Diana Eck

â€Å"We† Multiculturalism through globalization has challenged our society to adapt with the times by thinking of world religions as more of a brotherhood of faith rather than a threat. In the last chapter of the book Encountering God, the author Diana Eek puts an emphasis on the interdependent world we live in and how we, as human beings will need to approach today's problems as a whole if we wish to overcome life's various hurdles.Evidence of the interdependent world we live can be seen by observing the statistics of the relatedness of population growth and the growth of poverty and illiteracy to the growth of carbon dioxide emissions and the pollution of the seas, striping of forests, extinction of plant and animal species (Eek, Peg. 200, 2003). Eek states that in this interdependent world, there will always be a consequence for every action made and the world as a whole will inevitably have to deal with the repercussions one way or another.Interdependency does not Just st op with nations and the environment or economy; it also describes people, religious traditions and cultures. (Eek, Peg. 202, 2003). Since everything is mutually dependent n each other weather it being religion, the economy or the environment, society needs to consciously act on each physical or mental dilemma with everyone's best interest in mind. The first step into transforming the world religions into a brotherhood of faith, is taking care of the major issue that all religions face today which is the perceived â€Å"we† language of each religion that seems to divide our society rather than unite them.Eek describes that the â€Å"we† language that's evident in every religion as a sociological matter as well as a theological issue that seems to reflect our â€Å"deepest† religious values. Eek, Peg. 203, 2003). She challenges the reader to ask themselves if there use of the word we links people or divides people. According to Eek, in every tradition there seems to be at least some attempts (some more than others) to steer toward a much wider understanding of â€Å"we†.For example, Hindus believe that the whole world is a single family-Visualize Katmandu, Buddhists speak of the sang and the four directions, Christians with the language of Kiosks (derived from the word autoimmune, translates to the household of the whole inhabited Earth), and the Muslims attempt to find different ways to interpret the Mama (Eek, Peg. 203, 2003). Even though this sort of open minded thinking we're talking about clearly exists in each religion, it's clear we're not where we'd like to be considering the frequent airing of violence involving religious disputes on places like the internet and T.V. People are taking religious sides and are missing the big picture and which will only result in more bad press and casualties. In my eyes this can be attributed to ignorance formed by lack of interrelations dialogue. In order for religious dialogue to be effectiv e, Eek leads me to believe that one must first recreate he â€Å"we†. Eek often referenced one of the most open minded and enlightening religious figures in history to convey the importance of recreating the â€Å"we† and its impact on transforming society. According to Eek, Gandhi redefined the inclusive we in theory but more importantly in practice.Gandhi started at the household level to extend the care, ethics and common sense of the household to the whole of humankind (Eek, Peg. 206, 2003). Eek states that he believed that the â€Å"personal† was the â€Å"political†, meaning he saw no point in speaking of things like oppression of the or if one continued to support the status quo through ones daily decisions in life. Instead of speaking of the social injustices that were going on around him (political), he personally made an impact by volunteering to clean the latrines, help out at the hospital, and empty bedpans (Eek, Peg. 07, 2003). Sandhog's life style was greatly impacted by all the social injustice going on in the world. Sandhog's â€Å"we† not only included the poor and the oppressed but his enemies as well. He felt that a transformed community would never be reached if conflict is cast in terms of winning ND losing (Eek, Peg. 206, 2003). This kind of humility and consciousness should be implemented in the approach to interrelations dialogue in order to bind all religions as a brotherhood of faith.But until we recreate the â€Å"we† in society, interrelations dialogue will never reach its potential of mutual transformation. Diana Eek provides the reader with a refreshing option for encountering plurality of religions by remaining Christian, yet holding a deep respect for all religions. As Gandhi was inspired by some aspects of religion, Diana Eek was inspired by Sandhog's attempt to recreate the â€Å"we†. She too felt that in order for society to solve today's toughest problems, we must approach thes e problems as a whole. Eek explains how our daily decisions can cause a ripple effect.She conveys to the reader that â€Å"we†, as human beings, can make a change for the better by recreating the â€Å"we† in our language to link rather than divide. After successfully recreating the â€Å"we†, one can break the ignorance and fear and gain a mutual understanding of different religions through mutual understanding. As Eek states, with mutual understanding comes mutual transformation. Mutual transformation will only lead society to adapt with the times y thinking of world religions as more of a brotherhood of faith rather than a threat.

Business: Luxury Good and Competitive Advantage Essay

5. What is Coach’s strategy to compete in the ladies handbag and leather accessories industry? Has the company’s competitive strategy yielded a sustainable competitive advantage? If so, has that advantage translated into superior financial and market performance? A business strategy refers to the means by which it sets out to achieve its desired objectives and goals. Coach’s competitive strategy deals exclusively with management’s game plan for competing successfully and securing a competitive advantage over rivals Michael Kors, Salvatore Ferragamo, Prada, Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, and Versace. The different types of strategies used by these companies include, but are not limited to, low-cost provider strategies, differentiation strategies, focused low-cost and differentiation strategies, and best-cost provider strategies. Coach Inc. ’s strategy that created the accessible luxury market in ladies handbags made it among the best-known luxury brands in North America and Asia and had allowed its sales to grow at an annual rate of 20 percent between 2000 and 2011, reaching $4. 2 billion. The company’s strategy focuses on five key initiatives. First, Coach built a market share in North America by 15 new full- price retail stores and 25 factory outlets. They have built a market share in Japan through the addition of 15 new locations. Coach seeks to raise brand awareness and build share in underpenetrated markets, including Europe and South America, and Asia, with 30 new locations planned in the region. It also looks to increase sales of products targeted towards men by offering dual gender lines. Lastly, Coach raised brand awareness and built market share through coach. com, global e-commerce sites, and social networking initiatives. Coach Inc. implements various advertising strategies, marketing strategies, sourcing strategies, and differentiation strategies, etc. Coach’s strategy, which focused on matching key luxury rivals in quality and styling while beating them on price by 50 percent or more, yielded a competitive advantage in attracting middle-income consumers desiring the taste of luxury, but also affluent and wealthy consumers with the means to spend more money. Another distinctive element was its multichannel distribution model, which included indirect wholesale sales to third-party retailers but focused primarily on direct-to-consumer sales. Coach appears to be using the best-cost provider strategy because it gives customers more value for their money while satisfying buyer expectations on key quality features, performance and service attributes. For example Coach uses attractive pricing to enable it to appeal to consumers who would not normally consider luxury brands, while the quality and styling of its products were sufficient to satisfy luxury consumers. Coach has the ability to do this through its factory outlet stores and its prices are way below the price of its competitors. Coach also displays differentiation by offering distinctive, easily recognizable luxury products that are extremely well made and provide excellent value. Coach has a unique approach to its differentiation. Each quarter, major consumer research is undertaken to define product trends, selection, and consumer desires. Monthly product launches enhance the company’s voguish image and give consumers reason to make purchases. They also use frequent product introductions because consumers always want the newest items and fashions. Coach sought to make consumer service experience an additional differentiating factor. It has agreed to refurbish or replace damaged handbags, regardless of the age of the bag. Through the company’s Special Request, customers were allowed to order merchandise for home delivery. Overall Coach displays a great mix of low cost and differentiation. A sustainable competitive advantage refers to a long-term competitive advantage that is not easily duplicable or surpassable by the competitors. Coach’s competitive advantage has proven to yield a sustainable competitive advantage. When it comes to anticipating fashion trends, Coach has 1 / 3 proven to be successful. Each year Coach interviews its customers through Internet questionnaires, phone surveys, and face-to-face encounters with shoppers at its stores. Such intense market research has helped Coach executives spot trends well before its competitors. This in turn has helped it to extend the brand far beyond the leather bags that long were its trademark and into watches, accessories, cosmetic cases, key fobs, belts, electronic accessories, gloves, hats, scarves, business cases, luggage, eyewear, fragrance, and clothing. According to the case study and further research, sales have grown an average of 29% over each of the past three years, fueling a strong 63% averaged return on invested capital during the same period. Currently Coach is a leading American marketer of fine accessories and gifts for women and men. Its sustainable competitive advantage is a result of employee engagement, supply chain capabilities, environmental conservation, and community. Coach seeks to hire and train the best employees in a supportive and engaging environment. Coach collaborates with their raw material suppliers and manufacturing partners. Coach continues to improve the way it makes it products in order to protect the resources of the environment. Coach also supports the local communities in which they operate. Results show that Coach has increased its net sales from $3,230,468 to $4,158,507, its market share increased by nearly 6%, and its common stock price is $60, which is a result of superior financial and market performance. 6. What are the strengths and weaknesses of Coach Inc.? What competencies and capabilities does it have that its chief rivals don’t have? What new market opportunities does Coach have? What threats do you see to the company’s future well being? Coach has many strengths and weaknesses. Coach strengths include its wide range of accessories such as its handbags, watches, accessories, cosmetic cases, key fobs, belts, electronic accessories, gloves, hats, scarves, business cases, luggage, eyewear, fragrance, and clothing. It is the leading luxury leather goods company in the United States, with expansion in Japan, China, and Asia. Coach has developed a respected reputation by providing their customers with quality products and its 70+ years of being in business. They do a great job of advertising through press releases, catalogs, internet, and shopping centers. Coach has a larger range of pricing which attracts lower income consumers and wealthier consumers. They also allow their products to be sold at stores (department and full price stores) and online. Coach prides themselves on creating customer value. However, Coach also displays weaknesses as well. They have a limited selection for men and a poor inventory turnover rate. Coach has no direct announcements to the public about the promotion of new products. Their new products first sell at full price which keeps the lower income consumers away. This could lead to the problem of selling more at their outlet stores versus their full price stores. Currently Coach relies on the United States, Japan, and Canada for the majority of its sales by not fully expanding into other countries. A core competency refers to a defining capability or advantage that distinguishes an enterprise from its competitors. Coach believes that external coaching and leadership workshops are powerful tools in increasing a leader’s awareness and insight on their management approach, which leads to core competencies and capabilities. Coach has the skill and expertise to create unique and differentiated luxury items at a lower cost than its competitors. It also has valuable physical assets, human assets, organizational assets, intangible assets, and alliances and cooperative ventures. All of these resources and capabilities are valuable, rare, hard to copy, and non-substitutable. Some of the defining characteristics that distinguish Coach from its competitors include its wide selection of luxury items, its low cost strategy, store location (outlet and full price), advertising, online shopping, meeting customer desires, superior value and quality, its direct-to-consumer channels and indirect channels, 970 wholesale locations in the United States and Canada, specialty retailers in 18 countries, and its relationships with consumers (customer loyalty). Coach’s strategy, which focused on matching key luxury rivals in quality and styling while beating them on price by 50 percent or more, yielded a competitive advantage in attracting middle-income consumers desiring the taste of luxury, but also affluent and wealthy consumers with the means to spend more money. Another 2 / 3 distinctive element was its multichannel distribution model, which included indirect wholesale sales to third-party retailers but focused primarily on direct-to-consumer sales. Coach has many new opportunities in its market of luxury goods. It has a high potential for increased sales with new product lines. The promotion in other countries can bring awareness to the brand and company. Its pricing can attract more customers because of the lower priced items compared to its competitors. Its online option of purchasing will increase as technology increases. Coach also has the opportunity to increase the number of stores in North America, expand stores in other countries, and use its flexible dependency on suppliers. However, Coach also faces numerous threats. There is always the threat of rivalry, competition, and substitutes in the luxury market. One of the major threats is counterfeit products and the economic downturn in the United States. Young adults and teens often go through phases of fashion and may later chose a different brand other than Coach. Coach faces exchange rate risks if they enter new foreign markets. Lastly there is a threat of not having enough stores around the world which could hurt the consumer market. These threats could hurt the well-being of the company, but its strengths and opportunities seem to outweigh them for the time being.

