Student Loans For Education Equal Success - 997 Words

Student Loans Assisting For Education Equal Success After reading the articles on, â€Å"The Myth of the Student Loan Crisis† it was stated that student loans are the crisis because of the hundred dollars worth of debt. The second article, â€Å"Here’s Your Crisis: Student Loans Debt Isn’t a Myth† explains that student loan crisis is not a myth but the fear of debts are preventing students from attending college. These articles provided information to prove my beliefs that the government has a responsibility to educate citizens. In the first article my goal is to show how student loans are a myth. Secondly I will elaborate on the fact that student loans aren’t a myth but the fears of the student loans are the crisis. Last my paper will show how†¦show more content†¦The article showed that the student debt crisis was due to increase in college cost and student drowning in six figures debts. The info graphic show that only 1.2% out of 100% of student loans was $100, 000 plus which was not a myth. The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau indicates that student debt is over 1 trillion dollars. These loans included private companies like Sallie Mae and federal loans directly from the Department of Education. From 2007 until 2012 the increase in college tuition caused an increase in student loans. The average debt of a college graduate is over $30,000. The problem is that over half of the most recent graduates are not employed or not using their degree because the weak job market. Many of the student loans have become delinquent and are in default. Another reason for the crisis is the increase of students with degrees, but the lack of job growth. This is why it is not just a debt crisis but an affordability crisis. Due to the student loan debt many graduates are miserable. This is setting fear in the students and preventing them from going to college. That is why this is a crisis not a myth. The advantages of, an educated citizen are better jobs with higher income, better housing, better transportation, better educated children, a better quality of life, and positively contributes to becoming an active member of society. Citizen and education go hand and hand. Educated citizens

Movie Analysis Good Will Hunting - 1553 Words

Trevor Burkhead Professor Nyfeler EN 211 22 February 2017 Analytical Essay on the Movie â€Å"Good Will Hunting† I have watched a considerable number of movies this semester so it was hard to choose which one to analyze. It came down to â€Å"Remember the Titans† or â€Å"Good Will Hunting†. However, the movie that I will be analyzing is â€Å"Good Will Hunting†. The reason I chose this movie is that it can be analyzed in many different ways. I will be analyzing different scenes of the movie and analyze them from different angles. I will be analyzing about the symbolism that is happening in the movie. I will be analyzing many different things about the movie. The first thing I will analyze in this movie is the symbolism of things, objects, colors, and†¦show more content†¦He wants to strive to do the right things in life, but is not necessarily sure how to; therefore, he is searching for the good will† (Wegner). In the movie, each character had a color that reoccurred through the movie. â€Å"Rob in Williams’s character only wears neutral colors and I feel that it symbolizes peace. Matt Damon’s character Will has a color that keeps reoccurring throughout the movie and that is the color orange† (runge). â€Å"Orange symbolizes energy, vitality, cheer, excitement, adventure, warmth, and good health† (Morton). â€Å"There is symbolism when Skylar is boarding her plane and she wants to see Will but he does not show up. Then in the next scene, it shows Will sitting on a park bench outside the airport watching as her plane takes off. This symbolizes that they want to be together but they cannot be together† (runge). The next symbol â€Å"is the painting of a man rowing a boat amidst a storm in Sean’s office that Will comments on during their first meeting. The storm could represent the inner demons of both Sean and Will and the man rowing the boat amidst symbolizing their fear and feelings of being alone while amidst their separate turmoi l† (Dakota). The second to last symbol â€Å"in the film is the car Will receives from his friend’s at the end of the film. He receives the car shortly after his breakthrough with Sean. The car symbolizes Will’s new freedom not only with his future but also with his new freedom from hisShow MoreRelatedMovie Analysis Good Will Hunting4752 Words   |  20 Pagesï » ¿ Movie Analysis Sociological Perspective: Good Will Hunting SOC103 A Ms. Lim Siow Fei Dier Pulatov J14016731 Aiman Azri Azmi J14016347 Jeffry Tlerey Lister J14016755 Content: 1. Introduction 3 2. Synopsis 3 3. Structural Functionalism 4 4. Social Conflict Read MoreMovie Analysis : Good Will Hunting1952 Words   |  8 Pagesgreat film, Good Will Hunting offers a great basis for which linguistic studies regarding dialect can be done. The film offers a great contrast in characters from â€Å"Southie† to prestigious high-class individuals. While there is a noticeable difference in the dialect used, the focus is primarily on stereotypes between the lower and upper-class individuals. Language and dialects help to reinforce the stereotypes regarding socio-economic classes. The division of dialect in Good Will Hunting reflects theRead MoreEssay about Analysis of Good Will Hunting4243 Words   |  17 PagesAbstract This paper will discuss this students perception, study and analysis of the character Will Hunting, in the movie Good Will Hunting. (Affleck and Damon, 1997) It will share the results and conclusions about the character of Will Hunting reached by this author, citing the methods and theories used to reach said results and conclusions. The report will provide a brief overview of the character, a cultural description of the character, discuss the characters personality development fromRead MoreThe Movie Starts Off With Ree Dolly938 Words   |  4 PagesThe movie starts off with Ree Dolly; a young girl aged seven, who is charged with responsibility of taking care of her two younger siblings and a mentally ill mother. She ensures the siblings have something to eat as well as teaches them hunting and cooking in a bit to make them self-reliant. Her father, Mr. Jessup apparently left home, never to be seen after he was released on bail following an arrest on allegations that he had been i nvolved in the manufacture of crack (Woodrell, 2006). The courtRead MoreAutomobile Manufacturing Companies That Produce High Performance Vehicles1450 Words   |  6 Pagesalso a previous Lamborghini owner, similarly expressed confusion when he a saw Defendant vehicle at a car show. Id. The third caller, who is familiar with Lamborghinis, similarly expressed confusion when he saw a Defendant vehicle parked outside a hunting show. Id. Both Lamborghini’s mark and Defendant’s mark feature an aggressive black and white, large, strong beast with a horn and tail. J.A. at 5-6. Lamborghini and Defendant both place their respective marks on the front hood, side, and back ofRead MoreEssay on Good Will Hunting2845 Words   |  12 Pagesrelationship between Will Hunting and the psychologist Sean Mcguire in the movie Good Will Hunting. The struggles that occur between these main characters will be analyzed and their meanings found. A basic outline of the movie will be included to give the larger picture and its influence upon the tw o men. An Analysis of the Movie Good Will Hunting and the Main Characters Will Hunting and Sean Mcguire Outline: 1. Description of the Movie a. Setting of the movie b. Introduction of the mainRead MoreThe Issue Of Gun Control1031 Words   |  5 Pageskiller, just a young kid who took a shotgun from his hunting parents. Background checks will help prevent criminals with a previous record and the mentally ill from obtaining firearms, this isn’t a 100% accurate method of protecting citizens. Some are just simply unpredictable, an example of this occurred in Florida. A former police officer with a clean background shot and killed a man in a movie theater for continuously texting throughout a movie. However, just because some exceptional few were nearlyRead More The Relationship Between Will and the Psychologist in Good Will Hunting2842 Words   |  12 Pagesrelationship between Will Hunting and the psychologist Sean Mcguire in the movie Good Will Hunting. The struggles that occur between these main characters will be analyzed and their meanings found. A basic outline of the movie will be included to give the larger picture and its influence upon the two men. An Analysis of the Movie ?Good Will Hunting? and the Main Characters Will Hunting and Sean Mcguire Outline: 1. Description of the Movie a. Setting of the movie b. Introduction of theRead MoreAttachment And Its Effects On Children And Their Primary Caregiver2636 Words   |  11 Pagesfigures in their early life, (P. Jon, I.Berg). Discussion: Practice context, setting and how that affected clinical practice. Will Hunting was a patient who has been ordered into services by the court and apparently is distinguished from those informally pressured into services by a school, parents or spouse. In reference to definition Will Hunting has not chosen to see his therapists. He viewed these sessions as unwanted and intrusive and the solutions recommended by the therapists asRead MoreArt in Raw Form1434 Words   |  6 PagesArt in Raw Form The movie industry is for entertainment purposes. For many people, going to the movies is an escape; time to sit back and become someone else. However, once in a rare moment then a movie comes out that is not just foe entertainment and dares to address a controversial issue. â€Å"The Blind Side† and â€Å"Precious† are two movies that I was very surprised at my reaction to them. My reasons for wanting to see both movies were as different as night and day. I went to see the â€Å"Blind

Garrett Morgan Free Essays

Seems like the flowers blossom and the skies full of joy, Garrett, oh young Garrett, are you also full of joy? Born in downtown, hated by rotten white neighbors, Who in his young mind would color in corps? He walked in the path of color, Did not taste a new kind of flavor, Wrapped in a slim black coat, Seems like living in a moat. You are like an ant, traveling in many ways, Guided not by the contours of the great minds, But the sting of a many a scorpions’ tongues, Such a scorpion is a man, lying in another man’s arms. He speaks of books, but could not fathom such, He tells of nails and numbers, but hunger enters, How long will his pain matters, So long as the heart beats and beaten. We will write a custom essay sample on Garrett Morgan or any similar topic only for you Order Now Now comes a group of his mates, Black birds flying in white rotten sky, How long shall they remain in their smile shy? The fruits of mouth are very sharp. Now Garrett is turned into a dove, Putting white color in his black skin hove, He remarks, â€Å"I will be in their hove. † But frustrated as he is, failed and shoved. Crying and heaving heart feelings, He trembles in distaste hangings, Came a man of fancy bringing, Offers him a bead of woven linen. Alas, I came to save you from the bondages of your own misery! The tunnels are empty and danger woven, I bring light to thee, I act on the premise of my wrath, I tremble on the problems of others’ hat, I smile on the mask’s facade, The gas saves and saving. The roads are jammed and blurry, But I bring order and merry. At last, I’m in the annals of history. This poem is generally about a poor black boy (Garrett Morgan- child of former slaves) who wanted to become a member of the white society. Born into a poor family, he strove hard to be accepted by the society. Because of poverty, he stopped studying. All he could do now was imitate the fashion of the white society. The first step was to become â€Å"white† in the sense of changing the color of her skin. He failed miserably, noting that even if his skin changes, his identity will remain black, his ancestry will remain black. However, his status in society did not prevent him from making accomplishments. He invented the traffic lights and military gas mask: one of the symbols of modern society. How to cite Garrett Morgan, Papers

