Pest on Tesco Essays

Pest on Tesco Essays Pest on Tesco Essay Pest on Tesco Essay The diagrams and the tables that are used in this report are the below: Economic growth diagram Inflation diagram Unemployment diagram Immigration diagram Acknowledgements I would like to thank all the people who are behind these sites and all the web sites that I used, which were very helpful for me to finish my report. Summary In the PEST analysis below is given a description of the environment of the chosen firm in which the firm operates. Also are given some reasons of the importance of the PEST analysis and in the end is provided the influence of political, economical, social and technological factors in the firm’s operation. Introduction Tesco is probably one of the largest food retailers in the UK and generally one of the largest in the world. Tesco operates around 2,318 stores and employs over than 360,000 people (internet source 1). It gives the ability to the consumers to make shopping online, through its subsidiary Tesco. om. Tesco has a wide range of services and is not limited as a normal supermarket. Originally, it is specializing in food and drink, but also it is spread into many other areas. Some of these areas could be clothing, financial services, home and car insurance. PEST analysis is a powerful tool for understanding the external environment which surrounds the business. To be mo re specific, what it is meant to be the expression PEST is the Political, Economic, Social and Technological factors that a firm’s operation can be expressed. Before starting a new business, in the running time of an organization and basically to monitor the future of the organization, it is essential to be carried out a PEST analysis. The aim of the report for Pest analysis of Tesco’s is to monitor the present and to keep an eye on the future. However, the reason of doing the Pest analysis is for checking any changes that could be done in the future and might influence the firm’s behavior, in political, economic, social and technological issues. Methodology Using internet as main source of the report, information about employment law, economic growth, inflation, unemployment, immigration, internet, innovation and technological advances will be taken under consideration. It will be helpful to understand how all these factors influence the firm at present and have an eye on the future. Findings – Results In this section of the report are mentioned the main macroeconomic objectives that government tries to support in order to keep up stability of the economy. These objectives are economic growth, inflation, unemployment and immigration. PATERNITY LEAVE AND PAY IS EXTENTED If the mother of the child returns to work before the maternity leave period ends to which she is entitled and then fathers will be able to benefit from up to 26 weeks’ additional leave. This may be paid and will be available when the child goes over the first six months of his life, if the taken during the mother’s statutory maternity pay period. The legislation of this law is to come into force in April 2010, with effect for parents of babies due from 3 April 2011. (Internet source 1) ECONOMIC GROWTH Since the summer of 2007 and the till nowadays, the economy of many countries round the word, suffers from the global crisis, one of these countries is also UK and it is to be expected the negative affection on the economic growth of the country. However, as Davison (2007:270) states, â€Å"In some years there is a high rate of economic and in other years, economic growth is low or even negative†. This rising and falling of the economic growth is not something unusual. In addition, Davison (2007) argues, that it is a continuous cycle, which has four stages, the upturn, the rapid expansion, the peaking out and the slowdown. At the moment we are experiencing the slowdown stage. (Internet source 2) The above table shows the economy growth in the UK in quarters. During the year 2005 and 2007 the economy showed a stability that does not occur in 2006 and 2008. Especially in 2008 the progress is negative INFLATION Davison (2007:268) argues that, â€Å"By inflation we mean a general rise in prices throughout the economy†. Government policy seeks to stabilize and to keep inflation low. An important reason of this is that it will aid the process of economic decision making as Davison (2007) states. UK inflation rate starts to rise, as shown from the national statistics. Internet source 3) Many people because of the crisis that many countries suffer of it, including UK, do not spend their money to unnecessary products but on products first needs for their living. Due to the increase of inflation as shown the graph above, if firms want to be competitive again, have to reduce the prices of their products. U NEMPLOYMENT Unemployment is a common problem for many countries, so UK as well. They aim to reduce unemployment because it is a negative figure on government resources as Davison (2007) argues. In addition Davison (2007:268) states that, â€Å"Also unemployment represents a waste of human resources†. The graph below shows the increase of unemployment in the UK. (Internet sources 4) The increase of unemployment shows us that in the 3rd quarter almost 140,000 people lost their job. However, that means the government will lose incomes coming for instance from taxes and insurances that the unemployment people were going to pay if they have a normal monthly income as they used to have. IMMIGRATION Many people leave their county hopefully to find another place to live, searching something better which will give them a meaning to their life and for so many others reasons. UK is an attractive country for immigrants, offering many jobs and better life for them. The majority of the immigrants are not educated with a result not to get a good job but the appropriate one to live normally. However, there is a number of people who come to UK searching for a job and because they are educated enough they get a well paid job. The figure above shows the increase of immigration in UK. Every year immigrants come to country more and more. An estimated 590,000 people arrived to live in UK in 2008 which is the second highest figure on record after 596,000 in 2006. Internet source 5) INTERNET Internet is included in technological factor of Pest analysis. Tesco gives the ability to its customers to do shopping online but still is a quite difficult for its customers for the fact that some people do not find easy the order that they have to follow for online shopping. However, to do online shopping you have to meet specific requirements. For instance, to have a Tesco club card is one of the requirements. INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES Technological advance for Tesco would be more specific software which will record all the import and export product of Tesco. It is an advantage for a firm to know what stock has or what products sells for a better organized