Information Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Information Policy - Essay Example I am concerned with the issue because the government continually pushes businesses towards the edge in setting harsh legal laws concerning privacy while they fail to assist the companies in handling it. The governments set rules that ensure businesses safeguard individuals’ personal information and prevent it from leaking to a third party. While this is important, most governments fail to specify personal information that a business should not gather or distribute (Serwin, McLaughlin & Tomaszewski, 2011). They impose fines on businesses for mishandling information without guiding them. Furthermore, businesses need to secure their information and information concerning their clients to reduce leakages to third parties. My concern challenges the government to give valuable insights into the problem of managing information security instead of embracing a legislative approach. The issue is of significant interest due to the need for urgent solutions to enable businesses protect personal and other business-related information. Companies require assistance in creating information security platforms in their entire networks. I can assist them develop internal privacy policies, making agreements on network security and technology contracts, negotiating vendor contracts, and reviewing employee policies and procedures. Businesses also need advice regarding database-marketing outsourcing where they store client personal information on servers external to the companies (Schwalbe,  2000). Hence, the existence of numerous gaps in the information management sector makes the area of privacy and security

Philippine Daily Inquirer Essay Example for Free

Philippine Daily Inquirer Essay SAN RAFAEL, Bulacan, Philippines For many of this town?s residents, Jose Rizal?s unforgettable fictional characters Sisa, Crispin and Basilio not only existed in his 19th century novel ?Noli Me Tangere,? they actually roamed the streets here. According to local lore, the bloodstains on a wall in the convent of the San Juan de Dios church were actually Crispin?s, Sisa?s youngest son whose disappearance and probable death caused her to lose her mind. The story, told and retold by the older townsfolk, goes like this: The head sacristan had Crispin whipped over some missing cash. The boy?s bloodied body was thrown into a well at the convent, never to be seen by his mother. This supposedly true-to-life account would be immortalized in Rizal?s ?Noli Me Tangere? published in Berlin in 1887. ?Noli Me Tangere? (Touch Me Not) and its sequel, ?El Filibusterismo? (The Reign of Greed), exposed the abuses of the Spanish friars and earned for Rizal the ire of the Spanish authorities. Rizal was executed on Dec. 30, 1896, and his two books are now required reading for Filipino high school and college students. Bloodstained walls Cory Valero-Vergel de Dios, 71, said she first heard the story from her parents and older relatives. Born in 1936, Vergel de Dios spent many summers offering flowers at the church, often playing at the convent after the traditional Flores de Mayo rituals. She said she and her playmates used to gaze at the bloodstained wall and wander near the well. ?The stains were red and clear,? Vergel de Dios said. Gigi Valderrama, who works at the municipal hall, said she heard the story from her mother, who is now in her 80s. She also heard the story from her grandmother, now deceased. ?It?s just a story,? said Valderrama, who is active in parish activities. Tina, a Manila-based professional in her 20s, heard the tale from her grandparents and described the account as ?vague and sketchy.? Tableau Nonetheless, the room in the convent where Crispin was supposedly tortured to death now has a tableau which has a mannequin resembling Rizal. The Rizal mannequin sits behind a desk, writing. He faces the well where Crispin?s body was supposedly dumped. In the Noli, Rizal described Crispin as ?a timid boy with large black eyes.? He and older brother Basilio were employed in the church as ?bell ringers? to help their mother Sisa. Their father was a man who liked going to cockfights and beat their mother. The boys? unhappy life turned worse when the head sacristan accused Crispin of stealing ?two ounces? which was then equivalent to P32. On the day the loss was discovered, Crispin was not allowed to leave the convent, while Basilio was allowed to leave only after 10 p.m., which was past the 9 p.m. curfew. Last time Crispin begged Basilio not to leave him because, he said, ?they?re going to kill me.? The head sacristan dragged Crispin down the stairs from the bell tower and into the shadows. That was the last time Basilio saw his kid brother. Leaving the convent past curfew, Basilio was met by the guardia civil (the police then) who fired shots. A bullet grazed Basilio?s head. Though bleeding from a head wound, he managed to go home to his mother that night. This is the background to the heartbreaking scene of the madwoman Sisa, who wandered the streets, looking for her sons Crispin and Basilio. Some San Rafaeleà ±os believe this scene actually happened here during the Spanish colonial era. Catholic town Founded as a Spanish settlement in 1750, San Rafael is a deeply Catholic town. Residents make sure they get married in the same church where they were christened. When church bells peal at 6 p.m., residents pause to say the Angelus. Located some 150 kilometers north of Manila, the town is accessible via narrow, badly paved roads. According to the 2000 annual census, San Rafael has a population of 169,776 with 14,659 households. Msgr. Filemon Capiral said the town has a rich heritage. ?The residents, although most have gone abroad, are helping preserve the heritage,? he said. Four years ago, Fr. Dennis Espejo, who was then the parish priest, organized the Committee on the Cultural Heritage of San Rafael. Little-known history Espejo raised funds from residents who made good here and abroad and established a museum. The museum, located on the second floor of the convent, showcases a collection of religious icons and vestments, antique furniture and furnishings. The room with the bloodstained wall is part of the museum. There is a not so well-known historical fact about the San Juan de Dios Church. It was the site of one of the bloodiest battles between the Katipuneros and the Spanish troops. According to the church?s historical marker, Katipuneros led by Gen. Anacleto Enriquez and Spanish troops under Lt. Col. Lopez Arteaga fought fiercely at the site. When the smoke cleared, an estimated 800 men were dead, among them the 20-year-old Enriquez, who was a good friend of another Bulakeà ±o, the boy general, Gregorio del Pilar.

