How teaching about discipleship might affect the life of a Christian today Essay

Each and every Christian has a vocation; it is in baptism when we enter into the Christian family that we begin our obligation to live out our vocation. There are many examples of vocations that we could be called to, for example the religious ministries, the priesthood and religious life. But, then even the most â€Å"normal† of jobs and the most â€Å"simple† and â€Å"ordinary† things we do in our lives can be considered as fulfilling our vocation e.g. being a nurse, teacher, policeman or parent. We should have a positive response to vocation. We should not act like the Rich Young Man and let materialism weigh us down. We should act like the first disciples and give up everything and follow Jesus, but this has implications. Many people may find it difficult to show all the qualities of a disciple, such as giving up all they have, because they may have family responsibilities and it would be negligent to leave them or take things away from them. Also, society has changed and money is needed, if we were to be disciples like the first twelve we would not be able to survive on charity alone. Today’s population is more materialistic and therefore unwilling to part with money or possessions. We should not become obsessed with wealth and materialism. We should be humble like the Woman at the Treasury. Christians who try to live out their vocation should develop the following four areas: service, prayer, faith and worship just like the disciples in Mark’s Gospel. As Christians today we all have the responsibility to look after those in need and serve others just as the first disciples. Some may say that the mission today is somewhat â€Å"watered down†, but the principle remains the same. There are many Christian organisations that work all over the world caring for the sick, feeding the hungry and speaking up against evil and injustice eg. Christian Aid, Concern and Trà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½caire. Just because we don’t work for these organisations we can still fulfill the mission. Those who do carry out the mission to such an extent can face lots of prejudice and hatred. Service is another important part of Christian life today. Jesus showed us this as he was a leader, but also served – the disciples and those who he healed – Jesus brought this service to such an extent that he sacrificed himself. There are people this century that have also taken the mission to this extent eg. Oscar Romero, Mother Theresa and Maximillian Kolbe. Unfortunately there are not many people who have gone to such lengths. As Christians today we have to try our best to: â€Å"Forget self, take up our cross and follow me (Jesus)† (8:34) Prayer and faith are important elements of Christian life today. Prayer allows us to keep in touch with God and it allows us to let him know how we are feeling. Sadly however some people neglect prayer and only pray when they want something or are in great need of help. In Mark’s Gospel we see Jesus praying to his Father a number of times – in the desert and in the garden of Gethsemane. We see the consequences of lack of prayer story of the Epileptic Boy. When the disciples asked Jesus why they could not drive out the demon he answered: â€Å"Only prayer can drive this kind out.† (9:29) This suggests that the disciples did not pray enough or just did not use prayer in this instance. Without faith there would be no belief in Jesus. Christianity is based on faith – we believe and have faith that God exists and we believe this without seeing. We see the importance of faith in the story about the Woman with the Haemorrhage. She had faith that: â€Å"If I just touch his clothes, I will get well.† (5:28) She touched his clothes and he said: â€Å"My daughter, your faith has made you well.† We are human just like the first twelve disciples, we commit sin and make mistakes. We can fail to recognise him in the lives of others. Sometimes when we find life hard we reject Jesus and act like the rocky soil in the parable of the Sower. Yet even when times are difficult we should always turn to Jesus because he is always there for us. We should always have faith and trust in God. We know he will forgive us for our wrong doings as long as we are sorry, just as he did with Peter – Jesus forgave Peter for denying him. We know this because at the time of the resurrection Jesus left Peter in charge of the Church. If we want to live like the first disciples we should not hold grudges, and forgive those who do wrong against us – like Jesus. The message we should take from the commission is that the Good News is for everyone and that no one should be left out. Yet, in our world today there are groups of people who are segregated and marginalised – 2000 years after the time of Jesus. In conclusion, as Christian disciples we are called to have faith, pray, love others, serve others and worship God.

Bendigo Bank Head Office

In a close outlook, one would perhaps be attracted by the attractive nature of the Bending Bank Head Office. The building is in a potential and attractive architectural design with various environmental friendly features. Its feature is perhaps a potential tool that promotes the facets of going green to protecting the environment. What specific feature can be ascribed to this building? Are they potential tools towards protecting the environment? However, these questions are adequately answered by the physique of the building. The architectural design is provided to be environmental friendly.(http://www. plugger. com. au/view/1847308/) The building is smartly located in first 5 Green star building, which is one of the Australian cities. By its physical outlook, the bank’s main building comprises of six storeys, the ground, four office floors and a car park. The floors assigned for the office has a leasable area which is approximated as been 13577 square meters. This building is architecturally linked to the former building for the bank’s Head office which therefore provides office space specification of around 16000 square meters. (http://www.plugger. com. au/view/1847308/) The architectural component of the building comprises of various ESD features that have come as an innovation to improve the potential relationship between the building and the environment. The features are many and provide a very attractive image of the building. These includes an under floor system of air conditioning, both gray and black system of water recycling, external systems of sun shades which are build on the western and northern sides of the building and internal blinds that are uniquely automated.Elsewhere, the building has windows of a double glazed capacity that provide deep sect of lighting within its framework. It has a light dimming compensation system for the daylight, which is made of a unique architectural perimeter zone. (http://www. plugger. com. au/view/1 847308/) A system of collecting rainwater is evident which creates saving of water for use in various processes within the building. It has an attractive package of workstations and carpets as well as low paint emission that permit collective cleanliness and attractiveness in the building.A package of water heating system of solar energy provides a tool for energy saving within the building. Uniquely, it has an atria of two full length of height that are used in ensuring that the staff are placed within a domain of 8 metres in reach of the natural light. (http://www. bendigobank. com. au/public/Community/index. asp) The complimentary physical characteristics are perhaps an important tool that guides towards sustainable and environmental friendly situation. Firstly, the nature of the building is specially structured in making a reduction in power use by 50%.This is an important aspect in the campaign of going green towards saving the environment. Either, it has a potentially high qua lity in internal environment, which is provided by more light penetration and the substance of fresh air within its space. Its architectural design is specifically made to improve the productivity of its staff through high standard working conditions. It has features aimed at both waste and water recycling to keep the environment clean. The material used for its coating and furnishing are of high environmental friendly standards permitting reasonable condition.It has been rated as a 5 Green star building due to its high architectural environment. (Karlson, Michael, 2005, 98) Generally, Bendigo Bank is focused on the community and the general environment. The development of its new office was to capture the ideal essence of the reflection that it has towards the environment and general high conditions for work by its staff. To meet this challenge, it has a compound of high quality and a location that is friendly to its staff in terms of the environment. It has ensured high quality in door air condition and saving structures for water and energy.Achieving this goal was contributed by its choice of excellent builder and architects, which worked together with the bank’s administration as a team. (Gray, Geoffrey, 2001, 66) Work cited Bendigo Bank’s 5 Star Green Building In Regional Australia Retrieved on 8th May 2008 from http://www. plugger. com. au/view/1847308/ Bendigo Bank. Retrieved on 8th May 2008 from http://www. bendigobank. com. au/public/Community/index. asp Karlson, H & Michael, H. The Natural Advantage of Nature. Earthscan, 2005, pp. 66 Gray, I & Geoffrey, L. A Future for Regional Australia: Escaping Global, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2001, pp. 98

