William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying and in Virginia Woolf’s...

William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying and in Virginia Woolf’s A Mark on the Wall - Subjective Narratives in Modernist Texts Like many other modernist texts, William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying employs many unreliable narrators to reveal the progression of the novel. One of the most interesting of these narrators is the youngest Bundren child, Vardaman. Like the rest of his family, Vardaman is mentally unstable, but his condition is magnified due to this lack of understanding of life and death. Because he doesn’t grasp this basic concept, Vardaman’s attempts to understand his mother’s death are some of the most compelling aspect of the novel. Over the course of the book, Vardaman attempts to rationalize his mother’s death through†¦show more content†¦He then reasons that â€Å"he,† or Peabody, is the one who has done this to Addie and retaliates: â€Å"He kilt her. He kilt her† (Faulkner, 54). Like the other Bundren narrators of this novel, Vardaman often uses the word â€Å"it† in his narratives instead of fully enumerating his intent. This pa ssage is no exception; especially when Vardaman is describing Peabody leaving Addie’s room. This confusion with presence and being is continued in Vardaman’s second narrative where he tries to associate Addie’s death with other deaths he has experienced in the past – of rabbits and possums: I thought it was her, but it was not. It was not my mother. She went away when the other one laid down in her bed and drew the quilt up. She went away. â€Å"Did she go as far as town?† â€Å"She went further than town.† â€Å"Did all those rabbits and possums go further than town?† God made the rabbits and possums†¦Why must He make a different place for them to go if she is just like the rabbit. (Faulkner, 66) This passage shows that Vardaman has never learned about death, and simply lied to when things died –â€Å"they went to town.† These lies only perpetuate his irrational logic regarding Addie’s death. As this particular narrative progresses, Vardaman determines that Addie is not a rabbit or a possum because she is in the coffin (box) and â€Å"Cash nails the box up,† signaling that she is not going to town,

Archeological Models for Social Classifications Free Essays

string(60) " installed at the location \(Alcock, 1968 , Alcock, 1969\)\." 1. Introduction The Cadbury Castle and the surrounding area was developed in the later Bronze and Early Iron age and has been developed around the first Millennium (Colebatch, 1977 , Gem, 1996 , Lane, 1995). The site is important as a fort, as it provided defensive arrangements for the community of the time, and led to the changes in social arrangements and conflict in the area at the time (Hummler, 2009). We will write a custom essay sample on Archeological Models for Social Classifications or any similar topic only for you Order Now This essay uses Elmans Service fourfold classifications (Service, 1962) to examine and study the social organization of the South Cadbury hillfort and its environment, with a focus on examining the ways in which the social classification and settlement patterning has influenced the developments in the hillfort. The essay uses chronologically studies in the social classification and settlement patterning of the Cadbury Hillfort site. This discussion is developed over time based on the available archeological evidence, and the relevant changes in the social structure. 2. Discussion The Cadbury Castle is often seen in isolation, although the site has been an area of scientific interest for a long time. The efforts to excavate at the site of South Cadbury have been uneven for the last few decades (Lane, 1995 , Maddicott, 1997). In the recent years, the Arthurian pretext led to a number of excavations, which have shown the importance of the site. The hillfort is a central place of advertising for the Somerset tourism industry due to the cultural importance of the site (Tabor, 2008) and therefore has been excavated heavily. The history of the site is evident by the attempts to form a Camelot park in the 17th century, and therefore, the importance of the site has been a debatable topic for a number of years (Tabor, 2008). The Cadbury Hill has been attributed as a shifting place in the human landscape, and often associated with the shifts in the social structures of the society in different times (Tabor, 2008). For example, the Early and Late-Neolithic ritual pits ha ve been associated with the changes in the summit, where the spine of the Milson’s Corner has m marked the special way in which the hill has changed over time. Research suggests that by the second Millennium BC, the changes in the Cadbury Hill were significant. The open south east and the north was areas on Sigwells provided the human inhabitants with grazing rights through the use of long linear ditches, which are archeologically significant (Tabor, 2008). The social composition of the area shows that they had mundane and basic staple food (Tabor, 2008), which indicates that the early people inhabiting the lands were not highly sophisticated, and therefore the social structure must have been basic and simple (Arnold, 1996). The archeological record also shows the presence of a polished axe, which shows that the by the middle of the second millennium BC, the territorial aspects had changed significantly, and the locals inhabiting the castle were using these to align themselves with other parts of the society. The changes in the ridge of the castle also meant that the on the south ridge, the partially realigned arrangement was set up in the Early Iron Age, where the enclosures has been reserved for particular spaces, and indicated the use of social hierarchy by the inhabitants (Gem, 1996 , Hopetayl.B, 1974). The evidence also suggests that another burial may have been in a slated boat like coffin, which indicated that it was aligned on Glastonbury Tor, which is around 18 km to the North West. These alignments in the archeological studies show the society was aligning itself not only to its internal conditions, but also to the external parties and groups to which it must have been associated with. One of the ridges on the south of Cadbury is the partially realigned scheme, which has persisted from the early Iron Age. This ridge shows that the inhabitants had particular places, which were reserved for the various functions the ridges also show the presence of the different communities, who w ere operating in the different areas, and had a number of social functions. For example, the ridges show that the isolated ditches enclosures had been reserved in a particular areas (Gem, 1996 , Hopetayl.B, 1974). This shows that the social status at that time was based on the different higher places and the lowed places in the building of the site. This also illustrates that the site had a number of different people who were represented in the social circles at the site, leading to different social groups (Service, 1962). The social standing in the society at the first period was based on Paleolithic time, in which the hunter gathers in the society were present at the site. The archeological evidence suggest that at that time, society was sparsely populated, and therefore the competition between humans was significantly low at the site (Tabor, 2008). The archeological evidence also suggests that rock art was found from the site, which indicates that socially, these people were not inclined to any particular field, but mostly focused on farming within the area. The defenses of the fort were also constructed through the early plough of the fields and the castle was actually built on a multilevel hillfort around 400 BC (Tabor, 2008). This castle was again reinforced in the late Bronze age and the Iron Age, where the excavations by Alcock shows that a number of temples and shrines were also present. During this time, the classification of the castle and its inhabitants can be classified as tribal, as sugg ested by Elmand Service (Service, 1962). The castle also shows the presence of religious sites (Tabor, 2008). The presence of religious temples indicates that the social standing of different people in the village was dependent on their religious understanding. This also shows that the site was used by the different religious actors, who had a number of occupations. The society also shows that presence of metal work from the excavations which indicated that by the Roman Army Barracks were also installed at the location (Alcock, 1968 , Alcock, 1969). You read "Archeological Models for Social Classifications" in category "Essay examples" The early excavations indicate towards the roman activity area was significantly busy during the different areas, and led to social exclusion of certain people in the society (Alcock, 1968 , Alcock, 1969). The segment society period of the Cadbury Castle archeology shows that a number of small groups were formulated in the areas, which were working to regulate their own affairs. This was during the bronze period, when the Cadbury Hill archeology shows that social systems were developing (Draper, 2009 , Maddicott, 1997). The changes in the social structure of the Cadbury Hill are also indicated through the presence of the ‘shrine’ on the plateau, and the refurbishing of the defenses of the castle (Tabor, 2008). This was followed by refurbishment of the defenses and the south-west gate, which led to the Westward Corridor of the castle. However, the destruction of the remaining corridor and the gate of the castle shows human trail being visible along the route on the hill and the end of the traditional form of British power and rule in the area (Tabor, 2008) This time can be called a tribal time, in which the people in the time were able to undertake their affairs in the for m of a tribe (Service, 1962).. The period of the Romano-British from the later period of the first century AD is also illustrated in the east of the hill through the archeology of the area. This period saw the presence of the iron age scheme, and the conquest of the landscape in the methodologically planned system of the castle (Tabor, 2008). The social structure at that time related to the use of the forts shows that the societies living in the area were increasingly independent, and were able to develop their own ways of living,. The archeological data also suggest that the groupings in the communities were also clear, as the data shows that they were divided into different groups through the social classification in the castle (Tabor, 2008). The post conquest landscapes in the castle also show that the different constructions, such as Milsoms’s Corner, which was a ditch across the iron age to the Cadbury Hillfort emphasized the degree of the separateness of the different enclosures in the north west are a (Tabor, 2008). This time can be called a Chiefdom time, in which the people in the time were able to undertake their affairs through a central chief, who was looking after the affairs of the people (Service, 1962). There is some evidence to suggest that the continuity of the early medieval period was also witnessed in the Romano-British times. For example, the Milsoms’s Corner and the Sigwelss were remnants of the Romano-British field systems, which were a much less bounded landscape. However, during this time, new isolated enclosures were also created, which indicate the emphasis on the stock rearing rather than on arable agriculture (Tabor, 2008). During this time, it also appears that the social classes in the castle were also increased, which indicates a change in the social system of the area, and was part of the Roman influence on the British society (Alcock, 1971 , Draper, 2009 , Hummler, 2009) This time can be called a state era, in which the people in the time were able to undertake their affairs under the state, through proper governance arrangements (Service, 1962). Recent history suggests that the Mediterranean pottery was also present in the castle, This archeological find s uggests that the trade and commerce was highly important for the inhabitants and therefore the inhabitants were able to use their trading skills to increase their partnerships with the different trading partners (Tabor, 2008). The landscape also suggests that the latter Saxon refurbishments of the castle led to its use during this time. The archeological finds from this time indicate that the social standing of the castle changed, and was based on the medieval system of class, which was the main structure of the castle at that time (Tabor, 2008). 3. Conclusions A number of conclusions can be drawn from this research into the social organization of the South Cadbury Hillfort and its environ. One of the underlying features was that the castle has moved from a classless congregation of people living together to a more functional and structured castle, which is based on a class system, which was governed by the rulers in order to manifest their governance of the castle. The social structure of the castle has changed especially in the Roman period, when the castle appears to have been used as a barrack, and therefore was the center of military power. However, later, the castle has also seen to be used as a Camelot park, which completely changed the environment of the castle, and led to changes in the social structure. The changing social structure indicates that historic changes in the structure of society can be evaluated from the use of archeological techniques. References Alcock, L. 1968. Excavations at South Cadbury Castle, 1967 – Summary Report. Antiquaries Journal, 48, 6-17. Alcock, L. 1969. Excavations at South-Cadbury-Castle, 1968 – Summary Report. Antiquaries Journal, 49, 30-. Alcock, L. 1971. Excavations at South Cadbury Castle 1970 – Summary Report. Antiquaries Journal, 51, 1-. Arnold, C. J. 1996. Cadbury Castle, Somerset – the Early Medieval Archaeology – Alcock,L. Welsh History Review, 18, 1, 144-146. Colebatch, H. 1977. ‘Cadbury Castle, South England’. Poetry Australia, 64, 43-43. Draper, S. 2009. Cadbury Castle. The Hillfort and Landscapes. Medieval Archaeology, 53, 434-435. Gem, R. 1996. Cadbury Castle, Somerset: The Early Medieval Archaeology – Alcock,L, Stevenson,Sj, Musson,Cr. Speculum-a Journal of Medieval Studies, 71, 4, 926-927. Hopetayl.B 1974. By South Cadbury Is That Camelot †¦ – Excavations at Cadbury Castle 1966-70 – Alcock,L. Antiquity, 48, 189, 72-73. Hummler, M. 2009. Cadbury Castle: The Hillfort and Landscapes. Antiquity, 83, 319, 242-245. Lane, A. 1995. Cadbury-Castle, Somerset – the Early Medieval Archaeology – Alcock,L. Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies, 30, 137-140. Maddicott, J. R. 1997. Cadbury Castle, Somerset. The Early Medieval Archaeology – Alcock,L. English Historical Review, 112, 446, 424-425. Service, E. 1962. Primitive Social Organization; an Evolutionary Perspective, London, Random House. Tabor, R. 2008. Cadbury Castle: The Hillfort and Landscapes, London, The History Press. How to cite Archeological Models for Social Classifications, Essay examples

