Agenda Setting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Agenda Setting - Essay Example Social problems are issues that negatively affect the state of being of individuals in the society. A social problem has two elements that include subjective concerns and objective condition of the problem. An objective condition of a social problem includes all the aspects the problem that can be viewed without any biasness. Subjective concerns are issues that are affect and individual based on their biasness to particular points of view. Subjective concerns create differences with solving problems in the society. The formation opposing groups in a society is due to the subjective concerns of individuals.Objective conditions have enlightened people in societies such that they have reformulated human conditions. Through intelligence by humankind, complex problems that seemed unsolvable are solved in the modern societies. Social reformers developed empirical analysis that has formed the basis for political science and social science. Positivists were empowered by the strength of facts . For instance, Florence Nightingale and William Beveridge believed that use of scientific researches was essential in solving social problems in our societies. Nightingale was convinced that doctrines are not very important as facts are. Facts do not hold uncertainties that make the process of making decisions harder.The other view of positivists in regard to problems is by perceiving social problems as dysfunctions. Other people against the views of the society define things as acceptable or unacceptable.

True Romance Sicilian Scene Analysis

True Romance Sicilian Scene Analysis Barthes saw the importance of keeping vital information hidden from the viewer in order to keep them excited and interested in the narrative. After watching a mystery unfold, we are often left kicking ourselves when we realise the important clues that we missed out that would have given the answer away much earlier on in the narrative. Whether it was something that was said or suggested by an actor, or something left lying around in the scene. It is Barthes who tries to define these different hints and clues to assist us in further understanding the depths of a narrative scene. By helping us realise that we can understand whats going on from many indicators and not just what is being said out loud we are lead to heightened observations. He did this by defining five codes; the first two are the Hermeneutic, sometimes described as the enigma code, and the proairetic code. These two are often categorised together as they both focus on what can be found within the text. The three other c odes are the semantic, symbolic and cultural codes; I will describe each of these further throughout the essay. The Hermeneutic/enigma code looks at the ways in which suspense and mystery are added to create uncertainty and foster curiosity(Ribià ¨re,Mireille. 2002, pg. 46.) so that the interpreter is given hints and then proceeds to question subtly placed items or text that will later be answered in the text. These clues are known by terms such as snares as they catch the viewers attention and keep them engaged they dont allow the viewer to know the truth but they keep them guessing. Equivocations, like snares, are clues that keep the viewer involved, however, they give the viewer a slight insight into the truth while still concealing the whole truth. In the scene I am discussing an example of a snare is the blood that we see all over Cliffs hands. It leads us to contemplate why is he covered in blood?. Initially, we cant work out why but on closer inspection we also notice the men standing around him are all dressed in dark clothes and standing over him in an intimidating manner. When we co mbine these ideas we can assume that these men are the cause of the blood and he didnt just hurt himself, this in turn leads us to believe that Cliff is being forcefully interrogated. Not only the lighting and the smoky atmosphere of the set show key insights into the scene but also the location of the set. For this I think it is important to apply Barthes semantic and symbolic codes to the scene. I believe that Barthes symbolic code means to look at the visual side of the scene and try and work out the deeper connotations attached, this is code is also very similar to his Semantic code and Barthes never actually specified the difference [1] between them. However, the word Semantic according to the OED means relating to meaning in language or logic so I will look for the semantic signifiers from the spoken word. I believe that the fact that they are in a small, dark, confined space with no other people around and without any background sounds, in a Symbolic way suggests to the audience that no one else knows that Cliff is confined there and that if the mafia choose to kill him then his body will not be discovered for a considerable amount of time. The smokiness in the room also suggests to the audience that perhaps there is a dark atmosphere. and leads the audience to believe that this scene wont end well. I think a very critical part of this scene is where we see the role reversal between Coccotti and Worley, this happens as Worley accepts the fact that he will die in order to protect his son. There is both a proairetic code and a semantic code shown here. The proairetic code as mentioned the introduction, refers to an action in the text that leads the audience to second guess what will happen next. This is shown by Worley asking for the cigarette he initially refused (1.00). This is significant for the symbolic code also as i believe it holds connotations related to a last request of a condemned man, men were often given cigarettes before facing a firing squad [2] and i believe that this is also an important semantic code as i think that the smoking of the cigarette is the point where Tarantino and Scott want the audience to believe that Worley will not survive, when looking at this with the semantic code i believe that the fact that he asks for one of those Chesterfields now is very telling as it indicates that when he was offered one earlier he believed that he would survive. Another reference to the Symbolic code is that at the very instance that Worley asks for the cigarette The Flower Duet from the opera Lakme starts playing as background music [3]. This I believe is Tarantino making a reference to the vast use of classical music in famous gangster/mob films like The Godfather, Once upon a time in America and many others [4]. It is used for many reasons, one is to set an interesting juxtaposition to the violence that is going on and another is to set a tone in the scene and to represent the high status and views that mobsters hold of themselves, this has much to do with the typical stereotype of gangsters. I consider it also important to now mention how stereotyping is used in this scene and how using these character assumptions also helps us in understanding the narrative. Lippmann explained the use of stereotypes in three ways[1], one was as an ordering process, a way to give a description to a mass of people without having to go into the specific detail or giving a general name to a large group of similar people. The second idea is that stereotypes are used as a short cut to describe someones characteristics and or appearance[1], in a way it means cutting down their personalities and type casting them, Lippmann explains The real environment is altogether too big, too complex, and too fleeting for direct acquaintance. We are not equipped to deal with so much subtlety, so much variety, so many permutations and combinations. And although we have to act in that environment, we have to reconstruct it on a simpler model before we can manage with it. To traverse the world men must have map s of the world. (Lippman Walter: 2007 pg. 16) Lippmanns final way of explaining using stereotypes is as a reference [1], for example, it is easier to build a character in a media text or script that is already based around a certain type-cast that the audience is familiar with, it helps them to relate to the character. I believe Tarantino has used a typical American-Italian mafia stereotype as a reference in this scene as Don Coccotti isnt a major part in the whole film so it is important for the audience to quickly catch on to his purpose in the film Don Coccottis immaculate grooming from the casually unbuttoned cashmere full length over coat with silk scarf, very stereotypical of the attire you see in Mafia related scenes like the Godfather, immediately put him echelons above his surrounding henchmen with hunched shoulders badly cut jackets that obviously conceal weapons, and the blank looks on their faces, that we find towards the end of the scene, accounts for the fact that at least one of the Scilians speaks no English what so ever and is truly fascinated by what Worley has said. The camera angle used gives an added dimension to the vulnerability of the seated Worley, up until the point where Worley slowly and graciously insults Coccotti with a beautifully crafted story about the Moors breeding with Sicilian women. This story, to Barthes would be a part of the text referring to his cultural code as it is a sign that uses a reference from outside of the text to help the audience understand and relate to the narrative. Hopper carries on up to the final insult where Hopper refers to Coccotti as part Eggplant this is an old racist slur that was stereotypically used many by italian americans to offend black people as Peter E. Bondanella the author of Hollywood Italians: Dagos, Palookas, Romeos, Wise Guys, and Sopranos explains Moulan Yan a particular Italian American derogatory term for Blacks deserves some glossing. Alternately spelled a number of ways, the word derived from the standard Italian word for eggplant La melanzana. so this is the final insult for D on Coccotti and is a horrible use of a stereotype, it also sets the Sicilians in the scene in a stereotype of being racist. By that point you know that the proairetic sign of Don Vincenzo giving Worley the kiss of death means that he is about to die. The almost off camera reminder of Hoppers police background is constantly hovering in the form of his division badge and you forget that he really is a policeman due to his ironic soliloquy in the face of obvious death. Don Coccottis nervous laughter at first and short spurts of eye contact with his henchmen are typical and become more manic as Hopper continues the well-crafted insults. The atypical action of him turning his back extracting the henchmans gun and without warning turning and killing Worley brings the scene to a juddering halt. This is firstly revived by the Don saying I havent killed anybody since 1984 and the black comedy of the scilian henchman asking what was said, the clipped response he said Franco what happened? to which the english speaking one replies He said that Scilians are spawned by niggers so Don Vincenzo killed him (5.15). ties the scene off neatly and leaves no loose ends whatsoever. From the previous scenes and the way the film plays out there was never going to be any doubt that hopper would always protect his son and that Don surrounded by his subordinates had to get the information or kill hopper, the play out in my opinion was almost a classic scene of black comedy had it not been for the true feeling and empathy you have towards hoppers character, protecting his son and his own integrity. Its also worth noting that the product placement of the Chesterfields also reinforces the 5th avenue sophisticated appearance of Don. When hopper asked for the chesterfield he mentions the cigarette brand by name in a way that he would savour a product with this image that might well be deemed out of reach or out of place to a street cop he refers to them as one of those Chesterfields and i feel that sentence suggests he is unfamiliar with them. From this essay I have found that Barthes five codes are very interesting for looking at a scene in depth, I discovered things about this scene that I had not realised before and this is thanks to the way his codes pick out the tiniest action in a scene and reveal the bigger connotation it holds. I did however, find it difficult to distinguish the boundaries between one code and another particularly the symbolic and semantic code. I found Lippmanns ideas on stereotype very interesting and I liked thinking about stereotype as I think the use of stereotypes is important to Tarantino, I believe that he likes to adhere to your typical stereotype like the gangsters and the mafia but he also likes to throw in an anomaly to confuse the audience and get them excited by the character, I believe that Cliff Worleys integrity and bravery in the scene shows this. Bibliography: Narration in the Fiction Film David Bordwell Chapter 2 Diegetic Theories of Narration The Pleasure of the text roland barthes S/Z Roland Barthes The media students book Branston and Stafford narrativesI Italian-Americans in Film: From Immigrants to IconsCarlos E. Cortà ©s MELUS, Vol. 14, No. 3/4, Italian-American Literature (Autumn Winter, 1987), pp. 107-126 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ªHollywood Italians: Dagos, Palookas, Romeos, Wise Guys, and Sopranosà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¬ By Peter E. Bondanella Articles The Independent-Angry Italian-Americans demand MTV pull hateful reality show by Guy Adams in Los Angeles Italian-Americans in Film: From Immigrants to IconsCarlos E. Cortà ©s MELUS, Vol. 14, No. 3/4, Italian-American Literature (Autumn Winter, 1987), pp. 107-126 Typecasting: On the Arts and Sciences of Human Inequality Journal of Social History, Winter, 2007 by Janice Kelly Public Opinon by Walter Lippmann 2007 edition http://www.sicilianculture.com/cinema/impressions.htm accessed on January 1st 2010 http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Reputed+Mafia+boss+attend+slain+funeral/2392715/story.html accessed on January 1st 2010 http://www.bestofsicily.com/mafia.htm accessed on January 1st 2010

