China Country Profile Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

China Country Profile - Term Paper Example China’s political system is very much in the hands of bureaucrats and government officials. One has to rely on them to get business done- this is due to the tradition of ‘guanxi’ (Tian n.d) which is about maintaining good relations with the Chinese. In China, it is not the law that matters but the people in power and their interpretation of the law. Due to this very practice, free trade agreements and ease of starting business in China still rests in the hands of bureaucrats and how well one maintains terms with them. Due to government interferences, tariff rates are high but recently, due to globalization, tariff rates have been lowered down in China. Strengthening the ‘reform’ policy (Tian n.d), rates of applicable taxes have also been reduced which has created a favorable environment for new business in China. Economically, China is growing at a rocketing speed and is soon coveted to be the world’s biggest economy beating the US. The average income of Chinese is increasing which signals growth in the demand of consumables and house-hold products. Due to housing subsidies introduced, real estate sector is also booming in China. Socially, China is a very business-favorable nation. Its population reduces doubts of shortage of customers and target markets. Literacy rate is also high in China which means upscale products can easily be produced and marketed. Chinese people prefer products and items carrying the first-mover advantage with them. Urban population in China emphasizes on brand while the rural population is more inclined towards price and quality of products. Due to fast paced urbanization, trend of stylish and high-priced products has picked up in China. It is also a proven fact that due to corruption in China, people tend to report lower income levels than what they actually possess (Tian n.d). Hence, the actual income levels are higher than expected in China thereby highlighting greater disposable income and spending power. China

Inventory Management Methods

Inventory Management Methods Introduction Success of an inventory management process entails the balance of costs of inventory with the benefits of the inventory (Alison et al., 2005). Inventory in business is one of the tangible and visible components of a company. Inventory management is the act of keeping and placing stock in a business. Many businesses have problem keeping the inventory. Each and every service provided anywhere is concerned with operation management technique in one way or another. Its objectives are to provide goods and services that the customers demand for in the right quantity, quality and cost at the appropriate time (Waller et al., 1999). ABC analysis The ABC analysis groups inventory into three classes. Class A contains 80 percent of the total value of inventory. Class B contains 15 percent of the total value of inventory while class C contains 5 percent of the total value of inventory (Bowersox Cooper, 1992). The ABC analysis gives a simple and quick review of the inventory. The ABC analysis also gives a clear view and meaning of the whole assortment of products in the inventory, thereby making it an efficient method to control inventory investment. The ABC analysis makes it easy for an inventory manager to devote resources to only those places where it will have the biggest positive feedback. Nike, Inc is an American manufacturer of shoes. In their ABC analysis, leather forms class A, sole forms class B while shoe lace forms class C (Cousins Spekman, 2003). ABC analysis is a vital method for management of inventory. Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) EOQ is a technique for inventory management that minimizes ordering and holding costs for the year. EOQ is a crucial accounting formula that determines when the combination of inventory carrying cost, order and costs are the least (Simchi et al., 2003). The result obtained from the formula gives the most effective quality to order. There are two models used in EOQ: Q and P models. In the Q model, whenever the stock on hand reaches the recorder point, a fixed quantity of materials is ordered. Advantages of the Q model are that the inventory materials are at the most economical quantity and inventory control personnel automatically devote attention to stocking the only items that are needed, when they are needed. A major disadvantage of the Q model is that the suppliers may be inconvenienced by orders that are raised at irregular intervals. In the P model, the stock position of every item in the inventory is closely monitored. Advantages of the P model are that the inventory and orderi ng costs are low and the model can be used on materials that are used irregularly or in seasons. Sales estimates are easily calculated for seasonal materials and the purchase of these materials can be planned in advance. A disadvantage of the P model is that is inefficient because it compels a periodic review of inventory. At Best Buy, the demand for desktop computers is 1000 units per month. Every time an order is placed, Best Buy incurs 4000 dollars in order cost. Best Buy incurs further costs in purchasing each computer at 500 dollars and the retailer charges a holding cost of 20 percent. The annual demand, D, is equal to 12000 dollars (1000 multiplied by 12). S, the order cost per lot is 4000 dolars. C, the price per unit, is 500 dollars. The annual holding cost, h, is 0.2. From these values the optimal order size and the optimal order frequency can be calculated. The formula for optimal order size, Q*, is given by SQRT((2DS)/hC) (Russ, 1999). Substituting the letters with the corresponding values gives the number 980, which is the optimal order size. Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) This is a process where the vendor makes orders for clients and customers according to the demand information they get form the customers. Both the customer and the vendor are held together by an agreement that conclude the costs, the inventory level and the fill rates.VMI use IDE (Electronic Data Interchange) to specify their delivery quantities which are sent to clients and customers by the use of distribution channel (John et al., 2008). VMI is an inbound logistic plan based on the idea that the dealer should be in charge of managing customers inventories by using the demand information provided by the customer himself. This eliminates a step in the information chain and creates a better demand visibility for the supplier, who can synchronize his manufacturing process to the actual demand with the result of having less inventories and lower logistic costs (Disney Towill, 2003). Hennes Mauritz (HM) AB, a new clothing retailer situated in Sweden is famous for its cheap but chic fashion. While other vendors are struggling, HM sees the economic slowdown as a chance to enlarge, go into new markets and to put in new brands. In September 2008, HM was all set to go into Japan, known as one of the worlds most competitive fashion markets. It was to open another store in Japan in November and a third one was to be launched soon. In Japan, HM decided to enter into a  collaboration  of design with designer Rei Kawakubo, who was the creator of well-established  fashion brand, Comme des Garà §ons. Last year, HM got into China and has established itself in 30 more countries with more 1,600 stores worldwide. As a result of effective vendor management inventory skills, it was able to establish in other countries. This has come as a result of planning which is essential in VMI, knowing the demand, improved quality of production. As a result they HM increased its inven tory annual turns and reduced material obsolescence and hence a considerable increase in assets. It was able to improve its customer services and responsiveness through scheduling forecasting of the fluctuations. VMI has some benefits to the supplier and the customer.VMI ensures that the company operation of production is not interfered with by shortage of material. Secondly, they make sure that the distributor is not caught short on products. Moreover it helps in ensuring that the customers and the suppliers do not have more inventories that are necessary to meet the needs of the customers.VMI also improve the planning processes that are beneficial to the business. Some of the pros and cons of VMI to the supplier include: bullwhipping effect reduction, lowering reliance to forecasting, it reduces the order of modifications and simplifies production plan. To the customers, it assists in reduction of stock, reduces financial cost, simplify the purchase process and increases sales. To both the customers and the suppliers, VMI helps in reducing the data entry errors, improves the speed of the process, reduces stocks level and it improves the service level (Vereecke Muylle, 2006). VMI plays a major role in cost management. In this case, the supplier holds stock on site or near the buyer. By doing this, the customer is given instant access and the power to get stock while they pay for only what they have sold. This increases the stock turnover and reduces investments in the stock. The supplier is mandated to replenish the stock in many VMI business partnerships. This also comprises of stock ordering, logistics and freight management and counting and stocking the stock. By doing this, the expenses are handled by the supplier and hence they are responsible for regulation of the prices to the customers. Another benefit of VMI is that they distinguish variations of demands and errors of forecasting between the downstream and the upstream chain supply associates. This type of decoupling assists in reducing the levels of stock and the linked stock maintenance costs (Hollensen, 2001). Conclusion VMI as a supply chain practice is very essential in monitoring, planning and managing the inventory or stocks of an organization by a vendor for the organization.VMI has many advantages which range from cost, delivery and also quality. It is necessary to have VMI in a business as they play a big role in the management of the inventory. The advantages of the VMI outweigh the disadvantages and hence they are vital in an organization which requires major stock taking during business. Vendor-managed inventory (VMI) systems have been proven to be a technique for improving the efficiency of supply chain operations. VMI is made efficient by the execution of an electronic means that eradicate many of the built-in delays associated with traditional ordering systems and enable the establishment of shared inventory management systems (Xu et al., 2001). Part 2:- Recent trends in operations and supply chain management. Introduction Modern company may choose to cooperate through supply chain arrangements that combine their personal strengths and distinctive resources. In the past year, supply chain management has showed organizations that they can attain sustainable competitive advantage whether they are in competition with other suppliers of not (Vergin Barr, 1999). Due to this, many companies have been involved in outsourcing logistic functions which has provided a great opportunity to many companies to operate efficiently, be flexible, improve their service levels and have a better focus on their main benefit of the organization. Overview Outsourcing logistics has been one of the trends that have been on the rise in supply chain management (Walter et al., 2003). Many companies have really gained from outsourcing and thus they have improved their involvement with providers and facilitated the integration of the whole supply chain. Outsourcing has led to development of various partnership initiatives which have been successful in exploiting the logistics flow and the customer demand. For instance, Dell Computer Corporation opened up the Direct Model of sale and service of PCs directly to the consumers. This is a way of outsourcing which ha been of great impact on Dell Inc. Dell Computer Corporation a leading computer systems company was started in 1984. Dell trades its computer systems straight to end customers, avoiding distributors and retailers. Dell matches supply and demand because its consumers order computer configurations online computer configurations are built up from components that are available. Its strateg y is to give customized, low cost, and quality computers that are distributed on time. Dell successfully employed this strategy via its resourceful manufacturing operations, better supply chain management and direct sales model. Dell uses the phone or online through the internet to take orders directly from its customers. Other recent trends in operations and supply chain management include, planning for the demand; as more manufacturing companies come up, the level of quality of products increases and hence the demand has to be planned for. Having a demand focused approach assists an organization deliver and have a demand driven model (Alan, 2008). Planning for the demand improves the management efforts and helps overall costs and customer services efforts .The other trend is globalization; the business market becomes global as a result of improvement in communication. Processes like manufacturing, distribution, selling, invoicing, returns have a big impact on the thirdly, increased competition is another trend the trend in supply and operation management. Due to the increase in market, demand and supply, there is high competition form all the companies selling the same products. This comes as a result of high demand and also having many suppliers. Dell has decreased the cost of intermediaries that w ould increase the cost of PC for the customer. Dell also saves time on handing out orders that other organizations normally incur in their sales and distribution system. Moreover, by dealing directly with the customer Dell gets a clearer indication of market inclination. This helps Dell to plan for the future apart from having better managing its supply chain (Walter et al., 2003). The company with the products of highest quality has an upper hand over the other companies (Wikner et al., 1991). As a result of competition, the prices are also affected and hence they reduce due to many suppliers in the market. Many companies are viewing their  supply  chains in two ways to help offset this trend. Dell Inc looks at ways to decrease cost and still create a more efficient value  chain  to remain cost competitive. Second, companies are looking at ways they can offer value-added services to get together the demands of more complicated customers (Vivek, 2009). Dell Inc does this by taking orders direct form the customers and delivering their products at home. Reorganization of the procedures with better design, better collaboration across networks and new services will help your company stay competitive and strengthen relationships with your customers. Conclusion Many recent trends in operations and supply chain management have come up in the business industry. Vendor-managed inventory (VMI) systems have been proven to be a technique for improving the efficiency of supply chain operations. Experience has shown that developments in these two areas can lead to eradication of between 20 percent and 30 percent of the previously required supply chain inventory. Nevertheless, in order to achieve this level of success, it is vital for those companies that have not yet applied VMI to follow a best practice approach. Flourishing VMI programs take benefit of a key supply chain association that has been reaffirmed many times over (Michael   Nigel, 2003).

