Famous Doesnt Apply to Murderers or Gangsters

Famous Doesnt Apply to Murderers or Gangsters Famous Doesnt Apply to Murderers or Gangsters Famous Doesnt Apply to Murderers or Gangsters By Maeve Maddox The latest Mall Murderer left a note expressing the idea that now (i.e., after killing several inoffensive strangers at the local mall), he would be famous. It is to be hoped that writers wont make the mistake of applying that particular adjective to doers of evil deeds. The adjective famous has the meaning honored for achievement. To describe those who do evil attention-getting things, we have the words infamous and notorious. The word infamous expresses the idea that the person or incident described is one of a vicious, contemptible, or criminal nature. The word notorious once meant simply widely-known, but for many centuries has been used as a word of condemnation. For example, Albert Schweitzer was a famous medical missionary to Africa, but Al Capone was a notorious gangster. Each of these adjectives has a corresponding abstract noun: famous / fame infamous / infamy notorious / notoriety On this very day in 1941, President Roosevelt remarked that the date December 7, 1941 would live in infamy. Video Recap Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:35 Synonyms for â€Å"Look†How to Punctuate Descriptions of ColorsPassed vs Past

To Outline or Not to Outline, That is the Question

To Outline or Not to Outline, That is the Question To Outline or Not to Outline, That is the Question To Outline or Not to Outline, That is the Question By Guest Author This is a guest post by Idrees Patel. If you want to write for Daily Writing Tips check the guidelines here. Creative writers are divided into two camps: those who outline and those who don’t: the ones who write straight on and on. Is it wrong to outline? Which method brings the best results? From the beginning of writing, some people like to write an outline before starting writing. However, there are also many which hate to do so. And then there are some who mix the two methods to create their own method. But which is the best? There is no right answer for everyone. You must find your own right answer. Of course, this is the right answer but an elaboration for it isn’t quite a bad idea. So here’s the proper answer: outlining works for some people. And it doesn’t for others. The what and why of outlining is a must to know, so therefore, here is The What of Outlining To outline is to draw something of a big picture of your work (it may be anything, a novel, a story, a blog post, a sales letter etc) before starting to write the content. Outlining means to write all the ideas spinning in your mind down to paper and arrange them in a logical fashion to make the actual writing easier. Still confused? Here is the Wikipedia definition: An outline is a list of the main features of a given topic, often used as a rough draft or summary of the content of a document. A hierarchical outline is a list arranged to show hierarchical relationships. Writers of fiction and creative nonfiction, such as Jon Franklin, may use outlines to establish plot sequence, character development and dramatic flow of a story, sometimes in conjunction with freewriting. Here is what a typical outline may look like: The abuses of television: How children stay late at night and don’t do their school homework How they hamper their eyesight by watching too much TV How bad programmes have a dangerous effect on teenagers How they dedicate too much time to it instead of taking part in useful pursuits And so on. The general opinion is that by doing outlining the writing process will become easier. Why? Because we now have a roadmap which we can follow. Or not The Advantages of Outlining 1. Not getting lost. This is clearly the biggest advantage. Some SOTP (seat of the pants writers) hate outlining. They write without having a roadmap and this is fun for some time. And then the inevitable happens. They don’t know what to write anymore. In contrast, having an outline means that writers always know what to write. 2. Deciding whether your work is good or not. If you don’t know how your story is going to end or go on, then you don’t really know whether it is good or not. It would be painful, wouldn’t it, to discover big plot holes and flaws after having written 50,000 words. Whereas if you outline you know instantly what flaws there are, and you can correct them easily. 3. Straying off the outline if you get a better way. If you are writing and then suddenly get an inspiration and think that the outline was poorer, you are entirely free to stray off the outline. It’s just that, an outline. This way you can compare the two ways, and decide which is better. You couldn’t do this if you didn’t have an outline. 4. Writing with a sense of flow. You know how this will go on. After finishing this, you know you’ve got to do that. Then there are no messy unorganized chapters and scenes (or whatever you’re else you’re writing). You get a sense of flow, and your work will be finished faster. The Disadvantages of Outlining 1. Spoils the mystery and the fun. Okay, sometimes you may not want mystery and you may not want any fun. In that case, you should ignore this point. But for fiction writers, some don’t want to outline because they feel they cannot use their creativity and it takes away all the fun if you just fill it up. To solve this problem, Randy Ingermanson revealed a new method – the Snowflake method. It does let you outline, but doesn’t let it spoil your story. 2. May not be as good as you first thought. If you get a complete different idea for your story later, your outline is pretty much useless work. Therefore, you should try to get all the best ideas from your brain and commit them down to paper to avoid this problem. 3. Just doesn’t seem to agree with your writing style. Some people find it hard to write from an outline. They want their writing to be creative: as creative as possible. I’m one of those writers, although I sometimes write few of my ideas so that I don’t forget it. Lengthy outlining doesn’t work for some, although it does for others. It’s useless to find a one-size-fit-all outlining method, simply because there’s no such thing. Conclusion: Undecided, no right answer for everyone It all comes back to square zero. There are ton of different writing methods and processes, even different outlining methods. But don’t just try to use one because it happens to be popular or famous. It may not work for you, and cost you a whole load of precious time. Only use the method which your brain seems to like. My writing method is a bit of a mix: not an outline and not a SOTP. Maybe yours is too; or maybe you like outlining in its most literal sense. Or maybe you hate it and just like to write freely. Take your pick and have fun. No reason to write if you don’t even like your writing method. Outlining works for some people. Some famous authors can’t write without a lengthy synopsis. If you’re an outliner, you’re in good company. And of course outlining doesn’t work for some people. If you’re a SOTP, you too are in good company of famous authors. Finally, if you choose to be creative and mix it up a little, you’ll find plenty more authors with your method. Just write with which you’re most comfortable. So that’s it. After having learned the advantages and disadvantages of outlining, it’s your choice whether you choose to use it or not. It doesn’t really matter as long as you enjoy writing. Write and love it. About the Author: Idrees Patel is a 13 year old blogging about creative writing tips at WritersTreasure.com. Check out his free series, Creative Writing 101: a beginner’s guide to creative writing. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Addressing A Letter to Two People20 Words Meaning "Being or Existing in the Past"Starting a Business Letter with Dear Mr.