A Visit to the Bristol Caverns in Tennessee :: Tourism

A Visit to the Bristol Caverns in Tennessee The Bristol Caverns are over 200,000,000 years old and were used as a secret way of travel for the Cherokee Indians (http://www.tenntrips.com). Being located in Bristol, Tennessee, the caverns are a part of the Appalachian Mountain Region. The Bristol Caverns are underground and considered a historical monument. During your visit to the caverns you can learn about history, while getting your exercise, at an affordable price. The Bristol Caverns are open all year around, except for on holidays, and the time that you are able to visit is subject to change during different seasons. You can visit the Bristol Caverns from 9a.m.-5p.m. on Monday through Saturday and from 12:30p.m.-5p.m. on Sundays. It is suggested that you call before attempting to go to the Bristol Caverns because of the number of tourists. (http://www.bristolcaverns.com). The drive from the ETSU campus to the caverns takes about forty-two minutes. In order to get to the Bristol Caverns you can start on 11E, get off at the Bluff City exit, take it to 394, turn right onto 435, and you will then see the Bristol Caverns on the left. Upon arrival you will be expected to pay an admission fee of $9.00, which can change, according to age. The Bristol Caverns offers special rates and tours for groups interested in touring. One of these group opportunities, "Wild Tours" (http://www.bristolcaverns.com), gives groups the chance to explore parts of the ca ve normally not seen, provided a guide is present. The entire tour requires a lot of walking, so wearing tennis shoes is recommended. Dress prepared for a cool environment because while inside the cave you will experience temperatures from 50-60 degrees. As you walk along the tour of the Bristol Caverns, a tour guide will inform you about the history of the cave: such as the original entrance place to the caverns used by the Cherokee Indians and how an early pioneer would store his fruit in the cave for extended freshness (tour guide). While the guide leads you through the cave of the caverns, you can view many formations and scenes. The formations are called stalagmites and stalagtites, which are created by the moisture and minerals in the cave hardening. One inch of these formations lengths can take from 150-300 years to form (tour guide). During the tour you will venture through different levels of the cave.