procedure of it. For instance, sometime some firms like Tesco, when a product that it sells, has been sold and is not available any more for the customers, is a bad image of the firm with a result to lose customers. Discussion Tesco is a food retailer and operates in UK. The PEST analysis will be carried out will point out some of the main factors that influence Tesco. Such factors could be political, economic, social and technological. In the first section political factors are on discussion. Tesco, according to employment law â€Å"Paternity leave and pay is extended†, which will be legally approved on the 3rd of April 2010, should take under consideration the staff recruitment. If Tesco wants to be as less as impossible affected by this law its staff should be equally share in men and women. According to this law Tesco will have to pay the percentage of men who are not going to work probably but legally during their absence and then it will have to recruitment more staff to cover the space that is going to exist. The consequence would be that Tesco will have more costs which could be avoided. The second section is the economic factors. When there is an economic growth of the country, people will continue shop from Tesco and the profits of it will increase because more money will be in a daily transaction between people and Tesco or any firm. However, when people’s wealth(income) growths might be a negative effect on Tesco sales, because people will switch to more expensive food retailers. People with the global crisis started to think more conservatory and they just buy necessary products. That might stay as a characteristic of them self and even if their income will be increased they will not change their habits. However, as the rate of the unemployment of the country increases Tesco is earning customers and making more profits. People who have low income or are unemployment they turn to shop from Tesco because it has low price products. People try to find ways to save some money when there is so much of unemployment in the country and Tesco provides such solutions. Also as the inflation in UK and generally rises, there is a general rise in prices. People are more careful of where and what they spend their money. They do not buy unnecessary products but only for basic needs. This will affect Tesco positive, because it sells products in low price and there you can find products for basic need cheapest. Immigration can be considered as a social factor of PEST analysis. A huge number of people emigrate and come to UK to live and find a job. As the graph shows above on 2006 and 2008 was the highest record of people who arrived in UK. According to that fact Tesco’s customers becoming more and more year by year. When people come to UK and search for a job, it is true that they do not have a high standard income, and they turn to shop from Tesco. Of course they will not shop from food retailers which are expensive but they will try to find the cheapest one, without that is worse than any other food retailer shop. About technological factors, which internet is included, Tesco should consider that many people do not know how to use internet and should try to simplify the procedure of doing shop online. Furthermore, with that impressive movement of Tesco to offer to the customers the opportunity to shop online and then to deliver to them the products is still quite complicated for some people to do it, because they do not meet the requirements. Such requirements are to have a Tesco club card and also they have to sign up in specific data base. That might be a reason for Tesco not being able to expand market share in the future. In addition, if Tesco will promote specific software which record any export or import of its products might gain more customers, because customers sometimes when they go for shopping and search for a specific product and it is not available at the moment are dissatisfied and might start a word of mouth negative promotion. Conclusion and Recommendations In this part of the report the PEST analysis has come to an end and it is essential to refer to the fact that even of the governmental intervention the economic environment remains unstable. However, Tesco has to relate its operation according to some laws which has to be taken under consideration if it wants to make more profits and to expand market share at the present and to keep an eye in the future. In the economic factor of PEST analysis, I recommend for the business to be more carefully with the recruitment staff. Tesco should recruitment younger people and should have an equally balance between the staff to skip some costs depending on the employment law, for instance to pay paternity leave and to recruitment new staff to recover the space that will be if some people of its staff have to be away from the business for a period of time according to the law. It is a waste of money for Tesco. Basically when there is inflation in the country the prices go up. In fact there are numbers of people who will prefer Tesco for shopping in such cases. In some cases, businesses are able to set prices, so a good recommended solution for Tesco, to make more profits and to gain more customers in the future is to set lower prices. In fact it sells products in lower price than others food retailers but because it is also spread into others areas like clothing or financial services that would be a good recommendation. In addition, when the rate of unemployment is high, if Tesco wants to be more profitable I recommend the business to also set lower price to be more competitive but because it is also has low price to find the best price which will still give to it profit and to attract the customers. That can be done also when the rate of immigration is also high. However, an also good recommendation for gaining customers and making more profit is that Tesco should provide some promotional offers. For instance, buy one product and get another one free or buy one and get another in half price. In technological factor, would be good if Tesco take under consideration in the future specific software to record all the import and export products. It is essential for customers when they search for a specific product to can find it easily and to be available at any time. And finally, I recommend Tesco to make easier the access on its website and the procedure for the online shop. That would be a reason for gaining customers and its online sales will be much more, because some people prefer to do shopping online than going to the store and if they are more close to another food retailer, probably they will shop from there. By doing that Tesco will just rise its profits. References Book: -Davison, L. (2007) The Business Environment 3rd Edition, Pearson Custom Publications -Internet web pages all accessed on the 13th and 14th of December 2009: 1)Personneltoday. com : personneltoday. com/events/list. aspx? navigationid=10type=10026 2