Hierarchy HR Department Human Resource Management Commerce Essay

Hierarchy HR Department Human Resource Management Commerce Essay Human capital is the rarest resource of the company which cannot be imitated while every other resource or asset of the organization can be copied by the rivals due to the changing environment and emergence of technology. HR Is basically a support function which helps the other imperative functions in achieving their vision which cannot be achieved without the support of HR. Its a cost minimization and value creating source. HR successfully linked the lower management with the top management for the purpose of achieving goals and objectives. There is not a formula or certain procedure in human resource management, it varies from person to person and managers perceived it differently as everyone has his/her own strategies. In this report we have covered almost each and every aspect of human resource management. HR process starts with hiring of the effective employees and ends with the performance evaluation of the human resources. Goals of HR Department in UMA To recruit the most effective pool of candidates Motivate the employees so that performance of each employee can be strengthened Prevent and reduce the turnover rate. This is the most imperative job of HR because it helps the firm in achieving its goals Give rewards and benefits to the deserving candidates. Deserving candidates are identified by analyzing the performance appraisal. To give priority to the internal labor supply over the external one so that the motivation level and performance of workers could be enhanced Resolve the conflicts among the employees so that an impressive working environment could be developed. Develop HR related policies and code of conduct. HIRING There is not a fixed time period for hiring. Company hires the workers according to the need of the time the first and the most imperative step in the hiring process is recruitment. Recruitment is basically the process of generating effective pool of employees. The most famous and renown tool for recruitment is newspaper and internet in united marine agency. The firm believes that with the help of newspaper and internet you can generate a huge pool of candidates in a very limited time. Besides this there is another advantage of recruiting the candidates through newspaper and i.e. Image of the organization , as we all know that an immense ad in the newspaper can strongly influence the image of the company. Employee referral is also a tool used by the firm for the purpose of generating impressive pool of candidates. Employee referral is considered as the most trustworthy, reliable and effective tool because the employee are very much conscious in referring the candidates as this is the matter of their credibility as well as a result the most preferred and effective candidates are referred by the employees . Employee referral is not always positive. There are some negative aspects of employee referral as well because sometimes managers has to neglect or ignore the mistakes of certain employees just because of there sound reference . Internal Vs. External Labor Supply The firm believes that internal labor supply must be given preference over external labor supply. Consequently when an executive position is vacant, top management attempts to fill that vacancy by promoting a deserving employee. This helps the firm is following ways Reduce cost of hiring Hiring is the process of human resource management which involves a lot of cost and requires a massive time for the purpose of producing effectual pool of applicants but internal labor supply is that efficient tool which can certainly reduce the cost of hiring process for united marine agency, because via promoting and enriching the job responsibility of an productive employee you can reduce huge cost of the organization for sure. Internal employee is aware of the organization culture An internal employee is usually aware of the organization culture therefore he does not take much time in adjusting with the work environment Productivity increases When an internal deserving employee is promoted to an executive position, motivational level increases thus performance of the employee enhances which results in effective organization productivity. Emergency hiring In case of emergency hiring, the firm does not rely on the normal procedures of recruitment but they try to go for the speediest process and usually the process is decided by analyzing the situation intensely and implementing a process according to the situation. SELECTION Selecting the Candidates Process of selection varies job to job. Some job requires a test. Test is provided to the candidates who have been shortlisted through recruitment and the individuals who are able to clear the test are requested to appear in the interview. In majority of the cases, employee referral is used for the purpose of hiring personnel for executive position in UMA. And there are many reasons behind this. Generally an employee is aware of the kind of the individual required for a particular position because he knows the responsibilities of the vacant position and is pretty much aware of the nature of the job therefore he refer an individual who can efficiently perform the job activities and help the organization in achieving its goals and objectives. As Mr. Zeeshan stated that recently a sales manager was hired in UMA on the reference of general manager. The compensation package of that individual is very impressive and well-off according to MR Zeeshan but the general manager is very much satisfied with the compensation package of sales manager because according to him he has the ability of generating sales vigorously. SELECTION PROCESS Candidate is selected by following certain steps which include the test at the initial stage which is design to reduce the vigorous pool of candidates, later an interview is conducted by the HR manager once short listed by the HR manager, the candidates are asked to appear in the final interview conducted by the HOD of the particular department to get the dedicated employees. SELECTION CRITERIA UMA follows the following criteria in order to select effective employee for the firm Education Experience Confidence Soft skills Reference TRAINING Every company either SME or large corporations has a vigorous believe that human capital can build a strong position of company if efficiently and effectively utilized. UMA also strive in achieve the same goal. UMA strongly believe that training and development plays an important role in increasing revenues of the company either through cost reduction or increase in sales. Trainings in UMA are done on almost every level whether a telephone operation or a brand manager of a company, all are indulge in training. As per Mr. Zeeshan employees gets motivated when such sort of activities is done in the organization. Some training is the routine trainings which have to be given to each and every employee after certain time period. such as fire fighting, emergency exits drill and on the job trainings which is given to the new induction by the immediate boss only in the case if there is any technical work in the job description of the employee, Whereas other trainings are done as per the requirement of the job. TRAINING METHODS ON THE JOB TRAINING The frequently used training method is on the job training in UMA. Usually lead by the senior very next to the person who needs the training. Moreover other consulting companies are also outsources by the company in order to accumulate new skill in the employees. As per Mr. Zeeshan recently UMA has organized a 15 days training session for the sales support staff and telephone operator so that the company can build good relation with the customers and can provide the exact solutions of their queries. OFF THE JOB TRAINING Off the job training is rarely done by the company and is only provided to the executive class. These trainings include seminars and workshop which is conducted abroad mostly in Singapore and Dubai. Performance appraisal UMA does the employees performance appraisal on as annual bases. Performance appraisal is done by using multi methods in order to get accurate information for the employee and its achievements. UMA uses two performance appraisal methods at the same time, MBO and graphic rating scale. In every December before the increment of the employees performance appraisal form is distributed to the HODs of every department with the due date, and then it become the responsibility of HOD to evaluate the employee. Following are the questions that are included in the appraisal form of the employee List your achievements or tasks you have done or/and currently doing well. What are the facilitating and constraining factors in performing your work? Achievements of Previous Agree Targets any training required RATING SCALE 1 Unsatisfactory 2 Acceptable 3 Good 4 Excellent FACTORS Employee Evaluator 1 Quality of Work 2 To meet targets and deadlines Initiative 4 Attitude 5 Cooperation 6 Attendance 7 Communication Skill 8 Interpersonal Skill 9 Willingness to learn 10 Cost conscious 11 Development of subordinator REWARDS AND BENEFITS: every year increments is given on the bases of performance of the employees and is not influenced by personal liking or disliking If employee performance is not up to the mark they are considered for the training and development program in order to make them more effective in achieving the task assigned to them. Training is also given if the employee thinks they need it for the better understanding and execution of the task. Drawback of MBO and Rating Scale The biggest drawback of appraising the performance through MBO is employee stick to the particular objectives provided to them which limits their productivity, performance and creativity to a certain level Benefit of MBO The most impressive benefit of MBO is providing the employees with clear and specific objectives as a result employees are aware of the fact that what is required from them therefore employees put their best efforts for the purpose of matching those objectives as efficiently as they can PROMOTION UMA consider different factors in order to analyze the promotion of the employees. According to them they dont have any fixed time period to promote an employee. It totally depends on the traits personality and hard working of the employee. Recognizing the promotion UMA recognizes the need to promote employee by continuously observing the performance of the employee. The main focus of the company is on the goals and targets achieved by the employees then on the factors and lastly on the time duration. Even the Deputy Manager is promoted in 8 month of time period because of his achievements and fulfillment of the targets. Factors considered in promotion planning and organizing professionalism teamwork and leadership punctuality achieved targets attitude and behavior of other According to Mr. Zeeshan once an employee is promoted then they are not promoted until they develop their skills for the upper position. If the employee is about to get promoted and at that time he resigns, then as per the practices of the HR department they either promote the contingent employee or give dual responsibilities to other. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS UMA provide great incentives and benefits to their employees. Other than their basic salary following are the incentives provided to the employees are based on their designations. Fuel Allowance Fuel allowance is given to the employees on the bases of their designation and work. Fuel allowance varies from 45 liters to 300 liters. As per the policy following is the ratio of giving fuel Bikes 45 liters Car (till 1000cc) 150 liters Car (till 1300cc) 250 liters Car (till 2400cc) 300 liters Mobile allowance Mobile allowance is also provided as per the designation of the employee Medical Insurance Every employee is covered with medical insurance which only includes hospitalization. In case of any mishap insurance company will pay all the expenses. Vehicle and its repair and maintenance Company provides the vehicle with the repair and maintenance to the employee as an incentives, but with the condition that car must remain clean all the time otherwise it would be taken back. Cars are inspected on daily bases Bonus Two bonuses are given to the employee in the period of one year other than the increment in the salary. One full salary is given on eid-ul-fitr and 70% is given on eid-ul-azha Retirement benefits The biggest benefit of retirement policy is that there is no age constraint in retirement an employee can work till the time he is capable of working in the organization. Gratuity is given to the employee which equal to the one salary for one year of service EOB pension is given to the employee Job rotation As mentioned before, employee is rotated to any other department or job if his/her performance is unsatisfactory. Most of the time managers also asked to their subordinates that whether they require a job rotation or not. Managers do this in order to enhance the employee motivation, performance and skills. TERMINATION In UMA, employees are not terminated on the basis of their performance because termination is not the solution of the problem. If the performance of the employee is not up to the mark, management attempt to transfer that individual to another department Termination is only occurred on the basis following cases Misconduct Or Misbehavior Misbehavior or misconduct of any employee is not tolerated in any case, which leads to straight termination Violation of HR policies or rules Each and every employee is requested to follow the HR rules and policies and if the employee is not following the rules and regulations, firm decided to terminate that individual Sexual harassment Sexual harassment is the case which leads to immediate termination Fraudulent For the purpose of alerting other employees, deceptive or fake individuals are terminated. ISSUES 360 degree of method of performance appraisal is ignored Do not have software for online recruitment At times, employee referral caused difficulties for the managers HR department of UMA is almost new. So the parameters of selecting new candidates are completely different as a result the performance of new induction varies from the old one which results in the organizational conflicts. SOLUTION The HR department is doing an impressive job but there are still some issues which need to be rectified as soon as possible. Following are the recommendations we suggested for the HR department of UMA 360 degree method of performance appraisal must be used. This is the most effective tool for the performance appraisal which is ignored by UMA because the performance of an individual must be evaluated by other colleagues as well Do not have software for online recruitment which is a hindrance in the hiring process. Software should be used for making the recruitment process more effective. Sometimes employee referrals cause problems for managers as they have to ignore the mistakes of the particular employee who has a strong reference. This issue can be resolved by providing the managers right to discipline the employee who is not performing well CONCLUSION By analyzing the whole HR process, we analyze that the HR department is doing an impressive job for United Marine Agency because the whole HR department consist of only five individuals who are managing more than 250 employees. Therefore we can state that HR department is doing a really efficient job. We all know that recruitment via newspaper or internet can generate very large pool of candidates. And we were really amazed by knowing the fact the whole task of recruitment is managed by only 5 individuals in the HR department. To fill the executive position through employee referral is a wise decision which helps the firm to hire effective individual and save the cost and time related to hiring process. The most impressive thing is their policy of not terminating any individual on the basis of his/her performance. By doing this, UMA proves that moral values and corporate social responsibility is an integral part of the organization. The process of job rotation is conducted by considering the opinions of the subordinates that whether they require job rotation or not. This helps the firm in enhancing high organizational performance by increasing the motivation level of employees. Different sort of incentives are provided to the employees in order to satisfy the workers and reduce the turnover rate Employee has to pass three interviews sometimes. This is also a good move because caliber of the candidate cannot be judged in a single interview only because organization has to make sure that it has selected the right candidate for the right job Two methods of performance appraisal are used by the firm which is MBO and rating scale. The purpose of using two methods is just to confirm that the performance is appraised appropriately.

Skills Required for Effective Time Management Essay -- essays research

Time management is a key essential that ensures any working environment runs efficiently and smoothly, without it there is no structure to your working day. If time management can be mastered then your workload can be achieved successfully. In this essay I will examine a number of the skills required for effective time management. Planning is of the utmost importance in time management, without it we don?t have a clear vision of what needs to be achieved and within what time frame. It is therefore vital that this is the first step, and in order to ensure you cover all areas that require your attention. Planning Planning your day or week can be daunting to many people. Some managers are born to it and some will struggle. To prevent or reduce stress within the office environment planning is essential. It can be categorised as short, medium or long term. Short term can be classed as a day or week, while medium is normally weeks leading to a few months. Long term tends to be several months perhaps leading to a year. So the first and obvious step is to put a time frame in place, and ensure that you use planning aids to mark your progress. Planning aids come in various forms. Diary?s and wall charts are very useful, especially for ?at a glance? scheduling, and will assist the manger during the normal working day. Diaries are a good start as they come in various styles e.g. day to a page or week to a page, the latter I prefer as it gives me an oversight as to what?s happening during the week. Wall charts again come in various designs and display the whole year. Colour coding the days wit h the relevant colour key can at an instance enable you to see the overall picture, and can also be used in conjunction with your dia... ...and are clearly taken for granted is e-mail and the telephone. E-mails can be set up to be received in various colours to indicate your superiors or colleagues. E-mails should only be looked at first thing in the morning and again in the afternoon, this prevents you being distracted and allows you to concentrate on the goal in hand. Telephone calls can be a nuisance if not controlled. Go straight to the point and if possible inform the caller of any time constraints. If feasible an answer machine can be utilised so you can filter out those unimportant calls, of course a message on the answer machine rather than an automated reply is more user friendly. In conclusion time management is a very important tool for modern day managers. With it managers can ensure efficiency is at the highest level with continual improvements with in any office or organisation.

