Reading Music and Eroticism in Late Ming Texts Assignment

Reading Music and Eroticism in Late Ming Texts - Assignment Example The late Ming texts have played an important role in preserving the erotic-music notations of the Ming cultural society, owing to the fact the Ming music has long vanished and the only way through which it is preserved is through the textual notations. The factors that account for the vanishing of the Ming music is the secrecy with which the late Ming society would treat erotic emotions, impulses, and practices. In this respect, the erotic impulses, emotions, and impulses in the late Ming society were treated as private matters, only reserved for specific reasons and targeted for specific audiences, thus making their understanding highly complex. The carnal longings and desires of the Ming society were expressed through music, where music and sex were intertwined through dynamic and creative negotiations, allowing music to express and characterize the erotic desire of the time. The sexual desires were expressed through Ming music in a series of manipulated musical aspects such as pro cesses, objects, and sites, where the musical components such as instruments, sounds, and sonic components strategically aired the erotic agenda of the musical performers. The specific times and places where such manipulated music would be played then created the musical sites, while the projection of the sonic and the non-sonic sounds at the specific times and places constituted the music negotiations and processes, which would, in turn, work together towards the formation of erotic musical expressions. The discursive negotiations, processes and musical objects applications allowed the music performers to assert their erotic and sexual desires, thus serving not only as a means of expression but also as a catalyst for interactive bargaining the desires with the audience.

P&G Advertising Strategy Essay Example for Free

PG Advertising Strategy Essay For marketing students at IIM Ahmedabad, 9th of January, 2011, is anything but a typical Sunday. They have resisted the temptation to join their batchmates in a lazy basketball game and appear oblivious to the cheerful riotous frenzy of the kite festival on the banks of the Sabarmati. Instead they have been pitted against each other all morning in a brand exercise organised and masterminded by PG. The prize? A dinner date for the teams with a man responsible for running the marketing function of one of the most powerful FMCG companies on the planet, Marc Pritchard , global marketing and brand building officer, PG. However, even students who do not make the cut get a chance to experience Pritchard firsthand when he addresses a respectably packed hall that evening. Soon after he’s done, the questions fly thick and fast. These include some potentially embarrassing posers. How does PG feel, one student wants to know, about its campaigns being ambushed by its archrival HUL? Few people have forgotten the teaser campaign about a mystery shampoo last year (that was revealed to be PG’s Pantene) being hijacked by Dove from the HUL stable. Pritchard opts to take the high road on this one: â€Å"We can’t prevent any competitor from ambush (surprise attack). But if you focus on the consumer, what your brand is doing to serve the consumer and if you have a big idea, you will win most of the time. † And that’s a running theme through pretty much everything that Pritchard has to say. Whether he’s addressing students at IIM-A, the media or an audience at the Cannes Lions Festival, he’s a tireless champion of brands serving consumers or â€Å"purpose driven branding. † PG spent most of the 1990s establishing a global footprint. Now, according to Pritchard, it finally has the chance to live up to its purpose. The first step was getting senior management to define a purpose for each of the brands in the PG stable: a blueprint on how the company could touch and improve lives. Pritchard explains, â€Å"We still have a core benefit but are thinking more broadly on how we can deliver it. We are very focussed on sharpening what the brands stand for, identifying human insights that can translate into big ideas. † Bold Gamble However those prepared for a lofty chronicle of CSR and corporate do-gooding are likely to step back, a little disappointed. Pritchard’s showreel of purpose driven work from PG includes pretty much every big campaign the FMCG has come up with recently. This includes the highly awarded work on Old Spice with its cocky ‘The man your man could smell like’ tagline. Pritchard says, â€Å"Purpose is much more than a cause or a corporate responsibility. We deliberately focused on making people define purpose as how brands improve everyday lives. A cause is just a piece of it as opposed to the whole thing. † This helps take purpose out of an ivory tower. It’s no longer something that resonates only with consumers in developed markets, fed up with hard sell, looking for corporates to do something more. Instead it could even be used as an effective go to market strategy. Which is pretty much the case with Pampers. Pritchard defines the brand’s purpose as â€Å"to improve a baby’s healthy, happy development. Its benefit is dryness and comfort that allows babies to sleep, play and explore more. When they do that, they develop better. By the way, it’s also making their mom’s lives a lot better if they sleep through the night. † To bring this purpose to life, PG sends pediatricians to villages with tips on how to help the baby sleep and advice on immunization, besides using this interface as a sampling opportunity. The one pack = one vaccine program run in association with the UNICEF is tied into this larger purpose too. â€Å"It helps bring the community of moms together since they like to help other moms,† says Pritchard. Even ‘Women Against Lazy Stubble’ for Gillette, a homegrown campaign, has something larger driving it. Purpose takes on a more meaningful role in developing markets,† he explains. The vans that propagate the program give young men tips on shaving, how to dress, handle an interview and talk to women. Purpose coincides well with PG making a concerted push into non-city markets not just in India but in other countries like Brazil and China that have a yawning urban-rural divide. PG is focusing on stores because it’s the first moment of truth for the rural consumer. Pritchard says, â€Å"We market back from there to create awareness to get them to that point. † There are approximately 7 million high frequency shops in India and PG has covered 4 million of these so far. A fair amount of product and package development is being done to cater to this segment. Using the store as the starting point also helps make the entire process less sporadic. Pritchard states, â€Å"It means you are always on. We have consolidated the number of distributors into a core highly capable, powerful group. We give them the material, knowledge and know how on display. † India is in some ways at the vanguard of PG’s rural drive. One of the things pioneered in India was generating more household trial. Pritchard admits, â€Å"It was Sumeet Vohra (chief marketing officer – Asia, PG) who created this machine to identify what it was going to take to get these products in the households, as well as the tools to measure performance. Much of what we learnt in India has been exported to other markets like Africa for example. † The recent acquisition of Paras by Reckitt Benckiser proves that multinational giants look to India for a lot more than its large consumer base. Pritchard gives a diplomatic answer when asked if there are any local heroes that he’s got an eye on. But PG invariably unearths little jewels with every acquisition, he says. Like Koleston which was not very big globally but strong in Latin America, particularly in Brazil, around the time Wella was acquired. PG took the brand to Mexico, Europe and are now launching in India. Pritchard goes further back for his next example: Richardson Vicks in 1985 had a very tiny brand called Pantene that accounted for $70 million in sales. He says, â€Å"We put the new technology in, and launched it in Taiwan and came up with Pantene Pro V. Now it is over a $3 billion brand. † To be chosen for the big push, the brand needs equity and it helps to have some sort of a story. Like Max Factor’s SK2 which was made with Pitera, a yeast extract used by monks in Japan which kept their skin in a better condition. â€Å"We built from that story, tested it in different markets and now it’s more than half a billion dollars and growing like crazy,† says Pritchard. In a classical FMCG battle, market observers may be tempted to brand PG as a pacifist, with hardly any aggressive countermoves towards competition. But, combining brand awareness with social programmes, driving its brands further into the hinterland and acquiring a knack of creating billion dollar brands, Pritchard knows that the company is pushing the right levers.

