Wednesday, October 30, 2019

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

DIAGEO - Essay Example 8,090. The operating profit of the company was ?2,443 million during FY2009, an increase of 3.1% over FY2008. The net profit was ?1,621 million in FY2009, an increase of 2.1% over FY2008 (Diageo - Annual Report, 2009). Diageo was created in 1997 as a result of the merger of Guinness and GrandMet (Diageo - Our History, 2011). Diageo rapidly expanded in next few years through both organic and acquisition channels. In 2001, Diageo also acquired the spirits and wine business of Seagram. In 2004, the company acquired Ursus Vodka. In 2005, Chalone Wine Group was acquired. Later, the company also acquired Bushmills Irish whiskey which included Bushmills' Distillery, which is amongst the oldest licensed distillery in the world. In 2006, the company made its first acquisition in China. The company bought a 43% stake in Sichuan Chengdu Quanxing, parent of Swellfun (Diageo - Our History, 2011). In January 2007, Diageo Asia Pacific was created to target a new geographic location. January 2007 ma rked the trial of new Guinness Red brand in 142 pubs in Great Britain. In February 2007, Diageo invested ?100million in expansion of its Scotch whisky operations in Scotland, in order to meet its future demand. In April 2007, as a part of brand extension, the company launched Johnnie Walker Blue Label and King George V Edition in duty free channels of Europe, the Americas & the Middle East. As a part of its global innovation strategy, the company made minor investment in Nuvo (brand), a new ultra-premium effervescent blend of fine French vodka, French sparkling wine, and exotic fruit nectar created by LLC (Diageo - Our History, 2011). In May 2007, the North American division of the company launched Smirnoff Source, a new premium malt beverage that combines pure spring water with alcohol. In Oct 2007, Diageo announced strategic alliance between Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Ciroc vodka. Under the terms of the deal, Combs and Sean Combs Enterprises took the lead on all brand management decis ions for Ciroc, while sharing in the future profits of the growth of the brand. In November 2007, Diageo invested ?5 million in J&B brand's package redesign to give it a more contemporary look. The new pack highlighted the brand's role as the ultimate party whisky with a design to party goers (Diageo - Our History, 2011). Diageo acquired Rosenblum Cellars in early 2008. In February 2008, Diageo and the Nolet Family formed a 50/50 company which owns the perpetual exclusive rights to sell market and distribute Ketel One Vodka (Diageo - Our History, 2011). In March 2008, Diageo, Heineken and Namibia Breweries reached agreement to form a new joint venture for their combined beer, cider and ready-to-drink (RTD) businesses in South Africa. In May 2008, Diageo reached an agreement to buy all the Constellation Brands' distillery and bottling facility at Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada. In the same month, Diageo made a capital investment of E650 million in a new brewing centre in Ireland to supp ort the growth and development of its global beer business (Diageo - Our History, 2011). Diageo also underwent a brief period of divestment, like that in 2003, which resulted into the selling of its Czech division, Diageo Ceska Republika, to Global Spirits. It also shut down its marketing subsidiary Nightfly (Diageo - Our History, 2011). SWOT ANALYSIS OF DIAGEO Strengths Weakness Wide range of Products Continuously Declining margins Market Leader    Opportunities Threats Ever growing presence in Asia-Pacific region Litigations

Monday, October 28, 2019

Patterns and trends in health and illness Essay Example for Free

Patterns and trends in health and illness Essay Women are more likely to become ill than men for many reasons. Men are likely to have strong immune systems than women as they tend to put themselves first, whereas a woman has different priorities. Another reason why women may become ill opposed to men is the fact that a lot more women have to work the double day than men. The double day consist of the individual going out to work on a day to day basis and then returning home to start chores. These chores can be anything from looking after the children to cleaning the house. A person who works the double day are more likely to become ill as they are more likely to become stressed or exhausted, both of which can lead to the individual becoming ill at a later stage. Men are seen to have more physical or dangerous jobs than women, which should mean they become ill on a more regular basis. However this is not the case because a lot of men return home from work and then relax, whereas the women go to work and then come home to situations such as sorting the children making sure all the washing and things are complete. This is not always the case as it could be the male that has to work the double day but it is usually the women. On the other hand women take better care of themselves, which is shown by the fact that women seem to live longer. Elderly and Youth Elderly people are more likely to become ill than a young person as things such as their immune system are no longer as strong. This means that it takes and elderly person longer to recover from an injury or illness than someone who is a lot younger than them. If an elderly person’s immune system is weaker it means that they are likely to catch the illnesses quicker and they could catch more than one illness a time. The youth of today are also a lot less likely to break a bone than the elderly, as the elderly’s bones are a lot weaker than those of a youth. If a youth is ill they usually recover by themselves and only occasionally rely on the help of medication, usually when the illness is strong or aggressive. Whereas an elderly person can take weeks to recover and often rely on medication for support. Rich and Poor Poor people are more likely to become ill than richer people as their life style is not to the same standard. The poor are more likely to live in cold conditions and have a poor diet whereas the rich are more likely to have good healthy diets and live in homes with central heating and that are clean. Rich people are also at an advantage when it comes to being ill as they can afford treatment and medication. This means that they are likely to recover quicker and don’t have to worry about still being able to pay for other necessities such as food and water. The poor however have other priorities to spend their money on such as providing a shelter for their children, food and clothes. This means that medication is one of the things that is given less thought. They would rather the child be fed than them paying for medication for themselves. On the other hand poor people are likely to smoke and drink than those who have more money

