Monday, September 30, 2019

Advertising Through Social Media Essay

In today’s business world, social media is being discussed on a daily basis. This phenomenon has taken over the marketing and advertising industries and has changed the way they handle their efforts to attract customers. There is a big misunderstanding that social media are only popular networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, but as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, social media are â€Å"forms of electronic communication (as Web sites for social networking and micro blogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (as videos). The rise of these online communities has given companies an opportunity to engage in conversations with their customers. This in turn has allowed them to better understand what people are looking for, and tailor both their products as well as their marketing efforts accordingly. One of the main advantages that social media has brought to businesses is the opportunity to advertise their products through this media. As a result, advertising through social media has proven to be more effective than that through traditional media outlets such as radio, television, magazines, newspapers etc. As stated by Stephen and Galak in their article The complimentary Roles of Traditional and Social Media in driving Marketing Performance, â€Å"Social media is a relatively new form of publicity, and yet the impact of more traditional forms of publicity on marketing outcomes has received disproportionately less attention†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (pg. #? ). Although Social media is a relatively new way of advertising, companies are finding it to be more lucrative and successful in driving sales than any other media. In this paper I will examine (i) the financial impact that advertising through social media has on companies,(ii) the targeted demographics for this type of advertising and (iii) consumers’ response to this phenomenon, whether it is positive or negative. Financial Impact of Advertising through Social Media As previously mentioned, businesses are moving away from traditional sources of advertising to more innovative ways that have proven to be more effective. Using the apparel industry as an example, companies are experiencing increased traffic to their websites thanks to their social media ads. They are taking advantage of these sites to further relationships with their customers: â€Å"Apparel brands and retailers that have invested time and resources into crafting a progressive social media strategy have been able to use the medium to further customer loyalty, raise brand awareness, spread advertising messages, create online communities, communicate directly with customers, and in many cases, drive sales† (â€Å"Apparel Industry† 1). Apparel retailers are only one example of an industry that has taken advantage of the reach that social media has. Research conducted by Swedish economists Dahlen and Colliander, on the effectiveness of blogs versus online magazines proves that blogs â€Å"generated higher brand attitudes and purchase intentions† than magazines did (pg. #? ). Their experiment was based on posting the same exact text on seven different blogs as well as seven different online magazines and testing their effectiveness in a scale of consumer response and purchases. The fact that blogs were proven more effective proves that even online traditional ads have lost their power. It is not a matter of posting an ad online, but rather building a sense of trust in costumers’ minds that will drive them to purchase form you. Customers today are faced with more options than ever before, that is why companies strive to maintain close relationships, to make it that much harder for customers to switch to another competitor. Social Media however is not only used to introduce a new product or advertise an existing one, it has also helped companies to regain their reputation after a scandal. After Toyota had to face their decline in sales because of the safety recalls, the company used a combination of Facebook pages and videos on YouTube to promote a â€Å"cool† couple that despite other’s beliefs drove Sienna cars and felt better than anyone else. The combination of these social networking efforts resulted in approximately 2,000 Facebook fans and 15,000 views on YouTube. Within a couple of weeks Toyota experienced an increase in sales, especially in their Sienna model (Taylor, 258). Toyota is a clear example of a company facing both a financial and reputation crisis that with the help of social media was able to regain some of their lost sales as well as their trust amongst its costumers. Clearly social media can have a direct impact on consumer purchasing patterns, and it has increased the amount of online shopping for several companies. Authors Chung and Austria examine in their article Social Media  Gratification and Attitude towards Social Media marketing Messages, the effect that this phenomenon has had on online shopping value: â€Å"According to the â€Å"2010 Social Media Report† from ForeSee results, 69% of online shoppers use social media. Fifty-six percent of shoppers indicate that they visit e-retail websites on a social networking site and that website visiting affects consumer purchase intention† (? ). Costumers find it convenient to visit a company’s Website after seeing an ad in any popular social networking site. It requires minimal effort form the customer and it signifies an important portion of sales to a company. However, Social Media has not only had a positive financial impact on a company, but as it rapidly grows it has now also become a cost for many businesses. Chung and Austria argue how marketers have noticed the increased importance of social media on the marketing mix (product, place, promotion and price). Companies are now opening jobs that focus exclusively on social media. This is an increased labor cost as well as an extra effort for the marketing department, however its proven effectiveness in driving sales outweighs the cost of implementing this department. Targeted Demographics The essence of Social Media is how it’s easily accessible to everyone, thanks to the Internet. It is a 24-hour business that runs in every part of the world. Although many professionals in the field have argued its acceptance and effectiveness, many could not help but notice that there is an age and demographic aspect of it. Not every potential costumer has access to the Internet as well as not all customers feel comfortable purchasing things online. Social Media is targeted to those generations who were born with technologies like this, and are comfortable using them. There are conflicting opinions in this matter, authors Stephen and Galak argue that social media has grown to be widely accepted amongst many age groups: â€Å"Furthermore, while social media was once the domain of younger, tech- savvy consumers who were faster to adopt new technologies, it is now generally considered to have entered the mainstream and covers a broad demographic spectrum with 75% of Internet-using adults in the United States using such social media† (? ). They argue that it is a mistake to believe that only tech avy customers would be influenced by social media, since now more than ever anyone with access to a computer has found it inevitable to come across advertising in popular networking sites. However in their article Friends, Fans and Followers: Do Ads work on Social Networks, authors Taylor et al. argue that â€Å"age and gender shape receptivity† (? ). They state: â€Å"As more advertisers integrate SNA [social networking ads] into their promotional mix, the need for these questions to be answered becomes apparent. Particularly with members of the 18- to 34-year-old demographic, whose digital-video recorder usage and aversion to print media make them an increasingly elusive target, SNA can be a highly effective channel of engagement† (? ). The effectiveness of an ad is not only based on where it is posted but also on who is looking at it. Companies have to pay attention to where they post their advertising based on aspects such as age, gender, location, etc. An ad for dentures that appears on an 18 year old kid’s Facebook page will most definitely not be as effective as an ad for a popular apparel brand. Although there might be certain demographics that affect the effectiveness of advertising through social media, it is inevitable to admit that social media users are a lucrative market that companies need to reach: In 2009, Facebook and Twitter both posted triple-digit growth in the number of users (comScore, 2010). Users appear to be spending more time on social networking sites as well, growing from an average of 3 hours per week in December 2008 to more than 5. 5 hours in December 2010 (Nielsenwire, 2010). To tap this growing market, advertisers spent an estimated $1. billion on SNA [social networking ads] in 2009, with totals for 2010 expected to grow by more than 7 percent (Williamson, 2009). During a single month in 2009, SNA accounted for nearly 69 billion advertising impressions, with 129. 6 million unique users (comScore, 2009). (Taylor, 260) Facebook and Twitter are only a few of the most popular networking sites, and these numbers reflect only the results from these two sites. If all social media outlets would be taken into account the market is even bigger, with more customers to reach. Consumer Response In addition to all the good things that have been attributed to advertising through social media, studies have shown that there is a percentage of customers who have stopped using social media in part because of the amount of advertising that fills these sites. It is impossible to open a popular social media site such as YouTube or Facebook and not feel bombarded by advertising. Most of these ads are trying to sell consumer products, but there is also an increase in the selling of services or the advertisement of not for profit organizations that are looking for support. Marketers have argued that as much as advertising through social media is effective, there is a fine line between effectiveness and annoyance: â€Å"according to one industry-sponsored study, only 22 percent of consumers had a positive attitude toward social media advertising—and 8 percent of consumers studied had abandoned an SNS [social networking site] because of what they perceived as excessive advertising (AdReaction, 2010)† (Taylor, 258). As costumers we all feel constantly approached by companies through their advertisements. It is not only online, but on a daily basis you will encounter companies’ marketing efforts all around. The initial intention behind social networking sites was giving people a chance to build online communities and share content with each other. However this has dramatically changed since now it is impossible not to feel attacked by all the ads. Another growing concern in the minds of consumers is privacy issues. The ads that appear on your personal Facebook page are carefully chosen by a system based on your age, gender, location and past â€Å"click-ons†. These ads are perfectly tailored to those targeted consumers to be more effective. However, having your information available to everyone and anyone is becoming an important issue for social network users. Brad Stone, columnist for the New York Times quotes: â€Å"‘When it works, it’s amazingly impactful, but when it doesn’t work, it’s not only creepy but off-putting,’ said Tim Hanlon, a principal at the consulting firm Riverview Lane Associates of Chicago. ‘What a marketer might think is endearing, by knowing a little bit about you, actually crosses the line pretty easily’† (? . It’s one thing to come across ads that are targeted to everyone and might or might not have an impact on you, but when you see something that looks like it is talking directly to you, it might have a negative impact. The increase in sales through the use of social media has also been attributed to the fact that customers feel like they are engaging in a conversation with other customers when they receive recommendations through social networking sites. Colliander and Dahlen quote: â€Å"In a 2009 article, The Economist reported that contemporary consumers use social media to help make purchases because they rely on â€Å"recommendations from friends† (The Economist, 2009). The word â€Å"friends† seems to indicate some sort of PSI. Are bloggers really friends, however? † Para-social interaction (PSI) refers to the illusion of a face-to-face relationship that is created online. Social media allows these kind of interactions. When reading a blog you might come across a recommendation of where to purchase certain products. These recommendations seem to come from a friend, since in blogs you will most often find the blogger’s name and other credentials. The question is however, are these people really bloggers? Or are they employees of that same company that are using social media to reach potential customers. Are they hiding behind another customer’s face? It is undeniable that people have begun to generate a negative response to advertising through social media for this exact reason. It has lost the essence of being an online community, to being another source through which companies look to improve their sales digits. Looking at all the aspects that deal with advertising through social media, I can’t help but ask myself a question: How much advertising is too much? When will that thin line between annoyance and effectiveness be crossed, and consumers will find themselves walking away from these online communities? Consumers have clearly manifested their discontent towards companies taking over their social network sites. It is an increased concern that information is available for everyone and anyone, and therefore consumers are more apprehensive to sharing their credentials as well as their thoughts online. Should companies start thinking of the effect that their excessive ads will have, and the negative response they might get. I personally believe that ads are unavoidable, however there is a need for stronger rights that protect customer privacy. Companies should not only make an effort to get to know their costumers by engaging in online conversations, but they should also respect the privacy of consumers’ information and refrain from over-advertising in popular social media sites.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Photos That Changed the World