Fasting Plasma Glucose

Questions: 1. Chelsey is a generally healthy individual who is 26 weeks pregnant. She underwent a routine screening to test for gestational diabetes. After performing the OGTT Chelsey was told her plasma glucose level 2 hours after consuming the oral glucose solution was 9mmol/L. How would you diagnose Chelsey and why? 2. The OGTT is one tool for detecting diabetes. Name and describe another test which can be performed to diagnose diabetes. Answers: 1. After an initial glucose challenge test is conducted, such as the one done to Chelsey, a normal individual without the risk of gestational diabetes is supposed to have sugar levels below or between 7.2 mmol/L and 7.8 mmol/L (Renz et al, 2015). Chelsey would require a follow-up glucose tolerance test because her initial glucose challenge test was at high levels. In the follow-up glucose tolerance test, she would have to fast overnight after which, her blood sugar level would be measured. Chelsey would then take a sweet solution with higher glucose concentration. After the drink, her blood sugar level would be checked each hour for 3 hours that would follow. If at least two of the readings indicate blood levels that are greater than normal, she will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes. 2. Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) is another test that may be performed to test diabetes. This test is preferred because it is easy, convenient and less expensive compared to the other tests. According to Sinnott et al (2015), FPG is a blood test which checks an individuals fasting glucose levels when they are fasting. Before the test is carried out, the individual is not allowed to consume anything for a period of at least eight hours. During the test, glucose is taken to lab for analysis. Fasting blood glucose that is normal is supposed to be between 70 mg/dL and 100 mg/dL if the individual does not have diabetes. A standard diagnosis is made after two different blood tests indicate that the levels of fasting blood glucose are more or equal to 126 mg/dL. Works Cited Renz, Paula Breitenbach, et al. "Hba1c Test As A Tool In The Diagnosis Of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus." Plos ONE 10.8 (2015): 1-11. Academic Search Premier. Web. 27 May 2016. Sinnott, Margaret, et al. "Fasting Plasma Glucose As Initial Screening For Diabetes And Prediabetes In Adults: The Diabetes Mellitus And Vascular Health Initiative (Dmvhi)." Plos ONE 10.4 (2015): 1-11.