Love If you would be loved, love and be lovable Essay Example For Students

Love: If you would be loved, love and be lovable Essay Benjamin Franklin once said, If you would be loved, love and be lovable. Love is something we are all in at least one time or another in our life. There are many different meanings for the word love and many people interpret it differently. Love as defined by Websters dictionary is a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person. When you love someone you care not only care about them as a person, but also about their well being. When they are hurt, you feel hurt and when they are in pain you feel pain also. Their physical and emotional problems are not only theirs, but they are yours as well. To be in love means to care about that person so deeply that your life would not be complete without them. The fact that you cherish one person so much is a blessing to some, as well as a gift. The following fable tells of an orphan girl who had all the happiness in the world. There is a wonderful fable about a young orphan girl who had no family and no one to love her. One day, feeling exceptionally sad and lonely, she was walking through the meadow when she noticed a small butterfly caught unmercifully in a thornbush. The more the butterfly struggled to free itself, the deeper the thorns cut into the butterfly from its captivity. Instead of flying away, the little butterfly changed into a beautiful fairy. The young girl rubbed her eyes in disbelief. For your wonderful kindness, the good fairy said to the girl, I will grant you any wish you would like. The little girl thought for a moment and then replied, I want to be happy! The fairy said, Very well, and leaned toward her and whispered in her ear. Then the good fairy vanished. As the little girl grew up, there was no one in the land as happy as she. Everyone asked her the secret of her happiness. She would only smile and answer, The secret of my happiness is that I listened to a good fairy when I was a little girl. When she was very old and on her deathbed, the neighbors all rallied around her, afraid that her fabulous secret of happiness would die with her. Tell us, please, the begged. Tell us what the good fairy said. The lovely old woman simply smiled and said, She told me that everyone, no matter how secure they seemed, no matter how old or young, how rich or poor, had need of me.Canfield 117-118. People often confuse happiness with actually being in love. They think that because they are happy, that they are in love. When in fact for the most part they are just happy with the idea of being in love and spending the rest of their life with someone. Many people break up and get divorces. Sometimes it makes you wonder if they were even in love to begin with. So many times people rush  into relationships and become involved way to quick. I once caught myself all wrapped up in a guy, that I forgot what was most important thing,me. I forgot about pleasing myself and making myself happy because the whole time I was constantly doing things to please him. He claimed he loved me and was extremely happy, but in actuality I believe he was in love with the idea of what I could do for him to make him happy. He was not in love with me because love does not mean being selfish. When someone loves another person, they are not always concerned with what they can get out of the relationship; they are concerned with what they can put into it. Being happy with a person does not always mean that you are in love. I think you find this most in young relationships. I know in my case I thought that I was so in love and that I could never find that certain someone to make me feel the way that person made me feel. I was devastated for some time but come to find out years later, I was not in love to begin with. .ue54e3558b50188e5e424df3a2feccb32 , .ue54e3558b50188e5e424df3a2feccb32 .postImageUrl , .ue54e3558b50188e5e424df3a2feccb32 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ue54e3558b50188e5e424df3a2feccb32 , .ue54e3558b50188e5e424df3a2feccb32:hover , .ue54e3558b50188e5e424df3a2feccb32:visited , .ue54e3558b50188e5e424df3a2feccb32:active { border:0!important; } .ue54e3558b50188e5e424df3a2feccb32 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ue54e3558b50188e5e424df3a2feccb32 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ue54e3558b50188e5e424df3a2feccb32:active , .ue54e3558b50188e5e424df3a2feccb32:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ue54e3558b50188e5e424df3a2feccb32 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ue54e3558b50188e5e424df3a2feccb32 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ue54e3558b50188e5e424df3a2feccb32 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ue54e3558b50188e5e424df3a2feccb32 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ue54e3558b50188e5e424df3a2feccb32:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ue54e3558b50188e5e424df3a2feccb32 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ue54e3558b50188e5e424df3a2feccb32 .ue54e3558b50188e5e424df3a2feccb32-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ue54e3558b50188e5e424df3a2feccb32:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Canterbury Tales Interpretive EssayFor the most part when you love someone and you want to spend the rest of your life with him or her, you will know it. You know how people always say its just that gut feeling inside that makes them know for certain they are in love. The one thing that I have always wanted to be is in love. I want someone to love me unconditionally for me and who I am, not for my looks etc. That may sound conceited, but sometimes you see people constantly talking about so and so because of their looks when they dont even actually know the person. I believe that the personality and morals of a person make them the most attractive of all. Just because someone has the looks and seems to have everything else going for them does not mean that inside they are happy with themselves. Love is patient kind does not act unbecomingly is not provoked does not take into account a wrong suffered believes all things hopes all things endures all things. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5,7-8. When it comes down to it, we all just want to be loved.

Top Ten Events for Content Marketers in 2017

Author Fran Lebowitz once said, â€Å"you’re only as good as your last haircut.† This also rings true with content marketing– the industry is always changing and using last year’s strategies won’t necessarily cut it this year. You can stay up-to-date on the latest trends with blog posts and webinars. But sometimes, in order to take your skills to the next level, you need to get out and see what the innovators of our industry are doing. With so many content marketing conferences to choose from, we’ve selected ten of the best North American events we think will educate and inspire you in 2017. Altitude Summit Palm Springs, California: January 31 – February 3 Created for entrepreneurs and content creators, the Altitude Summit is perfect for smaller businesses, bloggers and content marketers. Network with other content creators and learn from various experts at the forefront of content marketing. Key Speakers: Martha Stewart, Businesswoman and TV Personality Jessica Alba, Actress, Model and Businesswoman Ben Silbermann, CEO, Pinterest Luvvie Ajayi, Speaker and Digital Strategist Sarah Michelle Gellar, Actress, Producer and Entrepreneur Content2Conversion Scottsdale, Arizona: February 20 – 22 With over 800 marketers in attendance, the Content2Conversion conference is set in beautiful surroundings and provides the perfect backdrop for content marketing experts to learn, socialize and share ideas. The keynote speaker is Jonah Berger, bestselling author of â€Å"Contagious: Why Things Catch On.† As well as the numerous talks, you can test drive the latest content tools and apps and get an insider’s look at award-winning content strategies from previous content award winners. Key Speakers: Jonah Berger, Author, â€Å"Contagious: Why Things Catch On† Jeff Marcoux, CMO Lead for Worldwide Enterprise Marketing, Microsoft Dave Bruno, Marketing Director, Aptos Chip Woerner, Vice President of Marketing Operations, Oracle Rebecca Lieb, Author, â€Å"The Truth About Search Engine Optimization and Content Marketing† Digital Marketing Innovation Summit New York: March 8 – 9 Featuring over 25 industry expert keynote presentations, 25 case studies presented from Fortune 500 companies and attended by more than 150 digital marketing leaders. Join in with the interactive workshops in social and content strategy and watch all the presentations on demand after the summit. It’s the ideal place to learn how to develop brand loyalty and refine your audience engagement strategy. Alexander Chung, Vice President Marketing, BuzzFeed Scott Stanchak, MD, Mobile Marketing, The New York Times Mindy Stockfield, SVP, Marketing, Viacom Kids Family Group Teal Newland, Senior Vice President, Marketing Partner Management, Condà © Nast Jerome Hiquet, Chief Marketing Officer, Tough Mudder Adobe Summit Las Vegas: March 19 – 23 This is one of the leading conferences for digital marketing professionals looking to attract and engage more customers. With hundreds of experts in attendance and over 200 sessions and workshops, you’ll learn the latest tools and trends in digital marketing that you’re most interested in. Key Sessions: Cross-channel Marketing Customer Experience Data-driven Marketing Mobile Marketing Programmatic Advertising Intelligent Content Conference Las Vegas: March 28 – 30 Hosted by the Content Marketing Institute, this conference is specifically designed for content creators and publishers. With around 400 attendees, and courses ranging from beginner to advanced, there’s something for everyone. Topics include how to scale content production, reusing and repurposing legacy content and the diffusion of content across platforms. Key Speakers: Carlos Abler, Leader of Online Content Strategy, 3M Global eTransformation Ardath Albee, B2B Marketing Strategist and CEO, Marketing Interactions, Inc. Katerina Neal, Head of Content Marketing, Cisco Joe Pulizzi, Founder, Content Marketing Institute Paul Poetzer, Founder and CEO, PR 20/20 Digimarcon Cruise Port Canaveral, Florida: April 16 – 23 Want to learn new skills while you soak up the sun on a Caribbean island? Set aboard a cruise ship, this conference features some of the best speakers in the digital marketing arena. Learn how to build traffic and brand awareness, improve customer experience, develop your social media and analytics skills and so much more. It’s the perfect setting to meet new people, gain new insights and become inspired. If you can’t make the cruise, Digimarcon also hosts marketing events in New York, Toronto and Santa Monica, from early May to mid-June. Key Speakers: Aaron Polmeer, CEO Cruise Host, Search Experiences Ronell Smith, Associate, Moz Jena Apgar, Founder, Brand Dot Blog Shevy Shafie, Chief Executive Officer, Marstudio Bruce May, Chief Executive Officer, Axix Group Nashville, Tennessee: April 19 -21 Bringing together some of the world’s top marketers to share tips and stories, Marketing United is packed with sessions and expert speakers to keep you up to date on the latest content marketing developments. Key Speakers: TBD MozCon Seattle, Washington: July 17 – 19 Expect around 800 people to attend this less formal event. Over three days, you can enjoy actionable advice from industry leaders in SEO, social media, content marketing, brand development, analytics and more. Chat with the speakers, meet Moz staff and connect with other like-minded content marketers. Key Speakers: Alex Stein, Wayfair Pete Meyers, Moz Joanna Wiebe, Copy Hackers, Justine Jordan, Litmus Kristen Craft, Wistia LeadsCon New York: August 21 – 23 With more of a focus on B2B lead generation, LeadsCon is attended each year by more than 2000 professionals looking for insights into lead generation, SEO, conversions and website optimization. As well as special events, workshops and a long list of speakers, it’s a great networking opportunity. Note: On Monday, August 22 join content marketing expert Michael Brenner (CEO, Marketing Insider Group) for a three-hour workshop entitled: â€Å"Building a Content Marketing Plan that Converts.† Key Speakers: TBD Content Marketing World Cleveland, Ohio: September 5 – 8 This is one of the largest content marketing conferences in the world, with over 150 sessions and 200 speakers. Hosted by the Content Marketing Institute, it gives marketing professionals one of the best opportunities to learn new skills and network with the best in the industry. In 2015, Kevin Spacey was the keynote speaker – this year’s speakers are still to be announced. Key Speakers: TBD Over to You Before you consider which conferences will be best to visit, think about what your key marketing goals are, take a look at the detailed agendas listed on each conference website and read the feedback from past attendees. So what are you waiting for? Clear your calendar, pack your bags and hit the road to make your content marketing more effective!

Free Essays on Calvinism

, man’s will would never choose God’s will for his/her life. I believe that God has given us a free will to choose what we want. We can either choose God or deny God; the decision is up to us. I also believe that God will bring things into our lives to bring us to a place of repentance, but like I just said the decision is up to us. The idea of unconditional election in the Calvinistic view is that a man obtains salvation because God began a process by choosing him without any outside influence. I totally disagree with this. God sent his son, Jesus Christ, to die for the sins of the world, and those who accept Him will be saved. I don’t think that God would send Christ to die for the world and then say I have chosen those who will be saved and that is it. I believe that God knows who will accept and will not accept but He leaves the decision up to that person. The idea of limited atonement in the Calvinistic view is that salvation is only for those predestined by God. The Bible says that Christ died for the sins of the world that whosoever believeth in Him shall be saved. Like I said earlier God knows who will accept and who will reject salvation, but that doesn’t mean that Christ only died for them. Christ’s blood on the cross could save every man in the world, in the past, present, and future, a thousand times over and ... Free Essays on Calvinism Free Essays on Calvinism Calvinism is a belief in that man is totally depraved, there is an unconditional election, only limited atonement, God’s grace is irresistible, and belief in the perseverance of the saints. Although some of these beliefs maybe true somewhat, they are for the most part against the teachings of God found in the Bible. This paper will help show you what I have found to be true according to the Bible as to what Calvinism teaches. The idea of total depravity in the Calvinistic view is that man in his natural state is in capable or unable to do anything to please or gain merit before God. In other words, man’s will would never choose God’s will for his/her life. I believe that God has given us a free will to choose what we want. We can either choose God or deny God; the decision is up to us. I also believe that God will bring things into our lives to bring us to a place of repentance, but like I just said the decision is up to us. The idea of unconditional election in the Calvinistic view is that a man obtains salvation because God began a process by choosing him without any outside influence. I totally disagree with this. God sent his son, Jesus Christ, to die for the sins of the world, and those who accept Him will be saved. I don’t think that God would send Christ to die for the world and then say I have chosen those who will be saved and that is it. I believe that God knows who will accept and will not accept but He leaves the decision up to that person. The idea of limited atonement in the Calvinistic view is that salvation is only for those predestined by God. The Bible says that Christ died for the sins of the world that whosoever believeth in Him shall be saved. Like I said earlier God knows who will accept and who will reject salvation, but that doesn’t mean that Christ only died for them. Christ’s blood on the cross could save every man in the world, in the past, present, and future, a thousand times over and ...

