Poem ‘About His Person’ Essay

â€Å"How does Armitage make the poem ‘About his Person’ particularly moving to you†. The poem ‘About his Person’ is a poem about a man who commits suicide. We are not given exactly how or why straightforwardly but we are given the items he had on him when he did it. It’s through the items we get to understand why he did it. Armitage makes this poem moving through doing that and also using other techniques. One way in which Armitage makes the poem moving is by letting the reader piece together the story behind his possessions. This can be shown when it says ‘No gold or silver but crowning one finger’. This suggests he was recently divorced due to his ring on his finger not being there and because of that reason he could have killed himself. Another way in which Armitage makes the poem moving is by letting the items speak for themselves. This can be shown when it says ‘Five pound fifty in change exactly, a library card on its date of expiry’. These words say exactly what they mean. He has only  £5.50 to his name and an out of date library card. He has barely enough money to live on, to buy the daily essentials like food and water but not even enough to pay rent for an accommodation. This is why it is particularly moving as it shows us the conditions he was living in. Armitage also makes the poem moving by using random objects to make what happened seem unplanned. For example it says ‘But beheaded in his fist, a shopping list’. This makes the poem moving as it shows that he had only recently decided to kill himself that day as he had a shopping list in his hands which most likely would have been the shopping he might of done that very day he killed himself. By including this he makes the poem moving as it makes us think what tragic event must have happened to him in that very same day for him to kill himself. The use of a short reflective sentence at the end of the poem also helps to contribute to making thi s poem moving. For instance it says in the poem ‘That was everything’. This helps to make it moving as this short sentence indicates that his life is now over, just like that. It makes us feel sorry for him as it just happened quickly and that everything he had, had basically disappeared. This is why is makes it moving. Armitage also uses 2 line stanzas which are short and sharp to make the poem moving. This can be shown when it says ‘A final demand, in his own hand’. This is moving because the sentences are short and sharp so that it sticks in the readers mind about what is happening, and creates food for their thoughts. They have to figure out what is happening in each stanza. It also has a great detail of sorrow in each stanza about why he did it, which also helps to make the poem moving. Another way Armitage makes the poem moving is by using rhymes and half rhymes. This is apparent in the poem when it says ‘A postcard stamped, unwritten but franked’. This makes the poem moving because he received a postcard that he had received from someone but blank. Which shows that someone had not made up their mind about what to say to him but he could of recognised the writing on the address and knew who it was from like a calling card, which could of drove him to his suicide. By including this it makes the poem moving, as it makes us feel sad. Overall this poem is very moving as it is explaining why this man killed himself, through the items he had on him. This was done by many ways, through rhymes and the way it was written, and is very moving.

Good Research Topic Essay

Many at times choosing an appropriate topic seem like a herculean task as a lot of problem areas may come to mind at the time of choosing the topic. What is more frustrating is being able to settle on a brilliant topic. Choosing the research topic is one of the most critical steps in conducting a successful by all standards. The truth is, the search for a good research topic is a daunting task, especially when researchers are often expected to know how to identify or figure out a good research question by themselves. It also is important for us to keep in mind that an initial topic that we come up with may not be the exact topic which we end up writing about. Research topics are often fluid and dictated more by the student’s ongoing research rather than by the original chosen topic. Such fluidity is common in research, and should be embraced as one of its many characteristics. The ability to identify and develop a good research topic depends on a number of factors. Fortunately, with every problem, there is always a place at which we can use as a starting point that will hopefully lead us to a desirable solution. The first important factor to consider when selecting or choosing a good research topic is to choose a topic that is of interest to them. The researcher should be able to ask themselves and identify where their interest lies, after all every individual will have at least an interest in one area or another. The fact that students approach their supervisors/ advisors with questions if they are faced with any confusion when conducting their research, the importance of the research advisor also having an interest in the chosen topic cannot be over emphasised. Research supervisors or advisors to a large extent, has a duty to coach, and give critical comments and reviews to the chosen topic. Uri Alon, a theoretical physics major turned systems biology expert (who is now one of the most renowned scientists in his field), per his own experience gave this piece of advice; â€Å"listen to your inner voice. † As he indicated, interest in a research problem is a subjective experience. In most instances, one’s actual interest clashes with the public interest and makes it impossible for the researcher to identify what their actual interest lies in. This however does not mean that pursuing a research of public interest is not a good option; in any case, a good research should be able to benefit the general population as a whole. We must be able to distinguish what we are interest in from other people’s opinion. This is what will inspire us and enable us stay focused throughout our research journey. For instance we can search within our hearts and minds problems in our various communities, industries or even continents which we are passionate about and would wish for these problems to be solved. This will help sieve out the many options from external sources such as the media, and focus on what we are interested in. In effect, if we have a research problem that has been bugging us for quite some time, chances are we have found our true interest to conduct our research on. Another attribute that makes a chosen topic a good one is whether the researcher has the requisite knowledge in their area of interest. It should be noted that doing a literature review enables us to have more insights in our area of interest, narrows down our research focus and directs us to ask more specific questions. In addition, knowing how much knowledge base is available on our chosen field will help us figure out what strategy to adopt in finding data. We can also read some other publications other than the text books and famous business journals available online as well as in print versions to be abreast with our chosen problem area. No matter how much potential our research question has, if we do not have the needed time to conduct our study, it can easily be a wasted effort and disappointment. A researcher can work on a time-feasible research project without having to sacrifice their interest, by breaking down the research problem into several smaller, manageable and more specific questions. It all depends how early they start their research activity. The main point here is for us as researchers to be more realistic about the time available and identify our research question accordingly. In order to ascertain whether an identified problem area must be researched on, it must satisfy primarily three (3) main conditions: i. There should be a perceived difference between what the current situation in the problem area is and what it should have been, all things being equal ii. The reason or reasons for this difference should be ambiguous. If the reason is readily known, then there is no point researching this problem area iii. There should be more that one (1) possible solution to the problem identified. It is very important and of a high significance that one chooses a research topic which is of significance to the current scenario in the society and one’s field of study. One therefore has to select research topics pertaining to business and management practices. Relevance is the key word in this regard. A clear understanding of the assignment will allow the student to focus on other aspects of the process, such as choosing a brilliant topic, which is, identifying the problem area and identifying their target audience. If a possible research topic is not addressing a priority problem, it is not worthwhile researching into it. To avoid duplication, care must be taken to ensure that the chosen topic has not been researched on. If one can find answers to the identified problem in already available, published or unpublished information, or just by using their common sense, then it will not be worthwhile conducting the research on the selected topic. Where it has been established that the problem area has already been researched into, the researcher must investigate whether the most important aspects of the problem area(s) still require some answers or the answers gathered by the predecessor researcher does not address the problem in its entirety. In this case, the same topic could be chosen otherwise the topic should be dropped. One of the most common difficulties in selecting a research topic is focusing on appropriate questions. Initially it might appear that the most exciting, interesting and relevant questions require a 10 year research programme, a team of research assistants and a multi-million research budget! But that isn’t actually the case. The question here is, â€Å"how can you make sure that the research project is feasible, manageable and ‘do-able’ within the normal constraints that he/ she will find themselves in? There are several practical considerations that almost always need to be considered when deciding on the feasibility of a research project. First, the researcher has to think about how long the research will take to accomplish. In addition, the researcher has to question whether there are important ethical constraints that need consideration. Also, one needs to establish whether they can achieve the needed cooperation to take the research project to its successful conclusion. Last and most importantly, the researcher should consider how significant the costs of conducting the research will be. Failure to consider any of these factors can be disastrous to the whole exercise. In general it is advisable for the one conducting the research to choose a topic that has the interest and support of the relevant authorities. This will increase the chance that the results of the study will be implemented. Topics that do not have the support or backing of the decision makers should be avoided as chances are they might never be implemented. In choosing a good research topic, the researcher must also consider the urgency in the needed research results for making a decision or developing interventions. Consideration must be given to which research should be done first and which could be done later. In effect, if the research cannot be done in a timely manner, then it better left not looking into. Topics or problem area that has been identified should be ethically acceptable. The researcher must be mindful of the possibility of their chosen area causing harm to others. We should consider whether there are any relevant ethical issues associated with our chosen area. If we happen to think our research isn’t ethical, we must drop the topic. In relation to the second part of the question which requires us to give five (5) examples of a good research topic and justify why we have chose them are as follow: Why doesn’t the average Ghanaian feel the effect of low inflation in their pockets? There have been impressive stories about declining inflation rates in Ghana in the past few months. The Ghana Statistical Services recently reported that inflation rate has decreased from 15. 2% in December 2003 to 8. 8% in January 2013. But while officials are painting a rather rosy picture of the economy, the average Ghanaian feels very ambivalent about these reported rates for the simple fact that they can hardly see the impact on their everyday cost of living. Economists have debated the seriousness of inflation since time immemorial, yet its economic cost remains ambiguous. It seems no matter the real economic cost of inflation, it does not show a real picture in the cost of living of the average Ghanaian. The confusion surrounding inflation rates in Ghana has to do with measurement problems. There are about three (3) ways of measuring inflation, that is, by the consumer Price Index (CPI), Producer Price Index (PPI) and the Gross National Product (GNP) deflator. The most commonly used index in Ghana is the CPI. Conducting a research on this problem area will inform us whether the CPI way of calculating the inflation rates reflects the actual state of the economy. In addition, we will figure out whether the various consumer products included are realist. The pricing structure of housing units in Ghana, how can it ever be regulated? Compared with other advanced countries, Ghana’s housing industry is at a rudimentary stage. High property prices particularly in the urban centres fuelled by a rapidly growing middle class and an uncontrollable urbanization have turned the housing industry into one of the critical developmental issues facing policy makers. It has been argued that the boom in the housing sector is largely driven by the surge to remittances. Others are of the opinions that the sector has experienced growth mainly because non-resident Ghanaians who have access to low-interest global funds are increasingly investing in the housing sector. If this is the case, then how come houses in Ghana are not affordable? A study into this area to a large extent will reveal the factors driving the pricing of housing units and alternative ways to make houses affordable to the middle class. Women in the corporate management, are they really improving performance? The impact of gender diversity and corporate leadership is not a new phenomenon. Gender diversity within senior management teams has become an increasingly topical issue for three related reasons. First, although the proportion of women at board level generally remains very low, it is changing across the world. Second, government intervention in this area has increased. About seven (7) countries have passed legislation mandating female board representatives to address the issue of fairness and equity. The third and most interesting of the debate around this topic has shifted from an issue equity and fairness to a question of superior performance over their male counterparts. If gender diversity on an entity’s board implies greater profitability then it would make sense to have more women in senior management regardless of government directive. This topic is of interest to a large number of people and as such has a lot literature available on it. It will make a brilliant research topic for these reasons. Are auditors really independent as they are perceived to be? Auditor independence has been termed the cornerstone of the auditing profession, since it is the foundation for the public’s trust in the attest function. However, auditors are faced with pressure to compete among themselves and the likelihood of them not being completely independent has increased overtime that is, staying in business over conforming to ethical requirements. A research in this area will inform us on the actual or perceived independence of auditors and how the business and ethical aspects can be managed. There will be a great literature review on this subject as are result of the Eron scandal in 2011, plus it is of interest to the corporate world. The social network phenomenon, Is it doing more harm than good to our relationships? It is a known fact there are many positives to social media and like everything, there is always a negative to balance the source. As social networks like facebook, twitter, myspace, instagram etc have left positive tracks within our lives; it has also affected us by turning us against one another. Social media whether we like it or not affects our relationships from family, both nuclear and extended, friends, schoolmates, work colleagues, marriages, dating partners, the list goes on and on. The question here is whether the positive effects outweighs the negatives and vice versa. A study in this area will help conclude if social media is worth it after all, on our various relationships. The importance of choosing a good research topic is the primary key to unlocking a successful research exercise. Getting the research question right is an essential, although not always a straightforward step in any research project. Settling on a research question is often difficult to do in isolation, therefore obtaining advice from experts and colleagues, collecting information from the literature and developing an awareness of the context in which the research is likely to be undertaken will all contribute to a successful outcome.