Water Pollution Must Be Stopped :: Environmental Pollution Essays

Water pollution must be stopped. Pollution of lakes rivers, streams, and oceans has been killing land and water animals for years. Polluting water is a horrible act and will be stopped. Water pollution kills all kinds of animals every year. Just the EXXON VALDEZ oil spill near anchorage Alaska caused over 3,000 otters to die 36,000 different kinds of seabirds were killed and over 100 eagles. Oil spills are one of--if not the worst types of pollution. They happen most often in the ocean and then get spread around by tides and currents where they enter streams and rivers and cover everything. They kill life and pollute more in a short amount of time than pesticides and human waste combined in about 1 year. (See graph on page 2 for more inf.) Radioactive Waste is a very serious problem polluting the lakes and oceans. Submarines release some radioactivity into the water. If a submarine ever crashed enough radioactivity would be released to destroy a region of about 300 sq. miles (this happens because of the nuclear engines) Human waste is when people dump their.... deification in the water and have sewer lines leading to water which also pollutes a lot (little streams lead to big lakes). Human waste is also when we dump garbage in the ocean because we cannot find places on land to dump it. Some more types of pollution are.. Infectious Gases, Plant nutrients that can simulate growth of aquatic plants which then interfere with water uses and, when decaying, deplete the dissolved oxygen and produce nasty odors. Exotic organic chemicals including: pesticides, various industrial products, detergents. petroleum, inorganic materials, nuclear power plants, industrial sites, medical and scientific use of radioactive materials. Water pollution was originally caused by need of space (to dump trash). I can say that the major sources (in general) that cause water pollution are: Municipal, Agricultural, and Industrial. The dumping of garbage was caused by the lack of space in landfills. Instead of recycling some people started dumping the trash in the water, that slowed in 1956 when the Federal Water Pollution Control Act was created. It slowed almost to a halt in 1977 when the Clean Water Act was created. But, it still happens. Company's still dump waste in the ocean, streams, and rivers even though it is against the law. Eventually water pollution will cause there to be no life in the ocean, lakes, and rivers.

Oedipus: a Tragic Hero

Oedipus: A Tragic Hero Aristotle’s tragic hero is one of the most recognizable types of heroes among literature. A tragic hero combines five major points all of which have to do with the hero’s stature in society, his faults, how these faults effect him, the punishment his faults gets him, and how he reacts to this punishment. Aristotle explained that the story of Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles, is a perfect example of a tragic hero. In the play, Oedipus is given a prophecy in which he is told that he will kill his father then marry his mother. As in many Greek plays, Oedipus tries to run from his prophecy and ends up fulfilling exactly what it is foretold. Through the play we see that Oedipus posses many of the characteristics of a tragic hero such as: he is of noble stature, his downfall was his own fault, and that his punishment was not wholly deserved. The first trait that Oedipus possesses that makes him a tragic hero is that he is a man of noble stature. Within the first lines of the play, Oedipus immediately supports this in saying, â€Å"Here I am myself-/you know me, the world knows my fame:/I am Oedipus† (7-8). This quote shows that Oedipus is so confident in people knowing who he is that he is willing to put this out there, though he is not being overly confident. This quote is later given reason to when we hear from other characters such as the Priest when he explains things that Oedipus has done such as, â€Å"You freed us from the Sphinx, you came to Thebes/and cut us loose from the bloody tribute we had paid/that harsh, brutal singer† (44-46). The Priest depicts when Oedipus defeated the Sphinx, which is the task that gains him the position of king of Thebes. The next characteristic that Oedipus possesses that makes him a tragic hero is that his downfall is of his own doing. The act that ultimately contributes to Oedipus’ downfall is that of when he kills his father and he explains to Jocasta that he killed everyone, â€Å"I killed them all-every mother’s son! † (898). Since he is talking about his father’s caravan it shows that he, indeed killed his father even though he was unaware that it was his father at the time. That is only the beginning of his downfall though as he earlier told the Chorus that anyone harboring the murderer would be cursed, even if it was himself, â€Å"†¦if by any chance/he proves to be an intimate of our house†¦may the curse I just called down strike me! † (284-287). This shows just how serious that Oedipus was about punishing this person and even though he doesn’t understand that it is himself, and takes awhile for him to realize, that he was responsible for what happened to him. The final discussed characteristic that Oedipus possesses is that his punishment was not wholly deserved. There are three main punishments that Oedipus has to go through because of his crime. Those punishments are his exile from Thebes, the suicide of Jocasta, and the loss of his sight. However, the punishment that pushes everything over the edge is when Oedipus strikes out his own eyes. When he appears to the Chorus he comes out and speaks of how horrid he feels for everything in saying, â€Å"The blackest things/a man can do, I have done them all! † (1541-1542). During this very scene the Chorus speaks, not to Oedipus directly, but to each other and the literally shrink away from him. It is obvious that they don’t believe he deserves this through their words, â€Å"O the terror–/the suffering, for all the world to see/the worst terror that ever met my eyes,/what madness swept over you? † (1432-1435). The Chorus continues to speak of how Oedipus cursed himself by the gods and that this is his punishment, but cannot understand what god would force such a punishment on any man. Works Cited Mifflin, Houghton. Language of Literature World Literature. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005. Print.