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal Chapter 26

Chapter 26 You can travel the whole world, but there are always new things to learn. For instance, on the way to Capernaum I learned that if you hang a drunk guy over a camel and slosh him around for about four hours, then pretty much all the poisons will come out one end of him or the other. â€Å"Someone's going to have to wash that camel before we go into town,† said Andrew. We were traveling along the shore of the Sea of Galilee (which wasn't a sea at all). The moon was almost full and it reflected in the lake like a pool of quicksilver. It fell to Nathaniel to clean the camel because he was the official new guy. (Joshua hadn't really met Andrew, and Andrew hadn't really agreed to join us, so we couldn't count him as the official new guy yet.) Since Nathaniel did such a fine job on the camel, we let him clean up Joshua as well. Once he had the Messiah in the water Joshua came out of his stupor long enough to slur something like: â€Å"The foxes have their holes and birds have their nests, but the son of man has nowhere to lay his head.† â€Å"That's so sad,† said Nathaniel. â€Å"Yes, it is,† I said. â€Å"Dunk him again. He still has barf on his beard.† And so, cleansed and slung over a camel damply, Joshua did by moonlight come into Capernaum, where he would be welcomed as if it were his home. â€Å"Out!† screeched the old woman. â€Å"Out of the house, out of town, out of Galilee for all I care, you aren't staying here.† It was a beautiful dawn over the lake, the sky painted with yellow and orange, gentle waves lapped against the keels of Capernaum's fishing boats. The village was only a stone's throw away from the water, and golden sunlight reflected off the waves onto the black stone walls of the houses, making the light appear to dance to the calls of the gulls and songbirds. The houses were built together in two big clusters, sharing common walls, with entries from every which way, and none more than one story tall. There was a small main road through the village between the two clusters of homes. Along the way were a few merchant booths, a blacksmith's shop, and, on its own little square, a synagogue that looked as if it could contain far more worshipers than the three hundred residents of the village. But villages were thick along the shores of the lake, one running right into the next, and we guessed that perhaps the synagogue served a number of villages. There was no central square around the well as there was in most inland villages, because the people pulled their water from the lake or a spring nearby that bubbled clean chilly water into the air as high as two men. Andrew had deposited us at his brother Peter's house, and we had fallen asleep in the great room among the children only a few hours before Peter's mother-in-law awoke to chase us out of the house. Joshua was holding his head with both hands as if to keep it from falling off his neck. â€Å"I won't have freeloaders and scalawags in my house,† the old woman shouted as she threw my satchel out after us. â€Å"Ouch,† said Joshua, flinching from the noise. â€Å"We're in Capernaum, Josh,† I said. â€Å"A man named Andrew brought us here because his nephews stole our camels.† â€Å"You said Maggie was dying,† Joshua said. â€Å"Would you have left John if I'd told you that Maggie wanted to see you?† â€Å"No.† He smiled dreamily. â€Å"It was good to see Maggie.† Then the smile turned to a scowl. â€Å"Alive.† â€Å"John wouldn't listen, Joshua. You were in the desert all last month, you didn't see all of the soldiers, even scribes hiding in the crowd, writing down what John was saying. This was bound to happen.† â€Å"Then you should have warned John!† â€Å"I warned John! Every day I warned John. He didn't listen to reason any more than you would have.† â€Å"We have to go back to Judea. John's followers – â€Å" â€Å"Will become your followers. No more preparation, Josh.† Joshua nodded, looking at the ground in front of him. â€Å"It's time. Where are the others?† â€Å"I've sent Philip and Nathaniel to Sepphoris to sell the camels. Bartholomew is sleeping in the reeds with the dogs.† â€Å"We're going to need more disciples,† Joshua said. â€Å"We're broke, Josh. We're going to need disciples with jobs.† An hour later we stood on the shore near where Andrew and his brother were casting nets. Peter was taller and leaner than his brother, and he had a head of gray hair wilder than even John the Baptist's, while Andrew pushed his dark hair back and tied it with a cord so it stayed out of his face when he was in the water. They were both naked, which is how men fished the lake when they were close to the shore. I had mixed a headache remedy for Joshua out of tree bark, and I could tell it was working, but perhaps not quite enough. I pushed Joshua toward the shore. â€Å"I'm not ready for this. I feel terrible.† â€Å"Ask them.† â€Å"Andrew,† Joshua called. â€Å"Thank you for bringing us home with you. And you too, Peter.† â€Å"Did my mother-in-law toss you out?† asked Peter. He cast his net and waited for it to settle, then dove into the lake and gathered the net in his arms. There was one tiny fish inside. He reached in and pulled it out, then tossed it back into the lake. â€Å"Grow,† he said. â€Å"You know who I am?† said Joshua. â€Å"I've heard,† said Peter. â€Å"Andrew says you turned water into wine. And you cured the blind and the lame. He thinks that you are going to bring the kingdom.† â€Å"What do you think?† â€Å"I think my little brother is smarter than I am, so I believe what he says.† â€Å"Come with us. We're going to tell people of the kingdom. We need help.† â€Å"What can we do?† said Andrew. â€Å"We're only fishermen.† â€Å"Come with me and I'll make you fishers of men.† Andrew looked at his brother who was still standing in the water. Peter shrugged and shook his head. Andrew looked at me, shrugged, and shook his head. â€Å"They don't get it,† I said to Joshua. Thus, after Joshua had some food and a nap and explained what in the hell he meant by â€Å"fishers of men,† we became seven. â€Å"These guys are our partners,† Peter said, hurrying us along the shore. â€Å"They own the ships that Andrew and I work on. We can't go spread the good news unless they are in on it too.† We came to another small village and Peter pointed out two brothers who were fitting a new oarlock into the gunwale of a fishing boat. One was lean and angular, with jet-black hair and a beard trimmed into wicked points: James. The other was older, bigger, softer, with big shoulders and chest, but small hands and thin wrists, a fringe of brown hair shot with gray around a sunburned bald pate: John. â€Å"Just a suggestion,† Peter said to Joshua. â€Å"Don't say the fisher-of-men thing. It's going to be dark soon; you won't have time for the explanation if we want to make it home in time for supper.† â€Å"Yeah,† I said, â€Å"just tell them about the miracles, the kingdom, a little about your Holy Ghost thing, but stay easy on that until they agree to join up.† â€Å"I still don't get the Holy Ghost thing,† said Peter. â€Å"It's okay, we'll go over it tomorrow,† I said. As we moved down the shore toward the brothers, there was a rustling in some nearby bushes and three piles of rags moved into our path. â€Å"Have mercy on us, Rabbi,† said one of the piles. Lepers. (I need to say something right here: Joshua taught me about the power of love and all of that stuff, and I know that the Divine Spark in them is the same one that is in me, so I should have not let the presence of lepers bother me. I know that announcing them unclean under the Law was as unjust as the Brahmans shunning the Untouchables. I know that even now, having watched enough television, you probably wouldn't even refer to them as lepers so as to spare their feelings. You probably call them â€Å"parts-dropping-off challenged,† or something. I know all that. But that said, no matter how many healings I saw, lepers always gave me what we Hebrews call the willies. I never got over it.) â€Å"What is it you want?† Joshua asked them. â€Å"Help ease our suffering,† said a female-sounding pile. â€Å"I'll be over there looking at the water, Josh,† I said. â€Å"He'll probably need some help,† Peter said. â€Å"Come to me,† Joshua said to the lepers. They oozed on over. Joshua put his hands on the lepers and spoke to them very quietly. After a few minutes had passed, while Peter and I had seriously studied a frog that we noticed on the shore, I heard Joshua say, â€Å"Now go, and tell the priests that you are no longer unclean and should be allowed in the Temple. And tell them who sent you.† The lepers threw off their rags and praised Joshua as they backed away. They looked like perfectly normal people who just happened to be all wrapped up in tattered rags. By the time Peter and I got back to Joshua, James and John were already at his side. â€Å"I have touched those who they said were unclean,† Joshua said to the brothers. By Mosaic Law, Joshua would be unclean as well. James stepped forward and grabbed Joshua's forearm in the style of the Romans. â€Å"One of those men used to be our brother.† â€Å"Come with us,† I said, â€Å"and we will make you oarlock makers of men.† â€Å"What?† said Joshua. â€Å"That's what they were doing when we came up. Making an oarlock. Now you see how stupid that sounds?† â€Å"It's not the same.† And thus we did become nine. Philip and Nathaniel returned with enough money from the sale of the camels to feed the disciples and all of Peter's family as well, so Peter's screeching mother-in-law, who was named Esther, allowed us to stay, providing Bartholomew and the dogs slept outside. Capernaum became our base of operations and from there we would take one- or two-day trips, swinging through Galilee as Joshua preached and performed healings. The news of the coming of the kingdom spread through Galilee, and after only a few months, crowds began to gather to hear Joshua speak. We tried always to be back in Capernaum on the Sabbath so that Joshua could teach at the synagogue. It was that habit that first attracted the wrong sort of attention. A Roman soldier stopped Joshua as he was making the short walk to the synagogue on Sabbath morning. (No Jew was permitted to make a journey of more than a thousand steps from sundown Friday until sundown Saturday – all at once, that is. One way. You didn't have to add up your steps all day and just stop when you got to a thousand. There would have been Jews standing all over the place waiting for Saturday sundown if that were the case. It would have been awkward. Suddenly I'm thankful that the Pharisees never thought of that.) The Roman was no mere legionnaire, but a centurion, with the full crested helmet and eagle on his breastplate of a legion commander. He led a tall white horse that looked as if it had been bred for combat. He was old for a soldier, perhaps sixty, and his hair was completely white when he removed his helmet, but he looked strong and the wasp-waisted short sword at his waist looked dangerous. I didn't recognize him until he spoke to Joshua, in perfect, unaccented Aramaic. â€Å"Joshua of Nazareth,† the Roman said. â€Å"Do you remember me?† â€Å"Justus,† Joshua said. â€Å"From Sepphoris.† â€Å"Gaius Justus Gallicus,† said the soldier. â€Å"And I'm at Tiberius now, and no longer an under-commander. The Sixth Legion is mine. I need your help, Joshua bar Joseph of Nazareth.† â€Å"What can I do?† Joshua looked around. All of the disciples except Bartholomew and me had managed to sneak away when the Roman walked up. â€Å"I saw you make a dead man walk and talk. I've heard of the things you've done all over Galilee, the healings, the miracles. I have a servant who is sick. Tortured with palsy. He can barely breathe and I can't watch him suffer. I don't ask that you break your Sabbath by coming to Tiberius, but I believe you can heal him, even from here.† Justus dropped to his knee and kneeled in front of Joshua, something I never saw any Roman do to any Jew, before or since. â€Å"This man is my friend,† he said. Joshua touched the Roman's temple and I watched the fear drain out of the soldier's face as I had so many others. â€Å"You believe it to be, so be it,† said Joshua. â€Å"It's done. Stand up, Gaius Justus Gallicus.† The soldier smiled, then stood and looked Joshua in the eye. â€Å"I would have crucified your father to root out the killer of that soldier.† â€Å"I know,† said Joshua. â€Å"Thank you,† Justus said. The centurion put on his helmet and climbed on his horse. Then looked at me for the first time. â€Å"What happened to that pretty little heartbreaker you two were always with?† â€Å"Broke our hearts,† I said. Justus laughed. â€Å"Be careful, Joshua of Nazareth,† he said. He reined the horse around and rode away. â€Å"Go with God,† Joshua said. â€Å"Good, Josh, that's the way to show the Romans what's going to happen to them come the kingdom.† â€Å"Shut up, Biff.† â€Å"Oh, so you bluffed him. He's going to get home and his friend will still be messed up.† â€Å"Remember what I told you at the gates of Gaspar's monastery, Biff? That if someone knocked, I'd let them in?† â€Å"Ack! Parables. I hate parables.† Tiberius was only an hour's fast ride from Capernaum, so by morning word had come back from the garrison: Justus's servant had been healed. Before we had even finished our breakfast there were four Pharisees outside of Peter's house looking for Joshua. â€Å"You performed a healing on the Sabbath?† the oldest of them asked. He was white-bearded and wore his prayer shawl and phylacteries wrapped about his upper arms and forehead. (What a jamoke. Sure, we all had phylacteries, every man got them when he turned thirteen, but you pretended that they were lost after a few weeks, you didn't wear them. You might as well wear a sign that said: â€Å"Hi, I'm a pious geek.† The one he wore on his forehead was a little leather box, about the size of a fist, that held parchments inscribed with prayers and looked – well – as if someone had strapped a little leather box to his head. Need I say more?) â€Å"Nice phylacteries,† I said. The disciples laughed. Nathaniel made an excellent donkey braying noise. â€Å"You broke the Sabbath,† said the Pharisee. â€Å"I'm allowed,† said Josh. â€Å"I'm the Son of God.† â€Å"Oh fuck,† Philip said. â€Å"Way to ease them into the idea, Josh,† I said. The following Sabbath a man with a withered hand came to the synagogue while Joshua was preaching and after the sermon, while fifty Pharisees who had gathered at Capernaum just in case something like this happened looked on, Joshua told the man that his sins were forgiven, then healed the withered hand. Like vultures to carrion they came to Peter's house the next morning. â€Å"No one but God can forgive sins,† said the one they had elected as their speaker. â€Å"Really,† said Joshua. â€Å"So you can't forgive someone who sins against you?† â€Å"No one but God.† â€Å"I'll keep that in mind,† said Joshua. â€Å"Now unless you are here to hear the good news, go away.† And Joshua went into Peter's house and closed the door. The Pharisee shouted at the door, â€Å"You blaspheme, Joshua bar Joseph, you – â€Å" And I was standing there in front of him, and I know I shouldn't have done it, but I popped him. Not in the mouth or anything, but right in the phylacteries. The little leather box exploded with the impact and the strips of parchment slowly settled to the ground. I'd hit him so fast that I think he thought it was a supernatural event. A cry went up from the group behind him, protesting – shouting that I couldn't do such a thing, that I deserved stoning, scourging, et cetera, and my Buddhist tolerance just wore a little thin. So I popped him again. In the nose. This time he went down. Two of his pals caught him, and another one at the front of the crowd started to reach into his sash for something. I knew that they could quickly overrun me if they wanted to, but I didn't think they would. The cowards. I grabbed the man who was pulling the knife, twisted it away from him, shoved the iron blade between the stones of Peter's house and snapped it off, then handed the hilt back to him. â€Å"Go away,† I said to him, very softly. He went away, and all of his pals went with him. I went inside to see how Joshua and the others were getting along. â€Å"You know, Josh,† I said. â€Å"I think it's time to expand the ministry. You have a lot of followers here. Maybe we should go to the other side of the lake. Out of Galilee for a while.† â€Å"Preach to the gentiles?† Nathaniel asked. â€Å"He's right,† said Joshua. â€Å"Biff is right.† â€Å"So it shall be written,† I said. James and John only owned one ship that was large enough to hold all of us and Bartholomew's dogs, and it was anchored at Magdala, two hours' walk south of Capernaum, so we made the trip very early one morning to avoid being stopped in the villages on the way. Joshua had decided to take the good news to the gentiles, so we were going to go across the lake to the town of Gadarene in the state of Decapolis. They kept gentiles there. As we waited on the shore at Magdala, a crowd of women who had come to the lake to wash clothes gathered around Joshua and begged him to tell them of the kingdom. I noticed a young tax collector who was sitting nearby at his table in the shade of a reed umbrella. He was listening to Joshua, but I could also see his eyes following the behinds of the women. I sidled over. â€Å"He's amazing, isn't he?† I said. â€Å"Yes. Amazing,† said the tax collector. He was perhaps twenty, thin, with soft brown hair, a light beard, and light brown eyes. â€Å"What's your name, publican?† â€Å"Matthew,† he said. â€Å"Son of Alphaeus.† â€Å"No kidding, that's my father's name too. Look, Matthew, I assume you can read, write, things like that?† â€Å"Oh yes.† â€Å"You're not married, are you?† â€Å"No, I was betrothed, but before the wedding was to happen, her parents let her marry a rich widower.† â€Å"Sad. You're probably heartbroken. That's sad. You see those women? There's women like that all the time around Joshua. And here's the best part, he's celibate. He doesn't want any of them. He's just interested in saving mankind and bringing the kingdom of God to earth, which we all are, of course. But the women, well, I think you can see.† â€Å"That must be wonderful.† â€Å"Yeah, it's swell. We're going to Decapolis. Why don't you come with us?† â€Å"I couldn't. I've been entrusted to collect taxes for this whole coast.† â€Å"He's the Messiah, Matthew. The Messiah. Think of it. You, and the Messiah.† â€Å"I don't know.† â€Å"Women. The kingdom. You heard about him turning water into wine.† â€Å"I really have to – â€Å" â€Å"Have you ever tasted bacon, Matthew?† â€Å"Bacon? Isn't that from pigs? Unclean?† â€Å"Joshua's the Messiah, the Messiah says it's okay. It's the best thing you've ever eaten, Matthew. Women love it. We eat bacon every morning, with the women. Really.† â€Å"I'll need to finish up here,† Matthew said. â€Å"You do that. Here, I'd like you to mark something for me,† I looked over his shoulder at his ledger and pointed to a few names. â€Å"Meet us at the ship when you're ready, Matthew.† I went back over to the shore, where James and John had pulled the ship in close enough for us to wade out to. Joshua finished up blessing the women and sent them back to their laundry with a parable about stains. â€Å"Gentlemen,† I called. â€Å"Excuse me, James, John, you too Peter, Andrew. You will not need to worry about your taxes this season. They've been taken care of.† â€Å"What?† said Peter. â€Å"Where did you get the money – â€Å" I turned and waved toward Matthew, who was running toward the shore. â€Å"This good fellow is the publican Matthew. He's here to join us.† Matthew ran up beside me and stood grinning like an idiot while trying to catch his breath. â€Å"Hey,† he said, waving weakly to the disciples. â€Å"Welcome, Matthew,† Joshua said. â€Å"All are welcome in the kingdom.† Joshua shook his head, turned, and waded out to the ship. â€Å"He loves you, kid,† I said. â€Å"Loves you.† Thus we did become ten. Joshua fell asleep on a pile of nets with Peter's wide straw fishing hat over his face. Before I settled down to be rocked to sleep myself, I sent Philip to the back of the boat to explain the kingdom and the Holy Ghost to Matthew. (I figured that Philip's acumen with numbers might help out when talking to a tax collector.) The two sets of brothers sailed the ship, which was wide of beam and small of sail and very, very slow. About halfway across the lake I heard Peter say, â€Å"I don't like it. It looks like a tempest.† I sat bolt upright and looked at the sky, and indeed, there were black clouds coming over the hills to the east, low and fast, clawing at the trees with lightning as they passed. Before I had a chance to sit up, a wave broke over the shallow gunwale and soaked me to the core. â€Å"I don't like this, we should go back,† said Peter, as a curtain of rain whipped across us. â€Å"The ship's too full and the draft too shallow to weather a storm.† â€Å"Not good. Not good. Not good,† chanted Nathaniel. Bartholomew's dogs barked and howled at the wind. James and Andrew trimmed the sail and put the oars in the water. Peter moved to the stern to help John with the long steering oar. Another wave broke over the gunwale, washing away one of Bartholomew's disciples, a mangy terrier type. Water was mid-shin deep in the bottom of the boat. I grabbed a bucket and began bailing and signaled Philip to help, but he had succumbed to the most rapid case of seasickness I had ever even heard of and was retching over the side. Lightning struck the mast, turning everything a phosphorus white. The explosion was instant and left my ears ringing. One of Joshua's sandals floated by me in the bottom of the boat. â€Å"We're doomed!† wailed Bart. â€Å"Doomed!† Joshua pushed the fishing hat back on his head and looked at the chaos around him. â€Å"O ye of little faith,† he said. He waved his hand across the sky and the storm stopped. Just like that. Black clouds were sucked back over the hills, the water settled to a gentle swell, and the sun shone down bright and hot enough to raise steam off our clothes. I reached over the side and snatched the swimming doggy out of the waves. Joshua had laid back down with the hat over his face. â€Å"Is the new kid looking?† he whispered to me. â€Å"Yeah,† I said. â€Å"He impressed?† â€Å"His mouth is hanging open. He looks sort of stricken.† â€Å"Great. Wake me when we get there.† I woke him a little before we reached Gadarene because there was a huge madman waiting for us on the shore, foaming at the mouth, screaming, throwing rocks, and eating the occasional handful of dirt. â€Å"Hold up there, Peter,† I said. The sails were down again and we were rowing in. â€Å"I should wake the master,† said Peter. â€Å"No, it's okay, I have the stop-for-foaming-madmen authority.† Nevertheless, I kicked the Messiah gently. â€Å"Josh, you might want to take a look at this guy.† â€Å"Look, Peter,† said Andrew, pointing to the madman, â€Å"he has hair just like yours.† Joshua sat up, pushed back Peter's hat and glanced to the shore. â€Å"Onward,† he said. â€Å"You sure?† Rocks were starting to land in the boat. â€Å"Oh yeah,† said Joshua. â€Å"He's very large,† said Matthew, clarifying the already clear. â€Å"And mad,† said Nathaniel, not to be outdone in stating the obvious. â€Å"He is suffering,† said Joshua. â€Å"Onward.† A rock as big as my head thudded into the mast and bounced into the water. â€Å"I'll rip your legs off and kick you in the head as you crawl around bleeding to death,† said the madman. â€Å"Sure you don't want to swim in from here?† Peter said, dodging a rock. â€Å"Nice refreshing swim after a nap?† said James. Matthew stood up in the back of the boat and cleared his throat. â€Å"What is one tormented man compared to the calming of a storm? Were you all in the same boat I was?† â€Å"Onward,† Peter said, and onward we went, the big boat full of Joshua and Matthew and the eight faithless pieces of shit that were the rest of us. Joshua was out of the boat as soon as we hit the beach. He walked straight up to the madman, who looked as if he could crush the Messiah's head in one of his hands. Filthy rags hung in tatters on him and his teeth were broken and bleeding from eating dirt. His face contorted and bubbled as if there were great worms under the skin searching for an escape. His hair was wild and stuck out in a great grayish tangle, and it did sort of look like Peter's hair. â€Å"Have mercy on me,† said the madman. His voice buzzed in his throat like a chorus of locusts. I slid out of the boat and the others followed me quietly up behind Joshua. â€Å"What is your name, Demon?† Joshua asked. â€Å"What would you like it to be?† said the demon. â€Å"You know, I've always been partial to the name Harvey,† Joshua said. â€Å"Well, isn't that a coincidence?† said the demon. â€Å"My name just happens to be Harvey.† â€Å"You're just messing with me, aren't you?† said Josh. â€Å"Yeah, I am,† said the demon, busted. â€Å"My name is Legion, for there are a bunch of us in here.† â€Å"Out, Legion,† Joshua commanded. â€Å"Out of this big guy.† There was a herd of pigs nearby, doing piggy things. (I don't know what they were doing. I'm a Jew, what do I know from pigs, except that I like bacon?) A great green glow came out of Legion's mouth, whipped through the air like smoke, then came down on the heard of pigs like a cloud. In a second it was sucked into the pigs' nostrils and they began foaming and making locust noises. â€Å"Be gone,† said Joshua. With that the pigs all ran into the sea, sucked huge lungfuls of water, and after only a little kicking, drowned. Perhaps fifty dead pigs bobbed in the swell. â€Å"How can I thank you?† said the big foaming guy, who had stopped foaming, but was still big. â€Å"Tell the people of your land what has happened,† Joshua said. â€Å"Tell them the Son of God has come to bring them the good news of the Holy Ghost.† â€Å"Clean up a little before you tell them,† I said. And off he went, a lumbering monster, bigger even than our own Bartholomew, and smelling worse, which I hadn't thought possible. We sat down on the beach and were sharing some bread and wine when we heard the crowd approaching through the hills. â€Å"The good news travels quickly,† said Matthew, whose fresh-faced enthusiasm was starting to irritate me a little now. â€Å"Who killed our pigs?† The crowd was carrying rakes and pitchforks and scythes and they didn't look at all like they were there to receive the Gospel. â€Å"You fuckers!† â€Å"Kill them!† â€Å"In the boat,† said Josh. â€Å"O ye of little – † Matthew's comment was cut short by Bart grabbing him by the collar and dragging him down the beach to the boat. The brothers had already pushed off and were up to their chests in the water. They pulled themselves in and James and John helped set the oars as Peter and Andrew pulled us into the boat. We fished Bart's disciples out of the waves by the scruffs of their necks and set sail just as the rocks began to rain down on us. We all looked at Joshua. â€Å"What?† he said. â€Å"If they'd been Jews that pig thing would have gone over great. I'm new at gentiles.† There was a messenger waiting for us when we reached Magdala. Philip unrolled the scroll and read. â€Å"It's an invitation to come to dinner in Bethany during Passover week, Joshua. A ranking member of the Sanhedrin requests your presence at dinner at his home to discuss your wonderful ministry. It's signed Jakan bar Iban ish Nazareth.† Maggie's husband. The creep. I said, â€Å"Good first day, huh, Matthew?†