Ethnocentrism, Stereotyping, and Prejudice Essay

I’ve spent most of the week searching and reading internet blogs, journals and electronic articles; thumbed through various dictionaries available at the library; scrutinized various metropolitan newspapers, to try to have a better understanding about ethnocentrism (1), stereotyping (2) and prejudice (3), and their meanings. I admit to this day, I walk away still confused. Why? After reading the definitions of each of these words, I’ve come to realize that their individual meanings are so near to that of racism (4) , profiling (5), or discrimination (6) – it is difficult to tell them apart. I decided to go back to a book that I read several months ago written by Dr. Mike S. Adams, Criminal Justice Professor at the University of North Carolina [ (Adams) ]. â€Å"†¦ I have been perplexed by the difficulty that many academics have with the proper use of such simple terms as racism, prejudice, discrimination, and stereotyping. They are always getting them confused, while the terms are really quite simple. † Dr. Adams says †¦ â€Å"one needs to understand, differentiate between the three terms describing it â€Å"as easy as learning your ABC’s: ‘A’ stands for attitude, ‘B’ stands for behaviour, and ‘C’ stands for cognition. † Prejudice deals with negate attitudes; discrimination deals with negate behaviors. Though I must admit that after re-reading Dr. Adams’ book, I walk away with the sense that these three words, ultimately still have same meaning – discrimination. However, Dr. Adams’ logic regarding the ABC method does make some sense. Using his analogy, I considered recent events which took place in our town involving several police officers and an unconscious criminal suspect [ (Sims) ]. Though a jury determined that the officers were not guilty, it was evident from the various film footages shown, the suspect was thrown, from his vehicle and was unconscious when the five officers arrived on the scene and proceeded to beat him. Despite the suspect’s colour or status, I, along with many other viewers of different races, sects, etc. , felt that the officers violated the suspect’s civil rights. In my eyes, this was a blatant case of stereotyping, prejudice, and racism. I even tried to apply the ABC rule: ‘A’ being that the officers in pursuit of the suspect witnessed one of their own being nearly hit during the chase. They (police) immediately demonstrated their ‘white and authoritative’ powers. The officers had the attitude, that all black suspects are possibly armed and dangerous. We’ve a long way to go to remove labels and retrain people’s way of thinking regarding the accepting of others without consideration to their ethnic, cultural or social status. Works Cited Adams, Mike S. Dr. Welcome To The Ivory Tower of Babel: Confessions of a Conservative Professor. 2004. 16 February 2011 . Sims, Bob. â€Å"Birmingham News Blog. † 20 May 2009. 17 February 2011 . Encarta Dictionary (1) Ethnocentrism: a belief in or assumption of the superiority of the social or cultural group that a person belongs to. (2) Stereotyping: to categorize individuals or groups according to an oversimplified standardized image or idea. (3) Prejudice: an unfounded hatred, fear, or mistrust of a person or group, especially one of a particular religion, ethnicity, nationality, sexual preference, or social status. (4) Profiling: classification of persons based on personal information such as ethnicity, political view or behavioral patterns. (5) Racism: the belief that people of different races have different qualities and abilities, and that some races are inherently superior or inferior. (6) Discrimination: treating people differently through prejudice: unfair treatment of one person or group, usually because of prejudice about race, gender, age, religion or ethnicity.

The Dark Ages a Prelude to Light and Renaissance Essay

The Dark Ages - a Prelude to Light and Renaissance - Essay Example Another was the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans which marked the historical ending of the Middle Ages. But major developments in art and architecture were one of the key features during this period. An attempt is made to review the art and architecture during this period loosely based on Laurie Schneider Adam’s book ‘A History of Western Art.’ Proposed review will follow the art and architecture during the early Christian era, followed by the influence of Byzantine culture. Islamic and Ottoman influence is covered next after which the Roman style that was seen during the period will be reviewed. Next comes the Gothic style and the building of the many great cathedrals that one sees in Europe. Even though referred to as the dark ages, many developments that evolved during the Renaissance period had its base in the Middle Ages. Hence this period is very relevant in a humanities course. One institution that held on strongly after the fall of the Roman Empire was the undivided Christian church. Christians were allowed open worship by the Edict of Milan which ultimately resulted in the religion becoming very widespread. Christian architecture flourished during the early days of the Middle Ages and was characterized by two types of structures namely a longitudinal basilica and the centralized baptistery. â€Å"The exteriors of Early Christian buildings were plain and unadorned and the interiors contrarily were richly decorated with marble floors and wall slabs, frescoes, mosaics, metal works, hangings, and sumptuous altar furnishings in gold and silver.† (Early Christian Art). Some examples include the churches of San Stefano Rotondo and the Baptistery of Constantine. Byzantine art and architecture were greatly influenced by Rome because the cultural and social foundation of that great city was undeniable Roman. But most monuments during this period were also greatly influenced by East European architecture and the Hellenized East.

Orporate law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Orporate law - Essay Example This software is directly connected to ASIC. However if a person doesn't wish to engage in this and instead wishes to contact ASIC directly, they will need to do the following: Once the same is selected, it needs to be reserved with ASIC. This is done by completing 'Form 410' that is meant for this purpose. Once the form is completed, ASIC would reserve the name for a period of two months. Names are not indefinitely reserved and extension can be requested. Reserving a name is important because once you have decided on a name and you do not want anyone to use it and there is still some time before you can register the firm then ASIC protects your name for the period. e) The Banned and Disqualified Registers contains information about persons who have been disallowed by the government to engage in the management of a company. Some of them are banned from participating in the financial services industry completely. The registers would contain information such as person's full name, his address, the date when banning order was passed and the date when it would end. These registers are divided into four categories namely: This register contains information only about persons who have been disqualified from managing a corporation under the Corporations Act. The notices about such persons are sent to the ASIC and their names are then added to the register. However it must be carefully noted that there are other persons who are not allowed to manage a corporate because they are bankrupt or have a criminal record. The notices may not reach ASIC in these cases and thus their names do not appear on the list. Banned Securities Representatives Register This registers contains names of pre-AFS licensees. The people who hold these licenses act as authorized representatives of licensed advisers. In the case the adviser or a representative is prohibited by the ASIC for giving advice, their names will appear in this register. These people are also part of the Banned and Disqualified register but their names may not be duplicated there. Banned Futures Representatives Register: The people on this register are those who have the pre-AFS license but are not allowed to practice as advisors in future. AFS Banned/Disqualified Persons Register Any person who works in the financial services sectors needs to have AFS license or work as a representative of someone who has this license. These people are authorized dealers and their names can be found on the list of authorized advisors. However under FSR legislation, which commenced on 11 March 2002, there are

