Thursday, October 31, 2019

Popol Vuh Creation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Popol Vuh Creation - Essay Example first lesson and which is too important is respecting and honoring the gods and creators ( Miller & Karl, 1997).Though, humans have been given the gift of animals, they are given warning not to mistreat them. Also from this story about creation humans are given trickery and cleverness as a virtue and the power of mind. Another lesson from this creation is that it is different to other mythologies in that; Maya has a strong believe that a world can be changed and redeemed if it is broken while the others warn of damnation and destruction for transgression (Sharer, 2006). The third lesson is that when cultures are faced with difficulty issues in modern era and fear of end life humans should only be strong. In Mayas creation story explains how founders of Quiche noble dynasties who praised the gods and they searched the gods in the world until they found them in bundles and they happily took them home (Garson & Golembe, 1995). Tedlock, D. (ed.). (1985). Popol Vuh: the Definitive Edition of the Mayan Book of the Dawn of Life and the Glories of Gods and Kings with commentary based on the ancient knowledge of the modern Quichà © Maya. Simon and Schuster. New

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Rising Oil Prices Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Rising Oil Prices - Research Proposal Example Fuel prices have risen and affected every nation in the world since the early years of this decade. Nandia Mongia (2008) reports that crude oil prices have increased in the world market from 22 U.S. Dollars up to almost $90 U.S. Dollars per barrel. This affected the prices of petroleum products like diesel, kerosene, propane, and gasoline and hit lower-income households. Figure 1 shows the rising trend of oil products from 2000 up to 2006. Mongia (2008) mentions five (5) reasons for the rising of oil prices: (1) increasing demands for oil in the world market, (2) reduction of buffers, (3) uncertain oil supply, (4) assumption in the global oil market, and (5) lack of investments on exploration and refining. Robert Hirsch et al. (2005) mentions the notion of oil peaking. They note as perceived by geologists, oil is a limited source found under the earth's crust and its production will soon reach its peak or maximum and from there production will decline. They also emphasize that oil peaking is not related with running out of oil but it only describes the maximum production rate of an oil reservoir when half of its oil is recovered. (Hirsh et al. 2005) Oil peaking can be attributed to rising oil prices since the decreasing supply of oil may not meet the required demand so prices will go up in order to decrease the demand. Figure 2 explains the shift of the supply curve (S1 - S2) and the rise of equilibrium price ($1 - $2 ) because of the decrease in oil production. Figure 2 C. Implications of the Rise in Oil Prices Mongia (2008) finds that the macroeconomic effects of the increase in prices of oil are not yet seen. As shown in Figure 3, the inflation brought by the increase in the average price of crude in 2000's was matched by the growth of the world's real GDP although signs of slowdown were seen. For the developing countries in Asia, the effects of inflation hampered GDP growth which has not changed since 2004. (Mongia 2008) Oliver Blanchard and Jordi Gali (2008) prove four (4) reasons for the mild impacts of the recent oil price increase: (1) lack of adverse shocks which happened in the 1970's, (2) lesser share of oil in production, (3) highly flexible labor markets, and (4) enhancements in the monetary policy. Figure 3 (Real GDP Growth, Crude Price 1990 - 2006) On the other hand, the microeconomic effects of the rise in oil prices were experienced by the poor. As stated by Mongia (2008), many developing countries are oil dependent and spend more resources on importing oil. Poor households use petroleum products like kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas, diesel, gasoline, and chemical fertilizers in their daily living. The rise of in the prices of oil will force them to use other sources like biomass or fuel wood and crop remains. These effects will harm some Millennium