How Great Companies Think Differently Essay

This article highlights principles that leading companies employ to differentiate them from other companies that focus only on profits. These leading companies attempt to transcend the short-term bottom line mentality and aim at social involvement that will produce longevity and sustained profits over the long haul. Part of making money in the long term is longevity, and the way to longevity is to build an â€Å"enduring institution†. This is done through being more socially conscious and planning for better quality of life for employees including a healthy work life balance, and to provide a meaningful life purpose for workers that build people and society. The point is to remain financially viable for the long term because that’s the best way to serve society, the employees, and consumers. Key Takeaways 1. Businesses must invest in employee empowerment and engagement, and must adopt the attitude that employees are interested in more than just a paycheck. Companies must balance public interests with financial concerns, and attempt to improve the lives of consumers. Viewing the company as a societal institution and communicating a common purpose provides an identity for employees and helps protect against uncertainty. A larger purpose and vision inspires employees to think bigger and beyond the four walls of the company. 2. Business should have a clear, long term focus on a higher purpose than just financial achievement. This is achieved by investing in â€Å"the human side† of the organization. Listening to the interests of employees and possibly offering opportunities to pursue those under a sort of corporate sponsorship. Doing so should lead to deeper emotional connections to the company, which again supports longevity. 3. Moods are contagious. Moods can transmit institutional values, inspiring positive emotions about the company. It is therefore vital that leadership model the behavior that supports the long term corporate/social vision. If values are clear and well understood, they can be appealing to employees. Having employees who are emotionally engaged with the values gives them a sense of purpose greater than corporate goals, and feeds longevity because employees are bought in to the corporate values rather than a personality. 4. Globalization detaches the company from a single specific society. The global markets require purpose and vision that goes beyond a single company or societal group. This is positive because it feeds innovation and cultural sensitivity to the markets the company serves.