Anglo-Saxon Ideologies And Customary Practices By Pagans

Anglo-Saxon Ideologies And Customary Practices By Pagans The poem Beowulf was written between the 8th and 10th centuries, a time of great transition. Anglo-Saxons still dominated England, and Christianity had only come to the region one hundred or so years before. Although the new religion spread quickly, Anglo-Saxon (or Norse) paganism and its influence in the English peoples lives did not subside quickly. Although Beowulf often speaks of God, the story of Cain and Abel, and the Great Flood, there are major pagan motifs and social interactions that underly the poem and keep it rooted in old Anglo-Saxon ideas. The poem synthesizes Christian and pagan beliefs, and a close reading shows that there are many more pagan elements than immediately obvious. More than Christianity, paganism is the social basis for the society Beowulf addresses. Some elements of Christianity are obvious in this poem. Grendel is said to have descended from Cain, Adam and Eve’s fratricidal son in the Book of Genesis (Heaney, 9), and the poem makes frequent references to thanking God for bestowing victory upon Beowulf. However, as Beowulf scholar Benjamin Slade points out in his talk comparing the Christian and pagan elements of the story, the poet never names Christ explicitly. After his defeat of Grendel, Beowulf calls for the â€Å"Almighty Father be thanked† (Heaney, 63). Yet as Slade points out, giving thanks to God and making references to divine blessings and judgment after death are not at all exclusive to Christian theology. Beowulf contains very little talk of Christs teaching of salvation and forgiveness, and there is almost an exclusively â€Å"Old Testament† feel to the poem’s Christian elements. An interesting point where Christianity and paganism cross in the story is the mention of a â€Å"great flood† depicted on the hilt of a sword (Heaney, 117). Indeed, there is talk of a great flood in Genesis, but Slade correctly observes that the flood described in the poem â€Å"makes no reference to Noah, or an ark, or the effect of the flood on anyone except the giants.† A flood killing many giants, however, is not exclusive to Christianity, but is also mentioned in the pagan story of Ymir in which the giants blood floods the world and kills all the other giants. Thus, it seems that the author blended two traditions into one poetic element in a very ambiguous way. One of the major pagan elements that is common across the story is the idea of Fate. Fate was an integral part of Anglo-Saxon and Norse theology, and the Anglo-Saxon society from which Beowulf sprang (and the Norse societies to which the poem speaks) still placed a great deal of trust in it. Fate is what leads King Hygelac to his death in battle (Heaney, 85) and is what leads to Grendel’s death – not simply the will of God. Just as much talk as there is of Gods grace and will, there is talk of destiny and divine inevitability. Even in his final moments, Beowulf speaks of his death and his past glories as being part of his fate. As the poems hero says before fighting Grendel: â€Å"Fate goes as ever Fate must† (Heaney, 31). Another pagan social ideal central to the poem is the concept of the feud or duel. In Anglo-Saxon and Norse society, the holmgang – the traditional duel for settling disputes of honor – was considered very important to maintain the balance of social harmony (Day). For Hrothgar, the King of the Danes, the need to slay Grendel is not just from a need to protect his kingdom, but to avenge the destruction of his hall at Heorot and the death of his thanes (retainers) at the hands of Grendel (Heaney, 9-11). Even the demonic mother of Grendel seems bound by this code, when she seeks revenge for the death of her son at the hands of Beowulf and his cohorts (Heaney, 89). The Christian ideal of loving ones enemies and â€Å"turning the other cheek† seems clearly absent for the heroes in Beowulf, who seem to be bound by the need to maintain the balance of honor by feuding between various sections of society (Day). The poems hero sums up clearly the Nordic idea of the importa nce of the feud, in saying â€Å"It is always better to avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning† (Heaney, 97). The most critical remnant of Anglo-Saxon pagan social relations within Beowulf is the aforementioned concept of honor. In slaying Grendel, it is just as important that Beowulf gained a great deal of honor for himself and the Geatish people as it was for him to defend the Danes from Grendel and the monster’s mother. King Hrothgar speaks clearly of family honor, an dits importance to society, within his family and Beowulfs family after Grendels death (Heaney 83-85). Even at the end of his life, Beowulf is not concerned about salvation or accession into Heaven, but instead is more concerned with having fulfilled an honorable life that is worthy of posthumous prestige (Heaney 189, 213). His death is an explicitly pagan one, with a traditional cremation on a funeral pyre bedecked with gold and treasures, rather than the simple Christian burial rites of the time (which were more concerned with the glories and riches awaiting the dead in Heaven, not their earthly possessions). Although the poet that put Beowulf to paper was almost certainly a Christian, the society that he inhabited was not completely Christianized itself, and the content and social interactions within the poem make this quite clear. While there is much talk of God, Cain and Abel, and divine rewards, there is never a specific mention of these things being exclusively Christian elements of the story. For Beowulf, honor and prestige are far more important than enacting Gods will or achieving salvation after death, even at the end of his life. Thus, one cannot say that Beowulf is a Christian poem, but a tale that grew out of a society in transition from pagan to Christian. WORKS CITED: Slade, Benjamin. â€Å"à ¾rym gefrunon, helle gemundon: Indogermanic shruti and Christian smriti in the Epistemology of Beowulf.† paper given [in absentia] at 38th International Congress on Medieval Studies. Kalamazoo (Michigan), 2003. Heaney, Seamus. Beowulf: A New Verse Translation. New York: W.W. Norton, 2001. Day, David. â€Å"Hwanan sio faeho aras: Defining the Feud in Beowulf†. Philological Quarterly, Winter 1999, 78:77-95.

What is the single most important issue to you that should be a top Essay

What is the single most important issue to you that should be a top priority in our national discourse Why - Essay Example Currently, the issue is widely debated in the public and political arena in the US that how appropriate it is to allow civilians to keep arms with them. Follman argues that there is no rationale in the belief that when more people are armed, there are better chances of stopping these tragic events. In fact, facts prove otherwise. In none of the cases any civilian ever intervened to stop the mass killing. Even if in a particular case any civilian did intervene, either they failed miserably to stop the killing or they themselves were harmed or killed. The fact remains that mass shooting has increased several fold in the US because it has been easier than ever before for anyone to carry guns in public places such as movie theaters, parks, schools (Follman). It can be noticed that casualty score is much higher in 2012, especially due to Sandy Hook and Aurora theater incidents. It is a fact that American society has been heavily armed since its inception and private arms have been increasing at a rapid pace. Sales data reveal that in 1995, 200 million guns were in possession of the people in the US. In a rough estimate, its number is now close to the total US population that means, on average, each citizen is in possession of some kind of a gun under the excuse of self-defense (Follman). National Rifle Association (NRA) is known in the US as a formidable pro-gun lobby and spends a lot in support of politicians for its cause. NRA also organizes for firearms safety training and tournaments across all parts of the US. Most states also recognize the NRA trained instructors by law. While NRA proposes in the defense of law-abiding citizens and against the crime makers, it takes a hardliner view whenever a debate spurs about enacting any gun control measures. As Kucinich reports, NRA has been mounting pressure on lawmakers through

The Case of IBM Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Case of IBM - Assignment Example Description of Louis Gerstner’s implementation style of IBM’s competitive strategy in the early 1990s. The implementation strategy was something of a giant gamble. What Gerstner ultimately attempted to do was to take a failing and unprofitable firm and completely redefine the way in which it marketed itself and integrated with the needs of the consumer/market. As a function of this, he not only drastically reduced the workforce of the multi-national firm, he also resisted the urge to break IBM into smaller companies that would focus on individual market needs; rather, he decided that the strength within the IBM brand name and recognition could help the sum of the components to achieve a higher level of net worth and growth as a single entity. In this way, the business concept of synergy is aptly portrayed. With regards to the competitive strategy, Gerstner reviewed the market and saw that IBM was already far behind the curve with relation to the development and invention of new business products, PCs, printers, memory devices etc. Rather than attempting to expend huge amounts of capit al, much of which had already been lost as a result of several years of severe losses, Gerstner saw the better approach would be to focus upon an area of the market whose potential had yet to be fully tapped; i.e. business and consumer services. What are the implications of the globally integrated enterprise model for marketing managers in Australia and New Zealand subsidiary of IBM? This approach helped to decentralize the decision making process that was engaged in the nations and markets of New Zealand and Australia. Ultimately, although a somewhat dangerous maneuver, this helped to allow a degree of self-determination with respect the best way to integrate with consumer demands and needs within these markets. By allowing such a process to move forward, IBM made a risky gamble that ultimately paid off many times over. By relying on subject matter expects and oversight within these given markets rather than a centralized command and control within IBM headquarters profits from such markets soon rose precipitously and allowed the firm the wherewithal to continue with the bold changes that defined the decade of the 1990’s and the subsequent rebirth and renewed profitability of the firm (Stover, 2005). Discuss the ele ments of the marketing strategy that makes IBM successful in today’s global marketplace These strategies have been briefly touched upon within the preceding 3 answers that this study has touched upon. However, the most important strategy which was mentioned, in the mind of this analyst, is the level to which Gerstner chose to remove all other consideratinos from the table and focus soley upon integrating directly with consumer needs and market demands; rather than focusing upon the old tried and true products that had built IBM into such a formidable

Causes of Employee Turnover Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Causes of Employee Turnover - Research Paper Example As the paper outlines, the concept of employee turnover is the significantly-used approach in the context of human resource management in a business organization. The simplest way to describe the term is that it pertains to the rate or extent at which the employer or an organization loses and gains its employees or the workforce. Turnover is basically measured for the individual firms as well as for the entire industry. The concept of employee turnover refers to the workers’ rotation within and around the labour market, and continues between occupations, firms and different jobs. It also exists between the condition of unemployment and employment within a state (Abbasi et al., 2000). The term ‘turnover’ was further defined by Price (1977) as the ratio of the number of members in an organization who have left the workplace during a certain period divided by the average number of people in that organization. Very often, turnover is regarded with the complete process linked to the filling of a vacancy. According to the studies, every time that an employee vacates a position, involuntarily or voluntarily, there arises a dire need for the hiring and training of a new employee, and the cycle goes on. According to many research studies, it has been suggested that the concept of turnover in an organization arises from the employees being unhappy with the organization or dissatisfied from the job. However, this is not the only reason for the employees leaving the organizations voluntarily or involuntarily. There are various other factors for the occurrence of high employee turnover and they are described as follows: The Economy In the exit interviews conducted with the employees, one of the major reasons discovered for leaving the organizations include the availability of the higher paid jobs. In the United States, it has been examined that some of the workers working on minimum wage, left their jobs for another job which paid them only 50cents more per hour (Shamsuzzoha, n.d.). Thus, in the better economies, the vacancies in higher paying jobs would increase the employee turnover in many other less paying organizations. The characteristics of the job There are some jobs which are fundamentally more attractive and higher paid than other jobs in the same field. The attractiveness of a job is influenced by the challenges, repetitiveness, perceived significance, inherent dangers, and the growth opportunities. A bad match between the employee's skills and the job Every job requires a proper match and parallel characteristics between the employee and the job. However, those employees, who are normally hired for the tough jobs or do not match the qualifications and expertise required by the job, leave the organization in a short span of time. Therefore, the turnover rate in an organization also increases due to the lack of compatibility between the job specification and job description.

