows us to lay new grounds for the future. Debate around the public representation of Juma Masjid. Juma Masjid represents the Muslim community, being one of the most glamorous and extravagant mosques in the country people tend to take it for granted and not take into account its unique architecture and design. With the Muslim population annually increasing, space is not a problem as Juma Masjid is the most spacious Mosque in the southern hemisphere. It represents the Muslim community as it is greeted with great numbers of Muslims on the days of Eid as well as a number of tourists who make the trip into town to marvel at its beauty. Although Indian and Muslim people always having a strong bond and togetherness, they aren’t allowed into the Masjid. This is for any non- Muslim for that matter. In Islam, which has strict rules that one has to abide by and comply too. When you are a Muslim, you believe in the One and Only Allah, all other heritage and cultures are of no effect and are said to be false. There is no place for other religions in Islam, a Muslim should not become derailed from Islam and weaken his faith by giving into the western temptations and ways of life. Juma Masjid has never caused uproar or been part of anything controversial regarding its structure. Muslim people should be grateful as South African is a very understanding and accommodating place, with the government allowing Minarets to be built on Mosques. Muslims in Switzerland aren’t so lucky however, as existing Minarets stand and new ones cannot be built, the Muslim people came out saying that instead of trying to make life hard for them and drive them out of the country the Swiss government should rather ‘integrate rather than exclude†. Throughout history people have been oppressed upon, some more than others of course. Because of this people would always remember the past and the way that they were treated and try to turn the oppression around. Our divided past still has an impact on the lives we live today, with sport for instance. White people are highly regarded as cricket and rugby players while Black African people are associated with Soccer and form most part of the support system in the sport locally. We should ask ourselves, how do we sort this out? One should remember that common interests bring people together, so instead of carrying on with the old bring in the new and expose people to different environments, taking them out their comfort zones and creating a better future for our country moving forward. As much as we can say that apartheid is over, there is still the lingering after effects of stereotypes and racism in different aspects of life. Therefore, we cannot just forget about it and move on, we should learn from it and educate about it, so it does not deter this country again. The Juma Masjid. The first bit of history surrounding Juma Masjid may be only from the early 1880’s but for Islam, it was introduced a lot earlier in South Africa, most people believe it to be brought into the country in around 1667 by the Cape Malays. It wasn’t until 1863 though when Aboobaker Amod Jhaveri and Hajee Mahomed Hajee Dada arrived in Durban did Islam really take off and open up to them; the people at the time. It is accepted that they were aboard the SS Truro, one of the passenger liners that brought down labourers from India and other areas. Aboobaker Amod Jhaveri together with Hajee Mahomed Hajee Dada then purchased a plot of land in 1881 from K. Moonsamy for a sum of ? 115 with the intention of building a Masjid for the Muslim people of the Durban area. There was not much of a structure on the site, but none the less they turned this small piece into what would become the largest and most visited Masjid in the southern hemisphere in the century to come. This however still wasn’t the Masjid to be; rather it was a Jamaat Khana. A Jamaat Khana is simple structure in which people could go into and perform their daily prayers. A Jamaat Khana is not even nearly big enough to accommodate the number of Musallees that a Masjid can. A Masjid is much more elaborate in terms of the architecture and minarets, domes and craftsmanship’s. It wasn’t until 1884 when the two founders had the structure rebuilt to make room for the ever growing numbers of Muslim people in the area. This was now the first Masjid ever to be built in the Natal region. This Masjid could now capacitate up to 200 Muslims. Aboobaker being a businessman and knowing the trade, went ahead and purchased land surrounding the Mosque. This proved a smart and important buy as in the following years he would pass away in India from cholera while on a business. This land that had been bought paid dividend as it was used to expand the Masjid even more. As the last surviving trustee and care taker of the Masjid, Hajee Mahomed had to take action as again space for worshippers was becoming an issue because of the influence of Aboobaker’s business transactions and dealings. It is said that he was an honest and fair man, who attracted many non-Muslims to the path of Islam by the way he went about with his dealings and mannerisms. Hajee Mahomed then acquired more land from John Stanger for a sum of ? 300 in 1889 for the Masjid to expand a little more and comfort the Muslims from. Then in 1893 the British Empire abolished slavery and the Indian population wasting no time formed the Natal Indian Congress. With the freedom now granted to people, the first minaret was built on the extensions of the Masjid; this caused a chain reaction as in the same year two shops were built alongside the Masjid providing some money for the caretaking and maintenance of the Masjid. Then in 1905 during the time in which the Masjid was in full flow, the second minaret was built together with a number of rooms, it also facilitated visitors and travellers by establishing toilets and showers for the people at the back of the Masjid. A living area was also built for the Muazzin; the Muazzin is someone who gives the call to prayer for Muslims all around, the call for prayer is called the Azaan. With the Muazzin now in place, it was about time a group of trustees took control of the Masjid and in 1916; which proved a rather important and significant time in this Masjids history. A board of trustees were elected; they included. Hajee Mahomed Dada, Moosa Hajee Cassim, Abdoola Hajee Cassim, Omar Amod, Joosab Jan Mahomed Tayob Hajee Khan Mahomed. These Muslim men made up the first batch that took the realms and pressure off Hajee Mahomed as they worked with him on continuously allowing this Masjid to flourish. These two minarets were the tallest structures in the area of Durban at the time. In 1927 it was decided that it was time to expand and rebuild Juma Masjid, this contract was given to Payne and Payne architectures. A great part of the Masjid was demolished as the second minaret was brought down as construction was completed in 1928; it was also planned that the minaret would be rebuilt. Many parts and mediums of the Masjid changed then after but the greatest and most significant took place 15 years later when the Masjid went under construction again. This time in 1943, the entire building rather than just part of it that was demolished; everything was brought to the ground except the first minaret. Everything else was rebuilt with the exception of the first minaret as the rest of the Masjid was built and fitted into the Masjid. Juma Masjid is not only a place of worship but also a place of education and learning for people. A school for young Muslim girls was also established in 1957, this school has a roll of approximately 400 learners and 300 Madressah students. A Madressah is an institute put in place for children to learn about their religion of Islam and become law abiding citizens, teaching their students morals, values and etiquette. Being in the heart of the bustling Durban central it is convenient for people working in the area. Established as a girl’s school it is now a co-ed school. The Masjid itself is very beautiful Juma Masjid is of major importance in the Muslim community of Durban, as it is occupied daily by hundreds of Muslim men who attend prayers daily. On Fridays in particular, Grey Street will always be busier than usual as all roads lead to Juma Masjid. Friday is the day of most important after Eid prayers in a Muslims life. Thousands of Muslim men close their shops, leave work early and make their way to Juma Masjid in prayer. Women at home prepare lunch as they get ready for their prayers as well. Two other days are also busier than usual; the days of Eid. As thousands of Muslims take the day off from work as everything apart from religion comes to a stop. Everyone in the household is awake early as they ready themselves for the day that lies ahead. Muslim men all flock to Eid Prayers early in the morning as there are large gatherings all around the city. The day is then spent with family, great functions are held as people come together to celebrate this auspicious day of Eid. Juma Masjid has a distinct Islamic architecture style to, with its golden minaret which glistens in the rays of the sun many people often forget it’s majestic and eye popping beauty. I for one am yet to come across a Masjid that has shops, offices, a school and still a beautifully designed Masjid; all in one structure. When you enter this Masjid you are greeted with an archway, which is just underneath one of the golden minarets. Leaving your shoes outside your feet are met by the soft and warm red cushioning carpet as they sink into the carpeted floor as you enter this century old marvel. Once inside, it is realised Juma Masjid is amazing inside as well, built in a baronial style. Juma Masjid is truly something to be admired. With a Corinthian type walls on each of its high rise levels. Being Muslim I have visited many different Masjids around the country but not once have I ever come across another Masjid that has a pond in its Wudhu area. Wudhu being commonly known as ablution, simply cleansing oneself of impurities and keeping yourself clean and respectable as you prepare to stand before Allah in prayer. With the Wudhu area being a square with ablution stations all around it, all comes together with a pond in the middle and topping it off fish swimming inside is just the wonders of this spiritual sanctuary.