Restorative Justice And Crime Prevention Criminology Essay

Restorative Justice And Crime Prevention Criminology Essay Traditional Justice in the United States has been an eye for an eye standard since this nation declared its independence from England in 1776. While this concept is acceptable, because it adheres to the Law, it does nothing for the offender or victim beyond punishment. (Redlich, 2012) Restorative Justice is the standard of putting the law in the back seat, and bringing the problem of why the offender committed the crime, how the offender can repair his or her injustice, the victim having an input in the criminals restoration and the opportunity to confront the offender, with the community helping the victim and offender overcome the crime by restoring each other to society as responsible forgiving citizens that are productive to society. (Richards, 2009) Traditional Justice is not successful in overcoming crime, and does not correct the injustice or harm done by the offender, nor does it stop the offender from re-offending after the punishment has been completed. Restorative Justice is the best solution for minimizing future crime, and correcting the recidivism associated with traditional justice. Traditional Justice in America has been consistent for more than two centuries, in that our nation has sought to punish wrong doers (criminals) by stiff sentences of incarceration, probation, parole, and fines. The people that are caught up in a criminal offense in the U.S. are sent to prison by the droves. Once they are released from prison, or jail, this is not the end of their circumstance. Often, low class offenders are placed on probation, where they are constantly monitored by a probation officer, and in some cases if the offender has a prison sentence in some states, he or she are placed on Parole. This is determined on an individual basis. Sadly enough, being monitored after prison or jail, the offender is thrown back into society with very little support in his or her financial lively-hood. The ex-offender is released with less than $200.00 in most state ran prison facilities. The offender may have had a home, transportation, a wife or husband, a job and other necessities fo r them to survive at the point where they were sent to jail or prison. When the ex-offender comes back into free society (for the most part), he or she is without any of the necessities to survive as a law-abiding, self-supporting citizen. (Galster, 1985) Criminal Records Now, in 2012, when an offender is convicted or even charged with a crime, a criminal record is established as public information that is used to prejudice, and stigmatize the ex-offender or accused from equal opportunity employment. This record is often used to deny the person of renting a home or apartment, working in certain companies or businesses. (Relyea, 1980) More and more employers seek the criminal record history of job applicants, sometimes even before extending the applicant an offer. Typically, employers will seek such information on employment applications, often asking applicants to indicate in a check box question whether they have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor within a certain time period. Other employers will ask this question and explore a candidates response during a job interview, and most employers will ask applicants to submit to a full criminal background check after a conditional offer of employment is extended. Employers who gather and use crimina l history information need to be mindful of applicable local, state and federal laws regarding criminal background checks (Rosen, 2011). Recidivism Prison sentences are not succeeding in turning the majority of offenders away from crime. Of those prisoners released in 1997, 58 per cent were convicted of another crime within two years. Thirty-six per cent were back inside on another prison sentence. The system struggles particularly to reform younger offenders. 18-20-year-old male prisoners were reconvicted at a rate of 72 per cent over the same period; 47 per cent received another prison sentence (webarchive, 2007). These numbers dont lie. People that are released from incarceration are starting life all over again regardless of their age. When a person is released without support from the community, family, friends, or organizations that help the ex-offender re-establish themselves as law-abiding, self-supporting citizens, in America, the statistics says that most ex-offenders will return to prison or jail. This alone is enough to recognize that the traditional justice system is severely flawed in reducing recidivism or crime. Restorative Justice Restorative justice or reparative justice is an approach to justice that focuses on the needs of the victims and the offenders, as well as the community, instead of legal principles or punishing the offender. The victims participate in the process, while offenders are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions. This form of justice gives the offender the greatest opportunity to repair the harm theyve done which allows them to apologize to everyone harmed, and other restoration to the offender such as returning stolen money, or participating in community service is part of the rehabilitation. Restorative justice focuses on both the victim and offender by addressing and implementing solutions to their personal needs. The key preventative aspect of restorative justice is that it provides help for the offender in order to avoid future offenses. It is based on a theory of justice that considers crime and wrongdoing to be an offense against an individual or community, instead of a crime against the state. In the traditional justice system currently applied in most criminal courts, the offender versus the State or United States is sold to the tax payer under the premise of we the people concept. (Richards, 2009) Restorative justice that nurtures discussion between the victim and offender shows the highest rates of victim satisfaction and offender accountability. Restorative justice is a different way of thinking about responding to crime. Restorative justice politicians and authorities view crime as harm done to people and communities, not just violation of the law. They seek to put things right by addressing the harm to victims, the community and by addressing the causes of crime. There are many different types of restorative justice. (Solgps.alberta.ca 2012) Restorative Justice Models The three most common models are Family group (or community) conferencing, Circles (sentencing circles, healing circles, or peace circles), and Victim-offender conferences where most models involve some form of encounter between the victim and offender. (Solgps.alberta.ca 2012) The principle of restorative justice starts with realizing that crime is injury. Crime hurts individual victims, communities, and offenders which creates an obligation to make things right by everyone. All parties should be a part of the response to the crime, including the victim if he or she wishes, the community, and the offender. The victims perspective is central to deciding how to repair the harm caused by the crime. Accountability for the offender means accepting responsibility and acting to repair the harm done. The community is responsible for the well-being of all its members, including both victim and offender. All human beings have dignity and worth. Restoration in Restorative Justice is repairing the harm and rebuilding relationships in the community. The results are measured by how much repair was accomplished with the offender, victim and community, rather than by how much punishment was inflicted on the offender. The goal of restoring the offender, in the community is key to the success of Restorative Justice. Crime control cannot be achieved without active involvement of the community. When dealing with all offenders, the justice process is respectful of age, abilities, sexual orientation, family status, and diverse cultures and backgrounds. Using the restorative justice model gives full recognition of everyone involved, regardless of racial, ethnic, geographic, religious, economic, or other common prejudices associated in the traditional justice we currently have ensuring that everyone is given equal protection and due process.(ojjdp.gov, 2012) Restorative Justice and Recidivism One of the most important outcome variables for any form of criminal justice intervention is recidivism. The overall mean effect size for the 32 tests that examined the effectiveness of restorative justice programming in reducing offender recidivism was +.07 (SD = .13) with a 95% CI of +.12 to +.02. Although the effect sizes ranged from +.38 to -.23, more than two thirds of the effect sizes were positive (72%). In other words, restorative justice programs, on average, yielded reductions in recidivism compared to non-restorative approaches to criminal behavior. In fact, compared to the comparison and/or control groups who did not participate in a restorative justice program, offenders in the treatment groups were significantly more successful during the follow-up periods, t(31) = 2.88, p Benefits of Restorative Justice A benefit to the community for restorative justice is the opportunity to be interactive with the victims and the offenders beyond the traditional justice system. The community can identify the problems within their surroundings and recognize the problems before crime occurs. Potential offenders can be identified and brought into the system early to rehabilitate them and give them a quality of life experience that hopefully minimizes the community threats of crime. In addition, as our society has recognized the disparate treatment of employment opportunities for ex-offenders, nearly all state laws prohibit employers from considering a job applicants arrest that did not result in a conviction. Moreover, the EEOC takes the position that because the use of arrest records as an absolute bar to employment has a disparate impact on some protected groups; such records alone cannot be used to exclude applicants from employment and has even gone as far as stating that a pre-employment inquiry may violate Title VII. The EEOC has consistently invalidated employment policies containing a blanket exclusion of those individuals with arrest records. Thus, employers should avoid asking job applicants any questions designed to elicit information regarding prior arrests that did not result in convictions and should remove any such questions from employment applications (Rosen, 2012). Benefits of the victim are true concern for their mental, physical, and recovery needs. Traditional court has very little if any concern for the victim outside of using them to testify against the offender to gain a conviction. Restoration of the victim is almost meaningless to the traditional courts. The victim is given the opportunity to reconcile with the offender, and be at peace with themselves and the offender, or they can opt out to retain the eye for an eye belief about justice. By confronting the offender, the victim is able to understand why the offender committed the crime, and he or she is left with acceptance or denial of what has happened. This is true closure. (The term: Closure is often used in a criminal proceeding by the prosecutor or defense attorney which means: A feeling of finality or resolution, especially after a traumatic experience (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/closure, 2012). Without restoring the victim, the offender, and reintegrating the ex-offender after prison with his character being restored and the victim having the opportunity to put to rest the harm the offender caused, with a society that wants to forgive, closure is an illusion for everyone. The benefits of the offender is to allow them the opportunity to explain why the offense was committed, and understand what he or she is expected of from the community and victim. The offender can be restored with the opportunity to make a difference in society and their self. By being confronted in this forum, the offender can be honest within themselves and face the real whole truth and nothing but the truth. Conclusion In this paper, we have learned that Traditional Justice fails to restore the victim, the community, and the offender. Traditional justice cost tax payers extensively with little regard to making amends by the offender to the offended or the citizens the offender was a part of before the crime took place. Identifying criminal conduct, bringing the offender into a court of law, convicting the offender, sending the offender to jail or prison and releasing them back into free society without money, a job, a home, a vehicle, and a chance to work or re-establish a productive life with the traditional justice system is appalling. Certainly, we as a people must refuse to accept crime, but when looking at the benefits of traditional justice versus restorative justice, it is very easy to see that restorative justice is the answer to recidivism, responsibility, justice, and reduction of cost to minimize criminal conduct. By identifying the accused, bringing the offender to the knowledge of the truth about what offense has been committed, confronting the accused with the victim, and allowing society to interact by providing the victim and offender with productive reconciliation is how we as the greatest nation in the world will ever overcome the evil with good. Regardless of whether the offenders criminal conduct was attributed to drugs and alcohol, as more that seventy-percent of all crimes are a result of drugs and alcohol, the offender, victim, and society deserve a solution to crime, not a band-aid that only puts the prisoner in jail or prison, and puts a greater threat on society once he or she is released af ter the sentence under the traditional justice system.

The Resurrection Of Jesus Christ Essay -- essays research papers

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ No other event in history has been the object of as much scrutiny and criticism as the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Christ is the basis upon which all Christianity stands. If the resurrection never happened, then there would be no Christianity, as the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:14, "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith." This is why opponents of the Christian faith have tried to attempt to discredit the Biblical account of the resurrection. Of the many theories of the resurrection, the Biblical account is the only historically reliable and possible explanation of the resurrection. The historical reliability of the Bible is the first matter that needs to be discussed. There are three criteria that the military historian C. Sanders lists as principles for documentary historical proof: the bibliographical test, internal evidence test, and the external evidence test (McDowell 43). The bibliographical test is the examination of text by the documents that have reached us. The reliability of the copies of the New Testament is tested by the number of manuscripts (MSS) and the time intervals between the time in which the piece of literature was written and our earliest copy. There are more than 5,300 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament and 10,000 Latin vulgate manuscripts, not to mention the other various translations. Totally there are around 24,000 total MSS for the New Testament. The next closest document in respect to MSS is the "Illiad" by Homer, with 643 manuscripts(McDowell 43). The textual reliability then continues with respect to the time interval between the original and the first known manuscript. The shorter the interval, the more reliable the text is. Homer's "Illiad" was written in 900 BC and the earliest copy was found in 400 BC. This is compared to the New Testament that was written from 40-100 AD. The first known manuscript of the New Testament was found in 125 AD. This twenty-five year gap is very impressive as compared to the Illiad's five hundred year span (McDowell 45). This first test has basically shown that the text which people have in their possession is essentially the original text. &... ...Roman governor (McDowell 230). The seal was used to show authenticity, to prove that Jesus was inside the tomb (McDowell 230). If the women had gone to the wrong tomb there would have been no broken seal, because it was not common for dead bodies to be protected by the Roman government. The Biblical account of Christ's resurrection is the only historically possible version of the resurrection. The other theories that have been introduced all have large holes in them. Many do not take into account all of the facts of the resurrection, because they do not view the Bible as the historically reliable piece of literature that it is. When one takes into account the reliability of the Bible, and the many facts of the resurrection it is impossible to conclude any other theory than that of the Bible. Christ died on the cross for man's sins. On the third day He rose from the grave, proving all He had preached and taught. The fact of the matter is this: all the opponents of Christians at the time of Christ's resurrection had to do was find the body and march through the city square. They weren't able to, because it wasn't there, He has arisen, and that's a fact!