Essay style answers regarding Euroland Case Study in terms of

Style answers regarding Euroland Case Study in terms of marketing - Essay Example Internal inefficiencies such as supplying products from plants located in different cities than from ones in same cities (because of low capacity), reduced throughput speed and increased accidents, spillage, inventory spoilage, shrinkage and breakage and production tie ups cause frequent disruptions in delivering products to the buyers that later weaken the sales. The major external factor that has resulted in stagnation of Euroland Foods’s core business is low population growth in northern Europe. In fact, there has bee no genuine increase in the demand of products offered by Euroland because of negligible increase in market size. The sales had been static since 1998, which is attributed to market saturation in some areas besides northern Europe. Secondly, the competitors have introduced new products in the market, hence attracting more customers and taking away the share from Euroland Foods. Euroland Foods’s, at present, apparently has adopted a Market Penetration growth strategy since it believes in selling its existing products Ice-cream, Yogurt, bottled water and fresh juices to existing market segments. It can be concluded that this strategy has not resulted in any real growth in terms of monetary and volumetric sales as it remained stagnant over years, which has adversely affected its brand equity and market valuation. If Euroland Foods were to take Darrochs advice, it would prioritize a proposal about â€Å"replacement and expansion of truck fleet† which is aimed at substituting new trucks and delivery vehicles with new ones as well as adding new fuel-efficient excessive capacity trucks to reduce its maintenance costs and improving the ability to transport more products at a time. Also, it could accept proposals related to expanding Nuremberg plant capacity by 20%, to increase automation of the production lines at six of the companys

Risk Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Risk Assessment - Essay Example The history and ability of terrorists involves any method they have utilized to accomplish their objectives. Secondly, the risk assessment process should identify the building asset value that requires safeguarding, or protection. The third step is conducting a vulnerability assessment (Baranoff, Harrington & Niehaus, 2006). A vulnerability assessment appraises the probable vulnerability of essential assets against a wide range of hazards or threats that have been identified. A vulnerability assessment gives a foundation for establishing measures of mitigation. These may be required to protect essential assets in a building. A vulnerability assessment acts as a connection between hazard or threat, value of asset, and the consequential risk level. Step four is the risk assessment. This stage involves analyzing the threat, value of asset, and vulnerability to determine the risk value of each and every significant asset against any threat that can be applicable. Moreover, a threat that would happen and has extremely little consequence may need mitigation measures that are easy and of low cost. Those that are more likely to occur, but have consequences that are particularly massive may need mitigation measures that are complex, and more expensive (Wheeler, 2011). The risk assessment process should provide a comparative risk profile. ... The purpose of the process of assessment is to realize the protection level required. This is through the execution of mitigation measures in a designed building. The mitigation measures may decrease the risk by denying, detecting, devaluing or deterring the probable threat component before, or during a terrorist attack. In addition, mitigation measures may lessen the risk of injury or damage by imparting a satisfactory protection level if there is an occurrence of a risk. It may also work to dissuade an aggressor further (Crouhy, Galai & Mark, 2005). This paper will look at a risk assessment of the Seattle Space Needle building. Threat Identification and Rating   There are many hazards that are manmade. This makes necessary to comprehend the individuals who have the intention of harming others. On the other hand, it is fundamental to be familiar with an aggressor’s tactics, weapons, and tools. The Seattle Space Needle building designers recognize that tactics, tools, and we apons can change quicker than the building can be customized against the threats that are posed. They acquired the hazard or threat assessment information from local emergency management, local enforcement, the Homeland Security department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Crouchy, Mark & Galai, 2000). For risks or hazards that involve technology, they got information from the Local Emergency Planning Committee, State Emergency response Commission, hazardous materials unit, and the local fire department. These organizations isolate facilities that are significant in zones that are vulnerable and create management plans for emergencies. Moreover, many fire departments have information on industries in a local area that have many of the materials

Glaceau Smart Water Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Glaceau Smart Water - Essay Example However, in 1998 and 2000, the company added Fruit water and Vitamin water, respectively, thereby expanding its distribution operations to the entire country. By the year 2002, Glaceau’s line of water was the best selling enhanced water brand in the US. In 2006, the bottle water division earned the organization revenues of approximately $350 million (Geller 1). The immense success realized in the US pushed the company to establish business globally by launching its products in Australia, Argentina, UK and France. The source of Glaceau Smartwater is an artesian spring found in the Northern region of Connecticut. Since water naturally travels on the surface of the earth or through the ground, it picks up substances that naturally, as well as substances present as a result of human and animal activity. Glaceau Smartwater is, therefore, subjected to intricate distillation processes, which entail water purification (Glaceau 1). After distillation, the water bottling plant introduces, in the water, an approved balance of 10mg per liter of Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium, through the addition of electrolytes. Smartwater is available in 20 oz, 700ml, 1 liter and 1.5 liter bottles. The cost of Smartwater is relatively cheap; a liter of Smartwater costs approximately $1.39, which is relatively cheap compared to a liter of whole fat milk is $2.26 and a liter of gasoline goes for $3.315. Clearly, the cost of Smartwater is hardly comparable to that of other essential products such as milk and gasoline. The primary reason for why I drink Glaceau Smartwater is because the water is loaded with the aforementioned minerals, which are essential to ensuring health and wellbeing. I also drink the water because of its attractive bullet-shaped contained, which is essentially plastic with minimal breakage capacities. The conventional sport cap further

Importance of displacement, migrations and the perceived lack or flux Essay

Importance of displacement, migrations and the perceived lack or flux of geo-political boundaries to contemporary art - Essay Example The essay "Importance of displacement, migrations and the perceived lack or flux of geo-political boundaries to contemporary art" discovers how artists through their artworks have tried to bring out the idea that migration, exile and displacement that are matters as a result of political and social changes, which have generated the wider world of modernity. Displacement comprises of one of the main parameters in our cultural development currently, and constitutes desired geopolitical characteristics of the present life. Art has taken advantage of displacement in countries that are not economically and politically stable. Levi and Scheding are of the opinion that â€Å"maybe the only generalization possible is that displacement must be understood as a complex and heterogeneous mass phenomenon.† Displacements of artist have a wide context in which they affect the artists. Rather than subjecting the artists into a new physical environment, there are more situations playing behind . Levi and Scheding term them as the social, cultural and historic contexts. Artistic displacement has faced a series of events in it which include the movement of images, goods, information and people. These subject contemporary artists to a wide range of concepts. Many have tried to understand the essence behind displacement and contemporary artists. Tactfully, many artists would find opportunity to show case their ability, and therefore need to relocate to desired places. In other cases, nature and political stands come on the way.