The Effect of Lobbying on Public Opinion Research Paper

The Effect of Lobbying on Public Opinion - Research Paper Example This is so he can carry out his mandate more easily and even more importantly, win a re-election if needed by implementing his programs. Discussion Public relations is the practice of having a positive public opinion for oneself. This means projecting a public image of goodwill that essentially entails using the right communications tool between a person or an organization and his or its various publics or stakeholders. A big extent is the use of the right public relations tools to inform and more crucially, shape opinion. It involves influencing the public process of debates, discussions and consultations in order to have good or favorable public opinion. In today's modern society, there is widespread use of lobbyists who are either volunteers or some people paid to speak in one's behalf as an advocate. In this regard, part of lobbying is the intent of influencing the legislative process by having favorable laws enacted in relation to a person's or group's special interests. Before a bill becomes a law, drafts are passed around with their justifications and aimed to judge a public reaction (OECD, 2009, p. 160). The public process – lobbyists are required to meet legislators for several times. In some cases, lobbying brings about good results as it raises public awareness of certain issues.

International Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

International Law - Essay Example Senegal has ratified the U.N. Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and is obligated under its provisions to either prosecute or extradite Hebrà © (aut dedere aut prosequi).3 However, such obligation does not require Senegal to extradite Habre specifically to Belgium. Recent conventions and state practice has embraced a duty not to extradite persons that face seriously discriminatory applications of criminal law authority. This limitation on the duty to extradite is incorporated in both the European Terrorism Convention4 and the United Nations Terrorist Financing Convention5: â€Å"Nothing in this Convention shall be interpreted as imposing an obligation to extradite†¦if the requested State Party has substantial grounds for believing that the request for extradition†¦has been made for the purpose of prosecuting or punishing a person on account of that persons race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin or political opinio n or that compliance with the request would cause prejudice to that persons position for any of these reasons.† Thus, an individual does not face fair criminal prosecution where relevant forms of discrimination result in selective prosecution.6 Such emergent exceptions to extradition should also be automatically incorporated in Article 1(F)(b) of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.7 Belgium as well as the Western World has shown a persistent practice of discrimination against Africans and to some extent Latin Americans so far as prosecution for crimes against humanity are concerned. While Belgium has readily prosecuted or initiated investigations against Africans accused of crimes against humanity, in March 2003, when at the behest of family members of civilians killed in the 1991 Gulf War, Belgian prosecutors launched an investigation of former President George H.W. Bush,

Final Exam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

Final Exam - Essay Example Like men make no effort to prevent war and genocide, people need to increase public understanding (Cooper 2009). It is primarily because of men’s effort that war deaths declined so dramatically in the second half of the last century. Similarly, in her book The Girl with the Brown Crayon Vivian Paley represents black child, five year aged Reeny, and has the last say on what is good. In this light, there are important lessons that we discover from Paley’s pedagogy of equality when the reality that children along with teacher do not look alike introduces an obstacle to effectual instruction or an opportunity for teacher development. Paley clearly admires and teaches from Lillian Tully, an African American teacher, whose childhood stories in the segregated South form the core of her pedagogical approach. Any examination of Vivian Paley’s pedagogy of equality must give a well-known responsibility to her compositions as either a black children or white teacher, reflect ing the time Paley spent. Live The most Romantic Music Art chronicle that continues and discontinues from the classical to Romantic styles in art and music are found in live. As in the case in point, live describes how issues associated with romanticism, nationalism and environmentalism, have continued to be part of contemporary Western civilization’s intellectual heritage (Cooper 2009). Classical, romantic and contemporary music was a living organism both dynamic and diverse. Furthermore, music stretched from work songs and spirituals to protest commercial hillbilly and race recordings. Those who engaged in the art, therefore, believed in recording music that transformed access to authentic folk song. Part of a set of folklore is breathing, developing and changing thing, and a folk song sang through words and tunes, only symbolizes its exceptionally static fashion of a myriad-voiced reality of individual songs. It brought out a people’s way of life. The basement activ ities in which bands and crews were killing resulted in the most fascinating pieces of art. In fact, in the course of their preparation time, they thought that nobody will be concerned with hearing what they had prepared, but they were amazed to hear people singing part of their songs in holding hands and acting as the motivator for their freedoms (Cooper 2009). What individuals could hear, within this context, were the songs as they exist on the lips of the folk singers. Even as, Frederic Chopin promoted classical, romantic, and contemporary music as an ever-evolving genre, the entertainers insisted at the same time on the goal of authenticity. In performance style that meant the painstaking mastery of the skills displayed by the little-known geniuses on his library of congress recordings, but it also implied a level of commitment, an emotional investment. In my opinion, Frederic Chopin performing these pieces saw music as a living organism both dynamic and diverse. Furthermore, mu sic stretched from work songs and spirituals to protest commercial hillbilly and race recordings. The entertainers, with regard to the subject matter, believed in recording music that transformed access to dependable songs. At a quick glance, it appears that the Enlightenment, with its emphasis on rationalism, and Romanticism, with its stress on emotions, is