Goal Setting Worksheet

University of Phoenix Material Goal Setting Worksheet Review this week’s resources (for example SMART criteria, and the Career Plan Building Activities). Respond to the following in 50 to 100 words each: 1. Describe one academic goal that you have created using the SMART criteria. How do SMART criteria contribute to your academic goals?. Well I would have to say a individual goal is what I set for my self and that would be to get my associates degree and to get a better job then what I have right now.Cause right now im making minimum wage and its hard to make bills. 2. Describe one professional/career goal you have created using the SMART criteria and Career Plan Building Activities results. How did the results of the Career Interest Profiler and Career Plan Building Activity on Competencies contribute to your professional goal development? Career Goal for me is for me to finish college and get my degree that is the main goal for me right now and that’s the only thing i m really thinking about as of this moment. . Describe the stress and time-management strategies you have learned this week that will help you achieve your goals. Well I must say I have been stressed out a lot trying to get caught up on school work cause I have been so tired after work but I try to make time after I get off and also after my little girl goes to bed. 4. Describe how you will balance academic expectations and your personal and professional responsibilities. Im not really sure how I will balance my academic expectations and my erson and professional responsibilities cause right now I have a lot going on so im trying to keep up with every thing. 5. How can understanding the importance of SMART criteria and your career interests and competencies help you move towards your career and academic goals? I really don’t understand the whole smart criteria right now to be honest but I will try and learn a little more about it cause im sure I will need to know more about it ,

Diversity at Deloitte – Plans and Policies

When talking about equality opportunities implemented by companies, we can make a differentiation between two different models, the liberal and the radical one. The liberal model, described by Jewson and Mason, is emphasized on a philosophy of â€Å"sameness†, where people should have access to and be assessed within the workplace as individuals, regardless of social category. In the other hand, the radical approach is focused on a â€Å"positive discrimination† where employment practices are deliberately manipulated in order to obtain a fair distribution of those disadvantaged groups in the workplace, and it is also focused in achieving not only equality of opportunity but also equality of outcome. Considering this differentiation referring to the equalities of opportunities implemented by companies, we can see that Deloitte have a liberal approach in their policies, as they have created different programmes to make possible a equal treatment within the company instead of creating discriminatory policies, and, as for the outcome aspect, we haven't been able to find information about what is Deloitte's policy in that matter. Gender and Diversity management at Deloitte addresses the needs of a diverse workforce in regards to gender, sexual orientation, physical ability, ethnicity and national origin by offering programs to that specifically support these groups both internally and externally. The importance of diversity management at the firm is seen through the commitment placed on creating organizational structure, practices, policies, management and financial investment or partnerships that supports diversity. Deloitte’s annual diversity plan and the commitment to place diversity as the top priority on board meeting agenda’s is allowing the company to live and breathe its vision statement, which is: â€Å" to be recognized internally and externally as a diversity leader, to have leadership that represents the overall labour market, diversity management will be a core leadership competency and a business imperative, talent process will reflect ‘best-in-class’ diversity sensitive processes† (Deloitte, Diversity annual report). To achieve this vision, Deloitte has created a national Diversity council comprised of senior management across Canada which meets ten times per year to set goals and assess the progress of current policies and practices at the firm (Deloitte, Valuing Differences). To ensure the success of these initiatives they have created a diversity accountability framework to guide and incent progress. One of Deloitte’s most recognized and progressive steps towards diversity management have been the appointment of their Chief Diversity Officer, Jane Allen. Some key diversity practices within the firm includes; the creation of people networks, diversity calendar, the Diversity Matters blog, their Diversity Round table, a bias awareness toolkit as well as corporate sponsorship and partnerships. Deloitte’s people networks aim to connect like-minded people within the firm to act as mentors and support networks. The creation of the Diversity Calendar was a part of a firm wide communications campaign to communicate the diversity visions and goals for the year. Read also Analyze the Ways in Which British Imperial Policies The calendar was a huge success, receiving over 4000 downloads (Deloitte, Valuing Differences). The firm has also leveraged social networking tools with the creation of a Diversity Matters blog where employees can speak with the Chief Diversity Officer directly. Moreover, the Diversity Round table was created as an initiative to discuss the issues affecting people with disabilities an addition to Deloitte’s corporate sponsorship of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter games. The bias awareness toolkit is used to educate managers on a range of topics including common stereotypes. It is used in conjunction with mid-year and year end reviews in addition to the policy of employees and partners setting a personal diversity goal for their year plan. Finally, Deloitte sponsors a number of organizations that share their interest and commitment to strengthening an inclusive workplace through programs, and research. These activities give their professionals opportunities to gain knowledge and expand their networks and also provide them with another way to attract new talent. As part of these relationships, they help fund research and programs that build community and support career development for people of diverse backgrounds. Some examples of current sponsorships include: DiversityInc DiversityInc is a prime source for best practices and solutions to workplace diversity related challenges. The sponsorship makes it possible to expand the recruiting efforts as well as demonstrate the commitment to diversity in the marketplace. In addition, Deloitte leverages DiversityInc’s benchmarking data and analysis to increase awareness of the most progressive strategies companies and firms are employing, so that it can continue to be a true diversity leader. Working Mother Media Working Mother Media is solely focused on the challenges and tradeoffs that can impact working mothers and women of color. From their magazine to their robust website and inspiring conferences, Working Mother is a key resource for Deloitte to better understand these challenges and provide opportunities for people to leverage these resources. Deloitte is also an ongoing, premiere sponsor of the Working Mother Multicultural Women’s conference, as well as a sponsor of the Working Mother 100 Best Work Life Congress. | | These policies and practices are just the beginning of a web of more specific gender and diversity policies targeted to specific minority groups. Overview of Policies & Practices: For Women: Deloitte supports female employees through Canadian Women's Initiative Network (canWin), which offers mentoring and networking sessions, awards to recognize women in leadership roles, support for Career Moms, the Step Up program to support female senior management leadership development, as well as a Women of Influence Luncheon Series. For Parents: Deloitte’s parental leave guide offers a generous adoption subsidy for new parents and provides maternity top-up payments for new mothers (to 100% of salary for 17 weeks). It also provides a variety of alternative work arrangements that help women gradually return to work after maternity leave (Mediacorp). For LBGT: Deloitte`s Lesbian Bisexual Gay and Transgendered people network is a sponsor and participant in the â€Å"Out on Bay St. † career fair and conference for LGBT professionals. They also work to raise awareness facing Lesbian Bisexual Gay and Transgendered people in the workforce. For those with Disabilities: Deloitte is partnered with the Progress Place community organization which provides temporary, six-month transitional positions for persons recovering from mental illness to help them gain the confidence to reintegrate into the workforce (Mediacorp). For Aboriginals: Deloitte is a member of the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council, which connects Aboriginal owned businesses to corporate supply chains. The company also hosted an Indigenous Youth Gathering, leading sessions focused on leadership and career counselling. For Immigrants and new Canadians: Deloitte is a corporate sponsor of Assisting Local Leaders with Immigrant Employment Strategies and a partner with Toronto Regional Immigrant Employment Council that helps new immigrants navigate job search. Deloitte has created a guidebook for employers on hiring immigrants and has created an in-house mentorship program that pairs new Canadian employees with over 100 firm mentors. Part of Deloitte`s success in achieving their successful diversity management strategy is in part, due to their ability to define a business care for diversity. Their view is that diversity will lead to better work results, greater innovation as well as opportunities to work with a variety of clients. As their clients globalize they will expect Deloitte`s teams to have a global perspective. Teams that reflect this growing diversity will enhance their reputation in the business community (Deloitte, Valuing Differences). In addition to the ability to use diversity to attract the top talent, Deloitte has also founded a Women as Buyers pilot program which examines the difference in women`s buying approach when it comes to professional services. Understanding the differences in why women choose certain professional service providers over others, especially as more women take on leadership roles, will be essential to the success of the company in the future. Not only has Deloitte set outstanding policies and practices on diversity management, but they are also committed to continually measuring and monitoring the success of the policies. They currently use a scorecard to track the company`s progress in areas of recruitment, partner admissions, promotions and turnover (Deloitte, Diversity annual report). In the future, Deloitte`s Strategic Plan for 2014 will focus on providing more development opportunities, increasing their knowledge on diversity, tracking progress toward achieving their vision and keeping diversity top of mind and leading their agenda.