The Federal Minimum Wage

The federal minimum wage is a hotly debated topic and a main point that invariably separates the beliefs of the Democratic Party platform from the Republican Party platform. Today's federal minimum wage is $7.25 (Jamieson, 2018). The federal minimum wage is determined by the FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act), and has not been adjusted from a $7.25 hourly wage since July of 2009. Because of the lack of advancement, many states have developed their own methods for determining minimum wage, but federally, any addition or subtraction must first pass directly through the FLSA (United States Department of Labor, 2018). States determine their minimum wage by analyzing their costs of living which differs depending on location, and analyzing their GDP (gross domestic product) per capita (Stoll, 2014). For example, the minimum wage in Montana as of January 1, 2018 is $8.30 per hour whereas in Massachusetts, where the cost of living is greatly increased, the hourly minimum wage is $11.00. There are 29 states that have an increased minimum wage adjusted specifically to the state's cost of living. The wages in these states range from $7.50 to $12.50 per hour (United States Department of Labor, 2018). Even though many states already increase their minimum wage many people living in the United States claim that the federal minimum wage is entirely too low. The preponderance of evidence suggests that increasing the federal minimum wage would have little effect on poverty and would in time reduce job security and increase unemployment. Other factors that could potentially be affected by an increase in the federal minimum wage include consumer prices, suppressed wages for higher skilled workers, and an increase in outsourcing. Prior to the 2016 election the Democratic Party platform was updated and members decided to adopt a $15 per hour minimum wage. They claim that $15 an hour is the only way that American workers can survive and support their families. The push towards an increase in federal minimum wage began in New York City four years ago when a group of fast-food workers went on strike. The movement caught the attention of many popular political figures and eventually the members grouped together to form the #fightfor15 movement (Seitz-Wald, 2016). Experts that claim the federal minimum wage is not sufficient to support a family and live comfortably argue that an increase to the federal minimum wage would provide an â€Å"important lift† to over 2.2 million people in the United States (Lu, 2017). Usually these experts begin their arguments stating that the federal minimum wage real amounts have eroded nearly 25% since 1968 (Scott & Perez, 2017). The federal minimum wage amounts to only $15,080 annually for full time employment. $15,080 is such a low annual income, experts predict that it is one of the main reasons why living standards have declined nationwide. This number may also contribute to the decline in economic stability, and the shrinking middle class (Lu, 2017). On a national level, supporters of the minimum wage increase provide data that proves the federal minimum wage should be at least $12.00 per hour based on the United States' GDP. A poll taken by The Economist reports that over 1.3 million people work at minimum wage, and nearly 1.7 million work below it, thus meaning these employees are not paid hourly rather are tipped employees (Komlos, 2015). Many people would associate a push for minimum wage strictly with larger cities and areas where the cost of living is significantly above average, however even in Montana, a republican dominated state, many citizens still are pushing for a higher minimum wage. Swartz, a home care worker residing in Great Falls, Montana claims that the amount she makes working for three caregiving agencies is simply not enough to support herself comfortably. The three agencies all pay over both the federal minimum wage and Montana's state minimum wage but due to the inconsistency of job hours she claims that making ends meet every month can be a difficult task. Swartz claims that typically some parts of low-wage workers are â€Å"overlooked†. People who do not make low wages and are not forced to work 70+ hour work weeks do not understand the struggle. Swartz also states that â€Å"Home-care workers, who help people stay in their homes and live with dignity, deserve a $15-an-hour minimum wage.† Attached to Swartz's article is a report published by The Alliance for a Just Society, which claims that the living wage in Montana is $14.36 an hour for a single person with no dependents. Montana determines their state minimum wage using the Consumer Price Index, and updates it annually according to the index. Still however, 3,329 Montana employees earn minimum wage which makes up about 1.2% of the entire workforce. Over half of Montana's minimum wage workers are older than 25 and over 60% are women (Jay, 2016). Beginning January 1, 2018 Montana again raised its minimum wage standard to $8.30 per hour. Governor Steve Bullock addressed the issue in an email that read â€Å"People who work full time for a living shouldn't be living in poverty. This modest increase in minimum wage means more Montana workers will have a little extra money in their pockets,† The workers who Bullock may have been addressing include workers in the accommodations and food industry and also the retail trade industry who are recurrently the largest number of workers that receive minimum wage (Tribune Capital Bureau, 2017). On the contrary, many experts counterclaim that an increase in minimum wage is not the extreme â€Å"poverty tool† that the Democratic Party is hoping for. In fact, one of the biggest arguments against raising minimum wage is the idea of individual states already taking care of the low wage issue. As stated previously Montana, is one of 29 states that already adopted a minimum wage that is higher than the federal minimum wage, and many experts believe that if states were to adjust their incomes according to their cost of living, etc. that would be better fitting rather than adjusting the entire nation's minimum wage. Dr. Simon Johnson, MIT Sloan expert, claims that raising the federal minimum wage would actually have unintended consequences, in the sense of reducing hiring and potentially increasing unemployment. He states â€Å"It is unlikely that states with lower living costs would be able to support a $15 per hour minimum wage increase, while keeping hiring processes and current employment rates the same.† He proposes a gradual, stepwise increase to the minimum wage that would occur over time. A drastic increase to $15 per hour would be too abrupt and would have career-changing consequences. A study completed by Harvard's Economic Department points out that most minimum wage earners are second or third job holders in households with other income sources. This could include teenagers, summer employees, etc. Another group that comes to mind when thinking about minimum wage workers is retirees who already receive financial benefits from savings and social security. It is unlikely that an increase in minimum wage would truly benefit the nation, simply because some people working for minimum wage are not attempting to support dependents or themselves entirely. Usually, they are people who are looking for a little extra money rather than needing money to pay for utilities, a house, a car, etc. An even more concerning drawback of raising minimum wage is the elimination of jobs. If the United States government were to demand businesses to pay entry-level workers $15 an hour there would be a huge decrease in job security and job availability. Because, most businesses do not pay entry-level workers at this wage, if they were required to do so, they may attempt to find other means of labor including robots, computers, or other advanced technology. In fact, the Nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that former President Obama's proposed $10.10 minimum wage, once fully implemented and in use, â€Å"would reduce total employment by about 500,000 workers.† Below is a political cartoon that shows the adverse effects of raising the current minimum wage. Although, many low-wage workers support and advocate for the idea of earning a $15 per hour wage, its effects could actually be deteriorating. Statistics show that raising the federal minimum wage to $15.00 per hour the United States risks eliminating roughly 550,000 part-time jobs and even if the minimum wage was raised to only $9.50 per hour nearly 1.3 million jobs could be lost. Previously, the United States has raised the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25, and adversely only 15 percent of the workers who were expected to gain from it lived in poor households. If the minimum wage today were to be raised to $9.50 per hour, only 11 percent of current minimum wage workers living in poverty would gain from this increase. In 2012, a study completed by the Wilson Review claims that both state and federal minimum wage increases between 2003 and 2007 had no effect on state poverty rates. Thus, proving the idea that increasing minimum wage does not provide a tool for lowering poverty levels. David Neumark and William Wascher performed over 100 minimum wage studies and found that about two-thirds of the studies had negative effects on unemployment. Thus, meaning that with an increase in minimum wage business owners and corporations would be forced to decrease their labor force and potentially cut long-time in employees in order to compensate for the wage increase. Half of the country's workforce is employed by small businesses. Raising the federal minimum wage is often cast largely as a necessity to ensure that many workers are able to earn a decent living, but in reality it's a complex issue. An example of this complexity has occurred in Oakland California in March of 2015 after they increased their statewide minimum wage by 36%, from $9.00 to $12.25 per hour. The effects are varying but some restaurants have raised their food pricing by nearly 20%, or adding a mandatory service charge and doing away with voluntary tips. The issue, business owners recognize and are working hard to resolve is finding the balance between paying a decent wage and keeping customers rather than driving them away. Some people claim that aside from the direct cost of doing business from salaries, they are also paying more for goods and services in their own communities. They question whether or not a higher wage will raise the cost of living for all employees, including those who currently earn a high-wage. Critics who are against raising the minimum wage also claim that if every entry-level worker was paid $15 an hour to begin with, many would lose incentive to get an education and move up to a higher-paying jobs. Ira Stoll, a minimum wage evaluator, states that † The lower the minimum wage, the more eager a minimum wage worker would be to enroll in a community college course at night, improve his/her skills, and apply for a higher-paying job.† Stoll also states that, â€Å"Making the entry-level jobs higher paying increases the risk that workers will get stuck in them for longer instead of moving on to something more rewarding. â€Å"Another point that many supporters fail to bring about is the idea of freedom of contract. This freedom is not directly protected by the constitution, but it as seen as a â€Å"natural right† and should be exercised. President Kennedy once said â€Å"The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God. † Thus, meaning that if two free people want to enter into a voluntary contract or agreement that does not infringe on anyone else's rights or wellbeing the government has no right to step in and stop the deal that is being made. Experts use the idea of freedom of contract to prove that the government should not be involved in every contract made between two people. If a man wants to work for another for $5 an hour, and the other man wants to hire him and pay him $5 an hour than the government should have no authority to infringe on this deal. Raising the federal minimum wage would also affect welfare spending and could potentially increase taxes. Raising the federal minimum wage puts money into the pockets of the working poor people, but this occurs at the expense of business owners. By raising the minimum wage, politicians are taking the roundabout approach of minimum wage increase, rather than building actual political support for these policies. A report published by the Cato Institute claims that evidence shows minimum wage increase â€Å"disproportionately hurt the people they're supposed to help.† In this article the Institute cites a 2012 analysis of the New York State minimum wage increase from $5.15 to $6.75 per hour that found a â€Å"20.2 to 21.8 percent reduction in the employment of younger, less-educated individuals. † They also note that since 1995, eight studies have examined the income and poverty effects of minimum wage increases, and all but one of those studies have found that past minimum wage hikes had no effect on poverty.One of the largest concerns expert's share about a federal minimum wage increase is the impact it would entail on consumer prices. Basically, to raise minimum wage means to pay more people more money which has to be supplied from somewhere. Experts against the increase claim that the extra money will come from increased consumer prices. The 2012 Wilson Review notes: â€Å"A 2004 review of more than 20 minimum wage studies looking at price effects found that a 10 percent increase in the U.S. minimum wage raises food prices by up to 4 percent.† To back up this idea a report posted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago states that restaurant prices increase in response to minimum wage increases. The federal minimum wage is at a lower real value than it once was, but in order to change it law makers are going to have to look deeper into the problem rather than attempting to change the outcome quickly by increasing the minimum wage in all states to $15.00 hourly. Our country is unique in the nature that each state is able to make and regulate their own minimum wage and this matter is better dealt with inside certain states than from the federal government as a whole. There is most definitely a need in the United States to implement a method to decrease the rising poverty level, but this method should not be an increase in federal minimum wage because this method is directly related to rising prices, higher unemployment, job loss, and lack of job security. Small businesses, as stated previously, make up approximately 50% of the nation's workforce and if the government were to demand these businesses to pay their starting employees $12 or more, the businesses would be forced to either higher less people, lay off long term workers, or even more devastating, shutdown. This method proves ineffective in decreasing the families living underneath the poverty line and instead harms those workers who are higher-skilled and higher-paid.