Serviced Apartments On Beach Resorts Tourism Essay

Serviced Apartments On Beach Resorts Tourism Essay A preliminary model of business development factors was created from both literature review and interviews conducted with international serviced apartment operators in Singapore. Subsequently, the model was being tested in a case study visit to Pattaya. The field study encompassed observations, interviews with government officials, serviced apartment operators and facilities operators. Through these modes of information gathering, the pilot model of business development factors was modified. A post model was drawn up to present the final list of business development factors, as well as three other complementary factors which affect the setting up of serviced apartments indirectly. Primary findings include the importance of extended stay markets, sources of expatriates, a viable and thriving tourist market, good transport connectivity, availability of facilities, proactive government support, high level of security and safety, warm and stable climate as well as affordability of the location. The future development of serviced apartments on beach resorts is also explored to include the possibility of venture into timesharing, vacation club, fractional property ownership or hybrids of the above mentioned. The history of beach resorts, or seaside resorts, dates back to Great Britain in the mid 18th century. Back then, visitors often went to beach resorts for their fashionable practice of sunbathing in a belief that it will help in disease treatment (The great British seaside resort: a brief history, 2009). However, times have changed and this trend has shifted from Europe to Asia Pacific. Hobson (1994) identified that future growth in the Asia Pacific region will be focused on the expansion of resort-type destinations, particularly in countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. With the development of beach resorts in Asia Pacific, accommodation has changed within different stages of development, as reflected in the Beach Resort Model (Smith, 1991). Serviced apartments are one of the newer accommodation types found on beach resorts, arising from the needs of modern travellers such as expatriates who are seeking an extended stay in a location, and families who intend to stay in a location for a longer holiday. As few studies have been done on serviced apartments on beach resorts, a case study on Pattaya beach resort was done to better comprehend the business development characteristics for establishing serviced apartments there. Objectives This paper firstly aims to provide insights on the current growth and penetration of serviced apartments on beach resorts. Secondly, it seeks to recommend a model of business development factors that lead to the growth of serviced apartments in Pattaya and also brings across how these factors may influence beach development and vice-versa. Finally, the implications of the business development factors to various stakeholders of serviced apartments are studied. Scope This paper is written in the context of beach resorts in Asia Pacific. Value of Research This paper provides knowledge about the different business development factors in contributing to the success of serviced apartments on beach resorts. Various stakeholders, especially developers and operators who are interested in establishing serviced apartments in Pattaya, will find this knowledge useful. For owners and operators of existing properties, this knowledge can enhance their management abilities. Limitations Being full-time undergraduates, this study was conducted on a part-time basis. As such, only one case study was conducted due to time and budget constraints. Additionally, the topic of serviced apartments on beach resorts is still relatively new and not widely explored. Therefore, there is limited information available. Furthermore, available publications mostly focused on the Western context, hence not specific to Asia Pacific. CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW Serviced Apartments Definition While there is no standard definition of a serviced apartment, serviced apartments are typically considered to offer self-contained accommodation with additional services. The apartment will generally include a small kitchen or kitchenette, with a living room in addition to the bedroom(s), or a studio bedroom (Foxley, 2001). Apartments are cleaned weekly and more often if client prefers, and a round-the-clock reception desk for queries and advice is usually available (Collins, 2007). The appeal of serviced apartments is that they offer the comfort and facilities of a hotel, with the privacy and facilities of home (Foxley, 2001). In addition, it is a cost-effective accommodation solution as guests staying for longer periods of 7 nights or more will normally benefit from a reduced price per night (The Association of Serviced Apartment Providers, 2009).  Globally, serviced apartments are sometimes referred to as serviced residences, condotels, extended stay hotels, and the like (Servi ced Apartments Association Singapore, 2005). Target Segments With changing work practices and increased globalisation of business, business executives are increasingly required to work away from home on a short to medium term basis (Foxley, 2001). Hence, serviced apartments provide the perfect solution for this group of professionals, who form the primary segment for serviced apartments. With a relatively long stay away from home, these business executives seek more space and a friendly home-from-home feel (Fearis, 2006). Besides business travellers, leisure markets with an extended stay intention are also targeted by serviced apartment operators (Harris, 2008). Greater international leisure travel and a growing trend towards taking extended breaks between jobs, vacations and working-holidays are also resulting in the demand for temporary accommodation (Foxley, 2001). Families form an integral part of the leisure market as the space and facilities serviced apartments offer suits their needs. Current Trends and Growth Serviced apartments business has been growing at 15-20% annually compared to a modest 6-8% notched by hotels (Choudhury, 2009). According to STR Global, demand for extended-stay accommodation had been growing by 4.9% in 2004, the fastest rate since 2000, and surpassing the 4.6% jump reported for the overall hotel industry (Ligos, 2005). One key driver for this trend is tight corporate budgets. The recent global economic turmoil forced many companies to reduce their travel expenses in an attempt to minimise costs, allowing serviced apartment operators to ride on this by matching limited budgets with competitive prices (Chinmaneevong, 2009). This was reflected in Asia, where demand for serviced apartments remains high despite the crisis (Harris, 2008). The increase in supply of serviced apartments is further bolstered by the predicted continuous growth in global business travel, with Asia Pacific being poised for substantial growth between 2008 and 2013 (NBTA/IHS Global Insight, 2009). Another driver for this surge in popularity of extended-stay hotels is that more companies are willing to pay to relocate new employees (NBTA/IHS Global Insight, 2009), or send them for cross-border corporate training programmes (Foxley, 2001). Employers regard this as an investment due to the lack of qualified and skilled labour (NBTA/IHS Global Insight, 2009). The percentage of such willing employers has increased from 2007 to 2008 by 14% (Fryson, 2008). Locations The locations of serviced apartments will determine the mix of studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments (Geieregger Oehmichen, 2008), as well as the quality of accommodation and service (Foxley, 2001). Typically, serviced apartments are found in urbanised locations (Harris, 2008), where many multinational companies establish their headquarters or manufacturing plants. This facilitates movement of business executives in cities for meetings and conventions. However, serviced apartments can also be found along beaches. Beach Resort Development Beach resorts are defined as geographic areas offering a variety of facilities, services and activities which are orientated towards seaside recreation for the accommodation, use and enjoyment of visitors (Smith, 1991). Resort morphology goes through a predictable sequence of stages: from pre-tourism low through high-density development to an urbanised state (Andriotis, 2006; Smith, 1992). Barrett (1958) first noted the significance of the seafront in the structure and location of the commercial core, distinct zonation of accommodation types which expands in a semi-circular fashion inland from the commercial core and an elongation of settlement parallel to the coast. Stansfield (1970) later observed the development of the Recreational Business District (RBD) consisting mainly retail, food and beverage and entertainment services along the beach front. The Commercial Business District (CBD) is distinctly separated from the RBD and commonly found more inland. Pigram (1977) noted that improved public transport played a significant part in the arrangement and evolution of zones of land-use. In addition, recreational businesses and accommodation establishments tend to orientate themselves on major access routes to the resorts. Smith (1991) created the Beach Resort Model (BRM) which describes ad-hoc beach development from stages 1 to 8. The stages were determined by 6 categories of change morphology, physical, environmental, social, economic and political. Four coastal resorts in Asia Pacific were studied in developing the BRM; however, it can still be applied at large to other coastal resorts. BRM documents the start of a beach resort from a settlement in pre-tourism datum to a fully urbanised city resort. Accommodation Development on Beach Resorts Accommodation at resorts fall into two groups: traditional and self-catering (Stallibrass, 1980). Traditional accommodation includes personal service both in the private rooms and public areas while self-catering accommodation is self-contained, with its own kitchen facilities. Accommodations on beach resorts frequently start with second homes, followed by hotels which are the traditional accommodation (Smith, 1991). There would be structural changes to accommodation typically at the last two stages of the BRM, because resorts mature and narrow accommodation bases diversify to include significant components of all classes of accommodation (Smith, 1991). In addition, changes experienced when a beach matures, such as greater accessibility and new facilities, results in visitor profile changes (Strapp, 1988). This also affects the type of accommodation in demand. Multi-titled tourism accommodations (MTTA), which include serviced apartments, have been on the rise due to lower financial risks compared to single-titled properties, and the larger target market available due to its mixed use (tourists and residential) (Warnken, Guilding, Cassidy, 2008). MTTA complexes now represent an integral part of, or even dominate many popular seaside and ski resorts in many parts of the developed world (Warnken Guilding, 2009). Serviced Apartments on Beach Resorts In later stages of beach development, beach resorts may start to see year-round residency. The area could become more of a residential community with people staying well past the traditional tourist season (Strapp, 1988). Anecdotal evidence suggests an increase in demand for self-catering short holidays (long weekends up to one week) amongst young families and self-catering accommodation for increasingly wealthy retirees (Warnken et al., 2008). Together with increased demand for accommodation, suppliers are encouraged to add higher quality infrastructure typified by a shift from inexpensive motels to resort apartments such as serviced apartments (Prideaux, 2000). Majority of internet accommodation search engines for major destinations returned listings with MTTA-style complexes (Warnken et al., 2008), and these include serviced apartments. Reasons which could have spurred the establishment of serviced apartments on beach resorts encompass the following: Presence of an expatriate market working in nearby industrial hubs requiring temporary accommodation (Appendix A, B C) Presence of a retired silver-haired market moving to beach resorts during winter months in order to stay in warmer climates (Foster Murphy, 1991; Williams, King, Warnes, Patterson, 2000) Transport connectivity for convenient access to the beach resort (Appendix C) Top-notch facilities such as schools, medical care and entertainment (Appendix B) Serviced Apartments on Beach Resorts in Asia Pacific Serviced apartments were the fastest growing segment of the tourist accommodation sector in Australia during the late 1990s (Foxley, 2001). The number of serviced apartment properties in Gold Coast has been increasing over the past few years. In 1998, the number of serviced apartment guest rooms was 3,180 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1999), while in 2007, this number was 5,371 (BusinessGC, 2007). In the year ended June 2009, serviced apartments saw the strongest increase in establishments (0.9%) and room nights available (2.4%) out of all accommodation types, while the motel and hotel sector experienced a contraction of 4.7% and 6.1% respectively in number of establishments (Tourism Queensland, 2009). Currently, here are not many major international operators located on beach resorts in Asia Pacific. Some international operators feel that there are opportunities for serviced apartments to be located on beach resorts in the region. With news releases indicating the plans of Ascott and Oakwood to enter Pattaya, Thailand (The Ascott Limited, 2005; Viboonchart, 2009), it suggests that development of serviced apartments on beach resorts in other parts of Asia Pacific is gaining momentum. Currently, Frasers Hospitality already has a property in Pattaya named Fraser Resort Pattaya. CHAPTER 3 PROPOSED MODEL OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FACTORS FOR ESTABLISHING SERVICED APARTMENTS ON BEACH RESORTS The role of the market has not been the main focus in existing research for the development of beach resorts. The following section takes a closer look at market conditions and operation of the supply side in spurring beach resort development, specifically the development of accommodation to include serviced apartments. The three most important stakeholders in a beach resorts are guests (who are the main cause for induced development); hosts (who by supporting development and by being involved in tourism contribute to the success of a destination); and politics (which influence overall development) (Andriotis, 2006). As such, the factors which are considered below are greatly influenced by characteristics of these three stakeholders. Industrial areas and city centres Relocation of corporate personnel would generate demand for serviced apartments. For beach resorts, there would usually be a presence of expatriates if there are nearby industrial areas and busy city centres (Appendix A C). Moreover, coastal areas are emerging as major centres of economic activity and new powerhouses of tourism interest (Prideaux, 2009), possibly bringing in an expatriate market. Viable and thriving tourist market During weekends, serviced apartments target leisure travellers to fill rooms. This is supported by Foxleys (2001) observation of a trend amongst the international leisure travellers to take extended breaks. In addition, there is seemingly an increase in demand for self-catering short holidays amongst young families (Warnken et al., 2008). Hence, a viable tourist market should also be present for serviced apartments to tap on. Medical tourism Medical tourism has grown rapidly in the past decade (Connell, 2006). People travel long distances overseas to obtain medical, dental, and surgical care while simultaneously being holidaymakers. Reasons for the growth of this niche tourism are high costs of treatment in developed countries, long waiting lists, relative affordability of air travel, and favourable exchange rates (Connell, 2006). Medical tourism has grown in Thailand who deliberately linked medical care to tourism, thus boosting beaches attractions (Connell, 2006). The Phuket Health and Travel website states that it aims to combine health and holiday aspects of travel. Their health and holiday package could include hotel accommodation, pre-doctor appointment, sightseeing, island tours and night entertainment attraction bookings (Phuket Health Travel, 2009). As medical tourism gains popularity, operators may establish serviced apartments next to large hospitals to cater to this kind of demand (Sharma, 2005). Transport Connectivity Transport access to the resort is likely a key determinant of the resorts rate and size of growth. Kim (1998) mentioned that the assessment of tourism potential would place great emphasis on transport communications and general access to the area. As accessibility improves through new road, rail, sea and air services, new and more distant markets will become accessible (Prideaux, 2000). In addition, a good transport system is essential in bringing customers to the apartments doorsteps, and bringing customers to their destinations in the day. Facilities Guests of serviced apartments require nearby facilities for basic living essentials and recreational activities. Recreational activities include sports, shopping and entertainment (Prideaux, 2000), while basic essentials encompass healthcare and educational institutions. Healthcare and educational institutions are especially important for expatriates who have brought their families along when they are relocated by their companies (Appendix B). Political aspects Government policies can hasten the development of beach resorts (Prideaux, 2000) and also implement favourable conditions to boost tourism which potentially encourages serviced apartment establishments due to healthy tourist market prospects. National Tourism Organizations are also responsible in wooing tourists to the country. Ooi (2002) discovered that the political environment can have a significant influence on the image of the destination and tourism promotion policies. Safety and Security Safety is a major concern for tourists (Kim, 1998). Davidoff and Davidoff (1994) concluded that people would not travel to a location believed to be unsafe. Given that expatriates can stay up to a considerable period of time and may bring their families along when they are relocated, security for the family and self becomes an important concern. A summary of the above mentioned factors are integrated into the table below: Table 1.png The factors identified above can possibly shape future growth and development of beach resorts. Additionally, they also aid in future planning by recognising supply short-comings and predicting rising needs of the market, allowing sufficient time and space for operators to cater to these trends. CHAPTER 4 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Case Selection The case method (Yin, 2003) is used in this study and the unit of research is a beach resort. The case selected in this study is Pattaya. In Pattaya, there is one major international serviced apartment operator, Fraser Resort Pattaya. Interestingly, a huge industrial development is located east of Pattaya. As a developed beach resort, Pattaya has good facilities and infrastructure in place to support its tourism activities. These indicators provide an inkling of the entry of more international operators eventually, thus providing adequate data for this study. Data Collection Formal interviews were conducted with major international serviced apartment operators headquartered in Singapore to gain a better understanding of the industry. A preliminary model was created through book, journal and internet research, newspapers and interviews in Singapore. A field study to Pattaya was then conducted from 8 to 11 December 2009 to collect primary data. Details of the site visit are: Interview with an international service apartment operator several local operators an official from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Chon Buri (Pattaya) international hospitals Physical observations of the facilities, establishments and general environment Subsequently, a post-trip model was constructed. This is a refined and condensed model after further knowledge gathered through the field study. Complementary factors which contribute to the listed factors are also identified to provide a wider perspective. CHAPTER 5 PATTAYA CASE A seaside province located on Thailands east coast, Chon Buris scenic views earns itself a reputation as one of Thailands popular sanctuaries for holiday retreats. Situated near the city of Chon Buri is Pattaya, a holiday paradise for fun-lovers. As Thailands premier beach resort that attracts a large number of tourists, Pattaya is charmed by a tropical resort atmosphere suitable for total relaxation. Besides its blessed natural beauty, Pattaya also offers a wide range of water sports and vibrant nightlife (TAT, 2006). Today, it boasts the unique distinction of a beach resort with a city status (TAT, 2007). 5.1 Accommodation Development in Pattaya The increasing influx of visitors over the years has stimulated changes in accommodation types. Most of the large hotel chains, resorts and serviced apartments are located in two regions north and central of Pattaya city. In the stretch right in front of the coastline, the smaller hotels or budget accommodations are found. This stretch is also the region where there are many restaurants, bars, pubs and a number of shopping malls spread out along the coastline. Although most of the serviced apartments are in the north and central region of the city, there are still a few serviced apartments located in the beachfront stretch (Appendix T). This occurrence as described by the BRM model is due to development saturation of the original beachfront strip causing subsequent accommodation to develop along the same strip but extending further inland (Smith, 1991). As serviced apartments are only recently developed on beach resorts, their locations are thus further away from the beachfront. In addition, beachfront region is considered to be nosier with activities ongoing till late. Since serviced apartments are targeted at long-term stay visitors who might want a more conducive environment, serviced apartment operators have thus established the apartments away from the noise. The contrasting location of some serviced apartments in the beachfront stretch is due to their smaller sizes and absence of a serviced apartments full capacities. CHAPTER 6 CASE EVALUATION The business development factors in the preliminary model are assessed against observations and interviews conducted at Pattaya. Further findings are also indicated. Evaluation of Preliminary Model Industrial Areas and City Centres As business executives are the primary target audience of serviced apartments, the existence of sources generating expatriates, such as industrial areas and city centres, are vital. In Pattaya, industrial areas are of notable importance as a driving factor for guests in serviced apartments. Chon Buri province is located in the industrial development region of Thailand, a short drive to southeast Bangkok (Tanvatanakul, Saowakontha, Amado, Vicente, 2007). Business executives who work in both Bangkok city and Chon Buri are thus able to commute to Pattaya quickly. Besides Chon Buri, Rayong province also houses several industrial areas and is approximately 220 kilometres from Bangkok (Bangkoksite.com, 2009). Five main industrial areas (Appendix N) situated in both provinces Laem Chabang , Map Ta Phut, Eastern Seaboard, Amata City and Pinthong, are sources of the expatriate market who seek accommodation in Pattaya city (Appendix I). Some local operators revealed that the bulk of their customers come from the industrial areas. The close proximity to both provinces makes Pattaya a preferred place for many expatriates to stay in (Thailand Guru, 2007). This spells business opportunities for serviced apartments. Positive statistics draw links to a possibly burgeoning expatriate market coming to Pattaya, as reflected in the rise in tourist arrivals in Pattaya for business activities over the years. Arrivals based on business purposes increased by 38.08% from 349,010 in 2006 to 481,916 in 2007 (TAT, 2007). In addition, the proportion of these business arrivals out of total arrivals also increased from 5.7% in 2006 to 7.21% in 2007. For conference/seminar purpose, figures rose from 95,887 in 2006 to 260,695 in 2007 (TAT, 2007), representing an astounding 171.9% increase. The proportion of this conference/seminar-driven tourism out of total tourist arrivals increased from 1.6% in 2006 to 3.9% in 2007. These trends may further spur the growth of serviced apartments in Pattaya. Viable and Thriving Tourist Market Apart from business travellers, serviced apartments may also serve leisure travellers who are on extended holidays. A promising inflow of tourists is likely to affect the growth of serviced apartments. The following section assesses the tourist market in Pattaya based on figures retrieved from TAT for years 2005 to 2007. TAT indicated that figures for 2008 and 2009 are not available. Tourist Arrivals Table 2.png Table 3.png Figure 1. Internal Tourism in Pattaya Tourist arrivals have been increasing steadily from 1997 to 2007. It increased by 14.55% in 2006 as compared to 2005, to a decade high of 6,680,658 in 2007 (+9.25%). The main purpose of visits has been for leisure, which comprises about 83 90% of tourist arrivals in years 2005 to 2007. This shows a thriving leisure tourist market. Table 4.png Interviews conducted with local serviced apartment operators revealed that their main customers are Europeans. Figures have shown that out of the 4,481,630 international travellers who visited Pattaya in 2007, 40% are Europeans. As Pattaya remains a popular beach resort destination for European visitors, the European tourist market in Pattaya will either maintain its size or expand in the future. Local operators also mentioned that these Europeans customers can stay for long periods ranging from a few weeks to a few months. Aside from Europeans, Pattaya is also a popular destination amongst Asians due to its location and reputation for providing a beach getaway. A dip in figures is expected for 2008 and 2009 due to the global economic recession and H1N1 pandemic. Other sources suggest that following a 5% increase in tourism numbers in the first half of 2008, international tourism began to slow down rapidly in mid-2008, reflecting rising oil and commodity prices, volatile exchange rate fluctuations, political instability, and the impact of the global economic recession (UNWTO 2008; UNWTO 2009a; UNWTO 2009b). However, as the world emerges from the recession, tourism in Pattaya is expected to pick up in late 2009 or early 2010 onwards. Tourist Receipts Table 5.png Accommodation expenses generally comprise the bulk of tourist expenditure. Furthermore, tourist receipts have been increasing from 48,522.13 million baht in 2005 to 59,347.61 million baht in 2007. As both tourist arrivals and expenditure increase, this means more business opportunities for serviced apartments in Pattaya. Average Length of Stay of Tourists Table 6.png The average length of stay has decreased from 3.41 days in 2005 to 3.13 days in 2007. However, local operators revealed that the average length of stay ranges from a few days to a few months for leisure travellers, while the average length of stay can be up to 2 years for expatriates. Major Attractions and Future Plans The two principal beaches are Pattaya and Jomtien beach, which offer a range of recreational and entertainment services. Aside from the beaches which saw 61% and 31% of total tourist arrivals in 2007 respectively, other key attractions include bars and nightclubs (30%) and shopping malls (13%) (TAT, 2007). As beaches remain the most visited place in Pattaya, plans are proposed for a large new pier and marina for sporting and leisure craft on Pattaya beach (Channgam, 2008), rejuvenating the beach and thus keeping it attractive for tourists. In addition, the Pattayas mayor wishes to shift the image of Pattaya away from a red-light district to one full of other exciting activities such as a possible indoor ski resort which could attract more international business chains and induce more long-stay guests (Appendix J). Hence a viable and thriving leisure tourist market helps to raise occupancy rates in serviced apartments. Nonetheless, the tourism industry needs to keep improving to sustain or develop new interest in tourists. Medical Tourism The presence of international hospitals may stimulate the establishment of serviced apartments next to them to cater to potential medical tourists who stay for long-term treatment. Three international hospitals dominate Pattaya, namely Bangkok Pattaya Hospital (BPH), Pattaya International Hospital (PIH) and Pattaya Memorial Hospital (PMH). Of these hospitals, only BPH is programme certified by Joint Commission International. It also has 400 beds, having the ability to accommodate more patients as compared to PIHs 70 beds, and PMHs 80 inpatient beds. However, from interviews with the hospitals, it was revealed that patients are largely locals and to a lesser extent, international visitors. Medical tourists are hence an insignificant contributing long-stay market. Nonetheless, it may grow in significance in the future. Transport Connectivity Favourable transport connectivity helps visitors and locals to orientate their way to and around Pattaya easily, a basic essential factor required to draw guests to stay. Features affecting transport connectivity are analysed below: Distance and time to airport Located approximately 110 kilometres away, Pattaya has close proximity to Suvarnabhumi Airport, with travelling time around 1.5 to 2 hours. This relatively short distance and travelling time makes Pattaya a desired city to visit. Modes of transport to Pattaya Visitors can access Pattaya conveniently via air, rail, taxi, coach or local buses. Modes of transport around Pattaya The most commonly seen transport is the Baht Buses, which are transformed from pickup trucks. Other forms of transport include motorcycle, bicycle, car, local bus and taxi. Local buses, however, are not easy to spot and thus often underutilised. Road InterconnectivityC:UsersLoyAppDataLocalTempRoad Map.jpg Figure 2. Pattaya Road Map The road system can be complex and confusing for first-time visitors. However, after gaining familiarity, it is simpler to navigate around. From North to South, there are Beach Road (also known as First Road) which faces the sea, Pattaya Second Road and Pattaya Third Road. Beach Road is a one-way road which runs southwards, while Second Road runs northwards. These one-way roads pose inconvenience and a hassle to travel. In between these roads are smaller and busier streets which connect the three roads together. From East to West, there are the North Pattaya Road, Central Pattaya Ro