Federal elections and policy implications in 2012 Research Paper

Federal elections and policy implications in 2012 - Research Paper Example There are often different types of federal policies in the United States. These policies are usually subdivided according to the subject matter. The policy issues Almanac provides the background upon which information, links, and archived documents to cardinal America’s public policy issues are organized and categorized (Gleick, Christian-Smith, and Cooley 13). The United States has divided its public policies into nine categories: †¢ Criminal justice that include death penalties, drug policies, and gun controls †¢ Cultural and social policies including abortion, art, and civil rights †¢ Economic affairs policies that include taxes and budgets †¢ Education policies that incorporate elementary, secondary, and higher education †¢ Environmental policies that concentrate on global warming and quality of air †¢ Government operation policies that govern the campaign financing reforms and the privatization †¢ Health care policies that include health insurance and Medicare †¢ Social welfare policy that deals with social security and welfare †¢ Foreign affairs and national security policies that govern spending on the national defense ... Notably, during the 2007 elections, president Obama promised much on the economic recovery. At the end of his first tenure, it seems that he did not deliver fully as he had promised and the economy that was affected by Bush policies and administrations still moved to the worse. These facts have made the economic affair policy environment  quite volatile for either party (Coleman 127). Regardless of who could have won the 2012 presidential elections, the economic affair policy environment still remains heated. Additionally, the health policy was also a significant issue in the 2012 presidential campaigns. Despite the differences in opinions concerning the appropriate health care policies to be enacted, at some point Mitt Romney at one point agreed with some elements of the Obamacare (Gleick, Christian-Smith, and Cooley 21). Regardless of these agreements in opinions, the health affairs policy environment also remained a heated campaign throughout the campaign period. Other policies were viewed as one party or presidential aspirants show. For instance, president Obama mainly addressed the cultural and society policy on same sex marriage. Regardless some significant policies were not given concentration  they deserved. For instance, the environment policy is a radical policy that not only threatens United States but the entire globe. The environmental policies are the concerns of the citizens since from the 2008 election campaigns; it seemed the sure way of providing the cheap energy alternative (Gleick, Christian-Smith, and Cooley 54). The 2008 presidential campaign captured the attention of numerous Americans since the â€Å"DRILL, baby, drill† promised Americans cheap and reliable energy that was to be produced at home rather

Management Concepts in Hospitals Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Management Concepts in Hospitals - Assignment Example The efforts were towards advertising in the native languages and also developing simple 'guide to hospital' pamphlets in native languages. Childbirth classes were given in native languages. Extensive media advertisement was done too. The idea was to make it family-centered care. Multilingual physicians and nurses were catering the patients. This was enhanced by presentable looks of the hospital characterized by a large state of the art labor rooms and postpartum rooms with Jacuzzis and rooms for family members. The market orientation of an organization is directly related to overall business performance, employee commitment, and esprit de corps. The above quality improvement measures turned out to be a good business strategy too. The marketing presence was further enhanced by creating a new maternity services 'brand' for the hospital-the graphic image of infant footprint. The hospital further stated its presence loudly through aggressive advertisement. 1. Focus on the customer -serving majorly in the native language, advertising in native languages, organizing cultural shows for the ethnic population and in general making the people feel at home for the stressful event of childbirth to take place. 3. 2. Extensive research into the ethnic ways and this followed by aggressive promotional activities in culturally acquainted [to the ethnic populaces] ways. 3. More presentable looks and adoption of hospital services 'brand'-the infant footprint-all this made the community hospital more professional in outlook. Lager labor rooms and post-partum rooms with Jacuzzis were a similar step.   As the overall marketing orientation is related to staff motivation, the work standards were bound to improve with more number of satisfied customers. The staff's esprit de corps is directly related to the success of the organizational behavior[Knights and Willmott, 67]. Thus better business would've been a catalyst for better work again. While the hospital's overall rapport with the general public improved with the improved reputation the staff and administration produced better results.  

Course Project Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Course Project - Research Paper Example Organizations main aim is to achieve their objective goals. They usually meet challenges and they must beat them to achieve these goals as a team. Challenges create different conflicts among members of the organisation both within and the general environment in which the firm is based. Most people believe that conflict will lead to unfavourable results but this is not true. Conflict has both good and bad impacts. There are different strategies and styles that have been created to solve the problem of conflict in the organisation. Misunderstanding in an organisation usually comes about due to differences in viewpoints, competition, different ideas and this usually has different effects. This is something common that occurs in organisation now days. Some of the effects that conflict can bring include change in the organisation. This is achieved by modification of policies to manage and resolve conflict. It also leads to new innovations, improve goal congruence, results to sub optimization and lastly it wastes a lot of time. How an individual responds and manages conflict usually determines the success of the organisation. According to Bar-Siman-Tov and Yaacov conflict arises due to differences in ideas. It has a great impact on employee turnover, morale and litigation (57-9). This usually affects the success and development of organization. The main objective of conflict management and resolution is to promote learning team results. Suggestions by Tidwell and Alan say that efficiency and effectiveness in the company’s setting (24-6). This will usually lead to good outcomes. There are five ways which have been suggested to avoid conflict if it arises (Dana 61). Collaboration is one way of solving conflict. Here it emphasizes that every affected part idea is regarded. The basic idea here is that considering every individual opinion will

Story of an Hour Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Story of an Hour - Assignment Example The narrative is just so full of figures of speech, one has to really spend time meditating on the symbolisms to fully understand what the story is all about. Although during the initial reading, the reader could understand the events in the story however, it still requires an in-depth analysis for one to really ‘feel and understand’ the story behind the story. Selina Jamil thinks â€Å"The Story of an Hour† is an expression of emotions which she strongly supports through the symbolisms in the story. For instance, Mrs. Mallard’s heart trouble is perceived as an emotional trouble rather than a physical one (Jamil). While other women might easily be been open to accept their fate as being the housekeepers and even husband and children keepers, it is interesting to note that not all men are created equal and Mrs. Mallard is not the common type who would just be satisfied with her share in life. She was the woman who loved the outdoors and whose dreams are not bound within the four walls of her house rather are far and beyond what her eyes can see as it was then revealed as she was alone in her room thinking about how she would be living after her husband’s burial. Aside from the information directly unveiled in the story, symbolisms help to further picture the desires of the main character. The open window that meets her eyes as she opens her room tells a lot about Mrs. Mallard. The room itself is a picture of her private, unspoken thoughts and desires. Entering it without letting anyone follow her could paint the picture of Louise’s secrets that are not meant to be revealed rather are hers alone. The comfortable, roomy armchair is a representation of the ease she can have with her thoughts and herself in the privacy of her room (Lorcher) and the open window symbolizes the window to herself, her heart. This could be

Operant Applications Essay Example for Free

Operant Applications Essay Self actualization is at the pinnacle of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs which examines the order by which human actions are geared towards. According to Maslow, in order to have the other needs, the basic needs have to be satisfied first . Only upon satisfying the physiological needs are the other needs considered. As such, the graduation in level suggests that self-actualization is the most difficult level to attain because of the preconditions that need to be satisfied in order to advance. According to Maslow, this is the most difficult to achieve due to its nature. It is not an absolute fact but is relative and therefore difficult to attain. The teachings of Maslow have shown that due to the relative nature of self actualization it is possible that a person may have achieved this but has not realized such and is therefore incapable of self actualization. In order to be self actualized, Maslow stated that there is a need for inner exploration and action. Man needs to realize his internal self and come to terms with such. It is this motivation which leads a person to self-actualization. This is problematic on several levels which explains why Freud had a different perspective on the matter. While Maslow derived his theory from Freud, Freud’s teaching was different in that these innate impulses are caused by the developments in the human psyche and the subconscious. There is no innate mechanism but rather the logical effect of the interactions of the different personalities and parts of the human mind. The motivation comes not from the desire for self-actualization but from human behavior. From a cognitive point of view, this hierarchy of needs and self actualization is a function of the perturbations that an autonomous system needs. It is not so much self actualization, from this perspective, as it is the perceived competence to satisfy the basic needs in due time. There are, therefore, three main components, material, cognitive and subjective. As such, self actualization is hampered by subjective incompetence which is caused during childhood that act as an inhibitor preventing the further development of cognitive competence.

