Pros and Cons of Fast Food Essay

The fast food industry has come a long way from its humble beginnings nearly a century ago. The first restaurant considered a fast food restaurant was called White Castle. White Castle was opened in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas by Billy Ingram. He opened it so that he could sell his slider-style burgers at a price of 5 cents per patty. White castle is in business today and its belief of selling cheap affordable food for all became the foundation for all the fast food places that were founded soon after. Places that include, Kentucky Fried Chicken in 1930, McDonalds in 1940, In-n-Out in 1948, Burger King in 1954, and Wendy’s in 1969 along with others became the well known cheap eateries that we have here today. All this fast food although cheap, they have clearly had a well documented negative effects of it as well. As more and more fast food appears and gets advertised in our lives it drives people to want to go and get some but causes the average weight of people to go up because of it and also leads to the fast food industry to make money off of it too. The fast food industry has its goods and consequences but ultimately it comes down to what position you are looking at the industry from to really identify your viewpoint. For example if you were a person looking for a job and all you could get was a job at McDonalds, you would think that the industry is good because you make money off of it. But if you were a person who has become obese as a result of eating too much fast food, you might not be a big fan of the fast food industry. There are many arguments that can be made for the fast food industry because of all the good that it provides to people. The first benefit that it has is that it provides cheap food to people since back when it first started it cost 5 cents at White Castle per burger and nowadays basically every place has a dollar menu like McDonalds or a value menu like Burger King. I’m not sure how long that the dollar menu will last with how the price of everything in the world is getting more expensive as time goes on, but I’m sure that it’ll stay at around a dollar or two so that it’ll be a lot cheaper then anything else for a long time. Another benefit of the fast food industry is that the food that it provides is quite convenient because it is so quick to make for us to be able to eat unlike restaurants so that it is a lot better for those who are on the go and need to eat very quickly at the place or even order through the drive-thrus available at most if not all fast food places if they want to save even more time to eat in the car. Another benefit of the fast food industry that some people may overlook is the employment opportunities it creates for people. According to howstuffworks. com, as of today there are about 2. 4 million workers that work in the fast food industry which his quite a large number. These jobs, although small, provide a steady source for those who work there to support their families, and I’m not too sure that all of the people employed within the fast food industry could find other jobs. A last minor benefit of the fast food industry is how they are adapting because of all the criticism they receive about fast food being unhealthy, places like McDonalds started serving things like fruits, salads and milk to stop a bit of the negative opinions. The main argument against the fast food industry is the health issues that result from eating the fast food. All the fast food is and has been for a while assembly line made. We don’t always know what the fast food is made of; it could be filled with random meats that we might not quite like if we ever find out. Fast food is usually higher in things like fat, oil, calories and sugar. All the nutrients get fried out of the food and eating a lot will result in many problems, like obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure and joint problems. According to Buzzle, people who live within walking distance of a fast food restaurant are 13% more likely of suffering a stroke then those who don’t. According to Ehow. com 33% of Americans are obese and a lot of it stems from the doubling of fast food restaurants since 1970. Simply put, if you eat a lot of fast food bad things will likely happen to you. Fast food also has a negative effect on our environment as well because the factory produced fast food is said to have a big impact on our environment causing a lot of damage and a lot of people consider it a major contributor to global warming. And according to EHow, they quote the EatingWell Magazine that worldwide meat production is said to emit more greenhouse gases then all the transportation and industrial processes combined. Another argument against the fast food industry would be that fast food industries are also being considered as a factor for making families spend less time together because people just want to eat quick and leave thus reducing the amount of family time that people get together. All in all just like everything else in the world, the fast food industry has its pros and cons. The pros of it would be that the food is cheap, the food is convenient to get and eat, and that it provides a lot of jobs for people. The cons would be that it’s bad for your health to eat, its bad for the environment to make and may likely decrease the amount of family time that families can get. I believe that these really balance each other out, but it really depends on the point of view of the individual as to whether they like or dislike the fast food industry. In the end opinions may differ, but it’s really up to you to decide. Reference Page: 1. Bose, D. (2012, March 9). Advantages and Disadvantages of Fast Food. Buzzle. Retrieved September 18, 2013, from http://www. buzzle. com/articles/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-fast-food.html 2. Maire, L. (n. d. ). Pros & Cons of Fast Foods | eHow. eHow | How to Videos, Articles & More – Discover the expert in you.. Retrieved September 18, 2013, from http://www. ehow. com/info_8006832_fast-foods-pros-cons. html 3. Tannebaum, K. (n. d. ). Fast Food History – Original Fast Food Locations – Delish. com. Recipes, Party Food, Cooking Guides, Dinner Ideas, and Grocery Coupons – Delish. com. Retrieved September 18, 2013, from http://www. delish. com/food-fun/fast-food-history#slide-3 4. Wilson, T. V. (n. d. ). HowStuffWorks â€Å"The History of Fast Food†. HowStuffWorks â€Å"Science†.

Sociologist Karl Marx

A Brief Introduction Mr. Jeff Riddle April 29th, 2009 There are three major theories that depict how sociologists view the world. The theories are functionalist, conflict, and interaction theory. Each of these has its own viewpoints of how people affect society, and how society affects the people. Each theory has its own group of sociologist to go with it. The theory that a sociologist picks to back has an effect on how they do research and how they look at problems. Schaefer) The first theory is Structural Functional Theory, or functionalism. Functionalism is one of the oldest theories, and is still used today. In functionalism society is made up of different parts, and these parts work together to keep the society stable. Functionalism relies very much on the scientific method. By relying on the scientific method, the study of sociology can be observed in the same way one would view the physical world. (McClelland) In functionalism, change is said to happen when pressure is put on individuals by social structures.This is what is known as a macro theory. Macro theories work from the society downward, the society forces the people to change, not the people change society. The next theory is conflict theory. In opposition to functionalism, when society exists in a state of balance and stability, conflict theory says that society is better described as existing in a state of constant struggle and conflict between two groups. Conflict theory has been growing it popularity since the late 1960s.Many social and economical problems such as, civil rights movements, and political battles, have given prime examples of the conflict between the two groups, reinforcing conflict theory. Marx says there is a constant struggle between the haves, and the have-nots. In a capitalistic society, groups interact in a destructive way. (Schaefer) They do this by the more powerful group exploiting the lower group in order to become more powerful. This is what causes the unbalance in po wer. The next theory is Interactionist or Symbolic Interaction Perspective.This theory is different from the other two because instead of working from the society down in a macro prospective, it works from the individual up, in a micro prospective. Interactionists focus on the subject of human life at a personal level instead of at a social level. An interactionist wants to know what the person was feeling or how they were bothered by a particular situation. Society is made up of patterned and organized interactions on personal basis. Because of this the research done by interactionists can be done at a face-to-face level also instead of focusing on the group or groups within society. McClelland) All interactions and reactions between individuals shape the way society works. An interaction can be any contact; this includes all language and symbols. This is because interactionists want to understand each individual in society, because understanding the individuals will show you how t hey shape society in the end. (McClelland) In conclusion, these different theories give sociologist a basis to work from. They do play a major role in the way a sociologist conducts research, or gathers information in other ways.Not any of the three theories can be said to be correct in a whole, but sociologists can use all of them to better understand a situation and draw conclusions about it. The theories allow sociologists to develop different viewpoints and find the tendencies between them. References Berlin, Isaiah, and Alan Ryan. (1996). Karl Marx: His Life and Environment. New York: Oxford University Press. Schaefer, Richard T. (2008). Sociology. New York: McGraw-Hill. Stanford Encyclopedia Of Philosophy. (2008). Karl Marx. http://www. laspositascollege. edu/library/cited_APA_examples. php#anchorInternet

Response Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Response Paper - Essay Example The novel played on emotions of horror, awe and trepidation in order to elicit strong emotions particularly against the scientific rationalization of nature. Indeed, Frankenstein, is often considered as a work that initiated the dark visions of the cruelty and barbarity of the scientific endeavors by megalomaniacs wishing to control the world rather than as a tool for the spread of Enlightenment ideas. The setting and time further highlighted the Romantic character of the Frankenstein. The story happened in the eighteenth century, a time wherein political, social and scientific norms required resistance. In addition, the setting: the Swiss Alps and the cold regions of England and Scotland serve to tell us that these desolate places are where the monsters are appropriately exiled. It also underscored the sublime and untamed character of nature, which, for its part, highlighted the scientific atrocities committed by humans against it. Through the setting, there was an interfusion of elemental contraries that better demonstrate Shelley’s objectives. One of the most important themes that I found in the novel is that of the concept of monstrosity. Although Frankenstein is the most obvious example of what a monster is, he was in fact less of a monster than his creator. His hideousness hides a compassionate creature and his lack of companionship deeply troubled him. This was summed up in the line: â€Å"I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked, and trampled on.† (Shelley, p. 188) Victor, his creator, on the other hand, displays a more intense monstrosity in his ambition, secrecy and selfishness, which led him to murder members of his own family. It is, however, unnoticeable because such monstrosity is hidden in his humanity. These two characters served two represent varying concepts that permeate in the literary world.