As you know the photo is great power to influence people's mind. Picture can change perception, social, political position and even identity. I want to talk about most popular and influential documentary photo that changed the world. It would be hard to imagine a technology that had more impact on 20th century life than photography: the automobile, the airplane, nuclear power, all of these were higher profile than photography, yet in day-to-day terms, photography was truly the most pervasive. First I`d like to tell some facts about photo journalism.It is a particular form of journalism that creates images in order to tell a news story. As for me documentary photography is similar to photojournalism. Documentary photography generally relates to longer term projects with a more complex story line, while photojournalism concerns more breaking news stories. There is a final branch of photography directly related to popular social life, and that is documentary photography. Documentary pro jects generally focus on social reality and human life, informed by the strong feelings of the photographer.They are photographs with a point of view, focusing not just on events, but on the daily texture of life of their subjects. Many reformist projects in the earlier years of the 20th century were documents of disadvantaged social groups in dire straits, poverty, and cultural alienation. But projects toward the end of the century have tended to be more personal to the photographers, sometimes documenting the photographer’s own social group and concerns. People love pictures. Text without pictures is boring to the mass audience.Drawings and engravings had been used in newspapers and magazines for a long time. As early as the Crimean War in the mid-19th century, photographers were using the novel technology of the box camera to record images of British soldiers in the field. However, the widespread use of cameras as a way of reporting news did not come until the advent of sm aller, more portable cameras that used the enlargeable film negative to record images. The introduction of the 35 mm Leica camera in the 1930s made it possible for photographers to move with the action, taking shots of events as they were unfolding.I`d like to present photo in a in chronological order. In 1908 photographer Lewis Hine was hired by the National Child Labor Committee. He traveled across states, capturing images of children working in mines, mills and on the streets. Here he has photographed â€Å"breaker boys,† whose job was to separate coal from slate, in South Pittston, Pa. this photo was one of the factors that influenced the adoption of laws prohibiting child labor. The photograph depicts 11 men eating lunch, seated on a girder with their feet dangling hundreds of feet above the New York City streets.Ebbets took the photo on September 29, 1932, and it appeared in the New York Herald Tribune in its Sunday photo supplement on October 2. The photo was taken dur ing construction of the GE Building at Rockefeller Center and it is named â€Å"Lunch atop a Skyscraper†. Photo was taken by Dorothea Lange in 1936. This California farmworker, age 32, had just sold her tent and the tires off her car to buy food for her seven kids. The family was living on scavenged vegetables and wild birds. This work helped convince the public and the government of the need to help farmers.Lange later said that this woman, whose name she did not ask, â€Å"seemed to know that my pictures might help her, and so she helped me. † Thanks to the power of images, the explosion of the Hindenburg in 1937, claims to be biggest disaster of the 20th century. In fact, it wasn't even the worst Zeppelin crash of the 20th century. Of the 97 people aboard, a surprising 62 survived. The incident effectively killed the use of dirigibles as a commercially viable mode of passenger transport, ending the golden age of the airship not with a whimper, but with a horrific ba ng that was photographed and then spread around the globe.Of course you know this photo. Soviet Union soldiers raising the flag on the roof of Reichstag building in Berlin in May, 1945. Photo was taken by a Red Army photographer Yevgeny Khaldei. Later took photographs of the Nazis at the Nuremberg Trials. It is a sad story, because famous photographer, that took such a powerful photo for Soviet Union ideology, was fired in 1947 because he was a Jew. Americans also have their national flag rising. The battle was the first American attack on the Japanese Home Islands.It was immortalized by Joe Rosenthal in 1945. On August 14, 1945 Alfred Eisenstaedt took this photo on Times Square. It is named â€Å"Victory over Japan Day† or â€Å"The Kiss†. That portrays an American sailor kissing a woman in a white dress. The image remains an enduring symbol of America's exuberance at the end of a long struggle. Racial segregation is the separation of different racial groups in daily life activities, such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a washroom, attending school, going to the movies, or urchasing a home. The picture shows a man drinking from a segregated water fountain. The photo was taken in 1950 by Elliot Erwitt. June 11, 1963 a Buddhist monk from Vietnam, burned himself to death in downtown in Saigon to bring attention to the repressive policies of the regime. Buddhist monks asked the regime to lift its ban on flying the traditional Buddhist flag, to grant Buddhism the same rights as Catholicism and to give Buddhist monks and nuns the right to practice and spread their religion. While burning monk never moved a muscle.After capturing and executing Che in 1967, before bury him in a secret tomb, the executioners made a group photo with the body, to demonstrate the people that EL GRAN CHE is dead. The picture actually made him a legend, his admirers said he had a forgiving look on his face and compared him with Jesus. On this famous photo South Vietnam’s national police chief pulls out his pistol and executes a Vietcong captain with a single shot to the head. It instantly became an icon of the war's savagery. But it is not so simple.The man being shot was the captain of a Vietcong â€Å"revenge squad† that had executed dozens of unarmed civilians earlier the same day. A photograph, named â€Å"The Agony of Omayra Sanchez† was taken by Frank Fournier in 1985. She was one of the 25,000 victims of volcano which erupted in Columbia on November 14, 1985. Girl had been trapped in water and concrete for 3 days. The picture was taken shortly before she died. Photo has caused many discussions about ethics rules of Documentary Photograph. Steve McCurry took this photo in refugee camp in Afghanistan.Girl was orphaned during the Soviet Union's bombing of Afghanistan and sent to the Nasir Bagh refugee camp in Pakistan in 1984. Her village was attacked by Soviet helicopter gunships. The image of h er face, with a red scarf draped loosely over her head and with her piercing sea-green eyes staring directly into the camera, became a symbol both of the 1980s Afghan conflict and of the refugee situation worldwide. This is probably the most famous picture you know. This is the picture of a student who tries to stop the tanks in Tiananmen Square standing in front of them.The tank driver didn’t crush the man with the bags but shortly after, the square filled with blood. The photo showed the Chinese that there is hope. However, China is still controlled by a communist regime. The photo is the â€Å"Pulitzer Prize† winning photo taken in 1994 during the Sudan Famine. The picture depicts stricken child crawling towards an United Nations food camp, located a kilometer away. The vulture is waiting for the child to die so that it can eat him. This picture shocked the whole world.No one knows what happened to the child, including the photographer Kevin Carter who left the plac e as soon as the photograph was taken. Three months later he committed suicide due to depression. I do not offer photos of the last few years, because I do not have enough time. And it is too early to talk about the fact that they changed the world. I will show you only one. This photo depicting Jewish woman defying Israeli security forces as they remove illegal settlers in the West Bank of Jordan river. My selection of photos is subjective, you can easily disagree with me.But the format of the report (informative speech) saves me from criticism. Conclusion So as a conclusion I want to say that as for me photo is the most powerful media tool in XX th century. And now, in the Internet epoch, we are reposting photos all the time. Documentary photo has its own tradition, its own rules, their own code of ethics. Sometimes it is on the edge of social morality. Almost all shown pictures somehow influenced the course of history. Some of them were used by ideological regimes. Another part o f them became public. But in the 21st century we know and remember them.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Sustainable building Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Sustainable building - Assignment Example Center of discussion in this paper is sustainable building as the one that has higher energy efficiency, does not or less produces or less contribute in producing the green house gases emissions and the building that makes no burden to the ecology and environment. The construction of such a building is practically possible by making smaller changes to the way we live and construct our houses. Sustainable building utilized the sustainable materials that are renewable. Moreover a structure that utilizes less resources and utilizes the sustainable resources like solar, wind, geothermal, etc to provide the energy demand and provides an environmental security, is a sustainable building. However, other features like producing less waste, building life time, utilizes and produces non- toxic or less toxic materials, durability towards the harsh atmospheric affects, utilization of the natural resources, use of recyclable materials, use of renewable materials, use of durable materials and util ization of the technology makes the construction a green construction. For example, the utilization of the natural ventilation and geothermal cooling can be utilized in the building to make the building be in a desirable temperature, which certainly reduces the cooling cost and energy. Similarly, the utilization of the bigger glass windows makes the building enlighten in the daytime, which reduces the requirement of the artificial lightening in the building and reduces the carbon footprints of the building. In the same way, the utilization of the passive solar construction makes the building cooler in summer and warmer in the winter. The utilization of the onsite water treatment plants reduces the water footprints of the building. Some simple methods like making the faucets and showers heads to mix the air with the water, reduces the flow of water but the pressure remains the same thus reducing the water foot prints. The utilization of the most modern techniques like utilizing the s olar photovoltaic panels and utilizing the wind turbine to fulfill or reduce the energy requirement of the building can make the building more environments friendly and contribute much in reducing the carbon footprints. In the similar way solar water heating can be utilized to attain the warm water and also make the building warm during the winter season. Some other methods like growing plants on the rooftops of the building also reduce the cooling and heating energy requirement of the building. The vegetation on the rooftops blocks the direct sunlight and maintains the temperature of the building. This technique is utilized by several structures like the ‘California Academy of Science’, which is designed by ‘Renzo Piano’. If some or all of the sustainable method are utilized in a construction, the structure will be a sustainable building. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) LEED is a certification that certifies a building to be a green or sustainable building or not. LEED certification verifies the green methods utilized in the building like the carbon emission of the building, quality of the resign, production of the waster, energy efficiency, energy dependency, energy management, waste management and social and environmental aspects of the building (USGBC 2011). LEED certification has different rating LEED System LEED rating makes the LEED system. A building is rated on the basis of points that the building gets after evaluating that which methods are employed in the construction of the building, how is the energy managed and utilized in the building and if the building presents a sustainable architecture or not. Points are given from a total of 100 points. If the building gets 40 to 49 points, the building is LEED certified. If it remains in-between 50 to 59, it gets the silver status. If the building is rated in between 59 to 80, it gets a gold status and it the building rates more than 80; it gets the platinum status (USGBC 2010).