Influencing Consumer Behavior the changing image of fast food

Introduction Fast-Food providers are developing new strategies to penetrate more market. Examples of such strategies include change of menu, remodeling and redesigning of premises, just to mention but a few. This work highlights the recent strategies made by Burger King and McDonald Fast, as well as how they manipulate the perception, attitude, motivation, and personality of customers.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Influencing Consumer Behavior: the changing image of ‘fast food’ specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Burger King’s Strategy Knowing the tastes of their customers, restaurants that provide fast foods have devised marketing strategies that will enable them meet the needs of their customers. While other restaurants are leading the supply of meals that cater for health and fitness of their clients, Burger King is initiating a trend that is new. It is leading in providing its clients with meals whose flavor is comprised of fat and salt. On the other hand, the media and consumer advocacy groups are directing pressure towards McDonald. In response to this criticism, McDonald is providing its clients with health menu offerings that are more healthful. Further more, those clients who want their waistlines trimmed are having their needs being met by other restaurants that are collaborating with organizations such as weight watchers. However, instead of succumbing to such pressure, Burger Kings has moved ahead to find out the kind of customers who eats from its outlets and their exact needs with an intention of ensuring that they are served appropriately (Kurtz, McKenzie and Snow, 2009, p. 156). Although a choice of both the place of eating and what some one should eat may not appear to be a big deal, it entails several factors. Some of the factors that consumers may be influenced with include the cost, what their friends and family members say, where the restaurant is located, the duration the meal takes, and by how the consumers perceive the restaurant and its meals. Burger King had tried to sell low fat menu to its customers on anticipation that it was what they needed. However, the course had to be changed completely. A survey in marketing revealed that 49% of Burger Kings clients were part of the 18% population who had been identified as regular fast food eaters. According to the company executives, 18 – 34 aged men are great sports fans. They have been named Super Fans. They do not only prefer there meals to come along with sauces and meat, but they also prefer it to be served in large portions.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Therefore, in a bid to tailor-make a product that suits their needs, Burger King has come up with a new sandwich omelet. The new sandwich omelet is suitable for individuals who would prefer to be gin their day with a hearty breakfast and has seen an improvement of the company’s breakfast sales by about 20% (Kurtz, McKenzie and Snow, 2009, p. 156). Powerful Advertising Besides the new menu items whose target is the Super Fan market, a new promotional strategy has been undertaken by Burger Kings to ensure that its products reach this market. The company had purposed to have a promotional budget that was smaller than that of its rivals. This made it to channel its resources to young men. What followed was a sequence of promotions that were carried out with an attitude. Two adverts were then carried out which enabled Burger Kings to have an 18% increase in its sales volume in comparison to McDonald that registered an increase 7% lower than that of Burger Kings. Since the new promotional method was working greatly, Burger Kings proceeded with another series of adverts through the television and the website. In one of the television adverts, a young man was seen jumping up while maintaining that he was a man. He could then proceed to the Burger King and have a fleshy sandwich. While doing this he could assert that he was too angry that he could not settle for food meant for chicks (Kurtz, McKenzie and Snow, 2009, p. 156). An alternative means that the company has used to penetrate to the market of the Super Fans (young men) has been placing the ads on the mobile websites such as the CBS Sports line where a large number of people who fit the Super Fan profile are reached. Despite stepped up criticisms from various nutrition-based groups, clients like what Burger Kings serves them. Besides, Burger Kings has been able to single out who its clients are, their preferred meals and how to obtain the information from them (Kurtz, McKenzie and Snow, 2009, p. 156). Remodel of Restaurants Burger Kings is the main competitor to McDonald’s (Campbell, 1979, p. 51; Haig, 2006, p. 94). These entail red flame chandeliers that rotate, great television screens an d walls of brick. The move was meant to give Burger Kings the feeling of an upscale restaurant. The move was also expected to cost Franchisees who run a greater portion of Burger King’s business.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Influencing Consumer Behavior: the changing image of ‘fast food’ specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It may take the company several years for the plan to be adopted in all of its locations. There has been a climb in sales for both the restaurants that have been remodeled and those that were torn and have been completely rebuilt. However, the latter have registered a greater improvement in sales than the former. The company has plans to make all new restaurants be built based on the plan. Observers have already noted that the new remodel may appeal more to the Burger Kings’ young men who are more loyal to the company. Although drive through and carry out order s form a greater percentage of the fast – food restaurants’ business, interior remodeling makes them be able to compete with their sit down counterparts who attract more customers as a result of their attractive ambiance and quality meals. This may also enable Burger Kings be able to outdo its greatest competitor, McDonald and other rivals who have began including burgers in their menu so as to gain a share from the ever growing burger market (Royle, 2000, p. 26). Although most of these changes are inside the restaurants, Burger Kings has plans to change the exteriors also with both metal canopies and great advertising signs. Moreover, the company is adjusting its menu by adding cheeseburger to its menu in the United States. This is apart from its decisions to introduce energy cutting broiler ovens. More menu items are to be rolled out in future (Heher, 2010). Burger King’s plan on Beer The plans by Burger King’s to introduce alcoholic beverages came when there were reports that sales from the restaurant industry had declined. The sale of Burger King’s beer is to be done through whooper bars. The company’s move to taste the sale of alcoholic beverages is not a new. This is because during the year before, besides selling coffee and tea, Starbucks was inspired to introduce regional beer and wine. On the hand Spain’s Burger King has been selling beer (Harriman, 2007, p. 56).Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More By launching into the arena of fast-dining dining, Burger King is targeting the population of people aged 30 years and below since, the industry’s growth is mainly dependent on this. However, critics assert that the move could be tricky since most people understand Burger King to be a Fast-Foods dealer (Horovitz, 2010). However, pro-Burger King’s people say that the move to introduce the beer is timely because given the company’s customer is growing old, Burger King is growing with the customer. More so, the company’s challenge lies in training new staff to sell alcohol.Already, Germany, Venezuela and Singapore Burger Kings sell beer. There has yet been no reported improvement in sales due to the company’s move. Besides, Burger Kings plans to deliver all its items with an exception of beer (Horovitz, 2010). Although the introduction of a new product is step in the Category Management Process, its realization is still partial. Most producers still h ave a focus on introduction of new products and this is likely to go on in future. This is because the customers’ acceptance of the new product determines the success or failure of the product introduced (Kracklauer, Mills and Seifert, 2004, p. 166). Burger King’s introduction of beer in the United States may be motivated by the fact that since the customers in Singapore, Germany, and Venezuela use it, the customers in the United States will as well accept its introduction. Producers will therefore remain worried of cooperating with retailers on introductions of new product since this could make their rivals aware and hence minimize their competitive advantage. McDonald’s Strategy The Manhattan McDonald restaurant has been renovated to take after the form of those in the United Kingdom and France. The restaurant has places where laptops can be positioned and the upholstered vinyl chairs have replaced Fiberglass seats that used to be fixed to the floor. Additiona lly, the lighting is subdued and all employees seem to suggest a hip boutique from their black uniforms (The Associated Press, 2009). What makes the restaurant look unique from all others McDonald’s is its beautiful and lounge-like appearance. The new look of the restaurant targets the young people and is meant to make them get relaxed over a newspaper and not feel rushed when in. McDonald’s spokesperson asserted that although most of the company’s 14,000 restaurants had been updated, although in the United States, the Chelsea location was the first to be accorded the urban design. The new look has enabled customers to be able to multitask while in the restaurant. For instance, while eating, one can log his laptop on and do some other tasks. The growth of McDonald’s in Europe can be attributed to not only the redesigning of the restaurants but also to its menu items. The strategy has enabled McDonald’s to record an increase in sales even during the recession (The Associated Press, 2009). There is no difference in menu at Chelsea McDonald’s and that from other locations. Differences are in the way the restaurant has been internally designed and decorated. The restaurant has tables of small size made for small groups of clients who may want to hold informal meetings. One of the McDonald’s New York restaurants has a grand piano displayed to the public. McDonald’s redesigning is not in reaction to any other brand. It is McDonald’s initiative (The Associated Press, 2009). The redesigning concept that McDonald’s has undergone is about the community center phenomenon that is making the McDonald a place where young people can hang out. McDonald’s had to start focusing more on show casing and the eating experience as a way of it coping with the trend of slow – food. Since France took the lead in the redesigning of McDonald, attempts have been made to ensure that its core customers compr ises of not only young adults but also young professionals. Olive and sage green are also to replace the company’s emblematic red and yellow colors (Design Woo, 2010). . The redesigning of McDonald’s enabled the company to introduce three main areas that would enable customers to have more choices. The three areas comprised of comfortable armchairs and sofa sets found in the â€Å"linger area,† the bar-like-zone for customers who prefer to eat alone and the family region that comprises of a colorful and flexible ambience where families can sit and enjoy meals. About seven thousand restaurants in the United States are to undergo rebuilding or modernizing. The company’s approach has been given a three dimensional expansion approach. These include changes in menu, renovation of the stores and a different ordering experience (Design Woo, 2010). Understanding Consumer’s Behavior and Personality Personality is the inner attribute that show how someone re sponds to his/her surrounding (Reynolds and Kamphaus, 2003, p. 53; Lauwers and Swisher, 2010). Particular characteristics, traits and mannerisms constitute inner attributes. Although people may possess similar traits, they cannot have all identical aspects. Since the environmental, circumstantial, socio-cultural, and psychological factors that influence behavior vary, the consumption behavior of customers often varies. Individuals interact with different circumstances and this makes them to manifest different patterns of behavior. There are two main implications for personality aspects in marketing. First, specific behaviors of customers such as the kind of brand that they will buy cannot be anticipated by single measures of their personality traits. Secondly, a different behavior is exhibited by consumers when either their purchase is being observed by other people or when they are making purchases in the company of their friends or relatives (Majumdar, 2010, p. 106). Put in a diff erent way, both situational variables and presence of other people bring about social pressure on the decisions revolving about making product choices. This is due to the interaction between the presence of others and situational variables with the consumer’s personality. Although personality is generally consistent and may depict the uniqueness of an individual, however some major events in life may cause it to change over time. There are two implications for personality on marketing. First, it influences how people may consume a given product or service. This includes its influence on consumers’ brand choices and the response of a consumer to marketing and advertising attempts by the marketer. Secondly, it gives marketers guidelines on hoe they should categorize consumers based on their traits. How McDonald’s strategies match consumer behavior and personality Therefore, cognizance of the trends in consumer behavior and personality patterns, both McDonalds and Burger King’s has devised marketing strategies that fit them. On one hand, McDonald’s has partitioned its new redesigned restaurants into three parts. The comfortable place with sofa sets and armchairs are designed for those clients who may not be in a hurry and prefer eating from comfortable sitting positions. These are consumers with a high need for cognition. This will therefore make them order meals that will enable them linger in this area for a long time. Those customers who prefer eating alone have their own area catered for them. Individuals who prefer eating in the presence of their fellow family members have their family region tailor made for them. There are cases at McDonald’s restaurant in Beijing of young couples or teenagers lingering in the restaurant. This is because they consider the surrounding to romantic for them. Women also tend to stay there for long whether they are alone or in company. Lonely men tend to eat hurriedly and leave. Differen ces in this behavior across gender is said to be due to the absence of alcohol (Counihan, 2008, p. 513). Those clients who would prefer to eat while doing some other task like reading a newspaper or working with their laptops have outfits on eateries where they can do all these tasks from. Customers who prefer music as their hobby have their needs catered for due to the presence of a grand piano that is displayed to people outside through one of the McDonald restaurant’s windows. Use of music has the ability to attract clients with similar traits (Madura, 2006, p. 531). Music has different impacts on the customer. For example, country, western and Classical music can help to enhance ambiance. Slow music can entice clients to linger in the restaurant and eat more for while fast music will enable them eat quickly and leave the store for others (Lamb, Hair and McDaniel, 2007, p. 426). McDonald’ move to introduce a playing ground for children and new items on its menu is a strategy to attract more customers (Bloomberg, 2006; Solomon, 2005, p. 206; Nelson, 2009, p. 96). The move is likely to make more clients come in as families due to presence of places where children can play and then eat. The new menu is meant to reach out to those customers who have different tastes or like making more choices. The use of red and yellow colors serves as a tool of attracting the attention of customers and pulling them to the excitement of its surrounding. The restaurant has also introduced a unique lighting system. Although this can also affect consumer choice behavior, more research is yet to be done to ascertain how this actually takes place (Marshall, 1995, p. 304). How Burger King’s strategies match consumer behavior and personality Burger King’s CEO is known for devising marketing strategies that increase the company’s sales (Pride and Ferrell, 2008, p. 57). Its aggressive advertising through the commercials on television targeting the Sup er Fans saw the company record high sales. The same was also observed through its promotions on websites on mobiles phones. Besides, its recent internal remodeling of its restaurants in most of its locations has also led to an increase in sales. The remodeled image of the internal environment changes the perception of consumers in several ways. First, the appearance is attractive and it has cost Burger King a lot of money. This has given it an executive look that is mainly attractive to the upper class customers who are quick to identify with such a restaurant that matches their economic status for instance the Thailand restaurant (Spooner, Borrowman and Baldwin, 2007). Secondly, the remodeling has given the restaurant a friendly internal ambiance that makes the customers present to linger in for more time. As this happens, they continue to buy more meals from the menu and in the long run increase its sales. Thirdly, the commercials directed to the young men make them feel superior and change their attitude towards the meals offered by the Burger Kings restaurant where they flood to continue buying more. Advertising through the mobile phone websites is also another way of targeting the youth since most of them can access mobile phones. This is also a relevant media of advertising to them (Donovan and Henley, 2010, p. 355; Koplan, 2010, p. 215). This is strategic because it targets the youth who are likely to use the company’s product. The internet is a non-personal form of advertisement that cannot only increase the awareness of clients, but can also persuade them (Madura, 2006, p. 531). Burger King’s promotional efforts have targeted different forms of personalities. Such a category of personalities is the dogmatic personality. This personality is for people who are rigid and do not show a tendency of accepting the choices made or suggested by others (Sahaf, 2008, p. 113). Messages that these consumers are receptive to are those that focus on as pects like factual differences and possible benefits of the products. Therefore, to influence their choices, celebrity endorsements are often used. In ensuring that its promotional message gets to this category of clients, Burger King’s advertising features a young man who asserts to be a man and then goes for the company’s sandwich cheese instead of any other food. Comparisons with other fast-food competitors in influencing consumer behavior In, the above-described firms are among the key multinational-based companies in the fast-food market. Various emerging market companies within the same market provide similar services. Being local does not only mean having a presence that is locally established, but also having a local knowledge that is superior with regard to tastes and differences of consumers within a given region. Survival of local brands is therefore dependent on leveraging of this superiority. By being local, some of the strengths available are reduced prod uction costs, being able to make quick decisions and moves that are pre-emptive, possibility of collaborating with international competitors and that of counterattacking (Batra, 1999, p. 226-227). An example of such a home based fast-food provider in Philippines is Jollibee. It has given McDonald (a global competitor) a great challenge in the home (Philippine) market. 75% of the burger market and 56% of fast food business is owned by Jollibee in its home market where McDonald operates as well. This has been achieved mainly customizing and tailor making its services, delivery standards, and menu to suit the needs of its local customers. This has really attracted many consumers to the firm. It has made it to maintain its market share against McDonald, which has only 19% of the same market (Batra, 1999, p. 227). Additionally, McDonald’s and other competitors, in a bid to increase profits through influencing consumer behavior is their introduction of new menu products which have often led to sales increase (Ferrante, 2008, p. 150). Relationship with theories of Consumer behavior Burger King was following Pavlov’s theory on Classical conditioning, which states that presenting the same stimuli to an organism continuously produces similar repeated response from it (Raji, 2007, p. 33). Therefore, in this case, two kinds of promotions were used as marketing stimuli and after they had led to increased sales, the company decided to use advertising as another marketing stimulus again. On the other hand, B.F. Skinner’s instrumental learning was carried out by placing a cat in closed box. In its attempt to get out of the box, the cat had to press a spring that either released food or let it to move out. By doing this repeatedly, the cat made a distinction between the spring and other levers, making it to keep on pressing it. Slow learning resulted from the reinforcement (Raji, 2007, p. 33). In the same way, the intense advertising done by Barger Kings t o reach out to the young men (Super fans) was done repeatedly in manner that made them make a strong association between the new omelet sandwich and its nutritional significance to those who used it. In addition, the cognitive learning theory states that learning is enhanced when a person’s cognition is restructured according to the problem. The person solves a problem using systematic reasoning and mental activity. When a person encounters a problem, he gathers information that can be used in the formation of both attitude and experience towards the object. For example, using intelligence and problem-solving skills, a consumer can end up buying a product that they have never bought before. Thus, before making a purchasing decision, they will make an evaluation of the psychological, economic, and sociological factors (Raji, 2007, p. 36-37). For example, the remodeling of the McDonald’s restaurants creates a serene and romantic environment to the young people who see it as a facility to address their social needs. In addition, customers purchase newly introduced meals from these fast-food providers since they can attribute the goodness and quality of the previous products to the new ones. Moreover, observational is learning by imitation. It explains how consumers acquire new behavioral patterns by watching what other do and then using it in their own situations (Nelissen, 2002, p. 311). For example, McDonald’s redesigning of the restaurant into an area that is for customers who prefer dining in the presence of others may result observational learning. Some customers may decide on what to eat based on what other customers in the same place are having. In addition, the increase in Burger King’s sales was as a result of young men imitating what they saw from the series of television adverts on its new product – omelet sandwich. Conclusion Most fast-food companies have devised strategies that tend to influence and motivate the cho ices, behavior, and personalities of customers. Burger King has remodeled its restaurant and has introduced some changes on the menu. The company has used television and internet advertising to get its message to the target audience. On the other hand, McDonald’s has rebuilt some of its restaurants with outfits that attract more clients. These include change of color, furnish, menu and introduction of both music and children’s playing ground. All these strategies have led to increase in sales volume for the two companies. This is because they have the ability to manipulate the perceptions, learning, attitude formation, and purchasing behavior of consumers. References List Batra, R. 1999. Marketing Issues in Transitional Economies. Massachusetts: Kluwer Academic Publishers. Bloomberg. 2006. Mickey D’s McMakeover. Web. Available from: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_20/b3984065.htm . Campbell, M.J., 1979. Orange Coast Magazine, Vol. 5, No. 4. NY: E mmis Communications. Web. Available from: https://books.google.com/books?id=Zg0EAAAAMBAJpg=PA51dq=Burger+Kings+has+added+burger+cheese+to+its+menuhl=enei=wAJLTajcDYK28QPa8qjDDwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=3ved=0CDMQ6AEwAg#v=onepageqf=false . Counihan, C., 2008. Food and Culture: a Reader. New York: Routledge. Web. Available from: https://books.google.com/books?id=g34aeDfVIdECpg=PA513dq=McDonald%27s++consumers+can+eat+while+reading+newspapershl=enei=VelKTY6IA4XZ4gap1cW7Cwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=3ved=0CDYQ6AEwAg#v=onepageqf=false . Design Woo. 2010. McDonald’s Redesign: a New Era for Fast-Food Restaurants. Web. Available from: http://www.designwoo.com/2010/10/mcdonalds-redesign-a-new-era-for-fast-food-restaurants/ . Donovan, R. and Henley, N., 2010. Principles and Practice of Social Marketing: An International Perspective. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Ferrante, J. 2008. Sociology: A global Perspective. Belmont: Thomson Wadsworth. Haig, M., 2006. Brand R oyalty: How the World’s Top 100 Brands Thrive Survive. London: Kogan Page Limited. Harriman, C., 2007. Take Your Kids to Europe: How to Travel Safely (and Sanely) in Europe with Your Children. Guilford: Globe Pequot Press. Heher, A.M., 2010. The Huffington Post: Burger King Plans Edgy, Futuristic Remodel of Restaurants. Web. Available from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/06/burger-king-plans-edgy-fu_n_311830.html . Horovitz, B., 2010. Burger King plans beer-selling Whopper Bar in South Beach. Web. Available from: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2010-01-21-burger-king-beer_N.htm . Koplan, J. 2010. Progress in preventing childhood obesity: how do we measure up? Washington DC: The National Academies Press. Kracklauer, A. Mills, D. and Seifert, D., 2004. Collaborative customer relationship management: taking CRM to the next level. Boston: Springer. Kurtz, D. McKenzie, H. and Snow, K., 2009. Contemporary Marketing. Ontario: Cengage learning. Lamb, C. Hair, J. and McDaniel, C., 2007. Marketing. Mason: Cengage Learning. Lauwers, J. and Swisher, A., 2010. Counseling the Nursing Mother. Ontario: Jones and Bartlett learning. Madura, J., 2006. Introduction to Business. Mason: Thompson Learning Inc. Majumdar, R., 2010. Consumer Behavior: Insights from Indian Market. New Delhi: PHI Learning. Marshall, D., 1995. Food Choice and the Consumer. London: Blackie Academic and Professional. Nelson, M.K., 2009. Who’s watching? Daily practices of surveillance among contemporary families. Nashville, Tennessee: Vanderbilt University Press. Nelissen, W. 2002. Marketing for suitability: Towards Transactional Policy Making. Amsterdam: IOS Press Pride, W.M. and Ferrell, O.C., 2008. Marketing. Mason: Cengage Learning. Raji, P.T. 2007. Consumers’ buying secrets revealed. Ebookboxs. Web. Available from https://books.google.com/books?id=hPpF5fKdeAUCpg=PA33dq=classical+conditioning+theory+marketinghl=enei=doxfTdDaJsKK5Ab94Ky9CQsa=Xoi=book_resultct=res ultresnum=6ved=0CEUQ6AEwBQ#v=onepageq=classical%20conditioning%20theory%20marketingf=false . Reynolds, C.R. and Kamphaus, R.W., 2003. Handbook of psychological and educational assessment of children. NY: Guilford Press. Royle, T., 2000. Working for McDonald’s in Europe: the Unequal Struggle. New York: Routledge. Sahaf, M.A., 2008. Strategic Marketing: Making Decisions for Strategic Advantage. New Delhi: Prentice-Hall of India. Solomon, S.G., 2005. American playgrounds: Revitalizing Community Space. Lebanon: University Press of New England. Spooner, A. Borrowman, H. and Baldwin, W., 2007. Thailand. NY: Foot prints Travel Guides. The Associated Press. 2009. Foreign operation methods: theory, analysis, strategy. Web. Available from: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34019334/ns/business-us_business/ . This assessment on Influencing Consumer Behavior: the changing image of ‘fast food’ was written and submitted by user Brotherhood of Evil Mutants to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