The Bluetooth SIG and specifications Essay Example for Free

The Bluetooth SIG and specifications Essay If the success of Bluetooth is measured by its initial interest alone then its prominence has already been assured. Before products were on sale, hundreds of companies joined the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) and the Bluetooth brand became recognized worldwide. Before investigating the technology further it is appropriate to comment about the role played by the SIG, the administrative structure of which is outlined in Figure 3. With membership of the SIG nearing 2500 members it is only right to look at how the SIG works to promote, shape and define the specification and position Bluetooth in the market place. Positioning of the technology is important when you consider other wireless technologies that share the same ISM band, e.g. IEEE802.11b, HomeRF and DECT. Differentiation is key in avoiding confusion of potential users. Figure 3: Bluetooth SIG Administrative Structure In 1994, Ericsson Mobile Communications began to examine alternatives to cables linking accessories with their mobile phones. This study produced the initial specification for wireless technology, with the Bluetooth SIG founded in February 1998 by the core promoters: Ericsson Mobile Communications AB. Intel Corp. IBM Corp. Toshiba Corp. Nokia Mobile Phones. The core promoters announced the global SIG in May 1998 and invited other companies to join as Bluetooth adopters. In July 1999 the core promoters published version 1.0 of the specification and further enlarged the core promoter group in December 1998 with the inclusion of: v Microsoft v Lucent (now Agere) v 3Com. v Motorola. The responsibility for the various Bluetooth specifications is in the hands of the individual technical working groups. Once a specification reaches a version level 0.5 it is made visible to associate members. An associate members must be recommended by a promoter, and submit a fee. When a specification reaches version 1.0 it gets a higher level of visibility. Now adopters have visibility and any company can become an adopter by joining the SIG, signing and submitting the membership agreement (see â€Å"Bluetooth†). The Bluetooth specifications are open specifications for wireless communications that are free to download and use; however to use it royalty free you do have to join the SIG. By joining the group you sign up to an adopter’s agreement sharing any patents essential for implementing Bluetooth. The specifications define minimum functionality allowing devices from different companies to communicate (see â€Å"Bluetooth†). . They provide the following: o  Ã‚   Protocol definitions for interoperability o  Ã‚   Host controller interface o  Ã‚   Bearer services for higher layer protocols o  Ã‚   Profiles o  Ã‚   Qualification o  Ã‚   Production test o  Ã‚   Brand book The Bluetooth specifications define the concept of a Personal Area Network (PAN), what they do not provide helps to position it in the ISM band. It is not focussed on Wide Area Networking (WAN) as it has a limited range and currently there is no hand over mechanism, though there is a working group. They do not provide implementation instructions at the application programming interfaces, user interfaces or a definition of hardware and software split. Although it could be argued there is guidance in the profiles’ specification. The rest of this section breaks down the specifications encompassing the key aspects of Bluetooth in order to explain the features (see â€Å"Bluetooth†). A.2.1 The Protocol Stack The Bluetooth specifications define not only a radio system but cover the underlying structure. The Core Specification contains a software protocol stack similar to the more familiar Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) standard reference model for communication protocol stacks. It permits applications to discover devices, the services they offer and permission to use these services. The stack is a sequence of layers with features crossing single or multiple layered boundaries. Figure 4 outlines the stack with each block corresponding to a Core Specification chapter. Other remaining chapters relate to compliance requirements, test modes and test control interface (see â€Å"Bluetooth†). If we ascend the stack, we first come across the fundamental component, the radio. The radio modulates and demodulates data for transmitting and receiving over the air. The operating band of the radio is divided into 1 MHz spaced channels with a chosen modulation scheme of Gaussian Frequency Shift Keying (GFSK). Each channel is specified to signal at 1mega symbols per second, equivalent to 1 Mb/s. Above the radio are the Baseband and Link Controller, they are responsible for controlling the physical links via the radio, and assembling the packets and controlling the frequency hopping (see â€Å"Bluetooth†. Progressing through the layers, the Link Manager (LM) controls and configures links to other devices. The Host Controller Interface (HCI) is above the LM layer and is probably one of the most important layers to consider as a designer. It handles communication between host and the module. The standard defines the HCI command packets that the host uses to control the module, the event packets used by the host to inform lower protocol layers of changes, the data packets for voice and data traffic between host and module and the transport layer used by the HCI packets. The transport layer can be USB (H2), RS232 (H3), UART (4) or a robust proprietary standard such as BCSP (BlueCore Serial Protocol). The Logical Link Control and Adaptation (L2CAP) is a multiplexor, adapting data from higher layers and converting between different packet sizes. The next 4 layers could be loosely grouped as communication interfaces. These are RFCOMM (Radio Frequency COMMunication port) which provides an RS232 like serial interface. Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) and OBject EXchange (OBEX) are responsible for providing interfaces to other Communications Protocols. The final member of this rough grouping is the Telephony Control protocol Specification (TCS) providing telephony services. Service Discovery Protocol (SDP) lets devices discover the services available on another Bluetooth device (see â€Å"Bluetooth†). Figure 4: The Bluetooth Protocol Stack The application layer is probably obvious, but the standard provides Profiles laying out rules for how applications use the protocol stack, ensuring interoperability at application level (see â€Å"Bluetooth†).

