The Boy Who Saves Baseball

Although this small town Is loved by many, Tolland has really gone down and a lot f the town's leaders want to sell Dilatation land to developers who say they will turn the run down community into new homes, stores, and bigger and better things. Although most of the land has already been sold, Doc Alternative, a huge baseball fan, hasn't agreed to sell his land. This land happens to be where the baseball park sits. After being cornered by the mayor who begs him to sell the property and the historical group who begs him to not sell the land, Doc decides that he will keep the field If the Wildcats can beat their rival team.If the Wildcats lose, he will sell the land to the developers who will tear up the field to build new buildings. The Wildcats are scared of losing the challenge. The main reason they are worried is that they cannot hit or catch and the game is only five days away. Dante Del Goat, a former player of the San Diego Padres, decides to coach the team. At the first practic e a 12 year old kid named Cruz De la Cruz walks up. No one knows him, but Cruz quickly makes friends with the team.He can hit every ball that comes his ay and can catch every ball that Is hit or thrown to him. More Importantly, he helps build the team's confidence, courage, and a new found love for the game. After a week of hard and unusual training, the team is feeling good about the big game, but Cruz De la Cruz disappears. The team quickly realizes that it is up to them to win the game. Worst yet, with Cruz gone, Tom has to play. He is the worst player and as if things couldn't get worse, he has to pitch because Maria, the main pitcher has been Injured.After a long and hard game, the Wildcats manage to win, but their excitement was overcome by grief when they found out that Doc Alternative has had a heart attack and died. The team, especially Tom thinks that the field will surely not be saved no matter what. In the end, Tom finds out that Doc wanted him to inherit his estate when he died. The baseball field is safe now because of the win and the generosity of Doc Alternative. The Boy Who Saves Baseball By Sharron The Boy Who Saved Baseball begins by introducing its readers to a fun lovingAlthough this small town is loved by many, Dilatation has really gone down and a lot baseball fan, hasn't agreed to sell his land. This land happens to be where the he will keep the field if the Wildcats can beat their rival team. If the Wildcats lose, he will sell the land to the developers who will tear up the field to build new buildings. Way and can catch every ball that is hit or thrown to him. More importantly, he helps build the team's confidence, courage, and a new found love for the game. Has been injured.

Online Classes vs. Traditional Classes

Online classes and traditional classes are both great ways to receive an education during college. They both strive for the same purpose, which is to help the students reach their goals during their college careers. Although both class settings are great, they do differ in some ways. The three major differences between these classes are the pace of the classes, the student/teacher interaction, and the success rates. The pace of the class affects how much information the student receives throughout the course.Traditional classes often take a slower pace rather than online classes only because online classes have more assignments compared to a traditional class setting. In traditional classes, the students have the luxury to receive the assignment, have time for the teacher to thoroughly discuss the assignment, and have additional time to complete the assignment. On the other hand, students that take part in online classes get a brief, but also detailed description of the assignment an d are given a due date to complete the task by.The student/ teacher interaction also plays an important role in between these two class settings. Students in a traditional class setting have the ability to listen to the teacher talk about a lesson, ask any questions that they may have, and take part and watch any demonstrations. Online classes however, may be able to achieve the same things as the traditional classes, but do not get the full effect of the lesson. Teachers also may be able to explain things better in person to person contact, rather than going through a computer to try to solve any questions or concerns that the student may have.The final major difference between these two are the success rates of the classes. Students have a higher risk of failing and/or withdrawing a course taking it online rather than in a traditional class setting. For example, In 2005, the student success statistics for online classes were slightly lower than that of the traditional classes. Stu dents in online classes often procrastinate and put off the assignment where in a traditional classes they would be more obligated to complete the work they are given on time rather than put it of until a different time or day.Also, some students often could be distracted from their work and tests by things in their environment at home, where as in a traditional classroom the teachers try to minimize the risk of a distraction as much as they possibly can. Although both classes have pros, they also have cons that go with each of them. Online classes basically enable the student to teach themselves with minimum guidance from the teacher and traditional classes enable the student to learn from the teacher. It mostly depends on what is better for the student and how the student is interested in learning.

Therapeutic Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Therapeutic Communication - Essay Example Message can be verbal or nonverbal and it can be the expression of anything, which may include a feeling, an opinion, an order, or a suggestion. Encoding is the third component. Use of pictures, words, and body language to send a message properly to the receiving end is known as encoding of the message. The fourth component is channel. The channel is the way through which a sender sends a message to a receiver. In case of long-distance communication, the channel can be electronic mail, telephone, or web chat. Whereas spoken words are used in case of personal contacts where no electronic channel is required for the delivery of message. Next component, receiver, is the person or a group of people who receives the message sent by the sender. Receiver can be anyone to whom the sender sends the message. For example, in organization settings, the receiver can be anyone related to the organization. Decoding is also a major component. Decoding means to understand the message sent by the sender. Decoding is the job of the receiver who tries to understand the meaning of the received message using common perceptions and understanding the word meanings. The last component of communication is. It not only encourages the sender of the message but also helps the sender know whether he/she is going in the right direction or not. If we talk about levels of communication, we can say that there are three levels of communication, which include positive communication, intimate communication, and physical communication. In positive communication, more time is dedicated for speaking what one has to speak. Nursing professionals can make use of this level of communication to make the patients comfortable with the treatment procedure by talking with them and listening to their concerns. Next level is intimate communication. It is a form of friendly communication, which makes the communication process effective and result-oriented. Nursing professional can make use of this level of communication by talking with the patients in a friendly and joyful manner instead of making them feel ignored and unnoticed. The last level is physical communication. At this level of communication, people make physical contact with each other. It may be handshaking or giving hug to each other. In nursing profession, the physical contact be tween the patients and nurses is known as physical communication, such as, helping a patient move to the bed from wheelchair or checking a patient physically. Communication is of two main types, which include verbal and nonverbal communication. In verbal communication, people make use of tongue for the exchange of information whereas in the process of nonverbal communication, people make use of body language, eye contact, gestures, and appearance to send nonverbal messages to other people. In creating and maintaining a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship, the role of a nurse is very important. It is the process by which nurses provide effective nursing care for patients in need of psychosocial intervention (Therapeutic Communication, 2011). This relationship is based purely on mutual trust and respect. In this relationship, a nurse dedicates herself to the well-being of her patients by providing them with effective treatment, care, and physical and spiritual assistance. This rela tionship develops when a nurse shows extreme concern for the well-being of

Describe the relationship between the controlling function and other Essay

Describe the relationship between the controlling function and other managerial functions - Essay Example This essay will discuss the relationship between managerial control and other managerial functions, explain some of possible reasons why many people view controls negatively, and discuss the three primary steps involved in the control process. There is a very close relationship between managerial control and the other functions of management namely planning, coordinating, organizing, and directing. For instance, without proper planning, controlling activities in an organization can be baseless, while ineffective controlling can make planning a meaningless exercise. Proper management involves starting with planning or laying down strategies, organizing the available resources, coordinating the various departments in an organization, and finally implementing proper controlling measures (DuBrin, 2012). All these managerial functions reinforce each other and they can only be said to be inseparable. Employees in an organization usually view controls negatively with some going to an extent of claiming that managements should not exercise any type of control whatsoever. Most people claim that managements should be supporting employees’ efforts to be productive members of an organization, rather than imposing control systems for them, which they believe are counterproductive to both the employees and the general management. Research studies focusing on establishing people’s reaction towards the management control indicate that most people find management control as a way of dominating them, being coercive as well as heavy-handed (Daft, 2011). Setting performance standards is the first and most crucial step of any control process. In this context, standards refer to the targets or plans that have to be accomplished in the course of a business function, or the criterion for judging the overall performance in an organization. The standards set can either be measurable (tangible), or non-measurable (intangible) (Newton, 2011). Tangible standards refer to

The grieving process Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The grieving process - Essay Example determinants of grief differ according to various factors such as significance attributed to the loss, circumstances surrounding the loss, and utilization of support networks. The grieving process and stages features in Elisabeth Kubler-Ross book, On Death and Dying (1969). Although, the five stages can be regarded as universal, they do not necessarily follow a linear order. Sadness (feelings of pain and sorrow) is the prominent feeling experienced in grief triggered by feelings of emptiness or despair, although distracted by denial, anger, guilt, and fear, which trigger defense mechanisms (Shives, 2008). Shock is mainly an initial response to loss as the individual seeks emotional protection from the overwhelming loss. Most individuals rationalize the loss with numbed disbelief, in an effort to escape from reality (Webb, 2011). The denial and isolation plays out when individuals perceive it to be a mistake. Denial is predominantly a temporary defense followed by isolation. Individuals normally replace denial with feelings of frustration, rage, resentment, and envy. Anger is a common response to feelings of frustration, abandonment, or powerlessness (Webb, 2011). The anger may be directed towards self, God, or life due to the perceived injustices occasioned by the loss. Pain and guilt features less extreme self-reproach regarding things that the griever feels failed to do prior to the loss (Timby, 2009). Bargaining stems from the realization that the individual cannot derive much from anger, and thus opts to make a last ditch negotiation with fate and God. This is heralded by feelings of helplessness and vulnerability. The patient or individual normally reverts to some form of childhood response. Bargaining in this case may feature an endeavor to downplay loss demonstrated by an alteration in behavior (Webb, 2011). Depression arises when the individual can no longer deny or ignore the loss as the feelings of immense loss sinks in, and anger and

QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS FOR DECISION MAKING Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS FOR DECISION MAKING - Essay Example Long-range forecast involve timeframes of over three years involving capital expenditures, R&D, new product planning and expansion (Heizer & Render). There are two different approaches of forecasting. The first approach is subjective or qualitative where factor’s such as the manager’s intuition, experience, emotions and opinion are utilized in reaching a forecast. The second quantitative approach involves the use of some historical data coupled with the use of some mathematical models in order to predict possible future outcomes. The qualitative approach is often useful in estimating sales for certain new consumer products or services that rely heavily on customer needs and preferences. Under the qualitative approach to forecasting there are four different types of methods used (Heizer, et. al.): Jury of executive Opinion- the opinion of a group of high level managers or decision makers is used in combination with some statistical models to arrive at a conclusion Sales Force composite- the individual salesperson sales forecasts are all combined and reviewed for accuracy in order to determine an overall forecast. Delphi Method- in these approach there are three types of participants: staff personnel, respondents and decision makers. The decision makers typically consist of a panel of 5 to 10 experts who will be making the actual forecasts.