Hindu veneration of statues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Hindu veneration of statues - Essay Example The arms of Lakshmi, for example, remind onlookers of her generosity in caring for her husband Siva. Another common form is the sacred cow who is associated with the goddess Shri, and reminds worshippers of the virtue of gentleness and non-violence. People acknowledge these statues as they pass with a gesture and there is evidence of offerings of gifts like colorful flowers or foodstuffs. The visual nature of Hindu belief can be explained with the concept of â€Å"darsan† which a special kind of reverent seeing: â€Å"the central act of Hindu worship, from the point of view of the lay person, is to stand in the presence of the deity and to behold the image with one’s own eyes, to see, and to be seen by the deity.†1 Eastern people greet each other by putting their hands together, and lowering their heads, as a gesture of respect, and they do this to their religious statues too. Even simple objects like rocks or caves can be revered in this way, and this reverence for natural objects and man-made statues reveals a great sensitivity to the presence of the divine in every person, animal or object in the created world. Hindu believers include ceremonies involving religious statues into all of their festivals and celebrations, some having a special relevance at certain times of year, for example Lakshmi in the Diwali festival. In some ways this is similar to Roman Catholic processions at Easter time, or special mass services in chapels devoted to particular saints or on special saints days or commemorative events. In the Roman Catholic faith the statues are an aid to focusing on God, who is invisible and hard to imagine. In Hinduism there is a very similar approach, whereby the representations of the divine give a concrete and local expression to very general truths: â€Å"The sacred image or symbol of the god represents a means of union with the divine, but is not usually identified with the deity – the god or goddess only temporarily re sides within the fabric of the image.†2 The second part of this observation can be interpreted as idolatry, and this has brought Hinduism into conflict with Christians in the past. Hindu gods are very flexible when it comes to the form that they take, and instead of one single incarnation of the divine into Jesus Christ, there is the possibility that statues can temporarily be an embodiment of the god. The modern usage of the word â€Å"avatar,† which people use across the world to signify a virtual persona on the internet, illuminates the relationship which people have with the statues: the avatars are obviously not divine in themselves, just as computer avatars in video games are not real people, but they are used by the being behind them to interact in a different dimension of experience. The god shows himself or herself through the statue, and in fact each god can take many forms, and sometimes a statue is made of wood, or stone, or any other material, especially to serve as a locus for the god to descend into for the duration of a particular festival in his or her honor: â€Å"†¦ on the full moon day at the beginning of the hot season in March/April, the Sri Vaisnavas of Madras carry the images of Visnu from their respective temples to the sea-shore, where all, including the deities, have a refreshing dip in the surf.†3 Because of the changeable nature of the outward form of their gods, Hindus see no contradiction in seeing different

Foreign Investment in Farmland Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Foreign Investment in Farmland - Essay Example The interrelated problems of over-industrialization, decades of poor land use policies, a rising population, scarcity of resources like water, and the skyrocketing prices of food have made governments in the developed parts of the world realise that they cannot feed their peoples with oil and asphalt, and therefore should seek out alternatives. Experts agree that something big is taking place and that there are risks involved to small-holder farmers. These fears revolved mainly but not exclusively around the themes of food insecurity and peasant dispossession. The disagreement is how to read the issue and what solutions are necessary in order to address the dangers. For organizations such as the World Bank, these are birth pains of a new but promising phenomenon, and whatever risks are taking place can be solved by corporate responsibility and efficient governance of land. This means making sure that there is no corruption, that small-holder farmers get to see the contracts to lease their land, that farmers are given titles so that they can transact freely and equally. The World Bank’s opinion on this matter is laid down in its recent publication, Rising Global Interest in Farmland: Can It Yield Sustainable and Equitable Benefits by the World Bank (2010). For another group of experts, however, the phenomenon is something that must be resisted and that it indicates a new form of colonialism. They think that because the corporation wanting to take lands from the developing world are only after profit, it will result in farmers being displaced and dispossessed, and no more lands in the developing world to produce food. The World Bank report, dotted with case studies demonstrating the difficulties of rural peoples as a result of the rising phenomenon of transnational corporations and rich countries taking over their lands, states that the risks attaching to land grabbing actually â€Å"correspond to equally large opportunities† (page xxi) as long as a ccess to technology, capital markets, infrastructure and information are granted. It contends that foreign investments have the potential to make positive contributions to rural livelihood and can support small-holder farmers.. It is supported by experts such as Liversage, who contends that â€Å"mutually beneficial partnerships between small-holder farmers and private sector investors† (2010: 2) give benefits to both. On the other hand, critics of land grabbing have also stated their case. We turn to an article entitled From Threat to Opportunity: Problems with the Idea of a â€Å"Code of Conduct† for Land Grabbing by Saturnino Borras and Jennifer Franco (2010: 1). Borras and Franco argue that global land grabbing is a threat in and of itself, and the institutionalization of corporate responsibility mechanisms only serves to legitimize existing capitalist interests at the expense of the rural poor in the global south. They make the call for a human rights-framed, cate gorically pro-poor land policy framework that questions current production and consumption patterns. This is similar to the Accumulation by Dispossession that David Harvey (2006: 112) speaks of – â€Å"the perpetual search for natural resources of high quality that can be pillaged for surplus and surplus value production has therefore been a key aspct to the historical geography of capitalism.†

Week 8 Student Blog Post Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Week 8 Student Blog Post - Assignment Example The Special Purpose Rooms contain locker rooms for temporary storage, Cinema Studies Lab et al. In addition, authorized persons can just go with their own reading material. The Knight library’s houses a collection of unique and irreplaceable materials and special collections, which range from government documents, prominent people personal papers to maps. This demands that the security of the building to be highly maintained thus indicating the state of power. Students, faculty and staff have access to the library. No one without authorization can enter the library. For verification, student and staff ids are used. Yes, I feel welcomed because being a student at the university of Oregon campus; I have full access to the Knight library and its resources. In addition, there are friendly staffs that are ready to assist in using any facility that one is not conversant with and in searching for specific reading

Jack Londons life, reputation, and characteristics of literature that Essay

Jack Londons life, reputation, and characteristics of literature that he has written - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that Jack London was a social activist, journalist, and an American author. He has written various short stories, novels, and poems and with time has shown the world that even exciting tales, taking place in bizarre places can have numerous intricacies of wonderful literature. It is without a  doubt that London’s literary work is based mostly on his childhood experiences, which he clearly illustrates using elements such as symbolism and imagery to develop exceptional themes such as existentialism and survival. Jack London was born on January 12th, 1876, in San Francisco. His childhood formed his personality as well as his outlook on his later literary life. Research shows that he spent most of his time in solitude; hence, developed competent skills in storytelling. He did not have a definite home; thus, most of his early ears he lived with his wet nurse and as time went by he lived with a black woman who was called Virginia Prentis s, then his mother flora Wellman. Despite Flora’s flaws as a mother, she instilled the significance of education in London; hence, by the time he was five years old, he could read and attend numerous grammar schools until the age of fourteen years. Therefore, in 1891, he graduated from Cole grammar school though his real education emanated from the public libraries. When he was ten years old, he started going to the public libraries and his voracious reading skills and quiet demeanor impressed Donna Smith, the librarian; hence, became his guide.

The Veldt Essay Example for Free

The Veldt Essay After reading the story of â€Å"The Veldt† by Ray Bradbury, I felt shocked. The beginning was all innocent. I thought it would be about how their parents took care of babies in their own nurseries; but after a few paragraphs, I realized that this story was a tragedy. How could chldren even think of killing their own parents? After all, the fact that their parents gave birth to them is the whole reason that they are able to think, act, feel, and talk! When I first read about the lions and how they were feeding, I kind of thought that something really tragic was about to happen. I had no clue, however, that it would include murdering, much less children killing their own parents! The parents have indeed been relying on the machines and technologies too much, and causing their own children to act so too. However, they did buy those machines in order to make sure that their children lived an easy going life, full of adventure. On the other hand, the parents did indeed care for their children. It just seemed that the children did not realize that at all! The children had been spending too much time in that â€Å"nursery† causing them to have a twisted mind. They had replaced the house and the nursery as their family. Even though I do see how the parents care for their children, I do agree that they had not cared for them enough. If the father and mother had cared enough, I do would’ve realized much earlier and found a way to prevent what would later happen to them. Also, the father’s way of solving was way too harsh and abrupt. It had shocked the children too much and because of the father’s unthinking way of solving the situation, the children couldn’t take their frustration. Yet, I felt that the children had no right, absolutely no way to kill their parents. Their parents had given them a life that no other children had. They had things that no others have. They should be thinking of how to pay back in the future, but not how to kill their parents for something as moving! I do understand that sometimes parents are unreasonable, always blaming children, yet don’t give chldren the chance to explain themselves. However, parents always think for their own children. Well, who doesn’t? At times, parents could be harsh, strict, and pushy, but one should also think of the times that their parents did everything for them. A mother or father would do anything for their child.