Forced, Reluctant, and Voluntary Migration

Forced, Reluctant, and Voluntary Migration Human migration is the permanent or semi-permanent relocation of people from one location to another. This movement may occur domestically or internationally and can affect economic structures, population densities, culture, and politics. People either are made to move involuntarily (forced), are put in situations that encourage relocation (reluctant), or choose to migrate (voluntary). Forced Migration Forced migration is a negative form of migration, often the result of persecution, development, or exploitation. The largest and most devastating forced migration in human history was the African slave trade, which carried 12 to 30 million Africans from their homes and transported them to various parts of North America, Latin America, and the Middle East. Those Africans were taken against their will and forced to relocate. The Trail of Tears is another pernicious example of forced migration. Following the Indian Removal Act of 1830, tens of thousands of Native Americans living in the Southeast were forced to migrate to parts of contemporary Oklahoma (Land of the Red People in Choctaw). Tribes traversed up to nine states on foot, with many dying along the way. Forced migration is not always violent. One of the largest involuntary migrations in history was caused by development. The construction of Chinas Three Gorges Dam displaced nearly 1.5 million people and put 13 cities, 140 towns, and 1,350 villages underwater. Although new housing was provided for those forced to move, many people were not compensated fairly. Some of the newly designated areas were also less ideal geographically, not foundationally secure, or lacked agriculturally productive soil. Reluctant Migration Reluctant migration is a form of migration in which individuals are not forced to move, but do so because of an unfavorable situation at their current location. The large wave of Cubans who legally and illegally immigrated to the United States following the 1959 Cuban revolution is considered a form of reluctant migration. Fearing a communist government and leader Fidel Castro, many Cubans sought asylum overseas. With the exception of Castros political opponents, most of the Cuban exiles were not forced to leave but decided it was in their best interest to do so. As of the 2010 census, over 1.7 million Cubans resided in the United States, with the majority living in Florida and New Jersey. Another form of reluctant migration involved the internal relocation of many Louisiana residents following  Hurricane Katrina. After the calamity caused by the hurricane, many people decided to either move farther from the coast or out of state. With their homes destroyed, the states economy in ruin, and sea levels continuing to rise, they reluctantly left. At the local level, a change in ethnic or socioeconomic conditions usually brought on by invasion-succession or gentrification can also cause individuals to reluctantly relocate. A white neighborhood that has turned predominately black or a poor neighborhood turned gentrified can have a personal, social, and economic impact on longtime residents. Voluntary Migration Voluntary migration is migration based on ones free will and initiative. People move for a variety of reasons, and it involves weighing options and choices. Individuals who are interested in moving often analyze the push and pull factors of two locations before making their decision. The strongest factors influencing people to voluntarily move are the desire to live in a better home and employment opportunities. Other factors contributing to voluntary migration include: Change in lifes course (getting married, empty-nest, retirement)Politics (from a conservative state to one that recognizes gay marriage, for example)Individual personality (suburban life to city life) Americans on the Move With their intricate transportation infrastructure and high per-capita income, Americans have become some of the most mobile people on earth. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2010 37.5 million people (or 12.5 percent of the population) changed residences. Of those, 69.3 percent stayed within the same county, 16.7 percent moved to a different county in the same state, and 11.5 percent moved to a different state. Unlike many underdeveloped countries where a family might live in the same home their entire lives, it is not uncommon for Americans to move multiple times within their life. Parents might choose to relocate to a better school district or neighborhood following the birth of a child. Many teenagers choose to leave for college in another area. Recent graduates go where their career is. Marriage might lead to the purchase of a new home, and retirement may take the couple elsewhere, yet again. When it comes to mobility by region, people in the Northeast were the least likely to move, with a move rate of just 8.3 percent in 2010. The Midwest had a move rate of 11.8 percent, the South- 13.6 percent, and the West - 14.7 percent. Principal cities within metropolitan areas experienced a population drop of 2.3 million people, while the suburbs experienced a net increase of 2.5 million. Young adults in their 20s are the most likely age group to move, while African Americans are the most likely race to move in America.

Clincal Social Work with African Americans Assignment

Clincal Social Work with African Americans - Assignment Example This discussion will focus on application of this approach to solve the challenges facing Ron, a sixteen year old boy that has exhibited aggressive behaviors and bullying towards his peers, teachers and other members of the society. Moreover, this discussion will explicit how the character of fear towards men and being flat as exhibited by Ron can be solved through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. On the other hand, Ron has a background characterized by a guardian that is drug addicted to crack; this discussion will attempt to identify if this background is contributing factor to the challenges faced by Ron. Theoretical perspectives that can be applied to solve Ron’s mental challenge will also be discussed herein. Consequently, the discussion will highlight and elaborate, whether this mental health challenge is common only among the African-Americans or whether it affects other ethnic groups. The application of Cognitive Behavioral Approach is imperative to solve the challenge facing Ron. This is due to the massive research that has been undertaken to determine the efficacy of this approach in relation to solving mood challenges, addiction to drugs and substances, personality, anxiety as well as incidences of absentee parents. The use of symptoms in Cognitive Behavioral Approach has been regarded as a factor that has enhanced its efficacy as compared to other psychodynamics approaches. From Ron’s perspective, it is apparent that his is suffering from various challenges. The first challenge faced by Ron is the fact that he has an absentee father: Research has shown that children that grow in the absence of fathers are likely to grow-up with a violent behavior. This is due to the fact that they tend to be misguided by certain quarters of the society who opt for violence as a means of solving the challenges they face. On the other hand, absentee an father affects the intellectual development of children in a negative dimension. In most

Structural analysing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Structural analysing - Essay Example Today, an SEM has become an indispensible instrument for any R&D or production set up dealing with advanced materials science. In the subsequent sections interaction of electrons with matter, basic principles of electron microscopy, architecture and working of scanning electron microscope, different attachments to an SEM and applications of SEM in materials science will be discussed in brief with special emphasis on specifications of a modern SEM. Interaction of Electrons with Matter Electrons as a probe are extremely versatile as they generate a wide range of signals which can be detected and processed to get useful and meaningful insight about surface topography, microstructure, microchemistry and micro-texture of the material being probed. Different kinds of signal generated as a result of interaction of electron probe are shown in Fig. 1 [1]. Fig. 1: Schematic Drawing Showing Electron – Matter Interaction When thickness of the specimen is less than ~ 100 nm only then the i ncident electron beam is able be pass through it and generate different kind of transmitted signals. However, the transmitted signals are relevant for Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and not for Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM); therefore, we will not discuss about transmitted signals here. Among the reflected signals secondary electrons (SE) and Back Scattered Electrons (BSE) are relevant for SEM for imaging and characteristic X-rays are useful for chemical analysis in SEM. Besides, BSE is also useful in micro-texture analysis using Electron Back Scattered Diffraction (EBSD) attachment. Therefore, we will limit our focus to these signals only. Secondary Electrons (SE) These are low energy electrons (less than 50 eV) generated after the incident beam hits the substrate. Back Scattered Electrons (BSE) These are high energy electrons (more than 50 eV up to beam energy) generated after the incident beam hits the substrate. Characteristic X-Rays When electron beam strikes the s pecimen, it knocks out the inner shell electrons and the vacancy thus created is immediately filled by an electron from higher shells. This electronic transition leads to generation of X-rays which are characteristics of the element. Thus these X-rays can be used for micro-chemical analysis using Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and / or Wavelength Dispersive Spectroscopy (WDS). Basic Architecture of SEM Basic architecture of an SEM is presented in Fig. 2 [2]. It is a column always under vacuum consisting of different subcomponents. It consists of an electron gun or electron source. This can be different types, which will be discussed afterwards. This is followed by condenser lenses to focus the beam. There are apertures in the path to allow only and an aperture to allow only the useful (central) portion of the beam to the subsequent stages. The focused beam is double scanned and made to pass through an aperture to fall onto the specimen. The beam is scanned over the specimen in a raster and the generated signals – secondary or back scattered electrons are collected, amplified and again scanned in a raster onto a CRT screen in synchronized manner. Thus image is formed pixel by pixel. The magnification is ratio of