Microeconomics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 14

Microeconomics - Essay Example The fixed costs of the company include web hosting, maintenance of servers and other information technology, and payroll expenses to its writers. The company incurs in monthly marketing expenses in order to increase its web audience. Along with the writers the company has other labor overhead expenses it must pay to the administrators of the company. Due to the vast amount of users which ranks in the millions of monthly customer providing the service to one additional person does not cost the company anything. In order for marginal cost to manifest the company would have to evaluate an additional unit (person) in terms of clusters of tens of thousands of users. Utilizing such a metric would allow a cost to be determined based on the added cost of extra web hosting space. The website utilizes online advertising offerings such as web banners and web links. When you make a search for a topic at the bottom of the article a web search portal will appear at the bottom with different related words. This search engine option represents an advertising revenue stream for the company. The website is not over flooded with ads and the ones that placed are located to the right hand side, at top and at the bottom so that the ads do not interfere with the reading content. Entrepreneurs supply goods to the marketplace in order to make a profit from the sale of that good. They may also supply the good free of charge as promotional campaign in order to build brand value for the company. A good can supply a good in the marketplace in order to test the product. In the case of About.com which works provides information services their incentive to provide such a product is based on building a large online community pool which creates value for the company in terms of advertising revenue. The company can sell online ads in its website because the 57 million monthly unique visitors is a large crowd advertisers want to

Phase 2 Individual Project Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Phase 2 Individual Project - Assignment Example Main Responsibilities of Each Role End User The role of end users especially in information technology (IT) system based development is much vital as they are considered to be the ultimate users of new software on a daily basis. It is the end-users who are aware of the data present in the legacy systems. The primary responsibility of the end-users is to directly interrelate with different computer workstations or terminals in order to effectively conduct their assigned work. The end-users are quite able to differentiate between the formal description and constraints among others for performing their work along with informal practices. Furthermore, they are able to convey relevant valuable information to the users’ representatives relating with the process. In addition, end-users may require participating in the activities concerning Quality Assurance as well. Most importantly, periodically developing functional departments is also viewed to be the other prime responsibilities of the end users (Damodaran, 1996, pp. 363-377). Business Analyst The primary function of the business analysts is to develop means in order to cultivate confidence and respect from both the IT and the business aspects of the organizations. A business analyst is required to understand the stakeholders, employees and customers and their needs ought to be served effectively. Contextually, the most frequent responsibility of the business analysts has been viewed to resolve various problems concerning with the processes and the functions within the organizations while dealing with legacy system development. Furthermore, business analysts are required to combine various functions in order to utilize effective technologies for developing the overall operational procedures. A business analyst is liable to monitor the new IT system after its full implementation (Hernandez, 2012, pp. 1-4). Team Leader The role of a team leader is extremely crucial relating to the aspect of project management . Accordingly, it is necessary that a team leader is flexible in managing his/her team members for successfully completing a project. It has been ascertained that a team leader should perform his or her tasks based on the situations rather than being rigid in following his/her own managing style. Moreover, team leaders should be capable of motivating and encouraging his/her project team. The team leader should be able to control the behavior of his/her project team and support them while performing their respective tasks. The team leader should also be able to promote healthy affiliation among the team members and promote effective communication in order to smoothly achieve the organizational goals. It is worth mentioning that smooth completion of a project largely depends upon the activities that perform by an efficient team leader (Roman, 2011, pp. 1-5). Skills Necessary for the Respective Positions Skills Necessary for End-Users Concerning with end-users skills, high level compet encies and experience are required for adopting as well as exploiting effectual decisions. Moreover, the end-users must possess proper knowledge, know-how and power in order to shape the improvement in accordance with the needs of the organizations. At the same time, the end-users should have the willingness and enthusiasm during the course of the IT development in order to seek