Trafficking Paper Final Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Trafficking Paper Final - Essay Example The issues of migration, consent, and working conditions of all trafficked persons are among the concerns pointed out by both sides of the debate. Interestingly, â€Å"while the understanding of trafficking and its definitions have expanded, discussions of trafficking are often still limited to its most salacious aspects, verging at times on voyeurism.† (Ditmore, 2005a) â€Å"Laws on prostitution vary significantly from one country to another but generally fall into 3 categories: prohibition, which makes all prostitution illegal; regulation, which legalizes and regulates prostitution; and abolition, which decriminalizes prostitution.† (Barry, 1995) Nevertheless, given all these policies and their good intentions, the human rights of the trafficked person are still ignored. As one author put it responsive action to the problem of human trafficking is still better than new laws, national or international. (Barry, 1995) In the 19th century, the military was often ineffective due to venereal disease. Not surprisingly, this was traced to their sexual activities with prostitutes. As a result, the immediate focus of the government was to prevent the contamination but without impinging on the soldiers’ sexual behaviors. A place was set up where public prostitutes were registered and required to have semi-weekly examinations. Trafficking, which was synonymous to prostitution that time, was to be regulated because it was a way of passing on the disease to the military personnel. However, the Act only applied to women. (Barry, 1995, p.93) â€Å"The Contagious Diseases Acts were designed to protect the health of the military men by subjecting any woman whom the special Morals Police identified as a prostitute to a â€Å"surgical examination,† which involved the use of crude instruments for special vaginal examinations by often cruel doctors.† The

A critical analysis of a patient's journey through PICU from a nursing Essay

A critical analysis of a patient's journey through PICU from a nursing perspective - Essay Example Because of the impact of being in an area like the ICU and besides the routine responsibilities, paediatric ICU nurses are required to be â€Å"continually tuned in to the immediate recognition of any disruption in the child’s condition† (Carnevale, 2007, p. 68). They are ought to coordinate with the other members of the medical team who are expected to work together to alleviate the condition of the patient as well as to deal with the family of those who are under their care (Morton, 2002). In this paper, a nurse’s point of view about the journey of a patient Baby X will be assessed while taking into account many aspects of the care. There are a number of patients in the paediatric ICU; each of which with unique cases from the others. The reason why Baby X’s case and care was chosen is mainly to apply critical analysis on how the nursing strategies directed to the patient in coordination with the medical team, its effects on the family’s involvement and the consequences of these put together have led to the improvement of his health. Specifically, the paper would focus on the episode of Baby X’s stay where he had to be tracheostomized. The analysis would consider how the medical team reached the decision; how the nursing care affected the decision and the care before and after the procedure; and the reaction of the family [especially the mother who was doubtful at first] prior to the intervention and after it had been found out that it had helped. Baby X and the rest of the triplets were born expreterm on July 27, 2009. They were only at their 26th week of gestation when they went out. Like him, most of the preterm or premature babies who are born before the 37th week of gestation (Cadwell & Turner-Maffei, 2006) are prone to many complications as they are given birth before full maturation of almost all their body parts. Baby X was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit last December 12, 2009 for suffering an array of

Krav Maga Essay Example for Free

Krav Maga Essay Krav Maga is a self-defense system developed for military in Israel and Slovakia that consists of a wide combination of techniques sourced from boxing, Muay Thai, Wing Chun, Judo, jiu-jitsu, wrestling, and grappling, along with realistic fight training. Krav Maga is known for its focus on real-world situations and extremely efficient and brutal counter-attacks. in the mid-to-late 1930s. In the late 1940s, following his immigration to Palistine, he began to provide lessons on combat training to what was to become the IDF, who went on to develop the system that became known as Krav Maga. It has since been refined for civilian, police and military applications. Krav Maga has a philosophy emphasizing threat neutralization, simultaneous defensive and offensive maneuvers, and aggression. Krav Maga is used by Israeli Defense Forces, both regular and special forces, and several closely related variations have been developed and adopted by law enforcement and intelligence organizations, Mossad and Shin Bet. There are several organizations teaching variations of Krav Maga internationally. Etymology The name in Hebrew can be translated as contact combat. The root word krav means battle or combat and maga means contact. Basic principles Krav Maga encourages students to avoid confrontation. If this is impossible or unsafe, it promotes finishing a fight as quickly as possible. Attacks are aimed at the most vulnerable parts of the body, and training is not limited to techniques that avoid severe injury. Drills provide maximum safety to students by the use of protective equipment and the use of reasonable force. Students learn to defend against all variety of attacks and are taught to counter in the quickest and most efficient way. Ideas in Krav Maga include: Counter attacking as soon as possible . Targeting attacks to the bodys most vulnerable points, such as: the eyes, neck/throat, face, solar plexus, groin, ribs, knee, foot, fingers, etc. Maximum effectiveness and efficiency in order to neutralize the opponent as quickly as possible. Maintaining awareness of surroundings while dealing with the threat in order to look for escape routes, further attackers, objects that could be used to defend or help attack, and so on. Training can also cover situational awareness to develop an understanding of ones surroundings, learning to understand the psychology of a street confrontation, and identifying potential threats before an attack occurs. It may also cover ways to deal with physical and verbal methods to avoid violence whenever possible. History Imrich Lichtenfeld was born in 1910 in Budapest, Hungary and grew up in Bratislava . Lichtenfeld became active in a wide range of sports, including gymnastics, wrestling, and boxing. In 1928, Lichtenfeld won the Slovakian Youth Wrestling Championship, and in 1929 the adult championship . That same year, he also won the national boxing championship and an international gymnastics championship. During the ensuing decade, Imis athletic activities focused mainly on wrestling, both as a contestant and a trainer.

A View from the Bridge Essay Example for Free

A View from the Bridge Essay Explore how Miller creates dramatic tension at the end of act one. Comment on this scenes importance to the play overall. A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller explores the complicated lives and relationships between a family living in the slums of New York. This particular play is set in a slum called Red Hook which is strongly patriarchal, and where there is a large Sicilian, volatile community where many homes harbour illegal immigrants and the fear of their discovery is high. Within this society, tensions are high because of fear that they would be found hiding illegal immigrants in their home, which is what a lot of the anxiety in the play is based on. Alfieri tells us, the audience, about the importance of justice and how justice is often administrated outside rather than inside the law. This generates fear as we anticipate that people within the society will not necessarily abide by the law. Miller creates tension at the very beginning of the play by demonstrating the fact that the area is prone to violent attacks, we hear of the Vinny Bolzano incident on page 23 in which Vinny snitched to immigration that they were hiding illegal family members in their home. Beatrice describes how three flights his head was bouncin like a coconut after his brothers and father threw him out the house and on to the street. Before the play even starts, we can tell that Miller will aim to sustain a tense atmosphere throughout the play from the way Alfieri says: and watched it run its bloody course. The end of this act centres on Eddie Carbone and his family (Beatrice and Catherine) who are joined by Rodolpho and Marco (illegal immigrants), sitting together after a meal. The story so far has introduced tensions which are later developed and twisted into a devastating conclusion. We have already met Eddie Carbone the tragic protagonist of the play. He is constantly self-interested, wanting to promote and protect his own innocence. We are made aware at the beginning of the play of Eddies protection over Catherine, his niece. He says to her youre walkin wavy, and I dont like the looks theyre giving you in the candy store. This is a clear demonstration of the fact that maybe he feels a little more for her than family love, an issue which becomes inflamed when Rodolpho is introduced to the story. The relationship between Catherine and Eddie shows conflict, which effectively leads to and causes dramatic tension. Eddies possessive and protective nature is channeled through Catherine, and initially an audience may perceive this to be an effect of the male-dominated society in which they live in. This explains why he is so cynical and nervous as well as angry when Rodolpho is asked to dance by Catherine. Tensions have appears to have formed with Catherine. Eddie is becoming increasingly jealous and aggravated by this which is shown before this scene has even started from the way he says to Beatrice, the guy aint right. When Catherine asks Rodolpho to dance, he is immediately reluctant in deference to Eddie who, as it says in the stage directions, freezes, and Rodolpho claims I-Im tired. Tensions have already risen within the past few pages between Marco and Rodolpho and Eddie after arguing about whether they paint oranges and lemons, which leads the audience to believe that Marco and Rodolphos joint defiance against Eddies behaviour will become more of an issue later in the play. Rodolphos initial hesitation to dance with Catherine shows his determination not to annoy Eddie any further, however, Catherine is insistent. Eddie reacts by questioning Rodolphos masculinity, which adds to tensions because in the area where the play is set, masculinity and dominance over others is very significant. Eddies speech Its wonderful. He sings, he cooks, he could make dresses shows that he is clearly trying to mock Rodolpho. He obviously feels as though his dominance in his house is being threatened by him, therefore creating tension. Miller uses powerful symbolism in his writing to portray Eddies character and express his emotions to the audience. We are made aware of Eddies disapproval and anger of the situation, and Miller writes stage directions to express this. For example, Eddie seems to retreat to his rocker when he feels uncomfortable and wants to remove himself from the situation. This is his place, and as a male, he is very protective over his space and it belongs to him and only him. His newspaper is also symbolic. He uses it as his way of hiding away, for example, when the stage directions say Eddie goes to his rocker and picks up his newspaper after being told about Marco and Rodolpho having been to Africa. He later lowers his paper, indicating that he has chosen to engage in the situation. This is another example of his desire to keep himself to himself, which effectively communicates unease to the audience. The use of the pause is also significant in the build-up of dramatic tension. For example, when Eddie has just insulted Rodolpho, there is a silence: Eddie Well, thats all Im asking. Eddie reads his paper. There is a pause, leading to an awkward atmosphere. Now Catherine gets up and puts a record on the phonograph This is an uncomfortable moment of tension. Catherine breaks the silence by putting on Paper Doll, but it creates more tension by increasing the friction between Catherine, Rodolpho and Eddie. Catherine also uses it as a way of provoking Eddie by asking Rodolpho to dance. This scene is a complete contrast to earlier on in the play where Miller showed Catherine to be obedient and respectful towards Eddie. This sudden change in Catherines behaviour is partly due to the conversation earlier on in the play with Beatrice about how Catherine needs to become more independent from Eddie. Miller also uses dramatic devices to create tension such as violence when Rodolpho boxes with Eddie at the end of act one. When the stage directions say, rubbing his fists together, it shows that Eddie is trying to release his anger and frustration on Rodolpho for interfering with Catherine and his relationship with her. This creates tension as they boxing at each other. Soon after, when Marco challenges Eddie and says Can you lift this chair? and he cannot, Marco then does it and holds the chair high above his head, whilst glaring at Eddie. This threatening pose creates very visual tension for the audience, as Marco has upstaged Eddie and robbed him of his male dominance in his own home. When the end of act one arrives and the play has an interval, the audience are left on the edge of the their seats and feel anxious to know the outcome of the events they have just witnessed. The tension build-up up until this point leaves the audience at a great ease, because the play so far has left questions unanswered and problems unsolved, meaning that the audience are spending the interval relating to the characters discomfort in the play. This scene in particular is significant to the climax of the play because it sets up Eddies destiny to fail and lose his self-control. The events that happen at the end of this scene could be described as the beginning of the end, as it is this moment that effectively leads into and foreshadows the escalation of tension and drama right to the end of the play. Eddies frustration at the situation of Catherine and Rodolphos increasingly passionate relationship lead him into his feud with Marco, which in the end is what kills him. Eddie sets himself up for his own downfall, and this is the scene where it all escalates from.