Night by Elie Wiesel Essay Example for Free

Night by Elie Wiesel Essay Tupac Shakur, was a famous American rapper and actor that once said, â€Å"Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside while still alive. Never surrender.† Holocaust survivor and the author of Night, Elie Wiesel, seems to say the same as Mr. Shakur, that life is more miserable when one feels that void while being alive rather than being dead. In his memoir, Elie reveals his story when Hitler came into power with the Nazis and put all the â€Å"undesirables† through their most horrible times ever. When Elie loses his faith in God, faith in his people, and the role of a son, it eventually leads to his metaphorical deaths. Elie Wiesel failed to keep his faith in his religion due to the Holocaust. Without question, before he was sent to the concentration camps he was extremely passionate while praying to God. Previous to when the Nazis came into power, in Sighet, Transylvania, Elie compared being able to live and breathe to praying as a necessity (4). Something as significant and involuntary as breathing was no more important to Elie than praising God day and night. For Elie, praying is a natural act; he does not think about praying, he just does it. Unfortunately, Elie began defying his beliefs and questioning God’s power. When the inmates gathered to pray for Rosh Hashanah on the Appelplatz of Buna, Elie protested, â€Å"Why, but why would I bless Him? Every fiber in me rebelled† (67). He was tired of God’s silence and got frustrated how God had not helped to prevent all the chaos that was happening. Overall, Elie was once a religious boy who gave up on his beliefs. Elie sees his fellow inmates harass each other for the sake of their own survival, which ultimately leads him to lose his faith in humankind. Undeniably, he once believed in the power and unity of the Jewish people. After being sent to the small ghetto in the cattle car to Birkenau, Auschwitz, Mrs. Schà ¤chter was hallucinating, yet the other passengers were sympathetic and tried to soothe her (25). Because the others still had their humanity, they still attempted to reason or reassure with the mad woman. Everyone in the convoy was still a community and acted as one; they knew they still had to help each other, not just themselves. However, the feeling that it was every man for himself suddenly showed. In the wagon, on the way to Buchenwald, Elie referred to a heart-breaking moment in his memoir, â€Å"Stunned by the blows, the old man was crying: ‘Meir, my little Meir! Don’t you recognize me†¦Ã‚  You’re killing your father†¦ I have bread†¦ for you too†¦ for you too†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Ã¢â‚¬  (101). Because of a plain, yet lifesaving ration of bread, the boy was willing to betray his dad. Elie sees the disgust and dehumanizing that had been caused because of the harsh conditions for survival. Therefore, Elie who had faith in his community lost confidence when he saw what wild animals they had become. Elie could not be a dependent child anymore, for he had lost the role of being a son. Naturally, he relied on Shlomo, his father, before living in the camps. During the first selection in Birkenau, he only thought of holding on to his dad so he would not be left alone with no one else from his family (30). His sisters and mother were all sent to the right, most likely the crematorium, and him and Mr. Wiesel directed to the right; safe, having only each other, they would have to work together. At the time, Elie could not imagine what he would do without Mr. Wiesel and had to cling onto Shlomo for protection from the brutality of the concentration camps. As time went by, Elie started to have responsibility for both his and Mr. Wiesel’s security. Right when the two men arrived at the entrance of Buchenwald, Shlomo moaned, â€Å"‘Don’t yell my son†¦ Have pity on your old father†¦ Let me rest here†¦ a little I beg of you, I’m so tired†¦ no more strength†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ He had become childlike: weak frightened, vulnerable. â€Å"‘Father,’ I said, ‘you cannot stay here’† (105). Shlomo wanted to die in his sleep in the snow, but Elie kept yelling at him to keep living. This proves that Mr. Wiesel did become a child and his son had become a man, trying to convince his father, like a toddler, to listen to him. To conclude, Elie entered manhood from being a helpless child. In other words, Elie lost the commitment to God, proudness in mankind, and reliance. Because he felt that God did not care for his people anymore, he objected to praise Him. The inhumane behavior of the prisoners and guards led Elie to lose faith in them. Since he could not depend on Shlomo anymore, he had to take on the responsibility to survive. As Mr. Shakur said, Elie did feel as if he died through the events of the concentration camps, but did not forfeit to death. Elie Wiesel wrote this memoir to bring awareness of the genocide in the Holocaust and that humans shall never let it happen again.