Discussion in M5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion in M5 - Essay Example However, it helps in protecting it from moisture and dust particles that would otherwise penetrate easily. This package helps maintain high standards of hygiene between the period of production and consumption. Through packaging, the company gives their customers an assurance that the product is of high-quality. Marketing packaging on the hand ensures that the product looks presentable and attractive. Cadbury chocolate is packed using very attractive colored paper that attracts customer’s eyes. I found this color to be very appealing too and opted to purchase the product rather than other chocolates available. The coloring and names printed on the chocolate are effective in attracting customers. The term â€Å"Dairy Milk† particularly creates an impression that the chocolate has milk components and hence nutritious and sweet. The small chocolate picture is also a marketing tool. Some customers will purchase the product since the chocolate piece drawn appears to be sweet. This marketing packaging results into more purchases and thus creates a competitive advantage for the Cadbury chocolate (Stewart, 2011). I would recommend that industrial packaging of Cadbury chocolate product be improved by improvising a better package. For instance, they can introduce a carton box instead of a carton wrapper that can help protect the chocolate from breakage. This box should also be covered with a waterproof material so it will serve both purposes of protecting the chocolate from breakage and moisture. I would also recommend that marketing packaging be improved by including the nutritional benefits of the product on the package. They can also enlarge the chocolate image to make it more attractive and appealing to the eyes of the customer. They should reduce the wording and increase the pictures. Product pictures are more effective in marketing than

3.4 Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

3.4 - Case Study Example This calls for very careful and prudent credit policies, to avoid losses when clients become bankrupt. The industry operated profitably from 1985 to 1988, but a considerable recession that hit the economy in 1989 caused instability. As a result, the trucking companies lost revenues as manufacturers were reducing their transportation requirements as they cut down their operations. In fact, most of the trucking companies became bankrupt and the few that survived the situation lowered their prices to remain competitive. Although the industry recovered from the recession in 1990s, the transportation industry in southern Ontario remained challenging as there were too many companies competing for few clients. By 2003, albeit the industry experiencing substantial growth, the profit margins remained very low since the prices were still very low. To survive with very low prices, the companies are forced to look for loans so they can operate at high volumes to increase their profits. Besides, the trucking companies maximize the time they spend on the road to increase sales so they can be able to repay the loans and their operating expenses. The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) had introduced legislation that required all vehicles used by trucking companies to comply with strict safety standards. The ministry impounded any vehicle that failed to comply with these safety measures. Commercial Equipment Financing (CEF) carefully analyses its borrowers before approving loans, with the aim of increasing the recovery rate. This is particularly very important because the industry is undergoing very tough economic conditions and the chance of a company failing to repay the loan is very high. What CEF looks for can be summarized in terms of ‘4 C’s of Credit’ as analyzed below. The financial History of the borrower is referred to as

Why Have the 1980s been described as a 'lost decade' in terms of Essay

Why Have the 1980s been described as a 'lost decade' in terms of development - Essay Example Most of the set development policies did not work especially in developing and poor countries (United Nations 2006, p.941). Moreover, despite of the existence of some of the most powers economic policies such as education policy, infrastructure policy, fertility policy and health policies, the decade is one of the poorest development stages in the world’s development history. During the 1980s period, the economic developed in developing countries grew by 0 % compared to the previous decade which witnessed over 2.5 % economic growth (David 1985, p.789). However, most economists and scholars have attributed the decrease in the economic, political as well as social development in the 1980s to a number of factors such as the high world interests’ rates, elevated debt especially in developing countries, reduced global industrial growth as well as significant transformation on skill-based techniques. The decrease in economic growth is as well accredited to poor implementation of the existing policies. To get an in-depth insight on the economic development in the 1980s the essay below will seek to analyse why the 1980s is describe as lost decade. In most instances, global growth is defined by examining and analysing the implementation of growth and development plans and projects (Birdsall and Fukuyama 2011, p. 79). Therefore, a part from the experienced development downfall in numerous parts of the world, the 1980s encountered considerable level of development in others development facets such as development in infrastructures, rise in fertility rate, financial development, real overvaluations as well as raise in the level of education. However, as opposed to the previous decades which did not have many development policies, the 1980’s adopted an all inclusive policies that were intended at bringing about global consistent and

Assignment on Geology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Assignment on Geology - Essay Example 349). If a supervolcano erupted, the effects would be catastrophic. The Lake Toba eruption, which occurred in what is now Sumatra and Indonesia approximately 74,000 years ago, plunged the earth into a volcanic winter and killed approximately 60% of the human population at the time. There are all kinds of reasons people live near a volcano. The reasons are similar to why people live near other hazards. People tend to live where they have roots, regardless of the potential risks. Fortunately, scientists have set up risk assessments. For example, scientists have developed an extensive series of protocols for the residents living near the Soufriere Hills Volcano on the Caribbean island of Montserrat. This volcano was dormant for almost one hundred years before becoming active again in 1995, and has continued to erupt ever since. It eruptions have resulted in over half of Montserrat becoming uninhabitable. There are those who have remained, though. In response to the few that have stubbornly refused to leave their home, scientists founded what eventually became the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) immediately after the first phreatic explosions on July 18, 1995 (MVO.ms n.p.). As a result of the MVO’s research, the Soufriere Hills Volcano has become one of the most closely monitored volcanoes in the world. Monitoring of this volcano is done by measuring the deformation of its flanks and dome, by measuring the ambient sulphur dioxide concentrations at ground level, by recording and analyzing volcanic earthquakes, and by visual observations (â€Å"Monitoring n.p.). The MVO publishes their regular reports and risk assessments on their website, and prints leaflets and posters to disseminate throughout the island. The Montserrat government and the MVO have adopted risks assessments since the 1995 eruption, the most recent version being the â€Å"Hazard Level System,† which has been used since August 2008. It divides the southern two-thirds of

Imperial Chemical Industries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Imperial Chemical Industries - Essay Example The technology could either be innovative products that satisfy customer needs and wants or technology that offers cost competitiveness (Annual Report and Accounts 2005, 149; Science & Technology, online). A few factors in the economical environment are influential on profitability, especially since ICI operates worldwide in over 50 countries. They include domestic and international recession, tariffs and trade barriers, exchange controls, fluctuations in national currencies, foreign exchange exposure, and cyclical fluctuations of the industries and economies in which its businesses operate (Annual Report and Accounts 2005, 149-150; Investor Relations: Financial Performance: Risk Management, online). There are many factors in the legal environment that are particularly influential on profitability. They arise from worldwide operation, exposure to consumer markets, rules governing fair competition and corporate governance, and contractual obligations. ICI worldwide operation requires compliance with a range of foreign laws, regulations and standards that are expensive. Moreover, the difficulty of enforcing legal claims and agreements through some foreign legal systems will also affect profitability. Lastly, unforeseen changes in local laws, regulations, and standards in developing countries could affect ICI's profitability (Annual Report and Accounts 2005, 150). ICI's exposure to consumer markets exposes it to legal risks, regulation and potential liabilities from product liability claims asserted by consumers, which could have an adverse effect on profitability. A significant proportion of ICI's products is sold directly or indirectly to end-user consumers, even if ICI does not itself provide these products directly to consumers. Specifically, the laws and regulations to which ICI are exposed are environmental, health, and safety. Environmental, health, and safety laws and regulations include those concerning pollution, the health and safety of employees, protection of the public, protection of the environment and the generation, storage, handling, transportation, treatment, disposal and remediation of hazardous substances and waste materials. These regulations and standards are becoming increasingly stringent. ICI is also subject to inspections and monitoring by the relevant enforcement authorities. ICI also requires relevant permits and a pprovals for its operations that require compliance with their terms and which may be subject to renewal, modification and, in some circumstances, revocation. Violations of applicable laws, regulations and standards, could result in losses in the form of damages, fines or other sanctions, increased costs of compliance as well as reputational damage (Annual Report and Accounts 2005, 151). With regard to environmental laws and regulations, ICI is subject to soil and groundwater remediation, that in the future may require it to take action to correct effects on the environment of prior disposal or release of chemical substances. With regard to safety and health laws and regulations, The Glidden Company (Glidden), a wholly owned subsidiary

Analysis of Factors Influencing Attrition in It Sector Essay Example for Free

Analysis of Factors Influencing Attrition in It Sector Essay With the economy of India booming at an all time high despite the impact of recession, it is an employee’s market. A large number of multiple jobs are being circulated in organizations and across industries, employees take little time to ponder and leave for greener pastures. In the event the employee feels dissatisfied with his job content, colleagues, boss or a general feeling of discontentment, disillusionment or disappointment creeps in him, considering present market conditions he need not think twice but can easily chucks for good. But obviously it is not good for the employers. Organizations spend a major buck in inducting an employee, beginning from the recruitment process to his internalization in the organization. After reaping rich benefits in the organization in terms of learning, growth, development and availing every possible opportunity in that time span he feels he should go. The HR department is left in the hanging as how to fill in the gap between the demand and supply in terms of human resources. But it helps organizations understand why at all attrition takes place. Why at all at the first place did the idea for leaving come in the mind of the employee. And if at all it came, then why the organization was not pro-active enough to have sensed his dissatisfaction. Furthermore why was it not well equipped to have stopped him from leaving? The entire cycle is vicious. Normally no one welcomes change unless it is forced to be applied. Similarly when an employee joins the organization, he really has no intension of leaving. Circumstances and conditions arise which make him think towards cutting ties. If negative conditions continue to exist then he is confirmed to leave. We all know people do crib about money, not good perks and facilities but if they are happy they stay for the sake of that happiness. People also join organizations for their need for socialization. When they form friends at their work stations; they look forward coming to office every morning. People leave because of boredom and disenchantment from everything. They find no other recluse other than leaving towards somewhere else.