Analysis of Johnson Johnsons production Essay Example for Free

Analysis of Johnson Johnsons production Essay 1. Company characteristics and supply chainJohnson Johnson is a global American pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer packaged goods manufacturer founded in the state of New Jersey, United States in 1886 (Wikipedia, 2008). The corporations headquarters is located in New Brunswick and its consumer division is located in Skillman, New Jersey. The corporation includes some 250 subsidiary companies with operations in over 57 countries while its products are sold in over 175 countries. Johnson Johnson and its subsidiaries have approximately 115,600 employees worldwide. Johnson Johnsons primary focus has been on products related to human health and well-being. According to MarketWatch (2006) states that Johnson Johnsons worldwide business is divided into three segments: Consumer, Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices and Diagnostics. The Consumer segment manufactures and markets a range of products used in the baby and child care, skin care, oral and wound care and womens health care fields, as well as nutritional and over-the-counter pharmaceutical products. These products, available without prescription, are marketed principally to the general public and sold both to wholesalers and directly to independent and chain retail outlets throughout the world (MarketWatch, 2006). The Pharmaceutical segment includes products in the following therapeutic areas: anti-fungal, anti-infective, cardiovascular, contraceptive, dermatology, gastrointestinal, hematology, immunology, neurology, oncology, pain management, psychotropic and urology. These products are distributed directly to retailers, wholesalers and health care professionals for prescription use by the general public (MarketWatch, 2006). The Medical Devices and Diagnostics segment includes a range of products distributed to wholesalers, hospitals and retailers, used principally in the professional fields by physicians, nurses, therapists, hospitals, diagnostic laboratories and clinics. Distribution to these health care professional markets is done both directly and through surgical supply and other dealers (MarketWatch, 2006). From the research we gather, that effective supply chain at Johnson Johnson is similar to the above scenario of trust based partnerships, which mean suppliers are working in tandem with the business for mutual benefit. It also suggests a proactive approach being taken rather than a reactive approach to manage logistics issues. 2. Importance of Supply chain managementThe company and its subsidiary like Lifescan are one of the top users of collaborative product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions for the value chain. For example it uses MatrixOnes PLM environment, which provides a secure, collaborative product development environment that will streamline product design and development across LifeScan Scotlands global operations, enabling the company to quickly and cost-effectively bring new products to market. The deployment was prompted by the results of a Johnson Johnson study into the key product lifecycle solutions in the market. Johnson Johnson aimed to cut their product development cycle by as much as 20%. In addition, the company aims to drive improved customer satisfaction, integrate suppliers into the development process, improve visibility to design centers throughout the world, and have easy access to all vital product information. (Lifescan press release 2005 from HREF 1)Fig 1 Mutual Accounta bility Map between buyer Seller at Johnson Johnson (Source Slobodow, B Abdullah, O Babuschak, W C 2008p 78) Distribution CentresJohnson Johnson has finished the construction of a 440,000 square foot distribution centre in Memphis, TN to provide direct shipment of their medical products with no third party distributor involvement (Healthcare Purchasing News, 2004). In addition, Johnson Johnsons new European distribution centres for its medical devices diagnostics division in Courcelles, near Charleroi, Belgium (Janssen Pharmaceutica, 2005). In this way, the centre will increase the competitiveness of the organization and facilitate delivery to the companys customers. Orders completed through the Johnson Johnson direct model would eliminate that distributor mark-up, providing incrementally lower procurement costs for customers. Thus, this lower pricing will be enough to entice customers to bypass the convenience of their one stop distribution relationship (Healthcare Purchasing News, 2004). The Supply Chain graph source Heizer, J. and Render, B. 2004 p 414The supply chain includes all the interactions between suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and customers. The chain includes transportation, scheduling information, cash and credit transfers, ideas, designs, and material  transfers. Risk ManagementAccording to a report from Goldman Sachs, Johnson Johnson is requiring all of its medical products distributors to agree to not source any Johnson Johnson products from any entity other than Johnson Johnson (Healthcare Purchasing News, 2004). It appears that the aim of this mandate is to reduce the risk of counterfeit medical products reaching end customers by forcing distributors to agree not to participate in the secondary market and to purchase only from Johnson Johnson. While over 100 distributors have signed the agreement none of the publicly traded medical distributors are on Johnson Johnsons list of those who have agreed with the companys terms and signed its agreement. This decision is important because of the clear mandate made in its trading partners. According to Healthcare Purchasing News (2004) Goldman Sachs believes that Johnson Johnson products may account for as much as 14% of the hospital distribution market and Owens Minor indicates that Johnson Johnson products represent approximately 16% of total company sales. However, Johnson Johnson remains an extremely important supplier for any medical products distributor whose managements are under significant pressure to come to agreement with company demands and to remain as authorized distributors (Healthcare Purchasing News, 2004). 3. Operational Features reflecting common practice in supply chain management. Efficient Consumer Response (ECR)It is a strategy where partners in a supply chain synchronise the product flow through the distribution pipeline from point of manufacture to point of final sale. ECR is primarily related to strategic partnerships in the distribution channels of the grocery industry to increase the performance of the consumers while Johnson Johnson states two-digit turnover increases in their respective business segments by using it (Kotzab, 2000, p. 145). Master Cyclist PrinciplesIt is defined that how a market literate management team would approach short-run functional decisions regarding inventory, production, marketing and pricing as well as more strategic choices  regarding capital expansion, acquisitions and divestitures (Navarro, 2004, p. 19). According to Navarro (2004, p. 19) reported, Johnson Johnson cut its capital expenditures by over $100 million the first decrease in seven years and as the significant cash reserves, it saw double-digit growth in both revenues and earnings. Two-Way ScorecardThe Two-Way Scorecard is a tangible means of embedding cooperation in the supplier-buyer relationship. In Johnson Johnson, supply chain performance is measured across five components: execution, compliance, financial impact, new products and partnership. Furthermore, the Two-Way Scorecard has been put into practice with strategic suppliers over the last four years. Positive results have been seen in a range of areas, from resolving potential supplier liquidity problems to addressing the inefficiencies of global trading. Several habitual pain points have eased; most notably new product launches (Slobodow, Abdullah Babuschak, 2008, p.76). 