Gertrude: The Tragic Heroine of Shakespeares Hamlet Essay example -- G

Gertrude: The Tragic Heroine of Hamlet    Hamlet is perhaps English literature's most renowned play; a masterwork by the greatest of all masters, Shakespeare, from its very appearance Hamlet has not ceased to delight audiences and confound spectators. The complexity of the main character, prince Hamlet, is so vast that all who have attempted to decipher his character fulsomely have failed. Amidst his own grandeur, Hamlet makes the other characters pale. As they blur into literary oblivion due to the magnetism of the central character, other characters are often disregarded as one-dimensional and are not done sufficient justice. Gertrude, victim of Hamlet's virulent verbal abuse, is often seen through the bitter eyes of her son and thus her true character is seldom recognized. However, Shakespeare, incapable of mediocrity, instilled in Gertrude more complexity than simple analysis might yield. He bestowed her the appearance of an unscrupulous woman, one for whom shame is a stranger and who acts guided solely by her carnal des ires; furthermore, she gives signs of being a frivolous queen, one who occupies her mind in simple contemplations, and for whom profound matters are inaccessible. Finally, he made her seem an insensitive mother incapable of empathy for her son's grief and oblivious to true sensibility. Nonetheless, it is Gertrude's desire for reconcilement and her need to avoid conflict that make her appear an unscrupulous woman, a frivolous Queen and an insensitive mother.    Certainly the most widespread opinion regarding Gertrude is that she is an unscrupulous woman; however, it is her desire for reconcilement and her need to avoid conflict that make her appear unscrupulous.   With all the force of his first soliloquy... ... tragic flaw was no other than the innocent desire for reconcilement and her too human need to avoid conflict. In Hamlet's own words, this seems the very essence of veracity, "what a piece of work is man! how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties!"   and yet, how solitary and uncomprehended; how quick to condemn, how reluctant to forgive and in doing so how like a Greek God, and how, so beautifully and fallibly human.   Bibliography 1. Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Folger Library. Edited by Louis B. Wright and Virginia A. LaMar Washington, Washington Square Press Publication, 1958. 2. "Gertrude in Hamlet" http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/critical.html#michelle_g Date accessed 02/25/2003) 3. Mabillard, Amanda. Shakespeare's Gertrude. Shakespeare Online. 2000. http://www.shakespeare-online.com/gertrudechar.html (03/25/2003)

The Choosing Essay by Liz Lochead

The Choosing Essay Marianne Lavery The poem â€Å"The Choosing† by Liz Lochead deals with problems of growing up and the issue of education through the two central characters, Mary and Liz. This poem is about two young girls called Mary and Liz who grew up together living an ordinary life. They were both intelligent and ambitious. They were best friends for years at primary school until they had the chance to go to secondary school and they went their separate ways to start their new lives. Later on in the poem they meet very unexpectedly on a bus years later. This really does show the reader just how much the two girls have change from primary school. In stanzas 1, 2 and 3 the poet Liz Lochead has emphasized the similarities between the two girls by describing their appearances. They both had the same â€Å"mouse-coloured† hair which suggests they are ordinary. Also they were polite, smart and proud. The poet has used repetition by saying how â€Å"equally proud† they are. This emphasizes the similar attitude the girls had towards their education. Alliteration has also been used. â€Å"Collins’ Children’s Classics†. Stanza 4, describes how their lives took different paths. Mary moved because of cheaper rent somewhere else and Liz stayed where she was, in her hometown where she grew up. Mary’s father had a very bad attitude towards girls’ education and he is also sexist. He didn’t believe in high school education especially for girls or in forking out for uniforms†. Marys family had also financial difficulties according to the poet. The final three stanzas shows that ten years have passed since the two girls went their separate ways but they find their selves sitting in the same bus as each other. However this time as they meet, Mary does not recognise Liz. Mary is sitting next to her husband â€Å"who is tall, curly haired a nd has eyes only for Mary†.