Triggering Factors that influence the Entrepreneurs

Triggering Factors that influence the Entrepreneurs Research in entrepreneurship has introduced many aspects of how and why people make decisions in new venture creation (Shane, 2002). Entrepreneurial individuals are often motivated by economic and/or psychological factors. Scholars have agreed that the entrepreneurial process and theories involve a complex set of variables that are beyond any single aspect. To identify motives and incentives of entrepreneurial activities involves disseminating several layers of relationships between personal factors, external forces and other random events (Liang and Dunn, 2007). From the existing literature we can rationally hypothesize that, the decision to launch a new venture probably includes individual endogenous factors and exogenous factors of the environment. Limited studies have discussed the possibility that pre business entrepreneurs (who are planning to become entrepreneur) might have different triggers to launch new ventures compared to in-business (who are expanding the business) professionals. Triggers as defined by Liang and Dunn (2007) forces in the individuals or in the individuals perception of their situation that move them toward the entrepreneurial process. It is important to distinguish triggering factors and triggering events from triggers. Triggering events are more like something happened as an occasion or an episode that influence individuals assessment on the situation. Triggering factors could be interpreted as issues or features that influence individuals perspectives about certain situations (Liang and Dunn, 2007). This study measures the triggers, which influences the professionals (who are planning to become and those who wants to expand their business) to become entrepreneurs. In addition to this we will also measure the relationship between the triggers and demographics of individuals. This study is of major interest to various government organizations like small and medium enterprises (SMEDA), non government organizations (NGO), policy makers of government and business to business organization (B2B). Implications of this research study will help them to identify the pattern of individuals, who wants to become entrepreneurs and which triggers them to think about starting new venture. Literature Review The purpose of the literature review is to outline the triggers identified by various researchers/authors and to analyze the dimensions in which different authors works on the entrepreneurs triggers. At a basic level, entrepreneurship is recognized as a highly personalized activity. The entrepreneur is motivated to create a venture, which reflects their vision and ambitions, and is prepared to review and reorganize their social environment to make it materialize (Morrison, 2000) Characteristics of entrepreneurs identified by various authors (Longenecker, Moore, Petty,2000; Scarborough Zimmerer, 2000; Bhide, 2000) are high achievement drive, action oriented, optimism, opportunistic, internal locus of control, tolerance for ambiguity, moderate risk taking, commitment/tenacity, commitment, initiative, independence or some form of one or more of these. These authors also determines motivation related to new venture formation, to enjoy what individuals are doing, revolves around the opportunity to gain control over personal lives/independence, to achieve personal goals and recognition, to get profits/financial rewards, and to make a difference/contribute to society. The key of the entrepreneurship process initiations depends within the individual of the society and the extent to which individuals wants to enter in new ventures and holds the spirit of enterprise (Morrison, 2000) McLelland, (1961) identified common characteristics and behaviors, Those which emerged relative to all the entrepreneurs are: they bring intelligence and sound analytical skills to bear on risk management; they are all in some respect deviants from the social norms within their countries; to differing degrees they exhibit strong moral, work and business ethics; irrespective of industry sector a strong traders instinct is apparent; they are committed to life-long learning through both formal and informal mechanisms; and extensive use is made of both informal and formal networks. Morrison et al., (1998) proposed that the entrepreneurship is initiated by the personal, society and culture intuition. Entrepreneurship is not only initiated by the economic aspects but it involves material, immaterial and idealism functions. The fundamental nature of the entrepreneurship is the use of innovatory process and the risk bearing by the individual, through which individual wants to bring change in both a social and economic nature of his own and the society. Kirzner (1979) believes that the source of entrepreneurship within the human spirit flourish when there is uncertainty and competition. This enterprising spirit in terms of inspirational means is described by Gilder(1971, p 258) The spirit of enterprise wells up from the wisdom of ages and the history (of the west) and infuses the most modern of technological adventures. It joins the old and new frontiers. It assers a firm hierarchy of values and demands ad hard discipline. It requires a life of labor and listening, aspiration and courage. But it is the source of all we are and can become, the saving grace of democratic politics and free men, the hope of the poor and the obligation of the fortunate, the redemption of an oppressed and desperate world. Longenecker, Moore, Pettit, Palich (2006) suggested that entrepreneurs wanted to make money, become their own boss, escape a bad situation, enjoy and satisfying life, and contribute to the community. Bygrave (1989) discussed entrepreneurship as a process that involved triggering event, innovation, implementation, and growth. In the triggering event stage he suggested that there were sociological, personal, and environmental factors that led to entrepreneurship. Again, both internal and external forces seemed to be at play. Culture is an important variable in entrepreneurship because it establishes the attitudes of individuals towards the commencement of entrepreneurship (Vernon-Wortzel and Wortzel, 1997). Every era produces its own models of entrepreneurship according to its specific needs of the host society; however, it has been described consistently using terms such as innovative, holistic, risk-taking and co-coordinating ways of behavior. Certain cultural institutions may facilitate, or hinder, entry into entrepreneurship. Thus, it is proposed that the culture of societies and the characteristics of people living in these societies, impacted by certain innate personality traits, will influence the degree to which entrepreneurship is initiated (Morrison, 2000). The above provided argument by the Morrison, (2000) is supported by the  Bateman (1997), those economies and regions which have flourished in the late 20th century, have in common a business culture, which can be broadly described as entrepreneurial. It is attuned to the needs of a changing market economy and receptive to changing demands, innovations, products, opportunities and technologies. Entrepreneurship has been found to be important and meaningful in society at points of transition, for example, traditional to modern, modern to post-modern and state-controlled economies to free-market. At each of these points, entrepreneurship is harnessed by societies as a common approach to solving dilemmas, to break old, stable and hierarchical traditions and institutions and to introduce new, innovative ways of behavior. Thus, it is suggested that entrepreneurship can be regarded as an instrument for changing the culture of an era (Morrison, 2000) According to Timmons (1994, p. 9) about entrepreneurial behavior is, what is needed is a favorable environment which combines social, political and educational attributes. In particular it requires: A culture that prizes entrepreneurship, an imperative to educate our population so that our entrepreneurial potential is second to none; and a government that generously supports pure and applied science, fosters entrepreneurship with enlightened policies, and enables schools to produce the best educated students in the world. Dollinger (1995) discussed what he characterized as the impetus for entrepreneurship. He discussed the Sociological Approach which focused on four factors that led entrepreneurs toward new venture creation. Negative displacement was where individuals were marginalized from society, because of who they were or their situation including being fired or not satisfied with their current employment or divorced. Between things included individuals between stages of their life. Positive pull included other people (potential collaborators, parents, customers) who provided an impetus to entrepreneurship. Positive push included entrepreneurs who, because of their education or situation, were pushed toward entrepreneurship. Individual factors or a combination of any of these factors could move the entrepreneur toward new venture creation. The manner, in which the young are conditioned from an early age through the formal education system, and the fact that dominant approaches are frequently reinforced within family life, plays a significant role in the initiation of characteristics generally associated with entrepreneurial behavior (Gibb, 1996). It has been identified that a characteristic of entrepreneurship is that it tends to pervade family life, with the entrepreneur being unable to divorce business from social living (Deakin, 1996). In this respect, family background plays a role in two ways. First, if an entrepreneur has previous experience of the effect of entrepreneurship from a family member they are more prepared for the consequences of their own activities. Second, family support of entrepreneurship can make a positive contribution to its sustenance. For all the entrepreneurs represented in the study, positive immediate family support for their entrepreneurial behaviour had played an important part in its sustenance. What was also identified as of significance was the role of the extended family in enabling access to funds and markets to support individual entrepreneurs in the creation and development of their businesses Within some societies there is a practice of saving for the future, while within others the focus is on living and spending to enjoy the moment. This has an implication for the amount of personal funds that may be available for investment in business. The dominant cultural attitudes, values and beliefs of a population at one particular point of time will result in a particular common mind-set relative to the degree to which entrepreneurship is supported by society (Gilder, 1971). The entrepreneur in terms of who he/she is and what he/she does, which has often resulted in characterizing persons who might be more likely to become entrepreneurs than others (Rerup, 2005). To date, scholars suggest three broad types of entrepreneurs, namely (a) Nascent, (b) Novice, and (c) Habitual entrepreneurs (see e.g. Birley and Westhead, 1993; Kolvereid and Bullvà ¥g 1993; Wright 1997; Westhead and Wright, 1998). The (a) nascent entrepreneur has not yet engaged in an entrepreneurial venture but has a general aspiration of establishing a business. The (b) novice entrepreneur has established one venture but does not have any prior entrepreneurial experience (Westhead et al. 1998). Lastly, the (c) habitual entrepreneur has established at least one other business prior to the current venture, hence possesses prior entrepreneurial experience. At some point, all entrepreneurs are nascent and then novice. Hall (1995) who divides habitual entrepreneurs into four sub-types; namely serial entrepreneurs, portfolio entrepreneurs, serial inheritors or serial management buy-outs (MBOs) /management buy-ins (MBIs), and multiple corporate entrepreneurs. Serial and portfolio entrepreneurs have repeatedly engaged in the creation of new ventures Serial entrepreneurs exit (close or sell) their current business before establishing a subsequent venture, whereas portfolio entrepreneurs keep ownership in more than one business at a time; hence have ownership stakes in a portfolio of businesses. In contrast, serial corporate entrepreneurs (or intrapreneurs) are persons who create new combinations of resources or realize new business opportunities in existing companies. Both, inheritors or serial MBO/MBI entrepreneurs are not traditionally regarded as true entrepreneurs because MBOs and MBIs do not create new businesses per se (Deakins and Freel, 2003). Purpose of this Study The main purpose of this study is to investigate theoretically and test empirically The difference between pre business versus In business entrepreneurs triggers Which pre-business entrepreneurial triggers have relationships with demographics Which In-business triggers entrepreneurial have relationships with demographics Conceptual Frame Work The conceptual frame work of this study is taken from the study of Liang and Dunn (2007). Data Analysis Technique Cronbachs alpha for internal consistency, factor analysis to reduce the variables in each trigger, and regression analysis will be used to check the relationship Data Collection Data will be collected from the professionals who are planning to become an entrepreneur and entrepreneur who are planning to expand their existing business. Sample Size The total sample size will be 200 professionals from Lahore and Islamabad, with equal consideration of respondents from each city and equal representation of pre-business and in-business professionals. Research Instrument Triggers of entrepreneur which will be 42 and demographics variables considered will be gender, education level, age, marital status, type of business and years of experience of respondents will be taken from the study of Liang and Dunn (2007).