4. Effective interaction. Johnson Johnson Health Care Systems Inc. (JJHCS) uses a standard internal process for design, development, and implementation while utilizing Six Sigma and change management tools. Importance of Organizational DesignOrganizational design is important for several reasons. Organizational design can be a competitive tool by providing the organization with flexibility needed to respond to changing customer needs while bolstering organizational efficiency and effectiveness. It can create the infrastructure to enable a strategy to be implemented and provide accountability to employees by clearly demarcating the areas of ownership and control. It can also provide personal growth by creating opportunities for people to take on different and challenging roles within the same organization. Any work process in the organization can be in scope for organizational design (Yacovone, 2007, p. 105). Benefits of Organizational DesignJJHCS identified the need for an organizational design model and process through an internal Six Sigma business assessment. Six Sigma is a rigorous and disciplined methodology  that uses data and statistical analysis to measure and improve a companys operational performance by identifying and eliminating defects in manufacturing and service-related processes (Six Sigma.com cited in Yacovone, 2007, p. 106). This ensured that the customers needs and critical quality factors were the drivers of the redesign. These findings drove the development of the JJHCS organizational design framework, process, and toolkit to conduct organizational design, along with the recognition that several large change initiatives within the company were going to require significant organizational design. Additionally, the organization recognized that the human resources (HR) business partner role required new competencies, such as change management and organizational design, to meet the needs of the business (Yacovone, 2007, p. 107). ResultsA key business metric for accounts receivable is days sales outstanding (DSO), and this project resulted in reducing the DSO by over one day. This equates to several million dollars a day for Johnson Johnson. Also the use of the impact assessment tool resulted in robust change management plans such as communication activities, standard operating procedures, and proper training (Yacovone, 2007, p. 105). 5. Issues SolutionsGrey MarketJohnson Johnsons Medical Device Diagnostics business (MDD) is one business that has faced brand risks head on and taken a proactive stance to address its current issues and mitigate future risks from counterfeiters and related concerns. For example, According to Wald and Holleran (2007, p. 58) reported that in 2003, some doctors submitted surgical mesh to MDD that did not have the handling qualities they were used to with MDDs product. The company sent the product through its quality assurance processes for authentication and determined it was fake. This grey market is a concern because it can signal questionable third-party business practices, present a possible avenue for counterfeit products and cause significant lost revenue. Therefore, MDD decided to take action, they asked Ernst r Young to expand the investigation to regions around the world to identify additional risks. Finally, the studys findings were that the company had a diversion problem which involves the selling of a legitimate product in markets other than  those for which it was intended, and it opens the door for counterfeit products to enter the supply chain (Wald Holleran, 2007, p. 58). CausesOne factor was MDDs business culture. Because Johnson Johnson is a highly decentralized business, each of its operating and regional companies was approaching grey market issues and counterfeiting with disparate brand protection policies or strategies (Wald Holleran, 2007, p. 59). As a result, different operating companies were independently developing their own anti-counterfeiting and anti-grey market solutions. Another cause was the business design and practices. One example was that no single person or group at the MDD level was responsible for protecting MDDs brands or its products. A second example was that the companys due diligence process, which it reviewed third-party suppliers, manufacturers and distributors, was incomplete. The company also did not have a robust supply chain strategy to assess how it might negotiate standardized terms of sale such as authorized distributors, the right to audit and the right to data in jurisdictions outside the United States that allowed the sharing of such data (Wald Holleran, 2007, p. 59). The third identified cause of the companys vulnerability was a lack of information. SolutionsTo establish a system whereby MDD could manage its brand-related risk day to day, the team focused on policy design, organization design, market monitoring and enforcement which were vulnerable from a business culture, business design and informational perspective (Wald Holleran, 2007, p. 60). Firstly, the team developed a brand protection policy that is now being used as a guideline by MDD. The policy addresses the protection of intellectual property, accountability issues, product protection and supply chain standards, and incident reporting and enforcement protocols. Secondly, an organization was put in place throughout MDD to address brand protection across the business. The team helped to define the key resources and assign them specific roles, responsibilities and accountability. These roles include a vice president and executives responsible for product protection, supply chain management, and incident reporting and enforcement. Thirdly, for those products at highest risk, the company will develop product protection plans that include overt and covert anti-counterfeiting  technologies and features based on their risk levels. This allows the company to consistently manage its products throughout the organization, from sourcing through distribution. Finally, which also is under development, is a market-monitoring program to keep tabs on the product actually being sold to consumers. Today, Johnson Johnson executives report that they are now more effectively dealing with counterfeits than ever before, which they credit to the heightened awareness and new reporting policies (Wald Holleran, 2007, p. 61). References Healthcare Purchasing News 2004, Johnson Johnson launches self-distribution program, accessed 26/04/2008, http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BPC/is_2_28/ai_n6364792Heizer, J. and Render, B. 2004, 5th edn, Principles of Operations Management, Pearson: Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Finch BJ, Operations Now Profitability, process, performance, 2nd Edition 2006, McGraw Hill Irwin New YorkJanssen Pharmaceutica 2005, Johnson Johnson starts building European Distribution Centre for its Medical Devices Diagnostics Division in Courcelles, Belgium, accessed 27/04/2008, http://www.janssenpharmaceutica.be/news_headlines43_E.aspKotzab, H 2000, Managing the Grocery Industry in an Efficient Consumer Response Manner, Retail, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 145-150. Lifescan Press Release, 2005 from HREF 1 http://www.matrixone.com/matrixone/press_releases_20050208_lifescan.htmlMarketWatch 2006, Company Description, accessed 25/04/2008, http://www.marketwatch.com/tools/quotes/profile.asp?sid=2689symb=jnjsiteid=mktwNavarro, P 2004, Principles of the Master Cyclist, MIT SLOAN Management Review, vol. 45, no. 2, pp. 19-24. Slobodow, B Abdullah, O Babuschak, W C 2008, When Supplier Partnerships Arent, MIT SLOAN Management Review, vol. 49, no. 2, pp.76-83. Wald, J Holleran, J 2007, Counterfeit Products and Faulty Supply Chain, Risk Management, vol. 54, iss. 4, pp. 58-61. Wikipedia 2008, Johnson Johnson, accessed 26/04/2008, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson__JohnsonYacovone, L 2007, Organizational Design for a Supply Chain Transformation: Best Practice at Johnson Johnson Health Care Systems Inc., Organization Development Journal, vol. 25, iss. 3, pp.103-109.