Cloning is Not What it Used to Be :: Cloning Argumentative Persuasive Argument

Cloning is Not What it Used to Be      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   On Sunday, February 23, 1997, Scottish researchers broke one of nature's greatest laws by cloning a lamb from a single cell of an adult ewe.   This breakthrough opens the door to the possibility for the cloning of other mammals including humans.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This remarkable achievement is being looked at as a great advancement in animal agriculture.   But this achievement could lead to ethical questions of standard.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Researchers lead by Ian Wilmut of the Roslin Institute in Midlothian, Scotland, showed that a fully differentiated cell from the mammary tissue of an ewe could be manipulated in such a way as to produce a genetically identical copy of the animal that the DNA was acquired.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Scientist long believed that once a cell became differentiated, that most of its approximately 100,000 genes shut off.   Only a few genes remained active to allow the cell to perform its specific function of life.   All efforts to reactivate the shut-off genes have failed.   English researchers have came the closest by teasing frog body cells to develop into tadpoles.   The tadpoles, however, never matured into frogs.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Scottish researchers have failed many times with sheep cells before their success, but the task was perfected and accomplished.   Now this accomplishment has made it possible for the cloning of almost any mammal, including humans.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To the average person, exactly how the technique works is unclear. Scientist predicted that by making cells dormant and bringing them close to death, something happens to break the chemical locks (barriers) that keep most of the genes inactive. The mammary cell is inserted into an unfertilized sheep egg cell that has already had all of its own genetic material removed.   By fusing the cells together tricks the egg into thinking that it has become fertilized.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   After being fused together, researchers believe that the chemical machinery inside the egg cell goes to work to reprogram the mammary cell genes into starting over again, as if they were brought together as sperm and egg. The cell divides, produces an embryo, fetus and a newborn that is identical to the animal from which it was cloned.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Although the United States government prohibits government funds being spent on human cloning research, and ethicists decry it, nevertheless, human cloning could be achieved, Neal First said.   First is a professor of animal biotechnology and reproductive biology at the University of Wisconsin.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Overall, there is no apparent reason to clone humans. A duplicate body does not mean a duplicated mind.

Effects of Academic Dishonesty on Higher Education Essay

Academic dishonesty is a vice that is plaguing higher education in today’s society. While lecturers and exam invigilators always seem to be a step behind in catching the culprits, the techniques being invented by the students to beat the system can almost be viewed with grim fascination. The emphasis that has been put on higher education when it comes to job status has totally skewed the moral compass of students and people who were of â€Å"respected character† in their high schools are usually at pains when explaining why the chose to cheat; this is usually after they are caught. The challenges being presented to the young boys and girls in our corridors of higher learning can be tackled the same way these students made the grades in high school. It’s all about commitment and hard work. (Anderman et al, 2007) Reasons for Cheating Students will cheat if they are not adequately prepared or if they believe regardless of their understanding of the course content, they are just not going to pass. Looking at the first reason, failure to adequately prepare for a CAT or an exam yet one has been given all the material can only be blamed on one’s negligence. On the second reason, the students may have reason to believe that there will be a disconnect between the questions being asked and the material they have studied. They could base their suspicions on the previous practices of these particular lecturer or they just do not have faith on the content they have been taught. This rarely happens but what students do not understand is it is not the lecturer’s role to â€Å"spoon-feed† them in the entire course outline. One of the expectations society has on graduates is that one should at least be able to conduct a research independently. Part of the content would therefore not be given in class and the lecturer will expect the students to conduct their own fact-finding missions. Therefore, one should not vilify a lecturer for asking a question that one wasn’t familiar with before looking at the course outline. (Callahan, 2004) Plagiarism, Fabrication and Deception The kind of cheating looked at above focuses on exam-based mode of evaluations. Research work conducted by students or even university faculty has not been spared this vice either. This kind of cheating is characterized by plagiarism, fabrication and deception. Plagiarism is the most common especially with undergraduate students. The internet has proved to be quite resourceful with information about pretty much anything being just a mouse click away. Stiff penalties like being expelled or suspended from the university do exist but there are still a few brave souls who believe they can get away with it. When one moves to the post-graduate and doctorate levels, cases of plagiarism are quite minimal. Having one’s name tarnished with plagiarism is a tag that will follow you for the rest of your career. (Bowman, 2004, p 25) The few cases of academic dishonesty reported usually arise from intentionally presenting false data. Research work is a time consuming process that can take months and even years. It can be quite unfortunate if at the end of your research, the experimental results do not match your hypothesis. Occasionally, some people prefer to fabricate their results instead of repeating the entire process or admitting that their research was inconclusive. You might get away with it if the experts in that particular field are few but the fall-out that would follow when you are discovered has proven to be the greatest deterrent. (Bowman, 2004) Studies in the Unites States show that â€Å"70% of students in high school have cheated† (Anderman et al, 2007) meaning that this vice was not suddenly acquired when these students joined university. It has moved to a point where when students are caught cheating, they are probably mad at themselves because they were caught instead of having remorse. The likelihood that you might actually be caught should be the greatest deterrent to cheating; not the penalty received after you are caught. You will only worry about the penalty if you are not sure whether you will get away with it. (Anderman et al, 2007) Effects on Higher Education Cheating has a negative effect on higher education in that the entire credibility of the system is questioned. Take for instance a student who actively cheated during his time at a particular business school somehow sneaks through the cracks in the system and is employed in the job market. Research has shown a majority of people caught practicing unsound business practices like embezzling of funds most likely participated in academic dishonesty during their time in university. The embarrassment such a person will bring to their learning institution is immeasurable. Furthermore, the credibility of students who passed through this business school will also be brought into question. It is fair to say that a looted business enterprise will think twice before employing someone from that disgraced business school. Majority of universities rely on grants and research funds to run their expensive programs. While funds from local authorities, student fees or even the federal government might be enough to run some programs, a large majority of courses rely on huge cash returns that research programs produce. All this can change if the entire higher education system is brought into disrepute due to widespread cases of cheating. Currently, few universities dare to admit that the problem is more widespread than it is reported. They are aware of the vice and admit to it being prevalent mostly in the undergraduate level. Today, the cost of hiring a university to perform a research on your behalf is a luxury enjoyed by companies or institutions that can afford the high costs. The justification for these high costs is attributed to the level of skill required to conduct this research; and this skills can only be found at our institutions of higher learning. This house of cards could probably come tumbling down if the current levels of academic dishonesty continue persisting. The research work will continue but the revenue being generated will decline. Interested parties will argue that the widespread cases of cheating in your university do not justify the excessive research fees being charged. (Callahan, 2004, p 72) Most academic scholars will never admit it but the prestige that comes with obtaining qualifications from a recognized institution of higher learning played a part when they decided to pursue higher education. Rock stars and established sportsmen and women keep returning to universities to finish their degree courses regardless of the amount of wealth they have amassed. It’s not like getting a degree guarantees you a better life insurance package or longer life expectancy; it is what the degree represents. Ironically, cheaters also realize this. A university degree is a rubberstamp of knowledge in today’s society. Some siblings have complained that their fellow brothers or sisters are held in higher regard by their parents or relatives just because they attended a university (a prestigious one). Is this system fair? Yes it is because being selected to join a university and successfully completing one’s course is not an easy affair. I believe those who have managed this feat deserve every accolade they receive. All this good is however eroded by cases of academic dishonesty. Such people end up tarnishing the names of the institutions plus the people who will pass through its corridors long after they are gone. There is a class system in every society and a large majority of them are segregated by wealth accrued or the level of education attained. Without getting into the pros and cons of a society divided by class, the reality is in every society there will have to be leaders and followers; you cannot have both. A person’s education status has been a barometer for today’s leader. Changing this due to some inept practices of some students who were caught with crib notes does seem far-fetched but is plausible if the problem becomes endemic. (Bowman, 2004, p 26) Conclusion At its current â€Å"manageable levels† academic dishonesty needs to be wiped out since it does affect the morale of students who have chosen to walk the straight path yet they are lagging behind their counterparts who are cheating. The prestige of higher education will be preserved only if its members respect its ideals and principles. Unfortunately, it is these same members who are destroying the system but the buck still stops with them in repairing the tarnished image. (Callahan, 2004, p 78) References Anderman E M, Murdock T B (2007) Psychology of Academic Cheating. Amsterdam; Boston, Elsevier Academic Press, pp 15-18 Bowman V, ed. (2004) The plagiarism plague: A resource guide and CD-ROM tutorial for educators and librarians, New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, pp 25-26 Callahan, D (2004) The cheating culture: Why more Americans are doing wrong to get Ahead, Orlando, FL: Harcourt. Hayden & West Stacks, pp 69-78