Cormac McCarthy’s The Road Essay

Life can be cruel.   In most cases, it squeezes the hell out of us.   Nevertheless, the challenge is to come out unscathed.   But do we always achieve this?   And if so, what do we get out of every excruciating pain we have to endure?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The road to recovery has so many twists and turns.   It is a test of strength but more so of faith.   It is about believing in something we do not even see.   The kind of person we become out of life’s most ultimate test defines who we are.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   How many of us could actually say that living life is a breeze?   Who have not known pain?   Who can claim that life was pure pleasure?   Who has never cried a tear?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   All of us have been tested by time at one time or the other.   We have been bitten by its pangs a couple of times over.   We have been bloodied at countless instances.   We have cried a pail full of tears.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Yet, we continue to breathe.   The sun sets and rises every single day of our lives.   We battle it out today for tomorrow has a challenge of its own.   We have to gain as much strength as we have lost or if possible, much greater.   This is all because pain will not die at the end of day.   Most probably, it will wake up the same morning we open our eyes from sleep. Throughout the course of our life’s struggle we do not usually travel alone.   Someone keeps us company.   Even just for a while, we journey life’s path with a companion.   It makes the burden a lot easier and even more meaningful.   We are reminded that life after all is about building relationships that sees us through the most trying of times. Life gives us people to guide and accompany us as we thread down the road.   Sometimes they live long enough to witness our feat.   But usually they do not.   Nevertheless, they serve their purpose. They provide comfort whenever we are afraid.   They wipe our tears dry and lull us to sleep to regain lost strength.   They give us hope in the most miserable of circumstances.   They teach us to see another day as a chance to turn things around.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When every one else have left, who do we turn to?   When the material wealth we have is none, how can we move on?   When fate turns against us, what is the chance for survival?   When it seems to be the world versus one man, is success hiding beneath the clouds of doubt? Whenever life robs us of our possessions, may we find comfort in knowing that we have not lost it all.   Our family will remain to be the wealth exclusively our own.   Neither fate nor circumstance can take it away from us.   It is something ours, and ours alone.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A father’s love can be the only thing that can make us possibly walk another mile.   It could ease the pain in our hearts knowing that someone is guiding us through.   Whenever doubt seems to restrict every movement we make, let us be reminded that our father’s strength runs through our veins.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The story about a father and a son is not uncommon for many of us.   Universal as a literary theme is its message.   It transcends age, culture, race and tradition.   It speaks a language known by all.   It is something that lives and outlives generations and beyond.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A father and son’s story is about strength.   It is about keeping tears from falling even if you just wanted to succumb and cry.   It is about learning to be a man as fate continues to challenge his ability to remain brave and undefeated. Nothing can be more painful than seeing death happen right through our very eyes.   Nothing can be more frightening than the thought that the next victim could possibly be me.   Nothing can be more frustrating than realizing that tomorrow will just be like any other day of violence and death.   Nothing can be much harder than believing that things happen for a reason.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   How can we possibly live when life on earth seems to be empty, both literally and figuratively?   We all know that it would not always be a bed of roses.   But why does it seem to be usually a bed of thorns?   How much pain can a man endure?   What is the real essence of suffering?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Cormac McCarthy’s novel entitled The Road, is dedicated to his son, John Francis McCarthy. The novel a finalist of the National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction and a recipient of both the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and the Pulitzer Price for fiction unfolds the journey of a man and a boy across a post – apocalyptic panorama.   The background signifies what was left after a great cataclysm made existence on this earth almost unheard of (McCarthy, 2006). Whoever said that life must go on may not know of a lot about surviving death.   Whenever we witness death, it feels like a part of us has also stopped breathing.   It leaves us numb and unaware that the world around us continues to run its course. Life must go on indeed.   This statement must be true after all.   No matter how hard and how unimaginable it may seem we are all compelled to do it just the same.   We cannot pause for a moment and recollect our lost selves before anything else.   Time passes by and once lost, it can never be regained.   Sometimes, we just got to keep on moving no matter what.   Move on and go on and trust that life may lead us to rest right when we need it the most. Death should remind us that life is lived just once.   We may not be able to control what lies on the bend of the road, but we still have to thread it, nevertheless.   Death reminds us that we have to give meaning to our existence.   This is the challenge we all have to face. In the dark tunnel of death, life is the light at the end of it.   It may be seen as a symbol of a cycle.   Every end can be the start of something new.   For every chapter of life that has been told precedes another story yet to unfold. This is but the cycle of life.   It is a never ending story about life and death.   More importantly, it is a challenge of living a life of worth to make death as important.   For death could mean something only if the life lost left a void. There may be times when giving up is all too tempting.   Enduring the most painful events of life is really too exhausting.   These are the moments when we beg of death.   These are the times when life appears to be worthless.   We are sometimes too consumed by pain that we seem to believe that life is hell on earth. Life does not come without pain.   Every once in a while or sometimes a little too often pain is thrown on our way.   Whenever it does, it reminds us that we are very much alive.   It makes us feel so human.   It makes things so real.   The sweetness of pain lies on our ability to bear its bitterness. Even so, life may not really be all about pain and suffering.   We can surely get some sweetness from it when we squeeze it dry.   There is some kind of balance in the world we live in.   Goodness surely lies on some corner.   It may take time and a lot of effort in between, but it is there as it has always been. The most challenging of all circumstances teaches a lesson or two.   Things happen not to make man resolve into thinking that life is a crazy game of pessimism.   While there is ruthlessness, there is goodness. Goodness comes in the most unexpected of packages.   It comes during the most unanticipated of times.   It comes when we have almost given up.   It comes at just the right moment to remind us that it was worth it to hold on. Holding on is oftentimes the only thing left to do.   It may not be the most logical but it could possibly be the most practical.   Some people come into our lives and quietly go but they leave us a message that speaks so clear and sound.   It is from strangers that we gain the wisdom we would not have otherwise known. And this could be the beauty of life.   That after all the pain, we may be able to smile again.   Just when we thought that we can never know life to be kind, someone teaches us the value of optimism.   When gravity seems to pull us down while trying to hold on with all our might, a helping hand extends for the taking. Just when we get so near the end of our rope, let us find comfort that someone is at the other end to take over.     Ã‚  They pull us through when we might have lost all the strength that is left.   They are once a stranger we crossed paths with.   But before the road takes us to yet another bend, each other are no more strangers.   For that walk we shared has left some of the most important lessons we can never forget. Life is hard but we are tougher.   It can take away everything but we can always leave some bit of hope deep inside our hearts.   We may not have anymore tears left to cry.   We may be left with broken bones and battered ego.   But if we continue to struggle along the road and combat every imaginable obstacle there is, we can still be hailed victors of the finest kind. May we not lose hope on the promise of yet another sunrise no matter how painful life has made known itself to man.   Life takes on a whole new meaning when it is lived not for thy self.   A life lived in this way is noble in all the ways that matter. References BBC.co.uk. (2007, April 17). Novelist McCarthy wins Pulitzer. Retrieved February 26, 2008, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6563291.stm Chabon, M. The New York Review of Books. (2007, February 15). After the Apocalypse. Retrieved February 26, 2008, from http://www.nybooks.com/articles/19856. Conlon, M. Reuters. (2007, June 5). Writer Cormac McCarthy confides in Oprah Winfrey. Retrieved February 26, 2008, from http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN0526436120070605?pageNumber=1. Empire. (2007, April 2). John Hillcoat Hits The Road An adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s novel. Retrieved February 26, 2008, from http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=20573. Guardian.co.uk. (2007, October 30). Civilisation ends with a shutdown of human concern.   Are we there already? Retrieved February 26, 2008, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2201594,00.html. Jones, M. (2006). On the Lost Highway. Newsweek. Retrieved February 26, 2008, from http://services.newsweek.com//search.aspx?offset=0&pageSize=10&sortField=pu bdatetime&sortDirection=descending&mode=summary&q=on+the+lost+highway &site-search-submit.x=33&site-search-submit.y=7 Keller, J. (2007). Oprah’s selection a real shocker; Winfrey, McCarthy strange bookfellows. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 26, 2008, from http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/1246151131.html?dids=12461 51131:1246151131&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+29 %2C+2007&author=Julia+Keller&pub=Chicago+Tribune&edition=&startpage=1 &desc=Oprah%27s+selection+a+real+shocker+. Kennedy, W. (2001). Left Behind. The New York Times. Retrieved February 26, 2008, from http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/books/review/Kennedy.t.html?ex=1189396800&en=6d113b5a5cbaf19b&ei=5070 McCarthy, C. (2006). The Road. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. National Book Critics Circle. (2006). NBCC Awards Finalists. Retrieved February 26, 2008, from http://www.bookcritics.org/?go=finalists