Free Essays on Our Town

Wilder's passionate plea in the play is to appreciate every moment of every day, for life is a fleeting thing. With troubles rapidly expanding in Europe and war becoming a looming reality, people were inundated with the negative aspects of life. To see Our Town was to escape from the negative and rejoice in the ordinary; it reaffirmed faith in the unchanging moral values of small town living. It was obviously the balm that audiences needed in the midst of a pessimistic and changing world. Through his play, Wilder tries to teach the audience to seize the moment and enjoy living. There are no guarantees about a certain life span, as evidenced by the premature deaths of Emily Webb and her brother, Wally; tomorrow may be too late. By calling the drama Our Town and portraying ordinary people and events, the people in the audience and the readers of the play can identify with the theme and apply it to their own lives. Our Town is an unusual play in structure. It intentionally conta! ins little action, in order to support the theme; nothing exciting or suspenseful happens in any of the three acts, just as nothing exciting happens in Grover's Corners. The play also ignores most dramatic conventions. In the beginning, the Stage Manager saunters on to an empty stage to talk directly to the audience; he tells them that the play is ready to begin. He then describes the appearance of Grover's Corners and its inhabitants. The play also ignores the unity of time and place. Between the first and second acts, three years pass. Then between the second and third acts, another nine years pass. In addition, the omniscient Stage Manager has repeated flashbacks to the past and flash-forwards to the future, further negating a unity of time. The play also has many locations. Although the entire play takes place in or around Grover's Corners, each act has a different and distinct key setting. In Act I, most of the action takes place in the homes of the Webbï ¿ ½... Free Essays on Our Town Free Essays on Our Town Our Town In the play Our Town, Thornton Wilder uses the commentary about certain social issues to further exemplify the point that the people of Grover’s Corner are really quite conservative and rather passive while they let life pass them by. The commentary of the people on a few issues such as suicide, alcoholism and religious faith show the people’s attitudes. A couple specific situations of a few people symbolize the perspective that the entire town has on the situations. Religious faith is one of the issues used by Wilder. Most everyone in Grover’s Corner is religious, and a member of one of the churches in town, all being Christian in one form or another. They are also very conservative republicans that don’t like change. Mr. Webb, publisher and editor of the local paper informed the audience, â€Å"Politically, we’re eighty-six per cent Republicans ... Religiously, we’re eighty-five per cent Protestants ... Very ordinary town, if you ask me... But our young people seem to like it well enough. Ninety per cent of them graduating from high school settle down right here to live.† The town’s people’s religion sets the standard for their morals and behavior in everyday life. Everyone goes about their daily routine day after day with a kind of faith that it will continue without changing unless they make the change themselves. When Emily is watching her funeral from above after she dies, she wants to go ba ck to how it was and relive just another day of her life. â€Å"But mother Gibbs, one can go back; one can go back there again †¦ into the living. I feel it. I know it.† pleaded Emily. One of the issues used by Wilder is suicide. Since suicide is very rarely seen especially in a small town like Grover’s Corner, one would expect that the town’s people would attempt to keep it a secret. Joe Stoddard, the local gravedigger, was speaking to Sam Craig, a man who grew up in the town, about one of the head stones... Free Essays on Our Town Wilder's passionate plea in the play is to appreciate every moment of every day, for life is a fleeting thing. With troubles rapidly expanding in Europe and war becoming a looming reality, people were inundated with the negative aspects of life. To see Our Town was to escape from the negative and rejoice in the ordinary; it reaffirmed faith in the unchanging moral values of small town living. It was obviously the balm that audiences needed in the midst of a pessimistic and changing world. Through his play, Wilder tries to teach the audience to seize the moment and enjoy living. There are no guarantees about a certain life span, as evidenced by the premature deaths of Emily Webb and her brother, Wally; tomorrow may be too late. By calling the drama Our Town and portraying ordinary people and events, the people in the audience and the readers of the play can identify with the theme and apply it to their own lives. Our Town is an unusual play in structure. It intentionally conta! ins little action, in order to support the theme; nothing exciting or suspenseful happens in any of the three acts, just as nothing exciting happens in Grover's Corners. The play also ignores most dramatic conventions. In the beginning, the Stage Manager saunters on to an empty stage to talk directly to the audience; he tells them that the play is ready to begin. He then describes the appearance of Grover's Corners and its inhabitants. The play also ignores the unity of time and place. Between the first and second acts, three years pass. Then between the second and third acts, another nine years pass. In addition, the omniscient Stage Manager has repeated flashbacks to the past and flash-forwards to the future, further negating a unity of time. The play also has many locations. Although the entire play takes place in or around Grover's Corners, each act has a different and distinct key setting. In Act I, most of the action takes place in the homes of the Webbï ¿ ½... Free Essays on Our Town In the play Our Town, the people of Grover’s Corners mask their worries and apprehensions about death in their quest for happiness. In the first act, a few deaths occur, and the attitude of the people towards these deaths is a negligent one of briefly acknowledging death and moving on. Also, the children in act two who are faced with adulthood are reluctant to accept the burden, through their hesitance to grow up and approach death. In the third act, when we finally get a clear picture of death, the reader sees that the people who are dead are regretful that their mundane lives were incomplete, not realizing the importance of life until they are dead. This method of living proves unfulfilling, as the dead arduously mourn their trivial lives yearning to have made a difference. The stage manager directs the flow of the play throughout, and his transient attitude towards death reflects Grover’s Corners overall outlook on a life that tries to mentally avoid death. This stan ce is established primarily by the stage manager in his first act narrative, which hastily describes the fatalities, masking their importance and reality. â€Å"Want to tell you something about that boy Joe Crowell there. Joe was awful bright – graduated from high school here, head of his class. So he got a scholarship to Massachusetts Tech. Graduated head of his class there, too. It was all wrote up in the Boston paper at the time. Goin’ to be a great engineer, Joe was. But the war broke out and he died in France.† (P.9) This brief account demonstrates the importance placed on a man’s death. The people of Grover’s Corners live in a world where change is frowned upon; consequently, the means of dealing with such a great adjustment as death is to prevent themselves from thinking of it. In the stagnant society of Grover’s corners, death is the ultimate obstacle, and ignorance is the remedy. Another instance where the stage manager subtly demon strates this pract...

Salutary Neglect Overview

Salutary Neglect Overview The term salutary neglect stems from the colonial era. Even though England believed in a system of mercantilism where the colonies existed for the benefit of the mother country, Sir Robert Walpole decided to try something different to stimulate commerce. A View of Salutary Neglect Walpole, the first Prime Minister of Great Britain, espoused a view of salutary neglect whereby the actual enforcement of external trade relations was lax. In other words, the British did not strictly enforce commerce laws with the colonies. As Walpole said, If no restrictions were placed on the colonies, they would flourish. This unofficial British policy was in effect from 1607 to 1763. The Navigation Act and Trading Companies, merchants and independent corporations went about their business in these colonies on their own without a lot of overlook from the British government.  The beginning of trade regulation started with the Navigation Act in 1651. This allowed goods to be transported to the American colonies on English ships and prevented other colonists from trading with anyone other than England. Passed but Not Heavily Enforced While there were several renditions of these acts, the policy was expanded to include certain products that were only allowed to be transported on English ships, such as indigo, sugar and tobacco products.  Unfortunately, the act was often not enforced due to difficulties with finding enough customs officials to handle the management.  Because of this, goods were often snuck in with other countries including the Dutch and the French West Indies.  This was the very beginning of the triangular trade between the North American colonies, the Caribbean, Africa and Europe. The Triangular Trade Britain had the upper hand when it came to the illegal triangular trade. Despite it going against the Navigation Acts, here are a few ways Britain benefited: The trade allowed New England merchants to get wealthy. In turn, merchants bought manufactured goods from the British.Despite Walpole attempting to solve this issue by offering positions of government, these officials granted had often taken bribes from merchants.The colonies were supplied with slaves on top of being given a market for raw goods.The colonies received finished European products that they were unable to make themselves. Calls for Independence The salutary neglect period ended as a consequence of the French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years War, from years 1755 to 1763. This caused a large war debt that the British needed to pay off, and thus the policy was destroyed in the colonies. Many believe that the French and Indian War affected the relationship between the British and the colonists by leading to the revolution. This is because the colonists were not worried about France if breaking away from Britain. Once the British government became stricter in their enforcement of commerce laws after 1763, protests and eventually calls for independence became more pronounced amongst the colonists. This would, of course, lead to the American Revolution.