Online Shopping Motivation Essay Example

Online Shopping Motivation Essay Example Online Shopping Motivation Essay Example Online Shopping Motivation Essay Example One of the effects of globalization is the advancement that has been realized in information technology. As a result, business organizations and firms have changed their approach to the markets. The performances of activities that direct the flow of goods and services from manufacturers to their customers have taken another course. The Internet revolution has provided a lot of information resources along with other services that were difficult to reach (Fenech O’Cass 2001, pp. 361-381). At the click of a mouse button, people can get access to the information they want on different topics and items. The Internet has played a major role in online marketing and shopping. Shopping online is a very common trend in the contemporary society and in modern times as it runs all through the day and during the night covering all types of products and services. Establishing the Motivation Factors to Purchase in the Online Shopping There are quite a number of factors that have facilitated online shopping experience. Along with the access to the international market arena, it provides a flexibility level that cannot be equated to a conventional shopping approach (Sorce, Perotti Widrick 2005, pp.122-132). The speed of doing business has also been revolutionized through online shopping. Such kind of motivations have enabled business organizations to establish the new methods of understanding the behavior of online shopping for the purposes of attracting and retaining customers. Due to this, a lot of research has been conducted concerning interactions on websites along with language, presentation, structure, accessibility, navigation, marketing and security factors. When customers are not in a position to navigate all over the website to get a product they need or not in a position to get secure transactions, they are uncertain to buy from the website or even consider repeating purchases. Despite the fast growth realized in online shopping and the ever increasing users of the Internet facilities, the factors that have contributed to decisions of online shopping are still not fully established. The factors of brand and quality, price and product image all contributed at different levels as vital elements in the decision being taken by customers when making online shopping. Additionally, online purchasing at present does not have tangible evaluative plan like a tactile input regarded as a crucial element while assessing various products. There is a proof in research that tactile input affects the evaluation of products particularly for the ones that need a lot more tactile input (Shang, Chen Shen 2005, pp. 401-413; Teo 2001, pp. 125–137). There is still more development needed to include tactile interaction which is as of now, in an immature state. This is believed to have a big influence in the manner in which online buyers make their decisions. Therefore, the current research will look into the factors that have motivated online shopping amongst customers in different settings. Aim and Objectives of the Study The aim of this study is to explore the motivational factors to purchase in the online shopping and to effectively tackle this topic of study, this research will be governed by the following objectives: To define online shopping and related terms. To discuss the concept of online shopping and customer experience. To discuss the benefits and challenges of online shopping. To describe the current marketing development through online shopping. To identify customers’ perceptions and motivational factors on online shopping. Literature Review Engaging buyers in doing shopping online on websites needs the factors that would prompt them to do so. Online shopping has not been fully adopted by many people and is not yet fully exploited. A lot of studies have been involved in establishing the behaviors and attitudes held by customers in the recent past pointing at the factors that influence the decisions (Barkhi Wallace 2007, pp. 313-330; Bhatnagar, Misra and Rao 2000, pp. 98-105; Chiu, Lin Tang, 2005, pp. 416-435; Dholakia Uusitalo, 2002, pp. 459-469; Kim, Kim, Park 2010, pp. 1208-1222). The factors that motivate customers to make decisions of shopping online are still not yet established. Such factors considered to be influential: Internet experience, demographics, shopping orientation, personal traits, normative beliefs, psychological perception, online experience in shopping, and shopping motivation. Consumer behavior towards online shopping should be understood in order to establish an effective relationship between the retailer and the customer. Various concerns and values affecting purchase and search intentions of buyers and building an integrated model could help in explaining the reasons why customers buy items online. An integrated motivation model and factors of concern about online shopping has been established to test the cause and effect of the variables (Chang, Cheung Lai 2005, pp. 543-559). The intentions of the customers to search online and purchase from such platforms have not been without reasons. The intention to search directly influences the intentions of purchase. The utilitarian value of a product does not have a major impact on the intention of search although it does have a significant influence on the intention of shopping online. Security stemming out of concern factors has a big influence on both the purchase and search intentions. However, there is no influence for privacy (Citrin, Sprott, Silverman Stem 2000, pp. 294-300). The popularity of online shopping has mainly been facilitated through the technology advancement and particularly through the use of Internet (Chen Tan, 2004, pp. 74-86). Among the most common Internet activities, online shopping is one apart from emails and browsing the websites. The quick development of information and computer technologies all through consumer and business communities has led to drastic changes (Foucault Scheufele 2002, pp. 409-423; Joines, Scherer Scheufele 2003, pp. 90–108). Internet application for the behavior of purchasing is a significant change in the manner in which sellers and buyers interact. Online shopping is common among young people although the trend has been growing and almost including everybody with Internet knowledge and accessibility. Online shopping has significantly increased (Chiu, Lin Tang 2005, pp. 416-435). Additionally, it has generated a lot of interest amongst business researchers. The impact of the main motivating factors of Internet shopping on the intentions of the consumers has been a very important area of study. Others have included the concern and motivation factors towards shopping via Internet and the effects of hedonic and utilitarian online purchasing value on the intentions and preferences of consumers (Dholakia Uusitalo 2002, pp. 459-469). The willingness of consumers to use the online shopping has been largely attributed to security and privacy based on a model that is technologically acceptable (Huang Oppewal 2006, pp. 334-353). Therefore, the perceptions of security and privacy towards online shopping are highly important for all cons umers. Internet usage amongst the young age groups especially those below 34 has introduced potential buyers for shopping online in many parts of the world (Sorce, Perotti Widrick 2005, pp.122-132). The predisposition that many people belong to that specific age group makes it important to establish the intentions of buying online (Boyer and Hult 2006, p. 124-147). There has been a noteworthy potential for shopping online, however, information related to the concerns and motivation by the shoppers is not available. Explorations are being made in order to establish these concern and motivation factors to offer important information for those doing marketing via online platforms and again for further research (Kim, Kim Park 2010, pp. 1208–1222). Online shopping entirely defines the tendency of buying products or getting services through the Internet. There are different reasons why people go shopping. It is not only about getting the product, but also how and where to get it (Zhou, Dai Zhang 2007, pp. 41-62). These are what are generally called motivations of shopping. The concern factors of safety and security have hindered many potential online shoppers from using their cards and personal information since they have concerns that the information could be used for malicious purposes. Privacy and security are key factors for online shoppers before they can adopt electronic commerce (e-commerce). The ability to shop online is a very significant factor of concern before consumers can engage in online shopping so the experiences with Internet and the rate of purchases are directly related to the ability to shop online. The utilitarian motivation is task-linked, logical and pertinent to closely as to whether or not the product acquisition will be accomplished (To, Liao Lin 2007, pp. 774–787). Based on this perception, customers have concerns about buying products in a manner that is efficient and timely to achieve their objectives and goals without irritation (Mathwick, Malhotra and Rigdon 2001, pp. 39-56). Utilitarian value is thus an overall evaluation of the functional sacrifices and benefits. The value takes place when buyers get their products with using much effort. For online shopping, utilitarian value is categorized based on selection, cost saving, convenience, the absence of sociality and customized services or products and information availability (Teo Yu 2005, pp. 451-65). On the other side, hedonic value refers to the general evaluation of experiential sacrifices and benefits like escapism and entertainment (To, Liao Lin 2007, pp. 774–787). Customers normally take shopp ing as an activity more than just being a task that needs to be accomplished (Vijayasarathy 2004, pp. 747–762). The value of hedonic shopping is seen as entertainment offered through activities of shopping. Online shopping hedonic value is thus categorized as an exploration/adventure, value, social idea, and status and having authority. This study will use a mixed methods strategy that will involve qualitative and quantitative approaches (Axinn Pearce 2006, pp. 23-45). In a study of this kind, it is imperative to enhance the reliability and validity of data collected. The data needed for this study will match well with a mixed methods approach that will provide an opportunity to integrate the data between the different methods. This is indeed a good way of getting credibility and reliability concerning the data sourced from the respondents. The mixed methods approaches will assist in establishing the cause and the effect of the study topic. This is a social research for the reason that it is based on issues connected to human behavior. The credibility of social research is thus increased through a mixed methods approach (Creswell 2003, pp. 11-17). Through the use of this approach, replication of data will not be realized in the process of doing research. It will also eliminate non-sampling error through the use of various sources. It will therefore be easy to get rid of redundant information which is an important step in the data collection. Additionally, this approach will make it possible to capture data which would otherwise not be done with the use of one study approach. The process of collecting data is very useful in dealing with the weaknesses that may arise through a single-approach. This study will employ probability sampling to select the sample needed for this study from the target online population as probability sampling is the most thorough type of sampling in quantitative studies (Saunders, Lewis Thornhill 2009, pp. 43-67). This will be used for the quantitative approach. Moreover, it is important to make sure that customers shopping online are represented based on age, gender and geographical location. Therefore, stratified sampling will be used as an important aspect in attaining this. Industrial or Commercial Research Contacts Statistical techniques as applied in random sampling will be used to select from the participants from online social platforms like Facebook and from friends and relatives who will help in making referrals to get enough participants for the study. A total of 20 participants will be targeted in this study. This chosen sample will be given scaled interviews in the form of questionnaires that will help in collecting important data to make comparisons before conclusions are made. Data Collection Questionnaires will be structured in a way that the research questions included will elicit useful responses from the respondents. These questions will be factual, projective and based on opinion and attitude as well as easy to post and disseminate to the respondents directly (Creswell 2003, pp. 11-17). They are also easy to collect. Additionally, statistical tools will be utilized in the study process for the purposes of assessing the responses derived from the filled-in questionnaires. Ethical Considerations Making sure that respondents are aware of what the study entails will be a crucial step in collecting data (Saunders, Lewis Thornhill 2009, pp. 43-67). Therefore, the respondents will be advised on the nature that will be taken by the study, any possible risks and the benefits realized through their participation. The targeted participants will also have a right to reject a request made to them to take part in the study before they can sign the informed consent form required. All this information will be provided through writing to the targeted respondents. The nature of the study will not be taken lightly and therefore, matters will be kept confidential. This is believed to increase a lot more positive responses from the study and a high probability of participation by the respondents. This communication will also be made by writing to the esteemed participants. Survey forms will be coded in a numerical way and will not have any information linked to any individual participant. The forms pertinent to ethical considerations will be kept in safe place to be an evidence that the participants were not coerced into the study. Data Analysis Descriptive statistics will be used to analyze the data collected As well as different mathematical and statistical tools will be applied. These tools are largely used to help in data representation, delineating how it correlates and in making informed conclusions concerning the topic. The effective data analysis will be ensured through data summarization and classification based on the inherent relationships (Creswell 2003, pp. 11-17). This way, the data will be transformed into forms that are clear like charts and graphs that will present an opportunity to make inferences, recommendations and informed conclusions. Qualitative analysis of the data will be conducted by taking the responses and getting familiar with them. Words capturing main concepts and ideas will be highlighted and assigned codes. These codes will be used as units of analysis. Codes that match will be combined in a number of categories where they fit and hence given labels to help in establishing the definitions for the categories and the themes. These categories will be grouped into different themes which will be constantly reviewed and compared to the issues that have been highlighted: online shopping, motivational factors and marketing outcomes. Limitations of the Study This research seeks to gather data by the way of using a standardized instrument of survey as one of its options in the mixed method approach. In such an analysis of data collected, the focus on online shopping has its own limitations;the online shopping theme is a subject that needs interpretation. There is a chance that some participants may cover up some important aspects of online shopping and exaggerate on some issues. This could therefore amount to a limited perspective on the topic under study especially concerning the motivational factors to online shopping. Again, a lot of time will be required to analyze the large volumes of the collected data especially through the qualitative section of the study.

lotf essays

lotf essays William Golding has portrayed the characters from the beginning into very different people as the book has gone on. In particular, there have been major contrasts between the character and major changes within the characteristics after each chapter, especially involving Jack, Ralph and Simon. Chapter 1 is the basic introduction to the main characters, meeting each other on the island for the first time and how they have learnt to cope without the supervision of the adults. The first two characters to meet are Piggy and Ralph and due to the descriptive characteristics of the two characters there are already signs that the two of them are completely different people. Piggy is definitely the more reserved and disabled of the two as it says on p.13: My auntie told me not to run, On account of my asthma. Ass-mar? This shows that Piggy probably has a better education than Ralph and that Ralph hadnt been taught as well. P.15 also shows that Ralph is probably a lot more confident kinaesthetically and this can be seen in one incident where it says: He undid the snake clasp of his belt, lugged off his shorts and pants, and stood there naked, looking at the dazzling beach and the water. This suggests that Ralph is showing signs that he is enjoying the idea of freedom, now that there are no rules applied. Piggy being the more intelligent however manages to find the other boys on the island when he tells Ralph that he might able to find the others by blowing the conch. In doing this 4 other characters appear on the scene, Jack and his choir, Sam, Eric and Simon. There is a lot of friction between Ralph and Jack due to the fact that Jack already is leader of his own group and now that all the other children have been found Ralph as been made overall chief on the island. This is displeasing to Jack; however, Ralph tries to show he wants a mutual friendship and says on p.31, The choir belongs to ...