psychology: male eating disorders :: essays research papers

Eating Disorders are psychological disorders that result from a drive to be thin. They are broken down into three categories, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa is diagnosed according to the DSM-III-R in individuals with body weight that is significantly lower than the norm, extremely concerned with weight and shape, distorted self-image, and an absence of three consecutive menstrual periods, in women. Bulimia Nervosa is diagnosed according to the DSM-III-R in individuals who have recurrent binge eating episodes, have weight and shape concerns, have a lack of control over such behavior, and have compensatory behaviors (e.g., vomiting, fasting, misuse of laxatives, or excessive exercise). Binge eating disorder has much of the same criteria as Bulimia Nervosa with the exception of the compensatory behaviors. This study has several goals. First, the authors compare men with eating disorders to women with eating disorders, specifically to find clinical similarities. Because eating disorders are considered rare in men, the authors set out to investigate the differences between the two sexes. Second, the authors wanted to find differences in men with eating disorders and normal men. The authors also set out to find a representative sample that would provide the greatest validity. Concentrating on men with eating disorders, the authors also were looking for a correlation between eating disorders and other psychological disorders, such as affective disorder, anti-social personality disorder, and substance abuse. On the subject of sexual orientation, the authors explain, "...although an obvious area of investigation, (sexual orientation) was deemed too sensitive a topic for a government-sponsored survey and unfortunately was not assessed". METHOD Subjects Sixty-two men meeting the DSM-III-R criteria of an eating disorder, 212 women with equivalent eating disorders, and a control group of 3,769 men who had no presence of an eating disorder. Measures Community survey. Random houses were selected in Ontario. From each household an individual aged fifteen years and older was chosen at random and then administered the Mental Health Supplement to the Ontario Health Survey. The individual was then asked to submit written informed consent prior to the interview. A sample size of 9, 953 individuals was obtained by these means. Subject reduction. Using the University of Michigan's version of the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview, the subjects were narrowed down. During this process, individuals were interviewed for one to two hours by trained interviewers. The subjects were assessed for anxiety disorders, substance use and or abuse, affective disorders, anti-social personality disorder, and of course eating disorders.

breastfeed or bottle-feed? Essay -- essays research papers

Is the mom going to breastfeed or bottle-feed? I must tell you that breast milk is usually best for your baby. -Each mother’s breast milk is made especially for their own newborn. It contains all the Vit., Min. & iron that your baby needs( where as bottle milk has as little as 5-10% of all vit., min., & iron that are used by your baby.) Breast milk also continues to chg. as your baby grows to meet the changing needs of your infant, no formula is capable of such a chg. Breast milk contains protecting agents to help insure your baby’s health, these agents (WBC’s and immunoglobins) help fight DZ and INF. Advantages of Breastfeeding (Disadvantages to bottle feeding): 1)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  promotes bonding between mom and infant, easily and quickly digested. 2)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Breastfed babies have fewer illnesses and faster recovery. The antibodies found in breast milk provide immunities that make it easier for a baby to fend off illnesses such as colds and ear infections. So not only do breastfed babies tend to get sick less often but when they do get sick, they get better faster then babies that are bottle fed. Pre-mature babies who get breast milk also have less GI problems 3)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Breast milk has long term health benefits for your baby. The positive effects of breastfeeding last well beyond babyhood. Studies show that babies breastfed for the first six months are 43% less likely to become obese as children, if breastfed for more then 1 year they are 72% less likely to be overweight. Breastfeed babies have a lower risk of HTN later in life, they also have a lower risk of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea later in life. Breastfeed babies also have an average of 8 to 10 IQ points higher then bottle-fed babies. Finally breastfed babies have a lower incidence of SID’s 4)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Breastfeeding helps to take the pounds off after pregnancy. Producing breast milk requires 500 calories a day 5)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Breastfeeding also helps benefit mom’s health. Some studies indicate that breastfeeding decreases or lowers a woman’s risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer. It also appears to protect against osteoporosis. 6)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Breast milk is inexpensive as opposed to bottle feeding which tends to run around $1400 to $1800 a year. 7)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  &n... ...oiling, soaking in antibacterial solution (instructions are on the packet), or microwave bottle sterilizer. Store sterilized bottles in the refrigerator. Prepare the formula and shake thoroughly. Warm to room temp then give to baby 4)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Feeding the baby – Cuddles and comfort are as important for your baby as feeding is, bottle fed baby’s can bond too. Cradling your baby in your arms is the best position. Never feed the baby while he or she is laying down! Problems while Breastfeeding: 1)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sore nipples (usually during the first week) Check the latch on technique and position of the baby during feedings. You want to vary nursing positions. You can also use OTC lubricants or express a little milk or colostrum onto your nipples before and after nursing, gently pat dry (antibacterial qualities) In most cases sore or cracked nipples are no longer painful once good positioning and latch on are achieved. 2)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Breast engorgement usually occurs in 2-3 days but is usually temporary and last only 3-7 days. For treatment and prevention wear a comfortable bra to support your breasts (no under wire at this time)