Analysis of Marxist Critiques of Liberal Capitalism

Analysis of Marxist Critiques of Liberal Capitalism The standard litany of Marxist critiques of liberal capitalism rely on a common theme which presupposes that capitalism is fundamentally flawed and evil because it relies on a structure of exploitation, i.e., the bourgeoisie, those who own the means of production, ruthlessly exploit the proletariat, the individuals who sell their labor and do not own the means of production. Marx believed, essentially, that capitalist empires are built on the backs of the proletariat, who reap inadequate rewards for their work. He hypothesized that the essential difference between the various economic forms of society, between, for instance, a society based on slave-labour, and one based in wage-labour, lies only in the mode in which this surplus labour is in each case extracted from the actual producer, the labourer. (Marx, 1859[1967], p. 209) While well intentioned and valid in some ways, Marxists critiques generally fail on intellectual, practical, and empirical levels. The first intellectual failure is manifest in Marxs own quote, above, which presumes that wage-labor is effectively the same means of oppression as slave labor. This is only true if the proletariat serving as the labor have no means or hope of achieving ownership stake in the work that they do or the organizations for whom they do the work. Though it may have been true in 1859 when he wrote it, liberal capitalism has evolved, particularly in the United States, to the state of an individual-ownership society, where opportunities abound for individuals to assume a stake in the work that they do, not merely collect a paycheck for their labor.In Marxs mind, the only way for workers to free themselves from this slavery was to collectively own the means of production. The efficacy of this intellectual model has thus far been an abject failure in terms of the re sults when it has been attempted. On an empirical level, the simple truth is that the vast majority of governments that have been formed using Marxist or Communist theory have themselves tended to be exploitative disasters in comparison to the capitalist societies over which they were intended to demonstrate moral and economic superiority. The Soviet Union, which launched its Marxist revolution in 1917 under Vladimir Lenin, became a great economic and military power, but ironically did so only by exploiting its proletariat under the corrupt, oligarchic rule of totalitarian and in the case of Stalin, genocidal dictators who ruled with a combination of an iron fist and a vast, ossified bureaucracy. The Soviet Union collapsed under its own weight, a complete ideological failure, and its member states turned to capitalist economies and democratic forms of government. (To be fair, some Soviets, at the time of Lenins ascendancy, believed it was too soon to implement Marxist philosophies, since Marxs own requirement had not been met that the countrys capitalist economy had reached its evolutionary endpoint.) China, though still a viable nation-state which wields considerable economic power, has managed to avoid the Soviet Unions fate by introducing a considerable number of free-market elements into its state-controlled economy. Unfortunately, China shares the former Soviet Unions penchant for ruthless suppression of individual rights. The only other currently remaining bona fide Marxist/Communist state is North Korea, whose atrocious economic conditions, cultish culture of worship for its dictators, and lack of regard for individual rights, speak for themselves. That in 2005 Marxis m would have been so absent from the global political map would have been a heartbreaking blow to Marx, as would the fact that the only attempts at implementing his philosophies in their purest forms have led to brutal, totalitarian regimes which have arguably disrespected the proletariat as acutely as any unregulated capitalist economy. On a political level, Marx may have also underestimated the power of the marriage of democratic forms of government to liberal capitalist systems. In theory, at least, representative democracies are inherently structured to empower the proletariat by giving them participatory voice in the decision-making that goes into governing the economic systems of their nation. Democracy, as we know it today and as the pre-eminent form of government on the planet, was arguably still a relatively young paradigm as Marx was developing his theories. The primacy of the concepts of the worth and choice of the individual individual rights, individual freedoms is an inherently democratic notion which both contradicts the passive collectivism suggested by Marxism and also provides a built-in safeguard against capitalist excesses when they begin to favor oligarchies over individual rights. Democracy is unique in its ability to lessen ameliorate the harsher effects of unregulated market capitalism. When competitive markets are allowed to flourish unchecked, certainly great wealth is created, but Marxs critiques of exploitation become valid as monopolies and oligarchies spring up to choke off competition and create an environment in which the proletariat fail to benefit from the work they have put in on behalf of, for example, corporations. However, representative democracy has suffered the horrors of untempered market cycles and reacted accordingly. One of the best examples is the American Great Depression, in which a precipitous stock market crash in October 1929 set off an economic chain reaction that left tens of millions of Americans unemployed and in starvation. The collective clamor and cries of the proletariat prompted the elected government to take serious corrective measures over the next few decades to provide for means to temper the inherent boom and bust cyc les of free market capitalism, and to create a social safety net for the poor and the elderly (e.g. Social Security, guaranteeing retirement income to senior citizens). Similarly, in Europe, countries where the scourges of free market industrialism once ravaged the countryside, such as England, democratic systems of government have gradually eased their economies into socialist hybrids, market economies with considerable elements of state control and welfare systems to ensure the proletariat are well-cared for. Unfortunately, Marx either was unable to see the potential value of these future hybrid systems, such as market socialism, with their ability to compensate for inequities, or simply refused to believe in their viability because they failed to match his strident demand for idealistic purity within human interrelations: Even if such unjust inequalities were eliminated, Marx would still object to the quality of market social relations because they would continue to be predicated on a kind of self-seeking egoism contrary to the requirement of a true community. (Warren, 1998) On a psychological level, Marxist critiques of liberal capitalism also fail because they lack practical insight into how the human psyche operates and instead rely too heavily on utopian ideals of human beings operating idealistically on a collective level. Marxs theory of human nature is a biological fantasy, and we have the corpses to prove it. Which may drive us to wonder: if communism is deadly because it is contrary to human nature, does that imply that capitalism, which is contrary to communism, is distinctively compatible with human nature? (Wilkinson, 2005) The truth of the matter is that human beings are a hierarchically inclined species that thrive on power and competition. Left unchecked, these impulses can result in ghastly, fratricidal behavior, but when harnessed and properly channeled, these impulses form the heart of the free market economy, which thrives on individual initiative, healthy competition, and the quest for self-improvement and leadership. The psychological backbone of Marxist critique is the assumption of a perpetual state of victimhood on the part of the oppressed, which fails to take into account the inherent human tendency to resist oppression and reform existing systems into more egalitarian structures. In other words, Marxist-style revolutions may well be unnecessary, as the proletariat seems to frequently find ways within capitalist systems to assert their rights. People will always have their hunter-gatherer impulses, but this does not mean they are predestined to be deleterious: There is no way to stop dominance-seeking behavior. We may hope only to channel it to non-harmful uses. A free society therefore requires that positions of dominance and status be widely available in a multitude of productive hierarchies, and that opportunities for greater status and dominance through predation are limited by the constant vigilance of the peoplethe ultimate reverse dominance hierarchy. A flourishing civil society permits almost everyone to be the leader of something, whether the local Star Trek fan club or the city council, thereby somewhat satisfying the human taste for hierarchical status, but to no ones serious detriment. (Wilkinson, 2005) In the end, Marxism is a fundamentally pessimistic and pedantic philosophy, as are its critiques of liberal capitalism, which is a fundamentally optimistic and individualistic philosophy which endows each person with both the responsibility and the power to assume control of his or her own destiny and personal fulfillment. As sociologist Ellen Huang notes, under the lens of critical Marxist theories, inequality determines all human relations, and subsequently overemphasizes the oppressed nature of the colonized. Further abstractions of the dynamic of capitalism may overlook real forms of resistance, leaving utopian dreams as the only option for the oppressed. (Huang, 2003) Humanity is always in dire need of practical options rooted in dreams, not merely the dreams themselves, no matter how well intended they may be.