Historical significance of the US Airline Deregulation and the Open Essay

Historical significance of the US Airline Deregulation and the Open Skies Treaty-future international deregulation of the Commercial Airlines Transport - Essay Example In 1978, the US Congress deregulated the airline industry. The underlying principle of airline deregulation was that struggle among airlines would substitute government regulation in deciding fare and service assistance. The initial years of airline deregulation were distinguished by era of strong rivalry among the main airlines in addition to by competition from new-entrant airlines and from airlines previously restricted to intrastate markets.In the years between the inception of airline deregulation in 1978 and the upsurge of mergers starting in 1985, most of deregulation's advantages to customers came in the form of enhanced service and reduced fares as a result of contest from new participants and from the major network airlines themselves.The capacity to supply new and emergent markets, to shape broader route networks, and to charge low fares had been firmly controlled by regulation. These restructured services could be put into practice in no small degree as a result of advanc es in technology that facilitated the growth of advanced yield management systems. Such systems help airlines to present and to rapidly change the combination of high and low-fare seat capacity on a particular flight, in addition to manage both origin and destination and emanate traffic over the whole complex.As the restrictions on airline operations were raised by deregulation and the airlines promptly employed their new route and fare choice, customers in many markets acquired considerable gains. After the late-1980s mergers, nonetheless, the source of deregulation's gains started to change. The gains progressively became less caused by the actions of the main network airlines and more due to the actions of a small number of low-fare carriers. In the late 1990s, the major airlines' domestic route networks had become quite established and were built around hub airports usually dictated by a single carrier. These hub-based networks created geographic zones in which each key network airline has large presence and market power, particularly in short-haul, smaller markets. Consequently, the advantages of deregulation have all the time more come from contest among major network airlines in long-haul markets and from reduced fares in short-haul markets operated by low-fare airlines. In many of the markets not operated by low-fare airlines, the advantages of deregulation may well be eroding. Certainly, entrance by a low-fare carrier either into the industry or into a new market is not simple. Nevertheless, it is significant that new airlines have a prospect to vie for business on the strength of the product or services they present, rather than be required to deal with predatory practices by the serving carriers. Significance of the US Airline Deregulation: An Introduction The Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 acted for the government's authority over fares and service and facilitated market dynamics to decide the price and scale of domestic airline service in the USA. Despite the fact overall fares have dropped and service has improved since deregulation, these gains have not been uniformly distributed all over the markets. In reality reported on the weak assets of some airlines that have caused insolvency and pension termination, 1 particularly among those airlines whose operations pre-date deregulation. Opponents of deregulation, that include some researchers, have named industry

Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 6

Essay Example 2) Assessing Risk The second step is based on the assessment of the likelihood and outcomes of the risk. This means that the frequency and probability of the risk is measured in conjunction with the severity of its outcomes. 3) Create Controls and Make Right Decisions The third step in the risk management process is the formulation of control measures for minimizing risks. R. S. Khatta (2008) elaborates that controls are most effective when the causes that lead to risk are effectively dealt with. 4) Making Right Decisions The decision committee then reviews the control options and implements those which reduce the possibility of risks to minimum. Such decisions are highly dependent on the cost. 5) Monitoring and Evaluating Controls The controls being implemented need to be evaluated precisely. Constant monitoring of controls aimed at minimizing risks is also essential. Feedbacks are generated so as to analyze the effectiveness of controls (Steven S. Wilder, 1997). Role of the Project Manager in Risk Management Process John Bartlett (2004) writes that without any second thought, a project manager can be called as the champion of risk management process. A project manager is the one who has the responsibility of ensuring that the project is being run as planned and the entire team is enthusiastically engaged. He actively communicates with the suppliers and contractors and has access to the updated financial data. Few of the roles of project manager in the risk management process include ensuring the implementation of risk management process in the project. A project manager assesses the possible occurrence and severity level of the risk. He holds the responsibility of regularly updating the risk status to the seniors. A project manager also conducts meetings to review the risk; this is essential so that he could get update information on how well the entire process of risk management is going. He agrees to possible feedback and risk control response. One of the m ost significant responsibilities of a project manager includes closely monitoring of how effective is the role that is being played by the risk management team in the whole process. From these roles discussed in the previous sentences, we can get a clear idea that a project manager is the backbone for the successful implementation of risk management in any project. Benefits of Risk Management Risk management has obvious benefits in the step of project planning. Risk Management offers a structured framework which is an integral part of the planning process. It presents ways to maximize opportunities and minimize risks. It promotes the optimal utilization of resources in the project. With the help of risk management, there is an increased flow of communication between project members. The senior management gets a precise picture of the identified risks that may affect the project as well as the measures aimed at reducing those risks. The accountability pattern becomes more organized a nd improved. Decision making becomes effective due to the risk management process. The objectives of the project become more clear and achievable due to the involvement of risk managemen

Three Monkeys Tea and Cofee House - Strengths and Weaknesses Essay

Three Monkeys Tea and Cofee House - Strengths and Weaknesses - Essay Example Otherwise, the location of Three Monkeys can be characterized as ideal, offering options of coffee/ lunch both inside and outside. Indeed, the Coffee Shop has an impressive patio, a feature that has been available mostly because of Three Monkeys Coffee House’s location, as presented in pictures (Photo 1, Appendices). Interior and exterior design features In terms of interior and exterior design, Three Monkeys cannot be characterized as an ordinary cafe. The Coffee House’s decoration is full of Mediterranean features, as it is made clear through the photos 2, 3, 4, and 5, which were taken during my visit in the particular cafe. In its inside the cafe resembles like a Mediterranean Coffee House; there are many decorative items of different size and color; in any case, dark colors are preferred giving to the place, at least in its inside, the sense of limited space. It should be noted that walls are almost totally covered with frames incorporating a wide range of themes, s uch as advertisements of movies, personal photos, paintings and so on. Large jars are used for storing cakes and other types of food; these jars are used as decorative items, as storage places but also as tools of marketing, i.e. for showing the food available (i.e. cakes, biscuits etc.) to the customers. From this point of view, the internal decoration of Three Monkeys can be characterized as quite effective, giving the sense of house-like environment, i.e. reminding family. Still, the over-use of decorative items may be considered as a negative aspect of the place’s interior design. There are possibly customers that would prefer less decorative items in the cafe’s inside, so that they would be less depressed when enjoying their coffee; the above view is based on the fact that decoration when it is based on the excessive use of decorative items, so that all free areas, including walls, are covered, can decrease a place’s attractiveness. This is possibly a reaso n that in modern architecture open and empty spaces are quite common as parts of buildings of different use. In the cafe’s exterior, a similar approach has been used; however, here the use of decorative items is quite limited, as showed in Photo 1 (Appendices). As in the cafe’s interior, in its exterior also a sense of international decoration is clear (Photo 1 and 1a); however, in its exterior area, the cafe seems to emphasize on the provision of green spaces, as indicated by the plants placed near to tables (Photo 1). Decorative items of Mediterranean style have been also added here but they are limited; in any case, the exterior area of the cafe has the advantage of open space (Photos 1 and 1a), an issue that was highlighted as a problem in regard to the cafe’s interior, as noted above. Therefore it is mainly the exterior area that adds in the cafe’s value in terms of ambience, as analyzed further below. Theme and ambience As explained earlier, in Thre e Monkeys emphasis has been given on the excessive use of decorative items so that the place achieves an advantage, compared to the other cafes of the West End. It seems that the specific target has been achieved; the cafe has a unique ambience, based on the use of decorative items related to the Mediterranean and eastern cultures (Photos 2 – 5). This is a characteristic, which is welcomed by the cafe’

Way to quick smoking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Way to quick smoking - Essay Example The purpose of this paper is to discuss ways to quit smoking. Smoking is a very unhealthy that can lead to lung cancer and other health problems. According to the American Lung Association every year over 460,000 American citizens die from cigarette smoking (Lungusa). The faster a person decides the quit greater the chance the individual has to increase his / her lifespan. Quitting smoking is very difficult. One of the first things a person that makes the decision to quit should do is to look for a support group of friends and family to help them along the process. There are actual withdraw symptoms associated with getting of cigarettes. Some of these symptoms include: anxiety, nervousness, depression, sleeping disorders, attention deficit, hunger, and inability to concentrate among others. I have a cousin that has quit 3 times and he has always come back to the cigarette. He provided with a real life example of the reality that quitting smoking is extremely difficult. There are ways to quit smoking. Four products available in the marketplace to help a smoker get of the cigarettes are pills, nicotine patches, nicotine gum and electronic cigarettes. Two of the most commonly used pills to quit smoking are Zyban and Chantix. These must be prescribed by a doctor. A person attempting to quit smoking along with a support group should seek the assistance and advice of medical professional to help the person along in the process. Nicotine patches and pills are available over the counter and represent a cheap substitute that can help the person along in the process because it is proving the active ingredient in the cigarette, nicotine, which makes people so addicted. Electronic cigarettes are the newest method to quit smoking. The product has become very popular in Europe and most manufacturers of this alternative solution are Chinese based companies. The electronic cigarette is basically a

Business and marketing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Business and marketing - Assignment Example The company has a strong record of delivering project solutions to different clients across the globe and it can work alongside the customers to identify the key challenges, then develop and implement effective project management plans that are designed to meet customer expectations. The other important site in dealing with project management is operated by Ants project Management Consultants available at accessed November 18, 2012. According to information obtained from the above mentioned website, the benefits of using this service include the following: â€Å"improved efficiency and increased profitability through better utilization of limited resources - enhanced planning, scheduling and cost control - leading to more consistent achievement of milestones, goals and objectives - better horizontal communications.† Ideally, this is what Projects4Technology is looking for. This plan is very important since it provides the framework upon which all work will be carried. This kind of work has to go stage by stage so as to ensure that all the necessary information has been incorporated in the project document. Basically, a virtual organisation is a network of independent organisations linked together by information technology (IT) and it does not operate from a fixed place since all work is done through the internet (Haag, Cummings & Dawkins, 2000). Besides the challenges that are likely to be encountered if the company adopts a virtual structure, it can be noted that the advantages of this structure outweigh the disadvantages. For instance, the company will save $450  000 each month for office rentals. The company will also save $200  000 of transport costs every month. This improves its viability since it will be in a position to lower its operational costs. The other advantage is that the internet is ubiquitous and it can be accessed from any place which