How Young People Represented in Eastenders and Hollyoaks Essay Essays

How Young People Represented in Eastenders and Hollyoaks Essay Essays How Young People Represented in Eastenders and Hollyoaks Essay Essay How Young People Represented in Eastenders and Hollyoaks Essay Essay Eastenders is a British Soap Opera. first broadcast in the UK on BBC1. It’s about people who works and unrecorded in the frictional London Borough of Walford in the East End of London. The scenes normally around the Albert Square. This soap originally played in the Television as two half-hour episodes per hebdomad since 2001. for episodes are broadcast each hebdomad. It is one of the UK’s highest rated programmes. It’s created by two individual called Julia Smith and Tony Holland. Hollyoaks is a long running British Soap Opera firs broadcasted on Channel 4 in 1995. It’s created by Phil Redmond and Directed by Ross Knowles and Robert Duffey. This programme is set in a fictional suburb of Chester called Hollyoaks. Scenes normally around the instruction college called Hollyoaks Community College. The characters are people who are in their late teens or early mid-twentiess. The series are filmed at Lime Pictures. There are many conventions in the soaps. Cliff hangers are is a pattern of stoping of an episode which leaves the character in a apparently impossible state of affairs or something truly exciting happens. The intent of this that it makes the narrative so interesting which makes people want to watch the following episode of the soap. Moralistic plot lines are normally chief subject of the narrative ; the lesson the chief character learns. Normally people who watching the soap learns from that plot line. For illustration for a moral plot line is could be that: – a miss steals another girl’s roller-skate. the moral in this that stealing is incorrect. Multiple plot lines are means in a soap that tonss of different lines traveling on. For illustration that a lady has a babe. person had a auto clang. while the school burnt down. Realism is besides of import for a soap opera because who watching it has to believe in that it’s ‘real’ . For illustration people can’t sell a pen which cost 50p for ?20. 000 because it’s non realistic. Soaps are go throughing on societal messages such as: rummy drive. immature gestation. taking drugs and so on. The authors go throughing these messages to make non make any of these by demoing their effects. If people see that 5 people dies because the driver was rummy they might non traveling the thrust when they drinking. Fictional characters from Eastenders I’ve chosen are Stacey Slater and Bradley Branning. Stacey had arrived in Watford at the age of 15 and she stayed with her uncle Charlie. She had been causes problems with her behaviour. She had been thrown out because of her behaviour. She falls in love with Bradley Branning†¦Stacey represented like a bad teenage miss with tonss of fellows. She besides had taken drugs in the yesteryear. She non really educated. She worked at a stall. She was pregnant but had an abortion. Bradley represented as a rather cagey teenage male child. He has a good occupation at the bank. Was in a relationship with Stacey. He sexually harassed by his foreman. He flirted with tonss of girls/women. He flirted with her co-worker as good. I’ve chosen these characters because I thought they are exciting to me. Fictional characters from Hollyoaks are Ste Hay. He has some wicked ways. It hasn’t all been plain sailing for him. A occupation at chez brought him into the flight way of one Brendan Brady and so began the distorted love/hate/love/hate/love love affair that is Stendan. All kinds of obstructions have come between them – pregnant girlfriends. fittingness teachers. angry married womans and long lost boies ; nevertheless it was Brendan’s issues with his gender and his leaning for force that stopped them genuinely being together. Leanne Holiday is a blonde. bantam. button-nosed ; Leanne looks all sugariness and visible radiation. She foremost came to the small town as fiancee to Lee Hunter. who was returning to the small town after a five twelvemonth absence. Hardcore fans will hold followed their battle in the on-line play Fresher’s. Rolling eyes from both parties shortly caused problem in their relationship. Leanne snagging Doug and Lee falling for Amy. She ever chases male childs. Young people in Eastenders represented more severely. in there are immature gestations and other bad material traveling around the immature characters. In Hollyoaks the immature people are largely represented as a analyzing respectful adolescent. So the immature people in Eastenders represented most likely as bad. while in Hollyoaks they are represented as goods. I think in Eastenders and Hollyoaks immature people are represented in the manner how the immature people act or behave in the existent life. Some immature people holding in problem some of them are acting good and making their work and merely being normal.