Sunday, October 27, 2019

DNA Tranlession Polymerase in Prokaryotic Cells

DNA Tranlession Polymerase in Prokaryotic Cells DNA Tranlession Polymerase in prokaryotic cells: History, structures and function Soheil Malekpour DNA is one of the most important part of the cell that gives cell integrity and character. This part of the cell can be exposed to different kinds of damages that may put the cells integrity in jeopardy. The only part of the cell that has this ability to be repaired is DNA. Basically repairing should be done due to a reasonable reason. Repairing the other macromolecules are not profitable. For example, if a defective protein forms, the protein can be simply be replaced by another one. But defects in DNA can cause problem in the whole cell organisms and the character of cell [1]. Usually the whole repairing process is happening fast, although there are defects that persist against this process. The repairing process is done by special polymerases and the whole process of DNA repair is called translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) [2]. DNA can be damaged due to different reasons, such as base modification, elimination or addition of nucleotides, crosslinking of DNA strands and breakage of phosphodiester backbone [1]. These reasons can be due to some environmental conditions such as radiation or insertion of certain chemicals in to the body or due to malfunction of polymerases and enzymes in cellular process, such as putting wrong nucleotide in the DNA strand chain [1]. Up to now, it is known that there are three translesion DNA polymerases (TLS polymerases) in E. coli and about fifteen polymerases in eukaryotes that can run this process [2]. History For the first time it was in the early 1940s, that it was found agents causing mutational changes such as ionizing and radiation of UV, interact with cells and can damage their genome [3]. Also it was found that these cells can survive and recover from theses damages [4] and the term DNA repair was found. DNA repair is a biochemical term that defines biological processes during which alterations in the chemistry of DNA (DNA damage) are removed and the integrity of the genome is restored [3]. The first DNA repair mechanism to be discovered was enzymatic photo reactivation (EPR) [3]. This process is referred to the elimination of cyclobutane pyrimidine, which are generated by UV radiation and can block both DNA replication and transcription, from the genome [4]. This reaction can be catalyzed by photoreactivating enzyme in a reaction that needs a visible range light. The second mechanism found was excision repair [3]. This mechanism is referred to DNA damages cut out from genome that leaves some gaps in DNA duplex. These gaps are repaired by a non-semiconservative mode of DNA synthesis called repair synthesis [5]. By the end of the 1970s, it was known that cells are using various mechanisms for DNA repair process that focus around two basic principles: the excision of base damage or its direct reversal such as EPR [3]. In the mid1970s Miroslav Radman proposed a new hypothesis called SOS hypothesis [5, 6]. TheSOS hypothesis proposes an overall response to DNA damage in which thecell cycleis stopped andDNA repairis induced. Genetics experiments demonstrated that main players involved in damage-induced mutagenesis are lexA, recA along with umuD and umuC [2]. LexA cleavage from recA* and also umuD cleavage that form umuD use the same mechanism and is an absolute requirement for SOS mutagenesis. For showing that, E. coli because of its simple structure was used as a model for translesion DNA synthesis and mutagenesis. Later Harrison Echols proposed another model and suggested that in order to help the replication process against the lesions it is possible to reduce the fidelity of proteins so when DNA replication process is stopped at a location of unrepaired DNA damage, certain SOS-regulated genes can encode proteins that interact with the hindered replication process in a manner that reduces their fidelity [3]. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, it was demonstrated that Echols genes are in fact specialized low-fidelity DNA polymerases that enhance low-fidelity replication across the lesion, the so-called translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) [3]. Their highly reduced fidelity allows the replicative bypass of sites of DNA damage, but with a high chance of combining incorrect nucleotides [5]. Early TLS models and PolV Bridges and Woodgate were the first ones who defined the function of Umu proteins during UV-induced TLS in 1985 [7]. According to them, TLS happened in two steps. In the first step Pol III add a nucleotide opposite the first (3†²) T of a T-T cytidine diphosphate diacylgelycerol (CPD). Bounding a RecA protein to the template proximal to the lesion is a requirement for this step. In the second step, Pol III interacts with UmuDC proteins to incorporate another nucleotide at the second (5†²) T of the cytidine diphosphate diacylgelycerol (CPD). At least one of these two steps are non-WC, causing a mutation targeted at the site of the CPD [2]. Figure 1 shows the process schematically. Another model was proposed by Echols and Goodman in 1990 [3]. In this model they proposed that when Pol III encounters a template lesion, its holoenzymes (Pol III core, beta sliding clamp, gamma-clamp-loading complex) are completely blocked. This process follows by the assembly of a damage localized nucleoprotein complex involving RecA, UmuC, UmuD†², SSB, and Pol III holoenzyme, a mutasome, to copy past a template lesion [2]. The fact that RecA* simplifies the cleavage of UmuD to UmuD was used in this model [8]. Later, it was demonstrated that it was actually a dimeric UmuD2 that is cleaved to UmuD2 and that next interacts with UmuC to form a stable complex of UmuD2C [9]. This complex was named as Pol V in 1999 by Tang et al. [10]. It can be said that genome replication done on undamaged DNA by Pol III is rapid and error-free [11], the TLS process carried out by mutasome is slow and error-prone [2]. A key feature of the mutasome model is the assembly of RecA* on ssDNA proximal to the lesion (Fig. 1). When a replication fork encounters a lesion, an uncoupling of leading-and lagging-strand synthesis may ensue. Then, one of the TLS Pols can replace Pol III on the ÃŽ ²- clamp and copy the damaged DNA [2]. For both leading and lagging strands it be easily seen that RecA* can be assembled on the form of template strand, proximal to lesion. If the lesion occurred in the leading strand, RecA filaments can be formed on a region of ssDNA that is created by DNA unwinding by DnaB helicase downstream from the lesion but if lesions exist in lagging strand ssDNA is present as a result of Okazaki fragment synthesis [2]. Schlacher and Goodman [12] showed RecA* act in trans form on a non-template ssDNA strand and this transactivation of PolV by RecA* to perform TLS happens in-vitro. And this lead to the PolV mutasome model of TLS (Fig. 1). Jiang et al. [13] demonstrated this new PolV form as PolV Mut = UmuD2C-RecA-ATP. PolV Mut has this ability to copy both damaged and undamaged DNA (e.g. performs TLS) when RecA* is not present [2]. So, the straight role of RecA* in SOS-mediated TLS is to transfer a RecA molecule from the 3†²-filament tip with a molecule of ATP to convert into Pol V Mut, that can cross a different number of DNA lesions on its own. (Fig. 1) [2, 14]. PolV Mut can have two conformations. One is activated form that can copy DNA, the other one is deactivated form that is unable to copy the DNA. The activation of PolV Mut is depended on the location of RecA-ATP bond to the polymerase subunits UmuD2 and UmuC [13]. By representing the RecA* again, the deactivated form of PolV Mut can be activated. In this case, the old RecA-ATP is substituted by a new RecA-ATP from the 3-filament tip [13]. This type of switching on and off is unique to this kind of polymerase and has not been seen in other types of polymerases. This method can be useful specially preventing the undamaged DNA to go under mutation in E.Coli, and give the cell this power to activate Pol V Mut whenever replication fork have stuck at DNA template damage site [2]. PolII and PolIV in E.Coli TLS PolII discovered in 1970[15]. At first, it was thought that mutation is non-informative in PolII [16]. Pol II has an activity isolated from UV-irradiated cells that has this ability to replicate past abasic template lesions [2, 17]. This polymerase has some responses to UV radiation and this activity derives from that [2]. By purification it was proved that the induced lesion-copying protein was Pol II [17]. In 1980, Kenyon and Walker [18] discovered a DNA damage-inducible gene called dinA that can encode PolII. Also, one of the features of PolII is bypassing N2-deoxyguanosine-acetyl aminofluorene (AAF) adducts, this behavior can be error-free and produces 2-frame shift mutations [19]. AAF adducts are of family of aromatic amides that induce frame shift mutations within GpC sequences, such as the NarI sequences [19]. These adducts are able to increase the GC dinucleotide loss in NarI sequence (CGCGCC) by 107 times when they are bound to the G in middle of sequence [20]. PolII and Pol V can complement each other, but it does not mean that their activities are functionally unneeded [21]. As Pham et al. [21] mentioned PolV job is to copy UV-damaged DNA in an error-prone manner in TLS. But Pol II is able to copy chromosomal DNA in an error-free replication process. Kenyon and walker also introduced another gene called dinB gene that can be induced by cellular SOS response to DNA damage [18]. For many years, the function of this gene was unknown. After some year Ohmori et al. [22] found other gene, dinP gene, in the same section that dinB gene was found and Wagner et al. showed that they are able to encode Y-family DNA PolIV [23]. This kind of polymerases like other polymerases used in TLS are not crucial for life. Their role is to bypass certain N2-dG adducts (such as N2-furfuryl-dG) in an error-free manner [2]. Kumari et al. demonstrated they can copy past N2-N2-guanine interstrand cross-links in a high fidelity manner [24]. Regulation of TLS polymerases Different polymerases have this ability to traverse an extensive range of DNA lesions but this ability may cause in reducing the fidelity during replicating the undamaged DNA. Usually cells have several mechanisms to check and control the TLS polymerases because except PolII, all of them has this potential to delete errors made when duplicating an undamaged DNA [2]. Usually no regulation is needed for PolII. Because it has high fidelity derived by high intrinsic 3-5 exonucleolytic proofreading. On the other hand, the Y-family polymerases such as PolIV and PolV are exo-nuclease deficient and needed to be controlled [2]. PolV activity can be regulated by many proteins and many ways. First as said before the UmuD should be activated by UmuD. All UmuD, UmuC and UmuD proteins are all exposed to degradation by Lon and ClpXP protease. RecA* that forms PolV Mut can interact with UmuD2C complexes and active them. The PolV Mut itself activity can be enhanced by binding to the ÃŽ ²-clamp [2]. As Wagner et al. showed the PolIV activity can be stimulated by protein interaction with RecA, UmuD and ÃŽ ²-clamp [25]. Although the main mechanisms of DNA repair by various polymerases are known now, more studies can be conducted on E.Coli cells to find more details about the regulation and side reactions happening in this process. E.Coli cells as simple cells are an appropriate model to analyze these functions. Jarosz et al. proposed well questions about the future studies on Y-family DNA polymerases [26]: (1)How do Y-family polymerases gain access to an appropriate primer terminus and how is their action coordinated with that of replicative polymerases? (2)How do protein–protein interactions regulate the activity of Y-family polymerases? (3)Are there families of cognate lesions for each different Y-family polymerase? (4) Can mutations introduced by Y-family polymerases be corrected by exonucleolytic proofreading in trans? Different polymerases act in different paces after the damaged. For example PolII is induced immediately after DNA damage but PolV is induced about 50 min after the damage [21]. An area of interest could be study on how they can be regulated to be induced in shorter time. References Horton, R. H., Moran, L. A., Perry, M. D., Rawn, D. J. and Scrimgeour, G. K. (2006)Principles of biochemistry. 4th edn. United States: Pearson Education (US). Goodman, M. F. and Woodgate, R. (2013) ‘Translesion DNA Polymerases’,Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology, 5(10). doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a010363. Friedberg, E. C. (2008) ‘A brief history of the DNA repair field’,Cell Research, 18(1), pp. 3–7. doi: 10.1038/cr.2007.113. Hollaender, A. and Duggar, B. M. (1938) ‘The effects of sublethal doses of monochromatic ultraviolet radiation on the growth properties of bacteria’,Journal of Bacteriology, 36(1): 17-37. Friedberg EC, Walker GC, Siede W, Wood RD, Schultz RA, Ellenberger T. DNA Repair and Mutagenesis. Washington DC, ASM Press, 2005 Friedberg EC. Correcting the Blueprint of Life. An Historical Accounting of the Discovery DNA Repairing Mechanisms. Cold Spring Harbor, NY: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1997. Ruiz-Rubio, M., Woodgate, R., Bridges, B. A., Herrera, G. and Blanco, M. (1986) ‘New Role for Photoreversible Pyrimidine Dimers in Induction of Prototrophic Mutations in Excision-Deficient Escherichia coli by UV Light’,Journal of Bacteriology, 166(3): 1141-1143. Burckhardt, S. E., Woodgate, R., Scheuermann, R. H. and Echols, H. (1988) ‘UmuD mutagenesis protein of Escherichia coli: overproduction, purification, and cleavage by RecA.’,Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 85(6), pp. 1811–1815. doi: 10.1073/pnas.85.6.1811. Woodgate, R., Rajagopalan, M., Lu, C. and Echols, H. (1989) ‘UmuC mutagenesis protein of Escherichia coli: purification and interaction with UmuD and UmuD’,Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 86(19), pp. 7301–7305. doi: 10.1073/pnas.86.19.7301. Tang M, Shen X, Frank EG, O’Donnell M, Woodgate R, Goodman MF. UmuD2†²C is an error-prone DNA polymerase, Escherichia coli, DNA pol V. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 1999; 96:8919–8924. Johnson A, O’Donnell M. Cellular DNA replicases: Components and dynamics at the replication fork. Annu Rev Biochem. 2005; 74:283–315 Schlacher K, Goodman MF. Lessons from 50 years of SOS DNA-damage-induced mutagenesis. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2007; 8:587–594 Jiang Q, Karata K, Woodgate R, Cox MM, Goodman MF. The active form of DNA polymerase V is UmuD2†²C-RecA-ATP. Nature. 2009; 460:359–363. Dutreix M, Moreau PL, Bailone A, Galibert F, Battista JR, Walker GC, Devoret R. New recA mutations that dissociate the various RecA protein activities in Escherichia coli provide evidence for an additional role for RecA protein in UV mutagenesis. J Bacteriol. 1989; 171:2415–2423. Knippers R. DNA polymerase II. Nature. 1970; 228:1050–1053. Foster PL, Gudmundsson G, Trimarchi JM, Cai H, Goodman MF. Proofreading-defective DNA polymerase II increases adaptive mutation in Escherichia coli. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 1995; 92:7951–7955. Bonner CA, Randall SK, Rayssiguier C, Radman M, Eritja R, Kaplan BE, McEntee K, Goodman MF. Purification and characterization of an inducible Escherichia coli DNA polymerase capable of insertion and bypass at abasic lesions in DNA. J Biol Chem. 1988; 263:18946–18952. Kenyon CJ, Walker GC. DNA-damaging agents stimulate gene expression at specific loci in Escherichia coli. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 1980; 77:2819–2823. Napolitano, R., Janel-Bintz, R., Wagner, J. and Fuchs, R. P. P. (2000)All three SOS-inducible DNA polymerases (Pol II,Pol IV and Pol V) are involved in induced mutagenesis, The EMBO Journal, 19(29), pp. 6259-6265. Koffel-Schwartz, N., Verdier, J.-M., Bichara, M., Freund, A.-M., Daune, M. P. and Fuchs, R. P. P. (1984) ‘Carcinogen-induced mutation spectrum in wild-type, uvrA and umuC strains of Escherichia coli’,Journal of Molecular Biology, 177(1), pp. 33–51 Pham, P., Rangarajan, S., Woodgate, R. and Goodman, M. F. (2001) ‘Roles of DNA polymerases V and II in SOS-induced error-prone and error-free repair in Escherichia coli’,Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 98(15), pp. 8350–8354. Ohmori H, Hatada E, Qiao Y, Tsuji M, Fukuda R. dinP, a new gene in Escherichia coli, whose product shows similarities to UmuC and its homologues. Mutat Res. 1995; 347:1-7. Wagner J, Gruz P, Kim SR, Yamada M, Matsui K, Fuchs RPP, Nohmi T. The dinB gene encodes a novel Escherichia coli DNA polymerase, DNA Pol IV, involved in mutagenesis. Mol Cell. 1999; 4:281–286. Kumari A, Minko IG, Harbut MB, Finkel SE, Goodman MF, Lloyd RS. Replication bypass of interstrand cross-link intermediates by Escherichia coli DNA polymerase IV. J Biol Chem. 2008; 283:27433–27437. Wagner J, Fujii S, Gruz P, Nohmi T, Fuchs RP. The ÃŽ ² clamp targets DNA polymerase IV to DNA and strongly increases its processivity. EMBO Rep. 2001; 1:484–488. Jarosz, D. F., Beuning, P. J., Cohen, S. E. and Walker, G. C. (2007) ‘Y-family DNA polymerases in Escherichia coli’,Trends in Microbiology, 15(2), pp. 70–77.