Managing Time Essay

In today’s society, many people are finding it difficult to find time for their family when they are so caught up at work. At times, it could also be that people are with their family more often that their work starts to slack off. In the story, â€Å"Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket† by Jack Finney, Tom has it difficult spending time with his wife, because he is caught up in his work. The theme of this story is time management between work and family can be complicated. A similar theme is shown in the short stories, â€Å"Double Daddy† by Penny Parker and â€Å"Diary of a Mad Blender† by Sue Shellenbarger. First of all, the theme of â€Å"Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket† is demonstrated throughout the story. When Tom decides to stay home, his wife, Clare, tells him, â€Å"You work too much—though, Tom—and too hard. † This shows that Tom has chosen his work over his wife. Later in the story, Tom realizes that his time may be short when he, â€Å"Wished, then, that he had not allowed his wife to go off by herself tonight—and on similar nights. † Tom realized that managing his time with his wife is more important than his work, which reveals the theme of the story. Secondly, in â€Å"Double Daddy† by Penny Parker, a similar theme is shown throughout the article. The author explains, â€Å"More is Expected of father at home these days†¦but the demands of the workplace, is anything, increased in the recent years. This comes to show that father are needed both at work and at home. Linda Dunlap, chair women of the psychology department at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, states that men say, â€Å"I’m working my tail off to get ahead†¦but I’m now spending time with my family. † So in recent years, fathers have realized that time management with their family is important, even though they must work to keep their family stable, which shows how complicated managing time between work and family time can be. In addition, Sue Shellenbarger, author of, â€Å"Diary of a Mad Blender,† writes about a similar theme in her article. Today, even if parents try to stay home with their kids and try to work at the same time can be challenging. As the author states, â€Å"I work from home, but there’s certainly more I could do to integrate my work and my personal life. † So, trying to balance this is a difficult task. Even though managing work and family time is tough, Shellenbarger says, â€Å"My brain just needs a little cross-training,† but she is still finding it tough to manage the time between her family work, which relates to the theme of the story. Finally, managing the time between work and family can be a difficult task for anyone, as explained in, â€Å"Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket† by Jack Finney. Also the demands of the workplace can be a struggle which was shown in â€Å"Double Daddy† by Penny Parker. Last, how it can difficult to bring work home, while trying to spend time with family, like the example in â€Å"Diary of a Mad Blender† by Sur Shellenbarger. The theme of this all is managing time between work and family can be difficult.

Aztec Sacrifice - The Meaning of Ritual Human Killings

Aztec Sacrifice - The Meaning of Ritual Human Killings Aztec sacrifices were famously a part of the Aztec culture, famous in part because of deliberate propaganda out of the Spanish conquistadors in Mexico, who at the time were involved in executing heretics and opponents in bloody ritual displays as part of the Spanish Inquisition. The over-emphasis on the role of human sacrifice has led to a distorted view of Aztec society: but it is also true that violence formed a regular and ritualized part of life in Tenochtitlan. Key Takeaways: Aztec Sacrifice Sacrifices were a regular and ritualized part of life in 15th- and 16th-century Aztec capital cities.  The numbers and extent of the practice were almost certainly inflated by Spanish conquistadors.  Reasonable estimates are between 1000 and 20,000 human sacrifices per year in Tenochitlan; the Spanish claimed much more.The main religious purpose was to renew and sustain life, and to communicate with the gods.  As a political tool, sacrifice was used terrorize Aztec subjects and legitimize the Aztec rulers and the state itself. How Common Was Human Sacrifice? As many Mesoamerican people did, the Aztec/Mexica believed that sacrifice to the gods was necessary to ensure the continuity of the world and the balance of the universe. They distinguished between two types of sacrifice: those involving humans and those involving animals or other offerings. Human sacrifices included both self-sacrifice, such as bloodletting, in which people would cut or perforate themselves; as well as the sacrifice of the lives of other human beings. Although both were quite frequent, the second one gained the Aztecs the fame of being a bloodthirsty and brutal people who worshiped cruel deities. Meaning of Aztec Sacrifices For the Aztecs, human sacrifice fulfilled multiple purposes, both at the religious and socio-political level. They considered themselves the â€Å"elected† people, the people of the Sun who had been chosen by the gods to feed them and by doing so were responsible for the continuity of the world. On the other hand, as the Mexica became the most powerful group in Mesoamerica, human sacrifice acquired the added value of political propaganda: requiring subject states to offer up human sacrifice was a way to maintain control over them. The rituals connected with the sacrifices included the so-called Flowery Wars intended not to kill the enemy but rather to obtain slaves and live war captives for sacrifices. This practice served to subjugate their neighbors and send a political message to both their own citizens as well as foreign leaders. A recent cross-cultural study by Watts et al. (2016) argued that human sacrifice also propped up and supported the elite class structure. But Pennock (2011) argues that to simply write off Aztecs as bloodthirsty and uncivilized mass murderers misses the central purpose of human sacrifice in Aztec society: as a deeply held belief system and part of the requirements for the renewal, sustaining and refreshing of life. Forms of Aztec Sacrifices Chac-Mool (divine messenger bearing offerings) in stone with traces of colour, Sanctuary of Tlaloc, Templo Mayor, Tenochtitlan (Mexico City), Mexico. Aztec civilization, ca 1390 CE. De Agostino / G. Dagli Orti / De Agostini Picture Library / Getty Images Plus Human sacrifice among the Aztec usually involved death by heart extraction. The victims were chosen carefully according to their physical characteristics and how they related to the gods to whom they would be sacrificed. Some gods were honored with brave war captives, other with slaves. Men, women, and children were sacrificed, according to the requirements. Children were specially chosen to be sacrificed to Tlaloc, the rain god. The Aztecs believed that the tears of newborn or very young children could ensure rain. The most important place where sacrifices took place was the Huey Teocalli at the Templo Mayor (Great Temple) of Tenochtitlan. Here a specialist priest removed the heart from the victim and threw the body down the steps of the pyramid; and the victims head was cut off and placed on the tzompantli, or skull rack. Mock Battles and Flowery Wars However, not all sacrifices took place on top of pyramids. In some cases, mock-battles were organized between the victim and a priest, in which the priest fought with real weapons and the victim, tied to a stone or a wooden frame, fought with wooden or feathered ones. Children sacrificed to Tlaloc were often carried to the god’s sanctuaries on top of the mountains that surround Tenochtitlan and the Basin of Mexico in order to be offered to the god. The chosen victim would be treated as a personification on earth of the god until the sacrifice took place. The preparation and purification rituals often lasted more than one year, and during this period the victim was taken care of, fed, and honored by servants. The Sun Stone of Motecuhzoma Ilhuicamina (or Montezuma I, who ruled between 1440-1469) is an enormous carved monument discovered at the Templo Mayor in 1978. It features elaborate carvings of 11 enemy city-states and likely served as a gladiatorial stone, a dramatic platform for gladiatorial combat between Mexica warriors and captives. Most ritual killings were practiced by religious specialists, but Aztec rulers themselves often took part in the dramatic ritual sacrifices such as the dedication of Tenochtitlans Templo Mayor in 1487. Ritual human sacrifice also took place during elite feasting, as part of a display of power and material wealth. Categories of Human Sacrifice Mexican archaeologist Alfredo Là ³pez Austin (1988) described four types of Aztec sacrifice: images, beds, owners of skin, and payments. Images (or ixpitla) are sacrifices in which the victim was costumed as a particular god, becoming transformed into the deity at a magic ritual time. These sacrifices repeated the ancient mythical time when a god died so his force would be reborn, and the death of the human-god impersonators allowed the rebirth of the god. The second category was what Là ³pez Austin called the beds of the gods, referring to retainers, those victims killed in order to accompany an elite personage to the underworld. The owners of skins sacrifice is that associated with Xipe Totec, those victims whose skins were removed and worn as costumes in rituals. These rituals also provided body part war trophies, in which the warriors who captured the victim were awarded a femur to display at home. Human Remains as Evidence Apart from the Spanish and indigenous texts describing rituals involving human sacrifice, there is also ample archaeological evidence for the practice. Recent investigations at the Templo Mayor have identified the burials of high-ranking personages who were ritually buried following cremation. But the majority of human remains found in Tenochtitlan excavations were sacrificed individuals, some beheaded and some with their throats cut. One offering at the Templo Mayor (#48) contained the remains of approximately 45 children sacrificed to  Tlaloc. Another at  Tlatelolcos Temple R, dedicated to the Aztec god of the rain, Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl, contained 37 children and six adults. This sacrifice was carried out at Temple Rs dedication during the great drought and famine of 1454–1457 CE. The Tlatelolco project has identified thousands of human burials which were ritually deposited or sacrificially offered. In addition, evidence of human blood residue at the House of the Eagles in Tenochtitlans ceremonial precinct indicates bloodletting activities. Là ³pez Austins fourth category was sacrificial debt payments. These types of sacrifices are epitomized by the creation myth of Quetzalcoatl (the Feathered Serpent) and Tezcatlipoca (Smoking Mirror) who transformed into serpents and tore apart the earth goddess, Tlaltecuhtli, angering the rest of the Aztec pantheon. To make amends, the Aztecs needed to feed Tlaltecuhtlis endless hunger with human sacrifices, thereby staving off total destruction. How Many? According to some Spanish records, 80,400 people were slaughtered at the dedication of the Templo Mayor, a number likely exaggerated by either the Aztecs or the Spanish, both of whom had reason to inflate the numbers. The number 400 had a significance to Aztec society, meaning something like too many to count or the biblical notion involved in the word legion. There is no doubt that an unusually high number of sacrifices did occur, and 80,400 could be construed to mean 201 times too many to count. Based on the Florentine codex, scheduled rituals included a figure of around 500 victims a year; if those rituals were conducted in each of the calpulli districts of the city, that would be multiplied by 20. Pennock argues persuasively for an annual number of victims in Tenochtitlan of between 1,000 and 20,000. Edited and updated by K. Kris Hirst Sources Ball, Tanya Corissa. The Power of Death: Hierarchy in the Representation of Death in Pre- and Post-Conquest Aztec Codices. Multilingual Discourses 1.2 (2014): 1–34. Print.Berdan, Frances F. Aztec Archaeology and Ethnohistory. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2014. Print.Boone, Elizabeth Hill, and Rochelle Collins. The Petroglyphic Prayers on the Sun Stone of Motecuhzoma Ilhuicamina. Ancient Mesoamerica 24.2 (2013): 225–41. Print.De Lucia, Kristin. Everyday Practice and Ritual Space: The Organization of Domestic Ritual in Pre-Aztec Xaltocan, Mexico. Cambridge Archaeological Journal 24.03 (2014): 379–403. Print.Klein, Cecelia F. Gender Ambiguity and the Toxcatl Sacrifice. Tezcatlipoca: Trickster and Supreme Deity. Ed. Baquedano, Elizabeth. Boulder: University Press of Colorado, 2014. 135–62. Print.Là ³pez Austin, Alfredo. The Human Body and Ideology: Concepts of the Ancient Nahuas. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1988.Pennock, Caroline Dodds. Mass Murder or Religious Homicide? Rethinking Human Sacrifice and Interpersonal Violence in Aztec Society. Historical Social Research / Historische Sozialforschung 37.3 (141) (2012): 276–302. Print. Schwartz, Glenn M. The Archaeological Study of Sacrifice. Annual Review of Anthropology 46.1 (2017): 223–40. Print.Watts, Joseph, et al. Ritual Human Sacrifice Promoted and Sustained the Evolution of Stratified Societies. Nature 532.7598 (2016): 228–31. Print.