Leading Strategic Program Management Essay Example for Free

Leading Strategic Program Management Essay Some people might say a good leaders is born that way. It is true that some individuals have a natural instinct to lead people, but they also have tools to help them in their success. In watching the movie Twelve O’clock High we see different types of leadership. Why is Colonel Keith Davenport’s leadership ineffective in comparison to General Frank Savage’s leadership? With all the men of the 918th Bomb Group loyal to Colonel Davenport, what steps does Gen Savage take to not only win their loyalty but make them an effective team? While working on a project is a lot different than fighting a war, we see how good leadership techniques, trust, good communication, developing leaders, and instilling a sense of pride can turn around the poorest of teams. If you have an ineffective leader, chances are the team will be ineffective. There were many deficiencies in Colonel Davenport’s leadership style. Colonel Davenport was more focused on each individual in his group than he was on the mission at hand. He had the loyalty of his men but failed to lead them. When one of his men failed to accomplish their mission or messed up, Colonel Davenport assumed responsibility and failed to discipline them. When Colonel Davenport received orders to push his men to the maximum potential, he wouldn’t, for fear of burning them out. While Colonel Davenport could not see his deficiencies in his leadership, it could be seen by the commanding General of the VIII Bomber Command, Eighth Air Force. General Pritchard brought Brigadier General Frank Savage in to see if he could fix not only the leadership problem but the productivity of the men in the 918th Bomb Group. When Brigadier Frank Savage arrived at the 918th Bomb Group he went right to work. One of the first items on his agenda was restoring the military standards that had become very laidback. We see this in a couple of scenes. He reprimands the gate guard for not checking his identification card upon entering the base. When he walks into his new office he catches Sergeant Mclllheny typing without his uniform top on. Brigadier General Savage immediately reduces him in rank and tells him why. Word soon travels around the base that they must adhere to the military standards and rules. Once Brigadier General Savage has made it clear that he will restore accountability and standards he calls a meeting to set his expectations clear. In this meeting Brigadier General Savage lets everyone know that they have a job to do and they need to stop feeling sorry for themselves. He tells everyone that from this point on they will be held accountable for their mistakes. Brigadier General Savage then informs everyone that since they are performing poorly, they will practice over and over again until they get it right. This infuriates the pilots and they immediately put in for a transfer. Once Brigadier General Savage has made his expectations clear, he begins gathering support from others. Major Stovall is the group Adjutant who works directly for Brigadier General Savage. Brigadier General Savage begins asking Major Stovall’s opinions on individuals in the unit. He takes the advice given to him by Major Stovall. Major Stovall begins to see that Brigadier General Savage is a great leader and he has a plan to get the 918th Bomb Group back on track. Major Stovall becomes a loyal hard working member of the 918th Bomb Group. He can see that Brigadier General Savage is committed to his job. A trust is built between the two men. â€Å"Trust is at the core of all meaningful relationships. Without trust there can be no giving, no bonding, no risk-taking† (Berkun, 2008, p. 242). He then begins to talk to the other men and gather support and trust for Brigadier General Savage. The next item on Brigadier General Savage’s agenda is to develop leaders in the 918th Bomb Group. When Brigadier General Savage is reviewing everyone’s personnel records he  notices that the second in charge is underperforming. Lt Colonel Ben Gately is immediately fired from his position and place in charge of a plane full of underachievers. He informs Lt Colonel Gately that he will receive every lazy nonperforming person who comes into the 918th Bomb Group. If Lt Colonel Gately wants to survive he needs to step up to the plate and become a good leader. The plane that Lt Colonel Gately is in charge of is called the Leper Colony. By doing this, Brigadier General Savage is giving Lt Colonel Gately a way to prove his leadership. This method of leadership works very well on Lt Colonel Gately, because he begins to perform exceptionally well. Lt Colonel Gately even flies with an injured spine. Brigadier General Savage can see the 918th Bomb Group is turning around into an effective unit. He then sets out to develop a sense of pride in the group. Savage praises them for their performance and what they have achieved as a group. He begins promoting excellence in everything they do. On days where there is no mission they practice to get it perfect. Individuals who show outstanding performance in the Leper Colony get promoted out and those who make mistakes move to the Leper Colony. Results from all their hard team work began to pay off. When the 918th Bomb Group goes on a dangerous mission they return with everyone. The whole unit is put in for a commendation. While Savage has turned the unit around he still has trouble communicating to his people. Communication is a major part of being an effective leader. While Savage has begun communicating very well with Major Stovall, he still had trouble communicating with his pilots and ground crew. Only when he finally sits down and communicates with a young pilot named Bishop, do the other pilots removed their request to be transferred to another unit. Savage was trying to keep his distance from his pilots. He felt that not becoming emotionally involved with his pilots would help create a barrier. Savage cared about every single person in his unit, but he kept his emotions inside which was the cause of his breakdown. Looking at a project manager or leader of a company, it is easy to see why you would want someone like Brigadier General Savage in charge. He arrived  at the 918th Bomb Group with a clear and direct sense of responsibility. He knew what he had to do and he knew it was not going to be a popularity contest. While Brigadier General Savage had trouble communicating to everyone, he understood his people, their motivations, and the emotions they were feeling. It is important when you are in charge of a project to know the people you will be working with. There needs to be trust between you and your employees. As the project manager when you say you will do something, you must ensure you follow through. Brigadier General Savage demanded that the members of the 918th Bomb Group give him loyalty, respect, integrity, and selfless service. He in turn not only gave the same right back, he gave them leadership, direction, and a sense of self-worth. By the time Brigadier General Savage left the 918th Bomb Group, they were able to continue their mission under any good leader who took over. As a leader, you have to take responsibility for the decisions you make. You must inspire your people and establish teamwork. Sometimes being a leader is not an easy job, but with the right set of tools you can be an effective leader. â€Å"Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in the abundance of counselors there is a victory† (Proverbs 11: 14). Reference Berkun, S. (2008). Making Things Happen. Sebastopol, CA: OReilly Media, Inc. New International Version. (1970). Thomas Nelson Inc.