Offering Help in English for ESL Learners

Offering Help in English for ESL Learners There are a number of formulas used when offering help in English. Here are some of the most common: May I help you?Can I help you?Are you looking for something?Would you like some help?Do you need some help?What can I do for you today? After you study these constructions, take the offering help quiz to check your understanding. Construction Formula Verb Form May I help you? Use May I or Can I the base form of the verb in a statement. Are you looking for something? Use Are you looking for something OR anything in particular OR specific object Would you like some help? Use Would you like some help OR some advice OR a recommendation Do you need some help? Use Do you need some help OR some advice OR a recommendation What can I do for you today? Use What can I do for you, her, him, etc. today OR this morning, this afternoon, this evening

Public policy analysis Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Public policy analysis - Term Paper Example Generally termed as Obama care or Affordable Care Act, it represents one of the most significant overhauls of the health care system of the country. It was originally aimed at decreasing the number of uninsured Americans and hence increases the overall health coverage available to most of Americans. Besides increasing the overall insurance coverage, this also focused upon reducing the overall costs for the Americans so that overall quality health care could be affordable and within the reach of most of the Americans. It offers various mechanisms including tax credits, subsidies as well as mandates to reduce the overall cost for healthcare to ordinary Americans and improve the quality of health care services offered to them. (Cronin & Aponte, 2012) This paper will critically look into this public policy initiative by President Obama and evaluate its rationale, evaluate its impact on the society as a whole, whether it has been implemented within in true spirit and how public will benefit from this law over the period of time. The Affordable Care Act is a recent law aimed at improving the overall health care services in United States of America. It was enacted on March 23, 2010 when it was signed off by President Obama. Read with Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, this act is considered as the most significant overhaul of the US Health Care system after the implementation of Medic Aid during 1960s. (McDonough, 2011) It is important to note that health care reforms remained one of the hottest topics during the Presidential Election of 2008. Both the candidates i.e. Hillary Clinton as well as Barrack Obama presented the plans to provide insurance and health care coverage to more than 45 million Americans. (The New York Times, 2008). After winning elections, Barrack Obama outlined his proposal to reform the health care and showed his willingness to work with the congress for passing of this law. Before the law was actually

Probation, Pardons and Parole Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Probation, Pardons and Parole - Essay Example The officer will gather information about the criminal from the criminal’s family, victims and any other relevant individuals. ‘Normally the PSI report contains; prior criminal convictions and juvenile adjudications, description of the offense, the defendants vocational background and work history, defendants marital status, financial status, length of residence in the community, educational background and other pertinent data, medical history, substance abuse history, and psychological or psychiatric history, harm suffered by any victim, victims impact statement, defendants statement, applicable sentencing guidelines, evaluation of the defendants probable adjustment in the community based upon factual information in the report, sentencing recommendations including any consecutive sentencing requirements’. (THE PRE-SENTENCE INVESTIGATION REPORT (PSI) KNOW YOUR RIGHTS) This paper focuses on the basic purposes of a PSI report, Supreme Court ruling with respect to th e confidentiality of a presentence report, sentencing guidelines and mandatory sentences which affect presentence investigations, Sources of information contained in the presentence report etc. Besides being instrumental in determining his federal prison sentence, the PSI is vitally important with respect to Bureau of Prisons’ (BOP) federal prison designation, security level, custody level, restitution issues, work assignments, bunk assignments, furlough eligibility, transfers, community custody placement, inmate quality of life enhancements, admission into the 500-Hour Residential Drug Abuse Program and how the inmate is treated in prison by both the guards and inmates. (Pre-Sentence Investigation Report (PSI)—Examples of What’s In It) The main purpose of a PSI report is to aid the judge in determining the sentence. The criminal background of the person is important in determining the

Diversity in Organizations Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Diversity in Organizations - Term Paper Example Corporate trainers design programs which can certainly help organizations to implement diversified culture in the organization. However if diversity is not going to be managed properly then it can affect the overall productivity of the organization. Human Resource Management department has an important role to play for management of diversified culture in the organization. HR managers should create awareness among employees of the organization. They should focus on an idea that one single employee can not do much for the betterment of the organization. Employees can only bring change in the organization through their collective effort. They can not do anything positive individually. Employees are the main force of the organization that has to carry out day to day work in order to bring productivity, efficiency and effectiveness. Employees often enter into the organization with diverse background. Therefore sometimes it becomes difficult for managers to manage them effectively. Manage rs of the organization should realize it as strength. Employees need to understand certain dynamics of this diversity since it can help them to achieve strategic goals of the organization. Top management should also reflect acceptability for diversity through their actions and behaviors. Relevant behaviors of the employee should be reinforced so that they could also realize that which particular type of behaviors is acceptable within the organization. Diversity can also become one of the distinguishing characteristic of the organization if it can be managed properly (Bell, 2006). One thing should be very clear when it comes to the implementation of diversity programs in the organization; the thing is that organization should know what diversity actually means in the context of their corporate culture. The differences of culture and the different ways of doing things should be respected by the management of the organization if it wants to implement such program. There are many differ ences which employees can bring to the organization. These include color, sex, race, religion, diverse educational background etc. However one thing will be common in these highly diversified employees that are to achieve organizational objectives efficiently and effectively. Clarity about specific benefits associated with diversity programs should be communicated to the employees so that they may know that what type of benefits they are going to be offered if they help organizations toward the implementation of such programs. New employees should get proper orientation so that they can also embrace diversity of the organization. New employees can easily accept such programs since they have not seen the past programs of the organization (Anca & Vega, 2007). Managers can mold these employees in a way which is required by the organization. There are many organizations which are accepting diversity in order to make their presence global. Experts are also of the opinion that organizatio n having diverse workforce can approach different problems in a unique way. They have knowledge base which is quite diverse in its approach and thinking. Therefore they are also in a better position to solve contemporary issues in a unique way. Managers should also arrange training and development sessions so that employees can understand diversity programs in a more formal way. Employers can further enhance the utility of diversity programs by linking some part of their compensation to their diversity

Master Plan for Training and Capacity Building of Staff Outline

Master Plan for Training and Capacity Building of Staff - Outline Example It is said so because need analysis defines the gap which exists between current and desired state of organizational and individual performance. The basic purpose of conducting need analysis is to measure the performance and resolving issues related to performance or in case of introducing new technology, task or system or a when an organization desires to take advantage out of an opportunity. There are several ways of providing training to employees in order to polish and sharpen their performance. Some of these methodologies should be included by the firm as training programs in order to build the working capacity of employees. Off-the-job training includes activities through which employee can get training by being out of the workplace. Distance learning, working day releases, self study, sponsored courses are some examples of off-the-job training which must be included while designing a master plan. Appraisal reviews helps in knowing what types of penetrations and variations are required to be included in the training program. Feedback of workers and employees can help in developing a genuine and constructive appraisal review. Difficulty Analysis is commenced in order to determine which type of tasks cause greatest amount of difficulties to employee and how they can be resolved through better training. Difficulty analysis is constructive in enabling the need analysis to weigh different aspects of training in relation to reducing the trouble that the workers might face. Motivation is vital for employee development and capacity building. Intrinsic motivation depends on self esteem, self confidence etc. Individual program should be made in order to deal with employees separately as every other person has different level of intrinsic motivation. Individual employees program should stress on the importance of skills, attitude and other assets that can boost the confidence of employee.

Leisure and Tourism Maqnagement Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Leisure and Tourism Maqnagement Project - Essay Example Knowledge of how customers of events industry use social media is necessary so that effective use of the channel of social media can be made possible. The research is based on identifying these patterns and impacts so that the social media can be used as an effective promotional tool. The paper is developed with exploratory research design based on analysis of information and facts. The combination of the survey questionnaire and literature review is used to explore the qualitative perspective of the research. The paper finds out that the social media has huge impact on how the events industry of UK conducts the marketing and promotion of the media. However, blind following of the trend to use social media does not lead to effective results. It is necessary to have a two way communication and understand the nature of the customer relevant to the particular industry. Contents Abstract 2 Research Question 5 Significance of the research 5 Aims and objectives 5 Structure of the report 6 Literature review 6 Research Methodology 10 Research Methods 10 Sampling 11 Data analysis approach 11 Findings and Data Analysis 11 Discussion in relation to literature review 17 Evaluation of the outcome 18 Conclusion and recommendations 19 References 21 Introduction Social media has become an important part of the day-to-day life of people. People especially youngsters spend a significant amount of time exploring social media and its applications. Due to the increasing importance of social media in lives of people, the corporate field also understands the potential of this media in terms of utilizing it as the form of marketing tool in advertising (Smith and Zook 2011). Today, many companies are promoting their products and services through presence on social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. It is rivalling the traditional forms of media and consumes a large portion of the time of people. The reach of this form of media has even extended to the social rituals that mo st people cherish. In general, it has implications for the events industry as well. The industry ought to capitalize on the trends of social media so as to remain relevant. The social media trends also present new opportunities for the events industry so as to thrive well in the competitive environment and move forward (Smith and Zook 2011). The UK events industry is worth 36 billion pounds and it presents an opportunity for the country to be the business destination of choice at the global level. Due to the rise in the growth of the events industry of UK with the recent example of conducting the event of Olympic and Paralympics games event in 2012, it is evident that the industry requires much more marketing tools that have vast reach to people and attract them. The rapid growth of the industry demands equally effective marketing tool for giving the push to the growth and the success (Thorley 2010). Research Question The research question for the study is as follows: How social med ia impacts the UK events industry? What are the implications of the explosion in social media use on the events industry in the UK, as they pertain specifically to the way the industry markets itself and provides services to its customers? Significance of the research The growth of the events industry of UK has compelled the professionals in the industry to make use of such marketing tools for advertising that can attract a large number of audiences and has a vast reach. The rising use of social media and its strong existence in the routine life of people has