Community Based Corrections

Community Based Corrections The annotated bibliography on impacts of community based corrections on the criminal justice system covers the issues discussed below.Advertising We will write a custom annotated bibliography sample on Community Based Corrections specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Thesis Statement The proponents of community based corrections argue that there is need to find an alternative to imprisonment of nonviolent offenders which is low cost given the financial constraint the federal government is facing and the increasing jails populations. This alternative to incarceration has been widely adopted in United States of America and other countries in the world. This can be attributed to its ability to punish, rehabilitate, reintegrate and counsel convicted offenders. The results are safer and more productive communities. Therefore, community based correction programs have had positive impacts hence its wide adoption. Introduction Community based corr ections in the criminal justice system are programs that offer an alternative to jail term for convicted offenders. This is based on the fact that convicted offenders will eventually return into the community and therefore the need to repair the damage done to victims of crime and reform the offender in order to reduce the risk of re-offending potential. The proponents also believe that only a small percentage of these crimes committed necessitate capital punishment or incarceration. The petty offenders can also be punished using more humane and productive modes that consume fewer resources. The history of community based corrections The roots of community corrections shall be discussed. Criminal justice was seen as a harsh system especially to minor offenders. In the Nineteenth century judges had powers to delay sentences to offenders as long as they continued to behave well. This was eventually adopted and developed to incorporate a variety of community based sanctions. Administra tion of community based correction programs This part discusses the roles, positions and assumptions on which the criminal justice system is operated and how community corrections fit correctional goals. The actors in the community based corrections are also discussed and their roles in the criminal justice system The future of the community based corrections shall be discussed The role of community based corrections at the three major decision points After the arrest of an offender community based corrections play a crucial role at the decision points. The three decision points which are bail, sentencing and reentry will be discussed in details.Advertising Looking for annotated bibliography on criminal law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The goals of community based corrections The main goals of community based corrections are punishing the offenders while at the same time ensuring the safety of the public, addre ssing victim’s needs and curbing future acts of crime. This is done through various ways which will be discussed in the paper. Conclusion This part will cover the summary of the major topics discussed in the paper. Annotated bibliography Alarid, L.F., Cromwell, P.F., Carmen, R.V. (2007). Community-Based Corrections. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning. Community based corrections in the criminal justice system generally refer to an alternative mode of punishment for convicted offenders of non-violent and petty offenses. This has been popularized by the belief that convicted offenders need a form of correction that reintegrates them into the society and the need to use scarce government resources in a productive way. Alarid, Cromwell and Carmen (2007) in their book Community-Based Corrections gives in detail an in depth look into community based corrections including their goals and assumptions they are bases on, the three major decision points in which the system takes and their go als. This book also goes on to introduce the history of parole and reentry of prisoners into the society after parole and how community-based corrections can be incorporated into juvenile justice. Clear, T.R., Cole, G.F., Reisig, M.D. (2008). American Corrections. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning. Probation and community correction practice and procedure in America is discussed by Clear, Cole and Reisig (2008) in their book American Corrections. This traces the history of corrections programs from their introduction to development in America and how they are implemented today. This text also gives the legal aspects of probation, community corrections and the intermediate sanctions used in justice system in America. Colorado Legislative Council. (2003). An Overview of Community-Based Corrections in Colorado. Web. An overview of the community based corrections practice in the state of Colorado is given by a research publication by the Colorado Legislative Council (2003), Criminal Justice Community Based Corrections Overview 2003. An Overview of Community-Based Corrections in Colorado. This mainly gives a comparison of the correctional supervision across United States.  It continues to discuss in details the probation practice in the state, community correction programs in the state and how parole is carried out and the stakeholders involved. Conly, C. (1999). Coordinating Community Services for the Mentally Ill Offenders  Maryland’s Community Criminal Justice Treatment Program. Web. Conly (1999) in a report, Coordinating Community Services for the Mentally Ill Offenders: Maryland’s Community Criminal Justice Treatment program, produced for the Institute of Justice discusses Maryland state community criminal justice treatment programs in regard to the mentally ill offenders. She discusses in detail how these programs are carried out in the state, the target population and the stakeholders involved and their contribution.Advertising We will write a custom annotated bibliography sample on Community Based Corrections specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Cromwel, P. Carmen, R.V. (1999). Community Based Corrections. Belmont, CA: West Wadsworth. Community based corrections are discussed in detail by Cromwel and Carmen, (1999) in their book Community-Based Corrections Fourth Edition. They discuss the legal foundations and history of probation from early criminal law in Europe and America to what it is today. Issues regarding parole practice and the various methods of community based corrections are discussed such as boot camps and community service. Gibbons, S.G. Rosecrance, J. (2004). Probation, Parole, and Community Corrections  in the United States. Denver, CO:  Pearson/Allyn and Bacon. Rosecrance, a veteran with over twenty years of experience in probation and corrections in the system shares his opinions and experiences with Gibbons (2004) in the book Probation, Parole, and Co mmunity Corrections in the United States. The text discusses the history of probation and parole and their founding champions. It also details the three topics of probation, parole and community corrections giving practical experiences the authors have witnessed. It also gives recommendations for implementation to make the systems more effective. Lurigio, A.J. (ed) (1996). Community Corrections in America: New Directions and  Sounder Investments for Persons with Mental Illness and Co-disorders. Rear, Collingdale, PA: Diane Publishing. Community based corrections in regard to the mentally ill offenders is outlined in a monograph Community Corrections in America: New Directions and Sounder Investments for Persons with mental Illness and Co-disorders by Lurigio (Ed) (1996).. This describes how the punitive measures of the traditional criminal justice system affected the mentally ill and how the community corrections programs are administered in regard to the mentally ill today and th e positive effects this has had. Molly, A. (2003). Community-based Corrections: Seeking Court Support for a  Growing Need. Washington DC: US Judicially. Community based corrections are also discussed by Molly, (2003) in an article titled Community Corrections: Seeking Court Support for a Growing Need. The author gives an overview of the topic and the growing need to adopt this alternative in USA not only due to the growing budget but also to serve the goal of correction better. Finally the author proposes that courts play a big role in facilitating community corrections. Ortmeier, P.J. (1999). Public Safety and Security Administration. Oxford, UK: Butterworth Heinemann. In another discussion by Ortmeier in his book Public Safety and Security Administration, (1999), chapter six, he outlines the correctional process, the philosophies it is based on. He continues to differentiate between institutional corrections and non institutional corrections and how juvenile justice is handled i n regard to community based corrections. Sieh, E.W. (2006). Community Corrections and Human Dignity. Burlington, MA: Jones and Hartlett Publishers. In the book Community Corrections and Human Dignity, Sieh (2006) discusses community based corrections with regard to human dignity. The book also goes into detailed discussion of probation from how it started to how it is implemented today and the risks, needs and responses involved. It also links community corrections with human dignity and the alternatives we should consider for the future. References Alarid, L. F., Cromwell, P. F. Carmen, R.V. (2007). Community-Based Corrections. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.Advertising Looking for annotated bibliography on criminal law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Clear, T. R., Cole, G. F. Reisig, M. D. (2008). American Corrections. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning. Colorado Legislative Council. (2003). An Overview of Community-Based Corrections in Colorado. Web. Conly, C. (1999). Coordinating Community Services for the Mentally Ill Offenders  Maryland’s Community Criminal Justice Treatment Program. Web. Cromwel, P. and Carmen, R. V. (1999). Community Based Corrections. Belmont, CA: West Wadsworth. Gibbons, S. G. Rosecrance, J. (2004). Probation, Parole, and Community Corrections  in the United States. Denver, CO:  Pearson/Allyn and Bacon. Lurigio, A. J. (ed) (1996). Community Corrections in America: New Directions and  Sounder Investments for Persons with Mental Illness and Co-disorders. Rear, Collingdale, PA: Diane Publishing. Molly, A. (2003). Community-based Corrections: Seeking Court Support for a  Growing Need. Washington DC: US Judicially. Ortmeier, P. J. (1999). Public Safety and Security Administration. Oxford, UK: But terworth Heinemann. Sieh, E. W. (2006). Community Corrections and Human Dignity. Burlington, MA: Jones and Hartlett Publishers.