Entrepreneurial Ambitions Essay Example for Free

Entrepreneurial Ambitions Essay Abstract An entrepreneur is someone who goes into business for themselves, hoping to expand and maximize profit. Throughout this report, I will briefly explain two of the premiere entrepreneurs who took a risk and it paid off. Entrepreneurial Ambitions It’s not about the price one charges for his goods and services, nor is it about the competition or how to beat them. It’s all about the customers and clients. Your clients are the ones who generally decided whether your product fails or succeeds (goods, services, 2008). Many famous and non famous entrepreneurs become who they are for a plethora of reasons. Some embark on this experience to avoid being taken advantage of, conflict in work environment, but most just want to call their own shots and be the boss. When I think of a successful business entrepreneurs, the first name that comes to mind is the gentleman by the name of Sean Combs. Growing up in the mean streets of Harlem, New York, becoming a successful mogul and businessman was only an after thought. Living to see the age 15, in which majority of his childhood friends weren’t fortunate to do was his first priority. Being an entrepreneur, one has to be willing to take a calculated risk in which you accept all responsibility if your idea fails. Sean Combs came up with a strategic plan to lower the cost of his merchandise and make it more affordable for people on a budget. Aside from having one of, if not the biggest record labels in the industry, he also is the joint owner of a alcoholic beverage that goes simply by the name of Ciroc (Grabow, 2008). Ciroc is a brand of alcoholic beverage, manufactured in France and marketed as vodka (Grabow, 2008). In 2007, the beverage’s first year of existence, the sales were slow, only moving 120,000 cases that year. By 2009, Comb’s second year with the brand, the cases more than doubled and moved 400,000 cases. Today, this vodka is the number one selling beverage of all time, with revenue that exceeds more that 100 million dollars. The next entrepreneur I want to discuss is one who’s made her mark in the industry for decades now. She goes by the name of Oprah Winfrey. It’ll take me some time to list her numerous accolades, so I’ll just name a few ways she’s made an impact on people’s lives. She endorsed a political candidate for the first time, hosting a fundraiser for senator and now president Barack Obama (â€Å"Political, candidate†, 2011). It is widely believed that her support was crucial to his winning the Democratic nomination, and presidency itself. She also founded the Family for Better Lives Foundation and also contributes to her alma mater, Tennessee State University (A and E Television Network, 2011). It’s had to pick just one approach and leadership style that I most identify with. The type of business I’m aiming to venture into requires both social responsibility and profit oriented. Growing up, I was always a fan of the latest apparel. But do to the economic crisis, I wasn’t able to afford, nor wear the clothing I always wanted. I understand that do to the recession, companies are forced to increase the prices to maximize profit; also do to the increase of prices I was forced to focus more on my needs more than my wants. That’s why my plan is to assemble a clothing line to compete with all the other leading clothing lines. The only difference is my product will be affordable. I am also an aspiring barber and would like to tie the two together; sell my own brand of clothing inside my barbershop. My barbershop will differentiate among its competitors. In addition to styling hair, there will also be a salon for women. I’m sure you’re thinking, â€Å"What’s so different about that?† We all know how boring it can be while your children  sit and waits there for hours for their mother to gets their hair done. That’s why I plan to incorporate a game area so the kids can have fun while waiting. The game room will include a playpen, bowling, snack area, etc. All the resources available through the Small Business Administration and â€Å"score† are intriguing and helpful, but the three that best fits my entrepreneurial approach are International Trade, Small Business Developmental Center, and Office of Governments. International Trade, whose goal is to enhance a company’s ability to compete internationally, will help my clothing line gain exposure all over the world. This will give me an opportunity to expand my brand globally. We all know that starting a business can be challenging and time consuming. The Small Business Developmental Center aims to give educational advice/service for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs such as myself (â€Å"Educational Advice†, 2007). Office of Government Contracting Business Development, whose mission is to help enhance the effectiveness of small business programs by working with government contracting and business development programs offices and others to develop policies, regulations, and statutory changes (â€Å"business, programs†, 2005). References A and E Television Network, 2011 â€Å"Educational advice† 2007 Grabow, Chris. (2008). Biography of Sean Combs â€Å"Political Candidate† 2011