Johannes Brahms - Sextet No. 1 in B-Flat Major, Op. 18 Essay

Johannes Brahms - Sextet No. 1 in B-Flat Major, Op. 18 - Essay Example The unconventional feature of the sextets written by Brahms was the number of instruments in the ensemble; Brahms chose to complement and expand the traditional quartet with additional cello and viola, for it enabled intensification of the sound and made all instruments equal in strength. Two additional instruments are used to embellish composition instead of directly contributing to full harmonies, moreover, they make music louder and thicker and also give additional volume while sounding either simultaneously or parallellously. Brahms’ sextets are a kind of challenge and the attempt to stand out and supersede Beethoven in his mastery. Involvement of two cellos brings fresh air to the composing pattern, as the second cello is predominantly a means of embellishment and melodics, while the first cello is responsible for nourishing the compositing with substantial bass support. The sextet No. 1 in B-Flat Major, Op. 18 is a string sextet composed in 1860 by the young Brahms and published about two years later. The sextet is a very beautiful romantic piece – and a rather long one, which is typical for young Brahms - consisting of four movements, three of them being more than ten minutes in length. The first movement is called Allegro, ma non troppo and is a brilliant calm â€Å"intro† to the composition, which reminds of sonata form and serves as a lyrical or even â€Å"pastoral† (Dean Hansen) ingredient of the sextet. The second movement is considered the most famous and powerful: it is called Andante, ma moderato and is presented by variations on lurid themes with a rather interesting ending. However, as Brahms followed the rules of structure, variations are rather strict in this respect, yet they demonstrated influence of Baroque traditions. The figures of the movement are rather diverse, and the tempo of their change leaves a listene r with the thrilling sensation, until the light-hearted and good-humored scherzo

Leisure and Tourism Maqnagement Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Leisure and Tourism Maqnagement Project - Essay Example Knowledge of how customers of events industry use social media is necessary so that effective use of the channel of social media can be made possible. The research is based on identifying these patterns and impacts so that the social media can be used as an effective promotional tool. The paper is developed with exploratory research design based on analysis of information and facts. The combination of the survey questionnaire and literature review is used to explore the qualitative perspective of the research. The paper finds out that the social media has huge impact on how the events industry of UK conducts the marketing and promotion of the media. However, blind following of the trend to use social media does not lead to effective results. It is necessary to have a two way communication and understand the nature of the customer relevant to the particular industry. Contents Abstract 2 Research Question 5 Significance of the research 5 Aims and objectives 5 Structure of the report 6 Literature review 6 Research Methodology 10 Research Methods 10 Sampling 11 Data analysis approach 11 Findings and Data Analysis 11 Discussion in relation to literature review 17 Evaluation of the outcome 18 Conclusion and recommendations 19 References 21 Introduction Social media has become an important part of the day-to-day life of people. People especially youngsters spend a significant amount of time exploring social media and its applications. Due to the increasing importance of social media in lives of people, the corporate field also understands the potential of this media in terms of utilizing it as the form of marketing tool in advertising (Smith and Zook 2011). Today, many companies are promoting their products and services through presence on social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. It is rivalling the traditional forms of media and consumes a large portion of the time of people. The reach of this form of media has even extended to the social rituals that mo st people cherish. In general, it has implications for the events industry as well. The industry ought to capitalize on the trends of social media so as to remain relevant. The social media trends also present new opportunities for the events industry so as to thrive well in the competitive environment and move forward (Smith and Zook 2011). The UK events industry is worth 36 billion pounds and it presents an opportunity for the country to be the business destination of choice at the global level. Due to the rise in the growth of the events industry of UK with the recent example of conducting the event of Olympic and Paralympics games event in 2012, it is evident that the industry requires much more marketing tools that have vast reach to people and attract them. The rapid growth of the industry demands equally effective marketing tool for giving the push to the growth and the success (Thorley 2010). Research Question The research question for the study is as follows: How social med ia impacts the UK events industry? What are the implications of the explosion in social media use on the events industry in the UK, as they pertain specifically to the way the industry markets itself and provides services to its customers? Significance of the research The growth of the events industry of UK has compelled the professionals in the industry to make use of such marketing tools for advertising that can attract a large number of audiences and has a vast reach. The rising use of social media and its strong existence in the routine life of people has

Media Relations Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Media Relations - Assignment Example Quite the contrary: There’s so much information nobody can find anything† (Howard & Mathews, p. 3). Personally, I find it easy to be able to perform a quick Google search to be able to locate the information I need, whether it is a quote from a book, an excerpt from a script, or even a search in EBSCO to obtain necessary sources. I would like to look further into where they obtained this information; is it simply because it is someone of an older generation who is saying this, someone who hasn’t grown up with the internet, and as such, does not have the necessary skills to be able to narrow down their keywords for their search, or is it something more? In On Deadline: Managing Media Relations, the next thing to surprise me was the comment that â€Å"print is not dead† (Howard & Mathews, p. 4), where they go on to state that â€Å"the print media are still competitive and willing to take steps to adapt to todays’ readers† (Howard & Mathews, p. 4), while it makes sense that electronic print media is on the rise, and though the idea of magazines still being published in print form makes sense, it seems that print newspapers would start to die out, as readership grows online. I would like to learn what the true statistics are for this, and if it is really actually still feasible from an economic standpoint that they continue to make actual print newspapers for much longer. Finally, the third thing that surprised me was the idea presented in â€Å"Handling the Difficult Interview† that if there is a media crisis, that it is in the company’s best interests to â€Å"disseminate friendly evidence† (Krattenmaker, p. 4), even if the scandal is false. It would seem to me that simply a denial of the issue would suffice, but instead it is suggested that friendly evidence also be provided as well; while this may be worthwhile from a public relations standpoint, in some cases, it does not seem like it would be a benefit overall, and in fact would serve to