Jerusalem Jerusalem and Israel Museum Essay

Jerusalem Jerusalem and Israel Museum Essay Jerusalem: Jerusalem and Israel Museum Essay Jerusalem. Filled with facts and religion. Jerusalem is a place many people have fought over. It seems to be the one focal point for many religions. I am going to talk about the main places in Jerusalem you may visit in your lifetime, and the times you might visit them. Judaism The Western Wall. The builders of the Western Wall could never have imagined that one day their most humble creation would become the most important religious symbol for the Jewish people. Indeed, when it was built some 2000 years ago it was only a retaining wall supporting the outer part of the Temple Mount, upon which stood the Second Temple. (The Second Temple was constructed around 520 BC.) Many Jews come to celebrate their Bar Mitzvah. The Hurva Synagogue The debris of the Hurva Synagogue are on the west side of Hurva Square in the Jewish Quarter. Very little is left of the synagogue except for a striking, slender arch. Erected in 1977, the arch is 13m high and spans what was the central hall. The ruins have been made safe for visitors to wander around and information boards help them imagine the great edifice that once stood here. Israel Museum Opened in May 1965, the Israel Museum is a world-class museum and an outstanding example of modern Israeli architecture. The most popular part of the Israel Museum is the Shrine of the Book, with its distinctive onion-shaped top. The roof was designed by American architects Kiesler and Bartos to resemble the jar covers in which the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947. Inside, a long, subtly lit passageway, designed to bring to mind the environment in which the scrolls were found, has an everlasting exhibition on life in Qumran when the scrolls were written. Christianity The Church Of The Holy Sepilchre Inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre visitors will find the place where the Virgin Mary received her son's body. This spot, marking the thirteenth post on Christ's journey to his death, symbolically features a statue of Mary with a silver dagger wedged into her chest. Christ's tomb marks the fourteenth and last post on the Via Dolorosa, and features a massive marble structure believed to be Jesus' original tomb. The Church Of St John The Bapsist Nested in the hills of Ein Kerem, visitors to the church of St. John will also enjoy its picturesque surroundings. Ein Kerem is known for its charming winding streets, artisan stores and homely cafes. Two other churches are within walking distance of St. John's church, and are well worth a visit when on a Christian tour to Israel. The birth and life of Saint John the Baptist appear in the Gospel of Luke, where his family lineage and prophetic abilities are professed. It is in the Gospel of Luke that reference is made to John's birthplace in Jerusalem. Church Of All Nations Sometimes referred to as the Basilica of Agony, the Church of All Nations is situated at the feet of the Mount of Olives. It is believed to be the place where Jesus was last seen praying before he was betrayed by Judas and captured by the Romans. The Garden

Family Variations and Implications to Children Essay

Family Variations and Implications to Children - Essay Example In contemporary communities such as in the U.K, racial variations, economic factors and family structures portray great influences on behaviors that are adopted by children in different backgrounds, which are also affected by social and economic status of families. Therefore, economic, social, and cultural background of a family has a great impact on the behaviors and the upbringing of a child in the community. Children from single parenting portray different characteristics from children with two parents, with the gender of the child being a factor in determining how the family structure and relationships affects children in particular families. Wright & Chrysalis (2007, 16) argue that the rapidly changing family dynamics result in varying characteristics and behaviors in children, indicating that the structure of a family has a direct impact on the upbringing of a child. Therefore, children adopt behaviors and characteristics that mirror the family cultural and economic backgrounds , and family structures in the society. In this report, the various effects of family structures and their effects on children influenced by the social, economic, and cultural factors will be investigated. Berthoud (2) further notes that in black families, the issue of extended family is more profound, and may include grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, among others. Generally, research in most U.K families portray most traditional family structures are more stable compared to the current marriage structures, which include single parenting and cohabitation forms of marriages (Mooney, Oliver & Smith 2009, 3). Children in stable marriages portray healthy and stable development psychologically, mentally and are in most cases protected from vices experienced by children in the other two forms of marriages (Mooney, Oliver & Smith 2009, 3). Such children are likely to be morally responsible according stable upbringing, or the favorable atmosphere in these families; they have to learn th eir cultural orientations and the expected code of behaviors in the society. These family structures lead to enhanced bonding among the family members that protect children from the effects and influence of cohabitation and single parenting marriages. Hollist & McBroom (2006) in a research study indicated that children from single parent households report poor academic performance, psychological, and social behaviors, which may include early school dropout, risky sexual behaviors, drug abuse, and juvenile delinquency, among others. However, when economic considerations are taken in place, families with two parents and in higher income bracket were found to fair the same with parents with single parenting (Berthoud, 2). This implies that family income in families makes a huge different in portraying variations in children upbringing. However, similar studies on variation of children brought up in different households and their academic performance portrayed no significant difference. Curtis (2007) argues that in U.K, children from low income families are half as likely to attain good grades in their GCSEs, compared to their counterparts in high income families. Curtis further elaborates that these children are more vulnerable in the community, and their probability to leave these schools with better qualifications compared to their counterparts in well off families, with this gap between children in the two social groups widening over time. Curtis further

HomeLand Security Strategies Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

HomeLand Security Strategies - Research Paper Example This reaffirms that America is committed to pursue its interests by the use of an international system where all countries have specific rights and responsibilities. The paper will discuss the homeland security strategies focused on the safety and security of the citizens of America. This is attributed to the fact that there have been enormous threats to American citizens than weapons of mass destruction, especially the danger posed by the pursuit of nuclear weapons by violent extremists and their proliferation to neighboring states. As noted by Reddick (2010) the National Security Strategy which was released in May, 27 2010 rolled out a strategic approach for the advancing American interests including the security of the American citizens, improving American economy, and supports their values, as well as an international order that tackles the challenges of the 21st century. The strategies include: Defeating terrorism globally After the September 9/11, terrorism attacks the United S tates has made significant steps in ensuring the safety of the nation. It formed the foundation of Department of Homeland Security (DHS), whose functions took a new organization and urgency. Their approaches now included: restricting hostile actors the capability to operate within the American borders; shared efforts to determine and interdict threats; maintaining effective control of our physical borders; ensuring national resilience in the face of the hazards and threats; safeguarding lawful trade and travel into and out of United States of America. The DHS and many of its partners locally, regionally, and internationally as well as the communities have strengthened the homeland security enterprise to mitigate and defend against dynamic threats. Their core strategic objectives include: comprehending the threat, deterring and disrupting operations, protecting against terrorist capabilities, stopping the spread of violent extremism, and increasing community participation in order to deter terrorists and alleviate radicalization towards violence. According to DHS (2012) it reported that its efforts to prevent terrorism are centered on a layered risk-based approach to the security in the cargo and passenger systems of transportation, borders, and ports of entry.   It consists of new technologies to: help detect explosives and other dangerous weapons; aid in the protection of critical infrastructure and cyber networks from attack; build partnerships in information sharing. According to Guiora (2011) found out that DHS works in corporation with many partners in countering violent extremists. These extremists cause a great threat to national security. The DHS has initiated the following programs to counter violent extremists: international partnerships with other countries like Canada, Spain, Belgium, and Germany; conducting joint workshops and conferences of law enforcement agents; and provision of grants to the support of law enforcement efforts. Terrorist acti vities that may occur due to explosives are cut out by DHS’s work through enhancing the counter-IED capabilities of the nation and reduce the threat of explosive attack. Moreover, terrorist activities are prevented through: building of the homeland security enterprise which has fusion centers, nationwide suspicion activity reporting initiative, presence of homeland security