Case 4 Ginger – Smart Basics.Pdf Uploaded Successfully

C AS E 4 Ginger: Smart BasicsTM Dr Mukta Kamplikar1 Roots Corporation Limited develops and operates a fast-expanding chain of economy hotels across India under the â€Å"Ginger† brand. There is currently a lack of competition in the branded economy hotels segment and Ginger is the only branded economy hotel chain in India. The Ginger hotels are built around a concept that provides facilities to meet the key needs of today’s traveler, at affordable rates.Ginger faces challenges in different aspects of its business as it aims to deliver consistently, quality service to the customer and manage customer expectations. COMPANY BACKGROUND Exhibit 1: The proportion of hotel segments across Indian cities. Jaipur Cochin Goa Pune Hyderabad Bangalore Chennai Kolkata Mumbai Delhi/National Capital Region Budget Mid-market First class Lurxury R oots Corporation Limited (RCL) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL). IHCL is a part of the Tata Group of c ompanies (see www. tata. om), India’s premier business house. Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces comprises 77 hotels, 7 palaces, 6 private islands and 12 resorts in 40 locations across India with an additional 18 international hotels in the Maldives, Mauritius, Malaysia, Australia, UK, US, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Africa, and the Middle East. Incorporated on 24 December 2003, Roots Corporation Limited operates the ? rst-of-its-kind category of Smart Basicsâ„ ¢ hotels across India. Launched in June 2004, the Smart Basicsâ„ ¢ concept created a revolution in the world of Indian hospitality.Roots Corporation Limited develops and operates a fast-expanding chain of economy hotels across India under the â€Å"Ginger† brand. The company either owns/ leases land on which it develops and operates hotels and has now started entering into joint developments where the owner brings in the land and bare shell and leases the same to the company. The company’s recent growth has been organic, through developing and operating hotels in new cities or by going for additional hotels in existing markets; thus expanding the geographic reach of the hotel chain.The company intends to develop and operate additional hotels under both business models to maintain or achieve a dominant position in every market covered by their Ginger hotel chain. The Economy Segment Historically, hotel development projects in India generally focused on upscale hotels that were primarily targeted at international tourists and corporate travelers. New hotels will be concentrated in 18 main cities over the next 10 years, as shown in the following chart. Exhibit 2: Projected hotel expansion rate over 10 years. 60 50 Number of hotels 40 30 20 10 0De lhi N Mu CR Ba mba n Hy galo i de re rab ad P Ch une en n Ja ai ipu r G Ko oa lka Vis t akh Ko a ap chi Ah atn em am da b Ud ad aip u A r Lud gra h Luc iana kn M ow Co yso imb re ato re Source: HVS International. 446 Case Study Between 2007 and 2010, supply will increase in all categories of hotels, as shown in the chart below. Exhibit 3: Projected supply increase in all categories of hotel. Increase over Five Year Development of Supply Mid-market First Class Proposed Supply Existing Supply Budget Luxury a? liations as opposed to Ginger hotels, which are part of a network of hotels).Going forward we see competition continuing from the unorganized section of the market as well as from newer international and local hotel companies who have announced their intent to set-up hotels across the country in the value segment. The market is witnessing a fair amount of activity in this segment of the hotel market. Some of the companies who have announced plans to establish a presence in the country are shown in Exhibit 4. Exhibit 4: Lodging brands venturing into India. Brand Formule 1 Promoters Plans Agra Ahmedabad Bangalore Chennai Delhi (NCR) Goa Hyperabad Jaipur Kolkata Mumbai Other Cities ,336 519 1,906 2,075 7,030 2,252 1,442 1,298 1 ,354 7,402 8,056 384 462 7,794 4,407 28. 7% 89. 0% 408. 9% 212. 4% 69% 48% 55% 36% 74% 18% 57% 42 61% 36% 47% 31. 1% 28. 0% 24. 8% 12. 4% 25. 4% 11. 7% 11. 2% 30. 8% 3. 9% 32. 5% 16. 7% 38. 0% 27. 0% 43. 6% 34. 4% 36. 3% 29. 4% 28. 9% 18. 6% 37. 5% 15. 6% 37. 0% 23. 1% 38. 2% 25. 6% 21. 3% 26. 0% 49. 7% 26. 7% 24. 0% 62. 5% 51. 9% 14. 2% 10. 9% 10. 0% 18. 4% 18. 8% 26. 0% 9. 7% 13. 6% 53. 5% 10,856 154. 4% 2,632 7,408 2,770 2,465 9,318 6,870 116. 9% 513. 7% 213. 4% 182. 1% 125. 9% 85. 3%Accor in a 100 hotels in the next decade joint venture with Emaar MGF Isthitmar, Dubai New look pod hotels Easy Hotels Sleep Inn Source: HVS International. Choice 10 hotels by 2010; ? rst hotels Hotels with to be in Tirupati and Vizag Gupta Group Air Asia, Malaysia Lemon Tree partnered by Warburg Pincus First hotel to be in Goa 10 hotels by 2010 While growth is expected in the upscale hotels, the growth in the economy segment is still minimal. While several chains, both domestic and international, ha ve announced plans for development of hotels in this segment, visible action on the ground is limited.Economy hotel chains in India mainly target value-conscious domestic business and leisure travelers who demand convenient lodging, a consistent product and high-quality services. According to a study conducted by Ginger, currently, 37 percent of economy hotel guests are individual business travelers, 23 percent are contract corporate customers and 20 percent are individual leisure travelers. Economy hotel chains aim to satisfy customers’ basic accommodation needs with a? ordable pricing, a comfortable lodging experience and a standardized service-product.Lack of competition in the branded economy hotels segment is a great opportunity for Ginger. Tune Hotels Red Fox Peppermint Royal Orchid 50 hotels by 2010; bids for 11 Hotels hotels on Railway land are held up; ? rst hotel open in Hyderabad Kamat Hotels 50 hotels in the next ? ve years; focused on West coast; tie-up with ONGC /MRPL Wyndham with Gammon 38 hotels by 2011 Kamfotel Days Inn / Super 8 Premier Travel Inn Whitbread 80 hotels in 10 years in a joint venture with Emaar MGF Landmark 20 hotels by 2009 Group, Dubai DIC Starwood No numbers mentioned No numbers mentioned City Max Hotels TravelodgeCOMPETITION The lodging industry in India is highly fragmented and competitive, and competition is expected to persist and intensify. Currently, Ginger competes with three-star full-service hotels from the unorganized sector (these are hotels developed and operated as standalone hotels with no chain/hotel group Campanile While some developments have started in the mid-market segment with Lemon Tree Hotels, Ibis (Accor), Keys (Bergruen Hotels), Day Hotels (Dawnay Day), Hometel (Sarovar Group), Hilton Garden Inn Hotels (DLF) and Taj Gateway Hotels, not much activity is visible at the economy end of the spectrum.This is possibly on account of the high prices of real estate. Ginger: Smart BasicsTM 447 CASE STUDY Ginger—The Service Concept The concept of Ginger was developed in association with renowned corporate strategy thinker, Dr C. K. Prahalad, and the hotels were indigenously designed and developed by the Indian Hotels Company Limited. The Ginger hotels are built around a concept that provides facilities to meet the key needs of today’s traveler, at a? ordable rates. Smart Basicsâ„ ¢ is a philosophy of providing intelligent, thoughtout facilities and services at a ‘value’ pricing and re? cts the new spirit in which people live and work today. It signi? es the emerging lifestyle which is visible in the degree to which individuals have taken control of their various activities viz. the use of e-mail instead of letters, as also the use of mobile phones, conference calls and video conferences to get things done quickly and e? ciently. Essentially, it is simplicity and convenience in ease of doing business (awareness, booking channels, payment gateways); inform ality, style, warmth and modernity in its approach to product design, service philosophy and a? rdability in pricing. The ? rst of the Smart Basicsâ„ ¢ hotel was launched in Bangalore and was called indiOne. When the test marketing of the concept was completed, there were slight changes to improve the hotel facilities and services. After that, the Smart BasicsTM concept was rolled out across India. This category of hotels was launched with a new name, Ginger hotels, in line with the fresh, simple yet stylish and warm world of Smart Basicsâ„ ¢. An up-and-coming category of hotels, Ginger de? nitely signi? es simplicity, convenience, informality, style, warmth, modernity and a? rdability. The target segment for Ginger is the large growing middle class with increasing disposable incomes. They are the class of travelers who would spend on travel but not on luxury accommodations. These travelers look for value-for-money accommodation that is clean and secure and also include intern ational travelers looking for hygienic accommodation in the smaller cities. Ginger is the only branded economy hotel chain in India with a nationwide network of 12 hotels, with an additional 20 hotels under development as of 31 May, 2008.Their early-mover status in many markets and established regional operational synergy has enabled Ginger to develop and operate hotels e? ciently and successfully in targeted markets. As the only branded economy hotel chain in India, the chain has been able to establish credibility with property owners and secure desirable properties on favorable lease terms. The economy segment (3-star) is better protected against and more resilient to the volatility in the hospitality segment as compared to the upscale segment. THE OFFERING—SMART BASICSâ„ ¢Ginger hotels designed their facilities and services to include The Square Mealâ„ ¢Ã¢â‚¬â€a multi-cuisine restaurant, on-site cyber cafe, a meeting room (that seats 10 people), laundry facility (sa me day delivery), on-site ATM, a Gymnasium, secure parking and Doctor-on-call. Ginger lays special emphasis on environmental and ecological issues through the use of compact ? uorescent lights (CFL), well utilized natural lighting, auto-time management for air-conditioning and energy-e? cient hydro-pneumatic systems. Ginger provides ingle rooms for the lone traveler; twin rooms with separate beds for those who travel together; double rooms with a queen-size bed; and special rooms for the speci? c needs of the physically challenged. The rooms are packed with electronic locking systems, cable TV, Internet connectivity, a mini fridge, tea/co? ee makers, self controlled air-conditioners, an ergonomic work area, and a 17-inch ? at screen TV. Each room has branded toiletries, 24-hour hot and cold running water, a shower area, and bath and hand towels. Exhibit 5: Smart BasicsTM amenities. 48 Case Study Exhibit 6: Innovative promotion — A life-size model created for a campaign that i s carried to metros across India. Ginger operates predominantly in a large geography of nonmetros with uncontested market opportunity. Exhibit 7: The Ginger Development Map To ensure safety, Ginger is equipped with 24-hour security, closed-circuit TV to maintain records of all visitors, swipe card locks and digital safes located at a Give ‘n’ Takeâ„ ¢ counter at the lobby. In addition, it has supporting infrastructural facilities including administrative o? es, kitchens, housekeeping, HVAC facilities, diesel generators for emergency power supply, water treatment plant, sewage treatment plant, etc. Ginger has outsourced food and beverage to partners operating on a revenue-share model, which includes Cafe Co? ee Day in selected properties. Ginger also o? ers other facilities like â€Å"SMART Wellness†, which is an Ayurvedic wellness facility for business travelers at a low cost. This has been developed with Arya Vaidya Pharmacy at all businesscum-leisure locatio ns.Ginger has introduced â€Å"SMART Sleep,† which includes a posture-pedic mattress for absorbing and redistributing pressure from the body weight, a tropical duvet and an anti-allergy pillow. The company has also introduced selfoperated vending machines that accept Indian currency for customer’s convenience. The company is now developing a â€Å"SMART Shower†. The organization believes that a customer’s sleep and bath are his most important needs at their hotels. Going forward, Ginger plans to develop its own range of merchandise that will be o? ered in its hotels and on its website.The merchandise is to include their bath collection, bedding collection, furnishings and decor, apparel, accessories, travel accessories and etc. Ginger intends to increase their revenue per available room by adopting a ? exible pricing approach/policy, which will be linked to the occupancy levels in the individual hotels. EMPLOYEES AND TRAINING Ginger believes that their ab ility to attract good talent, train and retain employees is critical for their growth strategy, as people are critical to maintaining the quality and consistency of their services, and thereby their brand and reputation.The business model of Ginger uses a fair amount of outsourcing. Only about 10 managers per hotel are on the payrolls of Ginger, while all other facilities like kitchen, restaurant, backend maintenance, are outsourced. Ginger has a total of about 175 permanent employees. Since housekeeping and food and beverage are outsourced operations, these employees are on the vendors’ payrolls. Ginger tries to leverage on hotel management schools to develop a management talent pool with su? cient capacity to meet the demands presented by their rapid growth.The company aims to recruit, train and retain the best talent through a multi-step recruiting and training process, and career advancement opportunities. Ginger has implemented extensive training programs and periodic te sts for managerial and other hotel-based sta? primarily through training partners. New unit managers of the hotels are required to undergo a two-month training, during which they receive training in managing all core aspects of the hotel operations, as well as the company culture and philosophy. Ginger: Smart BasicsTM 449In addition to training, Ginger has implemented periodic web-based tests to assess the relevant knowledge and skills of their managerial and other employees. The company uses performance-linked compensation structure, careeroriented training and career advancement opportunities as key drivers to motivate its employees. Ginger’s challenge is also to ensure that the outsourced partner delivers up to the service standards that was agreed upon. To be able to create/modify the outsourced partner’s systems and processes to its needs in order to deliver consistent good quality of service to the customer is critical.Since each person in the system is working t owards the same goal of delighting the customer, there are few di? erences in terms of the employee pro? les between employees of the outsourced partner and the employees on the payrolls of Ginger. It is important to ensure that the people working for the outsourced partner see themselves as a part of the same team. It is also important that the outsourced partner sees the advantages in following the policies, processes and systems of Ginger. Ginger operates in a large geography of smaller cities where the pro? es of employees in terms of their exposure to technology, comfort with modern amenities, etc. are di? erent from that of a metropolitan city. The challenge therefore lies in getting these employees to perform up to expectations. To design systems to recruit the right kind of people and provide the right kind of training to employees is a challenge for Ginger because, while the developmental inputs do not need to be the same across unit locations, the output in terms of consis tent service to ful? ll customer needs has to be fairly identical. Additionally, acquiring professionally quali? d employees locally (in remote areas and non-metro cities) and retaining talent at those locations is an area of concern. In their endeavor to retain talent, Ginger makes e? orts to ensure that employees see additional value in non-monetary rewards like developing employees competencies by making this visible to their employees through certi? cations, etc. But to be able to consistently ensure this across locations remains a challenge. If there is attrition, to be able to train and retrain employees (since the numbers are very small) at remote locations becomes very di? ult. Ginger’s people challenges are thus attracting talent and keeping them continuously motivated, given the vast opportunities for most of their young talent. Ginger training head, Bhanot, says: â€Å"We are cost conscious and so we need to use unconventional methods of recruitment because conven tional methods like placement agencies turn out to be very expensive. We recruit through [email  protected], our recruitment portal, and about 48 percent of recruitment happens through this site. The rest of the recruitment is through referral programmes (with rewards for referring).These methods have been successful. We also build relationships with business schools and our employees go to colleges and partner with them by linking with their syllabi, calling students for get-togethers, using students as summer interns; instead of going once in a year like most companies do. We try to build relationships before the recruitment even starts. We also try to address the challenge of keeping our young sta? motivated by giving them opportunities to learn and grow by continuously upgrading their skills.We are a budget hotel and we have chosen e-learning initiatives to cut costs. We have in-house training, induction, training operations and e-learning modules (based on customer feedback s ystems) and program content is created internally. † CENTRALIZED HOTEL MANAGEMENT Personnel at corporate o? ce perform strategic planning, ? nance, project development, sales and marketing, training and other functions and guide, support and monitor the on-site hotel operations and executives. The key elements of Ginger’s centralized hotel management program are: Budgeting and MonitoringThe annual budget is based on historical operating performance of the hotel, planned targeted marketing, planned renovations, operational e? ciencies and local market conditions. Quality Assurance and Training–Quality standards These have been de? ned for all aspects of hotel operations, covering housekeeping and hotel maintenance, as well as ensuring compliance with these quality standards. A set of procedural manuals have been created and employees are trained to ensure the e? ectiveness and uniformity through 450 Case Study the human resources department at our corporate o? e a s well as through outsourced training vendors. The compliance with quality standards is monitored through both scheduled and unannounced visits and reviews conducted periodically at each hotel. Employees are required take periodic tests (including e-certi? cation) in order to monitor compliance with quality standards. In addition, the practice of mystery audits and tracking customer comments through guest comment cards, and the direct solicitation of guest opinions regarding speci? c items, allows Ginger to improve services and amenities at each hotel across the chain.To maintain a competitive edge and enhance their hotels’ appeal the company requires each hotel to allocate a ? xed percentage of their revenue for periodic renovation and replacement of furnishings and equipment to maintain the quality and standards of its facilities. Ginger has implemented a centralized procurement system (where possible, along with the parent company, IHCL) to obtain the best pricing availabl e for the quality of goods sourced to the hotels and to minimize the operating expenses. Ginger supports local sales e? rts of each of its hotels along with corporate o? ce sales executives who develop and implement new marketing programs, and monitor and respond to speci? c market needs and preferences. †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Large travel agencies and smaller travel agents. Call Center—Ginger currently has a call center which can be reached through a toll-free number. Travel portals and other travel related websites. Distribution partners—Partners like BPCL, which is currently rolling out Travel Desks in various BPCL petrol pumps across the country, is also used as a channel for distribution.Access to these channels enhances occupancy rates of the units (hotels) on a day-to-day basis. The Ginger brand, trade names, trademarks, trade secrets and other intellectual properties are used to distinguish and protect their technology platforms, services and products from those of their competitors. This also contribute to their competitive advantage in the economy-hotel segment of the lodging industry in India. These intellectual properties are currently owned by the parent company, Indian Hotels Company Limited.To protect the Ginger brand and other intellectual properties, they rely on laws governing trademarks, trade secrets and copyrights as well as imposing con? dentiality obligations on their employees, contractors and others. Ginger has registered trademarks in India, including â€Å" † and a registered domain name viz. www. gingerhotels. com. Ginger’s corporate marketing and advertising programs are designed to enhance consumer awareness and preference for the Ginger brand—which is to o? r the best value, convenience and comfort in the economy hotel segment of the Indian lodging industry; and to encourage customers’ use of their centralized reservation system. Marketing and advertising e? orts include outdoor advertisements, distribution of ? yers and other marketing collateral on their hotel properties, television, Internet, radio advertising, print advertising in consumer media, promotional events, special holiday promotions and joint promotional activities.In reshaping customers’ expectations to make the brand endearing, Ginger does not provide room service, valet and concierge, and communicates the message â€Å"Please help yourselves† through its advertisements. The advertisements convey that since none of the above facilities are provided by the hotel, the customer saves on tips. However, there is clearly an expectation-perception gap as the Indian customer is still uncomfortable with the concept of Smart BasicsTM. They grapple with â€Å"there was nobody to receive me,† â€Å"nobody gave me water in the room,† â€Å"I called 7 times andMARKETING GINGER Ginger’s core targeted customers consist of corporate customers, value-oriented individual SME business travelers and leisure travelers seeking comfortable and convenient lodging at an a? ordable price. Ginger reviews hotel pricing twice a year and typically adjust room rates annually based on the local market conditions of the city and the speci? c location of each hotel. The corporate o? ce team and the city and hotel managers jointly develop tailored marketing plans to drive sales for each hotel and in each city.Ginger operates in a large geography of non-metropolitan cities like Agartala, Nashik, Bhubhaneshwar and Durgapur where pro? les of customer in terms of their exposure to technology, comfort with modern amenities, etc. are di? erent. The challenge therefore lies in customer responses to these. Ginger is currently using the following distribution channels which includes online media. †¢ Website—Internet Booking Engine hosted on the Ginger website is one of the main channels used for making the bookings. Ginger: Smart BasicsTM 51 the room boy did not tur n up. † Ginger sees many customers each day who enter the hotel not knowing what to expect. The many complaints on the websites and complaints registered across the counters at the hotels have to do with services Ginger does not provide (by design) rather than dissatisfactions caused by Ginger’s service. Creating awareness for the Ginger brand at this point in time is a challenge, and since the business model does not allow huge expenditure on media, innovative promotion is needed.Ginger made quirky use of outdoor media by materializing the idea of using a life-size 3-dimensional hoarding of some parts of the hotel, including getting someone to live in it. This was taken across a couple of metros for promotion and received extensive coverage in the electronic media. Ginger needs to ensure their customers come in recognizing and knowing what they should be expecting from the hotel. The challenge is not only in communication through advertisements, but also to communicate it clearly when a customer checks in. Ginger’s ability to communicate clearly what the customer can expect is an area of concern.This is because there is a tendency not to explain either because the customer does not have the patience to listen or there is a fear of losing this customer. Ginger has been trying to plug this by educating the customer before he/she checks in by having commercials playing in the hotel, training front line managers to give clear messages to the customer as to what Ginger can deliver, and communicating this through advertising. STUDY QUESTIONS 1. 2. 3. 4. What is Ginger’s service concept? Use the Flower of Service to aid you in your answer. How does Ginger create customer value?How can Ginger manage customer expectations more e? ectively? Evaluate Ginger’s brand positioning and communications strategy. Given that the number of players in the budget hotels market is increasing, how can Ginger sustain its unique positioning? Ginger fac es challenges relating to people. How can they overcome these challenges? What are the key challenges in the way to service excellence for Ginger? Give recommendations to Ginger to overcome these challenges? 5. 6. 1  © 2009 Dr Mukta Kampllikar, Senior Practice Consultant, Tata Management Training Center, Pune, India. 452 Case Study