Why Deflation Doesnt Happen During a Recession

Why Deflation Doesn't Happen During a Recession When there is economic expansion, demand seems to outpace supply, particularly for goods and services that take time and major capital to increase supply. As a result, prices generally rise (or there is at least price pressure), particularly for goods and services that cannot rapidly meet the increased demand, such as housing in urban centers (relatively fixed supply), and advanced education (takes time to expand/build new schools). This doesnt apply to cars because automotive plants can gear up pretty quickly. Conversely, when there is an economic contraction (i.e. recession), supply initially outpaces demand. This would suggest that there would be downward pressure on prices, but prices for most goods and services dont go down and neither do wages.  Why do prices and wages appear to be sticky in a downward direction? For wages, corporate/human culture offer up a simple explanation: people do not like to give pay cuts... managers tend to lay off before they give pay cuts (though there exist some exceptions). That said, this doesnt explain why prices dont go down for most goods and services. In  Why Does Money Have Value, we saw that changes in the level of prices (inflation) were due to a combination of the following four factors: The supply of money goes up.The supply of goods goes down.Demand for money goes down.Demand for goods goes up. In a boom, we would expect that the demand for goods to rise faster than the supply. All else being equal, we would expect factor 4 to outweigh factor 2 and the level of prices to rise. Since deflation is the opposite of inflation, deflation is due to a combination of the following four factors: The supply of money goes down.The supply of goods goes up.Demand for money goes up.Demand for goods goes down. We would expect the demand for goods to decline faster than the supply, so factor 4 should outweigh factor 2, so all else being equal we should expect the level of prices to fall. In  A Beginners Guide to Economic Indicators we saw that measures of inflation such as the Implicit Price Deflator for GDP are pro-cyclical coincident economic indicators, so the inflation rate is high during booms and low during recessions. The information above shows that the inflation rate should be higher in booms than in bursts, but why is the inflation rate still positive in recessions? Different Situations, Different Results The answer is that all else is not equal. The money supply is constantly expanding, so the economy has a consistent inflationary pressure given by factor 1. The Federal Reserve has a table listing the M1, M2, and M3 money supply. From Recession? Depression? we saw that during the worst recession America has experienced since World War II, from November 1973 to March 1975, real GDP fell by 4.9 percent. This would have caused deflation, except that the money supply rose rapidly during this period, with the seasonally adjusted M2 rising 16.5% and the seasonally adjusted M3 rising 24.4%. Data from Economagic shows that the Consumer Price Index rose 14.68% during this severe recession. A recessionary period with a high inflation rate is known as stagflation, a concept made famous by Milton Friedman. While inflation rates are generally lower during recessions, we can still experience high levels of inflation through the growth of the money supply. So the key point here is that while the inflation rate rises during a boom and falls during a recession, it generally does not go below zero due to a consistently increasing money supply.   In addition, there may be consumer psychology-related factors that prevent prices from decreasing during a recession- more specifically, firms may be reluctant to decrease prices if they feel like customers will get upset when they increase prices back to their original levels at a later point in time.

Five Words You Can Cut

Five Words You Can Cut Five Words You Can Cut Five Words You Can Cut By Ali Hale One of the best ways to make your writing stronger is to cut unnecessary words. Many people tend to over-write, often in a similar way to how they would speak. Words creep in that add no meaning and can make a piece of writing sound vague and woolly rather than confidence and precise. Just This is one of the worst offenders for me. I over-use it in email, typing: â€Å"I just thought I’d drop you a note†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Just writing to ask†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"If you could just give me a call†¦Ã¢â‚¬  In almost every case, striking out the word â€Å"just† will make a sentence stronger. It tends to make you sound either desperate when applied to yourself (â€Å"I just wondered if you could†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ) or demanding when applied to the other person (â€Å"If you would just†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). Really Like â€Å"just†, this is another word which can frequently be cut. It’s often found partnering â€Å"just†, in which case you might want to rewrite the whole sentence. â€Å"You can really improve by†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"You don’t really want to†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I’m really just trying to †¦Ã¢â‚¬  Using the word â€Å"really† about yourself makes it sounds as though you believe the other person is unsure of your intentions; â€Å"I’m really writing the report† can sound defensive. And using it about someone else can sound patronising – phrases like â€Å"that’s really good!† are best kept for the kindergarten. Quite This insidious word tends to water down the meaning of a sentence or, worse, make it unclear. It usually means â€Å"a bit† as in â€Å"I quite liked it†, but can also mean â€Å"completely† as in â€Å"Quite right.† Most people have little difficulty understanding those, but sentences like â€Å"I was quite outraged† can be taken either way. â€Å"I’d quite like you to †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I’m feeling quite upset about it.† â€Å"I don’t think you quite understand† There are some circumstances where you may well want to keep the word â€Å"quite†, particularly when trying to justify something over-running. â€Å"Quite† is useful in suggesting both â€Å"almost there† and â€Å"soon†, and saying â€Å"The files aren’t quite ready yet †¦Ã¢â‚¬  implies it won’t be much longer, whereas â€Å"The files aren’t ready yet† can sound like stone-walling. Perhaps Like many of the words above, â€Å"perhaps† makes your writing sound uncertain. It can obscure meaning, or weaken an otherwise powerful statement, and often causes confusion. â€Å"Perhaps we could meet at twelve for lunch.† â€Å"And then perhaps you’d like to †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Perhaps if I †¦Ã¢â‚¬  The main problem in all these cases is that the word â€Å"perhaps† means your intention is unclear. If you email someone suggesting â€Å"Perhaps we could meet at twelve for lunch†, are you proposing a lunch meeting, or just idly wondering whether it’s possible? The â€Å"perhaps† also makes it unclear what part of the suggestion is in doubt; do you think twelve might not be the best time, or do you suspect the other person won’t want to get lunch? That This is another word which creeps into my writing where it’s not needed. It’s fine when necessary, but can often be cut without any loss of meaning – usually when it’s preceded by a noun. â€Å"This is the house that Jack built.† â€Å"Can you remember the time that we asked people to arrive?† â€Å"I liked the design that you came up with.† Make sure you don’t cut valid instances of the word, usually where â€Å"that† comes before the noun. â€Å"I need that document by five† makes sense, â€Å"I need document by five† is only safe in a very informal context and if you’re sure the other person knows which document you mean. Putting it all together If you email someone with â€Å"I really just wondered if perhaps you could send those documents that I mentioned quite soon.† you come across as diffident, uncertain and sound like you’re babbling. It’s also unclear whether you do need those documents straight away, or whether you’re simply enquiring whether they could be sent soon. But if you delete the five unnecessary words, you’ll get â€Å"I really just wondered if perhaps you could send those documents that I mentioned quite soon.† â€Å"I wondered if you could send those documents I mentioned soon.† This sentence is much clearer, more concise, and likely to elicit a quick response. So when you’ve written an email, article, report or even a piece of fiction, check through for the words just, really, quite, perhaps and that – and see if you can improve the piece by cutting them out. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:12 Greek Words You Should KnowDeck the HallsWhen to use "an"

Growth rates and inflation rate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Growth rates and inflation rate - Essay Example Increase in prices of commodities result into reduced purchasing power. It is vital to note that the impacts of inflation are not uniformly distributed but they are benefits to some while at the same time they are hidden costs to majority of consumers. For instance, during inflation, the prices of physical assets increase thus making the owners to enjoy increased value of their assets (Auernheimer 25). But on the other hand, individuals who are willing to purchase the assets will pay more. Another impact of inflation is that it results to erosion of real value of money. One of the key impacts of inflation is that it results into inefficiencies that affect the budgeting and planning strategies of a government and firms. Based on its effect of reducing the real value of money, inflation makes firms to incur profits and losses. Another effect of inflation is that it results into uncertainties in the consumer’s purchasing power. As a result, there is low demand of products the level of investment as well as saving decreases. Despite the negative implications of the inflation on the economy, a moderate inflation allows real wages to decrease even if nominal wages are not changed resulting to equilibrium in the labor market. According to Robert Mundell theory, a moderate inflation allows savers to increase their amount of savings in order to have adequate funds to finance future activities. Through the increased saving, money is supply is put under control thus creating an economic equilibrium Conclusion In their efforts to regulate money supply, central banks emulate various microeconomic policies. These include open market operations, increasing or decreasing the rate on interest, discount rates and bank reserves among others. In cases the money in circulation increases to uncontrollable level, inflation results. Similarly, from the above discussion, it is clear that based on the

ClamDoor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

ClamDoor - Essay Example The company found out that to increase traffic to ClamDoor.com marketing campaign should be the most efficient idea to implement which will in turn grow direct sales to homeowners. They believe in speed, quality service and investing in high-quality machinery, which increases productivity. A SWOT analysis shows that ClamDoor lack a well-organized manufacturing process, the use of single mold system is incapable of increasing production in case of high demand. Moreover, they products are easy to install, installation tips and guides are always on the website. Products are highly priced compared to their competitors whose prices are much lower. ClamDoor’s lowest priced cellar door is $1,490. Roughly, double the price of the top selling cellar door Bilco Classic Series, Powder Coated Steel Door. A projection shows that they will use a budget of up to $42,000 to make a profit of $48,000. The projections solely depend on the assumptions that the company’s sales will increase , and production cost will reduce. In addition, they make utility by assuming that there will be no interferences from the government and industry regulation, and production will increase. The company strategy understands that technology has changed for the past years and is still changing and perceives that internet strategy must be seriously covered; a good website must be developed immediately. They manufacture high-quality bulkheads that are 100% weather-tight and energy efficient with 100% fiberglass. The ClamDoors are durable and do not rust, they are easy to install and weigh much less than steel doors (Akyol 4). ClamDoor’s main objective is to build a brand awareness to expand market share on local and international level. Other objectives are to reduce production costs in order to reduce product cost, to access the total cost of sales through large retailers and increase online orders at their website. ClamDoor