Friday, October 25, 2019

John Dalton :: essays research papers fc

John Dalton John Dalton was born on September 6 1766 at Eagelsfield, Cumbria in England.Although he was born in England, he spent most of his life in Manchester.He was born into a Quaker family and while his family had food, they were still poor. His father Joseph was a weaver and John recieved most of his early education from his father. At the age of 12, John opened a school in Eagelsfield where he was the master. He was often threatened by the older boys who wanted to fight him because he was smarter, but he managed to keep in control for 2 years.Due to a poor salary, John was forced to leave his school and work in the fields with his brother. In 1781 John and his brother moved to Kendall. There John, his cousin George, and his brother ran a school where they offered English,Latin,Greek,French and twenty one mathematics and science course. Their school had sixty pupils. After twelve years at Kendall John started doing lectures and answering questions for mens magazines. John found a mentor in John Gough,who was the blind son of a wealthy tradesman. John Gough taught Dalton languages,mathematics,and optics. In 1973 John moved to Manchester as a tutor at New College. He immediately joined the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society and in the same year he published his first book: Meteorological Observations and Essays. In his book Dalton stated that gas exits and acts independantly and purely physically not chemically. After six years of tutoring, John resigned to conduct private research while still doing tutoring at 2 shillings a lesson. In 1802 John stated his law of partial pressures. When two elastic fluids are mixed together ( A and B) they dont repel each other. A particles do not repel B particles but a B particle will repel another B particle. One of his experiments involved the addition of water vapor to dry air. The increase in pressure was the same as the pressure of the added water. By doing this experiment, John established a relationship between vapo r pressure and temperature. John’s interest in gases arose from his studies of meteorology. He had weather equipment that was with him at all times and he was constantly studying weather and atmosphere. He also kept a journal throughout his life in which he wrote over 200,000 observations. In 1803, John made his biggest contribution to science: The Atomic Theory.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Workplace and Employee Motivation

In recent years, the topic of workplace and employee motivation has emerged as a significant concern for both employers and management personnel. An analysis of such strategies at a Target Retail Store provides an example of how such motivational strategies affect the company†s sales, profits, workplace morale, and future. One of the most important issues at a Target Retail Store is the timely method and manner of placing and displaying the merchandise on the sales floor before the store actually opens to the public at 8:00 a. m. This must be effectively done with limited resources and staff. As a result, management must be able to appropriately and effectively motivate all staff employees and improve performance and employees† resistance to increasing productivity. This paper will examine the organizational efforts of Target Retail Stores in this area, and identify and analyze two motivational theories not currently in practice by Target. It will also apply the chosen motivational theories to management and discuss their impact and offer possible solutions that could have been implemented before employee motivation became an issue. In order to eliminate the time it normally took to neatly present merchandise on the sales floor, Target implemented a program that would effectively eliminate unnecessary packaging (EDA†s Waste Reduction Update, 2005). The results of this was the elimination of approximately 1. 5 million pounds of waste, an estimated saved $4. 5 million through packaging reduction, and the implementation of a more efficient method of merchandise distribution (EDA†s Waste Reduction Update, 2005). This led to an easier and more efficient merchandise placement in preparation for store opening every morning. Before the program†s implementation, Target†s management team observed both the amount of waste from packaging and the time workers spent opening and unwrapping shipments (EDA†s Waste Reduction Update, 2005). The team found that a great deal of labor was expended tearing apart packaging from merchandise. For example, one typical clothing shipment contained 20 individually wrapped sweaters. The sweaters had to be unwrapped before they could be displayed in the store. The team ultimately determined that an entire shipment of 20 sweaters could be safely shipped in just one outside wrapper (EDA†s Waste Reduction Update, 2005). The total reduction in packaging for the Target merchandise resulted in an estimated $3 million savings to the vendor for the reduced packaging material used in shipments (EDA†s Waste Reduction Update, 2005). To see whether the merchandise would arrive at the store in good condition, the Target Team asked its vendors to test its packaging reduction idea. After several shipments of clothing arrived unwrinkled and presentable, the team decided to change Target's packaging specifications to the vendor (EDA†s Waste Reduction Update, 2005). Target's current goal is to ship floor-ready apparel and minimize excess packaging; floor-ready means that the merchandise requires minimal preparation before being displayed on the sales floor (EDA†s Waste Reduction Update, 2005). As a result of an easier and more effective process, employee motivation in this area has been boosted. Although this method has increased efficiency, there are other methods that can still be implemented to increase employee motivation and productivity. One such theory of employee motivation is called motivation theory, which seeks to explain all kinds of motivated behavior in different situations, including behavior in organizations. Compensation administration is an application of motivation theory (Mitchell, 1992). Since the majority of behavior is sense motivated, individuals are greatly influenced by their environment. Thus, organizations can influence people†s behavior by changing environments and rewards. The best known theory of motivation in this area is Maslow†s theory of human motivation, which centers on the theory of â€Å"physiological needs (Maslow, 1943). As related to the theory of human motivation all people have a need or desire for a stable, formally based, high evaluation of themselves, for self respect, self esteem, and respect from others (Maslow, 1943). By firmly based self-esteem, Maslow†s theory was that which is based upon real capacity, achievement and respect from others. However, motivation is not the sole determinant of behavior. Ability and knowledge of what one is supposed to do combine with motivation in determining behavior in organizations. Also, an organization†s tasks vary in their requirements. Thus motivation can make little or much difference in performance, depending on the task. Another related motivational theory that could be applied to the Target Retail Store scenario is what is termed â€Å"content theory. † Content or arousal theories center on needs or drives. Several physiological and social needs have been identified and studied. A need for competence in mastering the environment is supposedly aroused when individuals are faced with new, challenging situations; it dissipates after mastery (McLelland, 1976). Closely related are curiosity or activity needs: people need and enjoy a stimulating environment, but they differ on this need and become adapted to certain levels of stimulation. A need for power has been suggested as a requirement for success in organizations. Effective managers may have a high need for power (McLelland, 1976). One problem with predicting behavior from individual needs is that people seem to have differing degrees of needs at different times of their lives (Maslow, 1943). An evaluation of the motivation theories based on needs probably focus on their limitations. Empirical studies have provided only modest support for them, and the proportion of the variance in performance explained has been low (McGregor, 1960). If Target was to follow Maslow†s theory of motivation, the organization could influence its employees† behavior by changing environments and rewards. This means that a reward based type of program could be implemented that would encourage employees to participate as a result of the possibility to receiving a bonus or reward. Since motivation theory is based on the fact that all people have a need or desire for a stable, formally based, high evaluation of themselves, management could use evaluations and other encouraging measures to increase self esteem, and respect from others in the workplace, thus enhancing employee motivation. Following a content needs based approach, Target management could implement an incentive program based on needs or drives. The management team could study different physiological and social needs as related to customer service and retail and implement a program based on the results of their study. A content-based approach consisting of a contest could assist the employees in mastering any new, challenging situations that may arise in their workday. Since content theory is also based on the need for a stimulating environment, target could conduct stimulating team meetings and outings that would be interesting and motivate the employees that way. Finally, research indicates that employee motivation is directly related to the success of any organization. In order to be effective, the management at Target would greatly benefit from the implementation of any of the programs and theories discussed above. This implementation would further enhance their continued success in the retail industry.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