The Development Of The Us Two Party System Politics Essay

The Development Of The Us Two Party System Politics Essay There may be many reasons why we have problems in the government today, but the only problem we dont have are about ideas and laws. The reason why it is like that in that particular area is because of the Two-Party System. Despite the several disagreements in the government now, the politics was a lot simpler before. The era I am talking about is the Hamiltonian and Jeffersonian era of politics. This was where the two-party system was formed. The system boosted the government to a higher level of working. The system had begun around the late 1770s and early 1780s. The system is important because it helps separate ideas and makes it easier to choose which idea would be better. The two-party system was important because it introduced major issues into regular local politics. The creators of the two-party system, The Federalists and Republicans, were men who looked upon parties as. Those who had supported the policies of the Washington  Administration  became known as  Federalists  because they supported a strong national government as a counterweight to the States. The Presidents two principal advisors, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, were the founders of this system. What began as a personal dispute between the two men evolved into the formation of primitive political parties.  It usually allows government to move forward because in cases of gridlock, the majority party can take the lead. But it stifles debate and forces a widely diverse country to be represented by only two ideologies. Furthermore, it creates division and bitterness as the two sides battle for control of government. The raging battle between these two stubborn and forceful men was not only personal, but political. The first two party system developed between the two opposite groups called the Federalists and the Democratic Republicans. The main issue between the two parties was how they believed the Constitution should be read and interpreted. The federalists, such as Hamilton, Adams and Jay, were loose constructionists who believed that more power and jurisdiction that was not specified in the Constitution should be placed in the hands of the Federal government. They were also passionate believers in the idea of a strong central government that had the power to regulate domestic and foreign affairs, while having the ultimate authority over the states. Both were loyally committed to individualism, freedom, and equality of opportunity. The disagreement between Jefferson and Hamilton formed the foundation of the American two-party system, with either party more or less defined and distinguished by its view of the nature of the federal government. The two-party system has produced a heightened two-party competition everywhere. Today for example there remain no substantial pockets of one-partyism in the United States. The births and deaths enable us to count at least about six major parties in our history, from the Federalists, Jeffersonian Republicans, and short-lived National Republicans to the Democrats, Whigs, and Modern Republicans. The Federalist Party was essentially composed of nationalists. Politicians like Hamilton favored a strong federal government, administering a united group of colonies with a dynamic economy based on international trade. The Federalists sought to wield this power through a liberal or loose interpretation of the Constitutions strictures. The Federalists viewed the Elastic Clause of the Constitution in particular as a license to do whatever was not specifically forbidden by the document. The Federalists traditionally hailed from the financially powerful northern states of New England and the mid-Atlantic. They favored a powerful government that would protect the interests of the merchant class. In fact ardent Federalist, John Jay was fond of quipping, Those who own the country ought to govern it. The United States needed both influences. It was the countrys good fortune that it had both men and could, in time, fuse and reconcile their philosophies. One battle between them, which occurred shortly after Jefferson took office as secretary of state, led to a new and profoundly important interpretation of the Constitution. When Hamilton introduced his bill to establish a national bank, Jefferson objected. Speaking for those who believed in states rights, Jefferson argued that the Constitution expressly enumerates all the powers belonging to the federal government and reserves all other powers to the states. In 1828, the popular war-hero Andrew Jackson became the first President from a new party, the Democrats, the true party of the people.  Ã‚  With the exception of one term when the Whigs won the Presidency, the Democrats held the White House until 1860. Thomas Jefferson founded the Democratic Party of the United States in 1792 and was elected as the first Democratic President in 1800. The Party was called the Democratic-Republicans until after 1830 and was initially established as a Congressional Caucus to fight for peoples rights and to oppose the elite Populist Party. Founded in 1854, the Republican Party was organized as an answer to the turmoil that plagued the many existing political parties in the United States. The Free Soil Party, asserting that all men had a natural right to the soil, demanded that the government re-evaluate homesteading legislation and grant land to settlers free of charge. The Conscience Whigs, the radical faction of the Whig Party in the North, alienated themselves from their Southern counterparts by adopting an anti-slavery position. Two political parties had come of age from the Jeffersonian age of republicanism, the Whigs and the Democrats. Both these two parties extended toward the radical ends of the narrow spectrum of Jeffersonian political beliefs. The Whigs clung tightly to Jeffersons ideals about community and societal harmony, and they firmly believed in the power of the government to gain their goals. The Whigs saw Jacksonian philosophies regarding the engendering of conflict among classes and individuals as the enemy. The Democrats, by contrast, were big proponents of Jeffersonian ideals regarding states rights and the restraint of federal interference into economic and social lives of Americans. Whigs favored going back to Hamiltonian federalism in the banking system of the America as well as being reliant on federal tariffs and the internal improvement of the school system and other institutions. The Whigs were also at the forefront of prohibition of liquor and the abolition of slavery, all things that the Democrats were against more or less. Also the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed territories to determine whether slavery would be legalized in accordance with popular sovereignty and thereby nullify the principles of the Missouri Compromise, created a schism within the Democratic Party. The Whigs and Democrats traded elections every four years from 1836 through 1852; in fact no president between Jackson and Abraham Lincoln was reelected. Beginning with the log cabin and hard cider campaign of 1836 elections be gan to take on the feel of modern politics, utilizing mudslinging, slogans, songs and rallies to drum up support for candidates. The Whigs won only two presidential elections but in each case the winning Whig president died and was succeeded by his Vice-President. Whigs were successful initially as the champions of the economic powers of the United States and the common people at the same time. Finally I would like to conclude on the stand that the Two-Party system was developed by to main men, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. Many problems have erupted between the two, which has brought this major impact in Americans lives and Americas government. Despite the fights in the government now, the Hamiltonian and Jeffersonian era of politics is where the two-party system was formed. The Development of the Two-Party System Work Cited Page 1. Walsh, James P. The Rise of a Two-Party System.  Connecticuts Heritage Gateway. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. . 2. Kutler, Stanley I.  Dictionary of American History. New York: Charles Scribners Sons, 2003. Print. 3. Allison, Robert J.  American Eras: Development of a Nation, 1783-1815. Detroit: Gale Research, 1997. Print. 4. Axelrod, Alan. The Complete Idiots Guide to American History; Fifth Edition. New York, NY; Penguin Group, 2009. Print 5. McGeehan R., John. The Everything American History Book; 2nd Edition. Avon, MA; Adams Media, 2007. Print 6. Chambers, William Nisbet. The American Party Systems: Stages of Political Development. New York; Oxford University Press, 1967. Print 7. Hofstadter, Richard. The Idea of a Party System: The Legitimate Opposition in the United States; 1780-1840. Berkeley: University of California, 1969. Print 8. Greenstein, Fred I. The American Party System and the American People. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1963. Print