Racism and Sexism in the Bluest Eye Essay -- American Literature Toni

Toni Morrison, the author of The Bluest Eye, centers her novel around two things: beauty and wealth in their relation to race and a brutal rape of a young girl by her father. Morrison explores and exposes these themes in relation to the underlying factors of black society: racism and sexism. Every character has a problem to deal with and it involves racism and/or sexism. Whether the characters are the victim or the aggressor, they can do nothing about their problem or condition, especially when concerning gender and race. Morrison's characters are clearly at the mercy of preconceived notions maintained by society. Because of these preconceived notions, the racism found in The Bluest Eye is not whites against blacks. Morrison writes about the racism of lighter colored blacks against darker colored blacks and rich blacks against poor blacks. Along with racism within the black community, sexism is exemplified both against women and against men. As Morrison investigates the racism and se xism of the community of Lorain, Ohio, she gives the reader more perspective as to why certain characters do or say certain things. Morrison provides the reader with a light-skinned black character whose racist attitudes affect the poorer, darker blacks in the community, especially the main characters, Claudia MacTeer and Pecola Breedlove. Maureen Peal comes from a rich black family and triggers admiration along with envy in every child at school, including Claudia. Although Maureen is light-skinned, she embodies everything that is considered "white," at least by Claudia's standards: "Patent leather shoes with buckles...fluffy sweaters the color of lemon drops tucked into skirts with pleats... brightly colored knee socks with white borders, a brown ... ...m or desert him. It should be understood that Morrison's novel is filled with many characters and many examples of racism and sexism and the foundations for such beliefs in the black community. Every character is the victim or an aggressor of racism of sexism in all its forms. Morrison succeeds in shedding light on the racism and sexism the black community had to endure on top of racism and sexism outside of the community. She shows that racism and sexism affect everyone's preconceived notions regarding race and gender and how powerful and prevalent the notions are. Within the community, racism affects how people's views of beauty and skin can be skewed by other's racist thoughts; sexism shapes everyone in the community's reactions to different forms of rape. Works Cited Morrison, Toni. The Bluest Eye. Afterward by Toni Morrison. New York: Penguin, 2004.

Lord Of The Flies :: essays research papers

Lord of the Flies Ralph   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ralph was a leader and had a good heart throughout the novel. He took action as soon as he set foot on the island. He believed in democracy instead of dictatorship when he decided to take a vote to choose who would be leader instead of appointing himself to be the leader without the consent of the other castaways. His leadership, cleverness and quick thinking made him a remarkable leader.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Firstly, Ralph’s leadership was important because he organized everything right after he was elected. That shows that he knew what he was doing. He established an organized way of communication with the conch. Ralph was assertive when he spoke like when he said, â€Å"No. We’re having a meeting. Come join in.† He was also a fair and just leader like when he won the election and he saw that Jack was upset he said â€Å"The choir belongs to you, of course† and â€Å"Jack’s in charge of the choir. They can be—what do you want them to be?† He knew his role and did what had to be done.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Secondly, Ralph’s cleverness protected them. Ralph was a thinker he thought of ways to improve the conditions on the island. â€Å"There’s another thing. We can help them to find us. If a ship comes near the island they may not notice us. So we must make smoke on top of the mountain. We must make a fire!† this type of cleverness shows that he is thinking maturely and wanting to be rescued like an adult instead of thinking like a normal 12 year old and just wanting to playing games. He also wanted to keep track of everyone so he told Piggy to get names, â€Å"Piggy get the names of all the boys.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lastly, Ralph was a quick thinker when everybody was against him. He made quick and decisive decisions when it really mattered. He thought everything through, even aloud â€Å"Think,† when he executed his decisions. When he was evading the savages he used hit and run tactics, which helped diminish his opposition. He even found a hiding place that he saw fit to hide in after he rationalized how effective it would be. Lord Of The Flies :: essays research papers Lord of the Flies Ralph   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ralph was a leader and had a good heart throughout the novel. He took action as soon as he set foot on the island. He believed in democracy instead of dictatorship when he decided to take a vote to choose who would be leader instead of appointing himself to be the leader without the consent of the other castaways. His leadership, cleverness and quick thinking made him a remarkable leader.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Firstly, Ralph’s leadership was important because he organized everything right after he was elected. That shows that he knew what he was doing. He established an organized way of communication with the conch. Ralph was assertive when he spoke like when he said, â€Å"No. We’re having a meeting. Come join in.† He was also a fair and just leader like when he won the election and he saw that Jack was upset he said â€Å"The choir belongs to you, of course† and â€Å"Jack’s in charge of the choir. They can be—what do you want them to be?† He knew his role and did what had to be done.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Secondly, Ralph’s cleverness protected them. Ralph was a thinker he thought of ways to improve the conditions on the island. â€Å"There’s another thing. We can help them to find us. If a ship comes near the island they may not notice us. So we must make smoke on top of the mountain. We must make a fire!† this type of cleverness shows that he is thinking maturely and wanting to be rescued like an adult instead of thinking like a normal 12 year old and just wanting to playing games. He also wanted to keep track of everyone so he told Piggy to get names, â€Å"Piggy get the names of all the boys.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lastly, Ralph was a quick thinker when everybody was against him. He made quick and decisive decisions when it really mattered. He thought everything through, even aloud â€Å"Think,† when he executed his decisions. When he was evading the savages he used hit and run tactics, which helped diminish his opposition. He even found a hiding place that he saw fit to hide in after he rationalized how effective it would be.