How to Make Modeling Clay Out of Flour and Oil

How to Make Modeling Clay Out of Flour and Oil There are several ways you can make homemade clay for modeling  and arts and crafts projects. The recipes below will help you make refrigerator clay, a clay that hardens when you bake it, one that you can coat for a glossy finish, and one that molds and stays pliable much like store-bought modeling clay. Homemade Modeling Clay Recipe 1 This basic clay is essentially bare-bones cooking dough, which is easy to make with ingredients in your kitchen. It is sufficient for basic modeling projects, but youll want to throw it out before it starts growing bacteria. All you need to make it is: 2 1/2 cups flour1 cup salt1 cup waterFood coloring (optional) Mix the clay ingredients together.Store the modeling clay in the refrigerator in a sealed plastic baggie or in a bowl covered with plastic wrap. Homemade Modeling Clay Recipe 2 This homemade clay uses oil and cream of tartar for thickening, producing a clay thats firmer than the one above. Its perfect for simple modeling projects, and it only requires a few ingredients: 1 cup salt2 cups flour4 tablespoons cream of tartar4 tablespoons vegetable oil2 cups waterFood coloring (optional) Stir together the dry ingredients. Mix in the oil. Mix in the water and food coloring.Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until the clay thickens and pulls away from the sides of the pot.Cool the clay before use. Store the clay in a sealed container or plastic bag. Homemade Modeling Clay Recipe 3 This recipe produces a modeling clay similar to the two above, but it uses cornstarch and baking soda rather than flour and salt: 1 cup cornstarch2 cups baking soda1 1/2 cups cold waterFood coloring (optional) Mix the ingredients together over low heat until a dough is formed.Cover the clay with a damp cloth and allow it to cool before use.Seal completed clay products with shellac. Homemade Modeling Clay Recipe 4 This recipe produces a clay with a smooth consistency similar to that of store-bought Play-Doh for kids. Air-dry products made with this clay. 3 1/2 cups flour1/2 cup of salt1 tablespoon cream of tartar2 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil2 cups waterFood coloring (optional)Vanilla extract for scent (optional) Bring the water to a boil. Stir in the oil, food coloring, and vanilla extract. Mix the dry ingredients (flour, salt, and cream of tartar) in a bowl.Add the hot liquid to the dry ingredients a little bit at a time, stirring until you produce a pliable clay.The clay may be stored indefinitely in a sealed container at room temperature. Homemade Modeling Clay Recipe 5 This recipe can be used to make clay for ornaments, jewelry, or small sculptures. The clay hardens after baking. Pieces may be painted and sealed if desired. 4 cups flour1 cup of salt1 1/2 cups water Mix the ingredients together to form the clay.Store the clay in a sealed container until it is needed.Bake the finished pieces on a non-stick cookie sheet at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately one hour or until the clay is slightly brown around the edges. Cool the baked clay items on a wire rack before handling them or painting them.

Free Essays on Big Bang

We know that our universe exists, however this knowledge alone has not satisfied mankind for further understanding. Throughout time we have asked ourselves, how did our universe begin? How old is our universe? How did matter come to exist?- It seems to be that the questions will always continue to exist. It is important to keep in mind that all of this information is constantly being questioned in order to understand the universe more clearly. What is THE BIG BANG Many once believed that the universe had no beginning or end and was truly infinite. However according to the Big Bang theory, universe is not considered to be, infinite. About 15 billion years ago a tremendous explosion started the expansion of the universe. This explosion is known as the Big Bang. At the point of this event all of the matter and energy was placed at one point. The Big Bang actually consisted of an explosion of space within itself unlike an explosion of a bomb. According to the Big Bang theory the universe is expanding in every direction. Since the Big Bang, the universe has been continuously expanding and there has been more and more distance between clusters of galaxies.... Free Essays on Big Bang Free Essays on Big Bang We know that our universe exists, however this knowledge alone has not satisfied mankind for further understanding. Throughout time we have asked ourselves, how did our universe begin? How old is our universe? How did matter come to exist?- It seems to be that the questions will always continue to exist. It is important to keep in mind that all of this information is constantly being questioned in order to understand the universe more clearly. What is THE BIG BANG Many once believed that the universe had no beginning or end and was truly infinite. However according to the Big Bang theory, universe is not considered to be, infinite. About 15 billion years ago a tremendous explosion started the expansion of the universe. This explosion is known as the Big Bang. At the point of this event all of the matter and energy was placed at one point. The Big Bang actually consisted of an explosion of space within itself unlike an explosion of a bomb. According to the Big Bang theory the universe is expanding in every direction. Since the Big Bang, the universe has been continuously expanding and there has been more and more distance between clusters of galaxies.... Free Essays on Big Bang Some 12 billion years ago the universe emerged from a hot, dense sea of matter and energy. As the cosmos expanded and cooled, it spawned galaxies, stars, planets and life. Since the beginning of human civilization, people have always questioned the origins of their existence and the creation of the universe. Cosmology, the scientific study of the large scale structure and evolution of the universe, has developed and evolved in response to the human need to know our roots (Silk, Big Bang 1980 456). Within in this field of study, the Big Bang theory has become the most prevalent theory, because the majority of evidence from a variety of different investigations make it extremely likely that something like the Big Bang occurred. The Big Bang theory of cosmology assumes that the universe began from a singular state of infinite density. As Joseph Silk defines the Big Bang theory, it is a model of the universe in which space-time began with an initial singularity and subsequently expands (Silk, Cosmic Enigmas 56). The theory first referenced in Alexander Friedmann's complete solution of Albert Einstein's equations, in 1922. In 1927, George ¡Ã‚ ¦s Lemaitre used equations to devise a cosmological theory that incorporated the concept that the universe has been expanding from an explosive moment of creation. However, the term "Big Bang," as a name for the initial cataclysmic event, was chosen by two men named George Gamow and R.A. Alpher due to their discovery of background radiation, a low-temperature radiation that penetrates the universe at microwave wavelengths (58). Its source is now believed to have been the extremely hot fireball with which the universe began, according to the Big Bang theory. Since its in itial introduction, much evidence has helped to strengthen its case, and other theories have been added to it, such as the Inflationary theory. This theory seeks to account for the physical events, which took place in the very first momen... Free Essays on Big Bang The mystery of the beginning of our universe has puzzled mankind since the dawn of time. This mystery is especially relevant to astronomers, who construct hypotheses called cosmological models to try to find the answer to this ancient question. This paper will focus on two of these models: The Big Bang Theory and The Steady State Model. The Big Bang model postulates that about fifteen to twenty billion years ago, the universe violently exploded. Scientist believe that before the Big Bang, all of the matter and radiation of our present universe was packed together in a primeval fireball. This fireball was in an extremely hot dense state. From this the universe rapidly expanded.1 As this expanding matter cooled, several million years later it condensed into galaxies. The universe has continued to expand, and the galaxies have continued moving away from each other ever since. Today, the universe is still expanding, as astronomers have observed. The Steady State model states that the universe does not evolve or change in time, meaning there was no beginning in the past, nor will there be change in the future. This model assumes the perfect cosmological principle. This principle states that the universe is the same everywhere on the large scale; at all times.2 It maintains the same average density of matter forever. There are observational evidences found that can prove the Big Bang model is more reasonable than the Steady State model including, the redshifts of distant galaxies. Redshift is a Doppler effect which states that if a galaxy is moving away, the spectral line of that galaxy observed will have a shift to the red end. The faster the galaxy moves the more shifts it has. If the galaxy is moving closer, the spectral line will show a blue shift. If the galaxy is not moving, there is no shift at all. However, as astronomers observed, the more distant a galaxy is from Earth, the more redshift it shows on the spectru...