How can we blame fast food for obesity When it is individual Research Paper

How can we blame fast food for obesity When it is individual responsibility - Research Paper Example Obesity has the cause of many problems that deal with the heart and blood circulation. The results of the same issue are because of personal choice. Many awareness campaigns have been run across the societies on the impacts or advantages of certain foods yet people indulge in foods that lead to accumulation of fats and obesity. Obesity can be through by different factors like; economic factors, social factors and personal factors. Economically, the cost of fast foods is lower as compared to the cost of healthier foods. Socially, many people are lazier, and they hope for the rapid foods instead of food that take longer to cook. In personal perception, an individual should be core owner of his/ her health and must be discipline and choose the right food for a healthier body not only choosing what tastes sweet. As a matter of concern, obesity has been on the rise, especially in the low-class households in the country. These families live in the suburbs where getting fresh fruits or vegetables is outdated, or if they happen to come by, they are sold at a very high cost. It has forced these people depend on fast foods at a larger ratio since they are cheap and easily found around. In addition, parents who work extra hours tend to feed their children on the fast foods as they reach home exhausted and have no tim e to prepare healthy meals (Scholar). Availability of unhealthy foods in the supermarkets and fast food industries is evident due to increased cases of increased waistlines, weight gain and obesity. Making the blame on the food production faithful, because it makes its products cheap and readily available (Steven). Also advertise their products in almost all corners of the media, be it audio or in video. The blame has not stopped the fast food industry from their line of duty because they said that they supply what their clients demand, and they believe that your health your responsibility. No one forces you to

Customer involvement in new product development Essay

Customer involvement in new product development - Essay Example 84). At the end of the day when the products are introduced to the market it is the customers who will buy them. This is the reason as to why some marketing professionals have the assertion that customer contribution can be of high importance to the process of introducing a new product (Hesselbach & Herrmann 2011, p. 207). Some people disagree with this assertion with claims that customers cannot really know if they want something that does not exist already. The purpose of this report is to enhance the understanding on the role that customers can play in the product development process. By the use of marketing theory, practice, and other marketing concepts this reports will prove just how important customer contribution can be to the development process of new products. It is important for a business organization to know that improving the relationship between them and the customers should go beyond just the economic relationship of buyers and sellers. The main aim of all organizations in the business world is to get a competitive advantage that cannot be undone. The ways through which they can be able to get such an advantage is through making sure that their products are valuable, rare, un-substitutable and un-imitable. Developing such a product is in no way something that can be considered a walk in the park. If in any case a product is to become valuable it is the customers who have to value it if in any case it has to do well in the market (Sandmeier 2008, p. 56). Therefore, it will be important for a business organization to know exactly what their targeted market values (Foss 2012, p. 129). By knowing what they value the company can also come up with a product that is not substitutable because they will be able to add the values that the oth er products that are already in the market are missing. In the process of developing and introducing a new product to the market, there is always some uncertainty. The

The influence of media (such as video games, violent television, etc.) Term Paper

The influence of media (such as video games, violent television, etc.) on children - Term Paper Example Our children are being raised in an increasingly media dependent world. From the day they are born we use the silencing melodies from the radio to hush them to sleep. As toddlers and preschoolers we rely on television to help us teach them their basic counting and reading skills. Once they hit grade school, television is one way by which we hope to keep them occupied long enough for us to get other work done around the house before helping them with their studies and assignments. We get them on the internet in order to do research that is necessary for the completion of their homework. They stay in touch with their group study and class project team mates via twitter and Facebook. Obviously mass media has become a very important tool in the mental and social development of our children. The question is, how much of this influence that we allow them to be exposed to is positive? And when does it cross the line towards the negative? We have to admit that media is something that we can no longer do without in our lives. It is the greatest mover, shaker, and shaper of our cultural values and social identities. The impact of media over our lifestyle can easily be seen in the way our attitudes and beliefs change over time. This is also a change that is reflected in the way our children are growing up. (Oak, â€Å"Positive Effects of Media†). Experts have coined the term â€Å"Viewtrition† in order to describe the method by which parents should oversee the quality of the television that their children are watching ( Durrani, â€Å"TV Is Positive Influence On Child Development†). When questioned as to whether television delivered any positive impact on their childs lives, parents responded that: â€Å"Despite the negativity often associated with children watching TV, eight out of 10 parents questioned believed it has a positive effect on their childs development, including

Democracy Promotion for Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism Essay

Democracy Promotion for Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism - Essay Example Realism believes that democracy promotion is suspicious because states cannot be certain of the true intentions of democracy-promoting states and because the existence of a democratic international system is impossible (â€Å"Realism Introduction† 8, 15). Realism does not think that democracy can be trusted because it is someone else’s democracy. The U.S. is not only projecting values because its democracy promotion is projecting U.S. power too. At the same time, promoting democracy internationally is hardly attainable because there is no government authority that can enforce an international form of democracy (â€Å"Realism Introduction† 8). In particular, if the U.S. promotes democracy in the Middle East, and the projection of values can undermine the power structures in autocratic states, the latter would want to reduce American influence on cultural values and political systems. Others might create alliances to engage in war with more democratic states. The r esult could be violent conflicts where weak autocratic states attack weaker autocratic or more democratic states, in an attempt to block America’s democracy promotion in the region. Liberalism promotes democracy that could lead to a strong, economically-interdependent international society. Economic liberalism believes that trade and economic interdependence can build peace (â€Å"Liberalism Introduction† 6). U.S. democratic values that positively impact the motivation for regional and international economic agreements for involved states are needed to establishing interdependency.

Customer involvement in new product development Essay

Customer involvement in new product development - Essay Example 84). At the end of the day when the products are introduced to the market it is the customers who will buy them. This is the reason as to why some marketing professionals have the assertion that customer contribution can be of high importance to the process of introducing a new product (Hesselbach & Herrmann 2011, p. 207). Some people disagree with this assertion with claims that customers cannot really know if they want something that does not exist already. The purpose of this report is to enhance the understanding on the role that customers can play in the product development process. By the use of marketing theory, practice, and other marketing concepts this reports will prove just how important customer contribution can be to the development process of new products. It is important for a business organization to know that improving the relationship between them and the customers should go beyond just the economic relationship of buyers and sellers. The main aim of all organizations in the business world is to get a competitive advantage that cannot be undone. The ways through which they can be able to get such an advantage is through making sure that their products are valuable, rare, un-substitutable and un-imitable. Developing such a product is in no way something that can be considered a walk in the park. If in any case a product is to become valuable it is the customers who have to value it if in any case it has to do well in the market (Sandmeier 2008, p. 56). Therefore, it will be important for a business organization to know exactly what their targeted market values (Foss 2012, p. 129). By knowing what they value the company can also come up with a product that is not substitutable because they will be able to add the values that the oth er products that are already in the market are missing. In the process of developing and introducing a new product to the market, there is always some uncertainty. The

Democracy Promotion for Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism Essay

Democracy Promotion for Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism - Essay Example Realism believes that democracy promotion is suspicious because states cannot be certain of the true intentions of democracy-promoting states and because the existence of a democratic international system is impossible (â€Å"Realism Introduction† 8, 15). Realism does not think that democracy can be trusted because it is someone else’s democracy. The U.S. is not only projecting values because its democracy promotion is projecting U.S. power too. At the same time, promoting democracy internationally is hardly attainable because there is no government authority that can enforce an international form of democracy (â€Å"Realism Introduction† 8). In particular, if the U.S. promotes democracy in the Middle East, and the projection of values can undermine the power structures in autocratic states, the latter would want to reduce American influence on cultural values and political systems. Others might create alliances to engage in war with more democratic states. The r esult could be violent conflicts where weak autocratic states attack weaker autocratic or more democratic states, in an attempt to block America’s democracy promotion in the region. Liberalism promotes democracy that could lead to a strong, economically-interdependent international society. Economic liberalism believes that trade and economic interdependence can build peace (â€Å"Liberalism Introduction† 6). U.S. democratic values that positively impact the motivation for regional and international economic agreements for involved states are needed to establishing interdependency.