What Makes a Child Disadvantaged Essay -- essays papers

What Makes a Child Disadvantaged Disadvantaged children tend to be slightly ignored when one thinks of education. However, they are individuals just like any other child and they should be given the same opportunities that all children have. Poverty is a huge problem in many areas of the world. MacQueen states â€Å"poverty puts children behind from birth, and keeps them behind for life (2003).† If a child is in a household with little money, they may lack â€Å"the stable home in a safe neighbourhood, adequate nutrition, and the kind of involved parenting† that would be influential on the correct and desired development of the young child (MacQueen, 2003). Children with handicaps, whether they are physical or mental, also fit into the category of disadvantaged children. These children do not, and will never, have the same opportunities as children who are so-called ‘normal.’ However, early childhood education programs â€Å"can effectively raise the intelligence of disadvantaged children, guide them toward better social adjustment and help them learn more in school† (Unknown, 1977, par. 1). Therefore, even if a student does experience a handicap, they may have a better chance at doing well in school and when they enter into a real societal working atmosphere. Effects of Ea rly Childhood Education Programs There is a great need for early childhood education programs in general; however, it is especially necessary to start learning as young as possible for disadvantaged children. If, when born into a society like the one in which we live, a child has an automatic disadvantage then he needs to get started on social and other kinds of learning, so he can have a better chance at becoming an effective part of society. Some may beli... ... 28. This article is explaining that programs such as Head Start can help in the correct and beneficial development of disadvantaged children and can give considerable benefits economically for society. 29. Unknown. (December 1980). Big Payoffs from Early Education. Science News, Volume 118 (25/26), pp. 390. Retrieved February 25, 2004 from Academic Search/EBSCO. 30. This article explains the Ypsilanti Perry Preschool Project and its evidence that children in early childhood programs outperform those who have never been enrolled in such programs. 31. Unknown. (2004). Everyday Learning. Scholastic Parent and Child, Volume 11 (5). pp. 12. Retrieved on April 25, 2004 from Academic Search/EBSCO. 32. This very short, to the point article, explains that play, especially with parents, can help all children to become more educated and self-aware.

Short Notes

â€Å"Two gentlemen of Verona† & â€Å"An Irish Rose† are the two heart touching stories written by A. J. Cronin. In an Irish Rose, the 14 year old Rose plays the central character of the story. She sacrifices her life to look after her baby brother who lost his mother when he was just one month old. In the â€Å"Two gentlemen of Verona † we find the touching story of Jacopo & Nicola ,two brothers aged 12 & 13 who do odd jobs and live a hard life themselves to sustain and treat their elder sister Lucia who is suffering from tuberculosis of spine.Both stories of A J Cronin are heart touching. In an analysis of the characters portrayed in both the works we can find certain similarities. As stated above we can see the characters themselves in a moral and sacrificial light wherein they are not thinking or living for themselves but for their respective siblings. If we go into the actual character portrayal too, we can find how the characters are dressed in rags to sav e even the smallest penny for their siblings comfort.They do not even eat or dress well lest they have to spend any money, which can be found to have a better use for their siblings. In the Irish Rose as well as the Two Gentlemen of Verona, we find that the author finds hope for a better future of the world after meeting Rose, Jacopo and Nicolo. Never thinking for themselves, all three of his characters have fought to better the lives of their loved ones in every way possible. In both the stories the plot is set in a rousing manner and giving a detailed and graphic expression till the climax.In the Irish Rose, the main character Rose Donegan has to earn for the family, buy milk for her youngest brother Michel. She had to cook, attend to the children and father. With a slum child’s elemental knowledge she had to do everything, even she would bargain the baker to extend her credit for an extra loaf. As in the case of the Two Gentlemen OF Verona, the writer himself becomes a cha racter in the plot of Irish Rose. Along with the writer the rest of the characters too play a significant role in the plot to finally bring out the actual sacrifice of the three children.In both the stories the importance given to the children’s attitude towards work, love and responsibility shows how important the said characters are in the view of the author too. Herein we find the hope for a better world when these children grow up rather than the war ravaged time frame in which the stories are set. It was W. B. Yeats who said that, â€Å"Too long a sacrifice can make a stone of the heart†. But through these stories Cronin has endeavored to prove Yeats wrong, as nicely as possible. He was also able to teach us the value of not running away from our responsibilities.