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella - Research Paper Example Its vaccine was made and licensed in 1968 (Barone, Crocetti and Oski, 321). (d). Pathogenesis and pathology of Rubella involves measles virus entering the body system, then to the epithelial cells, and finally to the blood where it multiplies (MPS). In blood the virus advances to general toxic level. The general toxic level of the disease is associated with the presentation of rashes, pigmentation as well as koplik’s spots (Shmaefsky, p.83). (e). Clinical manifestations of Rubella appears after an incubation period 6-18 days. The clinical signs include fever, catarrhal inflammation, koplik’s spots, and appearance prodromal rashes on the skin surface (Shmaefsky, p.85). (d). The pathogenesis and pathology of Ruboela involves measles virus entering the body, then virus moves to the epithelial cells, then to blood where it multiplies (MPS), blood and later generates to general toxic level. When it is at the general level, Ruboela is presents rashes, pigmentation and koplik’s spots (Black, p.90). (e). Clinical manifestation of Ruboela are portrayed after the incubation period of between 6-18 days. The clinical manifestations include fever, catarrhal inflammation, koplik’s spots on the skin as well as prodromal rashes (Black,

Education and Parental Involvement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Education and Parental Involvement - Essay Example The crucial stakeholders in the process include teachers and parents among others though the mentioned are the most crucial in educating the children. This is because this two are the most involved in the education process. It might be perceived that it is the teachers are solely the ones having a significant impact in a child’s education. This is misconstrued, since parents are the first teachers for a child. They also spend a considerable amount of time with them naturally making them Principle figures in the education process. Various factors influence the input of guardians and instructors in the education process. In the articles, one if the most prominent factor is social class. This is because this factor influences the situations in which the child faces in their quest to be educated. According to Rodriguez, cultural background is also significant since education is influenced significantly overtly or indirectly with culture. Economic classes are also prominent in this process. All this factors come into play when an immigrant child attempts to learn in a foreign environment. This is because the learning process is not only alien to the learner, but also to the guardians. Rose, who shows the significance of alienation of these parties to the process, reiterates this fact. This is because there are numerous limitations in the understanding and participation of the parents in ensuring the success of a child in school. Although learning is a crucial requirement in the modern society, there are various limitations that immigrant parents face, in their involvement, in the edification process of their children. Based on the articles, when a family immigrates, they are exposed to a new environment. This will mean that the family will have to adapt to the new scenario. This will mean that both parents and child will have to readjust themselves to the new education system. This is because the new system will be centered on the cultural inclinations of the new environment (Rodriguez, p3). This will lead to alienation of the student and the parent from the education process. This will result in the parent not being in a position of extending assistance to the Child’s schoolwork. This is because the situation will expose the child and parent to cultural extremes. This will lead to conflicting influences in their education since the transition process will be challenging for them. This will be an impediment for the parent to participate in the education process of their children. In addition, due to the differences, the child will cut themselves mentally from the parents. This is because the parents due to the environment will lose their relevance in the learning process. The child will create a perception that the parents are incapable of being of any assistance in this scenario. This will result in the child becoming autonomous in their learning, in that they will do their homework and other learning activities without parental involvement, hence shutting out parents. The child will be embarrassed of their parents’ illiteracy hence they will attempt for any form of guidance education wise. The child may constantly want to reiterate to parents on their lack of education (Rodriguez, p4). According to Rose, Immigrant parents will also not comprehend the procedures and terms used in the education