Free Essays on Censorship In Popular Culture

Censorship in Popular Culture Censorship is in all aspects of today’s popular culture. It has become a increasingly heated topic from which politics it seems will be affected in the not so distant future. A theme posed by groups is often to censor their oppositions speech or material because it simply opposes their views or is seen as potentially harmful in their eyes and they take it upon themselves to right the situation. Anti Christian themes are hot topics in today’s public school systems with literature, evolution, and sex education at the center of the spot light. The medias responsibility is larger than most people realize â€Å" in the very act of selecting which stories to cover†¦ by selecting which books and films to review, by selecting music to air- through all of these things the media institutions effectively define what is and is not important in our society †(atheism). By having such an influence over a majority of people presents challenges for groups which desire to c hange public opinion because once labeled one way by the media it becomes extremely difficult to change public perception, if such a change is indeed at all possible. The National Right to Life Committee says â€Å" We cannot let a handful of network executives and Hollywood writers, actors, and directors poison America with their godless attitudes, which are anti-religion, anti-family, and anti-life† (atheism/ National). Censorship is indeed a critical part of managing peoples views yet when is it to much and where does the Media need to draw its lines. If we numb ourselves from everything in this world that is viewed as negative and potentially evil by nature then we cannot prepare our younger generations from the trials they will face in life. Yet showing too much may have the wrong affect on an individual in where he or she goes out and commits the immoral acts seen or heard about. We must find a middle ground where there is a line between ex... Free Essays on Censorship In Popular Culture Free Essays on Censorship In Popular Culture Censorship in Popular Culture Censorship is in all aspects of today’s popular culture. It has become a increasingly heated topic from which politics it seems will be affected in the not so distant future. A theme posed by groups is often to censor their oppositions speech or material because it simply opposes their views or is seen as potentially harmful in their eyes and they take it upon themselves to right the situation. Anti Christian themes are hot topics in today’s public school systems with literature, evolution, and sex education at the center of the spot light. The medias responsibility is larger than most people realize â€Å" in the very act of selecting which stories to cover†¦ by selecting which books and films to review, by selecting music to air- through all of these things the media institutions effectively define what is and is not important in our society †(atheism). By having such an influence over a majority of people presents challenges for groups which desire to c hange public opinion because once labeled one way by the media it becomes extremely difficult to change public perception, if such a change is indeed at all possible. The National Right to Life Committee says â€Å" We cannot let a handful of network executives and Hollywood writers, actors, and directors poison America with their godless attitudes, which are anti-religion, anti-family, and anti-life† (atheism/ National). Censorship is indeed a critical part of managing peoples views yet when is it to much and where does the Media need to draw its lines. If we numb ourselves from everything in this world that is viewed as negative and potentially evil by nature then we cannot prepare our younger generations from the trials they will face in life. Yet showing too much may have the wrong affect on an individual in where he or she goes out and commits the immoral acts seen or heard about. We must find a middle ground where there is a line between ex...