The Hunters: Phantom Chapter 22

Elena couldn't breathe. She could vaguely feel her mouth opening and closing, but she found she wasn't able to say anything. Her hands and feet had gone numb. Damon gave her an almost shy smile – which was funny, because Damon didn't do shy – and shrugged. â€Å"Wel , princess? You wanted me to be here with you, didn't you?† As if a rubber band holding her back had snapped, Elena leaped out of bed and hurtled into Damon's arms. â€Å"Are you real?† she said, half sobbing. â€Å"Is this real?† She kissed him fiercely, and he met her kiss with equal fervor. He felt real, cool skin and leather, the surprising softness of his lips familiar under hers. â€Å"Here I am,† he murmured into her hair as he pul ed her close to him. â€Å"It's real, I promise you.† Elena stepped back and smacked him hard across the face. Damon glared at her and reached up to rub his cheek. â€Å"Ouch,† he said, and then cracked a narrow, irritating smile. â€Å"I can't say that was completely unexpected – I get slapped by women more often than you'd think possible – but not a nice welcome for the long-lost love, sweetheart.† â€Å"How could you?† Elena said, dry-eyed now and furious. â€Å"How could you, Damon? We've al been mourning you. Stefan's fal ing apart. Bonnie blames herself. I†¦ I†¦ A piece of my heart died. How long have you been watching us? Didn't you care? Was this al some kind of joke to you? Did you laugh when we cried?† Damon winced. â€Å"Darling,† he said. â€Å"My princess. Aren't you glad to see me at al ?† â€Å"Of course I am!† said Elena indignantly. She took a breath and cooled down a little. â€Å"But, Damon, what were you thinking? We al thought you were dead! Permanently dead, not show-up-in-my-bedroom-a-few-days-laterlooking-perfectly-healthy dead! What's going on? Did the Guardians do this? They told me they couldn't when I begged them to, that death is permanent for a vampire once it happens.† Damon graced her with a genuine, laughing smile. â€Å"Wel , you of al people ought to know that death isn't always permanent.† Elena shrugged and wrapped her arms around herself. â€Å"They told me that when I came back, it was different,† she said in a smal voice, her emotions zigzagging al over the place. Because you're in shock, a tiny voice at the back of her head said wisely. â€Å"Mystical stuff, you know. My time wasn't up. Hey!† She poked him with one finger, perking up. â€Å"Are you human now? I was human when I returned.† Damon gave a long, theatrical shudder. â€Å"God forbid. I had enough of that when that meddling kitsune made me a mortal. Thank heaven – or whoever – I don't have to go looking for an obliging vampire princess to turn me back this time.† He grinned slyly at Elena. â€Å"I'm as bloodsucking as ever, darling.† He eyed her neck. â€Å"Speaking of which, I'm rather hungry†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Elena smacked him again, though more gently this time. â€Å"Knock it off, Damon.† â€Å"Can I sit down now?† Damon asked and, when she nodded, settled himself on the foot of her bed and drew her down to sit beside him. Elena looked searchingly into his eyes, then gently traced her hand over his sharp cheekbones, his sculpted mouth, his soft raven hair. â€Å"You were dead, Damon,† she said quietly. â€Å"I know it. I saw you die.† â€Å"Yes,† he said, and sighed. â€Å"I felt myself die. It was horribly painful and it seemed to both go on forever and be over in a few moments.† He shuddered. â€Å"There was a little bit left of me even then though† – Elena nodded – â€Å"and Stefan told me, told him, to fly away. And you held him – held me – and told me to close my eyes. And then that last little bit of me was gone, too, and even the pain was gone. And then†¦ I came back.† Damon's dark eyes were wide with remembered wonder. â€Å"But how?† asked Elena. â€Å"Remember the star bal ?† â€Å"How could I forget? It was the root of al our problems with the kitsune. It was vaporized when I†¦ Oh, Damon, I used my Wings of Destruction on the tree on the Nether World's moon. But they destroyed the kitsune's star bal , too, and I had to go to the Guardians to save Fel ‘s Church. The Wings of Destruction were†¦ like nothing I've ever seen or felt before.† She shivered. â€Å"I've seen what you did to that moon,† Damon said, smiling slightly. â€Å"Would it make you feel better, my lovely angel, if you knew that using your Powers like that and destroying the star bal is what saved me?† â€Å"Don't cal me that,† said Elena, scowling. The Guardians were the closest thing she had ever seen to real angels, and she did not have fond memories of them. â€Å"How did it save you?† â€Å"Do they explain how condensation works in modern schools?† Damon asked with the supercilious expression he always wore when he teasingly criticized her world in comparison to the one he had grown up in. â€Å"Is it al sex education, empathy, and second-rate novels now, or do they stil tel the children a little about science? I know they've dropped Latin and Greek in favor of theater and consciousness-raising.† His voice dripped with contempt. Elena told herself not to rise to his bait. Instead she folded her hands neatly in front of her in her lap. â€Å"I think you may be a few decades out-of-date. But please, O wise one,† she said, â€Å"assume that my education didn't include the connection between condensation and rising from the dead, and enlighten me.† â€Å"Nice.† Damon smirked. â€Å"I like to see a young woman who is respectful of her elders and betters.† Elena cocked an eyebrow at him warningly. â€Å"Anyway,† he continued, â€Å"the liquid in the star bal , the pure magic, didn't vanish. It's not that easy to get rid of real y strong magic. As the atmosphere cooled, the magic turned from vapor back into liquid and fel down on me, with the rain of ash. I was soaking in pure Power for hours, gradual y being reborn.† Elena's mouth dropped open. â€Å"Those sneaks,† she said indignantly. â€Å"The Guardians told me you were gone for good, and they took al the treasures we bribed them with, too.† She thought briefly of the one last treasure she stil had, a water bottle ful of the Water of Eternal Youth, hidden high up on the shelf in her closet, and pushed the thought away. She couldn't even acknowledge that hidden treasure to herself for more than a moment, for fear the Guardians would realize she had it, and she couldn't use it†¦ not yet, maybe not ever. Damon shrugged one shoulder. â€Å"They do cheat, sometimes, I hear. But it's more likely this time that they thought they were tel ing the truth. They don't know everything, even though they like to pretend they do. And kitsune and vampires are both a little outside their area of expertise.† He told her how he had woken, buried deep in ash and mud, clawed his way to the surface, and set off across the desolate moon, not knowing who he was or what had happened to him, and how he had almost died again, and that Sage had saved him. â€Å"And then what?† Elena asked eagerly. â€Å"How did you remember everything? How did you get back to Earth?† â€Å"Wel ,† said Damon, turning a slight, fond smile on her, â€Å"that's a funny story.† He reached into an inner pocket of his leather jacket and pul ed out a neatly folded white linen handkerchief. Elena blinked. It looked like the same handkerchief he had given her in her dream. Damon noticed her expression and smiled more widely, as though he knew where she was recognizing it from. He unfolded it and held it out for Elena's inspection. Cradled inside the handkerchief were two strands of hair. Very familiar hair, Elena realized. She and Bonnie had each cut off a lock of hair and placed them on Damon's body, wanting to leave a part of themselves with him, since they couldn't take his body off the desolate moon with them. Before her now lay a curling red lock and a waving gold one, as bright and shiny as if they had just been cut from freshly washed heads, rather than left on a world with ash fal ing al around. Damon gazed at the locks with an expression made up of tenderness and a little awe. Elena thought that she had never seen such an open, almost hopeful look from him. â€Å"The Power from the star bal saved these, too,† he said. â€Å"First they were burned almost to ash, but then they regenerated. I held them and studied them and cherished them, and you started to come back to me. Sage had given me my name, and it sounded right to me, but I couldn't recal anything else about myself. But as I held these locks of hair, I gradual y remembered who you were, and what we had been through together, and al the things I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He paused. â€Å"What I knew and felt about you, and then I remembered the little redbird, too, and then everything else came flooding back and I was myself again.† He glanced away and lost the sentimental look, smoothing his face into its usual cool expression, as if embarrassed, then folded the locks of hair back inside the handkerchief and tucked it careful y away into his jacket. â€Å"Wel ,† he said briskly, â€Å"then it was just a matter of having Sage lend me some clothes, fil me in on what I had missed, and give me a lift back to Fel ‘s Church. And now here I am.† â€Å"I bet he was amazed,† said Elena, â€Å"and ecstatic.† The vampire Keeper of the Gates Between Worlds was a dear friend of Damon's, the only friend of Damon's she knew of, other than herself. Damon's acquaintances tended to be enemies or admirers more often than friends. â€Å"He was quite pleased,† Damon admitted. â€Å"So you just now made it back to Earth?† Damon nodded. â€Å"Wel , you've missed a lot here,† Elena said, launching into an explanation of the past few days, starting with Celia's name written in blood and ending on Caleb's hospitalization. â€Å"Wow.† Damon let out a low whistle. â€Å"But I have to assume the problem is more than my little brother acting like a madman with Caleb? Because, you know, that may be simple jealousy. Jealousy has always been Stefan's biggest sin.† He said the last with a smug twist to his lips, and Elena elbowed him gently in the ribs. â€Å"Don't put Stefan down,† she said reprovingly, and smiled to herself. It felt so good to be scolding Damon again. He real y was his own maddening, changeable, wonderful self again. Damon was back. Wait. Oh, no. â€Å"You're in danger, too!† Elena gasped, remembering suddenly that he could stil be taken from her. â€Å"Your name appeared earlier, written in the weeds that were holding Meredith underwater. We didn't know what it could mean, because we thought you were dead. But, since you're alive, it seems you're the next target.† She paused. â€Å"Unless fal ing through the surface of the moon was the attack on you.† â€Å"Don't worry about me, Elena. You are probably right about the attack on the moon being my ‘accident.' But they haven't been very successful attempts, have they?† Damon said thoughtful y. â€Å"Almost as if whatever this is isn't trying very hard to kil us. I have a faint inkling about what might be causing this.† â€Å"You do?† asked Elena. â€Å"Tel me.† Damon shook his head. â€Å"It's just a glimmer right now,† he said. â€Å"Let me get some sort of confirmation.† â€Å"But Damon,† Elena pleaded, â€Å"even a glimmer is much more than the rest of us have been able to come up with. Come with me tomorrow morning and tel everyone about it, and we can al work together.† â€Å"Oh, yes,† said Damon, with a mock shudder. â€Å"You and me and Mutt and the vampire hunter, a cozy group. Plus my pious brother and the little red witch. And the old lady witch and the teacher. No, I'm going to do some more digging on my own. And what's more, Elena,† he said, fixing her with a dark stare, â€Å"you're not to tel anyone that I'm alive. Especial y not Stefan.† â€Å"Damon!† Elena protested. â€Å"You don't know how absolutely devastated Stefan is, thinking you're dead. We have to let him know you're al right.† Damon smiled wryly. â€Å"I think there's probably a part of Stefan that's glad enough to have me out of the picture. He doesn't have any reason to want me here.† Elena shook her head in furious denial, but he went on. â€Å"It's true. But maybe it's time for things to be different between us. To that end, I have to show him that I can change. In any case, I can't investigate this properly if everyone knows I'm around. Keep quiet for now, Elena.† She opened her mouth to object further, but he silenced her with a quick, fierce kiss. When they broke apart, he said, â€Å"Promise me for now, and I'l promise you that as soon as I figure this out, you can announce my resurrection to the world.† Elena nodded doubtful y. â€Å"If that's what you real y want, Damon, and you real y think it's necessary,† she said. â€Å"But I'm not happy about it.† Damon got to his feet and patted her shoulder. â€Å"Things are going to be different now,† he said. He looked down at her, his face serious. â€Å"I'm not the same as I was, Elena.† Elena nodded again, more firmly this time. â€Å"I'l keep your secret, Damon,† she promised. Damon gave her a smal , tight smile, then took three steps toward her open window. In a moment he was gone, and a large black crow flew out into the night.