Body Language In Intercultural Communications Cultural Studies Essay

Body Language In Intercultural Communications Cultural Studies Essay With the international communication becoming closer,except the verbal communication in daily life, we may encounter many body languages. These body languages can express their mood or even substitute one sentence. Therefore, in order to understand the intercultural communication better, this dissertation first introduces the relationship between culture and language, then briefly explains what body language is and its function in intercultural communication, subsequently, briefly analyses the differences of the same body language in different cultures. At last, the dissertation suggests that when studying English language, one cant ignore the huge body language, it will be helpful with our English study. Key words: Language; culture; body language; intercultural communication I. Introduction With the international communication becoming more and more frequently, Chinese people may have many chances to get in touch with foreigners. They always use many body languages with their talk. It is a funny phenomena. Shakespeare said Theres language in her eyes, her cheek, her lip, Nay, her foot speaks. Indeed, these body language not only can make their word lively, but also express the speakers mood, or even substitute a sentence. What the body language means when they use for communication?This is the necessary knowledge of English study. Any kind of body language is formed on the foundation of culture. Without understanding the true meaning of a body language, it will embarrass or make mistake. Therefore, this dissertation will analysis the differences of same body language in the different cultures and suggest to study English on the premise of understanding their culture. II. Literature review 2.1 Culture and language 2.1.1 Culture The definition of culture is evolving as time passes. In the west, at first it was used to describe some ability of person which represent a form of act. Then culture used to describe the real achievement of a instructed person. And in 1952, a book of Alfred L. Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn named Culture. A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions was give a general definition based on more than 160 kinds of cultures definition which was identified by modern east and west academic circle. And in China, its meaning was that with the understanding of all phenomena of human social, govern the world with instructing and inspiring. In the Confucian concept, wen not only means word, but also refer to all the rules of etiquette and music in general. In ancient Chinese language, culture meant guiding people with ethics. Culture is a complex concept and changing with human social. However, the word culture is most commonly used in three basic senses: Excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities, also known as high culture An integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group 2.1.2 Language Language is the important thinking and communicating tool of human being. With language people can keep and pass human civilization achievement. In general, any nation has its own language. It is a notable character of a nation and has long history. Language is closely related with thought. It is the carrier and exhibition form of thought. Language is a social phenomenon with stability and nationality. Though many animals can make sound to express their emotion or deliver message, these sounds are regular without change. Only person have language and can combine all the sounds that have no meaning to become a meaningful morpheme, then put these morphemes together in many ways to form utterance. Using infinite changing form to express infinite changing meaning. 2.1.3 The relationship between language and culture Culture and language are mutual dependence and can not be separated. Language is part of culture, it is the media of culture communication. We use language to communicate, and language is largely influenced by culture. The relationship between culture and language is on the foundation of nation. A nation produces language, at the same time produces culture. Edward Sapir thought that language can not exist without culture. The culture we talk about is social custom and belief. It can decide our life structure. Linguistician Palmer said that language faithfully reflects all the history and culture, game and amusement, belief and prejudice of a nation. As a part of nations culture, language reflects the nations visage, at the same time, language reflects the content of culture as form. Language is the important carrier of culture. Other carriers such as historical site, book, or painting, only show part or even a corner of culture. But language stores all the information of culture comprehensively. Language consists of voice, vocabulary and grammar. Vocabulary, especially the notional word, bear the important responsibility of carrying culture. Time passes, and many new words are coming into being, such as virtual floating, means netizens put their worries and secrets in the virtual bottle without knowing who will get it. All of these are anonymous. And kickback, the original of this word is that the International Olympic Committee will open an ethics investigation into Issa Hayatou over allegations the African football official took kickbacks from FIFAs former marketing agency. But these new words hardly possible become part of culture. Only those language fact that integrate into the bottom life deeply, chosen and washed out by history, enter the basic nation voc abulary is the sign of language affect culture profoundly. For example, Buddhism have been spreaded about 2000 years. Some words like free, retribution, disengagement, hell are coming from Buddhism. These words have already integrated into Chinese become part of it. Culture has effect on language semiotic system itself, language concept, thought and expression, and language learning. Nation culture is decided by the meaning of vocabulary. Different culture tradition and mentality have definitively function to it. Such as dragon, the western people have no favor to it, they thought it is monster, cruel person, stand for devil. But in ancient Chinese culture it stands for the son of heaven and the emperor, lucky and honorable. The reference content and way of culture are decided by the cultures person and persons culture. For example, Cantonese cant see snow for the whole year, so they do not distinguish ice and snow in concept. The northman say à ¥Ã¢â‚¬  Ã‚ °Ãƒ ¦Ã‚ £Ã‚ , and Cantonese say à ©Ã¢â‚¬ ºÃ‚ ªÃƒ ¦Ã‚ Ã‚ ¡. But the Eskimo who live in arctic pole always contact with snow and have a perceptive. There are more than 20 kinds of words used to describe different snow. As the carrier and express tool of thought, language promote the developm ent of thought, on the other hand, language is restricted by thought. For instance, Chinese say à §Ã‚ Ã‚ «Ãƒ ¨Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¦, that is à §Ã‚ Ã‚ « and à ¨Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ¦, looking into the physics function of à §Ã‚ Ã‚ « and à ¦Ã‚ ±Ã‚ ½. But in English, there is railway train, look into the move way of rail and track. To understand the culture of English countries is the important step of English study. The research of language and culture is divided into language culture and language in culture. So culture is divided into two part: big culture and small culture.(Bright, 1976) Here is a form: language Big culture other cultural phenomena Culture Verbal language Small culture Non-verbal language Body language is the important part of non-verbal language. Non-verbal language and culture are learned behaviour and social custom that rich in long history heritage. The relationship between both have these characters in someone like Samovar etals eyes: culture and non-verbal language can not be divided. Many non-verbal languages are the result of learning culture. The shaping and impacting of non-verbal behaviour are always decided by determinate culture environment. It is very important to understand the relationship between culture and non-verbal language. (Samovar etal, 1981) Samovar thought that through understanding the basic represent mode of some cultures non-verbal language, we can search peoples behaviour and attitude. Through non-verbal language mode can understand a sort of cultures value system. Through the research of non-verbal language can exclude the narrow ethnocentrism. The most realistic signification of researching the relationship between culture and non-verba l language in intercultural communication is to resolve the culture conflict in non-verbal language. People always do not realize the learning of their own culture, but very sensitive with other cultures non-verbal language and easily produce misunderstand. Worth the whistle, the culture conflict brought by non-verbal language is serious than that brought by verbal language. Because non-verbal language always is the expression of sensibility and emotion. Samovar put forward that to resolve the non-verbal language culture conflict in international communication should remember the follow three principles when understand the meaning of other cultures non-verbal language: 1. When pay attention to the behaviour of a non-verbal language can not ignore that there are manifold non-verbal language cooperative work in real communication. 2. Anyone can not list and describe all the non-verbal language in any culture. But if we can understand exactly the information of some usually used non-verbal language under the international communication environment, it will be helpful to understand the necessary information. 3. Only understand our cultures non-verbal language first, can we understand other cultures behaviour. Under international communication, to identify the message of non-verbal language should avoid modal or only notice superficies. Be sure to keep in mind that any non-verbal language does not appear lonely, nor deliver any message consciously. Pay special attention to that when study foreign language, international communication activity, and international research, for the need of communicating, studying and researching, people have to make a summation and generalization of the non-verbal language of the same country and the same language nation to sum up some representative non-verbal language. However, in real communication, people must find that the non-verbal language in the same country and nation are not just the same. Even in the same area, it is differ in thousands of ways between the people in different occupations, different age groups and different culture levels. Such as America which is famous for multinational immigrant living together, their non-verbal language are ver y hard to be consistent. So as the different English country, the differences are more further. III. Body language 3.1 Definition Body language is a way of communication that body movements which use head, eyes, neck, hands, arm, foot or other parts of the body to express peoples thought and emotions. Facial expressions, eye contact and other postures and gestures are the commonly used body movement. In a general sense of word, body language includes facial expression, in a narrow sense of word, body language only includes the meaning expressed by body and four limbs. The assortment of body language was advanced by Ruesch and Kees in 1956 according to the basic component of non-verbal language. It involves sign language, action language, and object language. The other assortment was advanced by M. Knapp in 1978 through the analysis of some pertinent researching and literatures. That are body motion and kinesics behaviour, physical characteristics, touching behaviour, paralanguage, proxemics, artifacts, environmental factors. Subsequently, Jensen advanced another statement: body motion and gestures, attitudes to ward time, attitudes toward space, general habits in communication. The research of human body language can trace back to Aristotle in Greek. The formally research was beginning from Darwin. In his 1872 book The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals put forward that man and animals have many similar expressions. The systemic research of body language must come first Ray Birdwhistell. His 1952 book Introduction to Kinesics put forward the theory of kinesics. Made the body language become a coding system like verbal language to study the relationship between body movement and communication. Body Language of Julius Fast is a representative work that reflects the research result of body language. This book is known as the summary of the scientists research in the body language field. From then on, body language becomes a boundary science and produces new research result continuously. According to estimates, human body can make out more than 270,000 kinds of posture and movement. This is far more than the sound made out by human body. These postures and movements meaning are very complex. Some are definite and material as some are general and blurry. Some are used to communicate as some are used to self-express. Some are expressing emotion message as some are reflecting character and attitude. So the sort of body language is very complex. The body language classification method of Ekman and Friesen has important effent in non-verbal language communication educational circles. According to all the movements origin, usage and code, they divided human face and bodys continuous movement into five parts: 1. Symbolic movement: these movements have clearly meaning, such as the gesture express OK and victory. Symbolic movement always used to substitute verbal language. In general, they have distinct culture character. For example, the movement means suicide, in Japan, people use hand to simulate dagger to thrust the abdomen, and in America, people use hand to simulate a gun shot temple. 2. Illustrative movement: these kind of movements cooperate with verbal language directly to explain the meaning of the talking. For example, to emphasize a sentence, describe a thought, indicate a material, depict a space relationship, characterize a things rhythm and speed, portray a phenomena , describe a body movement, explain a sentences meaning, etc. 3. Emotion revealing movement: mainly through facial expression to show emotion or mood, of course the other part of body can also express these emotion. Express the emotion can repeat, exaggerate,deny the verbal language, or may be no relationship with it. Express the emotion always deliver the message of communication unconscious, but also can use it in communicating conscious. 4. Modulation movement: this kind of movement is used for maintaining or adjusting the talk in the face-to-face talk. It drops a hint that the speaker can keep talking, repeat again, explain further, speak fast or more lively, let other people have a talk, etc. In recent years, people pay attention to the research of the turn-talking in chat. Turn-talking means that telling the opposite side I want to talk; stopping the speaker changing the topic; asking the other side to give me a speaking chance; let the other side keep talking; telling the others that I have finish my talking and you can speak. The usually used movement is head and eye movement. 5. Adaptable movement: Ekman and Friesen divide it more further: 1). Self-adaptable movement: this kind of movement always happen on personally, such as, holding own hand, rubbing hand, grabing, scratching, clutching, nipping, whisking or gathering the cloth. In general, the emotion is more disconcerting, the pretty actions are more distinguished. Picking nose and wiping eyes belong to this kind. 2). Transformational adaptable movement: this kind of movement take place in the connect with other people. Such as, bringing or delivering, attacking or protecting, close or away. Leg movement can react that encroach, footsie or attack. Shaking hand or foot means fidgety that the person want to avoid talking. 3). Object adaptable movement: this kind of movement always relate to the using of material, such as smoking and writing. 3.2 The function of body language in intercultural communication As the necessary communication tool, body language has important function in intercultural communication. Bradford J. Hall(2002) summarized the mainly function of body language language: 1. Repetition: Body language can reinforce the verbal language by repeating the verbal message nonverbally, such as using a gesture, it can help the receiver understand the message easily. For example, when someone ask you where is the restaurant, you can point a certain direction when you say, the restaurant is north the library. Or we point to the question on the book we just ask. 2. Substitution: Body language can be used to replace some verbal language to deliver a certain meaning. When your friend meet a sad thing that make him cry, you can give him a hug. This is more powerful than any soothing words. 3. Contradiction: Body language sometimes can betray the speaker by sending contradictory message to the verbal language. The body language is often regarded as the powerful word than the spoken words. For example, we cant keep our face from blushing even say we dont nervous or we cant slow down our heartbeat if we are scared. And the teacher can find a student is wandering from the eyesight even though his eyes are staring the blackboard. So the body language is reliable than the verbal language sometimes. 4. Accentuation: It can force the power when you add a body language with your talk than only use verbal language. When you apologize to someone, if an apology show on you face, this can make your apology more conviction. In addition, body language can provide a complement to the verbal language. In some countries, you can up you thumb as the same time you give a admiration to your friends for his good performance. 5. Regulation: The body language also helps us to control the situation of our talking. For example, when we need a quiet, we can put our finger on our lip. IV. The analysis of the differences of the same body language in different cultures 4.1 The different meaning of the same body language in different cultures Here contrast some body languages that usually used but have different meaning. If you use a very awful body language, this might bring a badly result. 1. In China, up the thumbs means good to praise you are doing a good job, bravo and so on. It is same in many countries. If thumbs down means disagree, finish or youre game over. But in Australia, no matter it up or down is obscene. 2. Protrude the index finger means wait a minute in America, but in Australia it means one more beer. 3. Protrude the little finger means cowardly man in England as bet in America. 4. The V for victory or peace sign in America if made with the palm facing inward is taunting or sneering in England. It is very offensive to societys morals. 5. American people sometimes up head, palm facing down, index finger across the throat, it means Im full. I cant eat anymore. But it means decapitation in China. 6. When Chinese people communicating with foreign people, the most antipathetic movement is using index finger point the others casual. Indeed, the movement is in bad taste and impolite to western people. This is reproof and rebuke. 7. Chinese male like to put hands on other mans shoulder for a long time. And Chinese female frequently take other womans hand closely for long time. These shock the foreigners because they consider this gesture means homosexual. 8. When Chinese people receive or send a cup of water or a gift, they will use two hands to accept it to show appreciate and admiration. But American people dont care about whether use one or two hands. 9. When talking with American people Chinese like to put their hands crossed behind their back or into their pockets. But these gestures make the American think you are hiding guns in your hands. 10. Chinese may scratch their noses when feeling uncomfortable. This is confused the western people because in their culture this movement means Im telling a lie. 4.2 Some embarrassing examples due to misunderstanding of body language Under the same culture, people may have misunderstanding because of the body language, even the different culture. Culture difference in different countries, so the body language can express different meaning. If we do not understand the other peoples meaning, it will have misunderstanding and displeasure. For Examples: Tom is the manager of an American company in China. Recently, Li Lei, one of the Chinese staff makes a mistake at work. He is very upset about what had happened, so he comes to Toms office to apologize. Entering the office with smile. He says: I feel terribly sorry for the mistake. I am here to make a sincerely apology to you and promise that it will never happen again. When he said this, the smile always on his face. But Tom feels it is hard to accept and ask himAre you sure? Li says yes with smile. Tom is angry and saysYou dont look sorry at all. If you really feel sorry, how can you still smile? Li feels so embarrassed and does not know what to do. A Chinese student Wangdan and her friend, the American student Judy who studys in China were on the way to store. They saw a boy fell down on the ground. He tried to stand up while the surrounding people laughed. Luckily he was ok. Judy was worried but found Wangdan was smiling too. She was very curious and asked how could you laugh when someone else fell down. Why dont you help him to stand up and ask him whether he was hurt. Wangdan said, Because they know he was not hurt too much. But Judy still couldnt understand. She said, In my culture, if this was happen, we would do anything but laugh. The former examples are all about the smile. In daily life we usually smile, but in different culture, this ordinary movement can bring misunderstanding or some more serious results. When western people come across these situations, they will with solemn face to apologize or come to console the boy. Though smile means happy, it is the symbol for people in general, but in different culture, smiling in the communication are different. The western people think smile always means happy, high in spirits or think something is funny. But Chinese people often smile, because it not only means humours and satisfaction, also means embarrassment and protection, even a kind of evadable. So it confuses the western people, they say it is too hard to understand. In China, people sometimes use smile to eliminate embarrassment, also means never mind, and the person smile to self-mockery or play a joke. But if the affair is very serious, people will provide help but laugh out of court. So for the peopl e who do not know the meaning, this kind of smile will make them unhappy even produce antipathy. A Chinese student went to a American family and sent present to the child of this family,when he beckon to the little boy, yet the boy back off him. The hand movement is very abundant and with infective. Every gesture has its particular function. In the case, the Chinese student used Chinese gesture, which palm facing down and making a scratching motion with fingers to beckon. This is different in America that means to go away. When they let somebody to close up, their palm facing up or only move index finger. This is opposite to Chinese and may bring Chinese peoples repulsion. V. Conclusion After the briefly analysis of the analysis of body language in intercultural communications, we have a knowledge about the relationship between culture and language, and the influence of body language in the communication. The body language in our daily life is incalculable. Every one can use his body to represent himself. Body language is the same as verbal language to be the carrier of culture that may cause misunderstanding in the international communication because of culture difference. As an English major, to understand the culture of the target language is very important. Having the knowledge of body language will be helpful to us in intercultural communication.