Interview on play development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Interview on play development - Essay Example I also did not go to school, but at age 5 and 6 I played many games, such as the Hunter (similar to hide and seek), Carrom (similar to snooker), marbles, and hopscotch. Because I did not go to school, I could only play games with the neighborhood kids. At home my sisters and my cousins all liked to play the Hunter game. But in the neighborhood, most kids either played marbles or hopscotch. I mostly liked playing with marbles. Also, the Carrom game was fun to play with the board. During my free time I would just help out around my home with any chores that needed doing. At home I would play with my sisters and cousins, but outside I would just play with the neighborhood kids. I was able to develop strong relationships with my relatives and also neighborhood kids because of playing these games with them. I think that the fun that I had contributed to the good relationships I had with many kids. Adults had no say in what we played because mostly the kids just came up with new ideas abou t what games to play. When I got married and moved to Egypt at the age of 14, I did not play as much as I used to when I was a child. Simple activities such as washing clothes and sweeping the house became normal to me. I think that children play much differently today than when I was a child. Now there is more technology so kids don’t have to think too much about what games they can play. One bad thing about this is that it can cause tension among kids, which reduces friendships. Kids these days don’t talk as much when they play because they are always looking at a screen. When I was young, talking and telling stories was an important part of play. I wish that children these days would be required to use their brains more when it comes to play. Too many people have tried to make things easier for kids by not making them think first. I am proud of the games that I

Withholding Information Essay Example for Free

Withholding Information Essay It is frequently advisable for those in positions of authority in government to withhold information from general public Some information the public has the right to know while other information is better to be withheld. There are plenty of reasons why it is better not revealing information. Withholding information that may put the population in danger would be better than revealing information which would bring chaos. On the flipside, transparency and honesty between the government and the public are very important. Transparency is essential in order for a democracy to function and honesty is important in cases when there is need for strong relations to be created. And although I support the idea of freedom of information, the general public will never be educated enough to maintain consensus and national problems. In these cases withholding information helps to ensure stability in terms of national security, preserving the peace and well-being. The main reason authority keeps information is the fear from criticism and disapproval. A rational society would never be satisfied with vague information and would want to take part in the decision-making process. Government has a lot of information which the people may have an interest in but still some of this information is dangerous. Things like war strategies and secret missions need to be withheld. Being kept in the dark on some things as long as its truly for the good of the nation and not for someone’s benefit is acceptable. For example if government find the cure for cancer but decide that it would ruin pharmaceutical companies and chose not to reveal this information it isn’t right. On the other hand, there is a lot of information which public doesn’t deserve access to. Like information that endangers the government. Another reason for withholding information could be to cover mistakes and not causing discontent. The government always makes big promises and eventually it will have to fulfill some of them. If government promise to reduce the crime rate in 30% within a year and don’t follow the plan it will lose it’s credibility. I think that the idea some information to be withheld is valid. However, information that would improve the living standard of people or information which is of great importance for the future of humanity, in my opinion shouldn’t be kept. There is no clear moral answer here. When there is too much that is at stake, we can’t say that information should always be free. Should it benefit the public to know how their government works, or it should benefit the government to have the full control over our lives. Im not so sure.