The Use of Metaphors

SanTianna Simmons ENG 1102 25 April 2013 A metaphor is where you show how two unrelated things are similar. For example by saying â€Å"Love is a roller-coaster. † A key aspect of a metaphor is use a specific transference of a word into another context. The human mind creates comparisons between different things. The best writers use metaphors. Like poetry, a metaphor will express a thousand different meanings all at once, allowing the writer to convey much more content than they could do otherwise.More than playing simple word games, the use of metaphors in your writing can elevate your stories to a place next to the greatest authors in the world. There are many kinds of metaphors: Allegory, catechesis, parables, extended metaphors, etc. An extended metaphor establishes a subject and then extends it further, as in this quote from Shakespeare â€Å"All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages. Brian Doyle, Author of â€Å"Joyas Valdoras†, uses the hummingbird metaphor to support his story. The story starts off by grabbing the reader’s attention with a fact. The fact is very interesting. Unless you are someone that studies animals, you would have no idea that a hummingbird’s heart is the size of a pencil, or that it beats ten times per second. After I read the first sentence, I was instantly interested to see what more the author had to say. He got the name, Joyas Valdoras, from a reference by early Spanish settlers. It means flying jewels.They called these creatures flying jewels because they had never seen anything like them before. They would fly around quickly all day, reproducing and collecting nectar. Doyle then goes on to add more facts about hummingbirds and their incredible hearts. Hummingbirds can fly up to 500 miles without stopping to rest, however they can get burned out. Whenever humming b irds get burned out, it can become fatal. Although Doyle’s allusion to hummingbirds was interesting, I don’t think he meant for his story to simply be a story about humming birds.He also goes on to talk about the blue whale, an animal having the largest heart in the world. He gives us interesting facts about that animal also, but this still does not justify why he was even writing the story, for if he had wanted his readers to be informed only about animals, he’d have put these facts in a science book instead. I think Doyle was relating the animal’s hearts with that of human hearts. He said sometimes humming birds get burned out without even knowing what they’re doing is dangerous. Humans also do the same thing.Today’s world is very fast paced. Sometimes we don’t have time to rest or do anything of that nature. We do it, without knowing how unhealthy to the body and spirit that is. He also alludes that the heart is a very strong thing . Not just our physical heart, but our emotional and spiritual heart as well. So much can happen to someone’s heart. It can go through the most joy, excitement, hurt and pain and still beat at the end of the day. I think the way Doyle transitions form talking about hummingbirds and whales to something so emotional was very effective.He makes it easy for us to relate to his story because he keeps us so involved. I felt as if he was ready the story to me instead of the other way around. Sian-Pierre Regis stated â€Å"As should be obvious by now, Doyle is doing far more than describing the hearts of various animals. In explaining about the hearts of animals, he has subtly been drawing us into this reality: â€Å"We all churn inside. † In this creation there is unimaginable beauty (â€Å"flying jewels†) and there is excruciating pain (â€Å"a brilliant music stilled†).And so finally, we are led to his masterful ending and the real point of this whole piece. If you’ve read this far, I encourage you to take a minute and quiet your heart. Let yourself feel these words. It may hurt, but it will almost certainly heal as well. In giving an overview of the hearts of creatures, Doyle ends with this: â€Å"So much held in a heart in lifetime. So much held in a heart in day, and hour, a moment. We are utterly open with no one, in the end–not mother and father, not wife or husband, not lover, not child, not friend.We open windows to each but we live alone in the house of the heart. Perhaps we must. Perhaps we could not bear to be so naked, for fear of a constantly harrowed heart. When young we think there will come one person who will savor and sustain us always; when we are older we know this is the dream of a child, that all hearts finally are bruised and scarred, scored and torn, repaired by time and will, patched by force of character, yet fragile and rickety forevermore, no matter how ferocious the defense and how many bricks you bring to the wall.You can brick up your heart as stout and tight and hard and cold and impregnable as you possibly can and down it comes in an instant, felled by a woman’s second glance, a child’s apple breath, the shatter of glass in the road, the words I have something to tell you, a cat with a broken spine dragging itself into the forest to die, the brush of your mother’s papery ancient hand in the thicket of your hair, the memory of your father’s voice early in the morning echoing from the kitchen where he is making pancakes for his children. †Ã¢â‚¬  The article â€Å"A Metaphorical Analysis of Martin Luther King Jr. s ‘I Have a Dream Speech,’† by Joe Ciesinski, to me is an aide to help understand the metaphors Dr. Martin Luther King used within his famous speech ‘I have a Dream. ’ Ciesinski cited other’s opinions about the speech which also was another great source of helping understand the speech. W ithin the article, the question â€Å"What does ‘I Have a Dream’ mean to me† was asked. To me, when someone asks me what does ‘I Have a Dream’ mean to me, I would say that it makes me feel as if the color of my skin or my sex should never be a factor of why I can’t do anything that I want to do. Anybody should be capable of saying the same.Ciesinski believes that ‘I Have a Dream’ would not only speak about problems in America, but that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr would call upon all citizens of the United States to enact change and correct the injustices that would occur throughout our nation. â€Å"Martin Luther King Jr. contrasts light and dark metaphors when he states, â€Å"this momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves, who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity. †Ã¢â‚¬  (Ciesinski) The previous quote to me sums up the entire ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.It focuses on the struggles of colored people and how the nation needs to take the time out to notice that these hate crimes need to come to an end. Overall, I think Ciesinski’s metaphorical analysis is a great help to distinguish the true meaning and break down of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ’s speech. I also believe that he used good sources to help apprehend the famous speech. â€Å"It is a stark metaphor, an accusation articulated in bluntly economic terms. The Declaration of Independence implied, and later the Emancipation Proclamation promised, meaningful freedom to African Americans. But the promise was never fulfilled. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked ‘insufficient funds,† King said. This part of the speech has been mostly forgotten, swamped in collective memory by the soaring rhetoric of K ing’s peroration. When initial renderings for the new Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial were first unveiled, they included a prominent place for the promissory-note metaphor, but as the project went forward the quotation was deemed â€Å"too confrontational† and dropped from the final design. What is best remembered from the Dream speech is, in fact, not original to it.The thrilling incantation, the cries of â€Å"let freedom ring,† the litany of place names (the snowcapped Rockies, the molehills of Mississippi), the lines borrowed from the biblical books of Amos and Isaiah, the quotations from spirituals and patriotic songs — none of this material was original to the speech King gave on the Mall. Most of it was recycled, an impromptu decision by King to reuse some of the best applause lines he had tested in Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama and, only weeks earlier, in Detroit. † Stated by Philip Kennicott. Short talks by Anne Carson was an ar ticle full of miniature lectures with a different meaning for each one.Some of the short articles were confusing but the others caught my attention. An article in Short Talks that was easily understood was ON WALKING BACKWARDS. ON WALKING BACKWARDS was about how as a child Carson states â€Å"My mother would forbid us to walk backwards. That is how the dead walk, she would say. † Carson goes on to say that she had no understanding where that specific superstition came from. Later to break the quote down, the dead doesn’t walk backwards but they do walk behind us with no lungs to breath or cannot call but would love for us to turn around.Superstitions are to be used and known all across the world. According to Keisha Stephen-Gittens from Outlish Magazine quotes â€Å"Since I was a child, I used to hear my grandmother telling my mother that if she came home after midnight, she better had walk in the house backwards so that spirits don’t follow her inside. Thatâ⠂¬â„¢s funny, because many of us feters would have some ‘back walking’ to do. So, I was surprised to find that almost 60% of the persons I randomly surveyed still do this today. I followed this superstition religiously until I moved out on my own, and then, ironically, I would just ook left, right and around before I entered my apartment. You’d think I would be really afraid – and in a way yes, but I was looking for bandits, not spirits. However, the way things goin’ these days, is bess we look for both yes! We’ve also been told to close doors facing the outside so that spirits don’t follow you inside. There are other superstitions about spirits and death and our older folks would tell these with a passion and intensity that would send you to bed quivering, wanting a pillow to hug up and sleeping with one eye open.If you’re alone in the house and you hear someone call your name, would you answer? I won’t. The ole folks us ed to say do not answer, ’cause it could be a spirit calling. I think this is a given. I’ve watched too many horror movies to know what the outcome of THAT could be. † Jon Eben Field states â€Å"The female body is a powerful signifier in these poems. † Short Talks invokes the last thirty years of Camille Claudel's life in an asylum (Claudel was a French sculptor who worked from 1884 to 1898 as an assistant to Auguste Rodin).After noting that Claudel broke all the sculpting stone given to her, Carson writes, â€Å"Night was when her hands grew, huger and huger until in the photograph they are like two parts of someone else loaded onto her knees. † Claudel's hands are both her own and not her own; they have grown through disuse and misuse. But the absence is discovered in the formless broken stones that are buried with these hands, now so gargantuan. In â€Å"Short Talk On Rectification,† Carson depicts the infamous relationship between Franz Kafka and Felice Bauer: â€Å"Kafka liked to have his watch an hour and a half fast. Felice kept setting it right.Nonetheless for five years they almost married. † Ultimately, it is the body of Felice that overwhelms Kafka, for as Carson writes, â€Å"When advised not to speak by the doctors in the sanatorium, he left glass sentences all over the floor. Felice, says one of them, had too much nakedness left in her. † This signals the second most pervasive theme of these poems, the devastating plenitude of too much. † Eula Biss’ The Pain Scale is about how no matter how much something is painful, no pain lasts forever. Throughout the article Biss gives examples of pain as she goes from 0 to 10 on a pain scale.She gives examples like if you are at a zero, you feel no pain therefore you could be fine. If you are at a 1, you could take some aspirin and be fine the next day. If you are at an 8 you might need some examining. If you are at a nine then, you are suf fering and it gets even worse at a level ten which is unbearable. The Pain Scale, Eula Biss claims that no pain lasts forever. Biss goes on to say that when you experience the pain regardless of how bad the pain is, once the pain goes away; you can’t feel the pain anymore. I got a feeling that the author is indifferent to pain and does not know how to feel or describe it.I felt that the author’s mind is being guided by what her father use to tell her. She does not know how to describe what she is feeling or think for herself. The author feels as if excruciating pain does not exist. She sees zero as a number that does not do the same thing as the other numbers and she uses biblical illusions concerning Jesus.. The author goes back and forth from her pain theory and analysis, to her current pain situation. She is obviously feeling some pain but she thinks the face chart does not help her know what level she is that. She lies to the doctor to not seem foolish but really s he does have great pain.The author thinks that if she admits to her great physical pain, she will seem pathetic and exaggerated. The author has apparent physical pain but also mental trauma from her father the physician. Her psychological pain I think is greater than her physical one in a couple of ways. I agree with Biss on this issue. Overall, I believe that no pain lasts forever. If a person were to ask another how something felt, they could never sit there and visualize the full effect of that pain right then and there unless you go through the same pain again at the time being.Our Secret by Susan Griffin is a hybrid of memoir, history, and journalism, and is built with these discrete strands: the Holocaust; women affected by World War II directly or indirectly in their treatment by husbands and fathers; the harsh, repressive boyhood of Heinrich Himmler, who grew up to command Nazi rocketry and became the key architect of Jewish genocide; the testimony of a man scarred by war; a nd Griffin’s own desperately unhappy family life and harsh, repressed girlhood.In between these chunks are short italic passages of just a few sentences on cell biology—for instance, how the shell around the nucleus of the cell allows only some substances to pass through—and on the development of guided missiles in Germany and, later, by many of the same scientists, in the United States, where nuclear warheads were added and the ICBM created. Researching her book in Paris, Griffin meets a woman, Helene, who survived one of Himmler’s death camps.She’d been turned in by another Jew and tracked down using a net of information—a system tracing back to Himmler’s boyhood diaries—collected on cards and sent to the Gestapo for duplication and filing, the work of countless men and women. In the article â€Å"Translating Translation: Finding the Beginning,† Alberto Alvaro Rios claims that the act is the translation by presenting t ranslation as a metaphor and how cultures are different. Rios goes on to say that how something is said, the language can be figured.In Rios’ article, he had multiple examples of how cultures are different. Some of the examples that he expressed where how a man was put in jail, forgotten about and never said anything, how his house painting went wrong when he was young, and how Rios had a misinterpretation about fighting. I agree with Rios on this issue when he stated that learning languages can be similar to looking through a set of binoculars. Overall, I believe that it is true that the simplest word can have many definitions and interpretations.For example: when Rios moved into his new home when he was younger. His mother wanted the wall to be yellow but the Mexican thought she wanted it to be lime green due to the fact that said â€Å"limon. † Another example was when the boy asked how many fights has he had. The boy meant physical fighting but Rios meant the fight he has had learning a new language. I believe that the metaphors were very effective because they helped understand the main key points Rios was trying to make.Alberto Rios states â€Å"Linguists, by using electrodes on the vocal cords, have been able to demonstrate that English has tenser vowels than, for example, Spanish. The body itself speaks a language differently, so that moving from one language to another is more than translating words. It's getting the body ready as well. It's getting the heart ready along with the mind. I've been intrigued by this information. It addresses the physicality of language in a way that perhaps surprises us.In this sense, we forget that words aren't simply what they mean – they are also physical acts. I often talk about the duality of language using the metaphor of binoculars, how by using two lenses one might see something better, closer, with more detail. The apparatus, the binoculars, are of course physically clumsy – as is th e learning of two languages, and all the signage and so on that this entails – they're clumsy, but once put to the eyes a new world in that moment opens up to us.And it's not a new world at all – it's the same world, but simply better seen, and therefore better understood. † Overall, metaphors will elevate your writing, taking something plain and transforming it into something beautiful. Poetry is full of metaphors. If you need to, use one of your rewriting cycles just to add metaphors to your story. Imagine how greater your story will be with the use of metaphors. Metaphors will free up your imagination, which will take your story in directions you may not have planned on. Enjoy the surprises that metaphors will bring to you!