US Government - Checks And Balances :: Political Science Government Essays

US Government - Checks And Balances "There is no more important function for all of government to define the rights of its citizens." (Norman Dorsen) In this essay I will give a short history of the government in United States of America (U.S.). Then I will describe each of the three branches of government in the U.S. and the relationship between them. In principle, the U.S. is a democratic republic, they govern themselves by choosing their leaders by secret ballot, and these leaders in turn make the rules. Americans started "governing themselves" as a nation on July 4th, 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia by representatives of the thirteen British colonies in North America. These states joined together formally in 1781 under a first "constitution," the Articles of Confederation. That loose union of the states was replaced by the Constitution of the U.S. in 1789. This document (amended 26 times) is still the political foundation of the U.S. Being based on a written constitution, the U.S. government is committed in principle to the rule of law. To guarantee the rights of free speech, a free press, freedom of religion etc. the first ten amendments, called the "Bill of Rights" were adopted in 1791. There are three levels of government in the U.S. Local government (city/county), state government, and federal government. Here I will pay most attention to the federal government. Many of the concepts of the U.S. government can be traced to progressive thinkers of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, e.g. Locke, Spinoza, Blackstone, and Montesquiueu. Out of some of their thoughts the U.S. government system with the three branches were made: A legislative branch (Congress), an Executive branch (President), and a judicial branch (Supreme Court). The Constitution is most of all a document of checks and balances: among the three branches of the federal government; and between the levels of government, nation and state. The legislative branch (Congress) that has the power to make laws valid for the whole country. Powers like the regulation of taxes, regulation of commerce between the states and with foreign countries, the power to declare war, and the power to impeach the President are some of the other matters the legislative branch have to deal with. Congress has two chambers (or "houses"): the Senate and the House of Representatives ("the house"). The Senate consists of one hundred senators: Two senators from each of the fifty states.

Why We Should Ban Cell Phones And Driving

Every day, millions of people get in their vehicles and drive. Some are mothers, some are fathers, some are students, yet all are in danger from preventable accidents caused by cell phones. For proof that cell phone accidents are increasing, people simply need to look at sections of websites devoted entirely to car accidents caused by people using cell phones while driving (Car Accidents). We live in the now generation. We want everything as soon as possible and preferably before we know we want it.Imagine how many people turn their cell phones on and call people the instant their plane lands, minutes before their plane reaches the gate. Cellular phones feed into our need to have information and always be connected, but that need is only safe as long as common sense is used. When common sense is not in effect, driving while using a cell phone can be dangerous. Problems Cell phone accidents injure 330,000 people a year and kill 2,600 a year (Britt 2005). Most people have seen someone talking on a cell phone and driving erratically.They are typically not hard to see because they are usually weaving into the next lane or have poor reflexes when confronted with a red or green light. We ban drinking and driving because there are so many deaths and injuries caused by it, so why do we continue to ignore the dangers of calling and driving? The problem has not gone unnoticed. The government has recognized the risk of driving while calling and have enacted legislature to counteract the increasing number of people involved in accidents caused by distracted drivers.Yet each state has different laws regarding cell phones and driving. Based on the most recent statistics (2008), some states like California talking on the phone (unless it is on the speaker) while driving, and certain groups of people from using the phone. Other states, like Louisiana, do not have any restrictions on using cell phones while driving (Edgar Snyder and Associates). Statistics Cell phones have made our lives more convenient but also more dangerous. Cell phones have 250 million users in the United States, a number that is increasing yearly at a rate of 40%.Studies have also discovered that cell phone use while driving increases the chance of a car accident. Even the task of dialing numbers can cause a person to potentially lose control of the vehicle. Incidentally, most people who were in car accidents while driving were on the phone. Out of the plethora of accidents where cell phones were involved, the drivers hit large objects that would have been avoidable had the driver been focusing on the road (Edgar Snyder and Associates). People who believe that they have excellent reflexes and can avoid a crash are incorrect.It was found that a 20-year-old driver talking on a cell phone has the reflexes of a 70-year-old driver not talking on a cell phone (Britt 2005). People who use hands-free cell phones also contribute to the heightened danger on the road. The mitigating factor in a ccidents involving cell phones is distraction. The problem is that the drivers can see the road, but they are not involved in what is happening on the road. As strange as it seems, a study found that it is categorically safer to have a person driving with a blood alcohol level greater than .08 on the road driving than to have a person talking on a cell phone driving (Britt 2005). How to Help Now that we know the extent of the problem, what can we do to prevent those unnecessary accidents from claiming more lives, maybe even the life of someone we love? With inconsistent legislation among the states regarding cell phone use and driving, there is a chance that you have driven in a state with very relaxed or nonexistent laws about driving with cell phones. There are several ways people can protect themselves when driving with a cell phone.A spokeswoman for the California Highway Patrol, Anne Da Vigo suggests pulling off of the road for extended phone calls, to tell the person you are t alking to on the phone that you are driving, ask any passengers accompanying you to do the talking, keep the call short and only use the phone when you need to. (Goepel 2003). Legislature Even though those steps are beneficial when using a cell phone while driving, it is not enough to keep the safe cell phone drivers away from the dangerous ones. We need to petition our government to ban any form of cellular phone use while driving.The government will not know how concerned we are about the dangers of driving while calling unless we bring more attention to the situation. Twenty-two of the 50 states have no legislature banning driving while on a cell phone. That means that people in 44% of the states in the United States are at in increased danger of being in an accident caused by a driver talking on a cell phone (Edgar Snyder and Associates). The first steps for legislation come from the citizens, businesses, lobbyists, elected officials, etc. (Nevada Legislature).If we decide to ig nore the initial steps to have a bill passed because we are confident someone else will do the work, we are wrong. We need to be a collective voice that lets our government know that we are tired of having innocent citizens hurt by distracted drivers. It is time for us to have our government to listen to what we have to say. We need to be proactive so we do not lose more people from our communities to senseless accidents. References Britt, R. R. (2005). Drivers on Cell Phones Kill Thousands, Snarl Traffic. LiveScience. Retrieved July 18, 2009 from LiveScience database. Car Accidents.Cell Phone Accidents Pictures & Stories. Retrieved July 18, 2009, from http://www. car-accidents. com/cell_phone_car_accidents. html . Edgar Snyder and Associates. Car Accident Cell Phone Statistics. Retrieved July 18, 2009, from http://www. edgarsnyder. com/auto-accident/auto/cell/statistics. html . Goepel, J. (2003). Crashes caused by inattentive drivers are nothing new. Cell phones are the latest dist raction. Via AAA Traveler’s Companion. Retrieved July 18, 2009 from VIA Magazine database. Nevada Legislature. How a Bill is Passed. Retrieved July 18, 2009, from http://www. leg. state. nv. us/General/im_just_a_bill. cfm .