Friday, September 27, 2019

How did certain factors encourage or inhibit the development of Essay

How did certain factors encourage or inhibit the development of certain types of the state systems in at least two geographical - Essay Example The rulers of the Persian Empire used autocracy, which was a practical tool to handle the vast and extremely social-culturally diverse empire. This is contrasted with the Greeks whose fierce sense of independence is meant that only through democratic systems could their state systems be maintained. Among these factors is that when the Persian Empire was founded by Cyrus the Great, it consisted of a large number of peoples from different ethnic groups within it stretching from the borders of Greece in the west to India in the east. It was for this reason that this far-flung empire had to have four main administrative centers which were headquartered in the cities of Pasargadae, Babylon, Ektabana, and Susa. Because of the diversity of the of the peoples within the empire, the rulers of Persia allowed the various regions which they ruled some autonomy in the form of the satrapy system and this consisted of administrative units that were organized according to a geographical basis. The g eography of Persia proper was harsh, being mostly arid or semi-arid, and this was influential in creating a hardy race of people who had to look outside their own homeland to acquire the items which were necessary for their survival (Mojtahed-Zadeh 275). As a result of the geographical as well as the population diversity of the empire, the rulers of the empire tended to appoint regional governors known as satraps, whose duties included being a vassal king to the Persian emperor. This administrative system was developed in such a way that these satraps administered the region on his behalf and oversaw the recruitment of the military whenever the emperor had a need for it. For such a large empire to function well, it was necessary to keep accurate records so that all the administrative activities within it could be carefully scrutinized and organized. In order to fulfill these purposes, under the authority of the various satraps, there were often officials whose work was to ensure tha t all the records of the government of these units were well kept and maintained. The administrative system of the Persian Empire was highly autocratic and this was necessary because the Persians had acquired their empire through conquest (Mojtahed-Zadeh 273). This meant that they had to govern their acquired territories with an iron fist to ensure that any forms of rebellion within their empire were suppressed. Therefore, the Persian administration gave immense power to the emperor who had the power of life or death over all his subjects meaning that he was an absolute monarch whose authority could not be questioned. The forms of democracy which were prevalent in the Greek cities were absent in Persia, and this may have been a factor in keeping the empire unified since all the authority within it was vested in the emperor, who could either delegate it to individuals or take it away as he pleased. It can therefore be said that the Persian Empire developed its autocratic system of go vernment as a response to the diversity in the population within it and it is this, more than anything else which ensured that the empire remained stable for several centuries. Ancient Greece on the other hand consisted of several hundred city states which were completely independent of each other and the

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Redemption Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Redemption - Research Paper Example In the article, Narrative Antecedents of Pedro Paramo, Paramo exhibits a significant influence on different characters making them to cling into fragile illusions of redemption. Both Susana and Fulgor Sedano are major characters in the novel who have a major influence in plot development. This essay will therefore explore the memory of each character through their relationship with Pedro. The essay will also explore the fragile illusion exhibited by the different characters through their relationship with Pedro. Susan is a major character in the novel and the author uses her influence and relationship with Pedro in theme and plot development. Susan and Pedro grew up together and therefore their relationship is based on their childhood memories. The most significant aspect of their relationship is their endless love. Although Pedro was influential, his love affairs with Susana are based on love and mutual understanding. On the other hand, Susana is attached to Pedro through his past m emories of a loveless life. Although Susan ended up being married to another man, her love for Pedro did not end. Romantic love is therefore, the first relationship between the two characters. The existence of love between the two characters is the basis of other relationships that are exhibited by the two characters throughout the novel. ... Her secrete admiration for Pedro is based on her relationship with her past husband. Although she was married, she never loved him as he loved Pedro. This made her to have endless fantasies about Pedro particularly his body was among her dreams. Susan could not divorce her husband for Pedro and therefore she considered Pedro as her virtual husband. Fulgor is another influential charter that the writer of the book uses for theme and plot development. The author uses his relationship with Pedro to achieve these objectives. Although Pedro has an influential personality, he considers Fulgor been significant for his success. The two characters therefore have equal influence on each other. Firstly, Fulgor is an influential administrator who uses his positions to increase his holdings or wealth. (Rulfo 82) Although Fulgor has authoritative positions, he was unable to achieve his ambitions due to lack of effective people skills. Pedro assumes the position of Fulgor’s personal advisor. Although the relationship is beneficial for both characters, Pedro achieves more gains from the relationship than Fulgor. Fulgor’s ambitions to achieve wealth hindered him from perceiving the gains that Pedro was making from their relationship. In addition, his poor people skills prevented him from looking for an alternative advisor. It is evident that Pedro had excellent people skills that he achieved through manipulation of different people in order to achieve his personal goals. Both Fulgor and Pedro depended on these aspects for their existence. Although Pedro acted as Fulgor’s personal advisor, he required him for his personal success and survival. The administrative position that Fulgor held was an essential requirement for Pedro’s

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Development in Accounting and Corporate reporting Essay

Development in Accounting and Corporate reporting - Essay Example This paper examines these developments and other issues that may have impacted in the development of accounting. It is important to understand the historical background of any subject such as accounting. Understanding accounting background and how it has developed is essential in understanding the past, and leads to a better understanding of the present practices. Understanding the historical background of accounting discipline, trends and practices that could have led to its current status facilitates better understanding of the profession. It is only through evaluation of the historical developments of the subject that people may appreciate accounting as it is today and its significance in the society, in organizations or other areas of application. Moreover, understanding the historical background enhances a better understanding of the objectives of the accounting theory and what the subject intended to achieve. In other words, a problem is better solved by understanding the objectives at the initial stages of a process. Furthermore, understanding the historical background of the subject al lows people to delve deep into understanding social, economic and political events and the significance of the subject in shaping these issues. For instance, as the article illustrates, there is a debate on whether accounting was a social construction, based on how accounting influences the society. Considering that there lacks a universal understanding of the accounting theory, the theory may be best understood by investigating the use of data, which people relate to accounting practices. Understanding such practices and how they relate to use of accounting data will lead to credible links on what accounting theory might mean, and how it has evolved over time to what it is today, as well as its impact on the social, economic and political

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Civil War Battles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Civil War Battles - Essay Example The confederacy was forced to defend with limited resources, which was a subjected to union thrust along multiple avenues approach. The pacific Coast Theater was known to be the military operation in the United States around the Pacific Ocean. The department of the pacific, which include the states of Nevada, California, Washington, and Oregon territory, encompassed this theater. Operations directed against Confederate irregulars in California were placed in Southern California, and New Mexico territory to control the region, which had strong secessionists’ sympathies. The battles were organized in geographical presence of Mountainous terrain. This increased the chance of conflict as they offered terrain where rebels can seek sanctuary. A high production of primary commodities in various states increased national exports significantly increasing the risk of conflict and thus contributing to financing of the civil war. The time between the civil battles and the war gave room for a conflict to recur and significantly increased the opportunity cost of restarting the

Monday, September 23, 2019

Revisiting American Indian Educational Experiences Essay

Revisiting American Indian Educational Experiences - Essay Example government and Christian missionary societies cooperated to "civilize," Christianize, and assimilate Indians. The books showed that despite the school’s attempt to â€Å"civilize† its students, it still failed to destroy the native children’s tribal identities. Yet it also managed to win many pupils to appreciate the English language and other academic skills. It was a â€Å"successful failure† as Traftzer et al put it because the children managed to keep their identities as native Indians despite the school’s oppressive policy to assimilate them yet they also learned the academics taught without â€Å"losing themselves (29). The book illustrated how culturally destructive boarding schools are to the natives and how it fosters elitism among them but it also highlighted the effort of the student’s to retain their sense of Indian identity that includes their native language that often necessitate resisting the discipline of which boarding schools impose. It showed the resolve of the students at boarding school to retain an identity that was purposely eroded through a policy of