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Young Goodman Brown Example

Young Goodman Brown Example Young Goodman Brown – Book Report/Review Example Young Goodman Brown Young Good Brown is a canon written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The prolific uses both symbolism and imagery to relay the exciting piece of literature. Brown, who is the protagonist in the story, leaves his wife Faith to go to an unknown destination. Brown, who is young and naive, is persuaded his wife to stay home through the night. However, he does not hide to his calls and instead leaves unceremoniously to the darkness (Hawthorne, 2005, p.1).In the last paragraph of page 8, Brown is initiated in what seem to appear as a cult that practices devil worshipping. Shockingly, he discovers that his lovely wife is in the evil activity that is widespread among the local community. He is convinced that Faith too is part of the wicked ratchet of devil worshipers because of the ribbon that she has which symbolizes the membership of the cult. Brown is disgusted given that it seems that he had not learned his wife prior to marrying her. Out of the disbelief of the unfolding even ts, he shouts his wifes name loudly. He remains unsure about his wife’s reaction after having discovered that he was in the middle of a dream (Hawthorne, 2005, pp.8-13). Coincidentally, the next morning, Mr. Brown meets the religious leader he had dreamt the previous morning. The head seemed to be preparing for the sermon for the day. Brown resented him because he felt that he was preaching water while at the same time drinking wine. During the day, he seemed he behaved like a saint but in the night he practiced devil worshiping and witchcraft. The bad dream Brown haunts him while attending the church service. According to the piece, religion has become so much hypocritical with people using religion as a cover up for their evil deeds (Hawthorne, 2005, pp.8-13).Work CitedHawthorne, Nathaniel. Young Goodman Brown. Wild side. Press LLC, 2005.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Night Flying Woman Essay Example

Night Flying Woman Essay Example Night Flying Woman Paper Night Flying Woman Paper Essay Topic: Woman On the Edge Of Time Gina Plumer Night Flying Woman Assignment American Indian Social Welfare Perspective The book that I decided to read was Night Flying Woman by Ignatia Broker. The tribal identity in the book was Oibwe from the White Earth Band. Ms. Broker started out the book from the present day in Minneapolis where she grew up. There wasn’t much culture to be seen, and the younger generations were getting too lost in the new world. Ms. Broker made sure to mention that she still taught her children the Ojibwe ways, and told them the stories that her grandmother had once told her. Throughout Ignatia Broker’s introductory chapter, we got a sense of the amount of respect she had for you great-great grandmother Oona, or Night Flying Woman. When Ms. Broker first moved to Minneapolis, she lived in a diverse neighborhood, heavily populated with Latinos. She described being a Native American woman growing up in the urban Minneapolis area. From the time she had first moved there until the present time she was writing about, there had been an increase in the Native population. With the increase in population, she explained how where she lived suddenly was surrounded by factories and freeways. Many of the Ojibwe people in Minneapolis identified themselves as Native American from a certain reservation, not like a clan as they did in her great-great-grandmother’s childhood. Her opening introduction was explaining the differences of the land and customs of the past to the present way. The book then began to tell the personal story of Ignatia Broker’s great-great-grandmother Ni-bo-wi-se-gwe, or Night Flying Woman. Ni-bo-wi-se-gwe was an only child to Me-ow-ga-bo (Outstanding), and Wa-wi-e-cu-mig-go-gwe (Round Earth). Three weeks after birth, in Indian tradition, came the time when naming must be planned. Oona’s parents consulted with Grandfather and Grandmother and decided that A-wa-sa-si would be the namer. A-wa-sa-si chose the name Ni-bo-wi-se-gwe (Night Flying Woman) because Oona was born during the darkness of the day. The tribal identity was Ojibwe, and the village that they lived in was very close-knit. Everyone that lived in the village was good at something and they helped each other out when they needed it. For instance, some were good at ricing, some at hunting, at picking berries, some at sugaring, and some at making necessities. It was the environment we could only hope for in this day and age. The elders were respected above everyone else, and they were to always speak first. The children were to start learning the traditions from birth so that they would be efficient at an early age. The family structure was very open, and I could easily detect who was in the leadership roles. At birth, Oona’s caregivers were her parents, but she also looked to her grandparents for guidance. When she was given her Indian name, she looked up to her name giver as well. The responsibility of Oona as a child was to learn the traditions and the Ojibwe way of life. She was to help with the ricing, hunting, berries, sugaring, and berries for one day she was going to have to do it all on her own. She was taught that when she entered her grandmother and grandfather’s home, she was not to say a word until she was spoken to. If nothing was said by them, nothing would be said in return by Oona. The roles and responsibilities that everyone in the village was given depended on the strengths that they had as an individual. In the new land, Oona’s people weren’t able to hunt, fish, pick berries, or do any of their customary things freely. They were to build real houses, and wear real clothing like the â€Å"strangers†. Soon afterward, the strangers demanded that the children attend school, which soon turned into boarding school because of the distance it was away from their homes. At the boarding schools, the Native children were forced to speak English and forget their traditional ways. They were beaten if they disobeyed their teachers. This brought the book into how the Native culture is today. There aren’t many fluent Ojibwe people, and children are taught the customary methods of survival they were back before treaties were made. When the European settlers came over and started taking over the land, it served as a turning point of the Ojibwe culture and the way that they practiced their ways. When the Europeans came over, Oona and her relatives were forced to pack up and move their things twice. The land that belonged to them their whole lives were being taken over by settlers that thought they â€Å"found† the land. After they had moved, they were forced to start living the way that the new settlers were. While the children were learning the new ways, the adults were as well. Oona’s father had gone to a lumber camp to work. He went to try and earn enough money to build the kinds of houses that the new settlers had already built for themselves. The Native woman began to learn the household needs, and the English language as well. They made clothes similar to the new settlers, and even friended many of them. The way of life that they were once used to was becoming just a speck in their memories. As the generation passes, Oona always remembered to tell the children of how life used to be, and the traditions that were practiced. She recognized that the children would bring the culture with them in the generations to come, but it would never be as traditional as it once was. Oona’s family coped with the changes by having meetings with the elders, and getting their point of view on the new settlers. There was not much that could be done to save their land and go on living in the manner that they were used to. It seemed as though they all had each other even though their lives were changing drastically. Oona’s grandfather once said â€Å"the forests have never failed us†. I don’t think that they ever did, but the new settlers and their new ways definitely did. It wasn’t a choice for Oona’s family to adhere to the new way of life, but the decision was already made for them by the new settlers. I think that as hard as it sounded, the family coped with the changes very well. In the book, it was before federal and state policy was made. Although, tribal reservations were in the making, and the segments of land that were being saved for the Indian people was laid out. When a white man shows up with a paper that must be obeyed, it was required the people to move to the White Earth reservation. It was government policy at that time, in the 1840s, to move all northern Midwest U. S. Indians there in a kind of concentration camp. They were able to resume their traditional life until the boarding school era began. This was when the United States was becoming more unified, and the land was being distributed among the new settlers and the Ojibwe people. When the reservations were made, this was the only place where the Native Americans could hunt, fish, rice, sugar, plant, and pick berries. They could no longer set up summer and spring villages off the reservation to go about their traditional ways. Ms. Broker made reference to the bad eating habits that many Native Americans have today due to the change in traditional food gathering. If the Native Americans were able to collect food like they did before the new settlers, there wouldn’t be such a high degree of obesity and diabetes on the reservations today. In the book, Oona’s family always found a way to get off their designated land and gather more food, but I’m sure the generations to come found this more difficult. Appropriate skills that a social worker could use to strengthen and support the families would first off to be aware of the history of Native Americans. To be aware of the changes that they had to make to be an existing culture today. A social worker could work with family members one on one, but also in a group setting to see how they react in the different ways. A social worker could become aware of what the hardships this particular family would be facing, and also the historical trauma that they might be going through. Activities that a social worker could have would be sessions on learning more about the historic culture. Many Native American people today aren’t aware of the things that our ancestors had to go through when the new settlers came over. Our ancestors were assimilated into the modern culture, and it would be beneficial for our culture today to know the changes that were made. If there were a high school or middle school social worker helping these families, they could help shape Native American activities after school. Activities like pottery and beading, or even a language extra-curricular. There could be many options available to help Native people become in touch with their culture more. At the end of the book, Ms. Broker made it relevant that the younger generation does thrive to know the culture, and the stories of the past. It was like a revolving door of knowledge in her family in regards to the stories being passed down through the generations. I think that if everyone knew these hardships that the Native American people faced, they would have more respect for the culture, and the people of the culture. It is interesting to see how many people aren’t aware of the changes the Native American people went through in order for the European settlers to settle here and call it their home. The Chippewa or Ojibwe tribe is one of the largest American Indian tribes in North America. Every time a Native person marries out of their culture, the blood quantum of their children goes down, and in turn the amount of Native American people diminishes. I believe that it is the responsibility of our generation to help with the restoration of our Anishinabe culture. With the help of literacy works like Ms. Broker’s Night Flying Woman, we will be able to make the heritage of our culture known and the descendants of the tribes more aware of the unique history our people went through.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