American Agricultural Industry

By looking at the historical highs and lows and the American agricultural sector, these constitute a success story. The early 1900’s saw the golden age of agriculture with many thriving farmlands across the United States. With many farms, competition heightened and together with other economic factors resulted to the decline in the agricultural sector in the late 1920s up to the early 1930s resulting to the bankruptcy of many small farms. Abandoned lands became residential and commercial areas while the farms that remained became large farmlands that grew because of technological advancements.This transformed the composition of the agricultural sector from many small to medium farmlands to niches of large farmlands driven by large capital investments and technological development. Government policies conducive to the growth of the agricultural sector also contributed to the further development of the agricultural sector. Although many small farms closed, the long-term impact o f changes in the agricultural sector is the decline in farm poverty because of higher productivity and lower prices from the abatement of competition to a certain extent.Although, contemporary agricultural sector has not regained the position it reached during its golden age, growth is sustainable. (Gardner 1-3) The present agricultural sector survived because of four factors. First is capital investments, in which the banking and financial sector played an important part. Second is sustained productivity due to the development of technological tools and processes. Third is government support for researches in the agricultural sector to support sound policymaking.Fourth are the price-support programs of the government for stability that benefits farm owners by enabling them to gain sufficient profits to sustain continued production as well as consumers through lower prices so that food constitutes less than ten percent of the budget of consumption of American households. (Gardner 33 7) Methods of Production and Distribution Production and distribution in the American agricultural varies between the large and small farms.In the case of the large farms, the method of production targets the mass market and takes advantage of economies of scale and the mode of distribution is through mass- marketing outlets such as large supermarkets and other retail venues widely accessible to consumers. There are large farms that have been able to produce more than one agricultural product and these distribute products within economies of scope by bundling complementary goods. Large farms achieve economies of scale by using high-technology tools and processes and taking advantage of the abundance of workers in the labor market.Production in large farms use tractors to till land, small planes to spread pesticides over vast tracts of land, regulated water sprinklers, and other implements or even biotechnology by using pest or weather resistant varieties of seeds, vaccines for lives tock, and weight control systems. Although these involve costs, it is only on a one-time basis with cost-savings accruing in the long-term, and technology supports mass production. Large farms also depend on contractual workers for the necessary manual work and the abundance of unskilled labor especially coming from Mexico has allowed farms to cut back on cost.Due to cost-efficiency, large farms are able to cut-down on production costs and ensure high yields resulting to the ability to offer competitive market prices. As such, large farms are able to gain large supermarkets as distribution channels by offering a bigger mark-up price and gains for the retailers. (Paul and Nehring 526-528) In the case of the small, farms, production depends on its cost structure, revenue generation, and market so that methods of production implements basic technological tools and processes together with manual labor.The low scale of production of small farms led to niche marketing targeting only a lim ited market to ensure sales. Distribution channels are through on-site retail outlets, groceries, and specialty stores. (Paul and Nehring 526-528) Market Structure and Concentration Market structure of the American agricultural industry experienced greater degrees of concentration. Technological developments have segmented the American agricultural industry into two groups.One are the limited number of large farms that, in a way, can be considered as operating within an oligopoly or even nearing monopoly, except only for the government prerogatives to intervene to protect public policy. The other is small farms operating in an atomistic structure so that these do not have any significant effect on prices. There is a wide gap between the large and small farms in terms of productivity and market impact, with the large firms operating with large capital and employing high technology processes while households usually run small farms with limited workers using technological tools that f it their expenditure range.This resulted to high barriers to entry and exit. Contrary to estimates, the number of farms in the American agriculture sector experienced little change in the number of players since there are around 2. 1 million farms remaining with an average of . 25 percent decline rate. This is because the large firms have remained stable with expansion through the mergers or the acquisition of small farms. Movement occurs in the case of small firms through the entry of small farms specializing on certain agricultural products for niche markets to succeed in becoming part of the agricultural market.In addition, the difference in farmland also widened with the large farms producing on more than 1,000 acres of land while small farms only have less than 50 acres. (Ahearn, Yee, Korb 1182) Due to the segmentation of the American agricultural sector into a few large farms and many small farms, agricultural production is concentrated in the large firms contributing two-thir ds to the primary agricultural production in the United States of grains, fruits and vegetables, and livestock. The remaining one-third comes from small farms. (Ahearn, Yee, Korb 1183)Degree of Foreign Competition The degree of foreign competition in agricultural trade has grown because of the rise in the importation of agricultural products by the United States. This means that foreign competition has escalated due to the entry of agricultural imports, especially from developing countries. Projections show that in the next years the balance of trade would tip in favor of agricultural imports. During the 1980s up to the early 1990s, the United States is a string player in the export of agricultural products so that exports exceeded imports.By the mid-1990s, the surplus in agriculture trade has declined from $27. 3 billion to $10. 5 billion so that even if agricultural exports continue to increase, the volume of imports is also doubling. This was due to the rise in agricultural expor t prices as the American economy experienced growth. Economic growth also fuelled agricultural imports since Americans had the income to purchase foreign products that flooded the market due to price differences. (Jerardo) Now, growth and patterns of consumption would further fuel the growth in the imports of agricultural products.Rise in consumption together with the growing exposure of American consumers to international cuisine would continue to favor the importation of agricultural products. The consumption of foreign agricultural products should increase from 13 percent in the next years. (Jerardo) The major competitors of the United States in agricultural trade are China, India, Indonesia, Mexico and other agriculture-based economies in Latin America. These countries have large populations but these are also primarily agricultural economies owing to favorable climate conditions and low labor cost.Raw agricultural products come from Mexico and the Latin American countries becau se of geographic proximity while processed foods, which comprise 62 percent of food consumption of Americans, come from China, India and Indonesia. (Jerardo) Industry Leaders The agricultural sector in the United States is a mix of sub-sectors such as livestock or fruits and vegetables, seeds or feeds, packing or processing, and research and development. The industry leaders have stakes in many or all of these sub-sectors to ensure their competitiveness, industry position, and market share.Leaders in the agricultural sector comprise not really of the owners of farmlands but the firms controlling the agricultural sectors encompassing production, harvesting, processing, packaging, transport, and export of agricultural products. Large farms and agricultural firms have created clusters to gain access to these different sub-sectors. The clustering is dynamic depending on the shifts brought about by mergers and acquisitions. Currently, there are three clusters comprising the leading agric ultural sector players. (Helper 1288) Cargill/Monsanto.Cargill is a large firm engaged in the seed operations including research. It has a large capitalization and control over farmlands along the Ohio and Illinois River basin. Cargill purchased continental grain to gain access to corn, wheat and soybeans production along the Mississippi River for export. Monsanto is widely engaged in biotechnology and it has acquired patent over genetic products that ensure better yields through more resistant agricultural produce. Cargill entered into a joint venture with Monsanto in 1998 to gain access to the patented genetic products by offering its large capitalization as incentive.Cargill/Monsanto focuses on the production, processing, packaging, marketing, and export of seeds as well as corn, wheat and soybean products. (Heffernan) ConAgra is engaged in various sub-sectors as a top-three flour miller, top-four corn miller, top-three live stock feed producer, top-two in cattle slaughtering, to p-three pork processor, and top-five broiler producer and processor. United Agri Products, a subsidiary also engages in seeds, fertilizers, and other agricultural chemicals as well as biotechnology. It has its own packaging and processing plants as well as land and water transportation subsidiaries.It collaborated with ADM for the operation of a grain export facility. ConAgra also has a stake in production, processing, distribution and export of grains and livestock. (Heffernan) Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) constitutes the largest processor of agricultural products such as corn, soybeans, wheat and cocoa. It collaborates with farm cooperatives to obtain raw agricultural products for processing or gained shares in firms engaged in agricultural production such as Growmark, Countrymark, United Grain, and Riceland.It has expanded into the other sub-sectors through a join venture with Novartis to gain access to seeds, biotechnology, and agricultural chemicals. It has also engaged in the raising, slaughtering and processing of livestock through joint ventures with Consolidated Nutrition and AGP. ADM has also been able to participate in the major sub-sectors. (Heffernan) Thus, the agricultural sector in the United States operates through corporate farming. Scarcity of Land Scarcity of agricultural land the in the United States pertains to the land use conversion and degradation of agricultural lands due to the use of chemicals.Land conversion decreases farm size while land degradation reduces productivity or causes shift in production from one agricultural product to another. This also pertains to the comparison of agricultural production with the consumption of agricultural products. In the United States, agricultural lands constitutes 46 percent of the land base, which remains a significant percentage share considering the massive industrialization of economic sectors. Of the 2. 3 billion acres of land comprising the United States, 442 million acres compris e croplands and more than 500 million acres of farmsteads, pastures and ranges.Conversion of agricultural lands is not significant so that in the past thirty years, only six percent of agricultural lands have been converted for other purposes. In terms of land degradation, reports have not raised alarm on the rate of land degradation. In terms of food consumption, the increase in food imports is fuelled by change in consumption patterns and not the inability of agricultural lands to support the food needs of Americans. Moreover, the U. S. remains a major food exported. Land scarcity does not constitute a major problem in the American agricultural sector.(Brady) Impact of Ethanol Production on Wheat Production and Cost to Consumers The government has implemented a fixed subsidy on ethanol at a floor rate of 40 cents for every gallon and a ceiling rate of 60 cents per gallon. The subsidy served as an incentive for production of ethanol as an alternative source of fuel in the United St ates. Relative to price of crude oil, ethanol is slightly cheaper depending on the volume of production. However, in the early 2000s, the price of crude oil skyrocketed to as much as $80 per barrel.The huge difference in price opened opportunities for the expansion of ethanol production because of the fixed subsidy together with the room for price increase that would still be below crude oil prices but constituting significantly higher prices than its previous market offering. This means that some farmers have shifted to the sowing of raw materials of ethanol leading to a decrease in the number of farmers and farmlands producing agricultural products. This in turn led to the rise in the prices of agricultural products such as wheat and even soybeans.In addition, other alternative sources of energy have gained momentum such as corn. Although corn receives lower subsidy compared to ethanol, the engagement of the agricultural sector in alternative sources of energy could significantly affect the volume of production of other agricultural products that would prove costly for consumers in the form of higher food prices. This effect has led to the emergence of the issue of food-fuel prioritization. (Tyner and Taheripour 1303) This is yet to be resolved and this would continue to become an issue in the agricultural sector until the next decade.Conclusion Outlook for the American agricultural sector in the future points to a positive situation because the United States would continue to become a major player in agricultural exports while providing agricultural products to the domestic market. However, there are a number of policy issues that requires due consideration. First, forecasts of balance of trade shows a further decline in agricultural trade surplus with some even suggesting the probability of trade deficit.This is because even if agricultural production experiences growth, the flood of imported food products could be greater, especially when these food produ cts become cheaper as the price of domestically grown agricultural products increase. This will have a significant adverse impact on the American agricultural sector. Even if there is no food shortage, the flooding of cheaper agricultural products could contribute to the decline in the agricultural sector. The government needs to assess its import policies to balance consumer demand with the viability of the agricultural sector.Second, land use and agricultural production needs assessment, since this falls within federal and state regulation, especially in the context of the food-fuel debate. The rising prices of agricultural products could be eased through the application of a flexible instead of a fixed subsidy rate together with the continued investment in research and development to justify the continuation of subsidies for ethanol and even the focus on fuel from corn. It has been thirty years since the government started implementing subsidies on ethanol but ethanol as an alter ative fuel has yet to become a commercial source of energy as intended.Thus, government policies on price support and agricultural research has played an important role in the growth of the American agricultural sector and this will not change in the future since the issues faced by the agricultural sector fall within the area of policymaking and subject to government regulation. Works Cited Ahearn, Mary Clare, Jet Yee, and Penni Korb. â€Å"Effects of Differing Farm Policies on Farm Structure and Dynamics. † American Journal of Agricultural Economics 87. 5 (2007): 1182-1189. Brady, Michael. â€Å"Land Use, Value and Management. † 18 October 2005.USDA Economic Research Service. 26 April 2008 Gardner, Bruce. American Agriculture in the Twentieth Century: How it Flourished and What is Cost. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2002. Heffernan, William. â€Å"Study on Concentration in U. S. Agriculture. † 5 February 1999. Institute for Agriculture and Trade Po licy. 26 April 2008 Helper, Susan. â€Å"Empirical Research in an Increasingly Concentrated Industrial Environment: Discussion. † American Journal of Agricultural Economics 89. 5(2007): 1288–1289.Jerardo, Alberto. â€Å"The U. S. Agricultural Trade Balance†¦ More than Just a Number. † 1 February 2004. USDA Economic Research Service. 26 April 2008 Paul, Catherine, and Richard Nehring. â€Å"Product Diversification, Production Systems, and Economic Performance in U. S. Agricultural Production. † Journal of Econometrics 126. 2(2005): 525-548. Tyner, Wallance, and Farzad Taheripour. â€Å"Renewable Energy Policy Alternatives for the Future. † American Journal of Agricultural Economics 89. 5 (2007): 1303-1310.