Global Warming - Persuasive Essay Essay Example for Free

Global Warming Persuasive Essay Essay The United States of America constitute four percent of the worlds population, yet produce one-fourth of the worlds carbon dioxide (Arbitrage 2005). It has been controversial if carbon dioxide is causing to rise the worlds temperature with long-term destruction to the environment or not. This research involves trying to find out if in fact global warming is happening or not. There are climate research findings which state global warming is happening, and there are also findings that this man-caused climate change is not evident. To the layman person, the conflicted issue can be rather confusing. The goal of this paper is to show which argument is stronger. International Climate Science Coalition (ICSC), the interest group which focuses on publicizing the consequences of ill-advised ideas of global warming. Its goal is to create awareness about rational discussion about climate changes, in so doing, moving the debate away from implementation of costly, dangerous, and ineffectual energy sources such as wind turbines, solar power, and biofuels. The core principles consist of ten criteria; however, these core principles can be overthrown with scientific discoveries by global warming activists such as EDF. The interest group, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), focuses on preserving the natural systems on which all life depends. Its mission is to find practical and lasting solution to the most serious environmental problems. ICSC (global warming skeptic) states the first core principle as following. 1.) Global climate is always changing in accordance with natural causes and recent changes are not unusual. To answer the Regarding the climate change issue, EDF stated that humans are causing global warming by two main actions burning fossil fuels and deforestation which causes large amounts of carbon dioxide to be released in the atmosphere and act as a greenhouse. The second core principle is 2.) Science is rapidly evolving away from the view that humanitys emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are a cause of dangerous climate change. EDF disputes, as the earths atmosphere plays a great role in the climate for an example the earth and the moon is the same distance from the sun but they both have drastic differences in temperature. Greenhouse gases are what keep the earth habitable because it acts like a giant blanket the more greenhouse gasses the hotter the earth becomes. The third core  principle is 3.) Climate models used by the IPCC, United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, fail to reproduce known past climates without manipulation and therefore l ack the scientific integrity needed for use in climate prediction and related policy decision-making. EDF defends that the EDF is not the only interest group that is supporting climate change for an example the IPCC has done research involving climate change without the use of manipulation. The IPCC has also made an assessment report on the reliability of their climate models stating the reliability of their conclusion. The fourth core principle is 4.) The UN IPCC Summary for Policymakers and the assertions of IPCC executives too often seriously misrepresent the conclusions of their own scientific reports. EDF states the IPCC once again made assessments of their own scientific reports reducing their misrepresentation of their conclusions. The fifth core principle is 5.) Claims that consensus exists among climate experts regarding the causes of the modest warning of the past century are contradicted by thousands of independent scientists. EDF declares International Climate Science Coalition (ICSC) has stated that many independent scientist debunked the fact that many scientist have a consensus on views but this is generally untrue because according to the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) ninety-seven percent of the climate scientists agree that climate warming trends over the past century are very likely due to human activities, and most of the leading scientific organizations worldwide have issued public statements endorsing this position. The following is a partial list of American scientific societies who gave statements on climate change: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Chemical Society, American Geophysical Union, American Medical Association, American Meteorological Society, American Physical Society, and The Geological Society of America. The sixth core principle is 6.) Carbon dioxide is not a pollutant it is a necessary in plant photosynthesis and so is essential for life on earth. EDF came back with the ICSC has also stated that carbon dioxide is beneficial and It is true that carbon dioxide is a necessary factor as it is essential for life on earth but excessive carbon dioxide can disturb the balance of the greenhouse gasses which is harmful in great amounts. The seventh core principle is 7.) Research that identifies the Sun as a major driver of global climate change must be taken more seriously. EDF  argued the sun is a major driver of global climate change in the sense that i t is what gives us heat it is the atmosphere that regulates temperature it is important to keep our environment steady and it is taken extremely seriously. The eighth core principle is 8. ) Global cooling has presented serious problems for human society and the environment throughout history while global warming has generally been highly beneficial. EDFs argument was that due to global warming many travesties like Drought, insect overpopulation, disease spread, rising sea levels and weather related disasters have occurred. The ninth core principle is 9.) It is not possible to reliably predict how climate will change in the future, beyond the certainty that multi-decadal warming and cooling trends, and abrupt changes, will all continue, underscoring a need for effective adaptation. EDFs answer was it is impossible to reliably predict how the climate will change in the future but you cannot deny the evidence that the earth is progressively heating at a rapid level. EDF also states that scientists are almost certain that the humans are the utmost cause of global warming. The tenth core principle is 10.) Since science and observation have failed to substantiate the human-caused climate change hypothesis, it is premature to damage national economies with carbon taxes, emissions trading or other schemes to control greenhouse gas emissions. EDF, once again, stated the ICSC states that carbon tax will just destroy the economy but carbon tax will decrease the use of fossil fuels which may be a limited source and will help organizations efforts to decrease greenhouse gasses. The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which COMMITS its Parties by setting internationally binding emission reduction targets. From United Nation web: http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.php

Types Of Retail Formats In India

Types Of Retail Formats In India In this term paper we study about different retail formats prevailing in India and various ownership styles followed by these retail stores and after discussing all the aspects we find out that which ownership style is efficient for retailers and is suitable for coming retailers and also has future growth. We find out franchises is best form of ownership. It converted mom-pop stores into organized form by providing franchises to the owners of the stores. TYPES OF RETAIL FORMATS IN INDIA India is growing at a great pace and the retail sector is also developing with it. Big Indian business houses are entering into retail sector and are adopting various retail formats for their business which are best suited to them. We can divide Indian retail market in three forms which are mentioned below: Store Retailers Non-store retailers Service retailers STORE RETAIL FORMATS: Mom-and-pop Store These are family owned stores which provide small quantity of merchandise or goods to the customers. They are individually run and target the smaller sections of the  society. These stores provide high standard services. They provide home delivery and credit facility without any interest to its customers. Convenience Store Convenience is offered in a lot of ways to the customers through easily accessible store locations and small store size that allows the customers to do quick shopping and fast checkout. The product selection offered by these retailers is very limited and the price of the products can be high. Supermarkets Supermarket is another popular retail format in India. A supermarket is a grocery store which deals in food and household goods. They offer a fairly huge range of products and self service. People usually go to the supermarkets to buy goods in large quantities so that they can stock those goods for later consumption. They provide products for reasonable prices and of medium to high quality. Department Store Department stores are classified as general merchandisers. Some carry a more selective product line. For instance, while Sears carries a wide range of products from hardware to cosmetics, Nordstrom focuses their products on clothing and personal care products. Category Killers The specialty stores are called Category Killers. These stores are specialized in their fields and they offer only one category of products. The most popular examples of category killers include wall-mart and electronic stores like Best Buy and sports accessories stores like Sports Authority. Discount Stores Discount stores offer price reduction Discount stores offer price reduction Discount stores offer product at lower price than market price. The main reason behind this low price is the additional stock left over towards the end of any season. Discount stores sell their goods at a reduced rate with an aim of drawing bargain shoppers. Mass Discounters These are general and specialty store that provide huge discounts on their merchandise to finish block stock and its small difference between discount stores and mass discounters is that it provide lesser services to customers. Warehouse Stores These are the type of mass discounters that provide comparatively less price than the traditional mass discounters. Moreover, these stores often requires the buyers to make the purchases in quantities that are greater than what can be purchased at mass discount stores. These retail outlets provide few services and product selection can be limited. The retail design and layout is as the name suggests that is warehouse style with consumers often selecting products off the ground from the shipping package. Some forms of warehouse stores called warehouse clubs require customers to purchase memberships in order to gain access to the outlet. Street vendors The Street Vendors or hawkers who sell products on the streets are quite popular in India. They try to attract the customers attention through shouting out about their product mix. Street vendors are found in almost every city in India and the business capital of Mumbai has a number of shopping areas which are comprised mainly of street vendors. These hawkers not only sell just clothes and accessories but also local food. Kiosks Kiosks are box-like shops which sell small and cheap items like cigarettes, toffees, newspapers and magazines, water packets, tea and coffee. These are most commonly found on every street in a city and target primarily to the local residents. Hypermarkets Hypermarkets in India are a combination of supermarket and department store. These are large retailers that provide all kinds of groceries and general goods. Big Bazaar and Reliance Fresh are hypermarkets that attract enormous crowds. Malls Malls are the largest retail format in India Malls are the largest retail format in India These are the largest retail format in India. Malls provide everything that a person wants to buy under one roof. From clothes and accessories to food or cinemas, malls provide all of this, and more. Examples include Spencers Plaza in Chennai, India, Alpha one in Amritsar and Viva collage in Jalandhar . NON-STORE RETAIL FORMATS: Catalog Retailers Retailers such as Lands End and LL Bean have built their business by having customers place orders after seeing products that appear in a mailed catalog. Orders are then delivered by a third-party shipper. E-retailers Possibly the most publicized retail model to evolve in the last 50 years is the Retailer that principally sells via the Internet. There are thousands of online-only retail sellers of which Amazon.com is the most famous. These retailers offer shopping convenience including being open for business all day, every day. Electronic retailers or e-tailers also have the ability to offer a wide selection of product since all they really need in order to attract orders is a picture and description of the product. That is, they may not need to have the product on-hand the way physical stores do. Instead an e-tailer can wait until an order is received from their customers before placing their own order with their suppliers. This cuts down significantly on the cost of maintaining products in-stock. Vending Vending machines is a automatic machine from where we can purchase items like coldrinks, chocolates by throughing coins in it.While most consumers are well aware of vending machines allowing customers but newer devices are entering the market containing more expensive and bulkier products. These systems require the vending machine have either Internet or telecommunications access to permit purchase using credit cards. SERVICE RETAILERS: Service retailers are those which provide different services to customers. Such as: OWNERSHIP STYLES FOLLOWED BY DIFFERENT CATEGORY RETAILERS: Individually Owned and Operated: This structure refers to single ownership stores having one or more stores under it. Single ownership of retail outlets most frequently occurs with small retail stores, though there are some cases, for instance in the automotive or furniture industries, where single ownership involves very large outlets. Advantages: There are no restrictions on who,where and what type of business a person want to open. A person can start any legal business without any problem. Disadvantages: Because of the ease and flexibility of getting started, there can be a lot of competition in a particular area for a certain type of customer.There is no branding, no preset guidelines and a great deal of risk in this business model Franchises: Purchasing a franchise is buying the right to use a name, product, concept and business plan. The franchisee will receive a proven business model from an established business. Advantages: All of the business operation processes have been established. The franchisee receives help from a network and customers are already familiar with name .Same marketing strategies are opted which are used by other franchises .Most all of the risk associated with starting a retail business has been reduced. Disadvantages: Franchisees pay a fee, or royalty, based on sales each year. Franchisee have huge amount to spend to get a franchisee and there is no flexibility and freedom allowed in this form.   Dealership: Retailers may find the business model of a licensed dealership as a mix of franchise and independent retailer. The licensee has the right (sometimes this is exclusive) to sell a brand of products. Unlike a franchise, the dealer can sell a variety of brands and there generally no fees to the licensor. Dealerships may or may not be identified as an authorized seller or by the companys trademark. Advantages: There may be some branding or product name recognition by the customer. The dealership relation is much more flexible than that of a franchise. This may be a good business model for part-time retailers or those just starting in retail. Disadvantages: Dealer have to spend huge amount to get a dealership Corporate Chain: A retail chain consists of multiple retail outlets owned and operated by a single entity all performing similar retail activities. While the number of retail outlets required to be classified as a chain has never been specified, we will assume that anyone owning more than five retail locations would be considered a chain. EFFICIENT OWNERSHIP TYPE: If you are based in India and have sufficient money to invest in a new business, then you must surely consider a good franchise business option. There are different types of franchise business in India that are hugely successful and looking for expansion. Franchising is one of the popular models of business looked as a win-win model by both the franchisor and the franchisee. In fact, this business concept is a great way of expanding a proven business model by leveraging the resources and the enterprise of potential franchisees. In fact, buying a franchise business in India is a better option as compared to starting your own business from scratch. Today, there are different platforms where you can look for a franchise business. You can check out details in local newspapers or browse the Internet to look for information about companies or brands interested in expansion of their business. In fact, websites are the best ones to find information on find about best franchise business in India based on different categories. For example, if you are a person who is interested in Play School business then you need to first find out all the available franchisors who would be allowing you to join under them as a franchisee. Contact them and if they find your proposal interesting, then you can become a part of their brand. Remember, it is the dream of every company to increase their brand visibility and franchising is the best way to do so. There are so many companies in India who have high faith in franchising concept and have utilized this concept to promote their brands. Apart from Indian companies, there are many International brands that have spread their business in different parts of India through franchising. The franchising industry in India has thus become an important tool for all brands to woo the customers and expand their business territories. DEFINATION: franchise is a form of channel in which one party, the franchisor, controls the business activities of another party, the franchisee. Under these arrangements, an eligible franchisee agrees to pay for the right to use the franchisors business methods and other important business aspects, such as the franchise name. For instance, McDonalds is a well-known franchisor that allows individuals to use the McDonalds name and methods to deliver food to consumers. Payment is usually in the form of a one-time, upfront franchise fee and also on-going percentage of revenue. While the cost to the franchisee may be quite high, this form of retailing offers several advantages to both the parties: Advantages to franchisee: One of the most important advantages of buying a franchise is that the entrepreneur does not have to incur all the risk involved with creating a new business. Typically, the areas that entrepreneurs have problems with in starting a new venture are product acceptance, management expertise, meeting capital requirements, knowledge of the market, and operating and structural controls. Product Acceptance- The Franchisee usually enters into a business that has an accepted name, product or service. That credibility already exists based on the years the Franchise has existed. An entrepreneur who tries to start a shop would be unknown to the potential customers and would require significant effort and resources to build credibility and a reputation in the market. Management Expertise- Another important advantage to the Franchisee is managerial assistance provided by the franchisor. Each new franchisee is often required to take a training programme on all aspects of operating the franchise. This training could include classes in accounting, personnel management marketing and production. The training and education offered is actually an important criterion. That the entrepreneur should consider in evaluating any Franchise opportunity. If the assistance in starting up the business is not good, the entrepreneur should probably look elsewhere for opportunities unless he or she already has extensive experience in the field. Capital Requirements- Starting a new venture is usually costly in terms of both time and money. The franchise offers an opportunity to start a new venture with up front support that could save the entrepreneur significant time and possibly capital. Some franchisors conduct location analysis and market research of the area that might include an assessment of traffic, demographics, business conditions, and competition. In some cases, the franchisor will also finance the initial investment to start the franchise operation. The initial capital required to purchase a franchise generally reflects a fee for the franchise, construction costs, and the purchase of equipment. Knowledge of the Market- Any established franchise business offers the entrepreneur years of experience in the business and knowledge of the market. This knowledge is usually reflected in a plan offered to the franchisee that details the profile of the target customer and the strategies that should be implemented once the operation has begun. Advantages to franchisor: This type of arrangement can offer an array of advantages for the franchisor. Additional Revenue- Whenever a franchisor grants a new franchise location, he enters into a franchise agreement in which the franchisee agrees to pay fees or royalties. The franchisor can use these additional sources of revenue to reduce operating expenses such as advertising and distribution costs. The revenue can also be used to increase the franchisors cash flow. Reduced Risk of Expansion- Franchises allow the franchisor to expand her business by using the capital and resources from the franchisee. Although the franchisor often assists the franchisee in finding sources of capital to get started, the franchisee is still the one responsible for obtaining the financing and is on the hook to pay back any loan or other debt obligations. Ease of Quality Control- A franchise agreement requires the franchisee to follow corporate guidelines when operating his business. For example, a McDonalds franchisee is required to make hamburgers a specific way and may not deviate. For the franchisor, this means fewer concerns about the quality of the product that is sold, and he doesnt have to worry about a rogue franchisee who wants to do things his own way. Ease of Expansion- A franchisor can easily expand her business by granting new franchises to franchisees in untapped markets. She may be able to locate potential franchisees who are more familiar with the nuances of a particular market than she is, which increases the chances for success. The franchisor will reap the benefits of additional royalties and increased brand recognition. Increased Royalties- A franchisee may be more motivated than an employee, such as a branch manager of a satellite operation. Since the franchisee has a personal financial stake in the success of the business, he may be more likely to work harder. For the franchisor, the result is more revenue through increased royalties. Due to its advantages to both franchisee and franchisor it consider efficient form of ownership.