A Strange Role Model

When a person has a role model, they look up to that special someone, adoring them, wanting and trying to be everything that person stands for. Little boys look up to Michael Jordan, the sports hero of our time. Little girls look up to models and Barbie, wanting to be beautiful, poised and sophisticated women. Me, I always thought that I had no role model, no one I wanted to be. Then one day my dad and I had a huge argument. Nickay! he always screamed, not yet having mastered the art of talking. Why didnt you wash the dishes last night? He barged into my room. I looked up from my homework and calmly explained that I had so much homework to do that I had fallen asleep. He screamed some more and, angered, I screamed back. He said Id better not let it happen again or I would see what would happen. My father has always been a believer in ruling the household with a firm hand. When he left my room, I thought, boy do I dislike that man and click, it came to me. My influence is my father. This brazen, rough man is my role model for everything I dont want to be. When I grow up, I dont want to be anything like my father. Growing up was hard. When I was smaller, I tried desperately to be Daddys little girl. I wanted him to protect me. I wanted him to buy me a necklace with a charm that said Daddys Little Girl, and one day in return Id give him one that said Number One Father. I wanted to go out for ice cream and talk about different things. Sadly, it never happened. My father was nothing like I dreamed. He made many promises and broke them all. Growing up, I always studied hard and strived to be the best. My father would be proud some days but others, when he was mad, would tell me with a mean face, I dont care how many books you read or study, youll never be smarter than me. This from a security officer with a high school diploma. My father brought me up with a stern hand; I feel children should be allowed to be children, and should be loved, not beaten. Now that Im seventeen my dad doesnt hit me anymore, but he may slap me once in a blue moon. He feels I have no respect and wants to put me in my place. He is the parent and I am the child. Nothing more, nothing less. But in reality, I dont hold any respect for my father. In his house, my dad feels that his way is always right, and tries to enforce his brazen ideas. But somehow I have been able to develop an independent mind and believe in myself. The only thing we have in common is our love of sports. Still, its different. He wants me to run track in the Olympics and, while I love track, I value an education more. Today, I am a strong, independent, black-Hispanic woman. Unlike my father, I love different cultures, new ideas and concepts. I have grown to love classical and some alternative music music that he ridicules. However, I just lock my door and pop in Beethovens Symphony No. 9, or my favorite, Tchaikovskys 1812 Overture. I love Broadway shows and dream of the day my father will take me to see Miss Saigon, which some of my girlfriends have done with their dads. But I am forced to save money to see this play on my own. I love to read and discuss books, something my father would never do with me. So I discuss books with my teachers and my uncle, who is a bookworm. My father feels there is no life beyond the city, but I want to travel and see the world. I have always been fascinated by other cultures, which is why I want to study International Relations. This probably comes from my diverse background. I am Hispanic, but I look African-American and realize how different these two cultures are. My Hispanic friends are open to friendship and are more sentimental than my black friends. Ive lived in Panama (my birthplace), Costa Rica, Hawaii, Texas and now on the East Coast. But my main goal has always been to try to lend a helping hand. It hurts me to see all the troubles in countries like Serbia. I feel a nagging pain to want to help. Graduating from high school and college are my top priorities. I dont ever want to stop being who I have become, because I have grown to like myself. My father and I have come to an understanding leave him alone and he leaves me alone. Lately, he has been proud of my accomplishments. I was in an article in the city newspaper, and he showed it to his friends. It may seem a little late for my father to begin understanding me, but I will give him a chance because someday I would like to be someones role model. fl

Friday, October 18, 2019

Puppy Mills in USA Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Puppy Mills in USA - Research Paper Example Efforts are being made by government and non government agencies to improve the condition of puppy mills and for the protection of helpless animals. In 2009, The Missouri Department of Agriculture, which is responsible for overseeing breeding, initiated Operation Bark Alert and almost 180 unlicensed breeders were shut down in lieu of this operation. The department is understaffed with only 12 inspectors who have to inspect some 2,800 facilities annually. Animal-Right supporters also gathered more than 190,000 signatures in support of Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Bill (The Economist). After failing countless times to get bills passed by the Missouri General Assembly, the groups created ballot initiative and were successful in getting an amendment. The new amendment was to provide enforceable standards which stated clearly that any breeding facility could not own more than 50 breeding bitches and these animals were to be provided with proper health care and good sanitary conditions. T he Humane Society of United States (HSUS) has done commendable work towards improving living and breeding conditions for dogs in puppy mills. In their â€Å"Dirty Dozen† reports for 2010 and 2011 they pointed out the SandS Family Puppies of Milan, Mo. as the worst puppy mill. This puppy mill has a 500 page USDA violation record to their credit starting from 2006.

Advances in imaging and minimally invasive surgery Essay

Advances in imaging and minimally invasive surgery - Essay Example Patients can leave the hospital right after the surgery and return to their normal activities. This is more convenient than going to the conventional open surgery. In minimally invasive surgery, special medical instruments may be used, such as highly special optic cables, miniature endoscope cameras and special surgical instruments placed in tubes inserted into the body through small incisions. Internal images of the interior of the body are transmitted to a video monitor. Through it, the surgeon can identify the internal features, and do surgical operations if needed. Recently, optical engineering and imaging technology make it even more possible to visualize the manipulation of tissues. It can even reach to remote internal locations which is difficult during the former and traditional procedures (Boppart   A., Deutsch F. and Rattner  D. W., 1987). Technology has become more sophisticated most especially in helping the doctors and surgeons to locate tumors from different areas of the body internally. With these, it will be more helpful for them to explore the whole body and to get more precise diagnosis. It enhances internal navigation for surgeons and simultaneously record findings. Several medical instruments and ultrasound devices are used in minimally invasive technology. The purpose is to get images from the internal organs in order to point out the possible internal problems and provide the most accurate explanations. Dr. Stephen Smith, of the Duke’s Pratt School of Engineering said that their ultrasound device could really advance the use of minimally invasive technology. Their team first developed the three dimensional ultrasound scanners in 1987 in acquiring images of the heart. What they could provide is not simply two dimensional images but more detailed three dimensional images. He provides the comparison between the more advance imaging technologies than

Retail Marketing and Distribution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Retail Marketing and Distribution - Essay Example Retailing has been a prevalent activity over the years but its systematic study has been necessitated in the present times because of the alterations in the components of retailing along with the conditions in the marketplace. Marketing is considered to be one of the most significant areas for any of the retail operations because of the fact that retailing tends to comprise the activities that are generally involved in the marketing as well as distribution of the goods and the services. The success of the retailer depends upon the marketing efficiency along with the capability of the retailer to comprehend and to serve the needs and the demands of the customers. Retailers are not only considered to be one of the most essential parts of the marketing channel but they are also considered to be creating an essential association between the customers and the manufacturers. The economic conditions of the countries as well as the economical structures of the communities are shaped by the r etailers. Furthermore, retailing has a direct influence upon the social life. It can be stated that though retailing has its roots in conventional societies by means of trading of goods and services however, it has been formalized and it has become a branded activity in the present times. In the context of demand driven societies, the retailers play a significant role as one of the chains in the channels of distribution. It can be observed that the ways customers tend to dominate the entire marketing as well as supply chain management, similarly the retailers also attain a significant role and they are found to be exerting their power by choosing their brand that they want to sell based upon their marketing demands and their strategies. Retailers are found to occupy a significant position in the distribution channel. The success of the channels of distribution generally depends upon the availability of the right kinds of goods and services, in right amount at the right place at the right time along with the procurement of the product from the right kind of sources. It can be stated that branding can be of great importance in the retail industry in order to impact customer perceptions and hence drive store choices and loyalty. Furthermore, retailer distribution plays a significant role in creating proper brand image among the consumers1. The main objective of the study is to investigate the way retailer branding strategies within retail stores impact the retailer sector. The study shall also aim at comprehending the meaning of retail branding strategies along with the forms of retailer branding strategies and their characteristics. It shall also highlight the role of retail branding in retailing. The study shall further progress with determining the current trends in retailer branding strategies and will discuss regarding the pros and the cons that have been recognized in the literatures regarding the use of the numerous approaches to retail branding. Definitio n of Retail Branding Brand can be considered

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Statistics (Term paper) Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Statistics ( ) - Term Paper Example 32.2%) of the patients belong to the age group â€Å"25-40†, 83 (26.3%) of the patients belong to the age group â€Å"40-55† and 36 (11.4%) of the patients belong to the age group â€Å">=55†. Interpretation: From the above table (Table No.3), it is observed that 168 (53.2%) of the patients had filling as procedure of diagnosis, 25 (7.9%) of the patients had â€Å"fit or prepare crown† as procedure of diagnosis, 41 (13%) of the patients had â€Å"root canal therapy† as procedure of diagnosis and 82 (25.9%) of the patients had â€Å"extraction† as procedure of diagnosis. Interpretation: From the above table (Table No.4) it is observed that 266 (84.2%) of the patients had reported success of the anaesthesia in killing pain and 50 (15.8%) of the patients had reported failure of the anaesthesia in killing pain. The pain level was divided into three groups based on the intensity of the pain. Pain levels 0, 1 and 2 were coded as â€Å"Low†, pain levels 3,4,5 and 6 were coded as â€Å"Medium† and pain level 7,8, 9 and 10 were coded as â€Å"High†. Interpretation: From the above table (Table No.5) it is observed that 184 (58.2%) of the patients had low pain, 70 (22.2%) of the patients had medium pain and 62 (19.6%) of the patients suffered from high pain. From the above chi square analysis table (Table No.7), since the chi square observed value (243.342) is much greater than the expected value (5.99) with probability less than 0.01 (

Individual Reflective Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

Individual Reflective Report - Essay Example My group identified the huge potential in this sector. We plan to establish a company which deals with selling game prepaid cards to Chinese players. Why the Chinese? This card, which is top up for Chinese internet games, helps Chinese players who are out of their home country to access a reliable payment method in order to access their favourite games just as if they were in China. The Chinese internet banking needs are cumbersome unlike payment methods such as VISA. Our prepaid card makes the whole process of accessing one’s favourite game so much easier when the player is in a foreign country. There are a number of other companies providing a payment method though not exactly the same as ours. We will compete with them due to our projected lower price. This lower price is as a result of operational efficiency and cost associated with a smaller workforce capable of multitasking in different departments. We plan to retain all our customers due to our honesty policy by which w e work for the best interest of our customers. The staff should have good knowledge of internet gaming and online transactions. The company should create a website to facilitate online payments and also set real world stores. There are more than enough suppliers who would be willing and ready to increase our penetration into the target Chinese market via internet. Process of Idea Initiation The process of idea initiation was quite interesting. Each and every member of my group had an idea to propose. Some of the ideas were quite interesting but were quickly objected due to the existence of highly effective competitors. Other ideas were ruled out due to varied reasons such as lack of enough information about how prospective the to-be proposed business would be and lack of originality. After intense discussion on which idea our group would embark on, the group did not come up with a final decision. We decided to dismiss the group and meet on a later date. Every member of the group was supposed to refine his or her idea before the next meeting. On the following meeting, all members showed up. Some dismissed their previously proposed ideas due to reasons such as lack of enough information, them being not practical and low success potential. The group was left to choose between three ideas. Members of the group discussed on the specifics of the ideas before voting for the best idea of them all. A clear majority of the group members agreed on the game prepaid cards as the most lucrative and potentially successful business idea. The occurrences of the process of idea initiation match content of literature. Brainstorming is one of the most common ways of coming up with new ideas. Pinson (2008, p. 21) advises that immediate decision on the best business idea should not be immediately made since brainstorming lacks the virtue of enough information. Group members should dig deeper into knowing facts and other relevant information of their proposed ideas before reaching a n agreement. Making a decision straight away after a brainstorming process may result to the dismissal of the idea due to poor project fundamentals later on after time and other resources have been invested in developing the business plan. Team Work I enjoyed the level of cooperation and the group’s synergy. Majority of the tasks assigned to group members were completed on time. This shows the dedication of individual in making the team work come out successful. Team members contributed in form of