Relationships Essay -- essays research papers

Interpersonal relationships define us. When we are fortunate enough to experience a loving relationship, we achieve positive characteristics such as security and confidence. Conversely, when we experience negative relationships, we become withdrawn, guarded, and wary of engaging in future relationships. However, it is this wariness that causes us to examine our contribution to the relationship to make the next one, or current one, more successful. In essence, it is not just the good or bad relationships that make us who we are, but also what we learn about ourselves from them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Relationships take a great deal of work to be successful, and there are no guarantees that they will be. In his film, Leo Buscaglia, discusses the importance of relationships. Since every individual is unique, it takes continued effort from both parties to effectively understand each other. It is, after all, as Leo said, â€Å"There is no right person; we become the right person†. He also suggests that vulnerability is equally as important as understanding the other person. It is the â€Å"art of letting things happen† – we, as individuals, need to be open to being hurt - because the future is unpredictable, but be entitled to the joys as well. Paul Simon once wrote a song entitled â€Å"I am a Rock†, in which he concludes his song by saying â€Å"I am A Rock, I am and island. And a rock feels no pain; And an island never cries.† This communicates that interpersonal bonds, or relationsh...

Nazi :: essays research papers fc

Sitting on an operating table, deep inside the corridors of Azchwitz concentration camp, a man is listening to the Nazi gun fire outside. He hears the innocent screams as automatic weapons mow through crowds of families deemed "unfit to live". Gradually silence falls, only to be broken again by the solitary pops of a pistol, finishing of those who did not die right off. It should be a sickening feeling for this man, he should feel anger and hate, and sadness for these newest additions to the Nazi stoves. But this man can no longer feel such sadness, such grief. Instead he feels only jealousy, jealousy for those who had died quickly, with a bullet to the brain or the heart. No doubt, considering what he's been through, and what he will go through still, he considers the others to be the lucky ones. They will not boil. They will not freeze. They will not be diseased or hacked apart. They will not have their heads explode in a pressurised chamber. They were the lucky ones, not chosen to act as guinea pigs to further science by dying a slow painful death at the hands of the most gruesome members of the Nazi party, the "Nazi Doctors". When World War two ended in 1945, over eleven thousand people had been exterminated(p4 Freidman) in the Nazis' effort to "racially purify" Germany and its' territories. It seemed tat the vast majority of these killings had taken place in concentration camps, by releasing Zyklon-B(p68 Guthman) in gas chambers disguised as showers. As the allies began holding the first war criminal trials, however, it was quickly seen that a secret, genocide far more hideous than was previously suspected, had taken place. Worse still, the killers were not radical soldiers, but respected members of the German scientificand Medical community. The German government had given the "Doctors of death" (p34, Gilbert) endless supplies of subjects to experiment on in any way they pleased. Some experiments were to benefit the army. They included high altitude tests, as well as the bodies reactions to freezing temperatures.(p2, Net) Other experiments were called for by the nazis themselves, such as tests in genetic traits, mind controlling drugs and mass sterilization.(p3-5, Net) There were medicine tests and more commonly, tests using diseases without any known cures. The most gruesome tests however, were fabricated in the twisted minds of the doctors themselves and are famous for their void of any purposes at all. The high altitude tests were experiments initiated by the nazi government and followed closely by Heinrich Himmler.(p36, Gilbert) The experiments were conducted in a low pressure chamber that could simulate flight up to 68,000 feet above sea level.

Poe vs. Dickens

Poe vs. Dickens (Battle of Authors) Edgar Allen Poe has a better way of describing his emotions on to paper, his tone is dark and depressing yet gives into a little anger here and there. Charles Dickens has also dark and emotional stories growing up poor he must have a few little glimpses of pain but he became wealthy in time. Poe was born wealthy and became poor as he grew older, and if that was not enough sadness, every loved one he had died most of tuberculosis so he drank and wrote stories to cope with the pain of being alone and loveless.Poe always introduced his characters as the ones with murderous intent and seeking revenge against a person who maybe insulted the m in a way. Dickens starts his stories with characters but his characters weren’t â€Å"Insane† they were normal going about their lives, Poe’s stories always had an amazing plot and a killer with some thrills, horrifying thoughts, and vivid pictures that he painted with his words.Some stories ha d characters who learned their lessons and became a better person, they get second chances in Charles’ stories yet in Poe’s if you treat the main character wrong, you will most likely die, I am referring to â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado†. Dickens has mostly emotional tones that end with happiness and rainbows, Poe had almost no happy stories, his tone was anger, confusion, sadness, betrayal, and mysterious, such as in the book â€Å"The Tell Tale Heart†.Poe wrote about murder often that mostly gave off the feeling of fear you could feel every last word echo inside you as he continued to describe in great detail murders that came from his own mind, I haven’t read any Dickens’ books like that. Dickens’ stories have a great deal of foreshadowing in them, he always had kept the audience guessing what was going to happen next, Poe also used foreshadowing ,his story â€Å"The Raven†. â€Å"Tapping at my chamber door; Only this and n othing more (Stanza 1 line 5/6)†. Dickens mostly used the theme of lessons, you do something wrong, learn lesson, problem fixed.Comparing Poe to Dickens is like comparing a graveyard to a hospital, sure they have a few similarities but it’s missing something, Poe’s lesson was don’t mess with people, if you hurt someone you will hurt right back, or to put it in simple terms equivalent exchange. Dickens was a great author but compared to Poe his books should be read in a preschools, Edgar Allen Poe was ahead of his time, his imagination dared to reach into the darkest depths of his mind, he brought nightmares to life and completely changed the meaning of sadness, I believe Poe was one of the greatest authors of all time.