The Awakening – a Feminist Analysis

The Awakening  is a  novel  by  Kate Chopin, first published in 1899 , set in  New Orleans  and the Southern  Louisiana  coast at the end of the nineteenth century. The plot centers on Edna Pontellier and her struggle to reconcile her increasingly unorthodox views on femininity and motherhood with the prevailing social attitudes of the turn-of-the-century  South. It is one of the earliest American novels that focuses on women's issues without condescension. It is also widely seen as a landmark work of early  feminism. Kate Chopin’s  The Awakening  was a bold piece of fiction in its time, and protagonist Edna Pontellier was a controversial character.She upset many nineteenth century expectations for women and their supposed roles. One of her most shocking actions was her denial of her role as a mother and wife. Kate Chopin displays this rejection gradually, but the concept of motherhood is major theme throughout the novel. Edna is fighting against the so cietal and natural structures of motherhood that force her to be defined by her title as wife of Leonce Pontellier and mother of Raoul and Etienne Pontellier, instead of being her own, self-defined individual.Through Chopin’s focus on two other female characters, Adele Ratignolle and Mademoiselle Reisz, Edna’s options of life paths are exhibited. These women are the examples that the men around Edna contrast her with and from whom they obtain their expectations for her. Edna, however, finds both role models lacking and begins to see that the life of freedom and individuality that she wants goes against both  society  and nature. The inevitability of her fate as a male-defined creature brings her to a state of despair, and she frees herself the only way she can, through suicide.All throughout â€Å"The Awakening,† Kate Chopin shows examples of how women should and should not act in society, in their homes, and with their husbands. In Edna Pontellier's adopted society, women are viewed more valuable when they conform into the mother-woman role. The mother-woman role is another form of men control, because it dictates how women should idolize their children, worship their husbands, and honor their isolated but inferior positions      As the novel progresses, Edna begins to make increasingly â€Å"open-eyed choice[s] to defy illusions and conventions†.Throughout the novel Edna becomes increasingly sexual, also becoming aware of her sexuality. Her bond of friendship with Robert seems harmless at first, but when he leaves for Mexico Edna believes she is in love with him: â€Å"For the first time she recognized anew the symptoms of infatuation. . . to torture her as it was doing then with the biting conviction that she had lost that which she had held, that she had been denied that which her impassioned, newly awakened being demanded† (Chopin 44).Edna has never had any sexual encounters with Robert, yet her emotions are so a roused by her close friend she is â€Å"infatuated† with him. Until this point, Edna seems to have not realized her feelings for Robert. In time she will call these feelings love, but at this point she is deeply upset because the man she is â€Å"infatuated† with is leaving. Edna’s emotions have been stirred for the first time in a long time, and she is unwilling to merely deal with the fact that the man who did this is leaving.Edna goes into a childlike pout, neglecting the familial duties she previously completed without fail. Edna’s awakening comes in two parts, the emotionally sexual awakening she experiences with Robert and the physically sexual awakening reached with Arobin (Seyersted, Kate Chopin 155). When Robert leaves her the first time, she is upset and broods, unable to believe he left so abruptly, and without saying goodbye. Arobin cannot gain this control over Edna’s emotions, as she distances herself from him and restrains herself fr om becoming too emotionally attached.Through her experience with Robert, Edna has learned to keep her emotional distance from men, lest she be hurt again. Edna is definitely a more sexual being now than previously in the novel. Before she recoiled at the touch of her closest friend, and now she is indulging in a forbidden kiss, holding Arobin close to prolong the contact. She is also more reserved. Arobin is quite anxious to see Edna again, but Edna pushes him away telling him she will see him at her dinner party, â€Å"not an instant sooner† (Chopin 82).Edna takes control of the situation, pushing Arobin away when he begs to see her again, having come to an enlightened state of being, learning from her mistakes and being an active force in her own life. Edna now makes decisions (such as moving out of the house) based on what is right for her, choices that will drastically affect her life, doing so with open eyes and a clear head. Edna is feminist in nature, but her feminism comes with a price, and not many people are strong enough to endure social ostracizing to enjoy personal freedom.Chopin wonderfully illustrates Edna’s dilemma, showing possible consequences of becoming enlightened outside the context of a broader social movement. By the end of the novel, Chopin still refuses to tell us whether Edna’s awakening is liberating, or if it is tragic. They argue that Edna Pontellier’s awakening is one of mental clarity, and her suicide is a triumphant act. By committing suicide Edna is finally freeing herself from social constraints and possession. Her suicide is an act of liberation, therefore Edna is the ultimate feminist.