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë | Analysis

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontà « | Analysis Emily Brontà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s novel of passion and cruelty, published in 1847, was the only novel she ever wrote and one of which many, including her sister Charlotte, disapproved, regarding it as fundamentally immoral, especially in the creation of the central character, the brutal Heathcliff. However, viewed at a distance of some 150 years, the novel can be seen for what it truly is, a work of flawed genius which continues to attract strongly despite its age. Emily set what was to be her sole novel in and around her beloved moors creating, in Cathy, a character as wilful as herself. However the reader acquainted but not familiar with the narrative, is often surprised by how little actual description of the natural environment is extant within its pages though ‘metaphors drawn from nature provide much of the books descriptive language’. Simply expressed, it is the author’s own vicarious resonance with the land, expressed via her frequent use of what Ruskin termed ‘pathetic fallacy’ that gives the intensity of the connective between the central protagonists and the land in which they are imbedded, even beyond life itself. The plot concerns the family of the Earnshaws, owners of the eponymous ‘Wuthering Heights’, where the surly urchin, Heathcliff, is brought by the father of the household who has found him abandoned in Liverpool, and who describes him ‘as dark almost as if it came from the devil’ for ‘when Mr. Earnshaw first brings the child home, the child is an â€Å"it† not a â€Å"he†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢.   From the first, he is Cathy, the daughter’s favourite, as he is her father’s, and the thorn in the flesh of the heir, Hindley. Both boys, indeed, loathe each other with a passion partly born of ‘sibling rivalry’, even though they are not blood relatives (at least such is not openly stated even if critics have inferred more than an act of philanthropy in Mr. Earnshaw’s rescuing the boy and his wife’s attendant animosity). When Earnshaw dies, Hindley wastes no time in correcting the usurpation from which he believes he h as suffered by consigning Heathcliff to the level of a servant. Meanwhile, Cathy and Heathcliff have formed a bond which nothing will ever break, even Cathy’s marriage to the wealthy Edgar Linton. The tale is told by means of an extremely complex narrative structure, wherein part is related by the ‘outsider’, Lockwood, a tenant at the former home of the Linton’s, now owned by Heathcliff, and the intimate history of the family is told by the faithful servant, Nelly Dean. This technique, involving many time-shifts, allows the author to achieve the personal imperative of an ‘insider’, Nelly, with the abstract curiosity, perhaps similar to that of the reader, supplied by Lockwood, the ‘intruder’. Though effective, Emily’s inexperience as a writer is shown in the often ragged structure of the novel which frequently obscures rather than illuminates the series of challenges which the novel sets up. Given Emily’s background as the daughter of a parson, it is perhaps surprising that one of the greatest challenges that the novel establishes is the provocative rendering of religious sensibility. A scene which demonstrates this clearly is when Cathy reveals her ‘dream’ to Nelly, prior to declaring the nature of her feelings for Heathcliff, wherein she states her ideas about the after life: ‘[†¦] heaven did not seem to be my home, and I broke my heart with weeping to come back to earth; and the angels were so angry that they flung me out into the middle of the heath on the top of Wuthering Heights, where I woke sobbing for joy.’ The idea that the girl’s literal ‘spiritual home’ is not Heaven but the moors is, it appears, very close to how Emily felt herself when away from them on earth and her wilfulness in literally willing herself to death, as Cathy does, also invites the supposition that they were in fact very similar. Moreover, after Cathy declares ‘I am Heathcliff’, the reader realises that this is not a mere love story but two halves of one soul, the parting of which, as Cathy herself declares,   ‘impracticable’. Cathy does marry Linton, however, after Heathcliff has run away believing that she does not love him having heard her say merely that ‘it would degrade her to marry him’   and returns after an unexplained absence, having prospered sufficiently to accomplish the ruin of Hindley and the purchase of ‘Wuthering Heights’. Indeed, he comes to own all the property, via various schemes, and even marries Edgar’s sister, Isabella, from overwhelming spite. The one thing he can never control, however, is his love for Cathy and when she dies, he pines for her for the rest of his life, until they are united as ghosts. As Lockwood observes, ‘Together they would brave Satan and all his legions’. Oddly, the intruder Lockwood has come to see the appropriateness of this as the reader does and this forms one of the novels many ‘closures’ which are perceptible by its end, even to the obtuse. Though most adaptations of the novel centre upon the relationship between Cathy and Heathcliff, in fact over half of the novel is concerned with the repetition of familial tensions via their children: Catherine, the daughter of the elder Cathy and Edgar, the orphaned son of Hindley whom despite his abuse of him forms a strong attachment to Heathcliff and eventually the younger Catherine, and Linton, the sickly, peevish son of Heathcliff and Isabella, whom Heathcliff contrives to marry to Catherine simply to gain her property. Through this complex repetition, Emily works out the frustrations and hatreds across generations to achieve a kind of fulfilment and completion by the novel’s conclusion. The fact that Charlotte completely failed to understand Emily’s genius, or perhaps was merely envious of it, is perhaps indicative of the disparity between their gifts. The enduring romance of Wuthering Heights, which continues to appeal across the generations, is the antithesis o f control and therefore the ultimate realisation of Emily’s poetic and timeless soul. Bibliography: Bald, M.A., Women-Writers of the Nineteenth Century, (Russell Russell, New York, 1963). Bloom, H, ed., Emily Brontà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Wuthering Heights, (Chelsea House Publishers, New York, 1987). Brontà «, E.., Wuthering Heights, Agnes Grey and Poems, (Thomas Nelson Sons, London, 1907). Davis, P., The Victorians, (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2002). Hinkley, L., Charlotte and Emily, (Hastings House, New York, 1945). King, J., Tragedy in the Victorian Novel, (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1978). Lamonica, D, We Are Three Sisters: Self and Family in the Writing of the Brontà «s, (University of Missouri Press, Columbia, MO, 2003). Thormahlen, M, The Brontà «s and Religion, (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1999). Genetically Inherited Diseases: Gaucher’s Disease Genetically Inherited Diseases: Gaucher’s Disease Nikita Mountford 1. What is a genetically inherited disease? Genetic disorders are typically inherited (passed down) in either a dominant or recessive way. We each have two copies of every gene on our 22 numbered chromosomes. When a disorder is dominant, the disease can occur when there are DNA mistakes in only one of the two gene copies. This means that if a parent has the DNA change, there is a 50-50 chance that it will be passed on to each child. When a disorder is recessive, there must be mistakes in both copies of the gene for the disorder to occur. This means that both parents must carry at least one copy of the specific gene change in order to produce a diseased child. 2. Example of genetically inherited disease? Gaucher’s disease is an example of a genetically inherited disease. ‘Gaucher disease occurs in 1 in 50,000 to 100,000 people in the broad population’ (ii) and occurs more commonly in people of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage than anyone else. ‘This disease affects 1 in 500 to 1,000 people of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage’ (ii) the reason it affects people of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage is because of ‘founder effect is where a gene mutation is observed in high frequency in a specific population due to the presence of that gene mutation in a single ancestor or small number of ancestors. When the group of ancestors mates primarily within their own ancestral group over many generations, the frequency of the gene mutation remains high’ (iii). Gaucher’s disease may appear any time from childhood to adulthood. 3.1 How is it inherited? Mutations in GBA gene cause the disease with each pregnancy; each carrier has a 50% chance of passing on the defective gene. If both parents are carriers, there is a 25% chance their child will inherit two defective copies and will develop Type 1 Gaucher’s Disease. ‘A carrier is a person who has a change in one copy of a gene. The carrier does not have the genetic disease related to the abnormal gene. A carrier can pass this abnormal gene to a child.’(i) (http://www.childrensgaucher.org/about-ga) 3.2 Genotype and phenotype A genotype is the genetic make-up of an individual organism. Gaucher’s Disease is located on chromosome 1, that prevents the production of an enzyme, glucocerebrosidase. â€Å"Cytogenetic Location: 1q21 (the long (q) arm of chromosome 1, position 21) base pairs 153,470,866 to 153,481,111.† http://wiki.ggc.edu/wiki/Gaucher_Disease https://www.google.co.za/search?q=people 1 3.3. Who is at risk? ‘Gaucher disease occurs in 1 in 50,000 to 100,000 people in the broad population’ (ii) and occurs more commonly in people of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage than anyone else. ‘This disease affects 1 in 500 to 1,000 people of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage’ (ii) the reason it affects people of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage is because of ‘founder effect is where a gene mutation is observed in high frequency in a specific population due to the presence of that gene mutation in a single ancestor or small number of ancestors. When the group of ancestors mates primarily within their own ancestral group over many generations, the frequency of the gene mutation remains high’ (iii). Gaucher’s disease may appear any time from childhood to adulthood. People who are at higher risk Gaucher’s disease are people from Ashkenazi Jewish Descent and there is more chance of it occurring in mothers conceiving over the age of 40. 4. A. Description of disease Gaucher’s disease is an autosomal recessive inherited disorder, which means the disorder happens on a non-sex chromosome, affecting the metabolism, when a type of lipid called glucocerebroside is not properly broken down. The body does not produce the enzyme called glucocerebrosidase that breaks down and recycle glucocerebroside. This leads to the lipid to build up in the liver, spleen, bone marrow and nervous system. http://www.childrensgaucher.org/about-ga 1 4. B Types of the disease 4.1 Type 1 Type 1 is the most common and progressive, genetic disorder that generally has symptoms relating to their bones. There are also a lowered number of red blood cells and an enlarged liver and spleen. It is different to the other two types as it usually does not affect the brain or spinal cord. 4.2 Type 2 and 3 Both are known as neuropathic forms because they are characterized by problems that affect the nervous system. Type two is usually life threatening 5. Treatment in past In the past there has been no way to treat the disease but rather treat the symptoms such as blood transfusions, surgery for bones and joints and removing the spleen. 6. A.1 Enzyme replacement therapy. This approach replaces the deficient enzyme with artificial enzymes. These replacement enzymes are administered in an outpatient procedure through a vein typically in high doses at two-week intervals. Treatment is very effective in people with type 1 Gauchers disease and. enzyme replacement therapy can help reduce the enlargement of the liver and spleen, help to resolve blood abnormalities and improve bone density. Often people experience an allergic or hypersensitivity reaction to enzyme treatment. ’ERT has a remarkable effect on hepatosplenomegaly, with an average overall decrease of 25% in liver and spleen volume after 6 months of therapy. In most patients with anemia, haemoglobin levels rise by 1.5 g/dL during the first 4-6 months of therapy. An additional increase of 1 g/dL is observed in the subsequent 9-18 months in patients with persistent anemia. The platelet count responds more slowly, doubling on average over 1 year’. (iv) 6. A.2 Bone marrow transplantation. This is a surgical procedure that has been used for severe cases of Gauchers disease. In this method, blood-forming cells that have been damaged by Gauchers are removed and replaced, which can reverse many of Gauchers signs and symptoms. It is a high-risk operation. 6. A3 Medication. There is oral medication called miglustat (Zavesca) Disadvantages are diarrhoea and weight loss as common side effects. 6. A.4 Substrate reduction therapy SRT lessen the amount of making and build-up of waste material, inside cells. This means that even though patients are deficient in an enzyme that breaks down waste, with SRT, the enzyme they do have is better able to stop waste from collecting inside cells. SRT is used for Type 1 Gaucher patients for whom Enzyme Replacement Therapy is not an option. 6.2 karyotyping and gene mapping Karyotyping is a test to examine chromosomes, which can help recognize genetic problems as the cause of a disease. This test can count the number of chromosomes and look for structural changes in chromosomes. This is done by isolating and staining chromosomes then examined. Gene maps are used to help scientists find genes, usually those involved in human diseases. Scientists study many families affected by a disease, and then tracing the inheritance of the disease and of specific genome landmarks through several generations. Landmarks that tend to be inherited along with the disease are likely to be located close to the disease gene and become markers for the gene in question. Once they have identified a few such markers, scientists know the approximate location of the disease gene. Next, they look for genes in that part of the genome and study the genes one by one to learn which one is involved in the disease. They might look for a gene that has a different sequence in people with the disease than it does in healthy people. Or they might look for a gene with a function that could be related to the disease. 