Feasibility Study Makeup Research Paper Example

Feasibility Study Makeup Research Paper Example Feasibility Study Makeup Paper Feasibility Study Makeup Paper CHAPTER I THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING Makeup is hugely versatile, not only in terms of colors and products, but also in terms of how it is worn. While some wear make-up to create a large and dramatic appearance, others will wear make-up more subtly. Make-up can be worn in a wide variety of situations, ranging from work, events, nights out, and even just round the house if you so desire. As a result of such diversity, the make-up industry is massive, meaning that everybody should be able to find products that they would want to wear and be seen sporting. The use of cosmetics is not latest trend, it has its roots deep within the annals of history, the cosmetic industry, which started glowing in the early 1990s, is expanding exponentially. With more women and men becoming conscious and willing to spend on their appearance, this industry has been growing at 20-25 percent the last few years. Not only have more people started using cosmetics, they are also willing to pay more to look and feel good. The penetration rate is becoming higher than expected, this not only means that consumers are willing to spend extra bit to look and feel good, but also indicates that constant up gradation from mass to premium products. The increase of media exposure, the willingness to spend more on personal care, consciousness about looks and advertisements and promoting targeting various consumer segments are some reasons for their trends in consumption and penetration. : In a place like Cabanatuan City where a lot of institutions such as schools, hospitals, parlors and business establishments are located, there is a high possibility that the business will be successful or profitable because of the greater number of employees who visits and go to the location of the business to buy this kind of product. ? Statement of the Problem This study aimed at determining the feasibility and viability of establishing â€Å"Make Up Hub† business in N. E. Pacific Mall, Cabanatuan City. It sought answers to the following questions: 1. What marketing strategies could be taken into consideration to ensure the success of the proposed business? Who will be its target market? 2. What technical requirements should the management implement in order to make the business more competitive? 3. What form of organizational set up could be best adopted to put up such project? What are the qualifications of its personnel? 4. How much capital is needed to finance the business? Who are the sources of funds? 5. What are the potential problems that might be encountered by the business? What are the possible solutions of those problems? 6. What are the socio – economic benefits that can be derived from this proposed business? ? Significance of the Study The result of this study will be beneficial to the following: The Researchers. This study will serve as a basis for developing new opportunities for the future. It will provide them with useful insights in the various aspects of the project feasibility study. The Future Researchers. The information will be useful as a tool or as a reference material in doing similar study in the future. The Potential Investors. To those who would like to engage in this business, this study will serve as a guide for they since it will provide them concrete guidelines on how to start a business. The Government. This study intended to sell products that will definitely give an increase on growth of our economic structure. If pushed through with this project, it would generate income and employment to the city of Cabanatuan. ? Scope and Limitation of the Study This study focuses on the viability of establishing a Make Up Hub at NE Pacific Mall Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. The proposed business is concerned in selling most up-to-date make-up styles and trends. The product will depend on the quality, design and cost-efficiency. It includes an evaluation of the project in terms of different aspects of business: The marketing, technical, management and financial aspects. Definition of Terms Some terms are hereby defined by the researchers for better understanding of the research study. Blemish. It is a mark or imperfection that spoils the appearance of something. Blemish Remover. It is a cream that hides skin blemishes to make it look flawless. Blusher. It is a Makeup used on the face and especially on the cheekbones to give a usually rosy tint. Concealer. It is a facial cosmetic used to cover blemished skin. Cosmetics. This is a powder, lotion, lipstick, rouge, or other preparation for beautifying the face, skin, hair, nails, etc. Eye Shadow. It is a cosmetic available in various colors or tints and applied especially to the eyelids to enhance the eyes. Eye Shadow Base. This is also known as an eye shadow primer, it is type of cosmetic product that is applied to the eyelids before eye shadow. Eyebrow Pencils. It is makeup provided by a cosmetic pencil that is used to darken the eyebrows. Foundation. This is a type of makeup which is spread over the skin of the face, usually before other makeup is put on, giving it a better and more even color and hiding unwanted marks. Hub. It is a center of activity or interest or business. Lip Gloss. This is a type of cosmetic product applied to the lips to make them appear shinier and smoother. Lip Pencil. It is a type of colored pencil hat many people use for lining the border of their lips when applying makeup. It is typically put on before lipstick and may make it easier for some people to apply their lipstick evenly. Lipstick. This is a waxy solid usually colored cosmetic in stick form for the lips. Makeup. It is a facial cosmetic as an eye shadow or lipstick. Mascara. It is a type of cosmetic applied to the eyelashes. It serves to thicken and define the eyelashes and may also color, lengthen, or curl them, depending upon the type. It’s usually sold as a liquid cosmetic in a tube and applied with a round brush called a wand. Moisturizers. It is a complex mixtures of chemical agents specially designed to make the external layers of the skin to make it softer and smooth. Primer. It is a cream or lotion applied before another cosmetic to improve coverage and lengthen the amount of time the cosmetic lasts on the face. Unguent. It is a salve for soothing or healing; an ointment, lotion, cream or balm. Vanity. It is inflated pride in oneself or one’s appearance: conceit, such as a vain person. CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES This chapter presents some literature and studies which are relevant to the present and provided the researchers some insight that helped in accomplishing this study. Foreign Literature The origin of make-up dates back to 3100 BC, during the 1st Egyptian Dynasty. Unguent, a substance used to prevent the skin from drying up due to heat and to avoid wrinkles, was extensively used by people of both genders during that era. The women of Egypt were known to apply kohl to their eyes to give them a smoky look. Antimony or soot was usually used to make kohl. The use of cosmetics and make up was found among Romans also. They grew popular approximately around the middle of 1st century AD. Kohl was now used by Romans too. The cheeks were decorated with rouge. You would be amazed to know that people used to take good care of their teeth along with their skin. For cleaning teeth, Romans used pumice. Henna dyes were used by Persian women for darkening their hair. Pale skin became very popular during the European time. A lot of women used harmful substances to achieve a pale look, which in turn spoiled their skin to a large extent. During the Renaissance period of Italy, women started using lead paint in order to lighten their skin, which in fact proved damaging. Due to the damaging effect, makeup was criticized during the time of Elizabeth I. Cosmetics came to be seen as a threat and people started avoiding them. Except for prostitutes who donned themselves with heavy makeup, people usually shied away from it. The French loved to adorn their lips with red lipsticks, and wore rouge on their cheeks. Though earlier it was repulsed by other countries, eventually it trickled down to other parts of the world also. A lot of people started using herbal products to make cosmetics and makeup. Herbs, flower extracts, vegetable extracts, strawberries, brandy, spring water etc were widely used. Unfortunately pale complexion was still considered royal and so the efforts of most women were directed towards achieving skin lightness. The use of whiteners and blemish removers proved fatal at times. One of the most lethal products was white lead, which not only caused harm to the skin cells but also led to hair loss and stomach problems. The irony is that, in spite of knowing the harm they are causing to their body, women continued using dangerous cosmetics like white lead for the face, belladonna for the eyes, and even mercury and nitric acid. Shockingly enough, coal tar was used to dye hair. Even today a lot of people use harmful cosmetics, though thankfully the focus is shifting towards safer products. Foreign Study (Kim Carollo) According to Kim Carollo in Oct. 4, 2011 in his study entitled: â€Å"Makeup Makes Women Seem More Competent†, wearing makeup has a significant impact on how people perceive women, making women seem more attractive, competent, likable and trustworthy, according to new research published this week. Researchers at Procter Gamble, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston University and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute showed study participants photos of women either wearing no makeup or wearing one of three different cosmetic looks – natural, professional or glamorous. In the first study, subjects were first shown images of women, who were of different ages and ethnicities, for 250 milliseconds. In a second study, a different set of study subjects looked at the same photos for an unlimited amount of time so they could carefully inspect each face. Study participants then rated the women in terms of competence, likability, attractiveness and trustworthiness. â€Å"We found that when faces were shown very quickly, all ratings went up with cosmetics in all different looks,† said Nancy Etcoff, lead author and associate researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital. The women were judged as more competent, likable, attractive and trustworthy. † But when subjects had the chance to examine photos for a longer period of time, the same perceptions didn’t carry over. â€Å"When they got to the more dramatic makeup looks, people saw them as equally likable and much more attractive and competent, but less trustworthy,† Etcoff said. â⠂¬Å"Dramatic makeup was no longer an advantage compared to when people saw the photos very quickly. † Etcoff said the study findings should serve as a message to women that cosmetics could have an impact on how people perceive them in ways beyond physical attractiveness. In situations where a perceiver is under a high cognitive load or under time pressure, he or she is more likely to rely on such automatic judgments for decision-making,† the authors wrote. â€Å"Facial images appear on ballots, job applications, web sites and dating sites. † Local Literature First, makeup serves to enhance what’s already there. I never cease to be amazed at how just the littlest amount of mascara (one of the two items I am never without, the other being lip balm) make my eyes stand out just a tad bit better, or how a swirl or two of blush makes me look more awake and alive even after a late night out. Makeup takes what Mother Nature gave you and works with it so that you look like a better, more polished version of yourself. Second, makeup is one of the many ways by which I can express myself. At work, my looks tend to be more sedate, although I do a smoky eye every now and then just to liven things up a bit. However, when I go out with family and friends, I tend to favor more colorful combinations (purple and plum shadows with teal eyeliner, you get the picture). And while we’re on the topic of self-expression, I might as well say that I have a lot of respect for those artists and enthusiasts who are able to come up with avant grade looks (i. e. makeup that you wouldn’t really wear to work or any other real-life situation, unless you’re a runway model). Makeup is an art form, after all, with creativity and imagination setting the limits. Third, you can work with as few or as many products as you desire or feel comfortable with. Sometimes when I do makeup on myself or on other people, I find that I will use four or five eye shadows to achieve the effect I want (and that’s just the eyes). However, if for you a made-up face consists of using only concealer, powder, and lipstick, that’s fine, too. If there’s one thing I’ve realized over the years, it’s that there is no fixed rule on the number of products you â€Å"need†. Magazines and websites can go on and on about how a product like, let’s say eyeliner, is essential to anyone’s arsenal. But if you know that you’re not going to use it, why buy yourself a tube? In the end, it’s about using products that work for you and your lifestyle. It’s about creating a look for yourself that makes your day just that wee bit brighter, your stride a bit more confident. Local Study (codenameaya) Giveaway: Make your skin care wish come true with HBC by codenameaya posted July 2, 2012. Why do you wear makeup? Well, let me tell you why I do. I believe that makeup can do wonders. Wearing makeup makes me feel better about myself. It’s my confidence-booster. Call me vain but of course I want to look good in front of other people, and makeup can help me achieve just that. Now the next question that arises is this: Why is there a need for me to wear makeup? My skin is far from perfect. I have already told you my skin history when I posted about my *skin care routine* (which needs updating, btw) before. I had a lot of pimples during my late elementary and early high school days, and that made me feel really insecure about my face. Then after what felt like forever, thanks to the different products I used, the pimples started disappearing and my face started clearing up. Now, these are some of my main skin concerns: uneven skin tone, oiliness, redness esp. around the nose area, blemishes here and there. This is why I like to wear makeup. It temporarily addresses my skin concerns. Emphasis on temporarily, i’ve come to realize that although makeup does well in concealing my imperfections, I still should not forget to take care of my skin. I should be doing something to keep my skin clear and healthy and not just be covering it up with thick layers of foundation all the time. I can’t just wear makeup every time, you know. Sino ba naman ang hindi gusto ng super gandang skin, na parang naka-makeup ka na kahit wala ka namin makeup? There are now so many products out there that can help us take better care of our skin. We just need to be careful in choosing which ones to use. We first have to know what we need to fix for us to know how to fix it. Justification of the Study The researchers worked hard to search for any available material to support and establish the foundation of this study. This proposed study entitled â€Å"Make Up Hub† business in N. E. Pacific Mall, Cabanatuan City is an original work of the present researchers and is considered to be the first study of its kind conducted in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. According to the data gathered by the researchers, no similar study was found available. Therefore, the researchers concluded that this study as an original one. CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY This chapter presents the research methodology, used by the researchers, the procedure in gathering data as well as the sources where the data and information were taken from. Method of Research Used The researchers utilized descriptive method in this study. It is a fact finding with adequate interpretation. Gay (1976) defines the descriptive research as involving collection of data in order to test or to answer questions concerning the current status of the subject of the study. Research Locale The researchers will conduct their feasibility study in NE Pacific Mall, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. Data Gathering Procedures The researchers used the following technique to ensure the reliability of facts as presented in this study: Documentary Analysis. Is a social research method and is an important research tool in its own right and is an invaluable part of most schemes of triangulation Observation. The researchers used this method to observe the location site of the proposed study, visited some of the business establishments and tried to observe the characteristics of the target market. Interview. It will provide the researchers the necessary facts needed in the pursuit in the search of the project under study. Proponents will be able to gather information regarding in the establishment of the proposed business by conducting interviews in a more or less informal conversation so as not to intimidate the interviewee. Survey. The researchers asked people about existing prices, conditions and processes. They performed market survey to find out the kind of makeup people buy. It helps in determining factors that affect the buying habit of the buyer as well as pricing of the product. Statistical Treatment of data Sampling Technique. The researchers used Slovene’s formula and convenience sampling. Convenience sampling is used in explanatory research where the researcher is interested in getting an inexpensive approximation of the truth. Formula: N = N 1+Ne2 Where: n = is the sample size N = is the total population E = is the margin of error Financial Treatment of Data In determining the feasibility and viability of the proposed business, various tools will be adapted. 1. Payback Period This is the length of time required by the project to return the initial cost of investment. It emphasizes managements concern with liquidity and the need to minimize risks through a rapid recovery of the initial investment. Formula: Payback Period = ____Net Investment_____ Ave. Annual Cash Flow 2. Return on Assets It is a useful tool for monitoring both the result of operation and efficiency of asset management. ROI is probably the most common measure used to evaluate the performance. Formula: Return on Investment = ___Net Income___ Total Assets 3. Net Present Value It represents the ratio of the net income over the initial investment of the proposed project. It will be used to determine how much returns would be generated by the investments of the owner of the project based on net profits. Formula: ARR = Average Annual Net Income x100% Investment

Touch Screen Systems for Health Care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Touch Screen Systems for Health Care - Essay Example It would serve as a vital tool within healthcare system. The Touchscreen kiosk would have several objectives that would mainly be for the benefit of the hospital and for creating greater awareness in patients so as to improve the quality of care. There would be some risks with the project including refusal from various quarters of the hospital to help with the delivery, improper location of the kiosks, sudden decisions taken by the management not to support the project, database/server failures, networking issues, power failure, poor hardware and software quality causing dysfunction periods, poor user interface, graphical designs, etc. The implementation costs of the TKIP would be around $500,000 with the running costs of $5000 per month. A revamp of the kiosk system would be planned every 3 to 4 years. The hospital has planned the implementation of the kiosks after a one year period when the procurement of resources, setting up network points and installing the kiosks, running the h ardware, developing the user interface and creating the content would be ready. The funding from the same would come from the IT budget that is print for the hospital. Internally and externally content management software would be required along with an interface to provide remote support to the various kiosks deployed in the hospital and in remote locations. In terms of scope, the customer expects to obtain greater knowledge and be able to make informed decisions regarding the healthcare. In this way, the customers can feel that they are fully in control of their body and, hence, the quality of services provided would increase. The entire project would be implemented by the Project Management Team which would work in coordination with the Department of Medical Informatics and Healthcare IT (DMIHIT) of the Hospital. The project proposed is for the implementation of touchscreen

Challenging experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Challenging experience - Essay Example The first problem was how the curriculum was presented to the students. These students came to camp expecting to have exciting experiences in the outdoors. The curriculum I was instructed to present was nearly all classroom activities. It had been borrowed from a local school district. The students grew bored quickly with the outlined activities. They said that it felt just like school. They grew restless, talkative and defiant at times as a result of their boredom and disappointment. The second problem centered on the different ability levels of my group of ten students. Some were obviously very academically inclined while others were more interested in just being in the outdoors. There wass also a wide range of cognitive abilities from 5th to 8th grade, so after only one day I could see that spanning this difference was going to be a challenge. The evening of my first day at camp, I met with the director to discuss some changes in approach to teaching the curriculum. I suggested th at much of the classroom instruction could be delivered in a more meaningful way through activities outdoors. I knew this would allow my energetic students more time and freedom to engage in active learning. I also received permission to differentiate the activities based on student ability and maturity. I did this so everyone would be able to participate in ability appropriate activities.