How Buffer Achieves Continuous Growth Through Content Marketing

How Buffer Achieves Continuous Growth Through Content Marketing In the world of content marketing, there are few startups out there that have it more figured out than Buffer. With an average of 1900 shares per post, they have to be doing something right. For Buffer, though, content marketing is more than a mere marketing tactic – its a channel for growth. In fact, its their primary channel for growth. In the early days of Buffer, co-founder Leo Widrich was known for conducting  an  aggressive guest blogging campaign as a way to stimulate early growth. It worked, and now Buffer has a dedicated team of two carrying the torch forward. We caught up with Content Crafter Kevan Lee to see if we could learn more about the secrets to Buffers success. 1. Tell us about yourself. Why did you start  doing content marketing? I have the privilege of creating content for Buffer. My daily duties include writing helpful blog posts about social media and productivity, sending emails to our awesome customers, and sharing updates on the Buffer social media accounts. I’ve been writing in one form or another ever since I can remember. My journey took me to journalism school, traditional marketing, and then content marketing. I’ve been blogging, sharing, and creating online for the past eight years. 2. How big is your content marketing team? We’re fortunate at Buffer to have a team of 26 who can all write amazing stories and create awesome content. Our content marketing team of two – me and Courtney, our head of content marketing – love being able to lean on others for help as we fill our calendars with content and stories. On a day-to-day basis, the two of us take the majority of the content tasks, with helpful advice from Leo, our co-founder and the original voice on the blog. 3. What has been the most noticeable effect for Buffer from content marketing? Early on, we gained all of our new customers from content marketing. I believe it was right near 100 percent of new users who arrived via the content marketing tactics that Leo employed–guest blogging being one of the main routes. 4. What is the biggest challenge you have when it comes to your team’s workflow, communication, and content creation? Our challenge is one I love havingthere are so many different things we want to do and just not enough time to do them all! As as a team of two, we’ve chosen to focus on the aspects that have the biggest impact on our goals. As the team grows, we’d love to explore some additional avenues for content. 5. Do you set specific goals as far as to what your content marketing would look like, and what kind of measurable results you’d get? We’ve tried to identify the biggest opportunities for growth in our metrics, e.g. low traffic and high conversion where we can see great growth by bumping up the traffic side. Specifically, we’ve put a lot of emphasis on email marketing. Since making this a goal, we’ve seen great growth in this regard, doubling our signups month-over-month this summer. We’ve put an emphasis on email marketing. Since making this a goal, we’ve seen great growth6. What were you hoping would happen once you began content marketing? When I began content marketing, I was simply hoping to have an outlet to write, to help others, and to share online. I think all of those wishes have been fulfilled, and more. I think the element that took the longest to happen was feeling that I was helping others, simply because it takes a bit of an audience to get to that point. From day one at Buffer, I was so encouraged by the response and the feeling of helpfulness that comes with the Buffer blog. 7. What changes have you noticed in content marketing over the past year or so? We’ve noticed a big push toward visual content. On the Buffer blog, we’ve tried to stay ahead of the curve in this regard by creating an original image for every post we publish. It’s interesting to note that as we’re seeking stories to share via Buffer’s content suggestions, the ones with image stand out well above those without. Visual content is so much easier to share. We’ve noticed a big push toward visual content. Visual content is so much easier to share.8.What changes and trends do you think will occur in content marketing in the upcoming year? I expect marketers will continue to find new avenues to deliver their content. Visuals have been a huge step forward. Maybe the next will be SlideShare or micro-videos or snippets. Or maybe it will swing the other way where the longform, in-depth posts will be the ones that get the most attention. It seems that as content permeates the web that consumers are interested in separating the signal from the noise. That’s one area where I’m particularly interested to push forward. 9. What are the most common mistakes you see people making when it comes to content marketing? It might sound cliche, but I think that one of the most important reminders for content creators is to be helpful.  And this extends to the motivation behind a piece of content: Is it designed or written to help others or is it designed and written to bring in traffic or make a sale? You can tell the type of content that is based on the latter. Interestingly enough, content that is helpful will end up meeting the other goals, too.

Policies and Procedures Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Policies and Procedures Summary - Essay Example The policy of operational issues is essential for the control of harmful wastes, which helps in the conservation of the environment and the community. The management policy establishes the criteria for making requisitions, payment methods and the departments concerned in the transactions (OBrien, 2009). The purchasing policy enables a company to have an organized system that determines the supplier requirements, objectives and product quality (OBrien, 2009). The other significant purchasing policy category is the supplier’s duty for substandard supplies, which spells out the procedures to be taken in case of wrong shipment or contents. The basic procedural areas of procurement comprise of the purchasing cycle, correct application of purchasing forms and the development of authorized agreements. The purchasing cycle procedure describes the details of the procurement that employees must observe when contacting suppliers (Monczka, 2009). Procurement involves documentation and this requires the use of the correct forms for every purchase made. The forms offer the correct description of supplies needed and the quantity. This should include the vital information that the suppliers need to know about the requisition and the prices tagged for each commodity. The other procedural area is the establishment of legal intentions between the supplier and the buyer (Monczka, 2009). The legality of the transaction eliminates breach of agreement and fraud that might arise during the shipment period. The payment mode is another procedural area that must be addressed when dealing with procurement. This is because it signals the term ination of a transaction and helps to establish a positive working between the parties. The e-supply chain (e-SCM) is an optimization of business practices and rate in every aspect of an organization. This is because it uses the internet and web-technology to manage the supply of commodities. The e-supply

Solow Growth Model Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Solow Growth Model - Essay Example Solow Growth Model is a standard neoclassical model of economic growth developed by Robert Solow. This model holds that economic growth is linked to capital accumulation and the population growth (Zhuang and St Juliana, 2010, p. 65). Solow growth model postulates that under equilibrium, the level of per capita income is determined by prevailing technology, rates of saving, rate of population growth and technical progress all which are assumed exogenous (Barossi-Filho, 2005, p. 37). Given that the rates of population growth and levels of saving are varying across countries, the model gives testable predictions on assessing how the two can influence economic growth of countries. Solow model has been criticized by different theorists given the assumptions made by this theory. This paper will explain the impacts of both population growth and increase in the saving rates upon economic growth. Moreover, the paper will explain how Solow model accounts for technological progress and assess w hether Romer model improves on this. Impact of both population growth and an increase in the savings rate upon economic growth Increased production of goods and services leads to economic growth. In the light of this statement, any country that desires to achieve economic growth must have optimal factors of production (Song, 2009, p. 7). The factors of production include capital, labor, technology, land and entrepreneur. When these factors are optimized economic growth of the country will be positive. Solow growth model predicts that economic growth results from accumulation of capital and population growth rate (Zhuang and St Juliana, 2010, p. 65). Moreover, the model starts by making an assumption of capital accumulation is subject to diminishing returns (Stein, 2007, p. 193). Solow model argues that developing countries with low capital stock can achieve higher economic growth compared to developed countries by increasing their savings and investment rates. Solow model postulates that increased rates of savings leads to capital accumulation. The theory behind increased savings resulting in capital accumulation is that higher savings leads increased amount of funds that can be offered as credit for capital investment. Consequently, this borrowed capital will be invested in the production industry and therefore the gross domestic products will be higher (Song, 2009, p. 9). Investment is required for the development of infrastructure required for production. However, Liu and Guo (2002, p. 25) argues that economic growth of a country depends on its ability to deploy the savings to finance capital investment. In the Solow model, the second factor identified to influence economic growth of a country is its population growth. Population provides an important factor of production; labor and consequently as population grows it adds to the available labor it contributes to economic growth of any country. However, given the rule of diminishing returns on factors of pr oduction it is necessary to strike equilibrium between the labor and other factors of production (Song, 2009, p. 10). The combined effect of impact of increased rates of saving and population growth can be understood using the Solow model. This model offers testable predictions since these two factors are different across nations. Song (2009, p. 9) argues that countries having high saving levels usually have higher per capita incomes while those experiencing high population growth have lower per capita inco

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Assignment Example There are certain numbers of characteristics that are involved with the effectiveness of entrepreneurs, such as self confidence, sense of ownership, continuous learning skills, communication abilities, goal and system oriented cognitive skills, and dedication towards the objectives with an optimistic point of view among others. According to the concept of Peter Drucker, entrepreneur can be regarded as the person who essentially looks for changes and attempts taking appropriate actions on it developing those changes as a prospect of growth and success (Marks and Hunter, 2011). Among the various notable entrepreneurs of this era, Lord Alan Sugar has been one. Born in the not so famed East London, he rose up to the occasion to be a member at House of Commons and to hold 89th place in Sunday Times Rich List of 2011. Amstrad has been his most successful venture. The paper on entrepreneurship should also mention about the Virgin group Chairman Richard Brasnon, the 4th richest person of UK. Virgin Megastores, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Virgin Mobile and the expanded Virgin Records are few of his successful ventures. 1.2. Critically Evaluate Entrepreneurialism as an Agent of Change in Both Public and Private Health and Social Care Sector. In the modern day context of healthcare and social organizations, the entrepreneurs are highly inclined towards gaining increased revenue or profit for the organization. However, social enterprises, now-a-days, entail with certain significant attributes related to the governmental public policies. The enterprises of the globalised world focusing on a developed entrepreneurship are different from traditional and socio-economic approaches which motivated the European countries to adopt developed legal frameworks. The contemporary scenario of the healthcare organizations is highly required to be conscious with regards to the environmental changes and implement suitable plans and strategies for the organization concentrated on its social be nefits. Significant plans along with the appropriate strategies are more effective for the organization to put up internal strengths along with external opportunities taking into account the surmounting peripheral threats as well as interior weaknesses possessed by the concern. For instance, in the context of health and social care divisions of UK, it has been observed that the current circumstances have perpetually increased the requirements for more efficient and cost control strategies. The reasons behind such inclination relate with the reduction in government’s financial support to the sector, involvement of private firms as well as expansion of National Health Service (NHS) (Department of Health, 2009). Therefore, in the modern phenomenon, the UK based healthcare organisations within the private sector as well as public sector continue to strive for achieving the competitive advantages through cost-limitation and growth sustainability. The strategic decisions are the cr ucial factors which can encompass a long term effect on the prospects of an organization with regards to its utilization of the resources,