The Impact Of Violent Games

The Impact Of Violent Games The transformation of mans life from the primitive being to the civilized one has occurred from the turn of the 18th century. The start of the 19th century witnessed more scientific discoveries. Techno-science is credited with these discoveries, and what this has done is that it has improved life on earth and made it better. We now live a world whereby all ages have some form of scientific discovery that makes life better and more sophisticated. It is true that sophistication is the principal reason behind all scientific discoveries. Moreover, the nature of man is that man is a creature that seeks to improve its own existence by bringing forth a myriad of scientific discoveries Techno- science has brought with it a lot of discoveries, and this has made life on earth to be better and more comfortable. One such field is that of entertainment. Be it music, videos, video games or even sports, techno- science has ensured that electronic gadgets have been created, thereby improving peoples lives. The chief beneficially to technological advancements in entertainment is children and young adults/adolescents. Video games are a top mode of entertainment among this young group of people. Video games are the creation of computers, and while even adults play these games, the market segment is children and young people. However much technological advancement are on the rise, techno-scientists have been accused of creating products without having to care about the potential effects of these products to the market segment. For instance, violent video games are immensely entertaining to children and young people, but what is puzzling is that, innovators of these products do not have the slightest care concerning the effect that these games have on the users (Anderson Bushman, 39). For years, video games have been accused of poisoning the minds of young people and children, which is detrimental to their development as they ape what they see in these videos. This essay analyses violent video games as being a contributor to aggressive behavior, especially in children and teenagers. By analyzing violent video games and their correlation with aggressive behavior, the study will establish how this issue can be reduced and surmounted, and how the behavior of young people is maintained to noteworthy levels. Violent video games Video games have been in existence from the 70s. Video games were created as a mode of entertainment by all age groups, but the principle market segment is children and teenagers who spend most of their free time indoors. These games have been seen as a way of enhancing the creativity and learning abilities of children, and are recommended for parents for their children. The popularity of action-hero movies triggered video game manufacturers to inject a new perspective into video games; violence. By doing this, they hoped to grasp larger audiences and entice younger ages more with their products. This was a marketing tool that was meant to revolutionize their business and make it more real. In these games, the users take the form of action-heroes who engage in violent confrontations with others. These heroes must keep winning duels so that the game advances to the next level. This pumps the adrenaline in game users until they become addicted as they want to advance to the next level and be winners in these violent duels. To the manufacturers, video games are created to entertain and please the users, but apart from entertaining them, violent video games have been accused of behavioral modification especially in young users by giving them aggressive and violent traits. In an era where action movies and thrillers fascinate young people and adults alike, video game manufacturers are taking advantage of this craze by coming up with video games with an injected bit of violence. The problem that has cropped up is that, video games being mostly used by children and young teenagers influence the behavior of this group of people. An adult views these games as a form of entertainment, but to a young person, it is both entertainment and a site to mimic behavior. While adults and senior teenagers play violent games, they do not seem to be affected much due to their perception. While an adult sees these games as a way of entertainment, a child may not understand why someone goes around the street shooting others or causing bodily harm to others. To them, it seems normal, and with this perception, behavioral modification is bound to occur. These children easily become aggressive and engage in endless confrontations with their peers. The debate concerning violent video games and ways in which they lead to aggressive behavior has been around for years. Steinfeld (27) writes in his book It becomes clear to me that the major causal relationship between the televised violence and the antisocial behavior is enough to warrant immediate and appropriate remedial action. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ There comes a time when the data are sufficient to justify action. That time has come. From then, more studies have been conducted and as Anderson and Bushman found out in their 2002 study there is a direct correlation between violent media exposure and aggression. Studies have shown that there is a link between violence in electronic media and real life aggression. This stretches into video games. Violent video games are analogous to violent media exposure. A study by Gentile, lynch, Linder and Walsh (2004) has shown that relative growth of these games has made American teenagers more aggressive in nature and to have terrible behaviors and attitudes. In this study, research was carried out from six hundred and seven students from four schools to confirm the violence that these games bring out in pupils attending the eighth grade. Teenagers who were exposed to many video games of a violent nature were reported to be hostile, and they could get into arguments with teachers easily and more frequently. They were involved in physical fights with fellow students at a higher rate and were poor performers in school. By comparison, violent video games bring more harm than violent TV programs. Unlike TV watching, playing video games is more involving and engaging. Whenever someone plays as a violent character in a video game, they try to identify with that particular character. In case they play as the same character over and over, it is easy for these traits to be transcribed into their behavior (Deselms and Altman, 1562). Finally, when players play as violent characters, they are awarded bonus points or, they advance to the next level. This motivates them to continually take part in these games. They become obsessed with the characters, and it can easily lead them in committing a crime. Sales of video games in America have risen over the years with the electronic entertainment market raking more than seven billion dollars back in 1999. This surpasses the revenues of film production for the first time in American history. The sales have surpassed twenty billion American dollars. This has been fuelled by the existence of more than 200 million game boys and 80 million play stations that have been sold on the video game market. An average American kid from age 2 to 17 is able to play and stay on a video game for 7 hours or more in a week. This masks the enormous difference between the girl child and boy child with different ages. A recent study by Anderson et al in 2010 established that most teenage girls engage in these games for more than five hours in a week while boys do it for more than thirteen hours in a week. This is an average playtime of nine hours in a day that teenagers spend on games. Studies have been conducted over the last 25 years, and most of them have looked at the final effects of video games of teenagers (Anderson and Bushman, 449). Most of these studies have managed to outline a link between these violent games and aggression. Some have even gone further by determining how video games affect school performance, and what has been established is that school performance has been compromised as a result of video games. This is a tremendous setback on the American education since the numbers of such students is on the rise. The impact of violent video games extends even to institutions of higher learning as evidenced by research done by Gentile, lynch, Linder and Walsh in 2004. In their research, they established that there are negative impacts in college students who spend most of their leisure time on violent video games instead of concentrating on studies. The grades of these students have been reported to drop drastically and they attain aggressive behavio r. Study Review Video games have been in existence for the past 30 or so years. They are a noteworthy and unique form of entertainment in that; they encourage the player to be part of the game. Video games have become so sophisticated to the point of ensuring that the player must pay close attention to what is going on. While video games have positive and negative effects, empirical studies continue showing that there are more drawbacks than advantages, especially by contributing to aggressive behavior in people, especially children and young teenagers. Studies have shown that aggression in children and young people is determined by the time spent by playing these games. For example, a study by Walsh in 2000 revealed most teenagers have admitted that their parents do not impose time limits on the hours they use to play video games. A good number of parents also take no notice of the content of games that their children play. Therefore, the long playing hours coupled with parents profligacy in imposing their monitoring has made the teenagers aggressive. Another study by Gentile, lynch, Linder and Walsh in 2004 subjected adolescent boys and girls to long periods of video games. These researchers proved that, young people who engaged in violent video games for an extended time period are more aggressive, engage in constant confrontations and score low school performance (Gentile et al, 21). Another study finding reveals that aggression develops in game users when they engage in games that are beyond their level. Games are accorded leve ls corresponding to particular age groups. This needs to be followed because; young children may play games that are many levels ahead. These children happen to witness shocking scenes to a point that their young minds become affected. These children easily become aggressive. Picture a modern video game about an assassin who is going around the street killing rival gang members. When a child or any young person mimics the assassin in the game, images of such a video game are inscribed in this their mind, and they are for sure going to become more aggressive. The child first starts mimicking the shooter with even sticks, and later they become aggressive. In most video games, players progress to the next round, and the more they play, the more they become addicted, and they more aggressive they are likely to get. Empirical data has shown that violent video games supersede even violent films (Pollard et al, 10). The results of the study confirmed that people who engaged in violent video games became more aggressive when compared to those who were merely watching. While a few people assert that violent games are harmless, studies continue to show the opposite. There is evidence that violence video games make the players cathartic in that, they vent their angers aimlessly. In their work, Anderson et al (2010) assert that approximately 130 researches have been conducted on the same topic using over 130,000 subjects and the study findings were that; violent video games enhance aggressive thoughts and behavior, and increase ones physiological arousal by increasing ones pulse and blood pressure. Anderson and Bushman conducted extensive research in 2002, and from that, they were able to come up with evidence for the topic in question. The research was aimed at investigating the link between media violence and aggression. From their study, it was revealed that players who continually engage in violent video games become aggressive since violent behavior is repeated in the games over and over. Besides, video games ensure that players are active participants instead of being passive as in movies. Moreover, players in video games identify with a particular character they adore. This is what is known as the first person video game (Anderson Dill, 788). From this, players imitate the characters of these video games, which trigger them to become aggressive. For instance, a player who engages in a violent game develops aggressive thoughts. In their study, bushman Anderson concluded that when a player who was previously exposed to violent video games encounters confrontation, they r espond with an enhanced rate of aggression. However much scientific evidence has shown that video games that are violent cause aggressive behavior especially in young people; other theorists have opposed this citing various reasons. For instance, people who engage in violent video games have claimed that even though they play video games, they have never killed anyone. This is true especially from the United States FBI murder figures for 2010. From the survey, it was revealed that the murder rate in the US per year is 6 in 100,000. This is a low rate implying that murder from events like violent video games is highly unlikely. But this does not mean that violent video games do not lead to aggression. Secondly, the media have contributed to the denial that violent video games do not cause aggression. This is because; media personalities have failed to admit that the product they are marketing is dangerous. This is analogous to the tobacco industry; even though the manufacturers of tobacco know that the product is harmful, they have been reluctant to admit that their product is harmful. The role of parents in curbing aggression in their children cannot be underemphasized. Psychologists have identified that parents have a role of cautioning their children concerning violent media. Stopping your children from engaging in violent video games is unrealistic as a person is not able to supervise all the time, but it is necessary to regulate what children engage in. There are many ways parents can help (Pollard et al, 89). For one, they need not install violent media at home. Secondly, parents need to know the rating of all video games available at home, so that young children do not play games way above their level. Parents should also limit the time spent online and in playing these games. It is necessary for parents to monitor media consumption of their children. Violence in video games is impacting negatively on the users of these games. Significant harmful effects have been reported some of these effects are short term, but others are long term and affect the gamer for the rest of the life. The effects become harmful when parents who are supposed to monitor their children when they engage in these games become careless and leave the children to continue playing video games without limit. The endgame with this is that the child starts to be a psychopath and is likely to try and experiment what was being played in video games on the real world. The child will start to be aggressive when offended in a small way and may hurt everyone in the vicinity. Electronic media have the probability of enlightening the social and learning behavior of students by replacing reading activities, time for family interactions and social time with friends. If an average child spends 7 hours in a week to engage in these games, the child is not able to engage thems elves in any form of homework or reading. This results to the child becoming lazy and stubborn which may increase the aggressive nature of the child. Summary of Findings From the analyses of various studies and researches made, it is evident that more boys engage in violent video games than girls. Those who engage also acquire aggression with time, which leads them to engage in confrontations in school and landing in trouble in most times. These young individuals also grow up into aggressive people when their game time is excessive. Many researches also shows that, a majority of parents do not monitor their children and teenagers on the game time, making some young game players overindulge in violent games. A majority of parents also do not check the rating of the violent games, which allows even younger children to access games that are beyond their level. Study Interpretation Content analysis carried out by Walsh (2000) shows that more than 90% these games in the American market have some form of a violent nature and more than 60% in the global market have serious violence amongst those who take part in the game. The study concludes that a good proportion of games bought by gamers contain serious violence and the popularity of this form of games is mostly determined by the violence content that is developed among the characters. Pollard, Bushman Anderson in their 2011 research found out that, violence has spurred a lot among adolescents and children; this violence is mostly a result of violent video games. Bushman and Anderson (2002) conducted a Meta-analysis of 54 tests, which were independent about the relation between the violence of video games and physical aggression. This analysis involved more than four thousand participants and five results, which were consistent, among these gamers in relation to violent video games were derived from the analysis. Playing of violent games increases the aggressive cognitions of the participants. Violent games increase the arousal, physiologically aggressive emotion is increased by playing such games. Aggressive behaviors are increased among the gamers, and the pro- social behavior of the gamers is decreased with immediate effect. These effects termed as robust, and they are found in all ages of people in society, be it adults or children, females or males and non-experimental and experimental studies. Most of studies have been done out and results found with more than sufficient evidence that explains about the impacts of violent video games, b ut so far little has been done to avert this problem in the American society. Age restrictions have been imposed on accessing different kinds of video games with certain levels of violence, but somehow the young people end up getting the games from sources that are unclear. Gamers who are born aggression seem to have increased violence while and after playing video games of a violent nature. A study by Gentile, lynch, Linder and Walsh (2004) found that the physiological impacts of engaging in these games is worse in children who had developed a violent nature before they started playing video games than those who have no violent traits. These children are more likely to start excising the violent activities that they experience in video games, in real life. Gamers with the violence trait from birth showed increases in epinephrine levels in their blood and their arterial pressure increased too. This was the reverses of the gamers who did not have this trait. Moderation In moderating people who have the violent trait, parents and guardians should be able to notice this issue earlier when the child is growing up, and they should be able to help the child by restricting video games of violence nature. Children with this trait are not supposed to be exposed to any violence at all as they have a high probability that they will imitate the violent conditions that they experience. Parental monitoring should be able to play a significant role in ensuring that the children are safe, and they do not interact with violent videos. Instead, parents should ensure that they buy their children video games of an educational nature to motivate their children to think out of the box and increase their studies. When parents impose limits on television, the children tend to understand, the same should be done on video games and give children tight rules on accessing the games. Parents should be active in promoting positive messages that are brought with the entire vide o games and shun the negative messages conveyed by the violent video games. They should be the role models and convey a positive message to their children. Gentile and Walsh (2002) carried out a study about the ability of parents to input their control on video games that are accessed by their children. More than 55% of the parents allowed their children to take play video games of their choice including the ones that have a violent nature. 40% of the parents have the ability to control what their children play, they have the ability and responsibility of checking the regulations of the game before giving the children the opportunity to play, and 5% of the parents are never at home, so children are free to engage in any form of games of their choice and desire. This study shows how most of the parents have underestimated the damage that these games are doing to their children and perhaps it is because most of the parents nowadays are workaholics and do not have adequate time to be with their children and know about their lives. Some of the parents are not even able to name the game type that their children are playing which most childre n take advantage of since the parents are not concerned to know what the favorite things their children like. If only parents could step up and become active in the moderating process of these video games, then it is highly likely that the children could be saved from becoming aggressive. Active parents also know what to do when their children are not performing according to standards in school. They are able to consult with teachers and tutors so that the child is given additional motivation that is required to perform better in studies. Conclusion The importance of innovation is that it makes life enjoyable and modernized. One such aspect of modern innovation is the advent of video games. Video games have revolutionized the entertainment industry. It is entertainment for all age groups as one can relax and pass time especially during ones free time. Even though they are used by all age groups, the target market segment is young children and teenagers. Manufacturers of video games target the young market segment as they are the group that is easily enticed and enthralled by games, and one that can spend almost the whole day playing the games if it were possible. Children and teenagers of the modern world are spending much of their free time playing these games, unlike adults who have an aspect of moderation in video game playing. Despite teenagers and children spending most of their time engaging in video games, these games have a positive attribute in their development. These games are seen as a way of improving the reasoning and intelligence of children, and for this reason they are encouraged in all home settings. Through these games also, parents are able to occupy their children during the free time. Therefore, instead of engaging in mischief and wandering about the neighborhood, video games engage children by keeping them busy. As they are addictive, children remain glued to their seats playing these games. Despite technological innovations making life easier and better, one major problem associated with them is that, techno-scientists are obsessed with furthering their innovations to the point of coming up with principles that are bringing more harm than good to the users. When a product is liked in the market segment and the sales are always on a high, innovators always want to maintain this trend even though the product may be harmful to the market segment. One such is the discovery of violent video games. Violent video games are just the normal types of games, but they have aspects of violence by incorporating characters who engage in physical duels and confrontations with devices like guns. Initially, video games were a way of entertainment, but over time, the innovators wanted to introduce action movie concepts into these games as a marketing tool and as a way of adding appeal to video games. Manufacturers of violent video games aim to pump up the adrenaline of its users by introd ucing violence concepts in the games. Children and teenagers become elated by such concept. Video game manufacturers have succeeded to considerable degree because violent video game purchases have been on the rise recently. In every region of the world, video games are becoming the craze of children and teenagers. Even though violent video games cannot harm teenagers directly, the effect that is being noted is psychological and behavioural alteration. Through engaging in these games, teenagers and children start aping and copying what the games portray, and this alters their behavior. What has been observed is that, aggressive behavior has been noted in those who engage in violent video games. Being young children and teenagers, one can only wonder what individuals are going to emerge from these aggressive personalities. Most researches as outlined above reveal that video games that contain violence continue impacting negatively on its users, especially children and teenagers. This is related to the time-frame for games and the level of violence compared to the age group. Young people spend an average of nine hours per day to play violent video games, and this time has been determined to be too much, thereby affecting them negatively. Moderation is necessary in games so that teenagers and children are not obsessed with violent games. Video games were created to be a form entertainment source, but not as a negative influence. In order for violent games to be purely a form of entertainment, then parents and guardians need to moderate the use to a few hours in a day. Children also need to be investigated so that they do not engage in games that belong to higher age groups. The human brain develops with time, and in every age group, there is a degree of what an individual can handle. The younger the indi vidual is, the more likely they are to be affected by violent games. Older children are able to handle violent games when compared to younger ones. For this reason, every game should be used by the age group that it is created with. When this is done, coupled with moderation on the time spent playing the games, then aggressive behavior will be reduced by those that engage in violent games. However, as long as this does not happen, then violent games will continue causing the development of aggressive behavior in people, especially young users. Recommendation From the various studies conducted on the impact of violent video games study conducted, the following are the conclusions: a) More boys engage in violent video games than girls. b) Those who engage in violent video on a regular basis acquire aggression with time, derived from the characters they mimic in those video games c) Teenagers who have a history of video games are led to engage in confrontations in school and landing in trouble in most times. d) Young individuals grow up into aggressive people when their game time is excessive. e) A majority of parents do not monitor their children and teenagers on the game time, making some young game players overindulge in violent games. f) A majority of parents also do not check the rating of the violent games, which allows even younger children to access games that are beyond their level. g) Most modern households have video games, and with internet games, violent video games are easy to download These are appalling statistics. Something needs to be done to change this trend. Many products are being released into the market, and there is no one who has the right to control their release. People have the liberty to use products, but when these products start affecting users, then something needs to be done. Game manufacturers have the moral obligation to manufacture games that are not overly violent. But in a world where emphasis is on marketing and profit accumulation, no one can blame them. The onus is on parents to moderate game-time. Teenagers should understand that violent games correlate to aggressive behavior and moral decadence. They should restrain themselves and should treat games as merely an entertainment source and not as a behavior modifier. Parents will not always spend time with their children; hence, it reaches an age where teenagers need to do the right thing. Video games have become very popular in the contemporary world, and for parents it has become difficult for them to eliminate the games from their childrens lives. Research has shown that video games are important for children development. The problem comes in when they are overused and when young people play violent video games. These have been observed to cause aggression in young people. This research has proved that analogy. As it is difficult to eliminate videogames from the life of children and young people, the way to protect them is to reduce their negative effect through the following ways; a) Parents need to ensure that they are aware of the rating of the violent games played by their children. The ESRB considers the sex, violence, language and substance abuse contained in a game. From this, they give the age recommendation. Each game has a rating symbol for that particular age group b) Parents need to regulate internet usage in the homestead so that teenagers do not continually access violent games c) Parents need to set limits of video playing do that they do not overplay d) Parents need to monitor the media consumption of their children and guide them instead of according them too much freedom e) Guide children on the games they should play. A parent needs to take interest in video games so that they are able to offer guidance to children. Parents need to be free with their children and ask them about their feelings about the video games. By doing this, parents grow closer to their children. Therefore, the role of parents in curbing aggression in their children cannot be underemphasized. Psychologists have identified that parents have a role of cautioning their children concerning violent media. Stopping your children from engaging in violent video games is unrealistic as you cannot be with them all the time, but there is need to regulate what children engage in. There are many ways parents can help. For one, they need not install violent media at home. Secondly, parents need to know the rating of all video games available at home so that young children do not play games way above their level. Parents should also limit the time spend online and in playing these games. It is important for parents to monitor media consumption of their children