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Economics of Renewable Resources Essay Example for Free

Economics of Renewable Resources Essay Answer any THREE questions. Do not attempt to answer more than three questions. The three questions that you answer will be given equal weight. 1.(a)  Consider now a newly planted stand of trees. What decision rule should be employed for determining the â€Å"optimal† investment in the trees – the optimal rotation – given that the stand of trees is being managed on a Single Rotation basis? Explain. (b) Now suppose that the stand was, instead, to be managed on a Multiple Rotation basis, rather than a Single Rotation basis. What impact would managing the stand on a Multiple Rotation, as opposed to a Single Rotation, basis have upon the optimal rotation period? Would it be correct to say that the opportunity to use the forest land over and over again for growing trees, under Multiple Rotation, would lead to the rotation period being longer than it would be under a Single Rotation basis? Explain fully. (c) It has been argued that forest policies in most Canadian provinces have as their long term goal fully regulated normal forests. Explain, with the aid of a simple example, what is meant by the term normal forest, as opposed to a single stand of trees. What relevance, if any, does the idea of a normal forest have to the concept of Maximum Sustained Yield as applied to forestry? Explain. 2.  The economics of renewable natural resources has, in all of its sub-branches, a common theoretical core. The core consists of the closely linked theory of capital and the theory of investment.  You have studied the economics of fishery management and foresty management. In what sense, if any, can fishery resources and forestry resources he regarded a capital assets from the point of view of society? With the aid of examples, discuss the opportunities, which society has to â€Å"invest† both positively and negatively, in such resources. What basic rules do the theories of capital and investment suggest that society should follow in making such investment decisions? In light of these rules, define what would an economist understand by the term â€Å"overexploitation† of a specific renewable resource. Under what circumstances would you expect â€Å"overexploitation† given set of renewable resources to be of a chronic problem? Explain. 3. (a)  The static economic model of the fishery studied by you, the Gordon-Schaefer model, predicts that optimal economic management of a fishery resource would always lead to the fishery resource being stabilized above the MSY level. The dynamic, capital theoretic, economic model, also studied by you, gives us no such assurance. On the contrary, the dynamic economic model predicts that optimal economic management of the fishery could easily lead to the fishery resource being stabilized below the MSY level. How can such an apparent contradiction be explained? Discuss. 1 (b) The static Gordon-Schaefer economic model of the fishery also predicts that,  under Pure Open Access, while there will be overexploitation of the fishery resource there will be no danger of the fishery resource being driven to extinction. Yet there are several examples from the real world of fishery resources being driven to at least near extinction. Recall the examples of Norwegian Spring Spawing Herring and the Bering Sea Donought Hole pollock resource. How can you explain the difference between the Gordon-Schaefer model prediction and what we observe in the real world? Discuss fully. 4.  Under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, coastal states, such as Canada, have been given the right to establish 370km Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). Due to the mobility of most capture fishery resources, most coastal states establishing EEZs find that some of the fishery resources in their EEZs cross the EEZ boundary into neighbouring EEZs, or into the adjacent high seas. The coastal states are thus faced with a â€Å"shared† fish stock management problem. Consider now two coastal states, A and B, that share a transboundary fish stock, which does not extend into the adjacent high seas. On what grounds can it be argued that, if A and B refuse to cooperate in managing the transboundary fish stock, both A and B will be driven to adopt fishery exploitation strategies that they will know to be harmful? Suppose that A and B agree to cooperate in the management of the transboundary fish stock. A and B are identical in every respect, except that A has a lower social rate of discount than does B. Could this difference in social rates of discount lead to A and B differing in terms of their management goals for the transboundary fish stock? If so, how? If A and B do have difference resource management goals, does the economic theory of shared fish stock management studied by you suggest that it will be impossible for A and B to establish a successful cooperative fisheries management arrangement? Explain. 5.  Limited Entry Type I fisheries management programs, involving limited entry  to the fishery combined with Olympics style TACs, have more often than not produced disappointing results. This has led to the adoption of Limited Entry Type II programs in which TACs and limited entry to the fishery are combined with harvesting rights schemes, the most common of which in Canada consists of ITQs. Discuss the nature of ITQ schemes, such as those found in B.C., and in so doing explain why economists prefer ITQ schemes in which the individual quotas are: (i) long term (in fact, if not in law); (ii) expressed as percentages of the TAC, as well as being transferable. Would it be correct to say that ITQ schemes are feasible only in single species fisheries, or can they be used in multiple species fisheries as well? Explain. Everyone agrees that there are some fisheries, particularly in developing fishing states, where it is not feasible to implement ITQ schemes. Do alternative harvesting rights schemes exist that might be used in such fisheries? If so, describe briefly one such alternative harvesting rights scheme.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Act of Concern Essay Example for Free

Act of Concern Essay The average Filipino generates 0.3 and 0.5 kilograms of garbage daily in rural and urban areas, respectively. A recent Asian Development Bank (ADB) 2004 study showed that 6,700 MT of waste is generated daily in Metro Manila. Annual waste generation is expected to grow 40% by 2010 These garbage come in many forms: the styrofoams used by a fast food chain, a broken pair of slippers and wrappers of various snacks are just some examples. For the past decades, issues regarding disposal of these large amount of waste have been a primary concern. Landfill sites continuously blow as more garbage is generated. However, economists would say resources are scarce and limited especially in land. Thus in 2002, the Supreme Court decided to pass Republic Act 8749 or the Clean Air Act of 1999 making the Philippines the first country to ban burning or incineration of all wastes. Incineration is a waste treatment process which uses combustion. Waste materials are converted into ash, flue gas and heat. Incineration does not totally replace landfill sites but rather significantly reduces the volumes of wastes necessary for disposal1 (Wikipedia). But beneath this supposedly positive output lies the harmful effects of incineration to the environment. Environmentalists claim that burning waste materials result to numerous negative environmental, social and health effects. Some of these harms are: †¢ Poison to the environment, human body, and food supply with toxic chemicals. The release of gases like dioxin during the burning process is harmful to every human life. †¢ Production of toxic byproducts †¢ Undermining of waste prevention and recycling †¢ Contribution to global climate change †¢ Generation of waste energy and destruction of vast quantities of resources †¢ Violation of the principles of environmental justice When the ban of combustion was lifted, there went opposition from various groups that were directly affected. These groups were businessmen, firms and rich individuals involved in the business and industrialized sector, for the reason that they find incineration as the easiest and cheapest method of waste reduction. Such a self-centered way of thinking cannot be changed by any reasoning. And â€Å"nature’s revenge† has its means to get even. At the outset, www.hubpages.com reported that 377 people died, 32 still missing and Php 10 billion or over $200 million worth of damage to infrastructure, crops and properties were lost when typhoon â€Å"Ondoy† devastated the whole country last September 26, 2009. Even some parts of the Metro Manila had been temporarily removed in the map. It was noted as one of the most alarming catastrophes in the country’s history. Not only houses, buildings and establishments were destroyed but also families who have lost their beloved relatives. Indeed, the incident had left people nothing but sorrow. Other than this, the Payatas tragedy is also an alarming result of this garbage problem in the country. These incidences would not probably happen if the government has not failed to implement an effective and efficient waste reduction program. So, even though the government has its loop holes or shortcomings in terms of the full implementation process, everyone should be concerned in taking care of the environment. We must all be responsible for our actions. And to quote from one professor â€Å"even the smallest thing we do can make or break our resources.† In the end, if the state will not follow the rules and regulations those will be futile ones and should be abandoned.