First World Consumerist Role in Third World Sweatshops

First World Consumerist Role in Third World Sweatshops First World consumerism plays a role in the persistence of Third World sweatshops, yet there are conflicting thoughts on how the issue of sweatshops should be addressed. This paper examines sweatshops and perspectives surrounding the potential rectification of the issue, on what end this correction should be addressed, the consumerism aspect or in the sweatshops themselves. The Clean Clothes Campaigns (CCC, a movement to improve sweatshop conditions) processes and outcomes, private monitoring, and the roles and structures within sweatshops will support my argument proving that for sweatshops to be improved or removed, action must be taken within the Third World countries themselves. My topic of Third World sweatshops and First World consumerism is relative to globalization and just in time production because they create a large demand for the inexpensive and fast labour that sweatshops offer. There has been a recent clean clothes movement in which consumers have begun to boycott stor es that sell apparel produced in sweatshops. This method of protesting sweatshops is not beneficial and the alleviation of sweatshops in Third World countries requires the cooperation of the workers and an intervening power. Jill Esbenshades Monitoring Sweatshops addresses the roles of both workers and consumers within the global apparel industry. Esbenshade covers a broad range of aspects which influence sweatshops such as private monitoring of sweat shops, and interests of manufacturers, contractors, and workers. Private monitoring as a system is not successful in its attempts to improve sweatshop conditions because it does not prioritize the needs of workers, instead it prioritizes the needs of the manufacturers (Esbenshade 2004:89). Cheap and fast labour benefits manufacturers because it is an inexpensive way of supplying the just in time production system, putting fair treatment of workers in the back of their minds. Within sweatshops the interests of manufacturers and workers conflict, and those of the manufacturers prevail. Monitors have little training and are not trustworthy investigators as they have a history of being swayed by manufacturers to postpone assessments as it becomes close to crunc h time. They clean up sweatshops but only to the extent that prices do not have to be raised. Monitors do not institute changes or upgrades that will cost high prices or that will set back the factory in production time. The cooperation of monitoring firms is beneficial to the manufacturers because they pay the monitors wages (Esbenshade 2004: 97-98). As explained in Esbenshades Monitoring Sweatshops, the monitoring system is one with many holes, Who is paying the [monitoring firms] wages? The manufacturer is, and they ask them to turn their head when it is crunch time and they need to get production out (Esbenshade 2004:98). There are global movements to end sweatshops existing currently such as trade unions and NGOs, informal economy, the CCCs method of urgent appeals, and consumers roles in fair trade products and clean clothes. The CCCs use of urgent appeals and its manner of intervention is only beneficial for a handful of the sweatshops it enters, more often than not it results in factory closures, leaving people unemployed (Sluiter 2009: 185). Urgent appeals do have benefits, they are a good way to start a dialogue with companies, because they are about specific cases; companies cannot hide behind general answers but they are seldom cost-effective and also often end in factory closures (Sluiter 2009: 185). Many Third World populations are reliant on sweatshops because they provide mass employment and keep the economy afloat. As hard as First World populations may fight for the removal of sweatshops in the Third World, they are greatly needed because the jobs that they provide prevent laborers from starving, working as prostitutes, and begging on the streets (Rothstein 2005: 41). The informal economy that has developed has made the intervention of an outside force necessary. Steady jobs have been replaced by informal means of employment, giving workers the short end of the stick and no leg to stand on if their employment is being terminated (Sluiter 2009: 187). In the globalized sweatshop industry the workers are at the mercy of the manufacturers which proves that the CCCs methods are not useful because whether the sweatshop exists or not, manufactures will develop a new industry that is inexpensive and still exploits workers. The laws relating to working conditions and employment security must be altered and more strongly enforced rather than removing factory employment in the Third World all together. When an apparel company requires production, it offers a price to the manufacturers and then prices are cut and conditions are altered until the product is able to be produced for the price offered. Seeing as the main cost being paid by the manufacturers is wages, the goal can be reached by cutting labour costs (Esbenshade 2008:456). Working in an informal economy is usually the only option for workers in sweatshops. No employment contracts are composed so workers can earn below the legal minimum wage, are not paid on time, are expected to work beyond regular hours, and do not receive benefits of any kind (Sluiter 2009: 188). If a contract is written, it often exploits the worker and do not make exception for pregnancy or illness, and if a worker were to get sick their employment would be threatened as it would be seen as a violation of the contract. Gender based discrimination often occurs because a female employee is seen as a risky hire for several reasons. Gender-based discrimination is a tool for labour-market flexibility Sluiter explains, the long hours and low pay make it difficult for women to keep their family fed (Sluiter 2009:191). If any action should be taken to correct the use of sweatshops and the treatment of workers it should be to remove sweatshops from Third World countries and instate new businesses and a new way of involvement in the global market. Merely improving sweatshop conditions could be extremely detrimental to the over all economy of the country, but removing the businesses entirely without instituting a solution, could be as equally destructive. First World activists fight for wage increases in sweatshops, through the CCC for example, but victories on the Western front may turn into defeats when wage raises have been won in factories that subsequently shut down (Sluiter 2009: 184). Rothstein argues that First World intervention in sweatshops is not as beneficial as it is though to be, by stating, If Western activists succeed in forcing firms to raise wages, limit hours, or reject children as laborers production would cease and be replaced in the global marketplace by those not bound by Weste rn standards (Rothstein 2005:41). Although I do not agree that these sweatshops are a necessity in Third World countries, implementing improvements is the wrong way to go about correcting the abuses. Through corrections production will be reduced, yet if sweatshops are removed and a new system is brought about, a less corrupt means of production could grow and there could be a possibility of self sustainability. While mass boycotting of corporate giants that supply sweatshop produced apparel may be a powerful means of motivating manufacturers to pull production out of Third World countries, the outcome would be harmful because little would be left for them to participate in the global economy. It is a known fact that if the price of a commodity rises, the demand for it will fall. Therefore, if wages in sweatshops were increased, product prices would rise, consumption would diminish, and manufacturers would move elsewhere in search of cheap labour. Thus leaving a population unemployed and unable to participate in the growing globalization of the economic market. A large problem to do with instituting improvements to sweatshop conditions is that every change in the industry could have ripple effects on important aspects of the global trade economy as well as the economy and well being that effects workers in the Third World. For example, if children were to be banned from working in sweatshops families would not have enough money would become impoverished (Rothestein 2005:41). The seemingly improved conditions would spark many contradictions. Richard Rothstein argues in his piece Defending Sweatshops: Too Much Logic, Too Little Evidence that First World activists are ignorant of the perspectives and needs of Third World habitants. Sweatshop employment ensures the highest wage earnings in many underdeveloped and developing countries. Rothstein recalls a story of an Indonesian woman, Tratiwoon, who sells items found in the garbage for a dollar a day with her three year old son (Rothstein 2005: 41). Tratiwoon dreams of the day that her son is older and can get a job at the nearest sweatshop, because to these people a sweatshop represents a leap in living standards (Rothstein 2005: 41). Rothstein also argues that Americans get on their high horses about child labour but do not understand the context in which it is used and needed in the Third World (Rothstein 2005: 41). Child Labour Hawks remove children from sweatshop employment without comprehending the repercussions. Saving a young person from child labour may result in i mpoverishing an entire family or subjecting them to homelessness or starvation. Perhaps First World activism aiming to end sweatshops its fueled by guilt, woman and children are working at slave wages for our benefit- and this makes us feel unclean' (Rothestein 2005: 42). In reality, while First World consumers do experience benefit from sweatshop production, Third World laborers are dependent on sweatshop employment to maintain their quality of life. Sweatshops in underdeveloped countries are not looked upon negatively, jobs in these factories are admired and desired. The Neoliberal theories of privatization and deregulation have enforced the proliferation of the sweatshop and garment industry in the Third World. This occurs through a combination of weakening enforcement of labour laws and creating a dependency on export oriented employment as privatization limits job availability (Esbenshade 2008: 457). Workers needs are being overlooked in order for countries to do business, countries are literally competing for apparel contracts based on who has the more docile and lower paid workforce (Esbenshade 2008: 457). Employers minimize workers needs because manufacturers locate with non-unionized businesses and unorganized plans. In the time of globalization labour has been divided among class, gender, race, and nations, the growing diversity makes it difficult for workers to feel comfortable and identify with their co-workers (Esbenshade 2008: 458). Keeping workers isolated increases production and attachment, Workers are not brought together in ever-larger worksites where their common experience unites them. Instead they are separated into thousands of small shops isolated from one another by distance and anonymity, and often by borders and language as well (Esbenshade 2008: 458). It is unclear to sweatshop labourers who their enemy is, there are many exploiters both large and small and workers cannot rely on their bosses to protect them from this exploitation, as their bosses are at the mercy of far away corporations (Esbenshade 2008: 458). Esbenshades Going Up Against the Global Economy: New Developments in the Anti-Sweatshops Movement discusses United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS), a student run anti-sweatshop campaign that directs schools to do businesses with corporations that treat their employees with respect. USAS went through several phases of initiating their cause in universities, firstly forcing schools to begin only using businesses that disclose their name and location, secondly activists requested that universities adopt independent monitoring codes by joining the WRC (Workers Rights Consortium) (Esbenshade 2008: 459). The third phase is currently underway, students are pressuring universities to join the Designated Supplier Program which requires that manufacturers have special licenses to use factory facilities (Esbenshade 2008: 459). The aim of the USAS is to hold the manufacturers responsible for the conditions of their workers, and factories where workers rights are not being respected may be revealed (Esbenshade 2008: 459). The USAS is better than other anti-s weatshop organizations, rather than fighting for higher wages and better working conditions it selects only the better manufacturers to do business with. This may motivate manufactures of low standard factories to correct their ways in order to be hired by universities. Neoliberal policies have destabilized government protection of workers in developing countries, mainly introduced by the mandates put forward by the Inernational Monitary Fund and the World Bank (Esbenshade 2008:457). Governments that have become in debt have increased amounts of sweatshops and have weakened labour laws in order to expand their export commodities (Esbenshade 2008: 457). The work environment in sweatshops has become unstructured by means of enforcing labour laws, and while monitoring is taking place it is privatized, creating a relaxed relationship between the manufacturers (who pay the monitors wages) and the monitors. Monitoring is untrustworthy because working conditions are in the hands of the private sector who police themselves (Frank 2008: 35). T. A. Frank expresses his experiences as a private monitor in Confessions of a Sweatshop Inspector proving that inspections were not thorough or trustworthy the auditors who followed me found pregnant employees hiding on the roof and Burmese import workers earning criminally low wages. Whoops. (Frank 2008: 35). If a monitor can miss things such as these, it can be believed that the privatized monitoring sector is untrustworthy and not accomplishing what it claims to be its goal. Winston describes how the well-being of sweatshop employees is in the back of the manufacturers minds. After finding all sorts of violations in a Chinese sweatshop, the owner went on to explain that the exploitation of workers is necessary to fulfill consumer and economic demand. She stated, But really, its all about profit. If I paid my workers more money, Id have to raise the price to my buyers, the people who are sending you here to inspect my factory. Do you think they would accept that? (Winston 2005: 1124-1128). The current system of private monitoring is corrupted, and the CCCs use of urgent appeals are less than productive. It is clear that merely aiming to improve conditions have ripple effects on many other aspects of the globalized economy, and that raising wages or banning child labour in sweatshops would be detrimental to the country at stake. Currently, an organization that is moving in the right direction with its aim toward correcting sweatshops is the USAS, who only uses licensed manufacturers who recognize workers rights. The USASs methods may motivate manufacturers to clean up their factories to receive business deals from First World universities. Undoubtably the use of sweatshops needs to be corrected, and the method of going about this is to alleviate countries of sweatshops and introduce a new means of economic involvement and a new enforcement plan.

Holden Caulfield as a hero Essay -- essays research papers

Holden as a Hero Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is a story about the trials of life and the toll it can take on the psyche. I believe that Holden Caulfield is an under credited hero. He is a teenager forced to grow up in a time of turmoil with severe emotional handicaps placed upon him by family, friends and life in general.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Holden is one confused kid trying to beat the Man in the 1950’s. He grew up ignored by his parents, drifting from school to school in search of a purer lifestyle. On page one Holden humbly describes his lousy growing up. â€Å"If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you will probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like†¦but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth†¦that stuff bores me.† Holden does not want to go into his childhood and play the victim. He tells us that he had a rough time and leaves it at that. Later in the book he alludes to how his parents just shuffled him from school to school hoping that he would do better at the next one. All he tells us about is his dad is that he is a big shot corporate lawyer, not much about what kind of father he was. Suggesting that he was gone a lot and not around to give a good role model for Holden. In turn it shows u p in Holden’s attitude towards adults.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout the book Holden shows his resentment towards the Man. He always refers to how phony the authority figures are. Mult...