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Project Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Project Management - Essay Example In the contemporary age, there is a lot of competition in the market. In order to gain competitive advantage, companies are trying to make their systems perfect. There is no room for deficiency because the clients have a variety of vendors to choose the services from. In such circumstances, proper management of the project ensures that the project is completed on time, within budget and with least inconvenience to any of the parties involved in the project. Project management adopts a pro-active approach to assess and manage the potential risks of the project which is beneficial for all parties in the long run. Successful project management promotes business. Lifecycle of a project can be divided into four phases, namely project initiation, project planning, project execution and project closure. Project lifecycle management is basically the management of these four phases of the project. Each of these phases has its own crucial aspects that need to be managed. For example, in the pr oject initiation phase, risk assessment and mitigation is primarily important. In project planning, selection of the plan that is the most cost-effective among all is mainly important. In the project execution phase, supervision of the work is the most important whereas in the project closure stage, clarifying the snag list prepared by the consultant or client and acquiring the payment is primarily the work of the project manager. Project management is extremely important for an organization because it enables the organizational personnel to do the work in an organized manner. When the majority of risks have been timely identified and catered for, work flows smoothly and so does the cash flow. This allows the finance department to generate the salaries on time and everybody is happy. The peace of mind thus achieved enables the organizational personnel to optimize upon their capabilities and they are able to give in their best for the organization. Hence, project management is vital for the success of an organization. Planning is one of the most fundamental concepts of the project management. Planning means determining how the work will be executed. There can be numerous ways to attain the final product. The goal of the project manager is to select such a plan from among a variety of options, that consumes the least resources, is the least time-consuming and yet leads him to the product without compromising upon its quality. In order for a project manager to identify such a plan for a particular project, it is imperative that he carries out a comprehensive research to brainstorm himself with the possible alternatives that can be adopted to get the project executed. While doing the research, the project manager should see how a project of a specific nature has been executed in the past, what potential benefits and drawbacks were identified by the project executers of using such a plan after it had been executed, and what

Individual Reflective Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

Individual Reflective Report - Essay Example My group identified the huge potential in this sector. We plan to establish a company which deals with selling game prepaid cards to Chinese players. Why the Chinese? This card, which is top up for Chinese internet games, helps Chinese players who are out of their home country to access a reliable payment method in order to access their favourite games just as if they were in China. The Chinese internet banking needs are cumbersome unlike payment methods such as VISA. Our prepaid card makes the whole process of accessing one’s favourite game so much easier when the player is in a foreign country. There are a number of other companies providing a payment method though not exactly the same as ours. We will compete with them due to our projected lower price. This lower price is as a result of operational efficiency and cost associated with a smaller workforce capable of multitasking in different departments. We plan to retain all our customers due to our honesty policy by which w e work for the best interest of our customers. The staff should have good knowledge of internet gaming and online transactions. The company should create a website to facilitate online payments and also set real world stores. There are more than enough suppliers who would be willing and ready to increase our penetration into the target Chinese market via internet. Process of Idea Initiation The process of idea initiation was quite interesting. Each and every member of my group had an idea to propose. Some of the ideas were quite interesting but were quickly objected due to the existence of highly effective competitors. Other ideas were ruled out due to varied reasons such as lack of enough information about how prospective the to-be proposed business would be and lack of originality. After intense discussion on which idea our group would embark on, the group did not come up with a final decision. We decided to dismiss the group and meet on a later date. Every member of the group was supposed to refine his or her idea before the next meeting. On the following meeting, all members showed up. Some dismissed their previously proposed ideas due to reasons such as lack of enough information, them being not practical and low success potential. The group was left to choose between three ideas. Members of the group discussed on the specifics of the ideas before voting for the best idea of them all. A clear majority of the group members agreed on the game prepaid cards as the most lucrative and potentially successful business idea. The occurrences of the process of idea initiation match content of literature. Brainstorming is one of the most common ways of coming up with new ideas. Pinson (2008, p. 21) advises that immediate decision on the best business idea should not be immediately made since brainstorming lacks the virtue of enough information. Group members should dig deeper into knowing facts and other relevant information of their proposed ideas before reaching a n agreement. Making a decision straight away after a brainstorming process may result to the dismissal of the idea due to poor project fundamentals later on after time and other resources have been invested in developing the business plan. Team Work I enjoyed the level of cooperation and the group’s synergy. Majority of the tasks assigned to group members were completed on time. This shows the dedication of individual in making the team work come out successful. Team members contributed in form of

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

War in Iraq Essay Example for Free

War in Iraq Essay The United States Governments decision to invade Iraq was a mistake and so is the decision to continue to occupy the war-country. However, more than just a mistake, the war is of course wrong, and the reasons which the US declared for the rationale of the war are based on misinformed information. There are kinds of war that can be justified if the reasons behind them are morally right — the Iraq War is not one of them. The question whether the government knew this or not is not really known. Various sides claim different things regarding the rationality of the war, but one thing is for sure: This author is not for any kind of war, including the Iraq War. Iraq War in Under Fire There are a number of reasons why the war on Iraq is to be considered a bad judgment, if not a bad â€Å"scheme. † We could go on and on with a long list, but it would take a very long time. However, the main concern of the government was that Iraq had what they called â€Å"Weapons of Mass Destruction† (WMD) that are a threat to the security of not only America but also the rest of the world. There is reason to believe that misleading information influenced the decision of the president to go to war. In a press release posted on the Central Intelligence Agencys (CIA) website, Jay Rockefeller, chair of Intelligence committee said, â€Å"In making the case for war, the Administration repeatedly presented intelligence as fact when in reality it was unsubstantiated, contradicted, or even non-existent. As a result, the American people were led to believe that the threat from Iraq was much greater than actually existed† (qtd. in United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence 1). He was right; by the time the US and coalition forces was done ransacking the country, no WMD were found. There were also no threatening biological and chemical weapons found in Iraq. There were hints that Saddam wanted to create such devious weapons, but the findings suggest that the â€Å"imminent threats† that the government was so afraid about were non-existent. With these findings alone, the main justification of the US government for going to war with Iraq is nullified. Supposedly after the US was embarrassed by their Intelligence failure, the logical thing to do was to pull out of Iraq as quickly as possible and admit they have made a mistake. Yet, instead of doing this, the government even denied it, publicly declaring Iraq as an â€Å"imminent threat† to the US (Center for American Progress 1). Of course, pulling out of the Iraq would not be that easy especially because the coalition forces have done such a good job of virtually maiming the country. The chaos that the conflict created also meant that it would be morally wrong to just leave the devastated country after doing significant damage to it. The process of pulling out the troops, however, is taking longer than necessary. US troops have been in Iraq since 2003 and until now, tens of thousands of soldiers are still in the dangerous country. The longer the troops stay in Iraq, the more body bags the army have to ship back home. Apart from the unjustified nature of the Iraq War, the casualties that the conflict created and is still creating are one of the major reasons why this war is being contested. As of June 2, 2009, there have been 4,627 coalition deaths, and these only include the coalition forces that died (Cable News Network [CNN]). According to a recent research published in the New York Times, the civilian casualties that the conflict is causing may sum up to 600,000 since the war began (Tavernise and Mcneil). That is almost a hundred thousand deaths a year, which makes this war even more wrong because of the sheer number of casualties produced. Not everybody sees this war the same way. Some argue that if Iraq was not invaded by Coalition forces, Iraq may have developed the Weapons of Mass Destruction they were so eager to find inside Iraqi territory. However, since the time when Iraq was invaded up to this date, no Weapons of Mass Destruction have been detected, making this argument invalid. For others, the war on Iraq was a necessary move of the United States in order to defend itself from foreign threats, and it was a direct action to the seemingly increasing threat that Saddam supposedly had on the US. Former US President George W. Bush claimed that war was his last option. â€Å"I didnt want war, to assume that I wanted war is just flat wrong,† George Bush said in an interview (qtd. in Shakir). However, evidence suggests that he has already made up his mind long before the first coalition forces landed on Iraqi soil. Bush and then British Prime Minister Tony Blair have already met and decided on the matter as revealed in a memo dated January 31, 2003 (Norton-Taylor). Conclusion The Iraq War is just flat out wrong. The US government pretended and projected to the people that Iraq was an imminent threat despite the lack of real evidence. The rationality of the war is just based on misleading information, therefore making it a mistake. However, more important than the rationality of the war, the number of casualties that the conflict has created and is still creating is a strong enough reason to justify the immorality and irrationality of the war. Others may claim that the war was necessary, but the hard truth is that it was indeed a mistake. The failure to find WMD has caused critics to be suspicious of the real intent of the US why they invaded Iraq — Iraq is of course an oil well capable of generating enormous amounts of money that even the already rich US government could not resist. Works Cited Cable News Network. â€Å"US and Coalition Casualties: Iraq. † CNN. com/world. 2 June 2009. 4 June 2009. http://edition. cnn. com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/forces/casualties/. Center for American Progress. â€Å"In Their Own Words: Iraqs Imminent Threat.† Center for American Progress. 29 Jan. 2004. 4 June 2009. http://www. americanprogress. org/kf/QUOTES. PDF. Norton-Taylor, Richard. â€Å"Blair-Bush Deal Before Iraq War Revealed in Secret Memo. † 3 Feb. 2006. Guardian News and Media. 4 June 2009. http://www. guardian. co. uk/world/2006/feb/03/iraq. usa. Shakir, Faiz. â€Å"Bush Insists I Didnt Want War, Overwhelming Evidence Suggests Otherwise. † Think Progress. 21 Mar. 2006. 4 June 2009. http://thinkprogress. org/2006/03/21/made-up-his-mind/.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Strengths And Weaknesses Found In Victoria Bc Tourism Essay