Health Information Exchange

An electronic health record is a patient’s medical information stored elect-ronically instead of on paper. The concept has been around since the 1960s. Improvement of patient medical care was and is the catalyst for the electronic health record. There are several advantages to using electronic health records. For instance, access to patient medical records is not limited to the location of the paper chart, but is available at the patient point of care. The health care provider has up-to-date information regarding every aspect of the patients medical history. Including test results, medications, allergy information, ect. All of which are crucial for making informed medical decisions. Patient safety and better patient care are also advantages of the electronic health record. Illegible handwritten notes, orders, and prescriptions has been eliminated with the EHR. Now, reports to specialists or patients are comprehensible, professional, and easy to create. And because of the availability of more thorough clinical information, improved patient care is inevitable. Another advantage to the EHR is efficiency and financial savings. The elimination of paper charts alone can greatly reduce the costs of storage and retrieval for these charts. Another major source of growth in healthcare costs comes from medical imaging. Access to patients images in an EHR is an effective way to avoid duplicating expensive imaging procedures. Another cost to healthcare is the printing and mailing of checks. If all medical payment transactions were handled electronically, America could save up to $11 billion annually. For all these reasons that I have listed, I think that the advantages of Electronic Health Records far out weigh the disadvantages. The health care industry is rapidly evolving and the implementation of EHR is crucial in order for clinics and physicians to maintain extensive patient documentation to ensure that they meet†¦ Health Information Exchange An electronic health record is a patient’s medical information stored elect-ronically instead of on paper. The concept has been around since the 1960s. Improvement of patient medical care was and is the catalyst for the electronic health record. There are several advantages to using electronic health records. For instance, access to patient medical records is not limited to the location of the paper chart, but is available at the patient point of care. The health care provider has up-to-date information regarding every aspect of the patients medical history. Including test results, medications, allergy information, ect. All of which are crucial for making informed medical decisions. Patient safety and better patient care are also advantages of the electronic health record. Illegible handwritten notes, orders, and prescriptions has been eliminated with the EHR. Now, reports to specialists or patients are comprehensible, professional, and easy to create. And because of the availability of more thorough clinical information, improved patient care is inevitable. Another advantage to the EHR is efficiency and financial savings. The elimination of paper charts alone can greatly reduce the costs of storage and retrieval for these charts. Another major source of growth in healthcare costs comes from medical imaging. Access to patients images in an EHR is an effective way to avoid duplicating expensive imaging procedures. Another cost to healthcare is the printing and mailing of checks. If all medical payment transactions were handled electronically, America could save up to $11 billion annually. For all these reasons that I have listed, I think that the advantages of Electronic Health Records far out weigh the disadvantages. The health care industry is rapidly evolving and the implementation of EHR is crucial in order for clinics and physicians to maintain extensive patient documentation to ensure that they meet†¦