Disease Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Disease - Essay Example The primary meaning is that these are representative of continually surfacing contagions reacting to speedy changes in the association between host and the pathogens. Current literature has identified that there are almost 1, 400 species of human pathogens. Almost 60 percent of these pathogens are zoonotic. This implies that almost 60 percent of the pathogens are infections that are transmitted between humans and vertebrates. In reference to Woolhouse et al (2012), emerging and re-emerging pathogens are most probable to be zoonotic. Viruses form a majority of this group. In addition, viruses with RNA sequences constitutes a third of all emerging and re-emerging contagions. Emergent pathogens are characteristically those with a wide host variety ranging across numerous mammalian animals. In the contemporary world, in spite of the exceptional progresses towards development of steps to counter the development of the infectious illnesses, the increased global mutuality, increased world t ravel and climate change have contributed deposits of complication to controlling and containing these contagious diseases that not only have an impact on an individual’s health but also a nation’s economy. ... Remarkably, most of the illnesses originate from animals such as rodents and bats, as shown by the presence of Nipah virus encephalitis, lassa fever and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (Howard & Fletcher, 2012). Current interest in emerging contagions has centered on three primary fields. First, it has centered on how the interaction of the environment, human societal pressures and climate can cause unanticipated outbursts of emergent illnesses. Second, it has centered on the apprehension on how viruses can be transmitted from a reservoir to a host, and thirdly on recognizing the elements of the illness process that present opportunities for treatment and prevention. Drivers of Emerging Viral Diseases in Humans i. Animals that act as reservoirs of Human diseases Many emerging illnesses arise when transferable agents in animals are passed to people. The advent of agriculture 10, 000 years ago was one of the primary factors that contributed to the rise of majority of the infections in th e present world. Agricultural activities drove people near wild animals and livestock. Notably, people put establishments in these regions (Lashley $ Durham, 2007). This offered a fertile ground for the transmission of infections from the animals to humans. Among the mammalian species, members that make up Muridae family have been the natural hosts of Hantaviruses and arenaviruses. The mamals reproduce faster and increase the population’s exposure and risk to the pathogens. Additionally, domestic livestock have also contributed to the spread and emergence of virus infections. For instance, pigs have been associated with numerous outbursts of emerging infections. A total number of 265 cases of viral infections

Grand Theft Childhood Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Grand Theft Childhood - Essay Example This case, an exemplary example, is not only cause for concern, but is evidence that media does direct our values and in doing so promotes activities outside acceptable social norms. The vast array of entertainment available through video games has made them a mainstay of children's pastime. A full 79% of our children between 7 and 17 years of age play an average of 8 hours a week (Walsh). Many video games are appropriate and often aid educational purposes and project positive images of society. They often offer instruction, problem solving, and entertainment. However, when games step outside our sense of a well-ordered society, they bring with them a baggage of debate on their influence. The recent explosion of violent video games has brought controversy from the living room and into the halls of Congress. Games that feature gun play, excessive mutilation, and behavior associated with criminal activity have raised concern across the board from parents to medical professionals. The intense concern about video and computer games is based on the belief that the ultra violent games are inappropriate for all children and harmful to some. Exposure to "Grand Theft Auto" increases physiological arousal, aggressive thoughts, and aggressive emotions and actions (Walsh). According to Walsh, "In a study of 8th and 9th graders, students who played more violent video games were also more likely to see the world as a hostile place, to get into frequent arguments with teachers, and to be involved in physical fights". Critics are quick to point out that the problem is not the video game, but underlying hostility in the child. However, this does not seem to be validated by research. According to a 2004 research study, Gentile, Lynch, Linder, and Walsh concluded, It was hypothesized that exposure to video game violence would be positively related to aggressive behaviors, such as arguments with teachers and physical threats. This hypothesis was confirmed. Students who play more violent video games are more likely to have been involved in physical acts and get into arguments with teachers more frequently. It should come as no great shock that exposure to violence, even with the knowledge that it is just a game, can initiate and manifest aggressive behavior. I have seen my friends after a period of playing "Grand Theft Auto" and have noticed a change in behavior immediately following the game. Their speech is more coarse, actions more rude, and their driving becomes more reckless. Yet, they play it off as being just a game. They explain that it is no different than an eight year old watching the violence taking place in a Tom and Jerry cartoon. Their theory of the self realization that its only a game and can't translate to the real world may have some validity. A study of 5 to 9 year old children's cartoon viewing habits indicated that children might be discerning between fantasy and reality. The study noted that, " [...] [M]others were shocked by the aggressive and "dark" programmes their children were watching. However, even though some of the children found them disturbing they realised they were simply cartoons, that nobody got hurt and that the good characters always won" ("Children's Cartoons Harmless"). So as children can tell good from bad in a cartoon, can a

Analysis of Mountain Sound in the Context of Journeys Essay Example for Free

Analysis of Mountain Sound in the Context of Journeys Essay â€Å"Mountain Sound† is a song performed by Icelandic indie pop band Of Monsters and Men which was released as a second single from their debut studio album â€Å"My Head is An Animal.† Written by Arnar Rà ³senkranz, Nanna Bryndà ­s Hilmarsdà ³ttir and Ragnar Þà ³rhallsson, it tells the story of a character who commits a crime or action that opposes the values and cultural norm of his society. He then flees from the area to escape capture by the authorities and take refuge in the forest and mountain sound. Along the way, the character also runs into creatures that threaten his existence and therefore is forced to travel only at night to avoid visibility from any external forces. In the first stanza, it proves the statement that â€Å"journeys are commonly instigated by escape from a previous circumstance that doesn’t appeal to the individual.† In accordance to the song, the character had to escape as quickly as possible â€Å"from all the trouble [he] he had caused with [his two hands.† Apart from that, the use of the metaphor â€Å"travelling on with nothing but a shadow† where the shadow refers to the character’s guilt that he carries along as he escapes, shows one of the emotional obstacle that the character encounters throughout his journey. The second stanza demonstrates the understanding that journeys are always speckled with obstacles which we have learn from and at the same time accounts for the importance of the journey itself rather than the final destination. In â€Å"Mountain Sound,† the traveller encounters are beings that had scars and scratches too unnatural to be of natural causes thus sparking his curiosity about their past. Upon further observation however, the traveller suddenly realises that these strangers were probably creatures that were not human based on the reference to â€Å"we were nothing like the rest.† The use of the phrase â€Å"as I looked around† hints that the traveller was surrounded by the creatures and is therefore in a threatening situation. The chorus revolves around the description of the traveller’s journey, where he can only travel at night to avoid capture. This description is enforced in the form of an advice from a more superior being which in this case appears to an angel or deity, hinted by the changeover to a woman’s voice, which is stereotypically accepted as compassionate as well as the use of language which is phrased in the form of an admonishment: â€Å"hold your horses now, sleep until the sun goes down.† This chorus supports the statement that â€Å"in a bid to escape, one journeys to a refuge that provides security and peace of mind.† In general, the essence of the song is further amplified with specific musical techniques, first of which is the echo effect created by the digital delays in the electric guitars. This effect creates a suspenseful and dramatic scene about to unfold, in reference to the second stanza where the traveller suddenly realises his vulnerability to the strangers as they surround him. Besides that, the choral section that sings the lines â€Å"sleep until the sun goes down† and â€Å"deep into the mountain sound† adds spirit and energy to the song which relates to how physical journeys are always affiliated with movement and energy. It also appears as cheer of encouragement to motivate the traveller to continue his strive for his goal. Furthermore, the incorporation of a duple simple time signature and a drum routine of a â€Å"snare, bass, snare, bass,† shows the prolonging of physical journeys and the fast pace that the traveller is forced to carry out. In relation to the movie Rabbit Proof Fence (2002), both works share the same motivation that instigates a physical journey, which is to escape from a previous affair and retreat into the security of a refuge, which in Rabbit Proof Fence is the girls’ home in Jigalong while in Mountain Sound, refers to the deep forest. Apart from that, the travellers have to face obstacles along their journey; both having to travel through vast distances which itself is laden with other adversities that extend its difficulty. In Rabbit Proof Fence, the girls are forced to journey through harsh terrains with insufficient supplies and a professional tracker hot on their heels. Likewise, Mountain Sound features a long distance to the desired refuge further laden with the sense of guilt from the traveller’s previous actions. Just as Rabbit Proof Fence features a narration in the Aboriginal language that projects a sense of belonging and extracting the prejudice of the audience to the Aboriginal point of view, Mountain Sound uses first person language to connect with the listeners as it appears to be accounted from personal experience rather than sophisticated words phrased beautifully into neat packages of rhymes and rhythms. Last but not least, the paradoxical statement in Mountain Sound â€Å"sleep until the sun goes down† actually explains how in order to remain unseen, it is essential to travel only during the night, therefore creating a brief pause in a listener’s interpretation of its meaning. Similarly in Rabbit Proof Fence, the girls had to constantly mask their tracks and remain hidden in bushes to avoid capture from the tracker. On a personal note, â€Å"Mountain Sound† connects with my inner feelings and soothes my heart to the core. At the same time, it teaches me that we should never run away from our problems but use wisdom that we have acquired or from the guidance of a wise individual to resolve them. This can be related to the simile of our negative personalities as trees and in order to entirely uproot these established traits, we have to strike at its roots and not just the branches. As a whole, our problems should not ignored or ran away from but to be confronted and subdued in order to spur integral human development and an individual transformation.