My Philosophical Approach To Counseling Essay -- essays research paper

My Philosophical Approach to Counseling Definition of Existential Therapy   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One survey taken by Corey suggests a definition of Existential Therapy include two key elements: Existential Therapy is essentially an approach to counseling and therapy rather than a firm theoretical model, it stresses core human conditions. Normally, personality development is based on the uniqueness of each individual. Sense of self develops from infancy. Self determination and a tendency toward growth are control ideas. Focus is on the present and on what one is becoming; that is the approach has a future orientation. It stresses self-awareness before action. (1996, p.465)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In layman terms, Existential therapy can be described as a philosophical approach that is not designed to cure people but instead help the client reflect and search for value and meaning in life. Existential Therapy does not supply a cookbook of methods like other approaches but instead it provides a framework that is adaptable to the therapist, in which to view the individual and the world in which they participate. Definition of Person-Centered (Client-Centered) Therapy   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   According to Mosby's Medical, Nursing, and Allied Health Dictionary, client-centered therapy is a non directive method of group or individual psychotherapy, originated by Carl Rogers, in which the role of the therapist is to listen to and reflect or restate without judgment or interpretation the words of the client. Objectives of Existential Therapy   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The objectives of Existential Therapy are quite unique. Existential counselors are focused on helping the client achieve and expand their self- awareness. Many Therapist assume once self awareness is achieved, the client can examine new ways of dealing with problems and except the responsibility of choosing. Objectives of Client-centered Therapy   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The objective of client-centered therapy is to assist the client to experience self exploration, so that they can identify problems that are hindering their growth process. Essentially, the main goal of client-centered therapy is to have the client achieve a sense of increased awareness and understanding of his attitudes, feelings, and behaviors. Professional Opinions   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ... ...ce of Counseling and Psychotherapy. (Rev. ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Coleman. Hacker, D. J. (1994). An Existential View of Adolescence. Journal of Early Adolescence. 14. (3), 300-327. Kendall, P., & Southam-Gerow, M.(1996). Long-term follow-up of a Cognitive- Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety-Disordered Youth. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 64.(4), 724-730. Porter, R. L., Wagner W., Johnson, J., & Cox, L. M. (1996). Sexually abused girls' verbalizations in counseling: an application of the client behavior system. [CD-ROM]. Journal of Counseling Psychology. 43. (4), 383-389. Abstract from: Health Reference Center. File Number: 18987461. Westman, A. S., (1992). Existential Anxiety as Related to Conceptualization of Self and of Death, Denial of Death, and Religiosity. Psychological Reports. 71. 1064-1066. Abstract This paper examined two philosophical and humanistic approaches I have chosen as my rationale to counseling and psychotherapy. The paper will define and explain the objectives and techniques of these two dynamic therapies. Furthermore, it will illustrate existential and client-centered therapy's importance in regards to treating adolescence.

Truthful Horatio of Shakespeares Hamlet :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

Truthful Horatio in Hamlet Horatio's role in Hamlet is minor, however he serves two purposes central to the drama. Horatio provides the truth. It is through Horatio that the actions taken by Hamlet and other characters gain credibility. He is the outside observer to the madness. Hamlet could soliloquize to no end, but it is his conversations with Horatio that ground the play in reality. Horatio believes Hamlet and thus we have permission to believe. He sees the Ghost and so we can believe that Hamlet has seen the Ghost. If Horatio were not there, Hamlet's sanity would truly be in doubt. Horatio's second purpose is to be Hamlet's one true confidant. Apart from Hamlet's soliloquies, his conversations with Horatio are the only insight we have into what the Prince is really thinking and feeling. But why Hamlet chooses Horatio to become the sole person on whom he can rely is of primary concern here. From the first scene we see that Horatio is calm, resolute, and rational. Not afraid to confront the Ghost, Horatio demands that it speak if it knows what future awaits Denmark or if it has come to make a confession: If thou art privy to thy country's fate... O, speak! Or if thou hast uphoarded in thy life Extorted treasure in the womb of earth... Speak of it, stay and speak! (I.i.133-9) Hamlet admires Horatio for the qualities that Hamlet himself does not possess. He praises Horatio for his virtue and self-control: "Horatio, thou art e'en as just a man/As e'er my conversation cop'd withal" (III.ii.56-7). Horatio's strength of character is unwavering, and Hamlet longs for the peace of mind that such stoicism must bring to Horatio: Dost thou hear? Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice, And could of men distinguish her election, Hath seal'd thee for herself, for thou hast been As one, in suffering all, that suffers nothing, A man that fortune's buffets and rewards Hast ta'en with equal thanks: and blest are those Whose blood and judgement are so well commedled That they are not a pipe for fortune's finger To sound what stop she please. Give me that man That is not passion's slave, and I will wear him In my heart's core, ay, in my heart of heart, As i do thee. (III.ii.65-70) Thus Horatio has reached an apex that Hamlet recognizes is the freedom from emotional upheaval.

Leadership Assignment Essay

Martin Luther King Jr. was born in 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was the son of a Baptist minister. He grew up in his father’s footsteps and got his bachelor of divinity in 1951 and his doctorate in 1955. Early in December, 1955, he became the leader of the first great Negro nonviolent demonstration of contemporary times in the United States. In 1957, he was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization formed to provide new leadership for the now burgeoning civil rights movement. On August 28, 1963, he delivered â€Å"I have a dream†, his famous speech, in which he called for racial equality and an end to discrimination, to 250,000 people. Martin was awarded five honorary degrees; was named Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963; and became not only the symbolic leader of American blacks but also a world figure. At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr. , was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. The poverty he experienced while growing up taught him the value of money and to persevere. Walton always wanted to be in retail from his youth and he had a deep passion for it. When he returned from World War II, he started off with a Ben Franklin franchise. His strategy of buying in bulk and discounting proved to be a hit with the customers and it was then that he saw a future in discounting. Over time, he opened up several more Ben Franklin stores with his father and brother assistance. In 1962, he had the idea of opening igger stores, sticking to rural areas, keeping costs low and discounting heavily. He decided to set up his own Wal-mart store; the first one in Arkansas. With his Wal-mart, he began to use the discounting strategy that he had begun to adopt in the Ben Franklin stores. It proved to be wildly successful and he saw that discounting was the future of retail. Today, Wal-Mart is the world’s no. 1 retailer, with more than 4,150 stores, including discount stores, combination discount and grocery stores, and membership-only warehouse stores (Sam’s Club). He modestly blended in with the whole team, erased the gap between executive and employees, and dared to make his own path of success. If it was not for these great characteristics and tactics, there wouldn’t be a Sam Walton who has the ability to change the philosophy of the American retail business establishment. : Martin Luther King Jr and Sam Walton are both respectful and brilliant leaders who drove the world and changed it into a better place. To be an effective leader requires lots of efforts, wonderful characteristics, extremely clever minds, flawless sets of tactics and skills, and so on. As for Martin and Sam, one put an end to discrimination and dedicated to the success of civil rights of a generation, one fulfilled the American dream and paved the way for a new breed of â€Å"category killer† retailers; they demonstrated the model of great leaders and taught us priceless leadership lessons. They deserve to be honored and respected by mankind of all time.