Nature Of Online Dating And Relationships Psychology Essay

Nature Of Online Dating And Relationships Psychology Essay Early research on Internet self-efficacy focused on the performance of specific tasks such as entering World-Wide Web addresses, creating folders and bookmarks, mailing pages, using File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and telnet, constructing a hypertext index, and moving bookmarks (Nahl, 1996, 1997). Ren (1999) reported a measure of self-efficacy specific to searching for government information sources. Results were consistent with previous self-efficacy literature, with self-efficacy perceptions positively related to task performance (Nahl, 1996, 1997) and the amount of use (Ren, 1999). The prior studies did not yield a measure of self-efficacy suitable for studying overall Internet usage, and rerpoted no information about reliability and validity. In Nahl (1997), scale items confounded distinct behaviors; a single item asked about e-mail, hypertext mark-up language (HTML) scripting, telnet, and file transfer protocol. Nahls measure referred to specific subsidiary tasks (e.g., creating bookmarks) instead of overall attainments (e.g., obtaining useful information) and thus did not properly reflect the constructive definition of self-efficacy. Ren (1999) operationalized self-efficacy in a manner more consistent with its conceptual definition (e.g., search the Internet by yourself), but a single item measure was employed so its reliability could not be determined. Rens measure applied to a specific behavioral domain (i.e., seeking government information) rather than overall Internet use, limiting its future application. In an effort to further understand psychological aspects of the Digital Divide, the present study builds on past research to develop a new measure of Internet self-efficacy. It assesses reliability and analyzes the construct validity of Internet self-efficacy by comparing it to measures of other constructs thought to be positively related, negative related or unrelated on theoretical grounds (Anastasi, 1988). Nature of online dating and relationships Within the popular press and scholarly literature, online dating is referred to as cyber relationships (Joinson, 2003), online romantic relationships (Anderson,2005; Bonebrake, 2002; Levine, 2000), digital dating (Merkle Richardson, 2000) and Internet relationships (McCown, Fischer, Page Homant, 2001). Other terms include computer-mediated relationships (Scharlott Christ, 1995; Whitty Gavin, 2001), Internet dating (Hardey, 2002), online personals and mixed mode relationships (Ellison, Heino Gibbs, 2006; Gibbs, Ellison Heino, 2006) and personal relationships online (Parks Floyd, 1996). Looking at the myriad of terms referring to online dating or online relationships, it is fundamental to elucidate and define the latter. Traditional social psychological definitions and interpretations ofrelationships may contribute to the current understanding of online relationships. Schlenker (1984) believes that the existence of a relationship is a result of the interrelation of identities. M orespecifically, one develops a specific identity within each relationship with exclusive thought and behavioural patterns, which will, with relationship growth, lead to similarity and closeness. Contemporary research pertaining to online relationships presents several interpretations of online dating. First, online matchmaking defines both online dating and online dating service (Houran, 2006). Second, online dating pertains to relationships of a romantic or friendship nature formed online by using online communication (Whitty Gavin, 2002). Third, online relationships refer to relationships initiated and maintained online (Wright, 2004). Fourth, online relationships refer to mixed mode relationships, therefore online relationships develop and migrate to other environments such as the face-to-face environment (Ellison et al., 2006). Taken together, online dating pertains to an intentional, mediated search, meeting and relationship development with a preferred significant other using computer-mediated communication. Having defined online relationships, the focus of the following section is to consider the background of online dating. As noted earlier, conclusions about online relationships in the popular press and scholarly literature are ambiguous. As such, one can expect the same ambiguity pertaining to the nature of online relationships. This section provides a brief outline of the nature of online relationships rather than a comprehensive discussion. Researchers, theorists and academics are still pondering the nature of online dating. Two opposing schools of thought seem to have emerged: those deeming online relations as superficial, distant, unemotional and unsocial, and others classifying online relations as personal, unconventional, and a new alternative (Parks Floyd, 1996). For example, online dating has been referred to as an audition for a real date (Barnes, 2001) and a relevant platform for relationship formation, although insubstantial for online relations (Civin, 2000; Hardey, 2002; Hills Argyle, 2003; Utz, 2000). It is clear that the significance of online relationships is queried rather than the formation of online relationships. Evidence supporting such claims seems marginal. Opposing such claims, some researchers regard online relationships as interpersonal (Barnes, 2001; Ben-Zeev, 2004; Parks Floyd, 1996; Sherman, 2001; Walther, 1995), more significant (Parks Floyd, 1996; Wallace, 1999; Yum Hara, 2005), excitin g (Gwinnell, 1998) and real (Houran, 2006; Houran Lange, 2004; Yum Hara, 2005). Furthermore, online relationships are described as solid (Sherman, 2001) in which trust and commitment are commonly shared (Anderson Emmers-Sommer, 2006; Whitty Gavin, 2001). Subsequently, one can assume that interpersonal online relationships are interactive and personal relations between two individuals. Focussing on peoples expectations and self-presentation, Gibbs et al. (2006) propose a model of perceived success of online relationships in their investigation of online dating relationships that migrate to face-to-face contexts (figure 1 illustrates this model). Figure 1: Perception of successful online relationships model (Gibbs et al., 2006) This model proposes that the perceived success of online relationships depends on the successful use of certain self-presentation strategies online. Three interacting processes contribute to the success of an online relationship: (a) relationship goals these goals include growth and relationship migration (b) self-disclosure pertains to the quantity, the positive or negative nature thereof, future intention and honesty in revealing personal information, (c) online dating experience describes online dating behaviour in terms of the magnitude of relationships initiated online and learning ability (namely, a persons ability to learn from previous experiences and then draw on this information in future online relations). (d) Perception of success, Successful presentation of the self and strategic success. Thus, successful online relationships that migrate to a face-to-face context may be achieved by fostering long-term goals, deliberately disclosing positive and additional personal information, and learning form previous online dating experiences (Gibbs et al., 2006). Research suggests that online relationships are mostly heterogeneous with a romantic or friendship-like nature (Hardey, 2004; Parks Roberts, 1998; Whitty Gavin, 2002; Wolak, Mitchell Finkelhor, 2002; Yum Hara, 2005). Furthermore, online relationships typically progress to other environments such as telephone and face-to-face contact (McKenna et al., 2002; Parks et al., 1996; Sveningsson, 2002). More recently, Wright (2004)identified two types of online relationships, namely primarily Internet-based relationships, that is relationships that are initiated in a face-to-face setting and maintained online, and exclusively Internet-based relationships, referring to relationships initiated and maintained entirely online. Online relationships may migrate to other environments or remain and develop online. This may be an important consideration in investigating the online persona. Ben-Zeev (2004) explains the nature of online relations as contradictory, firstly because of the geographical distance between those involved versus the immediacy of online communication. Secondly, online communication is rich in meaning because of the high level of self-disclosure, but impoverished in terms of a lack of visual cues. Thirdly, despite the higher level of self-disclosure, participants stay anonymous. Fourthly, online relations are emotionally continuous and discontinuous because communication takes place with intervals at any time. Lastly, the intellectual and emotional input by far surpasses the physical effort. In summary, the broad characteristics of online relations include, but are not necessarily limited to, anonymity, self-disclosure and attraction, which include proximity and similarity. An understanding of these characteristics is needed to comprehend the online persona, which follows later. Because two people disclose and share personal information, build trust and interdependence, and develop emotional closeness prior to physical attraction, these online relationships seem interpersonal. Therefore, in uncovering the online dating persona it is important to consider online relationships, specifically their formation, maintenance and success. Subsequently, the discussion turns its focus to online relationship formation. Theoretical perspectives Face-to-face relationship formation has received a great deal of attention from theorists and researchers. In contrast, online relationship formation lacks empirical enquiry, with investigations into this field being very new and recent. This section reviews traditional and contemporary theories pertaining specifically to the formation of interpersonal relationships. In addition, this section examines contemporary research findings pertaining to online relationship formation compared to face-to-face relationships. To conceptualise the formation of close interpersonal relationships within a face-to-face environment, the approach of Chelune, Robison and Kommor (1984) seems comprehensive. This traditional approach regards close interpersonal relationship formation as a mutual process of development. First, this approach assumes that the increased disclosure of personal information facilitates learning about a significant other. Second, continued interaction permits the mutual sharing of personal information, resulting in an enhanced sense of familiarity between those interacting. Third, the reciprocal interrelation of dependence, support and understanding builds a structure of future dependency. Fourth, with the acceptance and anticipation of the indefinite continuation of the relationship, this structure allows for behaviour alterations and develops to include mutual care, affection and trust (Chelune et al., 1984). This approach assumes the stages of face-to-face relationship formation to be self-disclosure, followed by familiarity, interdependence and closeness. These stages mirror those in the formation of online relationships; however, the developmental sequence differs. The relational theory of development (Parks, 1997) is relevant in examining the formation of online relationships. Based on traditional social psychological theories pertaining to social relationships such as the social exchange theory and uncertainty reduction theory, Parks (1997) developed the relational theory of development. This theory specifically addresses online relationship formation with the premise that online relationships either grow or deteriorate on a continuum ranging from impersonal to personal dimensions (Parks Floyd, 1996). Below is a description of each dimension along this continuum (Parks Floyd, 1996): (a) Dimension 1: Interdependence pertains to the mutual influence that increases with relationship growth, thus building a relationship embedded in mutual trust; (b) Dimension 2: Breadth explicates the increasing frequency of communication and social interaction; (c) Dimension 3: Depth refers to the increasing level of self-disclosure that facilitates familiarity and closeness; (d) Dimension 4: Commitment concerns the future predictions regarding the success or failure of the online relationship in accordance with the individuals goals and attitude; (e) Dimension 5: Predictability and understanding pertains to the mutual agreement and understanding of a unique set of rules of preferred, acceptable and desired behaviour and interaction. (f) Dimension 6: Code change pertains to the development of a unique set of cultural and linguistic codes, referring to how the individuals express themselves and communicate, for example, with the use of emoticons. (g) Dimension 7: Online network convergence refersto the snowball effect of the social circle, whereby the relationship continuously expands to significant others and migrates to other communication channels such as telephonic communication. Evidently, this theory captures the core features of online relational formation as a progressive process from the initial meeting, to maintenance and termination or migration to other contexts. Several studies findings support the relational theory of development (e.g., Anderson, 2005; Gibbs et al., 2006; Soukup, 1999; Whitty Gavin, 2001; Wolak et al., 2002; Wright, 2004). 1. It is easy to be fooled by inaccurate signals online. According to Binazir (2011), there are several pitfalls in online dating. If one thinks of him/herself as beautiful. ? What most people call beauty is actually evolutions very thorough system of broadcasting our suitability as a mate. Clear skin, good posture, broad shoulders, sonorous voice, bright eyes, shiny hair, graceful movements, pleasant aroma, facial symmetry, articulate speech: evolution has engineered features such as these into us to signal health, fertility, strength and intelligence. When one goes online, instead of seeing a person up-close, hearing him speak and watching her move, what one gets is a blurry, postage-stamp size series of static photos which cannot be heard, felt, or smelt. Most important of the missing signals may very well be smell, which some scientists believe underlies most of male-female attraction what literally constitutes sexual chemistry. Studies show that we sense immune compatibility through smell one way in which evolution decides whether two people should have kids together or not. This compatibility is vital to the viability of offspring, so its bypassed at our peril. So when you go online, youre subverting a process that has worked just fine for propagating the human species for the past 3 million years. Add to that the fact that pictures can easily lie about age, complexion and physique, and youve got yourself a lot of inaccurate signals to go on (Binazir, 2011). 2. You can waste a lot of time online chasing what you dont want. Heres the timeline of a typical online courtship for a guy: He sees a profile of a woman he likes. He writes her. A day or two later, he gets a response. An online correspondence ensues. If shes receptive, the conversation moves to email after a few exchanges. Binazir (2011) succinctly put it thus, If her interest continues, they speak on the phone, and begin to plan a meeting. A week or two later, after anywhere from three to 10 or more points of online- and phone contact, they meet in person. And it turns out that she has bad skin (which didnt show in the flatteringly lit photos) or her butt is gigantic (which didnt show in her waist-up photos), or hes 6 inches shorter than advertised or some other insurmountable shortcoming that could have been ascertained in the first 30 milliseconds of an in-person encounter. In an instant, all those hours spent on witty emails, all of that effort to be charming on the phone, learning all about him or impressing her go whoosh! down the toilet. In short, it pays to stop chasing shadows. 3. Deception in online dating In an online dating context, users writing their profiles have competing motivations to present themselves as attractively as possible, in order to draw attention from potential dates, and to present themselves accurately, so that people who would find them attractive partners in real life can identify them as such online. Moreover, Fiore and Donath (2004) suggest that users might consider a certain amount of exaggeration necessary if they perceive, as per the popular conception, that everyone else is exaggerating already then they must exaggerate as well just to remain competitive. Stories of deception in online dating are common the date who turns out to be 20 years older or 30 pounds heavier in person than his picture suggested, or one whose verbal charms in email vanish in a face to face meeting (e.g., Epstein 2007, Mapes 2004). Although these stories might indicate willful deception, they could also reflect disappointment in the offline reality as compared to expectations developed online, where a combination of selective self-presentation i.e., strategic self-enhancement and heightened levels of affinity developed through a mediated channel, which Walthers (1996) theory of hyperpersonal interaction predicts, might lead users to see as a soul-mate someone who in fact would make at best a decent tennis partner. Thats not to say online daters dont tell some outright lies. Hancock and colleagues found that 81 percent of online dating users in their sample lied about their weight, height, or age. But many of these lies were small enough that it would be hard to detect the discrepancy between, e.g., claimed and actual weight face-to-face (Hancock et al. 2007). The participants in this study might have been engaging in strategic self enhancement, but nonetheless they kept their descriptions within a few percentage points of reality. Ellison et al. (2006) offer other explanations for why users feel that others are presenting themselves deceptively online. First, users might be viewing themselves through a foggy mirror that is, failing to perceive themselves accurately. Thus, if they report their own self-perceptions, they are not lying on purpose, even though these perceptions might not coincide with those of an outside observer. Second, users might either deliberately or subconsciously describe their ideal selves who they would like to be rather than their actual selves, making the self-presentation more aspirational than factual. As one interviewee put it: In their profile they write about their dreams as if they are reality (Ellison et al. 2006). Whether this is effective is uncertain, though; McKenna et al. (2002) found that those who were able to share their true selves online were more successful in forming close relationships through computer-mediated communication that carried over to the offline world. 4. Online sites present an unhelpful excess of choice. When one logs into a dating website, the site presents one with several faces of prospective clients seeking being patronized. This is referred to as pot of fish (POF). Schwartz (2003) in his book The Paradox of Choice: Why Less is More explained that more choice does not make us happier. More choice actually makes us more miserable. A typical online dating yields thousand of participants who seem to match our choice. Yet, it is not so easy to choose. One ends up been confused. 5. Irrelevant information presented out of context can pre-empt a good match. Binazir (2011) observed that since we are inundated with floods of people beckoning to us on a dating website with amorous smiles there is great chance that we keep up a dating game with a prospective lover with the readiness to do away such opportunity for another one at any flimsy excuse. 6. People online behave more rudely than they do in person. Have you noticed how much sheer hatred and incivility there is online? Under the mask of e-anonymity, people feel they can behave anyhow because to a great extent they are untouchable. As a result, it becomes easy to dismiss summarily a message that an admirer has invested time, effort and emotion to craft in fervent hopes of gaining your attention. A man who would never be ignored in person can be blown off hundreds of times online. And, as the authors of the book Freakonomics pointed out, over 90 percent of men on dating sites never end up meeting a woman. 7. Strangers with low accountability can get away with antisocial behavior. In his book The Tao of Dating: The Smart Womans Guide to Being Irresistible, Binazir (2011) emphasized that women should only date men who are embedded within their social network a friend of a friend at the very least. That social accountability reduces the chances of their being axe murderers or other ungentlemanly tendencies. When you go online, theres no guarantee of anyone having a back-connection into your social network. Especially in a big city, people will do bizarre, rude things under the cover of unaccountability. Stories abound about the girl who ordered everything on the menu at an expensive restaurant, or the guy who showed up to the date already drunk and proceeded to hit on the waitress or far worse. The statements above are straight from heart as the world is full of mentally deranged individuals who get thrilled with cyber stalking and playing on peoples emotion. There is need to extremely carefully. Even though they make great stories in retrospect, these are not experiences that you need to have even once per lifetime. Going out with people whom you implicitly know and trust keeps you safe and reduces the chances of weird shit happening to you.