How does ideology shape the way we think Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

How does ideology shape the way we think - Essay Example Adorno was a formidable and shrewd dialectician. A considerable amount of his hypothetical work centered on and emphasized the manifest tensions that exist intrinsically within dealings between opposites (Horkheimer and Adorno 2007). In Adornos comprehensive idea of a premise of the social, these dialectical associations function on different levels, and also with each other. Adorno’s Views on Capitalism. Adorno stated that capitalism provided people with the goods from a culture industry, which he viewed as being the opposite of proper art, to keep them passively contented and politically lethargic. Adorno observed that capitalism had not become more unstable or come close to collapsing, as Marx had forecasted. Rather, it had apparently grown to be more well-established. Where Marx had concentrated on economics Adorno stressed on the function of culture in preserving the status quo. Adorno stated that culture industries are constantly providing an artificial collection of sentimental and unsophisticated products that then substitute the more intricate and significant art forms which have the capacity to compel people to actually challenge the existing social life (Horkheimer and Adorno 2007). The desire for false, artificial, or unimportant needs is nurtured in people by most culture industries. These are wants and requirements that can be realized by the capitalist structure, and which substitute peoples real desires such as authentic creative happiness, freedom, and the uninhibited expression of human creativity and potential. Commodity fetishism, Adorno stressed, is encouraged by media and advertising enterprises. They are the existing proof that cultural experiences as well as social relations have been objectified for the sake of realizing profits. Consumers today measure the value of a product or service by their cost. Music products as well as popular media are also typified by pseudo-individualisation and

The Voice of Marvin Puryear Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Voice of Marvin Puryear - Essay Example Puryear draws on his direct experiences. He has a fascination with music and archery. His way of expressing those interests was not to try to sport, but to create the object of the sport itself. For example, he notes â€Å"If I became interested in archery, I made the bows and arrows; if I became interested in music, I made the guitar" (Benezra 140). Again, this statement by Puryear reinforces the premise that his sculptures are not the result of hard line education. If they were, then he would have mastered playing the instrument or the sport of archery rather than creating his own original vessel. The deception that can only be called Puryear is his ability to take the simple concept (Such as the Old Mole) and craft a vision without all of the trendy accoutrements that we see so often in modern art today. This too is the result of his emotional reaction to that which he experienced, rather than the formal education he received. Another example of what I view as a reactive piece is â€Å"Untitled†. The body of the object is open, free and seemingly transparent. However the face of the object appears to have the expression of recovering from a horrid event, yet knowing that there is still more. Simply stated, the face is heavy, as if carrying some sort of burden, while the body is completely unaffected. This too demonstrates pure emotion. As the saying goes â€Å"I can tell by your face something is wrong.† In conclusion, a review of Marvin Puryear’s pieces, demonstrate that interpretation can be found in emotion.

History 8UT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

History 8UT - Essay Example One of the policies was measures taken to revive the collapsing banking industry. President Roosevelt introduced a banking holiday, as well as Emergency Banking Relief bill, which sought to give assistance to private bankers so that they can revitalize their businesses. This measure resulted to an increase in bank deposits by the Americans at the time, who had withdrawn all their savings during the Great Depression. Additionally, it gave rise to rich private banks as a result of this booming business. Another policy that favored capitalism was the introduction of acts of the federal government such as the National Industrial Recovery Act and the Agricultural Adjustment Act. These policies sought to revive the dying industries by providing government assistance creating an environment in which businesses could thrive. The effect of this was that it gave rise to large businesses, which dominated specific industries; at the expense of the smaller enterprises. The New Deal domestic program was favored by the majority of farmers, working class as well as the black community in the nation. In efforts to revive the economy, President Roosevelt sought to introduce policies that provided government assistance to those in need during the Great Depression. Those most affected by the Great Depression were these groups of people and, therefore, Roosevelt’s policies significantly favored them hence the overwhelming support (Ayers, 2009). The New Deal introduced a number of polices that favored these groups of people. Effects of the Great Depression in 1929 necessitated these special programs so as to address the economic crisis that the nation was facing at that time. The farmers for instance, got reprieve through the formulation of the Tennessee Valley Authority which was given the mandate to address issues such as irrigation, flood control and manufacture of fertilizer. The Agricultural Adjustment Act also helped a number of farmers by providing government

The Voice of Marvin Puryear Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Voice of Marvin Puryear - Essay Example Puryear draws on his direct experiences. He has a fascination with music and archery. His way of expressing those interests was not to try to sport, but to create the object of the sport itself. For example, he notes â€Å"If I became interested in archery, I made the bows and arrows; if I became interested in music, I made the guitar" (Benezra 140). Again, this statement by Puryear reinforces the premise that his sculptures are not the result of hard line education. If they were, then he would have mastered playing the instrument or the sport of archery rather than creating his own original vessel. The deception that can only be called Puryear is his ability to take the simple concept (Such as the Old Mole) and craft a vision without all of the trendy accoutrements that we see so often in modern art today. This too is the result of his emotional reaction to that which he experienced, rather than the formal education he received. Another example of what I view as a reactive piece is â€Å"Untitled†. The body of the object is open, free and seemingly transparent. However the face of the object appears to have the expression of recovering from a horrid event, yet knowing that there is still more. Simply stated, the face is heavy, as if carrying some sort of burden, while the body is completely unaffected. This too demonstrates pure emotion. As the saying goes â€Å"I can tell by your face something is wrong.† In conclusion, a review of Marvin Puryear’s pieces, demonstrate that interpretation can be found in emotion.

Analyze Vygotsky with my activity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Analyze Vygotsky with my activity - Essay Example It allowed opportunities to interact with others and share their own observations, insights and conclusions regarding the activity. Observations in the implementation of the lesson plan included children talking to each other and commenting on their task. Vygotsky recognizes the â€Å"dialogic nature of all learning†. An individual engages in dialogues whether with others or just within his thoughts and this gives rise to care, concern, compassion for both oneself and others (Crawford, 2001). Interactions are likely to go through a process called intersubjectivity. This is when two people are engaged in a task and begin from different understandings but with interaction, comes to an agreed, shared understanding. This is usually manifested when children initially debate opposite arguments but upon more understanding of the concept because of listening to each other’s opinions, will both end up seeing the concept in one direction. Such intersubjectivity is apparent when the children choose from several nonstandard objects to measure with and may initially think differently from each other as to how many of those objects will be needed to measure a body part. The children may come up with different guesses, but upon validating their guesses with measurement, they come up with one answer. The lesson plan on measurements using non-standard objects is developmentally-appropriate for Kindergarten level. At this age, children need concrete materials familiar to them to make sense of some concepts. In this case, measuring with familiar objects becomes something the children can relate to. For them, knowing that one child is one popsicle stick taller than another is more meaningful to them than knowing that the child is three inches taller than another. It is because they actually know what a popsicle stick is and how it looks and estimate