Friday, September 20, 2019

History of Indian National Congress

History of Indian National Congress INTRODUCTION Development of the Indian economy through Labour legislations: an examination on how the Indian National Congress developed Indian economy by Labour legislations. This proposal outlines the research I intend to undertake to complete the requirements of LLM. INTRODUCTION History of Indian National Congress Party:- Before discussing about the economic developments brought by legislations of Indian National Congress Party in India, there should be a fair idea about Indian National Congress Party. The foundation of The Indian National Congress was laid on 28th December 1885 at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College in Bombay with only 72 delegates attending the event. Allan Octavian Hume a prominent Englishman and civil servant then in India assumed office as general secretary and Womesh Chandra banerjee of Calcutta was elected president. Two other British members (both Scottish civil servants )were members of the founding group. Primarily The Indian National Congress aimed at inculcating a feeling of National unity and eradicating differences arising out of race, creed and provisional prejudices. Moreover finding solution to the social problems of the country and seek the co-operation of all Indians in this doing and allow all to take part in the countrys administrative affairs. Then at the beginning The Indian National Congress Party had a dominance of prominent Hindu leaders which led to a negative notion amongst the prominent Muslim citizens of the country. Moreover the ordinary population of India was not at all concerned about the organization. Any issue addressed, may it be the social oppression or the prejudiced negligence of the peoples concerns by British Authority, lack of health care and poverty, was not heard and The Indian National Congress Party was perceived as an institution of then educated and wealthy people. But it did not take Congress long to gain popularity. The members of The Indian National Congress understood the need to have a voice in the ruling British Government without which no changes can be brought about by the party. Among the very early members who understood the need and embraced the idea of Swaraj were Lokmanya tilak and Bal Gangadhar Tilak. There was an emergent need of voice in the government and this nationalist sentiment of being a part and representing the government bodies was personified by a prominent member Dadabhai Naoroji who successfully contested an election to the British House of Commons, thus becoming the eldest Indian statesman. He was aided in this election campaign by aspiring young students of India like Muhammad Ali Jinnah who later became the first prime minister of Pakistan. The Indian national Congress played the most important role under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi in the liberation of India from the British rule. The Indian National Congres s acted as the main platform for the National Freedom Struggle, beard the torch for secular politics and unified the divergent forces in the country. The Indian National Congress also laid the foundation for national parliamentary democracy. On 15th August, 1947 India became independent with the Indian National Congress Supreme at center and in all state legislatures. Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru became the first prime minister of India who described independence for the country to be freedom for her people. India under his leadership eventually emerged as the exemplar for all humanity with unity based on the celebration of diversity. From the very beginning of its independent existence, Indian government was reeling with poverty problem, rising unorganized labour sectors, rural illiteracy, extreme lack of infrastructure and basic amenities. While the main organized force behind making the Indian National Congress successful was the working class, distinctly. The historic dimensions of labour and employee legislations date back to the times of Indian freedom movement, when the Indian National Congress focused on the poor state of the labour class under the British rule. The struggle for freedom of India was mainly supported b y civil disobedience which meant that no worker would work inflicting loss to the British Government. Background of labour legislation by the Indian National Congress in India After Independence, naturally, the labouring class of India kept high hopes from the Indian National Congress and wanted much preference. But the early prime ministers of India representing the Indian National Congress were unable to recognize this fact which led to rise to unpopularity among them. When Indira Gandhi was elected prime minister of India from the Indian National Congress, she recognized the issue and galvanized the party with a slogan à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Garibi Hataoà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬?. This established an integral and dynamic link with the downtrodden, poorest of the poor and the underprivileged giving impetus to economic growth, social justice and combined industrialization with technological development, agriculture and self reliance. This era can be marked in the history of the India by significant labour legislations to cope up with the growing industrialization in the country. The primary employee of an industry is its labour force. The labour force in India migrated from the rural areas to the urban areas and was classified as arrogant, illiterate, uncontrollable, undisciplined, untrained and unskilled; this assessment was made on the organized labour which constituted only 8% of the countrys total labour force. The rest fell under the category of unorganized sector who were not totally taken care of. The then Indian employee legislation, oriented to the safeguarding of employees and protecting them against all exploitation. These government controlled legislation were bannered under labour commissioners, labour officer conciliation, inspectorates, enforcement officers and others. The Indian National Congress also aimed by these legislations to the grooming of employees by industrial training. On the contrary, it was natural on the part of the Indian employer to extend his arms towards maximum profits, who invested money, in setting up and running an organization, through their own sources or by joint venture or by loans from different financial institution. This resulted in the exploitation of human resource and reduced quality of production under the wrong notion of more production at low cost. Simultaneously, the employers were surrounded by à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Yes Sirà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? officers who were unable to give proper advice when a crisis emerged. All the managers namely labour, personal or the human resource managers were ill-equipped to achieve industrial harmony and peace or industrial democracy. The executives thus needed urgent training in labour legislations, sociology, psychology etc. The trade unions, a necessary evil, stood as a headache for the gove rnment. The trade union movement dates back to the pre independent era in India and is still a ripe and proper source for the working class to get themselves heard by the authorities and government. The Indian National Congress tried its level best to codify the labour laws. To guarantee protection and social security to the labouring class the Indian National Congress led government enacted several labour laws, such as:- The Factories Act of 1948 The Employees State Insurance Act, 1948 The Minimum Wages Act. The Employees Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 The Payment of Bonus Act,1965 The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1962 Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 Each and every Act above listed had specific purposes. THE NEED AND PURPOSE OF THE WORK Though the reformatory labour legislations by the Indian National Congress have brought forward economic boom in India. The main purpose of it was to secure the interests and well being of the labour class and encourage more people to work in industries hence promoting speedy industrialization of the nation. Over the years, the main agenda and purpose behind those legislations have lost their significance. The labour legislations have significantly shown parallel dimensions, one detrimental another betterment and advancement of lives of the working class along with the socio-economic condition of the country respectively. A review on Indian labour laws consisting rights of labours is urgently needed, particularly keeping in mind the growth of industry and services. The most important issues which were identified over the years in the area of labour reforms are multiple and parallel labour legislations, issues relating to appropriate government and jurisdictions, multiplicity of authorities, lack of uniformity in definition, minimum wages and malicious inspection reports. There also are some loopholes in legislations on recently evolved industry times like the SEZs. In the recent years it has been witnessed that the ruling government i.e. the Indian National Congress party is losing its tracks of labour welfare and drifting towards globalization of the economy, whilst the working class is getting exploited as new scopes of legislations are evolving which have less or no governing labour legislations to facilitate them. This work will investigate the problems encountered by the different sectors of the labouring class, the discrepancies in labour legislations and try to find solution to the emerging problems and loop holes in the legislations. This research will provide a rigorous analysis of the available academic literature, government commission reports and legal reviews combined with primary research into the ways the legal legislations in India brought forward national economic growth and how can this growth be made sustainable by correcting the flaws and loopholes in the legislation of labour laws, making them at par with the present boom in economy and national industrial growth. AIM à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“a critical evaluation on the development of Indian economy through labour legislations by the Indian National Congress party.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? OBJECTIVES A critical investigation on the political and legal development within Indian society during the rule of the Indian National Congress party. A critical analysis of the impact of the Indian National Congress partys labour legislations on the Indian economy. Present status of socio economic conditions of India brought forward by the Indian National Congress partys labour legislations. LITERATURE REVIEW à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“A nation may do without its millionaires and without its capitalists, but a nation can never do without its labourà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬?- (Mahatma Gandhi) India is a federal republic. Constitutionally she is a à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“sovereign secular democratic republicà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬?. In the eighteenth century, while under British rule, India was not only a great agricultural country but also a great manufacturing country too. The looms supplied by India fed the European and Asian countries. But the British Government as a matter of policy discouraged the Indian manufacturers to encourage the rising manufacturers of England. The British oppression led to the rise and growth of the Indian Nationalism with the Indian National Congress party in the forefront. The urge of economic reforms and industrialization was evident in India from that very era. Eventually planned industrialization became Indias main goal for economic development. After gaining independence the ruling Indian National Congress party immediately understood the need of industrialization to strengthen the economy and bring overall national development. The newly elected to power I ndian National Congress party then knew its need to protect, promote and safeguard the interests of the labour and working class to serve both its political purpose and to uphold the countrys economy. In India there have been a number of labour legislations till date for the purpose of promoting the interests of labour keeping in view the industrial development and growth national economy. Before independence, India hardly had any labour welfare schemes. Soon after independence, the government adopted the industrial truce resolution in December 1947. Following this several legislations were enacted like Factories Act 1948, Employees State Insurance Act 1948, The payment of Bonus Act 1965 and Minimum Wages Act 1948. RESEARCH SCOPE There is a sea of academic literature on Indian labour legislations and enactments by the Indian National Congress party, so it is especially necessary to ensure that the literature review remains focused on the research objectives. I have trawled academic search engines fairly well for this proposal, but will need to continue this to ensure the pool of academic papers and books available to me is comprehensive. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY This research will follow interpretive and positive research philosophy, a deductive research approach along with a qualitative research strategy. Why a positive and interpretive research philosophy? The research philosophy adopted for a piece of primary research under pins the way that research is carried out by defining à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“the way [the researcher] think about the development of knowledge (Saunders et al 2003). Here a positive and the interpretive research philosophy can be applied because the labour legislations done by Indian national congress have had a positive effect on the growth of the Indian economy as a whole. This philosophy can be understood by reviewing the history of Indian national politics, its policies and the enactment of specific labour laws facilitating healthy industrial growth by promotion of labour welfare policies along with safe guarding employer interests. WHY A DEDUCTIVE RESEARCH APPROACH? There is increasing research available on the success and failures of Indian labour legislations, the contributions of the Indian National congress party to the development and upliftment of Indian socio economic standards, labour laws facilitating healthy industrialization and industrial policies etc. While the objectives of this research proposal are clear:- A critical investigation on the political and legal development within Indian society during the rule of the Indian National Congress party, A critical analysis of the impact of the Indian National Congress partys labour legislations on the Indian economy, Present status of socio economic conditions of India brought forward by the Indian National Congress partys labour legislations. This would suggest a deductive approach to the research although, as with the research philosophy, a pure approach of either a wholly inductive or wholly deductive approach is unlikely. So overall, this research will generally follow a deductive app roach, with some of the ingredients of induction. WHY A QUALITATIVE RESEARCH STRATEGY? This research will be underpinned by a series of structured interviews with academic persons, leading labour lawyers, sociologists and if possible member politicians of the Indian National Congress Party. A quantitative approach is not being taken as the type of research questions and the time available for the research would suggest that a small number of in-depth interviews are likely to provide sufficient information to the insight of the issue. RESEARCH METHODS Secondary research Critical examination of the existing academic literature will be an important element of the dissertation and will help in the formulation of questions to ask in the primary research. In essence, I will research and critically analyze published literature on labour legislation in the pre and post independence era of India, Indian national Congress partys popularity and growth due to labour support, the Indian national Congress partys attempts to organize the work force in the nation through labour legislation, positive effects on the Indian economy due to good and timely labour and industrial law enactments. Efforts will also be made to identify the problems in labour legislations with the attempt to underline the loop holes in the laws enacted. Finally the review will consider literature which identifies the qualities of a good evaluation checklist. Primary research The Primary research will in the first instance compare the existing labour laws in India with the industrial growth. Attempts will also be taken to compare the political success of the Indian National Congress relating to the legislations it brought forward. A comparative study on the legislations of labour policies and economic boom in India will also be done. Approaches will then be made to potential interviewees from the following groups :- Academic personalities A few leading labour lawyers Sociologists And possibly a handful of member politicians of the Indian National Congress Party A structured questionnaire for use in interviewing the above will be drafted for comment from my dissertation supervisor, Interviews will then be arranged and carried out using a structured interview approach to determine views on (a) on the political and legal development within Indian society during the rule of the Indian National Congress party (b) on the impact of the Indian National Congress partys labour legislations on the Indian economy. (c) on the present status of socio economic conditions of India brought forward by the Indian National Congress partys labour legislations. Based on the above research produce conclusions, recommendations and a discussion paper for outlining the further labour legislations scopes in less legislated labour issues in India. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS Firstly, I do not intend to interview many sociologists and member politicians of the Indian Nation Congress party. This is due to the reason that this group of men are not easily accessible and the data that can be extracted from the politicians will be inadequate as they were not in activity in the past years of pre independence to immediate post independence era. Secondly, the time available to me for completion of this research will be a factor. I would get only 3 days a week to concentrate on my research work as a whole. Third of all there should be great difficulty to gain access to the sources interviewed as all of them have busy schedules and facilitating me with an appointment to answer my questionnaire will be difficult and problematic for them.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Anorexia and Bulimia Essay -- Causes of Bulimia, Eating Disorders