An Assessment of C.K. Wiliams and Ted Hughes Essays -- essays papers

There are few positive views of life to be found in C.K. Williams’ The Vigil. His poetry does not present a necessarily negative life-view, but rather sees the world as most others do. He calls out commonplace people, places, and times in the same manner that most of the rest of us do, despite how dark it may seem. Williams uses a lot of punctuation in his poetry. His sentences, although full of commas and semicolons, flow smoothly from line to line. He uses a lot of clauses and qualifications in his writing. Each stanza remains fresh, never becoming mundane or repetitive. He chooses words carefully, painting pictures with broad, smooth strokes rather than wispy phrases that are hard to follow. In his poem entitled â€Å"Grief†, Williams accurately describes his grief at the loss of a loved one. In Part One, the feeling is heavy and overwhelming. The speaker, (most likely Williams), recalls days of sitting bedside with a slow-dying love. Some writers waste time in getting to the heart of the poem, but Williams wastes none. In the first line, he leaves his readers with no question as to what is going on in the poem. He writes, â€Å"Gone now, after the days of desperate, unconscious gasping, the reflexive / staying alive,† (29). All readers are instantaneously reminded of an experience with watching a loved one pass slowly, perhaps painfully. In Part Two of the poem, Williams questions grief as an emotion. He tries to indicate what exactly the emotion of grief entails, and maybe even what it should be. He comes to the conclusion that grief is not clear-cut, but rather like a roller coaster ride, up and down, coming and going in unexpected waves. Readers can identify with this, as we all know that grief is not an appare... ... Hughes writes, â€Å"†¦ to announce to the world / What Life had made of you† (112). Hughes feels happy at this moment, but he knows that Plath’s happiness is too good to be true, and that it probably won’t last. We all know that it couldn’t, and it didn’t. Both Williams and Hughes present life in a manner that may not be pleasant, but is nonetheless true-to-life. Although Williams’ life-view is a bit dark and dreary, we can all read it and relate it to some aspect of our lives. And although Hughes’ poetry is mostly about his life with Sylvia Plath, we can all read it and relate it to someone what we may know. Williams refuses to find a silver lining in every cloud, and Hughes refuses to see Plath as a woman who could be helped. The reason that both of these poets are successful is that they write about life as it is, rather than what we would all like it to be.

Revolutionary War: The Battles of Lexington and Concord :: American America History

Revolutionary War: The Battles of Lexington and Concord The battles of Lexington and Concord were neccessary battles to the American Revolutionary War because they started the very thing that made our country free. Many people have always wondered how the historic American Revolutionary War got started. Sure, they have heard the stories of Paul Revere and the Midnight Ride: There was even a poem written about his ride, but Paul Revere didn’t start the war. It was a much bigger deal than just that. The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the very first battles of the Revolutionary War. The battle of Lexington was a brief fight that marked the first war-like conflict. It took place on the morning of April 19, 1775, when about 70 colonial minutemen, commanded by Captain John Parker, collided with about 800 British soldiers marching their way to Concord, Massachusetts, to steal some equipment from the colonial militia. The British soldiers were under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith (Lexington, Battle of). The first shot fired at this battle was the famous "Shot heard around the world." It was called that because it affected the history of the world greatly. Although when this battle happened, it wasn’t an official battle. It was mainly just like David and Goliath. It wasn’t fair: 800 seasoned soldiers against 70 colonial men. The men who were involved were called "embattled farmers" by the well-known New England poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson. These "embattled farmers" faced many long years of war. When the war ended, however, the 13 colonies would stand as a free country (Davidson). The Battle of Concord was the first serious conflict of the Revolutionary War. It again was fought on the same day as the battle of Lexington, April 19, 1775. The colonists had failed to stop the British, but they got reinforcements. when the British got to Concord, there was no equipment to be taken. It was a decoy and the British had been tricked. When they turned around to head back, they were faced with the Colonial army to fight. The colonial army won and the American Revolutionary War had begun. At the battle of Concord, Captain John Parker said, "Stand your ground; don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here." Many famous people were involved in these battles. Paul Revere was a patriot who is well-known for his famous midnight ride.

Flood Myth in the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Biblical Flood Myth of Gene

The Flood in the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Flood of Genesis      Ã‚  Ã‚   The Biblical book, Genesis, of the Old Testament contains an account of an historic Flood which has never been equaled in intensity. Tablet 11of the Sumero-Babylonian version of the epic of Gilgamesh also records a Flood quite expansive and quite devastating. Are they a record of the same event?    E.A. Budge states in Babylonian Story of the Deluge and the Epic of Gilgamesh that the narration of the Flood in Sumero-Babylonian records may simply be related to a local flood instead of a worldwide Flood such as the Bible narrates:    It is not too much to assume that the original event commemorated in the Legend of the Deluge was a serious and prolonged inundation or flood in Lower Babylonia, which was accompanied by great loss of life and destruction of property. The Babylonian versions state that this inundation or flood was caused by rain, but passages in some of them suggest that the effects of the rainstorm were intensified by other physical happenings connected with the earth, of a most destructive character. (27)    Column 1 on Tablet 11 begins the Sumero-Babylonian Flood narrative (Gardner 226). The sage Utnapishtim from Shurippak (100 miles south of Babylon), says:    The great gods stirred their hearts to make the Flood. [. . .] Build an ark. [. . .] Load the seed of every living thing into your ark, the boat that you will build. Let her measure be measured; let her breadth and length be equal. Cover it with a roof as the abyss is covered. (Gardner 226)    Alexander Heidel in his book, The Gilgamesh Epic and Old Testament Parallels, provides a background for the survivor of the Sumero-Babyloni... ..., Nels M. Readings in Ancient History: Thought and Experience from Gilganesh to St. Augustine. Third edition. Lexington, MA: D.C.Heath and Co., 1987.    Budge, E. A. Babylonian Story of the Deluge and the Epic of Gilgamesh. Montana, USA: Kessinger Publishing Co., n.d.    Gardner, John and John Maier. Gilgamesh: Translated from the Sin-leqi-unninni version. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1984.    Harris, Stephen L. â€Å"Gilgamesh.† The Humanist Tradition in World Literature. Ed. Stephen Harris. Columbus, OH: Charles E. Merrill Publishing Co., 1970.    Heidel, Alexander. The Gilgamesh Epic and Old Testament Parallels. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1949.    Ignatius Holy Bible. Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1966.    Sandars. N. K. The Epic of Gilgamesh. New York: Penguin Books, 1972.

General Motors Corp vs. Ford Corp

Ford Corp. General motors (MM) and Ford are two of the leading manufacturing companies of trucks that I know of. In saying, both have their strengths and differences in areas such as quality of parts, driver comfort, fuel economy, and engine selection. When these companies put together their trucks, it is taken into great detail for these two companies to make their product better than their competitor. GM designs more detail and reliable trucks than ford can produce.For instance, Ford only offers three engine options that they will put in their trucks. They have a 4. 2 Liter IV, a 4. 6 Liter Triton IV, and their biggest engine in light duty trucks is the 5. 4 Liter Triton IV. Although these engines produce decent horsepower and torque, GM has six engine options with higher ratings. The first three engine selections GM has are the 4. 3 Liter IV, 4. 8 Liter IV, and 5. 3 Liter. They also have two other selections offered are the 5. 3 Liter IV and their biggest engine in light duty truc ks the Vortex 6. 0 Liter IV.Both engines offer the best technology known as the active fuel management system, which shuts off four of the eight cylinders when power is not needed. Last but not least, GM also has a 6. 2 Liter IV which is limited to certain trucks or packages. Not many trucks get very good fuel mileage. Ford is one manufacturer that offers fuel efficient motors, but their bigger engines tend to drink a little too much gas. For example, their smallest engine gets 16 MPEG in the city and 21 MPEG on the highway. Their largest engine in a light duty truck gets 14 MPEG in the city and 18 MPEG on the highway.On the other hand, GSM' smallest engine averages 17 MPEG in the city and 1 MPEG on the highway, and with a much bigger engine and higher power output than the Ford 5. 4 liter, averages 15 MPEG in the city and 19 MPEG on the highway. Trucks are not the easiest vehicles to drive or operate, which is why driver comfort is a need to a great truck. Ford and GM offer a numbe r of conveniences to consumers' and making the drivers experience more enjoyable and relaxing. Some options offered by Ford are back up sensors, side mirrors with turn lights inside, heated seats, adjustable pedals, and controls on the steering wheel.GM offers their consumers heated side mirrors with turn signals inside the mirror and an auto dim eater, and park assisting with LED lights which allow you to see, as well as hear how close the rear of the vehicle is to any object. GM also offers dual memory and heated seats, adjustable pedals, rain sense wipers which turn on automatically, remote start, a cargo management system which allows consumers to attach toolboxes and equipment to rails installed of in the bed, and On Star turn by turn navigation, two different dashboards, side impact air bags, and the standard stability system.No one wants to hear the noise of the road or the vehicle. This is why both Ford and GM have used higher quality materials with sound deadening treatment in their newer model trucks. This helps eliminate road and wind noise as well as the possibility of future squeaking or rattling. Creating more gaps within the design of the truck will also eliminate such sounds. The more interior accessories available on a truck the more people are interested in the trucks. Climate controls which allow both to have different temperatures, adjustable pedals, heated windshield dashboards, side impact air bags, and the standard stability system.In reference to all of the great options that both companies provide, I have and will always be a reheard GM believer. I have credibility to talk about both being as how I have been a mechanic on both for several years. In the facts provided GM provides so much more in driver comfort which alone should be enough to convince a person in choosing GM. In conclusion, both GM and Ford manufacture great trucks. Giving consumers a number of options of available perpetration and interior options make the two different . The key to having the best truck isn't to offer Just a number of available options but, to offer them all with reliability trucks.