U.s And Japan Car Industries :: essays research papers

U.S and Japan Car Industries It is unfortunate that the U.S. chose to use automobiles as its wedge to open the alleged "closed" markets of Japan. One Japan-based managing executive of the Big Three has even admitted that they consider the Japanese automobile market to be open. Japan is not the island of protectionism in a sea of free trade that its critic allege. The problem for the U.S. auto-makers is not a lack of market access, but a lack of effort. The first step required for the U.S. auto makers to sell competitively in Japan is not to impose of ridiculous tariffs, but to have Detroit bring up the quality to Japanese standards. All in all, the U.S.'s decision to use automobiles as its wedge to open the Japanese market was surely a dangerous one. In addition, the utilization of unilateral actions by the U.S. is clearly a violation of international trade law. Not only is this decision a resemblance of managed trade but a policy which will weaken the leadership position of the U.S. in the world economy as well. The U.S. needs to do what the Japanese did when they penetrated the American market; hard market research and heavy investment. The Japanese spent billions of dollars studying American taste and manufacturing models that suited them. The Big Three have generally confined their efforts to sending models that they have made specifically for Americans. Bill Duncan, the head of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Assn. states that "it was the basic principals of competition that made the Japanese automobile industry strong." One example which reflects the short-sightedness of the Big Three is the insufficient number of right-hand models available in Japan. Since cars in Japan are driven on the left side, all domestic makers produce right-hand drives. It's simple, the inconvenience of a left-hand drive, at tolls, parking lots or when overtaking another car is too dangerous. Naturally when the Japanese export their cars to the U.S., in each of the 190 versions sold, they provide American drivers with a steering wheel where they expect it; on the left side1. On the other hand U.S. exports have a grand total of 2 models which feature a right- hand drive. The Big Three sold a measly 22,000 left-hand models in 1994. Jeep sold 11,000 on their Cherokees alone, just because they remodeled it to a right- hand model2. Another area in which Detroit must seek change is in car size. In Japan, the normal American cars are just too big. 80% of the cars in Japan are under 2000cc (2L.) Imagine yourself driving on the jammed packed, narrow streets of Tokyo.

The Maturation of Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre :: Jane Eyre Essays Bronte

The overriding theme of Jane Eyre, is Jane's continual quest for love. Jane searches for love and acceptance through the five settings in which she lives: Gateshead, Lowood, Thornfield, Moor House, and Ferndean. Through these viewpoints, the maturation and self-recognition of Jane becomes evident, as well as traceable. It is not until Jane flees from Rochester and Thornfield, and spends time at Moor House, that her maturation to womanhood is complete. At this point, Jane is able to finally return to Rochester as an independent woman, fully aware of her desire to love, as well as to be loved. From the onset of the novel, we see the world through the eyes of Jane; a strong character who wishes to overcome her birth rite as an orphan in Victorian times. From this viewpoint, we are able to trace how Jane progresses in her struggle for individuality, as well as for love. At Gateshead, it becomes apparent that Jane is terrifically self-willed and possessive of a fiery temper. An example of this is when Jane stands up to her aunt saying, "You think I have no feelings, and that I can do without one bit of love or kindness, but I cannot live so: and you have no pity" (Bronte, 68). Here, Jane makes her first declaration of independence, contending that she will no longer be a secondary member in the Reed household. At Lowood, Jane is repulsed by Mr. Blocklehurst and his "two-faced" character and coarseness. However, while at Lowood, Jane finds her first true friend in the form of Helen Burns, another student at the school. Helen teaches Jane of love in the form of religion. By means of instruction as well as by example, Helen is able to convey this message. When Jane is punished in front of the whole school, she tries to accept it as though it has some higher purpose. However, Jane still desires human affection and is deeply hurt when she is scorned. Jane goes as far as to say, "If others don't love me, I would rather die than live." Helen's response, "You think too much of the love of human beings," is a testament to her devout faith (Bronte, 101). When Helen is dying of Typhus later on in the story, she reminds Jane, "I believe: I have faith: I am going to God" (Bronte, 113). Jane is able to draw strength from Helen's faith, ultimately making her (Jane) stronger.