Anorexia and Bulimia: A Concise Overview As many as 20% of females in their teenage and young adult years suffer from anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa (Alexander-Mott, 4). Males are also afflicted by these eating disorders, but at a much lower rate, with a female to male ratio of six to one. Those with anorexia nervosa refuse to maintain a normal body weight by not eating and have an intense fear of gaining weight. People with bulimia nervosa go through periods of binge eating and then purging (vomiting), or sometimes not purging but instead refraining from eating at all for days. Both of these disorders wreak havoc on a person's body and mental state, forcing them to become emaciated and often depressed. There is no known exact cause of either anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, but many factors play a role in the initial onset, such as: personality traits, low self-esteem, and social and cultural influences (Costin, 21). Many anorexics have specific personality traits that urge them to refrain from eating. Many are perfectionists that will diet and exercise and not eat until their bodies are perfect. Unfortunately, however, he or she never thinks their body is perfect, and continues their destructive cycle. Anorexics that are perfectionists also tend to want to be in control at all times. Often , they feel as though others are trying to force them to do Breaux 2 things, and so, take complete control of their bodies. Marcia, an anorexic, wrote in her diary "I am in control; people are just jealous because I have will power" (D., 6). Another factor is low self-esteem. One anorexic said of her low self-esteem, "My goal in life was to please; like a chameleon, I'd change to suit whomever I was with. I always felt I was in the way†¦" (D., 1). Anorexics with low self-esteem often feel they are worthless and do not deserve to eat. Not only do they not eat, but they constantly berate themselves with insults. They hate their bodies, and cannot realize their true appearance, instead seeing a distorted image. When she weighed a mere 98 pounds, Marcia told herself, "You are a pig. You are disgusting. You must suffer" (D., 5). Bulimics also suffer from low self-esteem and feel ashamed of their behavior. Feeling guilty after eating is a co... ...orted self-image, low self-esteem, and a need for control. "Eating disorders are not about food or weight but about a disordered 'sense of self' looking for approval and finding it, however Breaux 5 temporarily, in the pursuit of thinness or the comfort of food" (Costin, 48). Treatment is an option for anorexics and bulimics, though it can take years, and sometimes it never succeeds. Hopefully, though, friends and loved ones of anorexics and bulimics will see the warning signs and seek help for them. Bibliography Alexander-Mott, LeeAnn. Understanding Eating Disorders. Washington, D.C.: Taylor & Francis Ltd., 1994. Costin, Carolyn. The Eating Disorder Sourcebook. Los Angeles, CA: Lowell House, 1996. K.D.K. "My Story." Online. March 3, 2000 <http://www.dana.ucc.nau.edu/ ~kdk2/mystory.html> D., Marcia. "My Story." Online. March 3, 2000 <http://www.members. Tripod.com/~MarciaD/index.html> Thayne, Becky. Hope and Recovery. New York, New York: Emma Lou Thayne, 1992.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Friedrich Nietzsche Essay -- Philosophy

Despite being one of the greatest philosophers of the last millennium, Friedrich Wilhem Nietzsche may also be the most misunderstood. He has become a walking paradox. Today he is regarded as one of the most important thinkers, yet in his lifetime, he could hardly give away his books. Sigmund Freud revered him as one of the great minds in the history of psychoanalysis, yet Nietzsche went insane at the age of 44. He publicly detested German culture, yet German soldiers received copies of his book, Thus Spoke Zarathustra during World War I. Nietzsche also abhorred Nationalism, yet Adolf Hitler misinterpreted his work, using it as an influence for Mein Kampf and a building block for the Nazi eugenics movement, which created a tremendous amount of notoriety for Nietzsche. Regardless, Friedrich Nietzsche’s works remain some of the most influential additions to modern day philosophy, several of which are still very prevalent today. Friedrich Nietzsche was born on October 15th, 1844 in RÃ ¶cken, a small farming village in Prussia. Nietzsche’s father, Carl Ludwig Nietzsche was a Lutheran pastor while his mother, Franziska Oehler was a former schoolteacher. Nietzsche's paternal side had a strong history in Lutheran studies dating back two generations. However, his personal experiences with religion were limited after his father died from a brain aneurysm when Nietzsche was five years old. After his father passed, Nietzsche's family moved to Naumburg an der Saale. Beginning in 1858, Nietzsche attended Schulpforta, a renowned boarding school only a few miles from his home in Naumburg. Schulpforta had a strong emphasis on religion, ironically; this is where Nietzsche began to question the state of religion after reading works including David S... ...e, Friedrich W. The Birth of Tragedy. Print. Nietzsche, Friedrich W., and Walter A. Kaufmann. Beyond Good and Evil. New York: Vintage, 1989. Print. Nietzsche, Friedrich W., and Walter A. Kaufmann. The Gay Science. New York: Vintage, 1974. Print. Nietzsche, Friedrich W. Human, All Too Human. Lincoln: University of Nebraska, 1984. Print. Nietzsche, Friedrich W. "Nietzche's Letters: 1887." Nietzche' s Letters: 1887. Web. 01 May 2012. . Nietzsche, Friedrich W., Walter A. Kaufmann, and R. J. Hollingdale. The Will to Power. New York: Random House, 1967. Print. Schaberg, William H. The Nietzsche Canon: A Publication History and Bibliography. Chicago: University of Chicago, 1995. Print. Wicks, Robert, "Friedrich Nietzsche", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2011 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.),.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Different Themes in the Book Romeo and Juliet Essay