My Philosophy of Education

I believe that we are all active learners, constantly absorbing new data from our environments, using our minds to merge the creative with the actual, and the fundamental with the ideal. Active learning is defined as learning by being physically and mentally engaged in activities. As the teacher, my goal is to actively teach the children while maintaining a positive yet helpful attitude, in a low pressure and respectful atmosphere. Personally, I think of the relationship between the teacher and the student as a bow and arrow, with the teacher [bow] gently steadying and providing the stable structure to guide the student [arrow] along on its path, gracefully arcing through the air. For my classroom, I would like to create a warm and educational environment that provides intellectual as well as emotional support for the child and their family, while demonstrating the sound skills absorbed in class. Ideally I would aim to balance the â€Å"old school† and the â€Å"new school† theories of education. To achieve this atmosphere, I would incorporate aspects of the High/Scope Method, Erikson’s theory of Psychosocial Development, Maslow’s Multiple Intelligences, and sensory materials prevalent in the Montessori School. Classroom Environment Geared towards the current stages of development of the child, my program would utilize the broad and realistic educational experiences that are designed to promote a constructive process of learning. Theme-related material will serve to peak their interest and establish the link between the core aspects of the lesson and real-life applications. A â€Å"center† based classroom set up encourages children to interact with others in developmentally appropriate play and inspires creativity. Maintaining a daily schedule allows for children to get accustomed to routine and also for teachers to correctly determine the children’s individual schedules and learning processes. Focusing on the child’s key experiences will serve to foster development of important skills and abilities. Incorporating work time, recall time and cleanup time further fosters the development of routine-based practices and will help teach the importance of self accountability. Acting out the routines of adults, the children will learn how to manage their time as well as take care of their surroundings. Interactions with classmates will provide the necessary social skills and establish methods of early conflict resolution practices. In order to properly engage the child’s mind, the classroom must be appropriate, safe, interactive, organized, and embracing to the different cultures and ethnicities present in today’s society. Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development According to Erik Erikson, â€Å"Hope is both the earliest and the most indispensable virtue inherent in the state of being alive. If life is to be sustained hope must remain, even where confidence is wounded, trust impaired. † Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development occurs in stages, and takes the child’s entire social interactions and life experiences into account. According to Erikson, our personality is shaped not only by our natural disposition, but more so by the society that we live in. Erikson’s theory centers around the concept of ego identity, the sense of ourselves that we develop based upon our social interactions, and the concept of ego strength or ego quality, which is the sense of mastery or inadequacy that we feel after a certain stage in our life. Each stage is like a series of mini-tests, and our ability to pass or fail these tests either strengthens our resolve and personal confidence, or forces us to withdraw and evaluate ourselves more intensely. Erikson believed each stage was tied to a certain part of our development, and conflicts encountered would serve as training to help us develop and hone our psychological quality. Preschoolers fall into Erikson’s third stage of development, â€Å"Initiative versus Guilt. † During this stage, children attempt to control their world through social play and other childhood games, asserting dominance and taking on leadership roles. It is during these early school years, children begin to feel pride and accomplishment, especially in peer-measured tasks. Parents who are involved with their child’s school activities and interested in their early academics help enforce these feelings of pride, and establish a bond based on encouragement and positive reinforcement. Conversely, children who receive little or no encouragement from parents, teachers, or peers will instead doubt their ability to be successful. Howard Gardener’s Multiple Intelligences Howard Gardener believed that people are smart in multiple ways, utilizing intelligences in eight specific areas. The eight areas are visual/spatial, verbal/linguistic, math/logical, body/kinesthic, musical/rhythmic, intrapersonal, interpersonal and naturalistic. Visual/spatial skills relate to the visual realm and how things are perceived or seen. I will focus on arts and crafts that appeal to the visual aspect of learning, and how the visual perception relates to the actual reality. Verbal/linguistic skills cover the languages, including speaking, writing and listening. My activities for enforcing these skills could be creative story writing, listening to foreign languages, reading story relating to concept material, doing word searches, crosswords, or practicing handwriting. Math/logical skills cover the problem solving and logical thought processes, so my planning will include activities such as board games, matching or card games, word or number puzzles, bingo and pattern associations. Body/kinesthic skills involve movement of the body, which I will enforce through exercise, dance or sports activities, as well as recess and certain games. Musical/rhythmic skills tie in nicely with body movement, so I will incorporate singing, dancing or playing an instrument. Intrapersonal skills are associated with our feelings, values and attitudes, both intrinsic and learned, and teachers can create activities where children can discuss differences in background, family structure and culture that may influence these skills. Interpersonal skills, how we use our feelings during interaction with others, can be honed with group activities like dramatic role play and class projects. Finally, to focus on naturalistic skills, the logical process of classification and hierarchy of things, my assignments will include tasks such as putting things in order by category, pattern identification or sorting objects with their type and purpose. Montessori’s Sensory Materials Founded on the ideas and practices of Maria Montessori, I would utilize the core principles of her methods in my daily routine. Keeping my promises and staying on schedule will help to create a respectful atmosphere, and keeping the lesson plans fresh and interactive will encourage learning through nvironment. The prepared and organized centers and related lesson activities will serve to support children in their self-education (a. k. a. auto-education) phase, and allow children freedom and choice of activity. By teaching skills related to everyday life, such as walking in an orderly fashion or carrying objects to the table, the children will be able to practice self care skills. I will provide s ensory materials that are designed to promote learning through the five senses, thus creating an awareness of the body and its ability to learn from real life. By encouraging role play, the children can prepare for adult occupation and construct their own version of the world around them. Furthermore, I will address the demands of diversity and disabiltilty in the classroom by using mixed age groups, promoting individual play within a supportive classroom, repetition of skills and acknowledging sensory perceptions and abilities. The Montessori influence will also be evident in my classroom setup, as I desire child-sized furniture with bright and coordinated colors to promote aesthetic awareness of the child’s environment. Identity of a Preschooler A preschooler is a most usually a child between the ages of three to five, and has not yet entered kindergarten. During this stage, children are egocentric, preoperational, and unable to properly manage their time or self regulatory skills. Most theorists stress the emphasis of play during this stage as the most effective method of implementing solid learning practices and skill awareness. According to Piaget, play promotes cognitive schemes and enhances cognitive development. By maintaining a daily schedule, the preschooler can adjust to the naturally occurring activities and still maintain their individual learning pace. Montessori believed that play was the equivalent of a child’s work and their preschool was equal to an adult’s place of work. Play provides for unintentional yet effective learning. Free play (a. k. a. informal play) helps broaden the child’s creative aspects, and allows for development of personal interests. Symbolic (pretend) and constructive play help children build and test theories, while functional and outdoor play enforce muscular activities. Children in this age group are open to learning, and are constantly questioning the elements of their surroundings. Assessments – Formal versus Informal My major concern with assessment methods is that the spectrum for what is acceptable seems to vary from state to state or center to center. My goal is to streamline the assessment process and incorporate both informal and formal methods. Since assessment goes hand in hand with observation, I will encourage the active participation of the child in their own education, incorporating my own version of evaluating the child. My daily planning of activities and structured curriculum will allow for careful and accurate observation of the child. In my experience with teaching preschool, children learn best when given a project or activity that reinforces the concepts learned that day. I would make every attempt to keep daily notes on each child’s behavior, attitude and progress in the classroom. By noting individual interests and preferences, I can identify the methods that best suit each child’s learning curve. As for formal assessments, standardized testing is one of the most relied upon methods for assessing a child and interpreting their skill levels to determine if the child is ready to proceed or be held back. Additionally, it is important for me to consider not only the regulated standards, but also each child’s individual background. I feel that this consideration for the child’s individual situation will allow for a more accurate assessment. Although I feel that portfolio assessment can sometimes be too broad and open to interpretation, I do think that keeping artistic evidence of the child’s skill achievements can serve not only to pinpoint the progress of the child, but also as a confidence and self-esteem builder for the child. Children are proud to show off their accomplishments and by displaying projects the child will learn to trust in their own natural abilities. Standards and Goals / Ideal Environment Appropriate goals that I would like each child to successfully master or at least become relatively proficient in are self-help skills, an awareness of healthy habits, a desire to learn, evident language and literacy development, and mostly a strong sense of character. I would like them to be able to express different areas of interest, including music and the arts, methods of learning, and interactive games. Children that are not able to grasp the major content areas will be assessed more in-depth, and a conference with the parent(s) will be scheduled. Ideally, I will create a healthy, respectful, supportive and challenging environment that also maintains the developmentally appropriate practices and incorporates all children into the classroom learning environment. I would like for the parents to be involved and aware of their children’s learning practices. I will assign occasional homework, both to emphasize content covered in class and also to provide parents the opportunity to help their children learn. I believe that parents who take an active role in their child’s education have a more positive and lasting impression on their child. Because of this, I will work to include the parents whenever possible, and keep them imformed of their child’s progress, no matter the speed of progression. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I desire to implement a program that is easy for parents to replicate within their home life, thus creating a unified method of child learning that can only serve to ease the learning process for the child. My Philosophy of Education I believe that we are all active learners, constantly absorbing new data from our environments, using our minds to merge the creative with the actual, and the fundamental with the ideal. Active learning is defined as learning by being physically and mentally engaged in activities. As the teacher, my goal is to actively teach the children while maintaining a positive yet helpful attitude, in a low pressure and respectful atmosphere. Personally, I think of the relationship between the teacher and the student as a bow and arrow, with the teacher [bow] gently steadying and providing the stable structure to guide the student [arrow] along on its path, gracefully arcing through the air. For my classroom, I would like to create a warm and educational environment that provides intellectual as well as emotional support for the child and their family, while demonstrating the sound skills absorbed in class. Ideally I would aim to balance the â€Å"old school† and the â€Å"new school† theories of education. To achieve this atmosphere, I would incorporate aspects of the High/Scope Method, Erikson’s theory of Psychosocial Development, Maslow’s Multiple Intelligences, and sensory materials prevalent in the Montessori School. Classroom Environment Geared towards the current stages of development of the child, my program would utilize the broad and realistic educational experiences that are designed to promote a constructive process of learning. Theme-related material will serve to peak their interest and establish the link between the core aspects of the lesson and real-life applications. A â€Å"center† based classroom set up encourages children to interact with others in developmentally appropriate play and inspires creativity. Maintaining a daily schedule allows for children to get accustomed to routine and also for teachers to correctly determine the children’s individual schedules and learning processes. Focusing on the child’s key experiences will serve to foster development of important skills and abilities. Incorporating work time, recall time and cleanup time further fosters the development of routine-based practices and will help teach the importance of self accountability. Acting out the routines of adults, the children will learn how to manage their time as well as take care of their surroundings. Interactions with classmates will provide the necessary social skills and establish methods of early conflict resolution practices. In order to properly engage the child’s mind, the classroom must be appropriate, safe, interactive, organized, and embracing to the different cultures and ethnicities present in today’s society. Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development According to Erik Erikson, â€Å"Hope is both the earliest and the most indispensable virtue inherent in the state of being alive. If life is to be sustained hope must remain, even where confidence is wounded, trust impaired. † Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development occurs in stages, and takes the child’s entire social interactions and life experiences into account. According to Erikson, our personality is shaped not only by our natural disposition, but more so by the society that we live in. Erikson’s theory centers around the concept of ego identity, the sense of ourselves that we develop based upon our social interactions, and the concept of ego strength or ego quality, which is the sense of mastery or inadequacy that we feel after a certain stage in our life. Each stage is like a series of mini-tests, and our ability to pass or fail these tests either strengthens our resolve and personal confidence, or forces us to withdraw and evaluate ourselves more intensely. Erikson believed each stage was tied to a certain part of our development, and conflicts encountered would serve as training to help us develop and hone our psychological quality. Preschoolers fall into Erikson’s third stage of development, â€Å"Initiative versus Guilt. † During this stage, children attempt to control their world through social play and other childhood games, asserting dominance and taking on leadership roles. It is during these early school years, children begin to feel pride and accomplishment, especially in peer-measured tasks. Parents who are involved with their child’s school activities and interested in their early academics help enforce these feelings of pride, and establish a bond based on encouragement and positive reinforcement. Conversely, children who receive little or no encouragement from parents, teachers, or peers will instead doubt their ability to be successful. Howard Gardener’s Multiple Intelligences Howard Gardener believed that people are smart in multiple ways, utilizing intelligences in eight specific areas. The eight areas are visual/spatial, verbal/linguistic, math/logical, body/kinesthic, musical/rhythmic, intrapersonal, interpersonal and naturalistic. Visual/spatial skills relate to the visual realm and how things are perceived or seen. I will focus on arts and crafts that appeal to the visual aspect of learning, and how the visual perception relates to the actual reality. Verbal/linguistic skills cover the languages, including speaking, writing and listening. My activities for enforcing these skills could be creative story writing, listening to foreign languages, reading story relating to concept material, doing word searches, crosswords, or practicing handwriting. Math/logical skills cover the problem solving and logical thought processes, so my planning will include activities such as board games, matching or card games, word or number puzzles, bingo and pattern associations. Body/kinesthic skills involve movement of the body, which I will enforce through exercise, dance or sports activities, as well as recess and certain games. Musical/rhythmic skills tie in nicely with body movement, so I will incorporate singing, dancing or playing an instrument. Intrapersonal skills are associated with our feelings, values and attitudes, both intrinsic and learned, and teachers can create activities where children can discuss differences in background, family structure and culture that may influence these skills. Interpersonal skills, how we use our feelings during interaction with others, can be honed with group activities like dramatic role play and class projects. Finally, to focus on naturalistic skills, the logical process of classification and hierarchy of things, my assignments will include tasks such as putting things in order by category, pattern identification or sorting objects with their type and purpose. Montessori’s Sensory Materials Founded on the ideas and practices of Maria Montessori, I would utilize the core principles of her methods in my daily routine. Keeping my promises and staying on schedule will help to create a respectful atmosphere, and keeping the lesson plans fresh and interactive will encourage learning through nvironment. The prepared and organized centers and related lesson activities will serve to support children in their self-education (a. k. a. auto-education) phase, and allow children freedom and choice of activity. By teaching skills related to everyday life, such as walking in an orderly fashion or carrying objects to the table, the children will be able to practice self care skills. I will provide s ensory materials that are designed to promote learning through the five senses, thus creating an awareness of the body and its ability to learn from real life. By encouraging role play, the children can prepare for adult occupation and construct their own version of the world around them. Furthermore, I will address the demands of diversity and disabiltilty in the classroom by using mixed age groups, promoting individual play within a supportive classroom, repetition of skills and acknowledging sensory perceptions and abilities. The Montessori influence will also be evident in my classroom setup, as I desire child-sized furniture with bright and coordinated colors to promote aesthetic awareness of the child’s environment. Identity of a Preschooler A preschooler is a most usually a child between the ages of three to five, and has not yet entered kindergarten. During this stage, children are egocentric, preoperational, and unable to properly manage their time or self regulatory skills. Most theorists stress the emphasis of play during this stage as the most effective method of implementing solid learning practices and skill awareness. According to Piaget, play promotes cognitive schemes and enhances cognitive development. By maintaining a daily schedule, the preschooler can adjust to the naturally occurring activities and still maintain their individual learning pace. Montessori believed that play was the equivalent of a child’s work and their preschool was equal to an adult’s place of work. Play provides for unintentional yet effective learning. Free play (a. k. a. informal play) helps broaden the child’s creative aspects, and allows for development of personal interests. Symbolic (pretend) and constructive play help children build and test theories, while functional and outdoor play enforce muscular activities. Children in this age group are open to learning, and are constantly questioning the elements of their surroundings. Assessments – Formal versus Informal My major concern with assessment methods is that the spectrum for what is acceptable seems to vary from state to state or center to center. My goal is to streamline the assessment process and incorporate both informal and formal methods. Since assessment goes hand in hand with observation, I will encourage the active participation of the child in their own education, incorporating my own version of evaluating the child. My daily planning of activities and structured curriculum will allow for careful and accurate observation of the child. In my experience with teaching preschool, children learn best when given a project or activity that reinforces the concepts learned that day. I would make every attempt to keep daily notes on each child’s behavior, attitude and progress in the classroom. By noting individual interests and preferences, I can identify the methods that best suit each child’s learning curve. As for formal assessments, standardized testing is one of the most relied upon methods for assessing a child and interpreting their skill levels to determine if the child is ready to proceed or be held back. Additionally, it is important for me to consider not only the regulated standards, but also each child’s individual background. I feel that this consideration for the child’s individual situation will allow for a more accurate assessment. Although I feel that portfolio assessment can sometimes be too broad and open to interpretation, I do think that keeping artistic evidence of the child’s skill achievements can serve not only to pinpoint the progress of the child, but also as a confidence and self-esteem builder for the child. Children are proud to show off their accomplishments and by displaying projects the child will learn to trust in their own natural abilities. Standards and Goals / Ideal Environment Appropriate goals that I would like each child to successfully master or at least become relatively proficient in are self-help skills, an awareness of healthy habits, a desire to learn, evident language and literacy development, and mostly a strong sense of character. I would like them to be able to express different areas of interest, including music and the arts, methods of learning, and interactive games. Children that are not able to grasp the major content areas will be assessed more in-depth, and a conference with the parent(s) will be scheduled. Ideally, I will create a healthy, respectful, supportive and challenging environment that also maintains the developmentally appropriate practices and incorporates all children into the classroom learning environment. I would like for the parents to be involved and aware of their children’s learning practices. I will assign occasional homework, both to emphasize content covered in class and also to provide parents the opportunity to help their children learn. I believe that parents who take an active role in their child’s education have a more positive and lasting impression on their child. Because of this, I will work to include the parents whenever possible, and keep them imformed of their child’s progress, no matter the speed of progression. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I desire to implement a program that is easy for parents to replicate within their home life, thus creating a unified method of child learning that can only serve to ease the learning process for the child.