Analysing Descartes Meditation On First Philosophy Philosophy Essay

Analysing Descartes Meditation On First Philosophy Philosophy Essay Renà © Descartes, in his work of Meditation on First Philosophy, sets the foundation for modern philosophy. Through the distinct style of writing in first person narrative, Descartes introduces radical skepticisms, proves the existence of God, distinguishes the soul from the body, and establishes levels of certainty in knowing the material world. With the Meditations intending to be a guide to exercising intellectual understanding and practice, there is a strong connection between the literary form and philosophical content, as one supplements the other. The use of meditation and narrative is especially important in delivering and emphasizing Descartes’ arguments on first philosophy because it offers an epistemological journey for the reader to undertake and experience along with the narrator. Meditation is an introspective process that involves the mind turning back in and upon itself, withdrawing from the material world and focusing attention inward. Traditionally, works o f meditation are meant to be guides for spiritual exercises, especially in the Christian religion, and not for intellectual or philosophical purposes. However, Descartes departs from this tradition and employs meditation as a way to detach the minds from external influences, to think and analyze philosophy from the original foundations. This is emphasized in the preface to the reader, where Descartes writes â€Å"I do not advise anyone to read these things except those who have both ability and the desire to meditate seriously with me, and to withdraw their minds from the senses as well as from all prejudices† (52). This leads into Meditation One, with the introduction of method of doubt to free the mind and demolish deception. As well, meditation is aimed to achieve self-transformation, and this is demonstrated throughout work as Descartes transforms the readers’ ways of thinking and understanding. Descartes uses first person narrative to engage and relate to the read ers. As the narrator and guide, Descartes is the embodiment of the general audience, sharing many of the same characteristics and motivations as the readers. For instance, the readers can easily identify with events such as dreaming and questions such as the existence of God. With this, Descartes can take on the challenge of demonstrating how the process of self-transformation in thinking and understanding unfolds through his own experiences. He writes, â€Å"I will first of all narrate in the Meditations the very thoughts by means of which I seem to have arrived at a certain and evident knowledge of the truth† with the intention that â€Å"the same arguments that persuaded me can be useful in persuading others† (52). Therefore, the readers, when reading the Meditations, will be able to experience a similar psychological and epistemological journey in understanding first philosophy. The Meditation begins with the introduction of the method of doubt in Meditation One. R ealizing many of his former opinions are falsehoods, and how subsequent opinions are built upon them, Descartes notes the need to doubt the truth of everything, and â€Å"raze everything to the ground and began again from the original foundations, if I wanted to establish anything firm and lasting in the sciences† (59). This architectural metaphor of razing and establishing serves to introduce Descartes’ purpose in building a firm groundwork for rational scientific inquiry and modern philosophy that cannot be further doubted. Since it is not practical to show all opinions are false individually, it is sufficient to â€Å"attack straightaway those principles which supported everything,† â€Å"because undermining the foundation will cause whatever has been built upon them to crumble of its own accord† (60). And Descartes does this through three levels of doubt: perception, dreaming, and God’s deceive.

How Does The Rising Rate Of Inflation Bring Down The Prices Of Houses Essay

How Does The Rising Rate Of Inflation Bring Down The Prices Of Houses In The United States - Essay Example Since two-thirds of households in the US or even more have possession of the houses that they reside in, the weight of Owner–Equivalent Rent in the CPI is significant; it accounts for around 23.8% of headline CPI and around 30.8% of the traditional core CPI which excludes energy and food. The rents languished due to an increase in the sale price of houses in the recent years. Since the year of 2000, it can be found that OER has increased approximately 26% while the government’s price index of existing homes has increased 80%. This indicates that the sale prices of existing homes and new homes rose by 5% or even more per year faster than rents since the twist of the millennium (Cecchetti, â€Å"Housing in Inflation Measurement†). Consumer Price Index Levels (1950-2003): Source: (Cedar Spring Software, Inc., â€Å"Price Inflation†). The above chart indicates how the effects of continuous inflation build up over the years. It consists of the index values of C PI for the month of December of each year. The value of index of 180 indicates that prices have risen 80% which is measured from a â€Å"base of 100†. With the help of index values, one can determine that goods and services which cost $3,000 at the end of the year 1992 will cost $3,897.00 at the end of the year 2003. The supposed household cannot wait for the inflation to be at a normal level. They must make sure that their interest and income keep pace with the long-term inflation or else they would become poor (Cedar Spring Software, Inc., â€Å"Price Inflation†). Percent Changes in Inflation (1950-2003): Source: (Cedar Spring Software, Inc., â€Å"Price Inflation†). The above chart depicts changes in the inflation rate and not the actual price changes. A line that trends downward which is above... The researcher of this essay focuses on the issue of the connections between the inflation and housing in the United States. The researcher states that although inflation occurs regularly in the economic system, it becomes a matter of concern when it reaches at higher levels. The rate of inflation, that is discussed and analyzed in the essay provides the measure of price changes, which occur for many goods and services. When it comes to individual goods, the changes in the prices vary greatly. The prices of number of goods such as gasoline, health care, housing and automobiles have significantly increased during the last decades. On the other hand, the prices of the commodities such as computing power and calculators have decreased. Different methods are used to measure the inflation rate, but the most common approach to measure inflation in the United States is Consumer Price Index (CPI) which includes the steps, described in the essay. The researcher then focuses on the calculating of the real inflation rates in the United States and provides graphics and charts on the topic of Percent Changes in Inflation and Consumer Price Index Levels. It is then concluded by the researcher that the stock market and the housing market had gone down, thereby reducing the supply of money and creating a crisis of liquidity, thus sinking the United States into a deflationary period where the prices were in fact lower than 2008, reaching a deflationary short of -2.1% in the month of July of the year 2009.

Module Four Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Module Four Assignment - Essay Example Further examination would provide the benefit of the doubt and confidence for the company in order to prevent unscrupulous steps toward hasty accusations and figure if reasonable grounds exist in justifying the case whether under Laura’s favor or otherwise. Additionally, Jeremy should consider having to consult the organization’s policies and seek counsel of the knowledgeable administration in the presence of all appropriate documents consisting of solid evidences which either confirm or nullify the deed in direct reference to falsification of employment information. Regardless of Laura’s current traits and working performance as an employee, however, Jeremy must keep in mind that in any context, both intention and action of an applicant to falsify his or her personal information duly agreed and signed to be disclosed under legal professional requirements by the employer is a grave offense. It should be understood to full measure as well that prevailing work conditions that take into account Laura’s remarkable professional attributes are by no means related to any mild or heavy offense committed by her during the stage of application. As a consequence, Jeremy ought to express in all honesty to Laura the truth regarding the company’s right to dismiss any employee found to have advanced deception and serious dishonesty on purpose. Breaking it slowly to her, Jeremy may first opt to establish a hint from which to initiate the conference with Laura so that the latter comes into a gradual and rational discernment of the delicate situation rather than struggle with the moment of abrupt revelation. Eventually, this gives opportunity for Laura to explain her side of the incident and realize in the process the gravity of her fault that deserves the equivalent sanction of dismissal from work. On the other hand, Jeremy must not fail to communicate to Laura how the company has

My Trip to Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island Essay Example for Free

My Trip to Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island Essay This tourist location is nationally known. Thousands of people a year come to Mackinaw City to enjoy the view of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. They also come to drive across the five mile long Mackinaw Bridge. It is a small town with hotels on every street. As I first arrived into Mackinaw City I noticed the Mackinaw Bridge far off in the distance. The colors of the bridge were a pale peach color with a hint of pale yellow. The bridge was always visible from any part in Mackinaw City because of how big it was and how tall it stood. As I looked around I saw hundreds of hotels surrounding the roads. Going down the road hundreds of people were walking to places whether it was to go to get ice cream or to go to a small grocery store. Hotels were lined up on the shore of Lake Huron. Luckily, we were staying at one of those hotels. The people there were very nice and courteous. As we walked into our hotel room, which was on the third floor, the light from outside shined through the balcony doors. I walked out on the balcony and on my left you could see the Mackinaw Bridge clear as day and on he right you could see all the ferries headed to Mackinaw Island. After we got settled in we headed down to the beach. The water was freezing cold but it was still fun because every time a ferry passed by huge waves of water would travel up to the shore and crash into it. I was excited because the next morning we got to take a ferry under the Mackinaw Bridge and to Mackinaw Island. The ferry went fast and there was a lot of wind which made it colder than it actually was but it was still fun! As we got further away from Mackinaw City the more you see of it. It was a beautiful sight. As the ferry got closer to Mackinaw Island you could see more and more people walking around the island. There were no cars at all, all there was, was trolleys being pulled around by horses. Entering the island you notice the buildings are very historic and old. There were a ton of hills. The island is like one big circle. A small beach area was on the island and in the distance you could see the Mackinaw Bridge. As the sun was shining down on the island it make the lake glisten and it made it bluer than it would be if it was cloudy. The streets were filled with people riding bikes and getting on the trolleys. While you were on the island you could walk up a bunch of stairs up to Fort Mackinac. It is a historical landmark where the attack of 1812 happened. As you walk around Fort Mackinac you see a group of people reenacting the historical event that happened there. Being that far up on a hill, you could see all of Mackinaw Island. The sun made everything shine brighter. Going here was very relaxing and you werent worried about anything. It was like all that weight got lifted off your shoulders and you were free to have fun and do what made this a very memorable vacation for me, which I will never forget.