Cog-wk6 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Cog-wk6 - Essay Example There is no right or wrong in choosing which coding you prefer. What is important is how you make use of the coding style that you use. With the style of coding you choose, learning and memory can be improved; knowledge can widen; and perception may be altered in a positive and resourceful manner. Visual and verbal coding are the styles of coding that each individual uses in order for him to get back to his memory when needed. However, choosing one of these types is under one’s own will. Though there is no right or wrong in choosing one’s desired style, it would still be up to that individual on how he makes use of what he has chosen. With whatever style he chooses, this should help him in a positive manner like making him a better person in a number of ways; not to make him dysfunctional that may lead to making him a lesser person. Visual coding is a lot more practical for the right brain thinkers. A right brain thinker is usually random, intuitive, synthesizes holistically, subjective, and looks at wholes (McCarthy, 2008). In the manners that they posses, visual coding styles like drawings, charts, and graphical representations of things might look more appealing. An example is when a person who falls under this thinking mechanism is asked regarding the shape of an egg, he might as well draw an egg rather than to explain its shape (Sternberg, 2009). Personally, I believe that having its graphical representation seems better for right brain thinkers because I am a right-brain thinker myself. Explaining things verbally and looking into the smallest, yet vital details of an object really do exhaust me. Having them on words makes it a little too complicated for me. Left brain thinkers on the other hand prefer verbal coding for they are logical, sequential, rational, analytical, objective, and are able to look into the parts of a whole (McCarthy, 2008). With this, explaining different phenomena on details is more helpful to them for they are

Recording labels and music marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Recording labels and music marketing - Essay Example In the article "Paying the Price" there is a new owner of EMI Universal. Rivals of EMI are challenged with an opportunity to expand all over the world. Moreover, our study looks at UK albums and singles sales between the beginning of 2011 and the artists and assets behind 44% of EMI's album sales, which will have to be divested in 2012 and about 30% of UK singles sales must expand. These impressive figures underline the fact that a challenging environment of the modern music industry sets the pace of a competitive development in this field. This is a complicated background for future performance of the Company internationally. Moreover, divestments experienced by the Company can lead it to huge losses. It is hard to believe, but the artists, whose creative works and developments were rooted in this Company, are now leaving it. Artists and assets are to be sold off by Universal behind 44% of EMI's UK album sales in 18 months to the end of June 2012. This Company sold 20.4 million albu ms in UK between January 2011 and June 2012 with to-be-divested Parlophone label behind more than 3 million of them. The Company must let go albums of very popular artists, such as David Guetta, Kate Bush, Eliza Doolittle and some others. EMI's to-be-divested share of the Now! Franchise equated to more that 2.4 million UK album sales in 18th months period. There are some interests of the competitors in the field of music industry, which are violated. Nevertheless, it should be mentioned that some artists stay with the Company.

Energy and Balance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Energy and Balance - Essay Example Contamination of the food potions interferes with the energy requirement in the oxidation of the food. The amount of energy required in the breakdown or oxidation of the foods, which contain the carbohydrates, proteins and fats, can be obtained by computation of the energy required in breaking these food components (Hervera, et al, 2008). The figures gotten are then computed and thus the energy requirement for the oxidation of the food can easily be determined. There are specific values of energies required to break down the food components in the various portions. This implies that as the food increase in volume and mass, the amount of energy in them is higher than the ones outlined in the formulation of the energy determination in the foods contain. The determine values of the contained calories in the given foods and the feeding stuffs; will provide exact estimation of the energy present in the foods being tested. The higher the amount needed to oxidize the foods, the higher the number of calories in the foods under examination (Hervera, et al, 2008). Nitrogen balance is the measurement of the input nitrogen and the output of nitrogen within a given set of products in the production line. This involves the nitrogen being taken in by the organism and finding a possible amount of nitrogen the substance produces. The difference between the nitrogen intake and output will determine the amount of nitrogen that the substance is giving out to balance the surrounding (Moya, Tenorio & Bond, 2013). Nitrogen balance can be portrayed in the Blood Urea Nitrogen and urea concentration in urine. The urea is a component of the nitrogen balance of the substance, organism, ecosystem or environments. Energy balances is the outcome of the comparison of the amount calories taken by a body and the amount of the elements or calories taken out. The energy in, involves the energy that is taken in through eating

Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Literature review Example This paper aims to analyze the literature available on the concept of customer satisfaction; hence it is divided into two major sections for the purpose of defining a flow. Initially a very concise review of the concept itself is provided, in light of the literature available, it is then extended to cover and analyze in detail the parallel notion of service quality which is often at times considered to be in correlation with customer satisfaction. The second section focuses on the specific service industry aspect of E-banking services, the service itself is explained and described, followed by an analysis with regards to service quality in the E-banking sector, and furthermore in order to narrow the case in focus, the service quality of E-banking in the Saudi Arabian banking sector is taken under consideration. All the analysis is in light of the literature available with regards to the topics under study. ... tion as a concept has occupied a unique position in marketing practice and research on part of the academia, since the initial research and study undertaken by Cardozo (Cardozo, 1965) on the topics of customer efforts, their expectations and most importantly their satisfaction. Regardless of the fact that the researchers and analysts around the globe have put in great effort and numerous attempts have been made at defining the notion of ‘customer satisfaction’ and its measurement, there still exists no consensus amongst them. Customer satisfaction is most commonly regarded as the post consumption feeling and the evaluation on part of the customer about a particular product of service (Gundersen, Heide and Olsson, 1996). It is a judgment based on evaluation of the pre-consumption expectations from a product/service and the performance of the product on that scale of perception according to the post-consumption experience (Oliver, 1980). The concept which is most widely ac cepted and related to customer satisfaction is the concept is the ‘expectancy disconfirmation theory’, this was a theory devised by Oliver who claimed that satisfaction level is the gap between the expectation and the actual performance of a product. ‘Satisfaction’, which is regarded as the ‘positive disconfirmation’, occurs when the product’s performance is better than the expectation, while on the contrary, when the performance is less than the expectation then it is termed ‘negative disconfirmation’, or in simple terminology as ‘dissatisfaction’ (McQuitty, Finn and Wiley, 2000). Studies throughout time have shown that customer satisfaction has a major impact on business results, and it has been claimed that customer satisfaction has a positive relation with business

Recording labels and music marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Recording labels and music marketing - Essay Example In the article "Paying the Price" there is a new owner of EMI Universal. Rivals of EMI are challenged with an opportunity to expand all over the world. Moreover, our study looks at UK albums and singles sales between the beginning of 2011 and the artists and assets behind 44% of EMI's album sales, which will have to be divested in 2012 and about 30% of UK singles sales must expand. These impressive figures underline the fact that a challenging environment of the modern music industry sets the pace of a competitive development in this field. This is a complicated background for future performance of the Company internationally. Moreover, divestments experienced by the Company can lead it to huge losses. It is hard to believe, but the artists, whose creative works and developments were rooted in this Company, are now leaving it. Artists and assets are to be sold off by Universal behind 44% of EMI's UK album sales in 18 months to the end of June 2012. This Company sold 20.4 million albu ms in UK between January 2011 and June 2012 with to-be-divested Parlophone label behind more than 3 million of them. The Company must let go albums of very popular artists, such as David Guetta, Kate Bush, Eliza Doolittle and some others. EMI's to-be-divested share of the Now! Franchise equated to more that 2.4 million UK album sales in 18th months period. There are some interests of the competitors in the field of music industry, which are violated. Nevertheless, it should be mentioned that some artists stay with the Company.

Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Literature review Example This paper aims to analyze the literature available on the concept of customer satisfaction; hence it is divided into two major sections for the purpose of defining a flow. Initially a very concise review of the concept itself is provided, in light of the literature available, it is then extended to cover and analyze in detail the parallel notion of service quality which is often at times considered to be in correlation with customer satisfaction. The second section focuses on the specific service industry aspect of E-banking services, the service itself is explained and described, followed by an analysis with regards to service quality in the E-banking sector, and furthermore in order to narrow the case in focus, the service quality of E-banking in the Saudi Arabian banking sector is taken under consideration. All the analysis is in light of the literature available with regards to the topics under study. ... tion as a concept has occupied a unique position in marketing practice and research on part of the academia, since the initial research and study undertaken by Cardozo (Cardozo, 1965) on the topics of customer efforts, their expectations and most importantly their satisfaction. Regardless of the fact that the researchers and analysts around the globe have put in great effort and numerous attempts have been made at defining the notion of ‘customer satisfaction’ and its measurement, there still exists no consensus amongst them. Customer satisfaction is most commonly regarded as the post consumption feeling and the evaluation on part of the customer about a particular product of service (Gundersen, Heide and Olsson, 1996). It is a judgment based on evaluation of the pre-consumption expectations from a product/service and the performance of the product on that scale of perception according to the post-consumption experience (Oliver, 1980). The concept which is most widely ac cepted and related to customer satisfaction is the concept is the ‘expectancy disconfirmation theory’, this was a theory devised by Oliver who claimed that satisfaction level is the gap between the expectation and the actual performance of a product. ‘Satisfaction’, which is regarded as the ‘positive disconfirmation’, occurs when the product’s performance is better than the expectation, while on the contrary, when the performance is less than the expectation then it is termed ‘negative disconfirmation’, or in simple terminology as ‘dissatisfaction’ (McQuitty, Finn and Wiley, 2000). Studies throughout time have shown that customer satisfaction has a major impact on business results, and it has been claimed that customer satisfaction has a positive relation with business