Salem Witch Trial Theories

Brennyn Mackey 2 May 2011 The Secret War of Salem Exposing the Culprit behind the Mass Hysteria The Salem Witch Trials were a series of infamous events that demand an explanation for their occurrence. The trials that took place in 1692 caused neighbors in the community of Salem Village in the colony of Massachusetts to turn on one another out of paranoia, accusing one another of witchcraft. According to Carol Karlsen, a longtime author of the subject, nineteen people were hanged and about 200 others were imprisoned (40).A few theories have been offered in order to explain the root of this mass hysteria. The theories in question need to be examined to see which holds the most credibility. Most historians who have studied the subject agree on the chronological order of events that set this dark episode of history into motion. They believe it began in the household of Reverend Samuel Parris. Reverend Parris owned a West Indian slave named Tituba. Tituba would tell the young girls storie s of her experiences in sorcery when the reverend was away.This small group of girls started with Abigail Williams, the reverend’s niece, and Elizabeth Parris, his daughter. Soon, a few girls from neighboring homes joined. Eventually, the girls began to exhibit exceptionally erratic behaviors. They would have hallucinations and convulsions. A physician checked the girls, but he failed to find a natural cause for their behavior. He attributed their ailments to a supernatural cause (Salem Witch Trials). The girls began to claim they were being afflicted by witches and started making accusations. Thus, the panic ensued.Those who have studied the subject of the Salem Witch Trials have very few disagreements on these events. Though history may have documented the events, it has not presented a clear underlying cause to their occurrence. Why did the girls act in such a manner? Scholars have presented their own theories for this mystery. One theory that attempts to explain the hyste ria is that there was a fungal poisoning such as ergot in the bread that the girls ate. This would be an ideal explanation for their convulsions. Another theory is that witchcraft was actually being practiced.This theory states that the incredibly odd behavior of the girls was attributed to the practices that Tituba was teaching them. A final theory that draws much interest is that the girls were acting. Scholars have looked at these events from a political perspective and suggest that Reverend Parris persuaded the young girls to act in an odd manner. The theory that answers the most questions without raising an equal number of new questions is the best explanation. The theory that Reverend Parris used the girls to gain wealth holds such a status.The theory that there was an ergot infestation is advocated by a professor named Linnda Caporeal. Caporeal has argued that a fungal poison known as ergot, which grows on rye, had been ingested by the girls, causing their behaviors. She goes on to explain that â€Å"all the symptoms [of ergot poisoning] are alluded to in the Salem Witch Trials† (Caporeal). This theory does not make sense when considering why the only ones affected were the young girls in the Parris household. Convulsive ergot poisoning most often affects small children, but the Salem Village had hundreds of residents.The whole village ate grains harvested from the same fields and this theory does not have an account of anyone else exhibiting the slightest convulsions. It is far too coincidental that the only ones affected were a few young girls. This theory has also been attacked by researchers such as Spanos and Gottlieb. They address the point previously mentioned as well as the nutritional condition of the villagers. In another article, they responded to Caporeal’s arguments regarding the afflicted girls as well as the villagers’ nutritional susceptibility.Spanos and Gottlieb state that â€Å"the fact that most individuals [â⠂¬ ¦] living in the same households as the afflicted girls showed no signs of symptoms is attributed by Caporeal to wide individual differences in susceptibility to ergot poisoning. † They also discuss vitamin A deficiency. According to their research: Ergot poisoning in individuals with adequate vitamin A intakes leads to gangrenous rather than convulsive symptoms. Vitamin A is found both in fish and in dairy products. Salem Village was a farming community and Salem Town, which bordered the village, was a well-known seaport; cows and fish were plentiful.There is no evidence to suggest a vitamin A deficiency in the diet of the inhabitants, and it would be particularly unlikely for the so-called â€Å"afflicted girls,† some of whom came from well-to-do farming families. The absence of any instance of gangrenous symptomatology makes it highly unlikely that ergot played any role in the Salem crisis (Spanos). The theory that there was an ergot infestation does not seem to h old up to the accounts of Spanos and Gottlieb. The theory of ergot infestation has slowly lost credibility due to these pieces of evidence.Another theory that attempts to explain the paranoia is the theory that witchcraft was being practiced in the community. The word â€Å"witch† came into English from Wicca, an Anglo-Saxon word that means â€Å"wise one† (Buckland 26). Witches have been viewed throughout history as servants of Satan, spreading misfortune. This is an exaggerated stereotype similar to the misconception that witches fly around on broomsticks and transform into animals. A Wiccan author known as Sheena Morgan addresses issues regarding false stereotypes of witchcraft. She states that people â€Å"have lots of misconceptions about what Wicca and witchcraft actually entail.People seem to confuse witchcraft with Satanism or devil worship [†¦] Wicca [†¦] does not seek new adherents† (14). The author implies that Wicca is a pantheistic religio n that promotes harmony with the natural world and does not entail bloodletting rituals. All the â€Å"Halloween† aspects of Wicca are stereotypical misrepresentations of their beliefs. The Puritans had a deep fear that those dark conceptions were a reality. Such preconceived notions and religious beliefs that the Puritans had regarding witchcraft must have been the fuel for the trials. According toPuritan beliefs, witches worshipped Satan. Melanie Gauch, a lifetime Wiccan, has stated that Wiccans do not believe in a devil. That is a Christian notion that the Puritans associate with paganism. The Puritans exercised complete intolerance of the Wiccan beliefs and created the paranoia in their own minds when they felt threatened. In the Bible, Exodus 22:18 states, â€Å"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live† (King James Bible). The puritans followed the Bible wholeheartedly, and their beliefs carried them to accusations, and then on to interrogations.However, the main pro blem with the witchcraft theory is that it cannot be proven. The accusations themselves could not even be proven. One way to accuse someone of witchcraft was by use of spectral evidence. If an apparition appeared to an individual, they could point a finger at someone and accuse that person of afflicting them (Salem Witch Trials). This spectral evidence was only witnessed by the afflicted, but was generally accepted as credible evidence. Due to fear and hysteria, accusations could be made without proof of any witchcraft.It is highly unlikely that witchcraft played any part in the terror of the trials. The theory that Reverend Samuel Parris was the true incendiary behind the trials carries the most logic. Samuel Parris was closely associated with the Putnam family and had been given a minister’s contract that included all the usual benefits, such as a decent salary, a house and free firewood. However, Parris had received all this in addition to a title and deed to the parish, w hich enraged the residents who did not want to be congregationally separate from Salem Town (Saari 35-6).He was in desperate need of securing his position as minister and the outbreak of witchcraft accusations was the best way to do it. In a time of such paranoia regarding satanic forces, the villagers would be in desperate need of his services. Ernest King and Franklin Mixon Jr. authored an article discussing that concept. According to them: Salem Village, both before and through the witchcraft trials, was a religion-based community, allowing its minister to exert a level of political–economic control over its citizens. During the height of the itchcraft episode, there was an increased demand for ministerial services (salvation) in the Salem area. Recent research has argued that the minister used the witchcraft episode to maintain and build upon personal and corporate wealth (King and Mixon). This demonstrates that Reverend Parris had the political motives for taking advanta ge of the girls’ behavior. When witchcraft accusations arose, some of the Salem residents who had opposed the reverend’s contract had no choice but to attend church and pay any offerings they could. If they did not do so, they would run the risk of being accused of witchcraft.This was a simply perfect solution for Reverend Parris. Before continuing to examine the reverend, it is necessary to understand his background. Samuel Parris was born in London and grew up to inherit his father’s plantation. After a hurricane devastated the plantation, he became a merchant. However, when his business failed, he decided to be a minister (Orr 16). It seems the reverend’s life had a series of failures. According to Frances Hill, author of numerous books on the subject, Parris’s first misfortune had been dropping out of Harvard (117).After all the other hindrances, he was ready to accept a job as minister of Salem Village, but then demanded more and more changes to his contract over time, continuously negotiating matters such as firewood and corn provisions, the deed to the ministry house and salary (118). The Putnam family controlled most of the farmland in Salem Village and played a large part in his ministerial contract. This evidence shows there may have been a political partnership between the two. Salem Village and Salem Town were in a period of great political tension.During this time, the Putnam family owned most of the farmland in Salem Village and wanted to become separate from Salem Town, the nearby thriving seaport on which the other villagers depended upon for economic reasons (Salem Witch Trials). This divided the village, and the Reverend Samuel Parris became minister during this turmoil. Other than political division, the villagers had everyday worries such as Indian raids and smallpox outbreaks, which increased tensions. This was the social situation at the time of Parris’s ascent to position of minister.In order to gain political power, Reverend Parris would have had to do something about those who opposed him. The authors Paul Boyer and Stephen Nissenbaum examine the social history of the Salem community in their book, Salem Possessed and they have noticed a pattern. A series of petitions against the reverend were collected and the names of those who opposed Parris in the past were the ones most often accused of witchcraft. The names included the majority of the Proctor family and Rebecca Nurse (183-6). The most astounding case was the account of George Burroughs, the previous minister of Salem Village.When George Burroughs spoke out against the trials that Reverend Parris was championing, he was immediately tried for witchcraft. He was found guilty. Soon before he was hung, he had recited â€Å"The Lord’s Prayer,† which was supposedly impossible for a witch (Salem Witch Trials). Unfortunately, it is not known for certain whether or not Reverend Parris had been advocating agains t him until his moment of death, but this was another accusation that worked in Parris’s favor. The Salem Witch Trials may have been an irrational event, but they still have a rational explanation.Numerous scholars have attempted to explain away the events with multiple theories, but only one explanation has withstood questioning. The theory that Reverend Parris used the girls to gain political influence is most sensible. The reverend would have lost his job and after so many setbacks in his earlier life, he would not have been prepared for another loss. The relationships between two of the girls and the reverend makes the reverend highly suspect, but even more so was the fact that the accused were the ones who had usually opposed Parris in the past.The accounts of George Burroughs and the political partnership between the Putnam family and Reverend Parris carries also carries a lot of weight. In the end, the evidence shows that Reverend Samuel Parris was the culprit behind t he mass hysteria. Works Cited Boyer, Paul, and Stephen Nissenbaum. Salem Possessed: The Social Origins of Witchcraft. Harvard, 1974. Print Buckland, Raymond. Witchcraft from the Inside: Origins of the Fastest Growing Religious Movement in America. St. Paul: Llewellyn Pub. , 1971. Print. Caporeal, Linnda. Ergotism: The Satan Loosed in Salem? † Science Vol. 192 (1976) Web. 30 Apr. 2011. Gauch, Melanie. Facebook Personal Message Interview. 1 May 2011. Hill, Frances. The Salem Witch Trials Reader. Cambridge: Da Capo P. , 2001. Print. Karlsen, Carol F. The Devil in the Shape of a Woman: Witchcraft in Colonial New England. Ontario: Penguin Books Canada, 1987. Print. King, Ernest W. , and Franklin G. Mixon. â€Å"Religiosity and the Political Economy of the Salem Witch Trials. † Social Science Journal. 47. 3 (2010): Abstract.Business Source Premiere. Web. 29 Apr. 2011. Morgan, Sheena. The Wicca Handbook: A complete Guide to Witchcraft and Magic. London: Vega, 2003. Print Orr, Tamra. People at the Center of: The Salem Witch Trials. Farmington Hills: Blackbirch Press, 2004. Print. Saari, Peggy. Witchcraft in America. Detroit: UXL, 2001. Print. â€Å"Salem Witch Trials. † In Search of History. History Channel. A&E Television Networks, 1998. DVD Spanos, Nicholas and Jack Gottlieb. â€Å"Ergotism and the Salem Village Witch Trials† Science Vol. 194 (1976) Web. 30 Apr. 2011.