The Usual Suspects Essay -- essays papers

The Usual Suspects When it was released in 1995, The Usual Suspects was hailed as original, inventive, and, most of all, unpredictable. Having now seen this movie well over a dozen times, I can say that its impact is just as powerful today as it was the first time I saw it. In what I consider to be the best movie-making year of all-time, The Usual Suspects nonetheless distinguishes itself from everything else, offering a fresh take on the mystery and suspense genre. As The Usual Suspects opens, we find "Verbal" Kint (Kevin Spacey, in an Oscar-winning role) the object of a police interrogation. He is one of only two known survivors of an explosive evening on a docked cargo ship, and the police want answers. Verbal was one of an elite group of known criminals involved in a police lineup in New York five weeks prior, and the rest are presumed to be dead from the previous night's explosion. From this opening interrogation, soon conducted solely by Special Agent Dave Kujan (Chazz Palminteri), we are shown pieces of the puzzle that lead to the events on the cargo ship. Five convicted felons - Spencer McManus (Stephen Baldwin, The Young Riders), Dean Keaton (Gabriel Byrne), Fred Fenster (Benicio Del Toro), Todd Hockney (Kevin Pollak, A Few Good Men *cc/fewgoodmen.html*), and Verbal Kint - are brought in to answer for charges of gun-theft, a crime for which all five profess their innocence. Crowded together in their cell, however, McManus is able to convince...

History of Television Essay

Television Broadcasting Malaysian television broadcasting was introduced on 28 December 1963. Color television was introduced on 28 December 1978. Full-time color transmissions of grand launched until officially inaugurated on New Year’s Day 1982. There are currently 8 national free-to-air terrestrial television stations in Malaysia and 2 national pay subscription television stations in Malaysia. Out of eight television channels, four of them are available in Sabah and Sarawak, and the other four are available only in Peninsular Malaysia.Transmissions in Malaysia were black-and-white until 28 December 1978. First stereo audio broadcasting was introduced in 1985 by TV3.Five out of eight channels does not have 24-hour schedule. 24-hour television was introduced in Malaysia between 13 to 16 May 1989 on TV1. The first 24-hour broadcasting in Malaysia was introduced in 2007 by TV2. Local Programming RTM had local programmings in each state until 1984, and those local stations had been replaced by relay of RTM1. RTM1 had 1 hour of local programming between 1984 to 1992. Today, RTM broadcasts the same version nationwide except in Sarawak and Sabah, which still have some local programmings. RTM have plans to re-introduce the local channels after digital switchover. The local channels had the name RTM and state name, for example RTM Pinang for Penang. Each channel had its own schedule and broadcasting hours, and some programs relay from RTM1 and RTM2 (usually news programs and government programs). Between 1984 to 1992, the local programmings was around 5:00pm on RTM1. For the new local channels, the broadcasting hours are currently unknown. Today, RTM still broadcasting radio in local, but television in national.

Social relations

Technological advancements in recent times has actually brought the world closer, the use of internet and communication technologies has closed the large geographic gap between the people. Use of social networking sites, forums and portals has facilitated and addressed the common feelings, issues and concerns. The messages of people can be made public with minimal effort. Technology has made our life easier and faster, saving considerable amount of our valuable time, thereby easing the burden of manual task.Be it marketing or availing other useful online services, technology has provided a solution to every human need. Biotechnology and nanotechnology have added value to human life, in terms of medical treatment and opened the door of new possibilities. However, misuse of technology has posed a larger threat than ever expected. A lot of abuse cases are being increasingly reported.Threats like phishing and malicious e-mails containing viruses and Trojans have led to loss of data and p ersonal details. Due to use of communication and computer technologies, personal information flow comes into a network of marketers very easily. Once your personal details are divulged to a particular agency in the web loop, it is circulated incessantly. It hurts the privacy of innocent customers. Sometimes, culture and traditions are compromised in the name of technology.Social relations are hurt because of excessive use of technology; socializing has taken a back seat with most of the youth stay engulfed with short-cuts provided by technology. It also brings a social divide between â€Å"haves† and â€Å"have-nots†, as technology usage is mostly concentrated with the higher income group folks. Unfortunately, technology also makes the people lethargic and easy-going, thereby roping in increasing health related complications.

History of the Bicycle

History of the Bicycle A modern bicycle by definition is a rider-powered vehicle with two wheels in tandem, powered by the rider turning pedals connected to the rear wheel by a chain, and having handlebars for steering and a saddle-like seat for the rider. With that definition in mind, lets look at the history of early bicycles and the developments that led up to the modern bicycle. Bicycle History in Debate Up until a few years ago, most historians felt that Pierre and Ernest Michaux, the French father and son team of carriage-makers, invented the first bicycle during the 1860s. Historians now disagree since there is evidence that the bicycle and bicycle like vehicles are older than that. Historians do agree that Ernest Michaux did invent a bicycle with pedal and rotary cranks in 1861. However, they disagree if Michaux made the very first bike with pedals. Another fallacy in bicycle history is that Leonardo DaVinci sketched a design for a very modern looking bicycle in 1490. This has been proven to be untrue. The Celerifere The celerifere was an early bicycle precursor invented in 1790 by Frenchmen  Comte Mede de Sivrac. It had no steering and no pedals but the celerifere did at least look somewhat like a bicycle. However, it had four wheels instead of two, and a seat. A rider would power forward by using their feet for a walking/running push-off and then glide on the celerifere. The Steerable Laufmaschine German Baron  Karl Drais von Sauerbronn invented an improved two-wheel version of the celerifere, called the laufmaschine, a German word for running machine. The steerable laufmaschine was made entirely of wood and had no pedals.  Hence, a rider would need to push his or her feet against the ground to make the machine go forward. Drais vehicle was first exhibited in Paris on April 6, 1818. Velocipede The laufmaschine was renamed the velocipede (Latin for fast foot) by French photographer and inventor  Nicephore Niepce  and soon became the popular name for all the bicycle-like inventions of the 1800s. Today, the term is used mainly to describe the various forerunners of the monowheel, the unicycle, the bicycle, the dicycle, the tricycle and the quadracycle developed between 1817 and 1880. Mechanically Propelled In 1839, Scottish inventor Kirkpatrick Macmillan devised a system of driving levers and pedals for velocipedes  that allowed the rider to propel the machine with feet lifted off the ground. However, historians are now debating if Macmillan actually did invent the first pedaled velocipede, or whether it was just propaganda by British writers to discredit the following French version of events. The first really popular and commercially successful velocipede design was invented by French blacksmith, Ernest Michaux in 1863. A simpler and more elegant solution than the Macmillan bicycle,  Michauxs design included rotary cranks and pedals mounted to the front wheel hub. In 1868, Michaux founded Michaux et Cie (Michaux and company), the first company to manufacture velocipedes with pedals commercially.   Penny Farthing The Penny Farthing is also referred to as the High or Ordinary bicycle. The first one was invented in 1871 by British engineer James Starley. The Penny Farthing came after the development of the French Velocipede and other versions of early bikes. However, the Penny Farthing was the first really efficient bicycle, consisting of a small rear wheel and large front wheel pivoting on a simple tubular frame with tires of rubber. Safety Bicycle In 1885, British inventor John Kemp Starley designed the first safety bicycle with a steerable front wheel, two equally-sized wheels and a chain drive to the rear wheel.

Business Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 14

Business Law - Essay Example ct to gain the protection of the law, it must satisfy the element of offer, acceptance, purpose to create legal representation, and there must be a consideration. Under the element of offer, a promisor invites a promisee to a responsibility and he makes it in such a way that he expects an acceptance from the promisee1. For example, person A offers to rent out his building to person X, for business purposes. In this example, â€Å"responsibility† is denoted by the building that person A wants to rent to person X, for business purposes. In acceptance, a promisee agrees to take up the responsibility offered by the promisor. For example, after person A offered to rent out his building to person X, person X agree to become a tenant under the conditions offered. This amounts to acceptance. For a contract to exist, it must be legally binding document. It must be recognizable by the law, and its provision acceptable by the legal principles of the nation. Finally, a valid contract must have some values exchanged, and this is termed as consideration. For instance, take our case above. He can pay either in cash, or through some valuable products. This paper also identifies the public, social and business issues that influenced the courts in their rulings. This paper has a conclusion, which is a summary of the main points addressed2. One key fact that relates to the enforceability of a contract is whether there is an element of substantial performance within a contract. This fact is better portrayed in the case involving, Jacob and Young vs. Kent (1921). In this case, the plaintiff did not build the house as per the contractual agreement with the defendant. However, the portion left was minimal, and redoing the work would have meant demolishing a large percentage of the whole building, and on this basis, the plaintiff refused to re-do it. The plaintiff won the case, as the court ruled that when there is a defect in contract performance, and it is minimal, then the concept of

Accounting #1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Accounting #1 - Essay Example Cost accounting is correlated with managerial accounting work, since it is highly use in the preparation of managerial accounting work. The objectives of managerial accounting are to prepare information in order to optimize the firm’s value and production activity. The reports utilize in managerial accounting include comparing actual results with plans or benchmark prepared at the beginning of the accounting cycle. Other reports include indicators such as orders received, order backlog, capacity utilization, and sales (Garrison, et al., p.4). Some of the main functions of managerial accounting are planning, directing & motivating, controlling, evaluating year end results and closure of the planning and control cycle. Managerial accounting differs from financial accounting in the time scope. Financial accounting deals with historical events, while managerial accounting places emphasis on the future. Managerial accounting does not follow the general accepted accounting principles (GAAP) (Moore & Jaedicke, 1972). The reports prepared by managerial accountants must be timely and relevant so that the users of this information can make decision based on what is occurring or the projection of what may occur. The main users of the work perform by managerial accountants are the executive management team of a company. Just-in-time inventory management is a philosophy of manufacturing based on planned elimination of all waste and on continuous improvements of productivity (Ashland). In practical accounting terms what JIT does is minimize the amount of inventory on hand in order to improve the cash flow position of a firm. Companies order the exact amount of material needed for a production run and the reorder point occurs when the inventory runs out. Precision and timeliness is necessary so that the company does not run out of raw materials or inventory needed to continue to operate. The business world in the 21st century is very competitive and business owners can