Cross Cultural Understanding Essay

The first culture that would be considered as a client for this paper is a minority culture of Asian Americans in the United States. Statistically, Asian-Americans compose the fourth largest cultural group in America. However, their cultural group is significantly far from the third one which are the Latin American residents of the country. Also, an important point to understand for the Asian-American culture in the United States is that although they are American citizens and are classified under Asian descent, their cultural group and contents as many countries belong to Asia such as Chinese, Indian, Vietnamese, Koreans, Japanese (Zhang, Snowden, & Sue, 1998). However, recently, although there has been a steady influx of Asian nationals who have migrated to the United States in order to find work, family, or any other purpose, there is also a category within the Asian-American community — those who have been descendents of Asians in the country. However, at least for this paper, those two subcategories of Asian-American shall be considered together. For this minority cultural group, we shall approach to the discussion from the point of view of Jessica. Jessica is a Filipino who has migrated to the United States five years ago and whose current occupation is a household domestic helper for a middle-class family in the country. Like many other Filipinos — in fact like many other Asians who have migrated to the United States, although their cultural beliefs have been associated by many people in the country to be either Buddhist, talents, or any one of the far Eastern religions, Jessica is actually a Roman Catholic. Being a Roman Catholic, she has the duties and responsibilities of going to Mass every Sunday and beliefs any many of the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, although some of the beliefs are culturally different from Roman Catholics in the United States because of her Filipino roots. Also, she was educated up to first-year college in our community back in the Philippines and is a mother of three children who have stayed back in the country and who, at least according to her, she wants to migrate to America over the next years if her savings from her current occupation of as. Her husband is also backing her home country. Having extremely powerful family values, her daughter — the eldest of her children — his plan to go to the United States early next year to start studying here as a scholarship that has been granted to her by the local Filipino community and support group. Jessica, being a resident of the United States and belong to any minority cultural community in the country, is of course entitled to receive social support as is recommended, documented, and legislated by that country’s government (Brown & James, 2000). However, this is not the only reason why Jessica is receiving social services. The fact that she belongs to a minority cultural community in the United States reflects that she is an individual is limping in a different cultural background than what she had been used to back in her home country. In fact, back in the Philippines, living far from the urban metropolis and in the rural areas of the country, Jessica, whenever she feels an ailment, does not immediately go to the local hospital not only because of the certain expenses that are required in order to receive medical treatment, but also because of the long-standing cultural belief that before any medical help and aid is taken and listed by citizens, the first person that one approaches is the local healers of the community (Monzon, 1995). Therefore, here, living in the United States, Jessica suddenly finds herself in situations where he and if she has medical ailments, problems, or even minor conditions — something which is usually felt especially when in the industry of domestic and household work — she does not recognize that she is entitled to various medical rights as she is a taxpayer of the country. And because of the lack of the local healers of the local residents in the United States, Jessica only seeks medical attention when the ailment that she feels reaches an unbearable state. If Jessica was back in the Philippines, although she would have certainly received social welfare and social work services, she would have had local support and be familiar with the system of medical treatment in our country. However, now, being the United States, her problem is that such medical attention is daunting especially for a migrant worker in the country who knows that her income in salary is relatively low compared to other citizens (Huang & Yeoh, 1996). The availability of social work not only for medical access but also for information regarding what the hell services of the country can offer becomes essential in her case and the many other domestic helpers that belong to Asian-American communities in the country. The second person that we take into consideration is an individual named Lucas. Lucas, however, is not the real name of the client for reasons that shall be evident. Lucas belongs to a cultural majority in the United States — African-Americans — who have integrated themselves from family, to environment, culture, and even to work, in greater metro polyps and areas in the United States today. Lucas is 24 years old and works in an advertising agency in one of the many public relations groups in the city. Also, he is single and living separately from his family with an income that current income brackets would classify as under the middle-class. He has received a university education from one of the local state colleges and is planning on taking up a Masters degree in journalism for public communication in the next two years. Also, Lucas is a Baptist Christian and belongs to a tightknit community of families that practice the faith. However, not known to his family members and as he has only revealed to a few people, Lucas is homosexual and has known this for quite some time. He regularly undergoes sexual encounters with men in and around his age belonging to all kinds of races and cultures. Recently, Lucas, upon receiving medical checkup and blood test — as well as an advice from one of his sexual partners — as discovered that he has the HIV virus and that his CD4 count is already below 300. The CD4 count is a indicator of the number of white blood cells a person has. A person without HIV or does not have any immune system problems will usually have 700 to 1000 CD4 count in their blood . Even individuals who have contracted HIV virus do not necessarily have to take medication as long as they are CD4 count remains above 300(Solomon et al. , 1998). However, once this number is breached, certain doses of medication have to be taken every day at a certain time without missing a single dose in order to ensure survival from the disease. In fact, unbeknownst to Lucas or many other individuals who have contracted HIV virus and have been tested, and individual with HIV could survive up to the normal lifespan of human beings given that they either take their medicine every day in regularly without missing a single dose or insuring proper leadership to keep their immune system up if their white blood cell counts have not yet gone below 300 (Veazey & Lackner, 2004). However, because of the negative convention of HIV, many people do not notice. Furthermore, the medication for HIV-positive individuals are extremely expensive (Kalichman et al. , 2000). It is up to social workers to inform individuals such as Lucas that the medications required to fight off the HIV virus and to maintain proper immune system in order to live a full healthy life is actually free and provided by the health services of the local and national government without any charge. In fact, as of recently, any individual who has contracted HIV virus and started the medication that is provided by the government have not experienced deaths over five years because of its efficiency (Cole, Kemeny, & Taylor, 1997). The only problem with HIV is that individuals do not know either if it’s deadly effects, its problems of transmission, or the fact that medicine is distributed freely by the government is once tested this positive. Lucas had only known of this fact when he had received information and help from social workers and the system of health benefits for HIV-positive individuals together with social work scenarios are kept in complete anonymity especially considering the fact that Lucas belongs to a religious sect of Christianity that condone such actions (Nelson, Rosenfeld, Breitbart, & Galietta, 2002). I, on the other hand, am a 28-year-old heterosexual female and have been raised in the country, although discussions with parents and relatives have revealed that I have some Italian and Native American roots. Also, I am deeply religious and believe in large families, as well as a firm believer that sex should only be undergone after marriage as it stopped by the Catholic religion that I fervently practice. As a social worker, it is very essential to understand — especially considering the two clients that have already been mentioned earlier in this paper — of the various contexts they are coming from. In fact, one of the most problematic approach is especially in social work is if we have social workers immediately instigate judgment upon individuals. These two identities, although significantly different from each other and even significantly different from my own, require introspection and interface because it is only through understanding their local social and cultural context would I be able to understand the way they think and therefore also be able to formulate plans on how to help these individuals and even be able to help other in the victuals who belong to the same social and cultural majority or minority in the future. For example, in the case of Jessica, perhaps it may not be logical for me as a American citizens understand why she doesn’t go to healthcare facilities immediately when she feels pain and parts of her body, but then realized that her cultural perspective is that from the Philippines and a small room village community where elements usually go away or if they don’t, are addressed by local medicines and she looks. However, unbeknownst to these individuals is that some diseases — like the ones that have been experienced by Lucas — could only be seen after relative medical examinations and tests have been performed by research facilities and hospitals which look specifically for signs, symptoms, and ailments as a result of years of study by medical professionals in their fields (Woloschuk & Tarrant, 2002). Also, as another example, from the point of view of Lucas, being raised as a Christian Baptist immediately raises a problem in the issue of homosexuality — much more the issue of having contracted HIV because of his many experiences and sexual encounters. Perhaps, from my point of view, it would have been illogical for him not to seek treatment immediately. However, what I must remember again is that from his cultural point of view and perspective — especially from the perspective of religion and family — being a homosexual is a sin not only to local family members but even to his fate as well — much more contracting the deadly HIV virus. As a social worker, even though I believe that sex should only be done after marriage and done in full fidelity to your partner, if I really wanted to help Lucas, I would not deliver this judgment just because of my own cultural Mormon perspective but rather understand it from his point of view and realized that health, among others, must trump the cards from the perspective of my duty as a social worker. References: Brown, D. E. , & James, G. D. (2000). Physiological stress responses in Filipino-American immigrant nurses: the effects of residence time, life-style, and job strain (Vol. 62, pp. 394–400). Am Psychosomatic Soc. Cole, S. W. , Kemeny, M. E. , & Taylor, S. E. (1997). Social identity and physical health: accelerated HIV progression in rejection-sensitive gay men. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 72(2), 320. Huang, S. , & Yeoh, B. S. (1996). Ties that bind: state policy and migrant female domestic helpers in Singapore. Geoforum, 27(4), 479–493. Kalichman, S. C. , Benotsch, E. , Suarez, T. , Catz, S. , Miller, J. , & Rompa, D. (2000). Health literacy and health-related knowledge among persons living with HIV/AIDS. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 18(4), 325–331. Monzon, R. B. (1995). Traditional medicine in the treatment of parasitic diseases in the Philippines. Southeast Asian journal of tropical medicine and public health, 26(3), 421–428. Nelson, C. J. , Rosenfeld, B. J. , Breitbart, W. , & Galietta, M. (2002). Spirituality, religion, and depression in the terminally ill (Vol. 43, pp. 213–220). Acad Psychosom Med. Solomon, L. , Stein, M. , Flynn, C. , Schuman, P. , Schoenbaum, E. , Moore, J. , et al. (1998). Health services use by urban women with or at risk for HIV-1 infection: the HIV Epidemiology Research Study (HERS). Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes and human retrovirology: official publication of the International Retrovirology Association, 17(3), 253. Veazey, R. S. , & Lackner, A. A. (2004). Getting to the guts of HIV pathogenesis (Vol. 200, pp. 697–700). The Rockefeller University Press. Woloschuk, W. , & Tarrant, M. (2002). Does a rural educational experience influence students’ likelihood of rural practice? Impact of student background and gender. Journal of Rural Health, 18(4), 492. Zhang, A. Y. , Snowden, L. R. , & Sue, S. (1998). Differences between Asian and White Americans’ help seeking and utilization patterns in the Los Angeles area. Journal of Community Psychology, 26(4).