7. Ethics of genome mapping The Human Genome Project holds is attempting to compile physical and genetic maps of the human genome. A genome is the entire DNA in an organism. It may help a lot of people understand where they came from and find out which gene is causing problems. This is done by isolating and staining chromosomes then examined. But it may lead to parents attempting to determine which character children will inherit. It may also possibly lead to a large number of abortions Parents will be informed as to whether their son or daughter will have any serious genetic disorder, and as a result, the parents may opt to abort the foetus. It may restrict the human gene pool and interface with natural selection and loss of diversity among the human population. Also health or life insurance policies may be deemed to an individual on the basis of his genetic information and charge higher rates because they are prone to cancer or another disease. Businesses could discriminate against certain people based on their genes which could damage a person’s physiological health. A person might find out about their genetic make-up and find out they are prone to a disease which in turn makes them give up on life. Although there are negatives, I do think genome mapping is going to benefit society 8. Genetic make-up in the future my personal view I feel that one day we will be able to overcome our genetic make-up completely. While this may benefit people with genetic diseases it may be used in a negative way such as someone trying to create a perfect race. There are rapid advancements of science and technology people with problem genes such as Gaucher’s disease and cystic fibrous can soon be able to have normal genes. There is plenty research being done for future cures such as the Infectious Disease Research Institute. By replacing enzymes and recombinant DNA, which will be explained further on, this is the first step in being able to conquer our genetic make-up. Genes code for proteins, and proteins are made up of enzymes. When a gene is mutated and doesn’t produce the gene product this can mean an enzyme is missing or not working correctly. One way to treat people with genetic diseases where the gene doesn’t produce the enzyme needed is enzyme replacement therapy. Enzyme replacements must be taken for the rest of a patient’s life. Occasionally people experience an allergic or hypersensitivity reaction to enzyme treatment which is a disadvantage. Another process which could help with changing our genetic make-up is recombinant DNA technology which revolves around the activity of DNA in the making of protein. By doing this scientists can change the nature of the DNA and of the gene make-up of an organism. Other methods being researched for genetic diseases cures such as gene therapy which is an experimental stage which uses genes to treat or prevent diseases. Researchers are testing many different approaches to gene therapy such as replacing a mutated gene with a healthy version of the gene and introducing a new gene into the body to help fight the disease. Gene therapy is only being tested on diseases that that have no other cures such as cystic fibrous and Gaucher’s disease. RNA interface (RNAi) is also in an experimental stage. What happens is that is now possible to selectively silence the activity of a single gene. The combination of stem cell technology and gene therapy is also in experimental phase. What happens is scientists take skin cells from a person with a disease such as a metabolic liver disease, fix the mutation by erasing the incorrect DNA letter and inserting the correct one. Then turn the skin cells into liver cells by stem cell therapy. All of this research happening makes me hopeful that soon we will be able to help those with diseases. 9 Evaluation The reason I chose Gaucher’s disease was because I was planning to do Charcot-Marie tooth disease and there were too many sub groups and on the web page there was a link to Gaucher’s disease. I chose it mainly because I was interested on how it affects the body and in school we have learned about the lymphatic system so I could understand. I could have been possibly influenced to think that the cure for the diseases will be out soon by the information I have found out about the research being done currently. I didn’t know actually how much is being done and this could have persuaded me to think me to more positively. In conclusion I do believe we will be able to conquer our genetic make-up soon. Technology and science are rapidly becoming more and more advanced. We can already make enzymes work better and researching how to silence a gene that was causing damage. There is hope for people with defective genes as there is treatments and medications to help relieve pain and soon to eliminate all defective genes. 10. References http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/resources/whats_a_genome/Chp3_1.shtml#chp3#4 http://gaucherwest.com/gaucher/gaucher-disease.html http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/science-scope/stem-cell-breakthrough-could-bring-cure-for-genetic-diseases/ http://www.cliffsnotes.com/sciences/biology/microbiology/dna-and-gene-expression/recombinant-dna-and-biotechnology http://www.preservearticles.com/2012032027922/what-is-the-human-genome-project-and-what-are-its-advantage-and-disadvantages.html http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/revision:human_genome_project#Disadvantages http://www.stanford.edu/class/e297c/trade_environment/health/hgenome.html http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/testing http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/gaucher-disease http://genome.cshlp.org/content/7/10/950.full http://www.genome.gov/25521505 http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/944157-treatment http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1682271 http://www.cerezyme.com/patients/gaucher_disease.aspx http://www.genome.gov/25521505#al-5 http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gauchers-disease/basics/treatment/con-20031396 http://geneticmap.net/ethics.php http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v9n2/outstrips.html http://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~mcclean/plsc431/students/otto.html http://jmg.bmj.com/content/42/6/e37.full http://www.gauchercare.com/en/patient/treatment.aspx http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003921.htm In references http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/genetics-carrier-identification http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/gaucher-disease http://genetics.emory.edu/clinical/?assetID=581 http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/944157-treatment Coffee Bean Tea Leaf: Marketing Mix Coffee Bean Tea Leaf: Marketing Mix The Coffee Bean Tea Leaf, a very popular organization around the world. It is started in 1963 and created by Herbert B. Hyman and Mona. Herbert B. Hyman is the founder of gourmet coffee in California. Today, Coffee Bean is one of the world largest privately-owned, family-run coffee and tea companies. The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf has by far expanded their branches over 750 locations in 22 countries. The aims of Coffee Bean to their product can describe by two word, excellence and quality. From very beginning, The Coffee Bean effected their customer thinking with the idea to the Coffee Bean is a high standard of their product and image. This makes them the endurance and popularity today. More over The Coffee Bean is successful company because they have discovered the formula for a successful coffee and tea company. About Coffee Bean The mission of The Coffee Bean is To create a spirit within our company that inspires our Team Members to provide our customers with a Total Quality Experience: Quality of Product, Service and Environment. The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Companys slogan: Simply the Best. They believe in these basic facts can lead them through their daily lives at The Coffee Bean are being friendly with each other, respect each others value, opinion and individual diversity, ownership, teamwork and honesty. (Coffee Bean, 2011) Product Coffee Bean Donut Our company has produced a new product, which can perfectly match our main product. We have promoted donut as our secondary product. Coffee is usually been ordered during tea time or when someone is free or having a rest. Therefore it needs something to fulfill the customers relaxing needs while enjoying their favorite coffee. Coffee Bean Donut will be an ideal product specially made for this. When the customer is drinking coffee, they also can fill up their stomach or killing their free time by having donut as their dessert. Size of the donut we provide normally is in size of a man fist. More important, it is mix with many healthy ingredients which makes tastier and healthier than other normal donut. The ingredients for the donut have flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, egg, canola oil, lemon juice, plain yogurt and vanilla extract. In order to make the customers been able to choose the flavor they want depend on their moods and needs, we provide more than 20 flavors suc h as Chococinno, Iceberg, Kiwi Blitz, Snowy, White Forest, Merry Cherry and others for the customers to choose to fulfill their demands. Target Audience Nowadays our living standard has become higher than before. Compared than quality that people used to consider it as priority, now everyone has more concern on the appearance of the product. Among the age group, teenager group is the best target which can be easily attracted by the appearance of the product. Thus donut used to be a product which mostly preferred by the teenagers because it is one of the foods which accompany most of us since we were still young. Mostly teenager like to hang up with friend or might meet with someone at outside, Coffee Bean is one of the best choices for those who came earlier. Coffee Bean have their shop at most of the shopping complex and it have also provide free Wi-Fi and with a nice environment. While waiting for their friends, they can have order the coffee and the donuts to enjoy the free time. Coffee has been known as one of the favorite drinks for the adults. Majority of the adults has taken coffee as their favorite, not to mention that there are some heavy consumers as well, especially the businessmen. Many businessmen drink coffee as it can help them in releasing tension or finding inspiration as most of them are working under stressful environment in their daily life. Donut can make them more enjoyable while enjoying their hi-tea hour or finding inspiration, thus giving them energy back to work with refreshed mind too. Donut is the best attachment to the coffee in order to make the businessmen having their best enjoyment. Family group is also one of the target customers for Coffee Bean donut. It is because coffee is preferred by most of the adult while donut is a favorite by most of the children. It would be a nice place for the families to have a wonderful gathering time with their family. While the parents are having their coffee, their children will order donuts that they like, and having variety of flavors for them to choose so that they would not get bored with the limited selections. The attractive patterns of the donuts and wonderful atmosphere in the shop will definitely make a good image to both the parents and their children and it makes them having their next family gathering here again. Marketing Communication Mix Tools Advertising In order to outstanding the knowledge of the new donuts feature, advertising plays an important role as one of the marketing communication mix tools to acknowledge all the consumers about this latest secondary product. With the advertising tool the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf would be able to inform and persuade the entire related market about the launching of new unique donuts. These donuts with different flavors can be advertised with different product images to attract different levels of targeting consumers. The Product Advertising would be a good option to advertise the new donuts as this option promotes benefits of specific goods and services. Within Product Advertising the best method to advertise the donuts is the Pioneering option which defines as stimulating the primary demand for a new product that offers consumers in-depth information about the benefits of the product class. The company could hire different advertising agencies or even a suitable well-known celebrity as the spokesperson of the new donuts products and command the related advertising department in order to advertise the donuts information including planning, creating, producing the advertising, performing research, and selecting media. For advertising, there are six major types of media which include the newspaper, magazines, radio, and television, outdoor media and the internet and World Wide Web. The Coffee Bean Donuts are normally attracted by those younger generations. With this, we can decide what type of media we should use for the advertising. Based on the target customer, the television and the internet and World Wide Web are the best and effective media type use to advertising this new product. Sales Promotion: In communication mix tool, sales promotion are defined as activities that motivates consumers or member of the distribution channel to purchase a good or service immediately, either by lowering the price or by adding the value. The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf can promote the new features of donuts in several ways of sales promotion. Sales promotion can be done by launching a promotion like Buy 1 Free 1 featuring purchasing an ice-blended drink and a free choice flavor of donut will be offered, or even a 40%-50% enjoy of discount if a particular amount of donuts have been purchased. These are effective ways in fulfilling the missions of sales promotion by increasing trial purchases, consumer inventories, repeat purchases, and most importantly raising the awareness of consumers about the donuts product. Furthermore, providing free gifts to loyal customers and consumers who supported the new secondary donut products are important. This method can motivates them a lot in helping the company to pull customers by sharing their product experiences and knowledge to the others. Giving coupons and rebates away is a must as this type of sales promotion can not only attract more consumers to visit the companys retail stores and franchises, it also able to acknowledge them that they get to enjoy many offers and promotions if they purchase the donuts. Effectiveness of Marketing Mix Tools By using such effective marketing mix tools as their methods in promoting and increasing their sales, Coffee Bean Tea Leaf is hard to beat out by other marketers and stand at the top rank of the coffee manufacturer industry. Advertising Pioneering advertising method is one of the most effective methods in promoting a new product. By using this advertising method, the new products brief information and customers benefits gained from the product will implant into their mind and distribute the information to different groups in a shorter time and wider area. Besides, hiring celebrity as the new product promoter can also attract those who idolize them and convince them to buy the product. Nowadays the mass media make an imaginable influence to the public. By using this as a method to promote new product, for example, hiring a celebrity, will attract more audience to the new products because of the posters or the images of the celebrity on the product. And taking advantage on the audience madness phenomenon on the celebrity, it will definitely raise the awareness thus increase the sales of the product. Although these advertising method is in heavy usage during the new production promotion period and it involves expensive and sustained advertising expenses, but with the well-known company image and the qualified quality of the coffee drinks, Coffee Bean Tea Leaf is able to spend on those heavy advertising expenses and make it out with a greater interest and profit. Sale Promotion Sales promotion is another marketing tool used by Coffee Bean Tea Leaf in the new product introduction period. For example, one of the basic tactics used in the sales promotion is either giving a lower price or add up the value. With the lower price as promoting method, it can easily trigger customers curiosity and attracting the customers come and have a try on the new product. In one hand, using low price method, compared with the normal prices for the usual products in Coffee Bean Tea Leaf, it is not only affordable for most of the customers and the quantity of the products they purchase will increase as well. While in other hand, by adding up the values of the product, those customers with rational thinking or having a budget in their mind will come and purchase the products. By using these promoting methods, the promotion product information and news will be spread by the customers from one to another, and this bring Coffee Bean Tea Leaf more customers to purchase their produ cts and make them aware of the company brand and the products. Free gifts for the loyal customers will make them having concern on the products and company. Coupons and rebates give away method can make sure that the customers will come to make a purchase thus it can share with their friends and families. By making chain sales from one to another, customers concern will be rise and more customers coming to purchase the product lead to greater sales. Conclusion The type of communication tools that The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf use for the new product is the advertising and sales promotion. As a result it is much more effective than by using the other two ways of communication tools which is personal selling and public relation. As the company which their product is food and drinks, the better way for it to promote the new product is using the advertising and sales promotion because it is faster and easy for them. More prefer to choose the way to let customer go to the place to purchase the product than take out the product to outside and promote it to public. By advertising and sale promotion, the new product will fast spread to everyone and attract them to buy it.