Philosophy- Business Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Philosophy- Business Ethics - Essay Example of the business is to protect the environment than a business shall be held accountable on ethical, moral as well as legal grounds however, if this is not the case, an organization shall only be bound by the violation of laws rather than violation of its implicit responsibilities. The businesses are only responsible to the extent of the law and it is the responsibility of an organization to follow the law in its true spirit however, externalities can result into significant deviation in the roles and responsibilities of the organizations. Bowie’s arguments are convincing due to the fact that there is an implicit difference between a consumer and a citizen. Segoff’s distinction between a consumer and a citizen is largely based on the ability of each to derive the value and is correlated with the preferences of both. However, Bowie does not make this distinction because a consumer and a citizen are considered as both the mass consumers of the goods and services produced by the organization. The distinction made by Segoff is firmly based on the assumption that an individual at one point in time can be a consumer as well as a supporter of the environment also. This potentially overlapping role of a consumer and a citizen therefore results into the i nstitutional change which can ultimately force the authorities and government to pass laws which can protect the environment and redefine the role of organization with the external world. Bowie’s ideas are however slightly different because of the distinction made between the legal and ethical responsibilities of the organization. Further, Bowie also attempted to define the role of organization from the perspective of its core competencies i.e. if an organization’s role is to protect the environment than any violations shall be the moral as well as legal responsibility of the organization however, if it is not than an organization shall not morally and ethically held accountable. What is also important to consider

Case Study Analysis Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Analysis Paper - Case Study Example The fact is that the summer is approaching and Arthur does not have a reliable pool of workers (replacement or otherwise) to run his business during this period. He is likely to face a high turnover and incur heavy losses because of a lack of workers to keep his business operational. His losses are likely to stem from spending more than he is earning – the replacement workers are actually more expensive than his normal permanent employees. Arthur’s turnover is too high to keep his business running during the summer. Since summer vacations are quite long, the losses incurred must be incredibly high during this period. An interesting fact is that turnover is higher in replacement employees than permanent workers who normally work for the company. Since his fulltime workers always return at the end of the summer or when they recover from their various illnesses, Arthur cannot afford spending a lot of money on temporary workers who are not always available and are too expensive to keep on the payroll. The solution to this problem is to do away with temporary workers permanently (Uhl, 2013). The solution is to develop a schedule whereby there are two pools of workers: permanent and fulltime. However, the replacement workers are only hired during the summer and paid decent wages to keep them on the job. Arthur’s method of looking for new workers every summer is flawed and will only lead to losses in productivi ty and revenue. He should always have replacement workers on standby. Ideally, they should be working in all the other seasons except summer, when they replace all the permanent workers. So, regardless of whether a permanent worker is sick or on vacation, there is a steady pool of replacement employees ready to take their place (Bridger, 2014). Arthur should change the summer vacation to a permanent off season for permanent workers. As soon as summer reaches all the permanent workers are given leaves and they only return