Paper on Drugs Essay Example for Free

Paper on Drugs Essay Drugs are chemical substances that alter behaviour, mood, perception, or mental functioning. The general perception by most people is that a drug is a bad substance and should not be used. This is true; but drugs are still used by millions of people. Many governments use millions of money in countering the growth, processing and distribution of drugs. However this seems to be a losing battle. For us to be able to control how drugs are used in society the best thing is to legalize drugs and by doing this we shall eliminate dangers arising from use of drugs and drugs trade, hence making our society much better than better than it is today. Many people argue that drugs bring about insecurity and slowing down development in society since the youth are hooked to drug’s use and marketing which is an easy way to make money. Hence they end up not going to school. This is true; the reason behind this is because drug dealing in a society where drugs are criminalised is an easy way to make a lot of money since people are paid to do it since its risky. Hence young people among the poor find selling drugs an easy way to earn their living and escape the more demanding path of working in an honest job. This causes a bad effect on the societies in poor neighbourhoods, who turn to drug dealing instead of advancing their rank in the honest world. Making drugs legal will kill this easy way out, and force the young people of the poor to struggle and gain education so as to have an honest living and gradually advance their personal and collective financial status. Legalization of drugs would mean that they will be taxed like other commodities in the market hence they would contribute to economy development. Tax collected would contribute in society development instead of only profiting only a few people in our society. The state of Georgia in the United States of America has the highest tax on liquor than any state. It has the lowest tax on gasoline, which is good especially now that gas and fuel prices are at the highest price worldwide. If drugs were legal, government would exercise this excise tax on drugs. More to this they would save on money used in prohibition. This would make more money to help us sort the problems in our country, even settle our national depts. Since drugs are illegal, they are being marketed by outlaws, who charge an inflated price for them. Much more inflated that the amount it requires to grow, manufacture and distribute them. As a result, there are increased cartels involved in drugs marketing and distribution. Eventually the end user has to commit crimes such a theft and robbery so as to get enough money to satisfy his needs, which is buying drugs at very highly inflated prices. there is a growing black market for the distribution of drugs and drug users eventually need to commit crimes like theft and robbery to support their habits. According to Thorton, M â€Å"The average crime rate in the U.S increased twice due to the prohibition on Alcohol. Once the prohibition was lifted, it decreased back to its original state.† Hence it’s expected that drug legalisation will cause a similar decrease in crimes. Parents say that if drugs are legalized, there will be more use of drugs by the youth especially in schools than before. I beg to differ and would like them to know that the motive behind Legalizing recreational drugs is not making drugs accessible to all people. The drugs that are legal today such as alcohol and tobacco aren’t available to just everyone; they are regulated. Only a certain group of people are allowed to buy and consume them. Drugs today are sold anywhere including schools since the drug trade is unregulated. By legalizing drugs trade organisations will be made and they will come up with regulations which will stop selling of drugs to underage persons in society hence drugs distribution and selling will be controlled. This is the best way out since, when do you hear of people in schools selling beer or cigarettes? In conclusion, the prohibition of recreational drugs is not necessary. The war on drugs is lost, and that is agreed on by people (William F. Buckley, editor of â€Å"The National Review) .The money saved and made could be used and be used in crucial sectors of our economy and even help in improving our society, such as settling the internally displaced people and settling our national depts. The crime rate will drop drastically and drug cartels will be devastated. Overcrowding in Prisons will decrease hence the government won’t have to release guilty people and drugs will be less accessible to underage persons. All these will lead to a better society: security, sound economy, good environment for living and children growth hence a better meaning to life. Bibliography anomymous. ( 2005, January 13 ). Retrieved march 18, 2012, from bbc news: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/if/4095317.stm Blodget, H. (2010, October 6). Retrieved March 18, 2012, from The business insider: http://articles.businessinsider.com/2010-10-06/news/30087487_1_drug-legalization-miron-says-addicts Buckley, W. F. (2010, MAY 13). Retrieved MARCH 8, 2012 Cable, S. ( 2010 , July 7 ). Retrieved march 17, 2012, from dailymail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1292606/Why-ALL-drugs-legalised-Jane-Asher.html micklethwait, B. (1994). why drugs should be legalised. why drugs should be legalised. London: Libertarian Alliance. Thorton, M. (1991, july 17). Retrieved march 18, 2012, from druglibrary: http://druglibrary.net/schaffer/alcohol/pa-157.html