Marketing Analysis of Heathrow Airport

Marketing Analysis of Heathrow Airport Name: Jheanel Davidson AC 1.1 Discuss concepts of marketing for a relevant services industry Marketing, as a concept, implies the approach that is applied in order to transfer the products or services of an organization from just a concept to the customers. It is a process through which an organization communicates the features of its products and services and the brand message to the customers in order to create the demand for such product or service (Kotler, 2000). Marketing management, on the other hand, is considered as an approach that helps an organization in applying the resources of marketing in a disciplined way. The industry size influences the process of marketing management to a greater extent as a big industry will ensure more resources to be deployed for the process of marketing and the same will also help in regulating the process of marketing in the most favorable way. The present paper emphasizes upon understanding the way, the different elements of marketing will help in enhancing the marketing performance of Heathrow Airport (Winer, 2000). Research findings: 1. The marketing process involves a basic step, known as the market analysis. In this step, the market for a particular product or service is analyzed on the basis of the requirements of the customers and the demand for the particular product and service. 2. Customer satisfaction is one of the important elements of marketing. Marketing tactics are formulated in order to satisfy customer needs, in this regards, it is important to discuss providing value to the customer (Johnson and Gustafsson, 2000). 3. One of the important goals of marketing strategy is to create value for the product and communicate its benefits to the customers; this will lead to customer retention. Satisfied customers generally make further purchases. 4. Cost/benefit analysis and conducting an analysis of the efficiency of a marketing strategy is considered as an important step while framing a marketing plan for an organization. This is also considered as one of the essential elements of marketing (Johnson and Gustafsson, 2000). 5. The process of marketing is considered as a business philosophy. It is a business philosophy that focuses on understanding the needs of the customers and on the basis of the identification of the requirements. 6. Relationship marketing is another arm of marketing that emphasizes upon customer retention. This can also be considered as a part of the customer relationship management process (Egan and Harker, 2005). 7. Strategic marketing is considered to be a process that helps a business in disposing of its products or services in such a manner so that the objectives are achieved. Tactical marketing is a process that helps an organization to identify the most viable way to implement the marketing strategy in order to achieve the goals (Kerin, 2006). Discussion Marketing strategy is considered as essential for the survival and future development of every business. Heathrow Airport is one of the busiest airports in London, UK. Conducting market analysis would be regarded as a vital exercise for Heathrow Airport to frame appropriate marketing strategy. The concept of market analysis implies the initiatives taken to understand the requirements of the customers and their demand. In this new age of cut throat competition, conducting a market analysis would be highly beneficial for an organization to ensure its survival. The process of conducting the market analysis will help Heathrow Airport in understanding the growing needs of the customers, that the number of customers is increasing day by day and they have a tight schedule, hence, quality of service will play an essential role to fetch their needs (Ferrell and Hartline, 2005). Providing satisfactory and timely service to the growing traffic and passengers would be the duty of the Airport in order to hold its position. Heathrow Airport has analyzed the demands of the customers and as a result of that, it has formulated new strategies towards the runway and terminal expansion, constructing Heathrow railway hub, air track etc. Marketing strategy provides a huge benefit to different organizations to dispose of its products or services in such a way so that the customer requirements are satisfied. Heathrow Airport has formulated these strategies and communicated the same to the customers in order to provide them maximum satisfaction and strengthen the brand image of the Airport. Creation of value for the customers will be highly important for Heathrow Airport as the same would help the organization in retaining its image and increase the loyalty of the customers. Formulation of an effective marketing strategy would help Heathrow Airport to properly dispose the quality services to the customers that will create a value which is higher than the expectations of the customers, in this process the retention of the customer can be made possible. Tactical marketing would be equally essential for the airport, as the same will help the management in understanding the ways through which the marketing strategy will be implemented to get optimum results. Hence, it will also be paramount for Heathrow Airport to properly analyze the process of implementation and the financial viability of such marketing process. The management at Heathrow Airport is also required to focus on customer relationship management; this approach will help in retaining the customers and increasing their loyalty towards the airport. This can be done my constantly communicating with the customers and providing them quality services in a timely manner (Ferrell and Hartline, 2005). Conclusion An effective marketing strategy can bring incredible results towards the performance and profitability of Heathrow Airport. Through this process, the management will be able to understand the changing needs and demands of the customers and they will be able to track the right path to formulating effective policies and strategies to fulfill the needs of the passengers. Newer initiatives can be taken through the formulation of strategic marketing goals. The profitability of the Airport will enhance drastically through the process of implementing tactical marketing because the same will help the management in providing the ways through which the strategies can be implemented in the most profitable way. The process of marketing will pave news ways towards achieving the organizational objectives; on the other hand, this approach will help in bringing new customers and retaining the existing ones. An effective marketing policy will provide the required support to the management to take the necessary steps that will help in enhancing the competitive power of the airport and its market image. The Heathrow airport is one of the busiest airports in the UK and through formulating new policies to strengthen their services towards fulfilling customer requirements and creating value for them it will be able to increase customer loyalty. The policy of customer relationship management will also help the management in retaining the customers and enhancing the market image of the airport. In this way, the overall value of the organization will also improve. AC1. 2 Assess the impact of the marketing environment on the industry The industry is considered as a combination of different organizations, who jointly conducts certain operations for the purpose of producing goods to be sold and the production process is generally carried on in a factory or similar undertaking. The market is considered as a place, where a number of people gather regularly for the purchase and sale of commodities and services (Kotler and Armstrong, 2012). The hospitality industry in the UK is one of the big industries that contribute towards the GDP of UK substantially. There are different segments of the hospitality industry and each of them focuses on the provision of efficient customer services, as the same is considered as the backbone of the hospitality industry. The travel and tourism segment includes tour operators, airlines, travel and tourism organizations, airports etc. The market environment comprises of two different parts, namely micro and macro environment (Kotler and Armstrong, 2012). Findings The findings of the research conducted for the purpose of assessing the impact of the marketing environment on the industry have been provided below: 1. The micro-environment of an organization comprises of the stakeholders. Stakeholders are regarded as the persons or organizations that have an interest in the performance of an organization and its development. The stakeholders have the ability to influence the operations of an organization. There different types of stakeholders, such as the customers, the requirements of the customers influence the operations and strategies of a business, the owners are internal stakeholders, who seek higher return for their investments. Financiers are lenders who are interested in the profitability and stability of an organization for the security of the funds lent. Competitors formulate various strategies that an organization follows in order to maintain its competitive strength. The society is also an evaluator of an organization, effective measures are taken by an organization towards social development and environmental protection will enhance its market image (Mooradian et al., 2012). 2. Macro environment is regarded as the external environment surrounding an organization, it consists of different external factors which are uncontrollable, such as political factors, which are considered as the policies framed by the government, ecological factors, which are considered as the environmental factors, such as environmental protection, preserving natural resources etc., technological resources, these are the improved technological devices and the up-gradation in technology that helps an organization in improving its overall performance, economical factors, these are the economic factors such as, inflation, change in interest rates, recession etc. that can influence the financial performance of an organization, social and legal factors, these can be considered as the change in the behaviour of the customers, change in the attitude of the customers, new laws introduced by the government that may affect the industry (Kerin and Peterson, 2001). 3. There are various tools that can be used for conducting an analysis of the marketing environment of an organization. The internal environment can be analyzed by using the SWOT model. It is considered as a tool that has four different heads, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and it helps in analysing the mentioned factors relating to an organization. On the other hand, the external environment can also be analyzed by the utilization of certain tools such as PEST analysis and Porters Five Forces model. PEST analysis helps in analysing four main external factors such as political, economic, social and technological factors and Porters model helps in understanding the competitive environment of an organization such as the threat of rivals, bargaining power of the buyer and suppliers and threat of substitutes (McKinney, 2003). Discussion Heathrow Airport pertains to the travel and tourism segment of the hospitality industry and it is regarded as one of the most important airports in the UK. It is regarded as highly essential for the management of Heathrow Airport to analyze the impact of the marketing environment upon the organization and the industry as well. It will be considered as highly beneficial for the management to conduct a stakeholder analysis in order to understand the requirements of the internal as well as the external stakeholders of the organization, such as the customers, suppliers, financiers, owners etc. and to understand their power to influence the operations of the Airport (Hiam and Rastelli, 2007). On the other hand the external marketing factors will also be essential for the management to analyse, as they are uncontrollable and the Airport is required to adopt the changes that are taking place in the external environment such as changes in aviation law, changes in interest rates and inflation that will affect the pricing, how to facilitate sustainable development, the modern technologies that can be used for improving the operations of the Airport and to provide better customer service etc. The PEST analysis will help the management at Heathrow Airport to understand the changes taking place in the political, economic, social and technological factors. The SWOT model will help the management in analysing the internal factors, the internal factors such as the strengths and weaknesses will help the management in utilizing the strengths to provide better customer service, while the weaknesses are required to be minimized to maintain the image of the airport. Similarly, the opportunities and threats should also be considered, as the opportunities will help the management to understand the areas where the business can make further developments, while the threats can hamper the business performance. The competitive factors will drive the competitive environment and the same sh ould be considered by the management in order