The Computer Mediated Communication Media Essay

The Computer Mediated Communication Media Essay Computer-mediated communication is defined by Metz as cited in Miller Brunner, 2008 as any communication patterns mediated by a computer. The notion of CMC was first discussed in Licklider and Taylor (1968), which posits men will be able to communicate more effectively through a machine (i.e., a computer) than face to face. After almost two decades of studies, researchers have found it increasingly useful to regard computers, through which communication is mediated, as a mass medium (Morris Ogan, 1996). With changes taking place in various aspects of life today due to proliferation of communication, Miller Brunner (2008) hold that research into CMC has become increasingly prominent. CMC studies in both education and business domains have been concerned about the effects of computer as a medium of mass communication (Morris Ogan, 1996). This is largely due to the following characteristics of CMC that Morris (as cited in Chen, 2009) has identified: ubiquity, transparency, asynchronism, hyper-reality, and interactivity. Contrary to its actual potential, earlier ideas about CMC advocated a lack of capacity to deliver rich social information due to text-based and visually anonymous environment (Yao Flanagin, 2004). CMC had been criticised to have inherently prevented interpersonal communication and encouraged impersonal interactions such as bashings on the Internet (Kiesler, Siegel, McGuire, 1984). Siegel, Dubrovsky, Kiesler, and McGuire (1986) find that computer-mediated groups tend to demonstrate more aggressive behavior such as name-calling and swearings, as compared to groups that use face-to-face interactions. Nevertheless, such a deterministic view was challenged in subsequent studies. For instance, it is claimed the email plays a positive role by deconstructing organisational structures, allowing for greater information exchange among more people, and improving socialisation (Spence, 2002). Besides, CMC users are found to be able to adapt to the virtual environment and develop interpersonal relationships that resemble relationships formed face-to-face (Yao Flanagin, 2004). It is also found that group collaboration in CMC has contributed to group processing outcomes deemed innovative and democratic (Miller Brunner, 2008). 2.2 A shift on the Internet The Internet is evolving into a PeopleWeb, which indicates a shift from a web comprised of pages to one populated by people and their artifacts and interactions (Ramakrishnan Tomkin, 2007). In that regard, social networking sites such as Facebook and Friendster that allow information sharing and sourcing, have become extremely popular in the new media (Lipsman, as cited in Pfeil et al., 2009), and according to Bausch and Han (2006), will continue to attract users in a large number. Users are moving away from a state of anonymity on the Internet (McKenna Bargh, 2000) with the evolvement of computer technologies. For instance, popular Chinese social networking site RenRen is concluded to be an extension of users real life as self-disclosure phenomenon elicited by reality rather than anonymity is found present on the site (Yu Wu, 2010). While web 1.0 is getting replaced by applications in the web 2.0 era such as blogs, wikis, and collaborative projects (Kaplan Haenlein, 2009), content now can be modified by all users in a participatory and collaborative manner rather than on an individual basis (Kaplan Haenlein, 2009; Cheung, Chiu, Lee, 2010). With the rise of the social networking sites, their popularity is gauged not only by the size of the user base, but also the ability to provide users with the most significant amount of interaction (Cheung et al., 2010). It is reported in Bausch and Han (2006) that users of the top ten social networking sites in the U.S. had grown from 46.8 million in 2006 to 68.8 million in the following year. The growth of social media has influenced social interaction among people and contributed to a new meaning of the interaction, where scholars have begun looking into (as cited in Lipsman, Pfeil et al., 2009). The ramification of the new media is, as Grossman (2006) puts it, a community and collaboration on a scale never seen before. The web 2.0 a revolution is as if a new version of some old software (Grossman, 2006). Papacharissi and Rubin (2000) have identified online empowerment of individuals linking to instrumentality, interactivity, activity, and involvement as the causes of influence of the new web. On the other hand, Jacobs et al. (2009) attribute the rapid growth of social media to its ability to allow users to produce and share content. While the active audience theory has been shunned as far as traditional media is concerned, Livingstone (1999) highlights the importance of audience activity in both the design and use of interactive media. In fact, the shift in media user activity has been discussed since as early as 1963, when Klapper (as cited in Chigona et al., 2008) put forth the idea that UG focuses on what people do with mass media, rather than what mass media does to people. Shin (2009) calls the UG approach a paradigm shift from traditional media research, where focus was placed on media effects (e.g., what media does to people). A review of the UG theory can be found after this sub-chapter. 2.3 Uses and gratifications (UG) theory The UG theory, otherwise known as the needs and gratifications theory (Roy, 2009, revolves around why and how people use certain media (Lo Leung, 2009). The term gratifications was coined by psychologist Herta Herzogto in 1944 to illustrate specific dimensions of radio audiences usage satisfaction, following which mass communication theorists had adopted and adapted the concept to study various mass media such as TV and electronic bulletins (Luo, 2002). The UG theory is built upon the basic assumption that audience has their own agenda and is deemed as active and goal-oriented rather than passive consumers of information (McQuail, Blumler, Brown, as cited in Katz, Blumler, Gurevitch, 1974). By assuming the audience to be active and goal-directed, the UG perspective posits that they opt for and consume certain media and content that would satisfy their psychological needs, which explains the motivation of their media use (Katz, Gurevitch, Hass, 1973; Rubin, as cited in Roy, 2009; Katz, Blumler, Gurevitch, as cited in Kim, Sohn, Choi, 2010). Such fulfillment of needs as a source of motivation, is proposed to be affecting user gratification of media use (Sangwan, 2005). The UG theory has been adopted and adapted over the years to study the use of various media ranging from the more conventional mass media to the new media and later to mobile technology (Stafford et al., 2004; Chigona et al., 2008; Roy, 2009; Shin, 2009; Liu et al., 2010). Although some scholars have questioned UGs utility in studying the digital media, Ruggiero (as cited in Quan-Haase, 2012) posits the need to seriously include the UG approach in any attempt to speculate on the future direction of mass communication theory. Besides, it is contended that whenever a new technology makes its way into the arena of mass communication, users underlying motivations and decisions to use the new communication tool could be explained by applying the UG paradigm (Elliott Rosenberg, Liu, Cheung Lee, 2010). However, in order to effectively study and measure the new media by using the UG scales intended for traditional media research, Lin (as cited in Shin, 2009) holds that a revision to the scales will be required. Consistent with Lins idea is Angleman (as cited in Shin, 2009), who believes existing theories require amendments in order to fit new media studies. Application of the UG theory in various new media studies has been reviewed and an overview of those studies with their respective motivations is presented in Table 1. Table 2.1: Overview of Prior Studies on New Media UG Author and year Research area Motivations identified James, Wotring, Forrest (1995) Electronic bulletin board (i.e., forums) Transmission of information and education, socialising, medium appeal, computer or other business, entertainment Korgaonkar Wolin (1999) Internet Social escapism, transaction, privacy, information, interaction, socialization, economic motivations Papacharissi (2002) Personal home pages Passing time, entertainment, information, self-expression, professional advancement, communication with friends and family Stafford et al. (2004) Internet Process: resources, search engines, searching, surfing, technology, web sites Content: education, information, knowledge, learning, research Social: chatting, friends, interactions, people Ko, Cho, Roberts (2005) Internet Information, convenience, entertainment, social-interaction Diddi LaRose (2006) Internet news Surveillance, escapism, pass time, entertainment, habit Cheung Lee (2009) Virtual comminity Purposive value, self-discovery, entertainment value, social enhancement, maintaining interpersonal interconnectivity Haridakis Hanson (2009) YouTube Convenient entertainment, convenient information seeking, co-viewing, social interaction Mendes-Filho Tan (2009) User-generated content Content: information consistency, source credibility, argument quality, information framing Process: medium; entertainment Social: recommendation consistency, recommendation rating Liu, Cheung Lee (2010) Twitter Content: disconfirmation of self-documentation, disconfirmation of information sharing Process: disconfirmation of entertainment, disconfirmation of passing time, disconfirmation of self-expression Social: disconfirmation of social interaction Technology: disconfirmation of medium appeal, disconfirmation of convenience 2.4 Media user gratifications Katz et al. (1974) suggest research on gratifications has revolved around media-related needs that serve to satisfy media consumers at least in part who are deemed active and goal-oriented. Despite having a problem with ambiguity as far as definition is concerned, Weiss (1976) asserts that related key terms like uses, needs, satisfactions, gratifications, and motives are being used interchangeably across different papers and within single papers. Stafford et al. (2004) define gratifications as some aspects of user-reported satisfaction. It has been found that satisfaction of user motivations is positively correlated with future internet usage (Papacharissi Rubin, 2000). Before resorting to a certain behavior of media use, past experiences of individuals and whether or not their motivations can be satisfied by certain behaviors will be evaluated (McLeod Becker, as cited in Johnson Yang, 2008). Sangwan (2005) puts forth the idea that gratification can be used as a proxy measure to evaluate the success or failure of a virtual community, which is similar to that used in information systems. He proposes that gratification of media users will be affected by fulfillment of media needs that acts as a motivator. In this research, a total of 22 questions on social media use are employed as the instrument to evaluate and explain users motivations. By taking up the proposal by Sangwan (2005), the research outcome will tell if users motivations have an effect on the gratifications or satisfaction of media users. Detailed information on the research instrument can be referred to in Chapter 3. 2.5 Categorisations of needs and gratifications The UG theory proposes five categories of needs, namely cognitive, affective, personal integrative, social integrative and tension release needs (Katz et al., 1973). Over the years, researchers appropriating the UG theory to study various media have discovered a plethora of different needs. While some of these needs are rather consistent with one of the earliest classifications of needs by Katz et al. (1973), others are not. In a study that examines the relations between web usage and satisfaction, Luo (2002) employs three constructs drawn from previous traditional media UG research, namely informativeness, entertainment, and irritation, in order to assess how each of them affects user attitude towards the web. Research results have confirmed the said constructs were what determine users attitude towards the web. Also employs similar constructs include such researchers as Eighmey (1997), Eighmey and McCord (1998), as well as Kargaonkar and Wolin (1999). Livaditi, Vassilopoulou, Lougos, and Chorianopoulos (2003), in their interactive TV applications UG study, catogorise media needs into the two basic constructs of ritualised and instrumental. Other researchers who have adopted such a classification of needs are Metzger and Flanagin, as well as Rubin (as cited in Ran, 2008), who have found that gratifications, as motivations, do lead to both ritualised and instrumental use of media. In Sangwan (2005), several types of needs have been identified to explain the motivations behind the use of virtual community platforms, such as forums: functional, emotive, and contextual needs. However, it is posited that although the research sample has been assumed to be active participants of virtual communities, there are also passive participants whose latent needs have yet to be identified (Sangwan, 2005). Cutler and Danowski, as well as Stafford and Stafford (as cited in Chigona et al., 2008) divide motivations into the categories of process and content. Later, an additional category known as social motivations has been identified and included (Stafford Stafford, as cited in Chigona et al., 2008). Stafford et al. (2004) describe this additional social dimension as unique to Internet use. Although found to be the weakest variable among others, social motivations serves as a vital construct in the Internet-specific UG research (Stafford et al., 2004). Chigona et al. (2008), who appropriate the motivation categories verified in Stafford et al. (2004) to study mobile Internet UG, have confirmed the presence of all three constructs. Peters, Amato, and Hollenbeck (2007), as well as Mendes-Filho and Tan (2009) are among other researchers who have adopted the three constructs in their respectively studies of wireless advertising and user-generated content. Also adopting the instruments is Shin (2009), who, on top of the three motivation types, has added embedded gratifications to study wireless Internet use. Besides, Liu et al. (2010) also employ the three motivations types on top of an additional technology gratification to study Twitter use. 2.6 Process, content, and social motivations This study bases its main framework on one developed by Stafford and Stafford (as cited in Chigona et al., 2008), and later verified by Stafford et al. (2004): the three motivation types of process, content, and social. The rationale behind this choice has been explained in Chapter 1 under Statement of problem (p.zz). What is defined by each of the process, content, and social motivations, is illustrated in the next few paragraphs. Content gratifications from the UG theory are characterised by their relation to information content, such as product or store information (Stafford Stafford, as cited in Stafford et al., 2004) and place concern on messages carried by the medium (Stafford et al., 2004). Such motivations are stemmed from the use of mediated messages for the receivers intrinsic value (Cutler Danowski, as cited in Chigona et al., 2008). Content motivations take consideration into to the messages that a medium carries (Stafford et al., 2004; Stafford, 2009), which may be informative or entertaining (Stafford, 2009). Roy (2009) asserts that content is normally skewed towards entertainment and dispersion in UG studies of non-Internet media, as compared to informativeness in those of Internet. Nevertheless, certain Internet users may be motivated by such usage process as random browsing and site navigation (Hoffman and Danowski, as cited in Stafford et al., 2004). Process motivations are driven by the actual use of the medium per se (Cutler Danowski, as cited in Chigona et al., 2008; Stafford et al., 2004; Stafford, 2009), such as enjoyment of the process of using the Internet (Hoffman Novak, as cited in Stafford et al., 2004; Stafford, 2009). On the other hand, social motivations include such aspects as chatting, friendship, interactions, and people (Chigona et al., 2008). 2.7 Social dimension and the rising impact Social contacts and interactions have shifted from offline to online realms (Boyd, as cited in Smeele, 2010) and this social dimension defines what users understand about themselves and their relation to the communities (Dyson; McMillan Chavis, as cited in Jacobs et al., 2009). Stafford et al. (2004) posit the importance of looking into the potential UG of the Internet as a social environment, as researchers may be expected to discover emergent social gratifications for Internet use. Research by Jacobs et al. (2009) shows a majority of the students utilise social media in a manner that resembles the social friends and family setting. Besides, Ellison, Steinfield, ande Lampe (as cited in Ross, Orr, Sisic, Arseneault, Simmering, Orr, 2009) also assert that maintenance of pre-existing social relationships has been made possible and may be stronger through online platforms. Users now turn to the Internet more frequently to socialise with people they know and expand their circle of friends (Jones, as cited in Correa, Hinsley Zà ºÃƒ ±iga, 2010). Active participation on sites like Facebook, communication via texting and chat programmes, as well as creation of blogs have become a way of life for the new generation according to Jacobs et al. (2009). Correa et al. (2010) are of the opinion that individuals who choose not to engage online may be limiting their ability to advance socially as it is an increasingly user-generated environment. 2.8 The need to quantify social dimension Stafford et al. (2004) concede that there is limited evidence in support of the distinct social aspect to Internet use. Following the identification of social motivations in Stafford and Stafford (as cited in Chigona et al., 2008), researchers are trying to validate this emerging motivation type, which eventually has been found present in studies by such researchers as Chigona et al. (2008), Haridakis and Hanson (2009), as well as Norway Brandtzà ¦g and Heim (as cited in Kim et al., 2010). Miller and Brunner (2008) hold that studies that focus specifically on the social aspect of online communicators and its theoretical foundations are lacking. For instance, although the social dimension is found present in a mobile Internet UG study by Chigona et al. (2008), the researchers merely confirm its existence without providing much elaboration into how it fares in contrast to content and process motivations the latter of which according to Aoki Downe; Leung Wei; Rubin; Stafford Gillenson; Stafford et al. (as cited in Chigona et al., 2008), are the most pronounced motivation types found on traditional Internet use. Besides, several social media studies also show that the social dimension does not live up to the medias supposedly social nature (e.g., Liu et al., 2010; Smeele, 2010; Xu, Ryan, Prybutok, Wen, 2012). 2.9 Genders and UG Gender differences have been identified as an important aspect in computer-related research (Gunawardena McIsaac, as cited in Kim Chang, 2007). The issue of limited women in the fields of technology and ICT remains a topic of interest for both the scientific community and decision-makers today (Sà ¡inz Là ³pez-Sà ¡ez, 2010). Some studies have suggested that females may be more inclined to have computer anxiety and lower self-efficacy due to the socio-cultural background of gender (Halder, Ray, Chakrabarty, 2010). Gutek and Bikson (as cited in Harrison Rainer, 1992) also find that men tend to demonstrate computer-related skills at workplace. In another instance, Wilder, Mackie, and Cooper (as cited in Harrison Rainer, 1992) find that males show greater interest in using a computer compared to females. In more recent research, Leung (2003) finds socioeconomic status such as gender, with the exception of age, to be predictive of Internet use, and that heavy users of the web are usually males. Although Okazaki (2006) asserts that effect of gender on mobile Internet service adoption is uncertain, married women indicate more negative perceptions than married men. Besides, a study on mobile phone UG by Ran (2008) reveals that males are significantly skewed towards a certain news-seeking need. Roy (2009) also discovers gender-related differences in perceived Internet use. In terms of social media UG, gender-related differences have also been found in a slew of studies such as Sveningsson Elm (2007), Joinson (2008), Jones, Millermaier, Goya-Martinez, and Schuler (2008), Thelwall (2009), as well as Thelwall, Wilkinson, and Uppal (2010). Volman, van Eck, Heemskerk, and Kuiper (2005) contend that the development of software, websites, and even teaching materials needs to have gender sensitivities taken into consideration in order to facilitate better learning among male and female pupils, who demonstrate very different preferences and attitudes towards ICT. Also in line with their idea are Halder, Ray, and Chakrabarty (2010), who suggest the importance of studying behavioral differences between people with respect to information processing and searching as such behaviors have to be more holistically understood and generalised before information retrieval systems and user support services are designed. Those are some implications of how gender differences could impact human behavior associated with the acceptance of information and technologies. With gender being neglected as a significant variable, studying human information behavior will remain incomplete (Nahl Harada; Roy, Taylor, Chi, as cited in Halder, Ray, and Chakrabarty, 2010). It is, therefore, of the essence to find out if the influence of gender is valid in this social media UG study. If valid, which aspect of motivations is users social media experience influenced the most?