By: Fatima Saleh Shakespeare’s â€Å"Romeo and Juliet†, a play of two young lovers from opposing families is mainly based on the theme of love and hate. Love is presented right from the start. Shakespeare used the characters and imagery to portray infatuation love, shallow love, dutiful love, parental love and romantic love or young love. This is arguable one of Shakespeare's most famous plays. This play is indeed relevant to a modern audience. Many teenage couples still experience being together and may still encounter the disapproval of their parents and friends and find it hard to be together.Shakespeare used the relationship of Romeo and Rosaline, Paris and Juliet to present infatuation and shallow love. In the beginning Romeo was terribly in love with Rosaline but the love is not returned which turns out Romeo unrequited love to Rosaline. Romeo: â€Å"Shut up his windows, lock fair daylight out and makes himself an artificial night. † (Act 1, scene 1, 134-13 5). The imagery made a depressed atmosphere, Shakespeare created a difference between light and dark, also portrayed the miserable and sorrowful feeling of Romeo.Same as Paris loved Juliet very much. â€Å"So will ye, I am sure, that you love me. † (Act 5, scene 1, 26) but Juliet didn’t love him back. Dutiful love is a major love that Shakespeare has presented throughout the play, especially in the Capulet family. â€Å"I’ll look to like, if looking liking move, but no more deep will I end art mine eye than you consent gives strength to make it fly. † (Act 1, scene 3, 99-101) Juliet has always been faithful and dutiful to her parents but became independent after meeting Romeo. â€Å"Not proud you have, but thankful that you have.Proud can I never be of what I hate, but thankful even for hate that is meant love. (Act 3, scene 5, 146-148) Shakespeare has presented dutiful love from Juliet’s words and sayings; he also contrasted the change of Julietà ¢â‚¬â„¢s love to her parents before and after meeting Romeo. The fourth theme of love is Parental love it existed in the Montague family, When Romeo falls in love with Rosaline and starts feeling depressed, and his father Montague was so worried about him, so when he started to worry about Romeo’s behaviour he asked for Benvolio’s (his nephew) help .Montague’s conversation about his son’s sadness: Both myself and many other friend, But he, advisor to his own affections, Keeps it all to himself – I will not say how true, But to himself, so secret and so close, So far from sounding and discovery, Just like a flower bud bit by a worm jealous of its beauty, Before her can bloom and spread his sweet leaves to the air, Or dedicate his beauty to the sun. If we could figure, out why he is so unhappy, we would try to cure him with the same zeal.In this scene Montague is talking to his family, his using personification which is a figure of speech where a com poser has given human qualities to an object or animal. (Just like a flower bud bit by a worm jealous of its beauty before her can bloom and spread his sweet leaves to the air, or dedicate his beauty to the sun. ) To figure out his son’s sadness. Parental love in the Capulet family, Capulet and Lady Capulet want their daughter to marry Paris â€Å"Marry, my child, early next Thursday morn the gallant. Young and noble gentleman†.Paris is accepted by Capulet and glad to marry Juliet but he doesn’t know that Juliet is married to Romeo secretly by Friar Lawrence. In this scene Shakespeare shows that Juliet’s family cares about her and they want her to get married and live happy life with the perfect guy. Young love and romantic love in â€Å"Romeo and Juliet† shows the sweetness of love. They experience love at first sight after meeting at her father’s party. They did everything possible to be together. Romeo wishes he was a glove to touch her f ace, for that shows passionate love and the power of love that runs into them.Example of young love, Romeo says: â€Å"See, how she learns her cheek upon her hand! O that I were a glove upon that hand that I might touch that cheek. Shakespeare used metaphor in this quote because his saying that he wishes to be a glove to touch her cheek. Also; Juliet says: â€Å"what's in a name? (What does a name mean) That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet† in this quote he used rhetorical question because Juliet is asking a question to begin a philosophical discussion about Romeo’s true nature, and her question is not supposed to be answered .These quotes show the open love, the unconditionally love between the two lovers â€Å"Romeo and Juliet. Young love is sweet because it allows all emotions to be set free and shows how one’s life becomes the centre of the others. This was seen in the play as Romeo gives up his live as Juliet does with hers, du e to them not being able to be together. Young love is so intense that â€Å"Romeo and Juliet† are prepared to die for one another. They are passionately, tragically, courageously prepared to do anything for each other. That shows the power of true love between them.For example, when Juliet says: â€Å"†O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name. Or if thou will not, be but sworn my love. And I’ll no longer be a Capulet â€Å"Juliet is infatuated towards Romeo, and she will even change from what she is only to be with Romeo. Romeo is to be banished for killing Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin and he has to leave her â€Å"What light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun! Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon that is already sick and pale with grief†.The moon usually symbolises light and opportunities, however, in Romeo’s wording, it seems to symbolise his internal feelings of him feeling â€Å"pale† and â€Å"grief† as he is drawn away from Juliet and cannot bear to be without her. Romeo despairs that he will never be with his true love again and feels that life is not worth living without her, which is clearly proven at the end when he takes up his life as he could not be with her. When Romeo says: â€Å"My only love sprung from my hate; Too early unknown and known too late. His only love became from his hated generation without him knowing at the beginning yet it was too late to change his feelings towards her. Young love risks danger and can end tragically. The quarrel between â€Å"Romeo and Juliet’s† families doesn’t permit the lovers to show their love publicly however their love is so strong that they are willing to risk danger to themselves and their families. They are willing to go to such extremes to be together that tragedy’s their final end. Both Romeo and Juliet die tragically because of their passionat e desire to be together. â€Å"Then weep no more.I'll send to one in Mantua,  Where that same banished run agate doth live,  Shall give him such an unaccustomed dram, that he shall soon keep Tybalt company:† The above quote is from Act 3 Scene 5, where Lady Capulet confesses her hate for Romeo, as she thinks he’s the reason for her daughter’s grief. Young love doesn’t always end with happiness. This was seen in the final scene of the play, when both lovers committed suicide thinking that the other ones dead. In this case love might not have ended happily but it shows the passionate desire Romeo had for Juliet as she had for him. It also reinforces the risks both lovers were willing to take nowing that they wouldn’t be able to live a life together. Shall I believe that unsubstantial death? Is amorous and keeps thee here in dark, to be his paramour? For fear of that, I still will stay with thee. †The quote is from the final scene, and it ex plains Romeo’s young yet true love for Juliet. Although Romeos only true love was found dead, Romeo plans on never leaving Juliet as it’s just too much to risk and won’t be a life worth living without her. Thus proving the risks and dangers one’s willing to take in order to be with their one and only, and how one’s life becomes centred on the others to the point of self-harm.Lucky is the man who is the first love of a woman, but luckier is the woman who is the last love of a man. This is clearly seen in the play written by William Shakespeare, as the two main characters that the play is named after, Romeo and Juliet, share an infatuating young love that nothing other than death can break. Also, it shows the depth both lovers are willing to go and the risks and boundaries they are prepared to face in order to truly be together and celebrate their love. â€Å"For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo†