to maintain the competitive strength of the Airport. These factors include the bargaining power of the customers, the bargaining power of the suppliers of services and technology, the threat of new competitors and the threat of substitutions (Cravens, 1982). Conclusion Analyzing the market environment will be highly beneficial for Heathrow Airport as the same would help it in understanding the changes that are taking place in the internal and external environmental factors. The management will be able to control the internal factors to improve the performance of the Airport, while the external factors are uncontrollable, hence, an analysis of the external factors will help in adopting such changes in order to maintain the competitive strength. For this purpose, it is highly recommended for the management of Heathrow Airport to utilize the tools such as PEST analysis, SWOT analysis, and Porters model. AC 1.3 Evaluate the relevance of consumer markets in the industry Consumer markets are considered as those markets, where the purchase and sale of goods and services are done, which are meant for the general consumers only (Hassan and Kaynak, 1994). The consumer markets include consumer culture that implies the sociological and psychological influences made upon the buying behavior of the customers. There are various factors that can potentially influence the buying behavior of the customers such as, marketing, quality of service, price etc. It has been found in various studies that the objectives of an organization can be achieved by creating a balance between customer and competitor orientation. Moreover, creating value to the customers will also influence their buying behavior to a greater extent and the same will also help in retaining loyal customers (Alessandra, 2007). Findings The findings of the research have been provided below: 1. It has been found that the hospitality industry is highly dependent on the behavior and attitude of the customers. The customers play an important role in the hospitality industry as they decide the development and sustainability of a hospitality organization in the long run. The customer behavior is considered as one of the important factors that the industry players considers while framing new policies. The requirements of the customers are considered as a major factor that is taken into account, while, formulating the marketing policy of an organization (Kessler, 1996). The quality of services provided to the customers and the value created for them is considered as a driving factor that can retain the customers and ensure the long-term stability of an organization in the hospitality industry. This will also affect the profitability and enhance the revenue-generating capacity of the organization. 2. Customer culture is considered as the behavior of the customers that includes social status values and activities of the customers that influences their buying behavior. The customer culture influences the patter of consumption of the customers. The social status of the customers influences their pattern of consumption, such as a high-end customer will go for having luxurious goods, which are offered at high-end prices (Basch, 2002). The theory of consumer culture entirely focuses upon the psychological and sociological factors that influence the buying behavior of the customers. It is regarded as a branch of marketing philosophy that projects the psychological effects created by the buying behavior of the customers and different organizations follow this theory in order to market a particular product or service to the potential customers. This is done by clearly projecting and communicating the features of a particular product or service and how the same is going to affect the li festyle of the potential customers. 3. The hospitality industry highly emphasizes the quality of services provided to the customers and their pricing. The sole objective behind this initiative is to create value to the customers and satisfy their needs. Customer satisfaction and loyalty is a key for success to the participants of the hospitality industry. The participants of the industry always engage in the formulation of new strategies by considering the changing demands of the customers in order to meet them. This will help in achieving huge marketing success. Moreover, customer loyalty will help in enhancing the sustainability of an organization and for that purpose, it will be essential for an organization to create value for the customers and the same can be done by providing services that will meet or exceed the expectations of the customers. This process will help in retaining customers (Lowenstein, 1997). 4. Maintenance of long term relationships with the customers has become highly important in almost every industry. The hospitality segment, particularly, has put increased emphasis towards formulating effective strategy towards customer relationship management (Anderson and Kerr, 2002). The industry participants have taken different steps towards maintaining customer relationships such as loyalty programs, maintenance of customer databases to send them promotional emails, collecting feedbacks from the customers etc. Discussion The sustainability and development of Heathrow Airport can be highly influenced by the consumer markets. Analyzing the consumer culture and preparing the marketing strategy to properly target the customers and communicating the features of the service provided will help the management in enhancing the profitability of the organization. Selecting separate marketing strategy for separate customers with different status and requirements will help the organization in attracting more customers and revenues. In this way, the airport will be able to generate demand for its services (Sheth et al., 1999). Analyzing the customer behavior and requirements will be highly beneficial for Heathrow Airport. For instance, the number of passengers is increasing gradually; this will affect the popularity of the airport due to limited facilities. Hence, the Airport should focus upon expansion of its runways and other facilities to properly accommodate the passengers, the customers have busy schedules an d they require timely services and hence, the management should emphasize upon the provision of timely services to influence the buying behavior of the customers. Customer satisfaction is an important part and the same will influence the management at Heathrow Airport to provide quality services at a reasonable price, as the same will satisfy the customers and create value for them. Customer retention and loyalty is highly paramount for the hospitality industry as the same will decide the long-term survival of the firms operating in it. The same is also applicable for Heathrow Airport. This will encourage the management to form new strategies towards customer relationship management (Sheth et al., 1999). Conclusion Customer market can be regarded as one of the important factors that, the management at Heathrow Airport must take into account. Understanding the behavior of the customers would help the same in formulating an effective marketing strategy that would help in creating demand for the services provided by the airport and to maintain its profitability and sustainability. It is recommended for Heathrow Airport to put more emphasis upon analysing the social and psychological factors that influence the buying behavior of the passengers and also to create a strong marketing strategy to attract the customers. Customer relationship management will also be beneficial for the airport, and formulate a strategy in this regards would help the management to retain the customers and create a strong market position. AC 1.4 Discuss the rationale for developing different market segments The concept of market segment has a higher relevance in regards to marketing. A market segment is considered as an association of customers, where the attitude and behavior of all the customers in such association are identical. Market segments are prepared to simplify the process of marketing strategy and strengthen the same (Kruger, 2011). Different market segments have different characteristics and separate marketing strategy is prepared for each of them. The market segments are utilized by different organizations in the hospitality industry to conduct the process of target marketing. The market segment can be done on the basis of four different characteristics, namely geographical segmentation, demographic segmentation, behavioral and psychographic segmentation. Market segments help in enhancing the performance of marketing efforts made by an organization because in this way they can target separate groups of customers and market the products or services as per their needs (McDon ald and Dunbar, 2004). Findings 1. Market segmentation is the process of segmenting the market into different parts in order to target different groups of customers for the purpose of product or service marketing. Market segmentation is beneficial for an organization because it helps in understanding the customer needs and formulating an appropriate marketing strategy for different types of customers (Kruger, 2011). The process of market segmentation helps in creating the demand for a particular product or service for different customers in a systematic way and in this way it helps in enhancing the profitability of a business. It helps in enhancing sales levels and hence supports business growth (Wedel and Kamakura, 2000). The research has highlighted another two strategies of marketing, which are targeting and positioning. 2.Targeting is considered as a process of targeting the potential customers for a particular product or service and formulate the marketing process in such a way that will help in satisfying their demands, this process also helps in enhancing the effect of marketing strategy and increases profitability with sales. 3. Positioning is another strategy of marketing, which is highly relevant to the hospitality industry (Pinson et al., 1996). Position refers to the position that a brand has acquired in the consumer market. The strategy of positioning helps in creating a distinct image for the products of a particular brand and helps in differentiating the products or services from the competitors. This process is essential as it helps in creating a unique brand image and helps the customers to identify the products of a particular brand easily (Hooley and Saunders, 1993). 4. There are four main ways of market segmentation. Geographical segmentation, this is the way of segmenting the market as per geographical regions. Demographic segmentation, it a type of segmentation that helps in segmenting a market as per the demographic features of the customers such as, age, income etc. Behavioral segmentation is considered as a type of segmentation that considers the behavior and attitude of the customers to create different segments. Lastly, the psychographic segmentation is considered as a type of market segmentation that helps in segmenting the market of a product or service as per the lifestyle of the customers. Discussion It will be favorable for the management at Heathrow Airport to formulate different market segments in order to get better outcomes of the marketing strategy formulated by the same. This approach will help in simplifying the marketing process of the organization and this process will also help the management at the Airport to divide the market into smaller groups and formulate an appropriate strategy for each of them. This process will ease the efforts of the marketing team and enhance the feasibility of the marketing process. Considering the psychographic segmentation, if the management formulates separate advertising message for the high-end as well as low-end passengers and properly demonstrate the facilities that are offered to them, then it will become easier to create a huge market demand for the services among the targeted segments (Sheehan, 2011). The strategy of segmentation and positioning will also help in creating a distinct image for the airport in the minds of the custom ers and the same will also help in enhancing the market strength and competitive edge of the airport. Targeting will be beneficial for the management as this process will help in selecting the potential customers, who the services should be marketed. This will increase sales and profitability substantially (Sheehan, 2011). Conclusion To conclude, it must be said that market segmentation is an important part of the marketing strategy for any business. Heathrow Airport must segment its market in different types in order frame a separate policy of marketing for each segment. A single marketing policy may not be effective for every kind of customers; hence, market segmentation is highly expected for the airport. In this regards, it is recommended for the airport to put additional emphasis on target market because this process will help the management in identifying different types of passengers and their needs, this process will help in creating market segments and along with it market positioning should also be taken into account, as the same will help in competitive edge to the airport as compared to the other renowned airports in Europe.