Newly Qualified Nurse Responsibilities

Newly Qualified Nurse Responsibilities The aim of this assignment is to discuss the global roles and responsibilities of the newly qualified nurse. The exercise will begin by briefly looking at the transition from student to nurse and thereafter outlining the basic roles of the newly qualified nurse and try to fit them into appropriate professional skills. In addition, there will be a critical examination of two roles in more detail with one of them focusing on Patient Group Directions (PGD), and justify their importance. We will then look at some legal, professional and ethical considerations before making a conclusion on the future role development of the nurse. The NMC require a student nurse to demonstrate professional and ethical practice, be competent in care delivery and care management, and show personal and professional development in order to join the register (NMC, 2010). On becoming a qualified nurse, the expectations and dynamics of relationships changes fundamentally. Suddenly the newly qualified nurse is the one who must know the answer, whether it is a query from a patient, a carer, a work colleague or a student. The newly qualified nurse will encounter many challenging situations where she or he must lead care delivery. This includes dealing with care management within the team, dealing with patients/service users, dealing with other professionals, and dealing with the required needs of the whole workplace environment. These changes require a large shift from the experience of being a student and a mentored supervised learner, so it is essential that one is equipped with all the skills required to successfully make the transition. The newly qualified nurse must demonstrate they are fit to enter the NMC register and therefore be eligible to practice as a qualified nurse. In all cases, the newly qualified nurse is seen as: Provider of care Educator Counsellor Collaborator Researcher Change Agent Patient Advocate Manager The above are typically the roles of a newly qualified nurse which can be compressed into the NMC professional skills requirements listed below: Maintaining standards of care Making ethical and legal decisions Being accountable Teamworking Teaching others Being in charge. It is recognized that there is a certain amount of overlap in these professional skills and that some concepts cross all of them, in that there are no clear lines drawn where one skill ends and another starts. For the purpose of this analysis, we will look at the issue of making ethical and legal decisions and the Patient Group Direction. Decisions and actions are taken by nurses in the course of day-to-day practice. One would not usually consider each of the skills or concepts in isolation in relation to particular incidents but would make a decision based on the factors contributing to the situation. However, when analysing any situation, in the decisions made and the actions taken, some of the individual conceptual principles may be recognized and highlighted. For example, asking a member of staff to complete a task on your behalf is delegating. This fits neatly into leadership theory and also relates to aspects of accountability. Completing a health and safety audit in the work environment might relate to management theory and responsibility taken on. Completing a review of an individuals care and setting goals for them in multidisciplinary meetings might relate to team working theory. Reporting of poor practices or environments might relate to aspects of accountability and maintaining standards of care. However, all of the above aspects could arise from analysing one situation where the nurse has to make decisions about a certain aspect of care management thus emphasizing the great importance of making ethical and legal decisions. DECISION MAKING PROCESS Nurses are problem solvers who use the nursing process as their tool. The chief goal of ethical decision-making process is to determine right and wrong in situations where clear demarcations are not apparent, and then search for the best answer. For a newly qualified nurse, the following will be a guide to making ethical decisions: State the Dilemma State dilemma clearly, determine whether the problem/decision involves the nurse or only the patient, focus attention on ethical principles and follow the clients wishes first while considering the family input in case of unconsciousness. Collect and Analyze Data Know clients and familys wishes and all information about the problem. Keep abreast of any up to date legal and ethical issues; which may also overlap. Consider Choices of Action Most ethical dilemmas have multiple solutions, some of which are more feasible than others. The more options that are identified, the more likely it is that an acceptable solution can be identified. It may require input from outside sources and other professionals such as Social workers etc. Make the Decision The most difficult part of the process is making the decision, following through with the action, and then living with the consequences. Ethical dilemmas produce differences of opinion and not every one is pleased with the decision but it must be emphasized that clients wishes always supercede the decision by health care providers but ideally, a collaborative decision is made by client, family, doctor and nurse thus producing fewer complications. Act Once a course of action has been determined, the decision must be carried out. Implementing the decision usually involves collaboration with others. Evaluate Unexpected outcomes are common in crisis situations that result in ethical dilemmas. It is important for decision makers to determine the impact an immediate decision may have on future ones. It is also important to consider whether a different course of action might have resulted in a better outcome. If the outcome accomplished its purpose, the ethical dilemma should be resolved and if the dilemma has not been resolved, additional deliberation is needed. Patient Group Direction (PGD) The legislation (Statutory Instrument, 200a) states that Patient Group Direction means in connection with the supply of a prescription only medicine a written direction relating to the supply and administration of a description or class of prescription only medicine or a written direction relating to the administration of a description or class of description only medicine, and which in the case of either is signed by a doctor and by a pharmacist; and relates to the supply and administration, or to administration, to persons generally (subject to any exclusions which may be set out in the Direction). In practice this means that a PGD, signed by a doctor and agreed by a pharmacist, can act as a direction to a nurse to supply and/or administer prescription-only medicines (POMs) to patients using their own assessment of patient need, without necessarily referring back to a doctor for an individual prescription. When can PGDs be used? The law is clear that the majority of care should be provided on an individual, patient-specific basis, and that the supply and administration of medicines under PGDs should be reserved for those situations where this offers an advantage for patient care (without compromising safety), and where it is consistent with appropriate professional relationships and accountability. The RCN interprets this to mean that PGDs should only be used to supply and/or administer POMs to homogeneous patient groups where presenting characteristics and requirements are sufficiently consistent for them to be included in the PGD e.g. infants and children requiring immunisation as part of a national programme. Which POMs can be supplied or administered under a PGD? PGDs can be used to supply and administer a wide range of POMs although there are currently legislative and good practice restrictions in relation to controlled drugs, antimicrobials and black triangle drugs. Controlled drugs The use of controlled drugs continues to be regulated under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and associated regulations made under that Act. The Home Office has agreed to allow the supply and administration of substances on Schedule 4 (with the exclusion of anabolic steroids) and all substances on schedule 5 to be included in PGDs. Antimicrobials can be included within a PGD but consideration must be given to the risk of increased resistance within the general community. When seeking to draw up a PGD for antimicrobials, a local microbiologist should be involved and approval sought from the drug and therapeutics committee or equivalent. Black triangle drugs and medicines used outside the terms of the Summary of Product Characteristics Black triangle drugs (i.e. those recently licensed and subject to special reporting arrangements for adverse reactions) and medicines used outside the terms of the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) sometimes called off label use (for example, as used in some areas of specialist paediatric care) may be included in PGDs. Their use should be exceptional and justified by best clinical practice, and a direction should clearly describe the status of the products. How should PGDs be drawn up? The law (Statutory Instrument, 2000a) requires that PGDs should be drawn up by a pharmacist and the doctor who works with the nurses who will be using them. The relevant health authority should also ratify the PGD. In England, when PGDs are developed locally, HSC 2000/026 (NHSE, 2000) requires that a senior doctor and a senior pharmacist sign them off with authorisation from the appropriate health organisation, i.e. the trust, and that all nurses using the directions are specifically named within the PGD and signed by them. The RCN acknowledges this as good practice and recommends the following steps be taken throughout the UK. The NMC Standards for Medicines Management (2007) state that the administration of drugs via PGDs may not be delegated and students cannot supply or administer under a PGD. Students would however be expected to understand the principles and be involved in the process (NMC 2007). Failure to ascertain that a PGD is the most appropriate route can lead to waste of valuable time and resource and place increased risk on delivery and quality of patient care. Anyone involved with PGDs (whether developing, authorising or practising under them) should understand the scope and limitations of PGDs as well as the wider context into which they fit to ensure safe, effective services for patients. Any extension to professional roles with regard to administration and supply of medicines must take into account the need to protect patient safety, ensure continuity of care and safeguard patient choice and convenience. It also has to be cost effective and bring demonstrable benefits to patient care. Any practice requiring a PGD that fails to comply with the criteria falls outside of the Law and could result in criminal prosecution under the Medicines Act. With regard to the written instruction required for the supply and administration of medicines by non-professionals, Medicines Matters (2006) (3) clarifies that a suitably trained non-professional member of staff can only administer medicines under a Patient Specific Direction (PSD). Medicine Matters (2006) states that: Patient Specific Direction is the traditional written instruction, from a doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist independent prescriber, for medicines to be supplied or administered to a named patient. The majority of medicines are still supplied or administered using this process. There is nothing in legislation to prevent PSDs being used to administer medicines to several named patients e.g. on a clinic list. PSDs are a direct instruction and therefore do not require an assessment of the patient by the health care professional instructed to supply or administer the medicine. Pharmacy Only (P) and General Sales List (GSL) Medicines Medicines legislation states that a PGD is not required to administer a P or GSL medicine. The use of a simple protocol is advisable for best practice and from a governance perspective. All medicines administered must be recorded in the patients medical record. Where a GSL medicine is to be supplied it must be taken from lockable premises and supplied in a pre-pack which is fully labelled and meets the GSL requirements. A PGD will be necessary for the supply of P medicines by anyone other than a registered pharmacist. Recommend further advice to be sought from a pharmacist. (Ref: NPC PGDs 2004). For safe administration of drugs, the newly qualified nurse must give the right dose of the right drug to the right patient in the right route at the right time. When giving medications, the nurse needs to be aware of possible interactions between the patients different drugs. It is the nurses responsibility to protect the patient from harm. If they think the wrong drug or the wrong dose has been ordered, they must ask for help from the nurse or the doctor in charge. The newly qualified nurse needs to know the doses of the drug which are safe to administer. Sometimes the pharmacy gives out drugs in grams when the order specifies milligrams, or the other way around. They need to know how to convert these. It is important to know what types of dilemmas newly qualified nurses may face during their careers and how they may deal with it. It is also important for nurses to understand what malpractice is and how they may protect themselves from a malpractice suit. Firstly, it is important to understand the difference between law and ethics. Ethics examines the values and actions of people. Often times, there is no one right course of action when one is faced with an ethical dilemma. On the other hand, laws are binding rules of conduct. When laws are broken, it is punishable by an authority. There are four types of situations that pertain to law and ethics. The first would be an action that is both legal and ethical. An example of this would be a nurse carrying out appropriate doctors orders as ordered. A nurse may also be faced with an action that may be ethical but not legal, such as allowing a cancer patient to smoke marijuana for medicinal purposes. The opposite may arise where an action may be legal but not ethical. Finally, an action may be neither legal nor ethical. For example, when a nurse makes a medication error and does not take responsibility to report to it appropriately. The right of service users to expect practitioners to act in their best interests is reinforced by professional codes of conduct and legislation such as the Mental Health Act. It is also reflected in equality of opportunity legislations such as the Sex Discrimination Act and the Race Relation Act, which aim to ensure that everybody has equal access to and is offered equal care by health and social care service. Patients right to confidentiality under statutory duties is stipulated in the Data Protection Act, Article 8 European Convention of Human Rights, Access to Personal Files Act 1987 and Access to Health Record Acts 1990. The code does require that nurses must disclose information if they believe someone may be at risk of harm in line with the law. As a nurse, respecting autonomy means you must effectively communicate with patients, be truthful, enable patients to make decisions freely, provide appropriate information and accept the patients preferences. Legally, patients must be given enough information to make a balanced judgement however we must be aware that if nurses fail to comply with the legal duty of disclosure, they could face a negligence claim. However, under the principle of therapeutic privilege they can legally withhold information that they think will harm the patient Some patients whether children or adults are unable either to make or to communicate their decisions therefore they lack (or have limited) capacity. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 that create and clarifies the common law on consent in England and Wales, affects everyone aged 16 and over, and provides a statutory framework to empower and protect people who may not be able to make some decisions for themselves. The moral justifications for acting without consent are the principles of beneficence (the duty to do good) and non-maleficence (the duty to do no harm). Paternalism is overriding someones autonomy because you think it is for their own good. However, it is justifiable if we can demonstrate that the patient is at risk of significant, preventable harm, or the action will probably prevent the harm, or the patients capacity for rational reflection is either absent or significantly impaired, or at a later time, it can be assumed that the patient will approve of the decision taken on his/her behalf, or the benefits to the patient of intervention outweigh the risks. Also, we live in a society where demands for accountability and taking responsibility are so commonplace that pinning the blame on someone or something has become almost a fad. The NHS culture of blame has developed basically because no one wants to be accountable or responsible for actions or omissions hence there are no longer any accidents or mistakes. Principles of beneficence and non-maleficence underpin the concept of fault which lies at the heart of negligence law. Beneficence means that you must act in ways that benefit others (i.e. duty to care), and Non-maleficence means that you have a duty not to harm others nor subject them to risk of harm. Every nursing intervention that aims to benefit patients may at the same time also harm them. Sometimes the harm will be unavoidable or even intentional and at other times it can be unintentional and unexpected, therefore it is appropriate to think about the principles of non-maleficence and beneficence together in order to balance harm and benefits against each other. We can resolve this problem responsibility and accountability. These words are sometimes used interchangeably because they do overlap but in actual fact they do not mean the same thing. Being responsible can mean that it is your job or role to deal with something and/or that you have caused something to happen. Accountability on the other hand is about justifying your action or omissions and establishing whether there are good enough reasons for acting in the way you did. Even where the newly qualified nurse delegate tasks to others, such as nursing auxiliaries or care assistants she/he is accountable to the patients through a duty of care, underpinned by a common-law duty to promote safety and efficiency, and legal responsibility through civil law, the employer as defined by your contract of employment, the profession as stated in the relevant codes of conduct and the public. Conclusion All newly qualified nurses were faced with assumptions from others that they should know everything. This was also a high expectation they had of themselves. In meeting the NMC standards of proficiency the nurse should have demonstrated the relevant knowledge and skills in order to practise in their relevant specialized fields. However, it is important to recognize that not every nurse knows everything about everything in their field, especially if they are practising in highly specialized fields. What they need is to be able to develop and adapt to changing situations. Therefore, for the nurse it is impossible to know everything, but they should have developed the skills to find out relevant information, reflect on it, and apply this to their practice. In essence they should have learned how to learn. There is a great deal to be learned once qualified, especially related to a nurses new area of work and a good deal of the development needs to take place on the job.