What are the worlds most important population problems?

The discussion of the world’s most important population problems is extremely necessary and timely. The essay correctly observes that the two most important population problems are population growth and international migration. The first problem endangers the environmental balance of our planet and puts excessive strength on resources. The second problem contributes to conflicts and tensions in many societies around the globe. The essay argues that social structures in poor countries are the cause of exponential population growth. It is true that industrialization makes labor more automated, thus decreasing the need for a constant supply of labor. However, no clear link is drawn between social structures and desire to have more children. The essay notes that poor countries lack essential social services, such as education, and families lack their own economic resources to equip children with necessary skills and knowledge. Paradoxically, this does not lead to a decrease in the number of births; the essay fails to explain this phenomenon. As concerns international migration, few reasons are given to support the claim that it is one of the world’s most pressing problems. The only reason cited is that immigrants are the burden on a country’s social service sector, resulting in increased costs for medical care, education, and other costs. Other negative developments associated with the influx of immigrants are left without attention. These developments include higher crime rates, interethnic tensions, and increased costs of providing multilingual services to immigrants from different ethnic backgrounds. More far-reaching implications, such as the danger to national identity and unity, are also not discussed.

Describe How Poverty, Social Class

U30 (P2) Health Psychology Describe 3 factors such as culture social class, gender, poverty and education may influence the way people respond to health and illness Poverty Imam’s house Individuals who are in poverty are more likely focused on the physiological l needs out of the hierarchy pyramid. My case study is sourced from BBC documentary, toughest place to be a bin man and is about a man called Imam Syaffi. Syaffi is 28 and lives in Indonesia with a monthly income of ? 8 by working six days a week from 6am to midnight as a rubbish collector and running extra errands for his wealthy neighbours as well as sorting and selling recycled rubbish. Imam lives in a shanty village with his wife, son and parents and their home is near to the mini landfill where Imam’s rubbish that he collects is transferred to a bigger landfill but it rarely does. Imam’s wages cover rent and small amount of food. Other luxuries are what Imam finds in the rubbish such as used shelves, mattresses and chairs.Imam’s home is a giant health hazard as the rubbish near his house causes disease and encourages mosquitoes, flies and rats to infect the village, himself and his family. However, Indonesian government don’t supply health care like in England causing Imam to risk the possibilities of catching malaria, streptobacillosis or worse. Imam’s influences on poverty make him choose to supply the physiological needs of paying rent and food than constantly supply ways to protect his and family’s health and pay expensive medical bills.Also, Imam finds it hard to provide healthcare for his family because upper classes can easily call authorities to make him unemployed if he isn’t doing his job properly if he needs to take the day off to take his wife to the hospital. However, Imam’s secret shows that he sneakily shows the upper-class that his cart is broken and unable to work by pulling out a tyre so he can take an occasional day of f for the family.Also, Imam’s dedication to provide for the family by working over 12 hours each day can make him very stressed and tired which can causes him to have poor health but he would rather work more hours if he could so he could provide more luxuries for his family. Furthermore, the food Imam can buy with his salary shows that he can only afford basic foods such as milk for the son, water, rice and rare portions of meat and vegetables so that leads to poor nutrition compared to English rubbish collector Wilbur Ramirez from the documentary who has a better life but has the same job title as Imam.Social Class Contrasting from my discussion about poverty I want to make a case study upon Wilbur Ramirez. Wilbur Ramirez job title is similar to Imam Syaffi but because his social class is higher than Imam that means that Wilbur escapes from being in serious poverty. Wilbur monthly salary is ? 1,700 and manages to live in Hammersmith, west London with his wife and three chil dren. Hammersmith is decent area for families to live in London and quoted by a local, ‘I can't think of anywhere better to be a child than one of London's inner suburbs like Hammersmith’.Wilbur’s hierarchy of needs are very different than Imam as he’ll be marked to fulfilling up to self-accusation because all the other needs are met because of his lifestyle as a working class English citizen. Wilbur’s job as bin man is less stressful due to shorter shifts than Imam and better pay which reduces risk of heart disease or tiredness. This means Wilbur is able to afford house bills as well as to provide for his family and buy extra luxuries.Therefore, I believe his opinion on health and illness would be more focused about how he looks after himself by being trained by his employer to use the uniform when touching rubbish by always wearing gloves. Also, England’s public health and NHS targets people like Wilbur to be constantly cautious about their health unlike the rest of the world like Indonesia. Therefore, Wilbur would be cautious about giving his family good nutrition and easily receive professional health care because its tax paid. Picture of Imam (left) and Wilbur (right) CultureDifferent cultures in general effects our responses to health and gives our opinion on what causes illness, how it’s treated, who should we seek for assistance? In the industrialised world in USA it sees’ disease as a form of a negative substance infecting the body that can be treated with medicine or hospital equipment to diagnose and treat the patient from the disease. However, other cultures believe that disease is caused by a paranormal activity and prayers, spiritual rituals or visiting a witch doctor would release the disease out of the body and destroyed by a higher authority.This shows that health professionals should give patient compliance due to the sensitivity of one’s culture. Studies of group of Cambodian pati ents were reassured throughout their therapy by understanding how the medicines and the body work due to lack of education. However, since 2010 the quality of health is rising in Cambodia to increase the life expectancy and making awareness towards HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases but in Ratanakiri, Cambodia is receiving the worst healthcare causing endemic case of malaria, tuberculosis, intestinal parasites, cholera, diarrhoea and measles.Also, maternal/ child mortality and severe malnutrition are issues that causes poor health and illness. Ratanakiri locals are most likely to respond to their faith which is most likely to be Buddhism to gain better health than modern health care. In Buddhism it’s believed that a person suffering from physical disease also suffers from a poor mindset therefore they have to devote their entire life to their faith and releases what poisoned their body; greed, anger and ignorance to heal the illness.However, modern health care is accessible in this province but the medical equipment and supplies are minimal and the staff are poorly trained and irregularly paid. This gives mistrust for the locals to use professional help as they’re in risk to receive the incorrect care and other hospitals are far away near the big cities. Therefore, it’s most likely that in Ratanakiri; diseases are known to be paranormal spirit filled with greed, anger and ignorance than a biological infected substance.However in more industrialised places in Cambodia they’ll believe the opposite due to better education, healthcare and scientific awareness. Ratanakiri Hospital ——————————————– [ 1 ]. http://www. youtube. com/watch? v=6EWLQw9TiCM [ 2 ]. http://www. bbc. co. uk/programmes/b01bmtfx/participants/imam-syaffi [ 3 ]. http://www. bbc. co. uk/programmes/b01bmtfx/features/contrast-binmen [ 4 ]. http://www. fodors. com/comm unity/europe/is-hammersmith-a-good-area-of-london. cfm [ 5 ]. http://www. euromedinfo. eu/how-culture-influences-health-beliefs. html/ [ 6 ].