Explaining Crime Social Control Theory Exam 1 Criminology Essay

Explaining Crime Social Control Theory Exam 1 Criminology Essay 1. Based on all of the theories you have been exposed to so far in the course, choose the one theory that you think is the best at explaining crime. Compare it to at least two other theories and discuss how the theory you chose represents an improvement over the other two. Be specific and be sure to cite the empirical research to support your argument. Based on all the theories I have been exposed to in this course so far, social control theory is the best at explaining crime. Social control theory explains crime in terms of the individuals social relationships and focuses on the absence of significant relationships with conventional others and institutions (Agnew, 1992:48). The theory utilizes issues of conformity, so instead of theorizing about the motivations of criminal behavior, the social control theory ask, Why do people conform? In this theory people believe that societys ability to control social groups affects whether an adolescent turns to a life of crime or not. Social control theory comes from the learning theories which are developed from family ties or other social circles that individuals interact with so as to learn what is right and what is wrong. When these controlling influences are weak or rendered ineffective and absent, society frees the individual to deviate from legal and moral norms; therefore, crime often does occur. In particular, crime is most likely to when (1) when the adolescent is not attached to the parents, school, or other institutions; (2) parents and others fail to monitor and effectively sanction deviance; (3) the adolescents actual or anticipated investment in conventional society is minimal; and (4) the adolescent has not internalized conventional beliefs (Agnew, 1992:49). Although strain, social control, and differential association theory/social learning theory are all sociological theories, strain theory is distinguished from social control and social learning theory in its specification of (1) the type of social relationship that leads to delinquency and (2) the motivation for delinquency. Strain theory focuses explicitly on negative relationships with others: relationships in which the individual is not treated as he or she wants to be treated. Agnews developed a new theory, general strain theory that defines measurements of strain, the major types of strain, the links between strain and crime, coping strategies to strain, the determinants of delinquent or non-delinquent behavior, and policy recommendations that are based on this theory which introduced a new perspective on the original theory that was written off a few decades ago. While social control theory rests on the premise that the breakdown of society frees the individual to commit crime, strain theory is focused on the pressure that is placed on the individual to commit crime (Agnew, 1992:49). According to the strain theory, individual deviance is caused as a result of negative relationships or treatment from others; and this result in anger and frustration (Agnew, 1997a:31). Agnews strain theory was developed from the work of Durkheim and Merton and addressed many of the criticisms of the original strain theory, however; it lacked the supporting data and still had several flaws like the original strain theory. Strain theory can cause many negative feelings in an individual including defeat, despair, and fear, but the feeling that is most applicable to crime is anger. For example, an increase in strain would lead to an increase in anger, which may then lead to an increase in crime. Social control theory represents an improvement over the strain theory as it explains that if an individual has certain morals and social values that they live by and grew up believing t hat they are more likely to seek a socially acceptable way of achieving their goals and not let feelings of defeat, despair, fear, and anger lead them to respond to strain with crime. The strain theory affect creates pressure for corrective action which may lead adolescents to (1) make use of illegitimate channels of goal achievement, (2) attack or escape from the source of their adversity, and/or (3) manage their negative affect through the use of illegal drugs (Agnew, 1992:49). Social control theory, by contrast, denies that outside forces pressure the adolescent into crime but rather, the absence of significant relationships with other individuals and groups frees the adolescent to engage in delinquency in response to inner forces or situational inducements. Social learning theory (SLT) is distinguished from strain and control theory by its focus on positive relations with deviant others (Agnew, 1992:49). Social learning theory focuses on the general principles that (1) people can learn by observing the behavior of others and the outcomes of those behaviors (If people observe positive, desired outcomes in the observed behavior, they are more likely to model, imitate, and adopt the behavior themselves), (2) learning can occur without a change in behavior, and (3) cognition plays a role in learning. This theory incorporates aspects of behavioral learning (assumes that peoples environment cause people to behave in certain ways) and cognitive learning (presumes that psychological factors are important for influencing how one behaves) factors that are important for influencing how one behaves. Social learning theory outlines three stages for people to learn and model behavior include (a) attention: retention (remembering what one observed), ( b) reproduction (ability to reproduce the behavior), and (c) motivation (good reason) to want to adopt the behavior (Agnew, 1992:49). The social learning theory claims that the relationship with illegal peers will lead to a criminal lifestyle that changes the values of achieving success in a legit way. Reisss theory of personal and social control states that delinquency results when there is a relative absence of internalized norms and rules governing behavior in conformity with the norms of the social system to which legal penalties are attached (Lilly, 2007:85). One disadvantage of the social learning theory is that it does not account for what may be considered positive it focuses more on the factors perceived as negative by the learner. Social control theory represents an improvement as it seeks to direct and guide social learning toward obedience specific to an agenda outside the learners. Social learning is a change in behavior that is controlled by environmental influences ra ther than by innate or internal forces that occurs through observing the consequences of others and by determining if such behavior is worth replicating. The theory of social control emphasizes on the role of society in the control of criminal behavior and proposes social learning with the help of social control which is why I chose the theory of social control over the social learning theory. The Theory of Social Control is widely cited in criminology in addition it has also been explored by the realist philosophers and represented by Travis Hirschi, a pro-pounder of Right Realism. While no single theory can explain why everyone commits crime social control theory does look at the causations of crime from learning theories. They teach us that morals are taught in families and other social circles and that these morals keep individuals from committing crimes they are taught are wrong. The main premise of control theories is that When controls are present, crime does not occur; when controls are absent, crime often does occur (Beaver, 2010). Social control theory does give explanation by teaching us that when people hold tightly to certain morals and social values they are more likely to seek a socially acceptable way of achieving their goals. 3. During our course discussion, many of you pointed out that the criminological theories that we discussed have both strengths and limitations. This is a view that is held by many criminologists. One way to overcome this problem is to integrate theories into a single perspective. You are responsible for creating an integrated theory that incorporates elements from at least three theories. Be sure to provide a detailed analysis of this theory, including how you were able to integrate components from other theories. During the history of criminological thought, various criminological theories on crime causation have been put together into a single perspective. One way to overcome this problem is to create an integrated theory that incorporates elements by combining the ideas expressed by the concepts of differential association theory developed by Edwin Sutherland, Mertons theory on deviance from his 1938 analysis of the relationship between culture, structure and anomie, and Robert Agnews general strain theory to provide a more accurate and comprehensive explanation as to why some individuals commit crime where others do not. Although many criminologists have viewed the criminological theories to have both strengths and limitations, it is by no means one single theory but the ideas from the three slighted altered theories that will help in providing a better explanation and understanding of criminal behavior. The first theory, differential association by Sutherland (1949:75) explains that criminal behavior is learned just like any other behavior through interactions with others. Sutherlands differential association predicts that an individual will choose the criminal path when the balance of definitions for law-breaking (unfavorable) exceeds those for law-abiding (favorable). Ultimately, the theory focuses on how individuals learn how to become criminals, which is due to an excess of definitions favorable to the violation of law. Along the lines of differential association the theory of criminal desire holds that every human behavior is learned through interaction with the environment (Sutherland, 1949:76 ). From a researchers perspective, an individual will view society differently if they are gainfully employed as opposed to unemployed, if in a supportive and loving family or abused by parents. However, individuals might respond differently to the same situation depending on how their experience predisposes them to define their current surroundings (Sutherland, 1949:77). However, the integrated theory learning process is not limited to just differential associations, as is the case with Sutherlands theory, instead acknowledging the influence of both humans and non-human (i.e. money and social gain) objects. The second theory drawn upon the present formulation is Mertons theory on deviance from his 1938 analysis of the relationship between culture, structure and anomie. Mertons theory involves the interactions and importance between culturally defined goals and what social arrangement make possible. According to Merton, anomie, derived from Emile Durkheim, if such cultural goals are not achievable through legitimate practices than individuals are likely to illegitimate means available for reaching them. In short, overemphasis on material success (i.e. the American dream as an emphasis on the goal of monetary success) and lack of opportunity for such success leads to crime. Institutional anomie theory, as published by Steven Messner and Richard Rosenfeld, proposed that the American societal pursuit of monetary success leads to anomie, or a departure from normal, sanctioned behaviors and a break from institutional social controls (Lilly, Cullen, and Ball, 2007:90). As anomie increases, so does the level of criminal behavior used by individuals to obtain monetary success (Lilly, Cullen, and Ball, 2007:90). As such, the integrated theory provides a more accurate and comprehensive explanation on the concepts established by Merton by providing adequate explanations of them including classifying each one as learned phenomena. Additionally, Mertons theory is proposed as the source of agitation, thereby leading one to commit crime, when the culturally defined goals of individuals are likely not to be achieved through legitimate processes.   Last, the general strain theory revised by Robert Agnew was developed from the work of Durkheim and Merton and taken from the original theory of anomie. According to the original strain theory, an increase in aspirations and a decrease in expectations should lead to an increase in delinquency; however, this was not found to be the case (Agnew, 1985:152). Also, the original strain theory predicted a concentration of delinquent behavior in the lower class, but research proved that delinquency was also common in the middle and upper classes (Agnew, 1985:152). Other variables are also neglected by this theory of strain, such as the abandonment of crime in late adolescence and the quality of family relationships (Agnew, 1985:152-153). Agnews general strain theory broadened the scope to include many more variable that were not addressed in the original strain theory as he attempted to explore strain theory for a perspective that accounted for goals other than monetary success and that cons idered an individuals position in social class, expectations for the future, and associations with criminal others (Agnew et al., 1996:683). General strain theory is a broad theory that can be applied to many different aspects of delinquency (ways of measuring strain, the different types of strain, and the link between strain and crime), however; in the integrated theory an individuals must also be taught how to cope without the help of others through involvement in social skills improvement, problem-solving training, and anger control programs which should lead to a decrease in delinquency. The integrated theory that incorporates elements by combining the ideas expressed by the concepts of differential association theory, Mertons theory on deviance from his 1938 analysis of the relationship between culture, structure and anomie, and Robert Agnews general strain theory, serves to explain all types of criminal behavior, both violent and non-violent. The crimes could involve economically driven crimes (theft, robbery, etc.) or white-collar crimes which each are the direct result of a need to satisfy desires due to an inability to do so through legitimate means. I believe the integrated theory provides an accurate and comprehensive analysis defining delinquency with an explanation as to why some individuals commit crime where others do not. The integrate theory can be utilized to implement policies geared towards helping to lessen crime and help in providing a better explanation and understanding of criminal behavior.