Power Semiconductor Devices Essay -- Power Conversion Essays

Power Semiconductor Devices Introduction Today there are many power semiconductor devices used in different applications of power conversion. The diode is one of the oldest semiconductors devices and is still wildly used today in power electronics. Diodes are found in virtually all power converts in one form or another. For this reason our discussion will be focused on the application of power diodes. Power Diodes are two terminal electronic devices that permit current flow in predominantly one direction. Diodes are composed of differently doped silicon or germanium bounded together at a junction. Purpose As an Electrical Engineering specializing in Power Electronics it is important to understanding the application of different types of diodes in power electronics. The technology behind the development of pn junctions and solid state devices is continuously advancing. This is why it is important to be informed of the most modern advances of one of the world’s oldest power semiconductor devices. This paper will focus on the construction and ratings of various types of power diodes to convey the importance diodes have power electronics. Power Diodes: Power diodes are successors to the very first semiconductor devices. Power diodes are mainly used as uncontrolled rectifiers to convert single-phase or three- phase AC voltage to a rippled DC voltage. Typically they are constructed of a mixture of differently doped silicon or germanium. Most common are the silicon diodes because they can operate at higher currents and junction temperatures then germanium diodes. All diodes are devices that conduct current in only one direction. Whenever the voltage on the anode is positive with respect to the cathode, the dio... ...e a diode that will satisfy the requirements of the circuit while increasing overall circuit efficiency and maintaining reliability. Through improved modern design techniques diodes are no longer a weak component, and are becoming more important in power electronics with the increase demand for higher power quality and power efficiency. Works Cited: N. Mohan, T.M. Undeland, W.P. Robbins, â€Å"Power Electronics†, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.  © 2003 Timothy L. Skvarenina, â€Å"The Power Electronics Handbook† CRC Press LLC  © 2002 Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings Volume 483, â€Å"Power Semiconductor Materials and Devices† Materials Research Society  © 1998 â€Å"Dura-Bilt5i MV Engineering Reference Book†, GE Toshiba Automation Systems, U.S.A.  © 2003 Kilowatt Classroom: Electrical Training Seminars - Web Site Home Page http://www.kilowattclassroom.com/

Our Food Has Feelings Too :: social issues

Our Food Has Feelings Too A piece of meat, a glass of milk, or even an egg might seem pretty harmless. Everyone knows where they come from but most choose not to think about it. The truth is that the piece of meat sitting on your plate at dinner came from an animal that was tormented and put through enormous stress and pain to get from the ‘farm’ to the dinner table. Farms that breed and raise animals for meat and other such things aren’t at all what we picture. Green meadows where the animals graze in peace for the few short years of their lives have been replaced by â€Å"fresh produce factories†. Animals not being treated with any respect or humanity, instead seen only as profitable meat products. Cows sheep and pigs don’t just suffer at the slaughterhouse but throughout their lives. Feedlots, the place they are sent to fatten up before being killed are full of harmful bacteria and are extremely crowded. What the animals are fed is also very harmful. Steroids and unnaturally rich diets are used to fatten them quickly, thereby maximising profitability. Metabolic disorders are the result of this. In modern dairies, cows also forced to endure calfing every year, whilst producing milk for seven months of their nine-month gestation period. Cows live up to twenty-five years in a healthy environment, but in these dairies only live three or four years. Like beef cows they are fed unnaturally rich diets to make them produce more milk. Milk production can be as much as ten times more than that of a natural grazed animal. But if you thought that only grown cows suffer, that these farmers at least take care of the babies, you were wrong. Veal is a very profitable meat, the calf usually only living to sixteen weeks in a small wooden crate where it can’t move properly or even lie down comfortably. Some are killed just after a few days, then sold as low grade frozen TV dinners. Chickens and other poultry also suffer in small cages (usually two hens in a cage sixteen inches wide). After having their beaks cut off to reduce pecking their feathers usually fall out, from the constant rubbing against the wire cage. Eventually with bruises and sores covering their bodies, the hens die from fatty liver syndrome, lack of calcium, heat prostration, infectious disease and cancer.

The Global Eradication of Polio Essay -- Exploratory Essays Research P

The Global Eradication of Polio    The possibility of the eradication of polio worldwide is an imminent and exciting prospect as the "goal" year quickly approaches. In 1988, the World Health Assembly, which governs the World Health Organization, set the goal of eliminating polio from the world by the year 2010. Many organizations have joined the effort along with the World Health Organization: the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, Rotary International, Global Health Network, the US Agency for International Development, National Immunization Day, and the International Broadcasting Bureau. Together, these "worldwide polio partners" have implemented a strategy to completely rid the world of this disease. It is a difficult task, one which must be thorough and all-encompassing, covering all people in all countries, even those industrialized countries such as the United States where polio has already been successfully eliminated (Reuters 1998). The disease poliomyelitis is caused by "three serotypes of poliovirus" (Prevots 1999). It can manifest itself with a range of characteristics, from flu-like symptoms such as fever, headaches, vomiting, fatigue, constipation, pain in the limbs and stiffness in the neck, to various levels of paralysis, and death. Poliovirus can be passed along from person to person through fecal-oral transmission, and any contaminated object can spread the virus. This is why polio is prevalent today in areas with very poor sanitation. Another source of transmission in any environment is the young children in diapers. The World Health Organization states: * The disease circulates "silently" at first, and may infect hundreds of people, depending on the level of sanitation, before the first c... ...e year 2010 is not achieved.    WORKS CITED "The Beginning of the End: Target 2010. The World Without Polio." World Health Organization. 1999. "Five Steps to Ridding the World of Polio. Rotary International. 1999. Prevots, Rebecca D., PhD, MPH. et al. Chapter X from the Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases: Poliomyelitis (CDC). Stemrich Associates: 1999. Sharma, Ashok. "India Unlikely to Eradicate Polio by 2010." Associated Press. January 1999. "Worldwide Eradication of Polio by 2010 Still Possible." Reuters. September 1998.

Propolis

Introduction : Propolis is a glue-like resinous material that collected and processed by the bees (honeybees) from various sources of flowers, leaves, and other plants. It is a heterogeneous mixture consist of many compounds which is taken and converted then utilized by bees in sealing their honeycombs holes, smoothing the internal parts of the combs, and providing protection to their residence against invaders. Recent studies which have been conducted on the propolis, showed that the propolis is a mixture of phenolic compounds (phenolic acid), polyphenols , flavonoids , Easters and various types of fatty acids, amino acids, alcohol, steroids, Caffeic acid, CAPE, quercitin , carbohydrates and many other substances that forms the propolis. Its composition may differ due to the difference of the source which is collected from. The differences in their chemical composition may affect the biological activities and may also cause some diversity although the properties are almost similar in all of it. Propolis has an interest according to its properties which make it unique. It might be used in therapeutic aspects such as anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, antiviral and antibacterial activities and also radioprotective properties. Propolis has anti-cancer or anti-tumor factors. It has been reported by many studies which noticed that propolis inhibits cancer cells growth and metastasis by stimulating the apoptosis and the immune system. Apoptosis is the mechanism of destroying and eliminating the Abnormal cells that includes cancer cells. This attribute may prevent the side effects caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are used in the treating cancer but in the same time they damage other organs and may cause other diseases or undesired effects. The only disadvantage of natural anti-cancer is the rate of activity which is faster in chemo and radiotherapy . Also, it has Anti-oxidant activity due to the presence of flavonoids which inhibits the lipid peroxidation and the oxidation of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and quercetin which is the most potent radical scavenger. Free radical scavengers may prevent the free radicals reactive species from being formed, or remove them before they can harmfully affect the components of the cell. In addition to these properties, it also has antibacterial, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-aggregatory, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial effects that make propolis the focus of attention of many scientists. Cancer (malignant tumor) is an abnormal growth of cells due to either presence of mutation in DNA or inhibiting in the tumor suppressors ( one of the checkpoints on the cell cycle ) which leads to fast growth of cancer cells, invading the organs, and destroying the adjacent cells to get the nutrition. Cancer may occur in any part of the lungs and causes damage to the lung and may lead to death . Lung cancer may be hereditary or acquired by many factors, for example, smoking cigarettes, asbestos and breathing carcinogens chemicals. However, the main causes of other types of cancers are still unknown yet.