The migration of people to cities

The migration of people to cities is one the biggest problems facing the world's cities today. Discuss the main causes. What solutions could be used to tackle the situation? Nowadays, the issue of urbanization is more frequently discussed than ever before due to its increasing impacts on lives and on the environment. Most people will not argue the fact that living in a city is easier overall than living in the country. Despite that fact, many generations have lived in rural settings by choice over the decades. The pursuit ofa better standard of living, education and higher health care are the main causes of migration to urban areas.Many people hope that if they move to live in a big city they will find higher-paying Jobs. However, mass migration to cities causes greater competition for Jobs and this lead to underemployment. Others want their children to get better education and often high-ranked schools or universities with well-trained teachers are in the city. Moreover, the expansi on of cities often leads to environmental problems, such as pollution. To solve the migration problems there are a number of solutions. One of the possible answers is to improve the quality of life in the countryside. Government could invest in building medical facilities and schools.Media can also be used to promote a healthy and stress free life in the countryside. Another way to attract people to stay in rural areas is creating more employment opportunities. By doing this, many people will choose to stay in the countryside. To conclude, because of urbanization the raw beauty of rural life is fading into oblivion. Convincing people to live in the countryside might seem as a difficult task, but if for once we escape the dullness of the city and discover the stunning places, hidden in the forgotten parts of our country we might Just realize what we are missing. 285 words 30 minutes

Buddhism has developed in a variety of different forms

Introduction:Buddhism is one of the six major religions in the world. Like other religions it has a highly developed system of beliefs, a moral code and a transcendental dimension. In simple words, it looks beyond ordinary human experience to something deeply spiritual which can be realized through leading a good moral life and religious practice. Buddhism takes its name from the Buddha, a human being whose teachings developed into what is now known as ’Buddhism’.It has existed for about 2500 years, even older than both Christianity and Islam.   For some, Buddhism is a religion, for others it is a philosophy or a culture. This religion emerged in north-eastern India in the area along what is known as the ‘Ganges basin’. At that time (fifth century BCE), this area running alongside the River Ganges had become a place of civilizations, with abundance of food, rising population and increasing urbanization. Note that Buddha was not a god but a flesh-and-blood human being.  His family name was Siddhartha Gautama but later was referred to as the Buddha which means ‘Enlightened One’ or ‘Awakened One’. Once someone asked the Buddha, ‘Are you a god?’ His reply was ‘No, I’m not a god, I’m awake!’ Although the Buddha didn’t claim to be a god, he did affirm that he was a fully realized human being, that he fully understood the nature of the human condition and that he had discovered a state of being known as Nirvana. This was a state in which all selfish desire and therefore all suffering had come to an end. He taught that by following his teachings, others too could realize once and for all this blissful state.Buddha taught that there are six realms of existence – gods, humans, jealous gods, animals, ghosts and hell-beings. The realm of the gods is one of great pleasure but it is not a place that one should aspire to particularly. This is because this world is no t eternal and eventually the gods themselves will fall into the lower realms. The best of all realms is said to be the human realm. This is because the suffering we inevitably experience in life doesn’t make us too complacent and consequently we are more likely to make the effort necessary for spiritual progress. The gods are too absorbed in pleasure to attempt this.Buddhism has been described as ‘a moral system without a god’ and ‘a faith without a god’. The essential teachings of the Buddha can be summed up in the following quotation from a Buddhist scripture.† Not to do evil, to cultivate good, to purify one's mind†. Buddhism is practiced worldwide. It started in India and from there spread to Sri Lanka, China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, Cambodia, and Laos. In the twentieth century, Buddhism has spread to the West, including Europe, the UK, and the USA. What has been distinctive about the spread of Buddhism is its a bility to keep its core teachings intact but at the same time showing great flexibility in adapting to the culture that adopts it.For the interest of this topic, the compares will be between Thailand Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism. This two countries practice Buddhism but it appears quite different, but the essential teachings of the Buddha are interpreted along very similar lines. This is because over the centuries, various forms or schools of Buddhism have emerged with slightly different practices and rituals. The earliest form of Buddhism is known as Theravada. A new form of Buddhism emerged from this which is known as Mahayana Buddhism. The latter is a broad umbrella and covers such schools of Buddhism as Zen, Pure Land and Nichiren. A third major branch of Buddhism is known as Vajrayana of which Tibetan Buddhism is the principal expression. All three traditions Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana – continue to flourish.As mentioned above, both Thailand Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism believe in the story of prince Siddhartha reaching enlightenment. However, they vary in the role of this in the grand Buddhist cosmos. Theravada Buddhism is practiced in Thailand; it is often called Southern Buddhism because of the path it took through Southern India to Southeast Asia. This system remains true to the original teachings of Prince Siddhartha, (also known as Sakyamuni Gautama Buddha), that are found in the Pali scriptures. The Four Noble Truths and the Eight-Fold Path are the main focus of the school.They believe that the Buddha was a man who liberated himself through meditation and contemplation. They look upon him as a teacher as opposed to a deity, and so images of the Buddha in these lands are revered or venerated, not worshipped. In this system, each individual must strive to liberate oneself through enlightened actions. Neither gods nor magic spells can assist the process.Buddhism in Thailand: The Thai form of Buddhism is sometimes called Lankavamsa (mea ning Singhalese or Sri Lankan lineage) because it was introduced to the 13th century Sukhothai Kingdom by monks from Sri Lanka. This form of Buddhism grew as the Sukhothai Kingdom expanded over Northern and Central Thailand. However, Ayuthaya in central Thailand grew into a powerful kingdom, and eventually annexed Sukhothai in 1376. The Thai Kings of Ayuthaya made conquests over areas of central Thailand formerly held by the Khmer Empire, which had been practicing a blend of Buddhism and Hinduism much more akin to Mahayana Buddhism than to the Sri Lankan form. The Ayuthaya kings incorporated many of these beliefs into the Buddhism they had inherited from Sukhothai.This has had a lasting effect on Thai Buddhism to this day. It is ironic to note that during Dutch persecution in Sri Lanka during the 18th century, the ordination lineage of monks there broke down. It was Thailand (then known as Siam) that restored the Sangha (brotherhood of monks) in Sri Lanka. Hence, the main sect of Bu ddhism in Sri Lanka is known as Siam Nikaya (meaning Siam Sect)Vajrayana or Tantric Buddhism: The Vajrayana system is a sect of Mahayana Buddhism, and represents the occult branch of Buddhism that is today practiced mainly in Tibet and some parts of Bhutan and Nepal. Also known as Tantric Buddhism, it owes its origin to the scholar Padmasambhava who went to Tibet from Bengal. He assimilated Hinayana and Mahayana doctrines of Buddhism with the pagan Bon religion of Tibet and the occult practices of Tantric Hinduism.Thus beside meditation and contemplation, Vajrayana also prescribes the visualization of Buddhas passionately embracing their shaktis and the use of ritual diagrams (mandalas), special chants (mantras), specific postures (mudras) and sexual practices (maithuna) to attain enlightenment and liberation. The idea of these practices is not to indulge the senses. The aim is to experience and understand the fleeting nature of the material world. A true adept or siddha thus become s fully aware that material existence or ‘samsara' is no different from spiritual release or ‘nirvana'.ConclusionAs stated earlier, these two main branches of Buddhism has different practices, but they all have some fundamental similarities. They believe that Siddhartha was the son of a powerful king, and that his father brought him up surrounded by all the pleasures of the world, isolated in the palace, so that Siddhartha would never know sorrow. The prince grew up, married, and had a child, always surrounded by luxury. There are more similarities as well, but the differences in Buddhism are very significant.REFERENCE:Buddhism and Buddhists Act www.buddhart.com2. Cousins, L. S. (1996). â€Å"The Dating of the Historical Buddha: A Review Article†. Journal of the   Royal Asiatic Society Series 3 (6.1): 57-63. Retrieved on 20073. Davidson, Ronald M. (2003). Indian Esoteric Buddhism: A Social History of the Tantric Movement. New York: Columbia University Press. ISB N 0231126190.4.Gethin, Rupert (1998). Foundations of Buddhism. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-289223-1.5.Gombrich, Richard (ed.); Heinz Bechert (ed.) (1984). The World of Buddhism. Thames ;HudsonHarvey, Peter 1990, An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and practices, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 148-169. Kvaerne, Per 1984, Tibet: the rise and fall of a monistic tradition’, in the world Buddhism: Buddhist monks and nuns in society and culture, eds Heinz ; Richard Gombrich, Thames and Hudson, London, pp. 261-2788. Morgan, Kenneth W. (ed), The Path of the Buddha: Buddhism Interpreted by Buddhists, Ronald Press, New York, 1956; reprinted by Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi; distibuted by Wisdom Books

Social Media Ads

Many social media sites display multiple advertisements such as banner ads, behavior ads (ads that target people on the basis of their Web-browsing behavior), and demographic-based ads (ads that target people on the basis of a specifc factor such as age, gender, education, marital status, etc) that infuence not only the buying tendencies of preadolescents and adolescents but also their views of what is normal. All three regions viz. Australia and New Zealand, Asia and Rest of the World show high levels of switching news consumption to traditional news mediums than continuing news consumption on SBNs. The choice between online and traditional news media is also mediated by a person's level of comfort with technology (Althaus ; Tewksbury, 2000) as well as ease of use of the technology (Venkatesh, et al., 2003). Therefore, for this group, the opportunity costs associated with adopting and using SBNs (e.g. accessing the network, navigation skills, and computer skills) is relatively high causing them to potentially devalue the controls and advantages that SBNs provide. On the other hand, this group also exercise a degree of media selectivity (Yuan, 2011) based on their beliefs about various media attributes such as convenience or personal preferences (Ahlers, 2006; Althaus ; Tewksbury, 2000) for consuming news by combining different news media's (e.g. SBNs, television) (Yuan, 2011). Past studies researching news consumption through traditional news media show that individuals with a high need for information increasingly choose information-rich media (Althaus & Tewksbury, 2000; Dutta-Bergman, 2004). Thus, the relative advantage of SBNs evidenced through the immediacy and timeliness of news (media attributes) and users providing a variety of content in SBNs are highly appealing factors for these information seekers in continuing their news consumption on SBNs. Besides, SBNs also expose individuals in this group to news that they otherwise might not get from traditional news media (Pew Research Center, 2013). Thus, for instance, they are more likely to follow celebrities on Twitter or Facebook (viz. user influence), which