Scarlett Letter :: essays research papers

Pearl and the Spice of Life Really good salsa has lots of zesty vegetables and spices to make it good. But what if the spiciness of the salsa was taken away? It would just be tomato sauce. Pearl is the spice of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. If her character was not present, the book would have a completely different flavor. In his essay entitled â€Å"The Genius of The Scarlet Letter,† Anthony Trollope states, â€Å"Pearl is miraculous,-speaking, acting, thinking like an elf,-and is therefore, I think, a drawback rather than an aid. The desolation of the woman, too, would have been more perfect without the child† (Trollope 243). Trollope’s point is well made, however the absence of Pearl would have made The Scarlet Letter an entirely different story. Without Pearl there would have been no proof of Hester’s adultery, and she might have become more depressed, even sinned more. However, if Pearl had been a more normal and obedient child, she would have been more well liked by readers. The most drastic change that would have been made in the book in the absence of Pearl would be that it would no longer have been called The Scarlet Letter. The reason for this being that without Pearl, there would have been no proof that Hester had committed adultery. Therefore, no one would have known and there would have been no punishment. Instead, Hester would have gone through the same guilt and internal battle as the minister, Reverend Dimmesdale. The reason that Dimmesdale is so tortured inside is because of the incredible feeling of guilt that he has because of having never taken blame or punishment for his sin. If Hester took no punishment, she would feel that same torture inside. But Pearl is present, so she is proof of Hester’s adultery. Hawthorne says it best when he states, â€Å"God, as a direct consequence of sin which man thus punished, had given her a lovely child† (82). Hester’s punishment was the consequence of having a child. Pearl is not only the proof of Hester’s adultery, she is also the thing that keeps Hester going. Hester may have fallen into a depression and eventually died, but Hester has to keep sewing, keep getting out of bed in the morning, and keep taking care of herself because she has someone else to take care of too. Hester’s feelings about Pearl are revealed when Hawthorne states, â€Å"But she named the infant ‘Pearl,’ as being of great price,-purchased with all she had,-her mother’s only treasure!† (82).

Lecithin Supplements Effectiveness In Weight Loss :: Lecithin Health Weight Loss Essays

Lecithin Supplement's Effectiveness In Weight Loss WHAT IS LECITHIN? Lecithin, a lipid material composed of choline and inositol, is found in all living cells as a major component of cell membranes, which regulate the nutrients entering and exiting the cell. The term "lecithin" has two definitions depending on what group is using the term. Scientists define lecithin as synonymous with phosphatidylcholine, the name for one of the principle phospholipids. On the other hand, producers of lecithin for commercial use use the term lecithin to refer to a complex mix of phosphatides and other substances that contain phosphatidylcholine. HOW IS LECITHIN SOLD TO THE PUBLIC? Lecithin can be naturally consumed through a diet including lecithin rich foods such as egg yolk, soybeans, grains, wheat germ, fish, legumes, yeast, and peanuts, to name a few. Lecithin supplements are sold to the public in capsule, powder or granular form. Lecithin is usually taken in a pill form or mixed into health shakes. Many companies advertise their supplies of lecithin as a dietary supplement on the web. Examples of supplement producers whom sell lecithin are The Herb Shop, All-Natural, Solgar, Health Revolution, Earth Legacy. Lecithin is also sold in many health food stores. These commercial forms are highly filtered. The commercial, dietary supplement form of lecithin contains less that 35% of phosphatidylcholine. (Szuhaj, 325) The various substances included and the different amounts of phosphatidylcholine ("scientific" lecithin) depend on the method of its preparation and the source from which the lecithin was taken. (Hanin, 444) most of the commercially used lecithin is derived from soybeans. (Central Soy). Lecithin is also retailed as an emulsifying agent, allowing fats to be dispersed when mixed with water. This is a great aid in the production of foods such as margarine, mayonnaise, chocolate and baked goods because it keeps foods from sticking to themselves and other surfaces. Lecithin is even used for industrial purposes. WHAT CLAIMS DO LECITHIN SUPPLEMENT SUPPLIERS MAKE ABOUT LECITHIN'S FUNCTIONS? Lecithin is promoted as a quick fix for weight loss, as well as many other diseases and ailments. Lecithin supplement producers claim that lecithin has a beneficial role in: Cardiovascular health Liver and cell function fat transport and fat metabolism reproduction and child development physical performance and muscle endurance cell communication improvement in memory, learning and reaction time relief of arthritis healthy hair and skin treatment for gallstones

John D. Rockefeller Essay -- American History, Philanthropist

John D. Rockefeller, born on July 8, 1839, has had a huge impact on the course of American history, his reputation spans from being a ruthless businessperson to a thoughtful philanthropist (Tarbell 41). He came from a family with not much and lived the American dream, rising to success through his own wit and cunning, riding on the backs of none. His legacy is huge, amassing the greatest private wealth of any American in history. Rockefeller’s influence on our country has been both a positive and a negative one, he donated huge sums of money to various public institutions and revolutionized the petroleum industry. Along with all the positives to the country, Rockefeller also had many negative affects as well, including, by gaining his riches by means of a monopoly, often using illegal methods, by giving others a reason to frown upon capitalism, and by hurting smaller businesses. The first positive affect of John D. Rockefeller was his donations of large sums of money to public institutions. During his lifetime, Rockefeller gave away 540 million dollars (Sicilia 2006). Almost all of his philanthropies occurred after his retirement from Standard Oil. Donations varied from colleges, to churches, to hospitals. With the help of his son and Frederick Gates, the man Rockefeller put in charge of his philanthropies, he was able to help improve the lives of many (Poole 2000). Rockefeller stayed loyal to his religion throughout his entire life, not forgetting where he came from and how it helped him. Raised as a Baptist from birth, religion always played a large role in Rockefeller’s life and was a part of his upbringing. From the very start of Rockefeller’s working life, he tithed ten percent of his earnings to his church. La... ...o chance of competing with Standard Oil due to all the tactics they employed to keep their prices low. This ravished small town families and had a similar effect as to what Wal-Mart does to family run shops nowadays. Numerous families living in small town America lost their income because of Standard Oil and forced hardship upon many. The legacy of John D. Rockefeller shall always live on as he has permanently shaped how this country looks. He has funded huge advancements in the fields of education and medicine along with starting the events to end lassiez-faire economics. The petroleum industry changed greatly during his career thanks to his research and completely new business methods were thought up of by him, some still in practice today. Although the personal opinions of Rockefeller vary greatly, it is a sure thing that he changed the course of America.

Comparison of My Last Duchess and the Laboratory

Poems ‘The laboratory, the content of the play, from my point of view is about a woman whose partner has left her for another woman. The poet has planned to kill the other woman as she is jealous of her and wants revenge from her ex. We can tell she is jealous of this other woman as she says she’s not little, no minion like me! ’ this shows she is jealous of the woman as she thinks she is of higher status, the words ‘she’s not little’ shows this. She thinks the other woman is better than she is.We also know she wants to get revenge from her ex as she says ‘he is sure to remember her dying face! ’ here we know she wants revenge as she wants her ex to see the love of his life die as well as suffer, by doing this she will punish both of them. ‘My last duchess, the poem is set during the 19th century. The speaker who is the Duke of Ferrara is giving the tour of his prospective second wife a tour of the artworks in his home. He dr aws a curtain to reveal a painting of a woman, explaining that it is a portrait of his late wife; he invites his guest to sit and look at the painting.As they look at the portrait of the Duchess, the Duke describes her happy, cheerful and flirtatious nature, which had displeased him. He says, â€Å"She had a heart or how shall I say? Too soon made glad† He goes on to say that his complaint of her was that not only her husband's presence was that made her happy. Eventually, â€Å"I gave commands; then all smiles stopped together. † He now keeps her painting hidden behind a curtain that only he is allowed to draw back, meaning that now she only smiles for him The two Robert Browning poems I have chosen are ‘The Laboratory' and ‘My last Duchess'.My initial reaction on reading the laboratory was one of horror and fascination as it tells a tale of a woman scorned. I found it horrifying that a human being could plan in such a cold and calculating way, but I also found this fascinating. My feelings on reading My Last Duchess was pity for the Duke who was narrating the poem as it was clear that his jealousy and insecurity had ruined their relationship. ` Both poems have contemporary relevance, as people today are still intrigued by murder, mystery and tales of unrequited love.It is very obvious that the poems were written in the 19th century though, as some of the language is no longer in use in today's society for example durst, dared, forsooth and indeed. There are other indications that the poetry was written in the 19th century by the references made to the use of a fan and also the way the poison was prepared using pestle and mortar. ‘Grind away moistens and mash up thy paste, Pound at thy powder-I am not in haste. ‘ The theme of The Laboratory is one of the eternal love triangles.Where the theme in my last duchess would seem to be about an obsessive yet insecure lover. The similarity would be the extreme jealousy that is dis played by both narratives. The difference is that the narrator in My Last Duchess is so jealous and insecure that he ‘gave commands; The character of the narrator in The Laboratory displays an intensity of emotion through her obvious jealousy of the other woman this intensity of jealousy could only be achieved if she also had experienced the same level of love.Similarly, the character of the narrator in My Last Duchess which is a man also displays obvious jealousy although it is without such an intensity of emotion. Both poems are dramatic monologues, the tone of The Laboratory is one of anger and the mood is evil, it creates a tense atmosphere which leads the reader to rush from one verse to the next to see how the story within the poem develops. In comparison, My Last Duchess is written in a less direct way and seems less hurried the narrative's jealousy is not immediately apparent but becomes more obvious as the poem progresses.In conclusion, after having studied both poems , it is the style and content of the laboratory which has made the most impact on me. The directness of the narrative regarding her intent and the subject matter I found as I said earlier both horrific yet fascinating. The image of a 19th century alchemist was easily consumed up and I almost felt like I was there. My Last Duchess, although interesting did not have the same impact on me this is mainly due to the style of the poem which is a more meandering tale and has a less direct approach.