The Ancient Toltec Trade and Economy

The Ancient Toltec Trade and Economy The Toltec Civilization dominated central Mexico from about 900 - 1150 A.D. from their home city of Tollan (Tula). The Toltecs were mighty warriors who spread the cult of their greatest god, Quetzalcoatl, to the far corners of Mesoamerica. Evidence at Tula suggests that the Toltecs had a trade network and received goods from as far away as the Pacific coast and Central America, either through trade or tribute. The Toltecs and the Postclassic Period The Toltecs were not the first Mesoamerican civilization to have a trade network. The Maya were dedicated merchants whose trade routes reached far from their Yucatan homeland, and even the ancient Olmec - the mother culture of all of Mesoamerica - traded with their neighbors. The mighty Teotihuacan culture, which was pre-eminent in central Mexico from about 200-750 A.D., had an extensive trade network. By the time the Toltec culture reached prominence, military conquest and subjugation of vassal states were on the rise at the expense of trade, but even wars and conquest stimulated cultural exchanges. Tula as a Center of Trade It is difficult to make observations about the ancient Toltec city of Tollan (Tula) because the city was extensively looted, first by the Mexica (Aztecs) before the arrival of the Europeans, and then by the Spanish. Proof of extensive trade networks may have therefore been carried off long ago. For example, although ​jade was one of the most important trade materials in ancient Mesoamerica, only one jade piece has been found at Tula. Nevertheless, archaeologist Richard Diehl has identified pottery from Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Campeche and Guatemala at Tula, and found potsherds traced to the Veracruz region. Shells from the Atlantic and Pacific have also been excavated at Tula. Surprisingly, the Fine Orange pottery associated with the contemporary Totonac culture has not been found at Tula. Quetzalcoatl, God of Merchants As the major deity of the Toltecs, Quetzalcoatl wore many hats. In his aspect of Quetzalcoatl - Ehà ©catl, he was the god of wind, and as Quetzalcoatl - Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli he was the bellicose God of the Morning Star. The Aztecs venerated Quetzalcoatl as (among other things) the god of merchants: the post-conquest Ramirez Codex mentions a feast dedicated to the god by traders. The principal Aztec god of trade, Yacatechutli, has been traced to earlier roots as a manifestation of either Tezcatlipoca or Quetzalcoatl, both of whom were worshiped at Tula. Given the Toltecs fanatical devotion to Quetzalcoatl and that gods later association with the merchant class by the Aztecs (who themselves regarded the Toltecs as the apogee of civilization), it is not unreasonable to surmise that trade played an important role in Toltec society. Trade and Tribute The historical record seems to suggest that Tula did not produce much in the way of trade goods. A great deal of utilitarian Mazapan-style pottery has been found there, suggesting that Tula was, or was not far from, a place that produced it. They also produced stoneware bowls, cotton textiles, and items fashioned from obsidian, such as blades. Bernardino de Sahagà ºn, a colonial era chronicler, claimed that the people of Tollan were skilled metalworkers, but no metal not of later Aztec origin has been found at Tula. It is possible that the Toltecs dealt in more perishable items like food, cloth or woven reeds which would have deteriorated with time. The Toltec did have significant agriculture and possibly exported part of their crops. In addition, they had access to a rare green obsidian found near present-day Pachuca. There is the possibility that the warlike Toltecs produced relatively little themselves, instead relying on conquered vassal states to send them goods as tribute. Tula and the Gulf Coast Traders Toltec scholar Nigel Davies believed that during the Postclassic era trade was dominated by the different cultures of Mexicos Gulf Coast, where mighty civilizations had risen and fallen since the days of the ancient Olmec. During Teotihuacns age of dominance, shortly before the rise of the Toltecs, the gulf coast cultures had been an important force in Mesoamerican commerce, and Davies believes that the combination of Tulas location in the center of Mexico, their low production of trade goods, and their reliance on tribute over commerce placed the Toltecs at the fringes of Mesoamerican trade at the time (Davies, 284). Sources: Charles River Editors. The History and Culture of the Toltec. Lexington: Charles River Editors, 2014. Cobean, Robert H., Elizabeth Jimà ©nez Garcà ­a and Alba Guadalupe Mastache. Tula. Mexico: Fondo de Cultura Economica, 2012. Coe, Michael D and Rex Koontz. 6th Edition. New York: Thames and Hudson, 2008 Davies, Nigel. The Toltecs: Until the Fall of Tula. Norman: the University of Oklahoma Press, 1987.

Commodification vs. Commoditization

Commodification vs. Commoditization Commodification vs. Commoditization Commodification vs. Commoditization By Maeve Maddox When I first encountered the word commoditization, I thought it was just an ugly synonym for commodification. I’ve discovered that–in American business parlance– commoditization is not at all synonymous with commodification. The Oxford English Dictionary has separate entries for both nouns, but assigns commoditization the same definition as commodification: the action of turning something into, or treating something as, a (mere) commodity; commercialization of an activity, etc., that is not by nature commercial. American usage would agree with this as a definition of commodification, but commoditization receives a different definition in Merriam-Webster: commoditization: to render (a good or service) widely available and interchangeable with one provided by another company. In a business context, commoditization occurs when a manufacturer’s product or a provider’s service loses its initial uniqueness in the market. The Web abounds with articles about this phenomenon: Avoiding the Black Hole of Commoditization How Dow Corning Beat Commoditization By Embracing It How to Avoid The Commoditization Trap Software Commoditization vs. Customization 4 Ways Energy Utilities Companies can Beat Commoditization For the consumer, a commodity is merchandise, something to be purchased. For the businessman, a commodity is a product or service that a consumer feels is interchangeable with any other of the same type. Bottom line: Commodification is putting a price on things that shouldn’t have a price, things like friendship, knowledge, and beautiful women. Commoditization is what happens when a name brand is perceived as being no more desirable than the store brand. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Farther vs. FurtherThe Letter "Z" Will Be Removed from the English Alphabet20 Slang Terms for Law Enforcement Personnel

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan - Essay Example Amy Tan wrote the Joy luck Club, as she hoped to understand her own relationship with her mother, who expected her valuing Chinese cultural ethos, while being Americanized as well. This had put an additional burden on the adolescent mind of Tan, apart from having to bear the stress faced by other teenagers, due to the common problems relating to generation gap. Amy Tan wrote The Joy luck club, to share the cultural distinctions, which Tan faced as she grew up; along with an effort to keep a better understanding with her mother. She, in the process, hoped to sort out her cultural heritage, through this written work, to ensure the same. The author has been widely appreciated for her bold initiative, humor and objectivity depicted in her written work. As the novel gives a detailed account of relationship between Chinese mothers and their Americanized daughters, most of young Chinese-American females have identified themselves with the Tan’s characters and clash of opinions with t heir mothers. The male readers find the novel to deliver an opportunity for understanding their behavior towards the fair sex. Reflective summary While this novel has four sections, each one depicts the story of relationship between mother and her daughter, during a particular stage in their lives. The story of Suyuan Woo, being one of the four, is quite interesting as it reveals the trauma of this mother who lost her family, which included her daughters, during the Japanese war. As she later arrives in America during 1947, Woo still remains unaware of the fact that her twin daughters were rescued. Eventually Woo starts a new life in America, after she gets re-married and settles in San Francisco. The couple has a daughter named, Jing-mei, while Woo continues the Joy luck club in USA, on the lines of similar club in China, along with other three ladies. Woo died a sudden death, while unsuccessfully trying to understand her daughter, all through. The mother and daughter could never r esolve their differences completely during the lifetime of Woo. However, the story throws a pleasant surprise as Woo’s friends tell Jing-mei about the finding of Suyuan’s lost daughters. Jing-mei eventually meets her sisters in Shanghai, with the monetary help coming from Woo’s friends, for such visit. Similarly, another story reveals the character of An-mei, who is the friend of Woo and member of the club. The story reveals her relationship with husband George Hsu and the daughter. The other two women are Lindo Jang and Yin Yin St. Clair. The club members meet every week, while enjoying ethnic Chinese food and raising money. Bond between Chinese mothers and their American daughters The main purpose of this novel has been highlighting the relationship between first generation Chinese immigrant mothers and their Americanized daughters. As most of the differences remain unresolved, Jing-mei’s case reveals the adaptation of American culture by her through ad option an American name, June. This is symbolic of her accepting the American cultural ethos. However, the narration of June, in the relevant story has tried to bridge the gap between generations and cultures, as well as, the heritage of China and America. ("The Joy Luck Club: Introduction.") Contrasting values Tan has tried to highlight the inability of bonding the concepts of two cultures, in her