Does Gatsby love Daisy Essay

Does Gatsby love Daisy or the aura of wealth that she owns? The Great Gatsby is F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece about various themes such as class, love and wealth. One of the themes highlighted is romantic affair between two main characters: Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby is clearly obsessed with Daisy, however, it is doubtful that those strong feeling is a proof of love. This essay advocates that Gatsby does not love Daisy but the wealth she symbolizes. Firstly, wealth is the origin of Gatsby’s obsession with Daisy. Gatsby believes he is â€Å"the son of God† (Fitzgerald 105) and struggles to civilize himself into a wealthy man. When he is a poor soldier, he meets Daisy, â€Å"the first ‘nice’ girl† he has never met (Fitzgerald 158). Throughout the story, it is found that she is ‘nice’ because she is â€Å"the golden girl† with the voice â€Å"full of money† (Fitzgerald 128). Gatsby equates Daisy with luxurious things around her (1) and â€Å"[is] overwhelmingly aware of the youth and mystery that wealth imprisons and preserves, of the freshness of many clothes and of Daisy, gleaming like silver, safe and proud above the hot struggles of the poor† (Fitzgerald 160). He is attracted by her beauty but that beauty is also a gift of richness. From the beginning, the trigger of his love for Daisy is merely his worship of Daisy’s wealthy life. Moreover, Gatsby nurtures Daisy’s love for him by showering it only with his wealth and success. He throws lots of big parties to attract Daisy’s attention. Additionally, after five years being separated from Daisy, what Gatsby worries about when he meets her is not whether she misses him but whether his mansion looks well and the first place he wants her to visit is his splendid house (2). He keeps showing off his belongings and asking Daisy to check whether she is impressed. When â€Å"he [revalues] everything in his house according to the measure of response it [draws] from her well-loved eyes† (Fitzgerald 98), it is clear that Daisy’s recognition of his achievements concerns him the most and Gatsby overestimates the importance of material passion in his relationship with Daisy. In the end of the story, when Gatsby is willing to scarify his life-work and fame to save Daisy from being a murderer, this event is argued to be an evidence of love. However, as he desires her in the same way he is in pursuit of the glory of success and Daisy is only a supreme object helping him to strengthen his achievements, the act of protecting her is merely to protect the thing he longs for in his whole life. To conclude, passion Gatsby has with Daisy  cannot be called love. His emotional obsession with her results from his mental obsession with material life. Besides, in Gatsby’s belief, Daisy’s love is kept in existence by his giant property and what he does is just feed this love with money. Works Cited Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Ebook.

Restoration Essay

The creation of man and woman will always stem from the passage in Genesis, where it all narrates how man came into being with the guidance of woman as well. We are familiar with the story of Adam and Eve, something that will forever be our reference when we are asked how many came to be. God is often referred to as the image and likeness of man. But now, we all ask, what was the hand of woman in this essence and to whom was she likened to? Basically, the answer to this is also God himself. We may all ask how this would be, but the facts are simple. God still guides us to this day, and He can also take the form of a mother as well, guiding us and nurturing our every need. Most of us look up to God for support and ask him for guidance and help, but it has never really occurred to us that He is still the one we turn to in hard times. We say God is good and always there for us, the same way that we consider mothers to turn to in times of needs and moral support. Technically speaking, we are born under his wing, and to this day, all we have to do is just recall how man came to be and from there, figure out the same proceedings when we or how people are given life and born in the world today. II.Compare My Wife to the image of God There is no question that God can be likened to my wife. Always there during hard times and helps bring joy by bearing children for our own family nothing would be possible without having her for my partner. Guiding me as well in both bad and good times, my wife is there for me in whatever the case may be. God is always there for us at all times. We just pray and make sure that He hears us through our prayers. Our partners represent him, acting as co-decision makers to be able to go through the challenges of life, rather than going through them alone. My wife guides our off-springs as well, teaching them the beauties of life and what to expect from the world. III.Compare My Mother to the image of God No one else comes close to becoming a good guardian other than my mother. Without her, I would not even be existing today. She has helped in molding me into what I am today, a success in every way. Her teachings have made me wiser and take on the everyday tasks in the more rational way known today. IV. Compare My Sister to The image of God My sister is currently pregnant, and the proper care for her stature is a must. Expected to bear a child after a few months, this is testimony toward the beauty that life gives in the maternal aspect. Women are the usual bearers of children, creating them with their partners. The beauty and the product of the love of two people would bear fruit in the form of a child. God made man because he loved them and wanted them to carry out His will and make the world a better place not only for man but for everyone. IV. What can you do in nursing to promote and restore God’s image to mother’s that you may encounter in the future. In nursing, the proper care given towards patients and needy people is all that matters. Providing the quality level of care in the health and medical aspect is already a consoling factor in its sense, since it is still life that is being cared for. Trying to comfort them and be of assistance, nursing is no doubt about caring and nurturing people in need of attention and pain. Understanding the whole scenario of why nursing is important today can be attributed to the fact that there are people in the world who are in need of medical assistance. God helps us in mind and mysterious ways, and this is something that attention plays as far as nurses are concerned. Aside from doing the necessary duties to ensure the overall comfort that patients around the world require, lending that helping hand towards the needy people of today is already a large step in the direction of how God wants man to live in this world. Like what most people do, diseases, health issues and sicknesses are abounding in the world today. Trying to help the people plagues in such situations is something that nurses can do well to accommodate and provide service to.

It Is Better to Have Tried and Failed Than to Have Never Tried Essay

The saying â€Å"actions speak louder than words† can be applied to this scenario. Many people often dare to dream but fear stops them from ever moving forward on their goals. The fear of failure, of not knowing if it is possible to accomplish what may seem like the most unrealistic dream a person sets out to achieve. One example we can learn from is one of the greatest swimmer the world has seen, Ian Thorpe. Four time Swimming World’s Swimmer of the Year, Ian Thorpe once said, â€Å"I think it’s better to attempt something and fail than it is to not even attempt it, so I’m glad that I’ve been prepared to put myself on the line there. Till today, these words continue to ring in my head as I finally realised that it’s better to have tried and failed than not to have tried at all. Ian Thrope, born on the 13 October in 1982, is many times a World Champion and has won eleven World Championship golds, the third-highest number of any swimmer. He was also the Australian swimmer of the year from 1999 to 2003, 4 years running. After winning and earning so many prestigious awards, Ian Thorpe announced his retirement on 21 November 2006. After almost 5 years out of the swimming world, the swimming sensation decided that he would try to qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London. However, no matter how much he tried and the 110% he gave, he did not make it to the 2012 Olympics. Despite his many failures, he still remains as an international inspiration to many, teaching us that it is definitely better to tried and failed than not to have tried at all. Ian Thorpe’s story teaches us that even though we have the most unrealistic goals in life, it is more important to go down fighting, not leaving behind any last regrets. Failure is indeed our best teacher. Being able to go through failure would not kill a person, in fact, it would only make someone stronger. Even when failure sets in, it is good to know that one has given it their all. Even if it doesn’t work out as planned, it is better than looking back and not knowing what one could have done. Speaking from personal experience, failure is the mother of success, and without overcoming the challenge posed to me, I would not make it a step further. For example, ever since I stepped on the podium in the primary school swimming nationals, I have always wanted to have the chance to do it again in the secondary school, scoring more points for my school. This year was the last year the school nationals where I could have a chance on stepping on the podium once again and I made use of the opportunity I was given. I started training extremely hard, to a point where I was at the pool at 5 in the morning and back again after school at 4 in the afternoon for strength as well as water training. The number of times I would turn up could go up to ten times a week. This arduous task went on for four to five months and in between, I still had to make sure that I was keeping up with school curriculum. At the recent national schools, I competed and instead was placed 5th, missing the podium by a whopping one second. Although I failed to reach the goal I set out to achieve, I knew that there was nothing else I could do as I have always wanted to represent the country in the Combined School Games and the recent National Schools Swimming Championship would have been my chance to qualify for the games. I started training extremely hard, to a point where I was at the pool at 5 in the morning and back again after school at 4 in the afternoon for strength as well as water training. The number of times I would turn up could go up to ten times a week. This arduous task went on for four to five months and in between, I still had to make sure that I was keeping up with school curriculum. At the championships, not only did I not qualify for the games, I was also placed 5th, missing out on the podium placing. Although I failed to reach the goal I set out to achieve, I knew that there would be no regrets as I was defeated fighting. â€Å"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. † Although failure may be hard to face, if one doesn’t go down fighting, trying with maximum effort, that could be considered the greatest failure of all time.