Privacy Is Lost Essay

Do we have privacy anymore? Some people say we have no privacy and to simply get over it. Others believe that we have really became comfortable sharing our private information with others. After considering both sides of the issue, I strongly believe that privacy is lost. For instance, a web-savvy programmer can easily infiltrate your email account, replicate the coding, and pretend to be you. In the article, â€Å"Take My Privacy, Please!† Ted Koppel widely discusses privacy with many examples of companies and systems designed to secure the confidential rights and private information. He presents the negative effects people who give all of their personal information to companies that may lose all of it. I really liked how the author started off his article by grabbing your attention right away. For Example, in the article it was interesting that he talked about the Onstar commercial. He reveals in a conversation between the Onstar assistant system, driver, and emergency services on how peculiar it is that they always know all of your information and exactly where you are. The reasoning for this position argument is for the general public to understand that some of their information isn’t so confidential. In the last part of his article he describes how many different companies lose customers valuable information. I agree with that because it’s odd to think that people put trust into companies with such private information. It should be mandatory that if a company loses a customers data they tell the customer right away. He knows that technology is useful, but the language he uses suggests he believes it takes advantage of the customer. Ted Koppel does a great job of structuring sentences with his tone in the article. He also does an exceptional job of highlighting how people’s privacy is invaded in everyday life. Ted Koppel has a very sarcastic tone which throws you off as you read this story. There are both aspects that I liked and didn’t like from the article, but it was really cool how he started off his article by grabbing your attention right away. â€Å"The patriotic act- brilliant!† With this, you know what he will be talking about and its good that he relates his topic to something that happened earlier in history. After you read the introduction, the structure of the rest of the essay starts to weaken. Koppel adds in a commercial that is typed up on the page. Others may agree that they really don’t like how he did that. He could have just described the commercial, but he instead took the time to waste space on the page. The segment of the commercial was not necessary to add. Overall, this essay did have both strong and weak points. Another thing that Koppel does well is the sentence structures that he uses in his essay that help with his tone. Every now and then he uses short abrupt transitions in the beginning of paragraphs to emphasize his thoughts that give a moment for the reader to think. Koppel uses dialogue in his article also. The dialogue that was added in the middle was very distracting and caused unnecessary line usage, but it gives people something to think about and they can relate to the commercial if they’ve seen it. People will believe what he has to say and take him more seriously, even though he used sarcastic and informal tone. The tone may have cost him some of his readers, but it was a convincing argument. In my opinion Ted Koppel shows great examples to back up his thoughts. When the title, â€Å"Take My Privacy, Please!† is read you know right away the tone of the essay, sarcastic. This is a good title and it makes the reader more interested in reading the article. Ted Koppel has a sarcastic tone in his writing. I think that it helps make his point because it makes people think about how ridiculous technology has become. â€Å"There is no end to what we will endure, support, pay for and promote if only it makes our lives easier†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This just states how we would go to such extremes and go through such struggles just as long as we benefit from it in the end. The title alone is sarcastic, â€Å"Take my Privacy, Please!† He sets the tone of being ironic and it lets the reader know that he’s not being harsh or bitter, but he’s trying to put an important point across.

Reflecting reality in film documentaries Essay

The paradox of reality stems from the fact that it is a combination of abstract and concrete concepts. Abstract since different kinds of reality can be subjectively formed and understood. It cannot be quantified from a single perspective alone. In the meantime, reality is concrete since it is something that each and every individual must readily confront. Reality is part of mankind’s constant struggle. The puzzling complexity that embodies the notion of reality is even more felt on how it is depicted, presented or articulated in other forms. Literature exploits the power of words to explain reality, singers capitalize on music. But the task becomes even harder as for the case of film makers who are expected to utilize both visual and musical elements to represent reality. In film-making, it cannot be denied that the use of different technologies somehow affect how reality is shown. For every filmmaker, there is the challenge to make their works of art convincing—convincing, in the sense that a film seems to devoid of any technological mediation and corporeal interest—and at the same time retaining the subject matter in its pure and organic form. With this pursuit, the emergence of film documentaries came into life. Kibborn once noted that film documentaries aim to offer a â€Å"window of the world (p. 53). † This would not come as a surprise since films, whether they are created for commercial purposes are indeed reflections of a much wider world view. Some filmmakers have fared well, while some, unfortunately, failed. On the other hand, there are others, who have seen film documentaries as a tool to immortalize not only their works but also their names. The film industry owes it all to the Lumiere Brothers. This generation would not experience the beauty and artistry of films if not for these two. Since early film tools and equipments are not that sophisticated during that time, silent films tend to dominate the (big screen). However, what is even more amazing in this context is the manner in which the Lumiere Brothers have managed to present reality with pure visual images alone. Films do communicate and try to reach to their respective audiences. But then again, the absence of sounds seems to make the presentation a bit complicated and difficult. However, if one would stick to the principle in which reality is comprised of events that are experienced in everyday lives, situations that are commonly confronted by ordinary people, it can be fairly said that the Lumiere Brothers stand out. If one has to take a closer look at Arrival of a Train (Nichols 83), such event is commonly encountered. The camera focuses on the train and the people that arrive in the station. A close shot is chosen as if trying to tell every intricate sequence and details of the said event. Unaware and unscripted, the actors are seen in their most natural ways and manners. Such technique is also used in Nanook of the North by Robert Flaherty. However, Flaherty incorporated some texts. Perhaps it can be argued that the Flaherty wants to make the a more vivid and descriptive storytelling approach. There is the intention to relate to the audience what is actually happening rather than to interpret the stories on their own. There is a scene in the film wherein the boat is being covered with a piece of cloth before going down the river. In this case, a close shot was again used, in order to show how intricate the processes are. Yet, during the part wherein the actual trek is going on, a long shot was utilized, thus readily evoking a feeling that the group is on their journey. The characters looked small during that shot and the notion of space and distance were further highlighted. From documenting everyday routines to inserting texts in the film, documentaries are also flavored with the directors’ political perspective as for the case of Dziga Vertov. Hicks even described Vertov as the so-called â€Å"genie† of propaganda films primarily because of its strong Marxist beliefs and visions (8). Taylor described that Vertov depicted reality through the montage technique (74). In this manner, Vertov, since he is also into propaganda reflects life beyond what is â€Å"ordinarily seen,† but rather it is on â€Å"how it should be seen (Taylor 74). † In the film, Three Songs of Lenin, different scenes are patched together. There is the part wherein a group of marching men were shown and followed by a scene that focuses on three statues. Another group of marching people is presented but this time, women, with holding high powered guns are also shown, then it goes back to the three statues. Vertov, as a propagandist who wanted to tell the people what life should be seem to purport that equality between men and women must be readily observed. At the same time, the three statues that are constantly shown is reflective of an ideology or school of thought that must be readily followed and practiced. In the meantime, John Grierson is a film critic who is one of those who laid down the foundations of realism theories in films (Aitken 162). Elis and Mclane noted that Grierson readily influenced many film makers (73). He is also responsible for proliferating such film genre in â€Å"English-speaking nations (Ellis & Mclane 73). Grierson firmly believes that in order to depict reality properly, reality should be free from all forms of manipulation—that it should be captured in its raw form rather than mastered in artificial environments (Aitken 167). Works Cited Aitken, Ian. European Film Theory and Cinema: A Critical Introduction. Scotland: Edinburgh Press, 2001 Ellis, Jack and Betsy McLane. A New History of Film Documentary. London: Continuum International Publishing, 2005 Hicks, Jeremy. Dziga Vertov: Defining Documentary Film. London: I. B Tauris Publishers, 2007 Kibborn, Richard. Staging the Real: Factual TV Programming in the Age of Big Brother. Oxford, UK: Manchester University Press, 2003 Nichols, Bill. Introduction to Documentary. Bloomington:Indiana University Press, 2001 Taylor, Richard. Film Propaganda: Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany. London: I. B Tauris Publishers, 1998