UK Economy and Disposable Spending

UK Economy and Disposable Spending 1. Definitions in the United Kingdom economy: a) Real disposable income: Real disposable income is an economic indicator which is the personal income that households remained with after government charges and income taxes were paid, also after it was adjusted for changes in prices or for inflation. This available income can either be spent or saved by households. According to the Keynesian theory of consumption, there is a link between real disposable income and consumption level as well as savings. In the UK economy, real disposable income witnessed ups and downs since the financial crisis of 2008, in 2010 it decreased by 0.8% while in 2011 it decreased by 2.0%. One of the main reasons for this declining real disposable income is due to inflation and the rising prices of commodity goods as well as the VAT increase. b) Unsecured debt: Unsecured debt refers to a loan that is not backed by an asset, in this case if someone is not able to repay the money owned from a financial institution they won’t take any of his property since they do have the right to. Some of the unsecured debts include credit cards, student loans and medical bills. It is considered of high risk for lenders, when the borrower fails to make the full repayment they might have to go through the process of suing them in order to get their money back. Unsecured debt is the opposite of secured debt for instance, a house mortgage is backed and secured by the house and when someone fails to pay the lenders they can close it and take it. In the UK economy, in 2013 the UK witnessed its first increase in unsecured debt since the financial crisis of 2008 by 8.5 billion pounds as a result of the increasing student loans. In the other hand unsecured consumer debt stayed flat at 5,900 pounds per household. c) Real interest rate: The real interest rate is the rate that is expected to be received by investors after removing inflation effects Real interest rate is linked with nominal rate and inflation rate as it is calculated as the following: Real interest rate = Nominal interest rate – Inflation rate In the UK economy, the real interest rate remained low since the financial crisis, after 2008 it decreased from 1.4% to -1.6% in 2009, it continued in decreasing to -2.5% in 2010, while it increased from 2010 to 2012 up to -1.2% as the following graph shows: d) Durable goods: Durable goods are goods that last for a long period of time and have a useful life of at least three years. Goods that are purchased and consumed in short period of time are called non-durable goods such as medicine or food. Durable goods are goods that they don’t need to be bought frequently. Examples of durable goods are: furniture, cars, jewelry, appliances, and also on heavy assets such as airplanes or ships. In the UK economy, according to Chart C UK consumers spending on durable goods increased dramatically from 2004 to 2010. According to the Bank of England consumer spending on durable goods increased by 2.1% from 2012 to the first quarter of 2013 these spending were mostly on motor cars, appliances and clothes. The following chart displays the components of UK consumer spending on durable goods: e) Animal spirits: Animal spirit is a concept developed by John Maynard Keynesthat refers to the level of consumer confidence and its effect on the economy. It is future expectations that drive the consumers to either spend or save and the willingness of businesses to invest in a certain market. In the UK economy, consumer confidence and optimism about the future of the UK economy has been increasing dramatically over the 4 last years, from 2011 at -30% to 0% in 2014 as the following graph shows: This increase was generally due to improvements in purchasing power and increased job security. In the UK, consumer confidence is related to consumption and it is used to predict future consumption. 2. What is the relationship in normal times between real disposable income and the level of household consumption? In normal times when there is economic stability and a higher consumer confidence the relationship expected between real disposable income and the level of household consumption is that when the real disposable income increases the level of household consumption increases, also when consumer’s income gets higher they tend to save less and consume more of goods they want. When the real disposable income decreases the level of household consumption decreases since consumers tend to save more and consume only priority goods. 3. Identify and explain two non-income determinants of the level of consumer spending in the UK economy: One of the non-income determinants of the level of consumption in the UK context is consumer confidence. According to chart B when consumer confidence decreases due to reasons such as that consumers are feeling unsecure about their jobs, the attempts to make major purchases decreases as well the thing that results in high savings since consumers are not optimistic about their current economy. There is a clear impact of consumer confidence on consumption levels in the UK economy, when confidence increases consumers will make more major purchases and will save less. Another non-income determinant of the level of consumption in the UK economy is interest rate, when interest rate decreases people tend to borrow more money from banks to spend which results in higher consumption, when interest rate increases it becomes expensive to borrow money the thing that increases saving, people will leave their money in banks to take advantage of the high interest rate the thing that reduces consumption. 4. Identify and explain two macro-economic consequences of a sharp fall in consumer spending in the UK economy: A sharp fall in consumer spending can have a negative impact over the UK economy since it increases unemployment and decreases output levels. When consumer spending fall, the consumption of goods produced by firms will also fall, this can lower companies benefits and increases their costs, in order to lower costs they companies will reduce the number of their employees the thing that increases unemployment. Another issue caused by a decrease in consumer spending is a decrease in the quantity and quality of output. A decrease in consumer spending decreases demand the thing that lowers the willingness of firms to invest in capital and labor to produce efficiently and effectively. When demand decreases the output decreases resulting in less goods and services produced the thing that harms the economy of the UK by slowing it down. Deflation can also be a consequence of a sharp fall in consumer spending. Less consumer spending means less demand of firms’ products and services, firms will have to sell products to generate money in order to pay their fixed costs, as a result prices go  down and demand also go down even more since consumers are expecting prices to decrease more in the future. A sharp fall in consumer demand creates a vicious circle and less money circulation in the economy which is considered very damaging the economy. 5. Components of aggregate demand in Morocco: Consumer spending on durable goods in Morocco: 6. Extract one: The Moroccan families spending power increased over the last years according to statistics in 2011 there was an increase in spending per capita by 4.1% to $1,760, this increase is due a stable inflation rate and government subsidies on commodity goods. This increase in spending will increase consumption of goods and services and businesses will make more investments which will contribute positively in increasing the GDP which result in an increased economic growth. Extract Two: Moroccan secured debt is low and limited only for trustworthy clients with that are employed and with an income who are able to make the repayment. The number of Moroccan facing negative equity is considered very low. 6. In the Moroccan economy: a) Real disposable income: The real disposable income in morocco witnessed a continuous increase over the last 4 years from 62,096 million dollars in 2010 up to 075,937.1 million dollars in 2014. This increase in real disposable income is due to human development projects and investments on infrastructure. This increase also allowed Moroccan consumers to purchase products that were some years earlier categorized as luxurious. b) Unsecured Debt: According to the World Bank, the rate of unsecured debt in morocco is low; the majority of financial institutions are providing secured loans with a few exceptions of unsecured loans that are only given to trustworthy clients while the secured loans are given employed people with income also to businesses with strong investments. c) Real Interest Rate: According to the available data from year 2000 to 2005 the real interest rate is considered high in Morocco. The real interest rate witnessed a continuous decrease from a value of 14% in 2000 to 9.89% in 2005. In the recent years the real interest rate is increasing as the household income increases to encourage savings in banks. d) Durable Goods: Moroccan consumption of durable goods has increased over the last years due to access to loans such as for cars and houses, also to the increase in disposable income, as well as the increased consumer confidence. The next graph shows the consumer spending in morocco on goods and services including durable goods which shows that the Moroccan consumer spending increased from 472938 million dirham in 2001 up to 494499 million dirham in 2012. d) Animal Spirits: Consumer confidence is considered high in Morocco despite the decrease from 84.5 in 2011 to 74.10 in 2014. Consumer confidence is high since Moroccan consumers are showing optimism about regular income, stock market, employment and the overall state of the economy.However the recent decrease in consumer confidence is due to increased prices in commodity goods by the government such as fuel. Extract one: The Moroccan families spending power increased over the last years according to statistics in 2011 there was an increase in spending per capita by 4.1% to $1,760, this increase is due a stable inflation rate and government subsiding commodity goods This increase in spending will increase consumption of goods and services and businesses will make more investments which will contribute positively in increasing the GDP and the economic growth. Extract Two: Moroccan secured debt is low and limited only for trustworthy clients with that are employed and with an income who are able to make the repayment. The number of Moroccan facing negative equity is considered very low. What is the relationship in normal times between real disposable income and the level of household consumption? In normal times in Morocco, the expected relationship between real disposable income and the level of household consumptions is that when real disposable goes up the level of household consumption goes up as well meaning that when the disposable income increases Moroccan consumers save less and spending more. When real disposable income goes down the level of household consumption goes down as well increasing savings and lowering consumption. Identify and explain two non-income determinants of the level of consumer spending in the Moroccan economy In the Moroccan economy, people’s expectation is a non-income determinant of the level of consumption. People’s expectations about the future have an impact over consumption, when consumers except products prices to increase in the future they consume more in the present. Avoiding a rise in prices or inflation in the future increases the level of consumption in Morocco. Another non-income determinant of the level of consumption is changes in consumer’s preferences and taste which also manipulates the consumption level in the Moroccan economy The level of consumption in morocco can also be affected by demographic reasons. A young population increases the consumption, for example, young families increase consumption by buying durable goods such as furniture, appliances or cars, also the larger the family members the higher the consumption. Interest rate and consumer confidence also have an impact on the Moroccan economy similarly to the UK economy. Identify and explain two macro-economic consequences of a sharp fall in consumer spending in the UK economy Similarly to the UK, morocco can also suffer from high unemployment as a result of a sharp fall in consumer spending; firms will seek to cut down their costs by reducing the number of their employees which increase the unemployment rate in the Moroccan economy. Firms will also produce less goods and services as demand is low, investments will also decrease resulting in a lower GDP and lower economic development. 7. Comparison between the Moroccan and UK economies: From the previous analysis we conclude that, the Moroccan real disposable income increased over the years while the UK disposable income decreased due inflation. The unsecured debt in the UK is higher that unsecured debt in morocco. The real interest rate in morocco is higher than in UK. The consumption of durable goods increased in both countries. Consumer confidence is high in morocco but decreasing over time while in the UK is low but recovering. In both countries, an increase in real disposable income increases consumption level and a decrease in real disposable income decreases consumption level. Interest rate, consumer confidence, expectations, changes in preferences and taste are non-income determinants of consumer spending in both countries. Unemployment, deflation, decrease in level of output are common consequences of a sharp fall in consumer spending in both countries.

Automobiles in Early America Essay examples -- Transportation Technolo

Automobiles in Early America The automobile changed American life, but the process was gradual. Though historians argue the date and inventor of the first automobile, we can say that Henry Ford’s creation of his Ford Motor Company in 1903 marked perhaps the major milestone of the early twentieth century automobile industry in America and around the world. Five years after the company’s inception, Ford’s legendary Model T of 1908 would revolutionize transportation and the world economy. Before the Model T, automobiles in the US were associated with only the wealthier class. Ford sought to make cars available to every American. His cars would assume the general build that continues to characterize automobiles today, and his innovation and system of production would make him a legend.[i] The automobile led to an extremely advanced system of roads and contributed to an American mentality of freedom to move.[ii] Early drivers saw both benefits and difficulties as the automobile became the standard American mode of transportation. Philip Van Doren Stern, American historian and writer, describes the early years of automobiles in the US. Between 1904 and 1907, roads were unpaved and cars were not enclosed, so it was of utmost importance to wear proper attire. Clothes were made to protect against dust and rain, but these high-class riders required this new gear to be made from the best materials, like leather and fur. In the 1920s, when most cars were built completely enclosed, there was no longer a need for these elaborate outfits. During the early years of the century, drivers braved uncharted territory with their automobiles despite the rugged mechanics of the vehicles and the absence of smoot... ...fthompso/MgmtCon/Fordism_&_Postfordism.html [vi] Thompson, Fred. (most of paragraph’s information comes from web site above) [vii] Bellis, Henry Ford and The First Mass Production of Cars – The Assembly Line, About.com [viii] Antique Automobile Club of America, Automotive History – A Chronological History [ix] Weingroff, Richard F. The Federal-State Partnership at Work. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration Public Roads Web site, 1996. [x] Weingroff, The Federal-State Partnership at Work. [xi] Stern, pages 154-173 [xii] University of Houston. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display_printable.cfm?HHID=454 [xiii] Faulkner, William. The Sound and the Fury. New York: Vintage Books, 1984. [xiv] Stern, page 23 [xv] Antique Automobile Club of America, Automotive History – The Assembly Line

The Hopi Indians :: American America History

The Hopi Indians In the southwestern United States, above northern Arizona, are three mesas. The mesas create the home for the Hopi Indians. The Hopi have a deeply religious, isolated, tribal culture with a unique history. The Hopi stress group cooperation. The tribe is organized around a clan system. In a clan system, all the members consider themselves relatives. The clans form a social glue that has held the Hopi villages together. Clan membership provides a singular Hopi identity. The Hopi have a highly developed belief system which contains many gods and spirits. Ceremonies, rituals, dances, songs, and prayers are celebrated in year-round. The Hopi believed they were led to the arid southwestern region of America by their creator, because he knew they had the power to evoke rain with power and prayer. Consequently, the Hopi are connected to their land, its agricultural cycles and the constant quest for rainfall, in a religious way. The religious center of the community is the kiva, which is an underground room with a ladder protruding above the roof. The kiva is very important for several reasons. From the kiva, a connection is made with the center of the earth. Also, the kiva is symbolic for the emergence to this world. The room would represent the underworld and the ladder would represent the way to the upper world. In fact, a room is kept in the house to store ceremonial objects. A sacred ear of corn protects the room and symbolizes the ancestry of the fam ily members. Kachinas are also a focal point of the religion. For a Hopi, they signify spirits of ancestors, dieties of the natural world, or intermediaries between man and gods. The Hopi believe that they are the earth's caretakers, and with the successful performance of their ceremonial cycle, the world will remain in balance, the gods will be happy and rain will come. Because they think of their crops as gifts, the Hopi Indians live in harmony with the environment. Art is also used for ritualistic purposes. Men's loincloths were painted and decorated with tassels to symbolize falling rain. Men also wore elaborate costumes that include special headdresses, masks, and body paints during ritual ceremonies and dances. The Hopi follow a seasonal sense of time. Depending on the season, different preparations were used for collecting the rain. Droughts required the Hopis to adopt new farming methods that are still in use today.