Monday, September 16, 2019

Go Ask Alice Book Review Essay

Introduction Go Ask Alice is a 1971 book about the life of a troubled teenage girl. The book continues its claim to be the actual diary of an anonymous teenage girl who became addicted to drugs. Beatrice Sparks is listed as the author of the book by the U.S. Copyright Office. The novel, whose title was taken from a line in the Grace Slick, penned Jefferson Airplane song â€Å"White Rabbit†, â€Å"go ask Alice/when she’s ten feet tall†, is presented as an anti-drug testimonial. The memoirist’s name is never given in the book. Revelations about the book’s origin have been a cause of doubt as to its authenticity and factual accounts, and the publishers have listed it as a work of fiction since at least the mid-late 1980s. Although it is still published under the byline â€Å"Anonymous†, it is largely or wholly the work of its purported editor, Beatrice Sparks. Some of the days and dates referenced in the book put the timeline from 1968 until 1970. Its major themes would be difficulty of communication and problems of adolescent identity. It is written a series of events in the form of multiple diary entries. Summary of Content September 18th- December 25th Alice explains that she bought herself a diary in high spirits, after being asked out by a guy she liked. She believed she finally had beautiful thoughts to shear with herself through writing. Following the next day, he rejects her. Alice is miserably insecure and wonders why people always seem to hurt her feelings. Days go by and her fifteenth passes, and her boredom with life is interrupted only by weight gain and her accompanying self-hatred. She later learns that her father has accepted a teaching position at a different college and the family has to move at the start of the New Year. Over the time Alice’s mother has taken noticed of her irregular eating habits and forces her to eat. She then starts to reject her mother’s care and wonders if she could make herself throw up after eating. As time passes Alice writes that she is mostly herself with her dairy, and fears the loss of her identity trying to fit in with everyone else. Throughout this time she displays a sharp sense of intelligence and awareness of her emotions and recalls many observations as a well as her feelings. She refers to her diary as a person, confiding in it and asking it to help her monitor her weight-loss plan as if it were a close friend. This indeed is one of the major themes in Go Ask Alice. January 1st- July 14th Alice writes about her excitement for the family’s big move, but confides to her diary her fears of not adjusting to life in a new place. After settling in, Alice changes her mind about the house which she first thought was unappealing, but now she sees it as beautiful. As time goes by the rest of the family has adapted well to their new surroundings, but Alice feels like an outsider. She wonders how, in a family of outgoing people, she always manages to feel distant from others. With the passing of time, Alice hasn’t made any friends and has gained weight again. Throughout this time, her approached grows more and more unattractive and she feels like a social outcast and is frustrated with everyone and everything around her. She also talks about her new friend she meets named Greata; who she feels is just as unattractive and awkward as her. Along with Greta, she talks about Beth a Jewish girl who she meets that lives down the block. She finds that she can talk to Beth about anything; after expressing that she and her mother can no longer talk like they use to. She continues to write as he summer has started and plans to spend the summer with her grandparents. While there she is invited to a party where she is introduced to a game which includes randomly dripping LSD in several soda bottles which she becomes the recipient of. After she became aware of the aftermath she happy for the experience but never wants to do drugs again. Throughout this time, she compares her voyage into the new world of drugs to Alice in Wonderland. Alice goes through a series of social changes in with in the first half of the year, and her instability helps explain her curiosity for drugs. She sought refuge in writing but drugs provide an easier access into her fantastic world, where she feels a relationship with people and the things around her. July 20th- September 10th She goes on a date with Bill and experiments with more drugs. She feels like a complete new person, better about herself and she loves going out. While at her grandparents her grandfather had a mini heart attack. She strays away from her friends in the efforts in assisting her grandmother with her grandfather. Later she subsumes to the pressure of her friends and goes out to a party at Bills house where she takes acid. She also loses her virginity to him while on acid; which she expressed it as being another brilliant, freaky way out, part of her drugged adventures. Now, she looks for someone to talk to about drugs but she doesn’t know who to ask. Trying to sort out her many feelings she starts to take sleeping pills which she loves. Drugs makes Alice feel like the person she never was before. Under the influence of speed, she says, she feels like a member of a â€Å"different, improved, perfected species†. What Alice got from the drugs was a sense of being loved for who she really is, by others around her who is on drugs. September 12th-November 22nd Alice in now back home where she meets a friend name Chris and is given a job working with her are a local grocery store. She continues to pop pills whenever she gets tired or hungry. She is then introduced to marijuana and is now using as well as selling it. She then finds herself in what will turn out to be a heart breaking betrayal; when she finds out the truth about Richie’s secret affair with Ted. As time pass, Chris and Alice decides to flee San Francisco and vows to turn Richie in and stays sober with Chris. She gets to San Francisco where she and Chris both find jobs to support themselves. She also matures within this time frame, learning about her sexuality. However, she has not have sex sober yet. Beneath Alice’s psychedelic adventures is her continuing desire to find someone with home she can have the same open, loving relationship she once had with her family. Her shifting emotions concerning her family were the major cause for her departure, yet she longs for them in San Francisco. November 23rd- End of Diary One Alice has now passed through her by trail by fire, and she feels like an adult from the way others treat her as an individual. She declares â€Å"I am somebody: but her real maturation is not from how others respond to her, but from wise reflections on what it means to survivors the troubled times of adolescence. She is not completely ready to accept her past, she wants to repent for her sins, but she also wishes she could push her nightmares in the back of her mind. Alice finally gains enough absolute experience and converse more honestly with other runaways in this section to understand better what has caused her decline. Alice diagnoses her real problem when, happy about her father’s love for her, she wishes she could only love herself. If she could do this, she would care less about rebelling or satisfying her parents and instead focus on her own, separate desires. Throughout this section she develops a belief of Christian redemption on her own when it occurs to her that suffering may have been worthwhile, as she can now understand and be more understanding of people. Her decisions to h help others has deep religious reasons, and she ends the first diary. Diary 2 April 6th-May 21st Alice matures deeply in this section, expanding her sensitivity. Her increasing desire to become a guidance counsel shows. She has now find an identity that will someday suite her, and while she is still in pain at times, she is already getting better at communicating with others and enjoying a life with soberness. She and her parents both now treat each other with respect and concern. Her grandfather dies and she is having a hard time dealing with the situation at this point. More frightening to Alice is her true helplessness inn her flash back episode and the resulting fear that she may lose her mind. May 22nd Updated July Alice writes in her undated diary from a hospital. She is unsure how she has ended up here and can only think of the worms she thinks are eating her alive. She has apparently been biting her fingers down to the bone; she relates this to the death of her grandfather. Alice reveals that an accidental dose of acid is the cause of her breakdown. Her mother and father believe that someone else â€Å"tripped† Alice without her knowing it. she finds out she is being sent to an insane asylum. Her father tells her that when her case was brought before a juvenile court, Jan and another girl testified that Alice had still been on drugs and was selling them. She registers at the State Mental Hospital. She is frightened by the ugly building and by the inmates, whom she feels are different from her. Despite the mental horrors Alice endures, her mind stays somewhat resilient and her diary becomes her true sanctuary. She is sent away to the asylum to get help. July 27th Epilogue Alice tries to pray but feels the words are false and meaningless. She yearns for death. She starts going to school at the Youth Center, which is a relief compared to her room. Life in the asylum is draining her in all ways, as it has already done for Babbie. She listens to other kids in a group therapy session, which she finds helpful. Alice’s mother and father visit. Another visit from Alice’s parents brings a long letter from Joel. Her father reports that Jan has retracted her statement, and they’re trying to get the other girl to do the same, in which case Alice will be let out soon. Alice returns home and is happy to be with her family. At home, Alice is invited to go swimming by Fawn, a â€Å"straight† kid. Alice is insecure around Fawn and her friends, even though they seem to like her. She gives her father a sweater and a poem by her for his birthday. Joel surprises her by showing up and kisses her on the lips in front of her family. Alice is worried about starting school again but feels stronger with the support of her new friends and Joel. She comments that she no longer needs a diary, for she now has people in her life with whom she can communicate. In the epilogue, we are told that Alice died three weeks later of an overdose—whether it was premeditated or accidental remains unclear—and that she was one of thousands of drug deaths that year. Part II Memoir Review Go Ask Alice was originally promoted as nonfiction and was published under the byline â€Å"Anonymous.† However, not long after its publication, Beatrice Sparks, a psychologist, began making media appearances presenting herself as the book’s editor. The memoirist’s name is never revealed in the book. Alice is not the protagonist’s name. A girl named Alice is mentioned briefly in one entry during the diarist’s stay in Coos Bay, Oregon; she is an addict whom the diarist briefly meets on the street. Commentators often refer to the diarist as â€Å"Alice† in error, or for the sake of convenience. In the ABC Movie of the Week film version of Go Ask Alice, broadcast 24 January 1973, the protagonist is named Alice. Go Ask Alice is an honest portrayal of the life of a drug addict. Originally published in 1971, the book provides an empathetic description of one 15-year-old girl’s descent into a life of drugs that still resonates in today’s teen culture. The book’s strength lies in the breadth of the first-person account, from her early days as an innocent youth whose main worries were popularity and image to her life on the street, where the only thing she worried about was where she would get her next fix. It also details her difficult, uphill battle back to sobriety. Another strength of this novel is that it verbalizes feelings that most teens experience. For example, Alice states, â€Å"I don’t need the sleep as much as I need the escape. The one weakness/caution for Go Ask Alice is that the book is graphic in detail. It includes descriptions of her sexual experiences and the sensations of each drug, and her off-balance ramblings while on different drugs. This is not appropriate for young readers. I would direct this book to teens and adults. I think it should be required reading in high schools. Since this is about a teen struggling with addiction and the social pressures of the drug world, it is a real eye-opener to anyone who is already struggling and for those who may be confronted with the option to use. Conclusion This book had many great reviews, and I would agree that this is an outstanding book. In fact, I believe it is one of the best young adult novels I have ever read. There is much speculation over whether the diaries are fictional or true; however, I didn’t feel that affected how I felt after reading it. The accounts in this diary seem so real and well written. Many would argue that a fifteen year old girl couldn’t muster such talented compositions. On the contrary, the late 60’s early 70’s were a very different time. Although parents appeared stricter in this time, it seemed laws and drugs were much freer. It is easy to imagine all of the runaway teens and preteens prostituting themselves, using drugs, and sleeping in parks and on curbs—and most of them didn’t care where they wound up! This isn’t as common today, but it still happens, we just don’t hear as much about it. I think the author of the diary did a great job capturing the positive, beautiful feelings of her experiences with drugs. Similarly, the writer equally described the melancholy and loss of identity associated with drug use. This novel could change lives, if not simply relate to them. Overall, a frightening and well-written account of a young girls’ disheartening story from a regular teenager, to a popular free teenager, to a teenager that must be put back together. Future drug users must ask themself, â€Å"Should I try using?† Well, go ask Alice, and she’ll tell you how to stop from losing your identity as well as sanity. Works Cited â€Å"Go Ask Alice A Real Diary PB N (Paperback) By (author) Anonymous.† The Book Depository. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2013

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Food Habits Essay

Are you a teenager appearing for your Xth or XII class board exams? Well then, this is the time of the year when you must be busy feverishly preparing for the exams. During the couple of months or so prior to the commencement of exams, it is a common phenomenon among youngsters in this age group to neglect their meals and pursue erratic eating habits. So, you are not likely to be an exception either. Unfortunately this habit of poor eating will take a heavy toll of your health and general well being. The relationship between nervousness and lack of appetite is a vicious cycle. Out of sheer nervousness, you will shun healthy meals, which in turn will make you weak and nervous. It would be wise therefore to discard the idea of skipping meals, eating haphazardly and to get down to some sensible eating habits. * First and foremost, students need to consume substantial quantities of proteins. Recent researches reveal that there is a definite correlation between choline a substance naturally founding high protein foods, and good memory. Which is probably why the Indians in the Northern hinterland consider the fish-eating folks of all the coastal states, to have better mental faculties than themselves. * Therefore, it would be a good idea to eat a lot of proteins e. g fish, eggs, pulses, cottage cheese, Soya/Tofu/Soya derivatives, curd/yoghurt and so forth. * Experienced nutritionists suggest that growing children in their mid/ late teens ought eat a lot of dried fruits like almonds, pine nuts, dates figs etc. Being packed with energy these food items help in repairing the damage caused by stress. * It has been generally observed that around the time of examinations children tend to suffer from stress related diarrhoea. So it is absolutely essential that they are served less oily, less spicy and easy to digest foodstuffs. * Children preparing for their crucial examinations must increase their intake of liquids/fluids e: g milk, juices, and soups. However, processed/packed soups are an absolutely no-no. Despite the manufacturers’ tall claims, such soups are lacking in the essential nutrients and moreover contain synthetic preservatives, which youngsters could conveniently do without. Fresh mixed fruit/vegetable juices, especially carrot juice, garnished with suitable spices are indeed a boon for the examinees. * Tea/ coffee is a beverage that students love to consume because of their stimulating properties. However drinking coffee/tea on an empty stomach early in the morning is bound to prove disastrous. Similarly gulping down mugs of black tea /coffee in order to stay up the whole night, will do more harm than good. This habit gives rise to ailments like nausea, hypertension, insomnia among other. things. * Students normally experience hunger pangs in between meals. During such times, the parents must put their foot down and convince/persuade the children to have plenty o fresh fruits instead of junk food like burgers, pizzas, chips, samosas, bread pakoras, chhloay -bhaturay and lots more. Instead fries and snacks prepared at home would be a good substitute as the standards of hygiene and quality of materials can be ascertained. * A word of caution. Everyday ones comes across hordes of ads highlighting the near miraculous powers of several drugs/mixtures, claiming to enhance memory / retentive power, increase concentration and ameliorate overall performance in the exams. Without any offence meant to anybody, in case you plan to try these out, you will be doing so at your own risk. Unfortunately the efficacy stuffs such as these have not yet been scientifically authenticated.