Strengths And Weaknesses Found In Victoria Bc Tourism Essay Australia is the 12th strongest economy in the world1 by GDP; it is also the 5th country with highest percentage of older population in the world and despite the worlds recession, Australia continues being a stable economy. The stability in this country makes it a good target for outbound tourism towards foreign destinations like Victoria, BC in Canada. By using a SWOT analysis, we will first evaluate the internal factors of our destination by outlining the strengths and weaknesses found in Victoria BC as a tourist site. In this investigation, we will identify the characteristics that will position Victoria in competitive advantages over other cities in Canada or other destinations overseas. Furthermore, in the same analysis, we will scan the external factors in Australia that will present opportunities or threats favouring or hindering the source of tourist outflow towards Victoria BC. In addition, through a segmentation analysis we will identify targets that will represent the primary and secondary segments that will become the focus for a tourism marketing strategy. Moreover, after performing a segment attractiveness examination, we will formulate a recommendation on the preferred segment to market and position Victoria BC as a tourist destination for senior Australian visitors. Strengths: As a tourist destination for Australians, Victoria has strong assets. First, it offers a variety of attractions that caters to everyone from local heritage and aboriginal attractions to outdoor and nature exploring opportunities. Second, Victoria climate is an advantage over other closer competitors. Being on opposite ends of the globe, seasons between Victoria and Australia are opposite in time. During winter period in Australia, Victoria will be enjoying the sunshine of June or July. In addition, Victoria is known for the best climate in Canada which makes it an ideal place for outdoor activities all year long. Third, the geographic location offers many opportunities for outdoor activities, exposure to wildlife, nature, trail and ocean site walks. Consists mainly of rolling lowlands interspersed with granite rocks of up to 300m/985ft in height. The city is bounded by ocean on three sides. In the north and west, cliffs, spits and lagoons formed by glacial action make up portions of the shoreline. Elsewhere, the shoreline consists of  beaches  of pebble and sand punctuated with coves. Several elevated viewpoints in and around the city provide a birds eye view of all this and more2. Fourth, it gives easy access to cosmopolitan and metropolitan cities like Vancouver and other tourist destinations like USA by ferry and airplanes in both English speaking locations. Furthermore, Victoria hosts authentic restaurants that represent the multicultural population of the island as well as central lodgings which are at walking distance from the heart of the city. SWOT ANALYSIS (SEE APENDIX I) Weakness Victorias main weaknesses come from the lack of awareness of the city as a tourist destination. Additionally, the high competition makes travel expenses higher and fewer direct international flights coming to and from victorias international Airport. Moreover, Canada as a whole does not support health services for temporary visitors. Lastly, shopping is made more difficult for tourist due to high taxes in Canada. Opportunity There are some opportunities that Victoria should consider in order to boost their number of visitors: Increase awareness through tour operators, Develop agreements with neighbour cities to promote affordable trip packages, Develop sustainable and cultural tourism. Victoria should also take advantage of the cities common characters with Australia and their resembling motivations for tourism3 (sceneries, access to nature and outdoor activities, wildlife and proximity to cosmopolitan cities) Threat Victorias tourism industry can be threatened by other competitive markets like the USA, which due to currency depreciation present themselves as more attractive and affordable destinations. Other closer competitors within Australia, in Asia or Europe may as well present a threat to the long and expensive trip to Victoria. Lastly, the unclear definition between Vancouver and Victoria may take away from the international outlook to Victoria as a preferred tourist destination. Segmentation Analysis The Target segments are 17% of the Australian population who are 60 years or older and are living in metropolitan areas which according to the department of community, Senior well living in Australia reported %73 on seniors live in metropolitan areas. In addition, the segment will be focused on couples with no children with account to %50 of the senior population in the country3. In addition, according to The Conference board of Canada %40 of seniors in Australia live in poverty4. This would leave a margin of %60 seniors that could potentially become the primary target for this tourism marketing proposal services4 Assumptions: There are different types of seniors that I am trying to target: the primary segments are those seniors, who have retired and feel they want to relax, take a trip with no rush and exposure to a healthy environment with ample access to Nature and Culture. The second segment are seniors who have either retired or are about to retire and feel life is starting and need to adventure now that they dont have the responsibility of work or family. -Metropolitan areas are more expensive to live in; therefore the target segment will have better financial stability and potentially be receiving retirement from service. The income source may indicate that a portion of this group have retirement plans savings and or investments. SEGMENTATION ANALYSIS Broad Market Segmentation Golden Age Traveler Cultural Heritage Interest Travelers Geographic Segmentation Australian senior citizens, baby boomers who have strongest interest in ecotourism and cultural heritage attractions such as historic sites, museums, nature, parks and wildlife exposure Australian senior citizens, who have the Interest in short trips with outdoor activities like sightseeing, golfing, shopping, gambling and easy access to cosmopolitan and other tourist destination Demographic Segmentation Retired married couples with graduate studies and no children living at home age 65 and over living in metropolitan areas High Income Married Couples with no children living at home age 60 and over living in metropolitan areas Psychographic Segmentation Self-sufficient individuals, family oriented, community values who enjoy peaceful traveling, exposure to nature and environmentally conscious with are interest in exploring other cultures High disposable income with active lifestyle, enjoy socializing with other people of same interest and look for outdoor activities, casinos, high-end restaurants, resorts and sports Behavioural Segmentation5 Occasion: Benefit Sought: User Status: Loyalty Status Buyer Readiness stage: Winter Vacations -Authentic experience that explores a destinations Natural and cultural heritage. First time visitors -Switchers Investigate options, costs and take time to decide Winter Vacations -Getaway with easy access to cosmopolitan cities and metropolises -Frequent visitors Soft Loyal Look for a short getaway no much investigation, they look, like and buy Segment Attractiveness Primary Secondary Segment Attractiveness Analysis The Segments are measureable because we have quantitative data of the subject in terms of demographics, age groups and financial conditions that could become our primarily target. %73 segments living in metropolitan areas give them easier access to mass media, technology and better income. However, there is no specific data describing the literacy rate of this specific group and it is for this reason that the assessment for this criterion is a 6. If specifically identified, the segments chosen are indeed substantial and profitable enough to serve. Graduates, affluent and high income seniors are highly inclined to use their savings, disposable income or retirement funds to enjoy their lives after retiring from the workforce. The segments are also highly distinguishable from other segments because they have specific geographic, demographic, psychographic and behavioural characteristics. Additionally, this group is accessible. Eeffective marketing, sales and service programs can be formulated for attracting and serving the segments because they are located in central areas exposed to technology and other marketing venues. Finally, this segment is ethically approachable because they are not presented as a vulnerable group that can potentially attract negative opinions. SEGMENT ATTRACTIVENESS CRITERIA ASSESSMENT (0-10) 1 Measurable 6 2 Substantial 8 3 Differentiable 9 4 Actionable 8 5 Accessible 8 6 Ethical 10 Total Assessment for Segment 49 Recommendations The primary target segment: Retired married Self-sufficient couples, 65 years or older (golden- age), no children living at home, located in metropolitan areas with strong sense of community values who enjoy peaceful traveling, exposure to nature and environment, interested in outdoor activities and exploring other cultures. Brand Positioning Statement: Australian Golden age couples, rest at ease in the colourful city of Victoria, Explore the aboriginal history and heritage of the city while walking through the most exuberant sceneries in all Canada Conclusion Having identified the economic and demographic assets of Australia as a powerful potential market for senior outbound tourism, the swot analysis, segmentation analysis and segment attractiveness analysis have narrowed down our target sector in order to exploit Victoria in competitive advantages over other cities in Canada or other destinations overseas and position it as a tourist destination of golden age travelers age 65 and older. If Opportunities are explored, we can promote victoria as an authentic experience that will allow natural, cultural and seasonal traveling for first time or frequent visitors. APENDIX 1 STRENGHTS WEAKNESSES Perceived as desirable destination (Ocean, Rocky mountains, gardens, beaches, lagoons) Museums Historic Sites Attractions and Entertainment Parks, wildlife, natural areas Outdoor activities Local Heritage Aboriginal Attractions Location and Safety (near cosmopolitan cities, bordered with USA) Same Language Seasons are opposite from Australia Brand is no very Recognized Not many international Flight go Directly out or into Victoria High Taxes for shopping Health Services are not available to temporary visitors Lack of high end shopping High prices for airfare, accommodation and tourist attractions OPPORTUNITIES THREATS Canada meets Australians market on motivations for visiting a country(sceneries, access to nature and outdoor activities, wildlife and proximity to cosmopolitan cities) Increase awareness through tour operators Develop sustainable and cultural tourism Develop agreements with neighbour cities to promote affordable trip packages Depreciation of USA dollar makes it a more attractive and affordable tourist destination. Closer are more affordable destinations in Europe and Asia could shift Australian visitors flow from Victoria Australia offers similar products in terms of tourist attractions, events and activities Not clear differentiation between Victoria and Vancouver. Notes 1. Wikipedia, List of countries by GDP (nominal). Last modified 2013. Accessed February 13, 2013. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal). 2. Super Natural British Columbia , Victoria Geography. Last modified 2012. Accessed February 13, 2013. http://www.hellobc.com/victoria/geography.aspx. 3. Global Summary Report 2011.  Canadian Tourism Commission. : 27. http://en-corporate.canada.travel/sites/default/files/pdf/Research/Market-knowledge/Global-tourism-watch/global_summary_gtw_yr5_2011_en.pdf (accessed February 13, 2013). 4. Department for Communities. Western Australian, seniors Wellbeing Indicators 2012, Demographic Profile.Perth, Western Australia 2012. http://www.communities.wa.gov.au/serviceareas/seniors/research/Documents/SO46 SWI Demographic Profile.pdf (accessed February 13, 2013) 5. Exams Tutor, Behavioural Segmentation. Last modified 2012. Accessed February 13, 2013. http://www.examstutor.com/business/resources/studyroom/marketing/market_analysis/9_behavioural_segmentation.php.