Soccer Masidlale Programme

IntroductionDue to past and current rumours regarding spur, the participation of Spur being a part of a CSR programme will help the businesses ROI. By looking at uplifting the community it should allow for consumers to feel they should contribute to this effort. This should in the end increase Spurs return on investment. Spur being involved with a CSR initiative should allow for the employee buy in of the business. This should ultimately create a positive atmosphere as well as a positive work environment for all employees. This in the end allowing for consumers to feel more welcomed when intending on buying from Spur.Secondary Research30 000 children have so far been reached by the CSI (Corporate Social Investment) program sponsored by Spur: The Spur Soccer Masidlale Programme (what it does): †¢ Essential Life skills are taught to the children. †¢ Disadvantaged areas are the focal point for this programme and to so this initiative will help uplift these areas. †¢ Children in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth are supported by this initiative. †¢ Sport is used as their CSR programme which enables them to uplift the community.200 players of mixed boys and girls take part from 10 local schools and each child receives a Spur branded soccer kit which they can keep afterwards. †¢ The reason Spur has used sport as their initiative, is that it is seen as a â€Å"metaphor for life†. A life skills programme is run alongside the soccer initiative and this teaches the children skills needed for life. The children are equipped further than that upon the sports field. This addresses the socio-economic issues of poverty as it is making it more aware to members of the public, encouraging them to participate in their initiative. This also shows that Spur wants to uplift the community and prove that they want to give back to the community using sport and equipping them with the necessary skills for life. The Spur Foundation'The Spur Foundation was established on International Mandela Day, 18 July 2012, with a donation of R670 000 by the Spur Corporation, resonating with the '67 minutes' theme of Mandela Day, and the founding of the Spur family in 1967. The Foundation aims to uplift and improve the lives of South African families, especially children, in line with its core value of generosity and Ubuntu' The foundations motto is ‘Nourish, Nurture, Now!' This is used to support disadvantaged communities by providing them with education and help fed them. It also provides the basic necessities and amenities for all the children. â€Å"Fill a tummy, feed a mind†.The Full Tummy Fund initiative was launched by the same foundation in 2016 and is used in order to help aid children's development during their first 2000 days, focusing primarily on their education and nutrition.As stated from the previous socio-economic issue, Spur wants to carry on reaching out to the poverty stricken areas that are in dire need of assistance and help by assisting with the nourishment of their children and to educate their youngsters. With the Spur Foundation initiative in place, this will help these disadvantaged areas by providing the children with the proper nutrition that is needed and provides education to them, therefore allowing them to uplift their community and be innovative. This ultimately will improve Spurs image and make customers feel more obliged to support them as they will want to be a part of the foundation to help those in need. These initiatives are relevant to my topic as they provide external information that will be beneficial to my hypothesis and will prove that by Spur conducting CSR it will have a positive impact upon their ROI.By Spur conducting CSR it does good as it will:'Doing good can also be great for business; a growing body of research indicates that a socially responsible company can expect an increase in sales, profitability and value. Having a well-defined and active CSR initiative can help a company achieve the following: †¢ Attract and retain qualified personnel †¢ Enhance employee engagement †¢ Increase customer loyalty, sales and profitability †¢ Bolster community goodwill †¢ Safeguard corporate reputation' †¢ Bring customers back to the business, especially after recent incidents. As stated above, by Spur being involved in multiple CSR initiatives it will create a good name for the business and create customer loyalty as consumers will want to have shown that they are interested in what Spur wants to achieve. This will not be seen immediately but word of mouth will develop and over time Spur will experience more support from members of the public. As more customers are willing to help Spur uplift the community more capital is generated thus allowing for Spurs return on investment to break even and go further allowing for their initiatives to reach further than that of what they have now and perhaps come up with new initiatives. Similar reasons as to why businesses such as Spur should be involved with a CSR programme: 1. You will have satisfied employees: -this meaning that the businesses employees will be proud of the organization they are working for thus bringing a good name for the business internally which then gets spoken about externally creating a positive image towards the business in this case Spur. 2. By conducting CSR you will create satisfied customers: -from past records it has shown that by a business conducting CSR it will improve the customer's attitude towards the business. If this is gained, the customer will undoubtingly come back to the business and buy the businesses products or services and on top of it, the customer will be less willing to go to another brand. 3. There will be a positive Public Relation: -CSR will provide an opportunity to share positive stories. This will benefit companies as it is a free form of advertisement. Businesses will not have to fret about having to pay for advertisements. Free publicity is thus generated and is spread by word of mouth. 4. There will be a reduction in costs: -a CSR programme doesn't have to cost money, if it is being conducted properly. Steps for a company to reduce costs are as follows: †¢ Have a more efficient staff hire and retention system. †¢ The implementation of energy saving programs. †¢ The management of potential risks and liabilities more effectively. †¢ As said by investing more into the traditional marketing way of word of mouth. 5. Business opportunities are created: -as we know a CSR program is to be pen and allow for an outside orientated approach. The business must have constant communication between all its stakeholders (customers, suppliers and other important parties).the reason for this communication is that you will then be the first to know of opportunities that your business can be a part of. 6. There is a long term future for the business: -this means that as a business you are looking at the long term results of the CSR programme and also the businesses continuity. Many large corporations generally refer to this as the shaping of a more sustainable society. These few extra reasons further support the fact that CSR will create a positive brand image for Spur and allow for a greater desire for them to want to carry on as it will certainly provide them with free marketing strategies thus allowing for more profit that can possibly be used to further invest in their CSR initiatives. Primary ResearchBar graph representing all answers that were answered either agreeing with questions asked or disagreeing.As seen in the above graph, many of the candidates that volunteered to answer the questionnaire have all agreed with many of the questions. In the questions it is noticed:Question 1:-Most volunteers agreed that by Spur conducting a CSR program it will be beneficial for the business as it will most definitely create a good name for the business.-Volunteers did disagree however saying that the market will not increase as of experiences from the past involving Spur and that has now spread rumours.-In Secondary research, we see that a business will create a good name for themselves by being involved in a CSR initiative. They believe that spread of mouth about Spur will help increase their market share.Question 2:-Seen again, all volunteers agree that branding has a huge impact upon the business as they could possibly lose customer loyalty, their brand will not be recognised or trust amongst the consumers towards the business is lost.-Customer loyalty is massive when it comes to a business functioning correctly. If the business has no customers there are no funds to allow the business carrying on with the path that they are o n.Question 3:-All volunteers have reacted in saying yes that a CSR program will address a current socio-economic factor and it will resolve that matter.-We all know that by a business addressing a current socio-economic factor; it will help in the long term as it will benefit those factors and improve them. -Many volunteers have replied in the same way saying that by businesses conducting CSR they will uplift the communities and therefore improve the standards of living of all people invested in their initiatives.Question 4:-All volunteers have approved in saying that they would most definitely be proud of their business if the business were to conduct CSR.-We know that if the employees of our company are happy with the business and are proud of it they will be more motivated to work and staff morale will increase thus bringing in more profits towards the business as more work is then done. -Most have responded in saying that they want to be a part of something that they know will uplift and benefit the community. They will be proud that the business is willing to take time out to benefit the community and uplift our standards of living.Question 5:-Most volunteers agree that most businesses conduct CSR because it is a free marketing system for their brand to be noticed by external stakeholders. People will be drawn to the fact that the business (Spur) is conducting CSR and will then therefore want to help the business achieve their goals by buying from them and supporting them. – Few volunteers disagreed saying in the long run this CSR initiative is more expensive than advertising. Some believe that it should involve passion and emotion. -We learned that in the Secondary research that CSR is a free form of advertising for the business and we all know that advertising fees are expensive so businesses us CSR initiatives to their advantage.Question 6:-All agreed in saying that Spurs CSR initiatives will improve the standards of living if they carry on. -Some have mentioned that perhaps more effort is needed in order to make more of an impact. They may believe this as there is many people suffering in disadvantaged areas and perhaps Spurs initiatives need to be expanded in order to care for even more people.Question 7:-All have agreed that it would be more beneficial if they were to know that Spur conducted a CSR program thus making them want to help in the initiative. -Communication is key in a business as if there is no communication members will not know what beneficial work they are involved in.Question 8:-Few have answered in saying that Spurs initiatives will have an impact upon society but most lean to saying no as they would need to increase their efforts to make a really large effect. – Volunteers who agreed said that every bit counts, this will not ultimately uplift the community but as said every little bit does count when uplifting the community. -For majority to have said no, it could possibly also mean that there is no communication from the business to the external market in saying that they do conduct CSR initiatives and to so many are unaware as to what spur des and are not willing to wanting to support.Question 9:-Most volunteers have agreed that businesses should conduct CSR to benefit the community. Yes it is a free way to market the business but the community is the main focus and this is what the whole point of a CSR initiative stands for.Three volunteers have replied saying no and the reason is that a CSR program is expensive and it could possibly disadvantage the business. -The main focal point of CSR is to benefit the community and the planet as well as making a profit, so in a sense the business is saving money by conducting CSR as they do not have to pay for advertisements. This money however can be used to further more improve their CSR initiatives or perhaps invest into new initiatives.Question 10:-Majority of the volunteer answers agreed saying that the â€Å"Fill a tummy, Feed a mind† initiative should only focus on children. They agree in saying that children are most in need as they have no control over their current situation thus need the support that Spur id offering them. Although they did add ideas in saying that Spur should extend the time period of this project for the children as they say that 2000 days is not enough for the children as it is only five years. -Volunteers did disagree with the initiative and say that they should not only focus primarily on children. Many people are in dire need of education, life skills and food as our economy is so poor so therefore they should have access to it as well. Volunteers added as well that it is also quit taxing on the business as 2000 days is quite a long time to look after a child, not just one but many. -For a business it can be quite taxing to their profits especially when they are providing for more than 20 000 children. Although it can be quite taxing perhaps in some cases Spur can be flexible in allowing to extend the 2000 days' time period especially if they are in dire need and have no assistance. This Primary Research has furthermore proven that the CSR initiatives undertaken by Spur are beneficial to the business as a whole. It will help benefit the business from marketing strategies through to eradicating bad stigma about past incidents which have brought the Spur franchise name down. This will help the business be recognised and allow for more consumers to feel more encouraged to support Spur.ConclusionsThe Primary research as well as the Secondary research helps prove that Spurs involvement with its CSR initiatives does have an impact upon their business which ultimately will improve their ROI. We see in the primary research that many of the volunteers feel that if the business is willing to give back to the community and are willing to help, consumers will feel more encouraged to help support the businesses and help uplift their community as well as looking at the possible opportunity to uplift the nation as a whole (in the long term). In order for Spur to possibly improve their CSR they can look at: †¢ The practice of transparency towards its consumers and their employees. Make it part of their organisational structure. Inform the larger community about all ventures of the business. This will help consumers understand everything that is being conducted within Spur. †¢ Encourage innovation within the business as well as the community. This will allow for new ideas for the business and new ideas for the business to get itself involved with.