Riordan’s Manufacturing Strategy

The Ordain Manufacturing Company utilizes the level strategy for their manufacturing and production planning. The process begins with the raw materials that are received by the receiving team who ensure all necessary materials are accounted for and this team moves the raw materials to the factory. The receiving supervisor then compares shipping documents against scheduled incoming orders for processing. These orders are then received by the inventory clerk and this person enters the information related to the raw materials receipts into the inventory system.The level strategy is beneficial for Ordain because they are able to maintain a stable workforce at all times, working at a constant output rate. This strategy offers a schedule that keeps the finished product moving at the same rate throughout the production cycle. Ordain can continuously produce their products equal to the average demand of the goods. In addition, employees benefit from this strategy because they are guaranteed stable work hours and the costs of potentially decreased customer service levels and Increased Inventory costs, (Jacobs, F. R. & Chase, R. , 2011). Forecasting Technique and ProcessThe quantitative forecasting technique Is the most practical for Ordain Manufacturing to utilize to determine the future sales for their electric fans. Quantitative forecasting Is a statistical technique for making projections using data and prior experiences to predict those future sales based on past trends. (Observationally. Com, 2014). Radian's China plant prepares Its own forecast of electric fan sales that take place throughout the world. Their make-TCL;-order stock process forecasts Its demand for the fans based on the average sales In the previous three years and anticipate the same for upcoming years.

Sports Development Continuum

P1 describe three examples of the sports development continuum, from three different sports M1 compare and contrast three examples of the sports development continuum, from three different sports, identifying strengths and areas for improvement Sports Development Continuum Foundation: means the early development of sporting competence and physical skills (e. g. throwing, catching, and hand-eye co-ordination) upon which all later forms of sports development are based.Without a sound foundation, young people are unlikely to become long-term sports participants. Participation: refers to sport undertaken primarily for fun, enjoyment and often, at basic levels of competence. However, many very competent sports people take part in sport purely for reasons of fun and health & fitness. Performance: signifies a move from basic competence into a more structured form of competitive sport at club or county level, or indeed at an individual level for personal reasons.Excellence: is about reaching the top and applies to performers at the highest national and international levels The Golf Foundation reports that its adapted and competitive golf offering for schools is proving a big hit with teachers and pupils. The Foundation’s ‘HSBC Golf Roots’ programme in schools is gathering significant momentum in 2013, as 39 out of 46 County Local Organising Committees have selected an HSBC Golf Roots competition for the current academic year as part of England’s School Games curriculum.This high proportion is second only to athletics, and ahead of traditional school sports such as football, cricket and netball. Participation: refers to sport undertaken primarily for fun, enjoyment and often, at basic levels of competence. However, many very competent sports people take part in sport purely for reasons of fun and health & fitness. An example for participation would be SNAG golf. Performance: signifies a move from basic competence into a more structured form of competitive sport at club or county level, or indeed at an individual level for personal reasons.Elite: is about reaching the top and applies to performers at the highest national and international levels. Football Development Centre’s These centres can be found in 70 colleges across the country for players who are above average to compete with players of a similar ability. Here they work in an environment with people who can develop their progression to achieve their highest level of performance. Once players have reached a certain level according to the coaches they can be recommended to a school of excellence or academy. Players can attend these centres by invitation only.They would have normally taken part in a Local Football Development Scheme activity in the past. Liverpool Football Club have a talent development scheme starting from their under 10’s going up to under 19’s. †¢UNDER 10-â€Å"age of fun†. †¢UNDER 12-â€Å"age of techniqueà ¢â‚¬ . †¢UNDER 14-â€Å"age of understanding†. †¢UNDER 16-â€Å"age of competitive match play†. †¢UNDER 19-â€Å"age of professional preparation†. This is similar to the Long-term athlete development models devised by Istvan Balyi in 1990 following his work with the Canadian Alpine Ski team in the 1980’s.This was designed to help prepare players to reach the highest levels. It takes about 10 years of training to develop an elite athlete however they don’t need to train for 10 years in one sport. The LTAD state that playing more than one sport over the 10 years is part of the programme. This programme has 6 phases to it. It also helps prepare people for retirement to the sport. These 6 phases are then split into 3 areas: †¢Objective: what the athlete should be able to do at the end of the phase †¢Content: the activities contained within the phase Frequency: how often the athlete should train during the phase. Phase one- FUN damentals Objective: to learn fundamental movement skills. Content: overall development, focusing on ABCS (agility, balance, coordination, speed) to underpin the generic skills used in many sports (running, jumping and throwing). Frequency: perform physical activity five to six times per week. Phase two- Learning to Train Objective: to learn fundamental sports skills Content: Concentration on the range of FUNdamental sports skills, such as throwing, catching, jumping and running †¢Introduction to readiness – being mentally and physically prepared †¢Basic FUNdamentals tactics, e. g. if fielding, net/wall, invasion games can be introduced. (In net/wall games, players achieve this by sending a ball towards a court or target area which their opponent is defending. The aim is to get the ball to land in the target area and make it difficult for the opponent to return it) †¢Cognitive and emotional development are central †¢Skills are practised in challenging form atsFrequency: if there is a favoured sport it is suggested 50% of the time is allocated to other sport/activities that develop a range of skills. Phase three – Training to Train Objective: to build fitness and specific sport skills †¢Fitness training †¢Detailed mental preparation †¢A focus on sport-specific skill development, including perceptual skills (reading the game/tactical understanding †¢Decision making †¢Detailed and extensive evaluation Frequency: for the aspiring performer, sport-specific practice will now be 6-9 times a week Phase 4 – Training to CompeteObjective: to refine skills for a specific event or position Content: †¢Event and position-specific training †¢Physical conditioning †¢Technical and tactical preparation †¢Advanced mental practice †¢All of the above come together and are developed under competition conditions Frequency: training can be up to 12 times a week Phase 5 – Training to Win Ob jective: to maximise performance in competition Content: †¢Development and refinement of all the skills learnt already but with more use in competition modelling.More attention paid to rest periods and the prevention of injury due to heavier load. Frequency: training can be up to 15 times a week (some sports may stop at this phase as this is the highest competitive level) Phase 6 – Retainment For athletes/players retiring from competitive sport, many sports are developing Master’s programmes. An additional phase, â€Å"retainment†, keeps players/athletes involved in physical activity. Experience gained as a competitor can be invaluable, should they move into administration, coaching or officiating.