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Comradeship in James Hanleys The German Prisoner, Ernest Hemingways F

Comradeship in James Hanley's "The German Prisoner", Ernest Hemingway's "Farewell to Arms", "Not So Quiet", "All Quiet on the Western Front", and Pat Baker's "Regeneration" For many soldiers and volunteers, life on the fronts during the war means danger, and there are few if any distractions from its horrors. Each comradeship serves as a divergence from the daily atrocities and makes life tolerable. Yet, the same bonds that most World War literature romantically portrays can be equally negative. James Hanley’s â€Å"The German Prisoner†, shows the horrifying results of such alliances, while â€Å"Farewell to Arms† by Ernest Hemmingway reveal that occasionally, some individuals like Lieutenant Henri seek solidarity outside the combat zone. Smithy of â€Å"Not So Quiet† and Paul Baumer in â€Å"All Quiet on the Western Front† demonstrate the importance and advantages of comradeship while giving credence to the romance of these connections. Pat Barker’s â€Å"Regeneration† depicts Siegfried Sassoon, as an officer who places comradeship and honor above his own personal anti war convictions. Regardless of t he consequences, each demonstrates not only the different results of comradeship but also its power and level of importance to each character in the abovementioned writings. James Hanley provides an uncommon perspective of comradeship that contrasts the usual romantic representations by other World War 1 writers. Elston is from Manchester, England, a poor industrial city and O’Garra is from the impoverished town of Dublin, Ireland (48). Both men enlist in the service to escape their poverty and squalid environments. O’Garro is physically repulsive and the more aggressive of the two but loathes Elston who contrasts him in disposition and phys... ...ing it had hardened†¦Siegfried’s ‘solution’ was†¦going back†¦to look after some men†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (249). This was the truth! Sassoon, still disillusioned, returns to the front out of a strong sense of obligation and honor. Comradeship disrupts Sassoon’s resistance and allows his passionate protest to quell. Overall, these works reveal the broad effects of comradeships. Some, like â€Å"The German Prisoner† are potentially dangerous alliances and can be negative. Conversely, comradeship similar to that of Paul Baumer and Kat, and Smithy and the other volunteers, allow the reader to explore the resultant intimacy of comradeships between people of similar and different backgrounds. Still other bonds similar to Henri’s and Catherine’s shun traditional comradeship and all its romantic ideals. Finally, it is Hemmingway who shows the power that comradeship wields over a soldier.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Gaps in the 24/7 Service Essay

The Service Complain Many companies offer 24/7 customer services. Knowing that customer service exists at any time of the day or any time of the week helps get the business in. Unfortunately, some 24/7 customer services fail to be serious about this. In more than one incident, I have experienced gaps in this kind of service. One time, I ordered a product online. What made me decide to buy that product over others brands was the 24/7-customer service being offered for free by the online company. I needed a 24/7-customer service because if and when the product needed repairs, I was only available during the weekends to have it serviced. The product was delivered on time. The site said that it took two days to deliver it and the product soon arrived my home after two days. I was using the electronic device for a week when it conked out. Problems came up when I called the customer service. First, the customer service lines were busy. It took me an hour to get a hold of someone who was able to take down my complete information and the complaint I had. Second, the company promised me that a service repairman was soon on his way that very same day. I decide to cancel my appointments to accommodate the repairman who never came that same afternoon but instead came in three afternoons after. Third, the repairman soon figured out that my unit needed to be replaced. He took the unit with him without leaving any replacements. Though he promised to bring one the next day, the replacement took a week to arrive while my own unit took two weeks to get repaired. In the end, as service consumer of the product I bought, I became miserable having realized that 24/7-customer service does not really mean quality service. The Cause of the Gap From the experience above, one would get into the core principles of services marketing and how conflicts arise when perceptions do not sum up equally with actual service performance. The client was expecting an immediate clear line with the first few dials he made towards the customer service phone but was frustrated when the call came through after an hour yet. The customer was expecting a service replacement when the repairman got the product that needed repairs. However, a replacement did not come in during the time it was expected to. Christopher Lovelock explains the integration of client expectations, perception of actual service rendered and the actual service performed by the company. These three elements have different characteristics critical to making customer service a marketable element. In this growing global village, a service consumer is most comfortable dealing with companies that are â€Å"24/7†. This kind customer service entices clients to decide on going for the particular company offering the services versus other companies who do not have 24/7 options. Other companies close during weekends and holidays. Other companies are open but only up till a certain number of hours. However, 24/7 companies means that the client can reach a customer care personnel at any time and day of the year. The gap in the experience explained above lies in the perceived service level of the client and the actual service performance. When the client considered 24/7 as the tipping point of his decision, he expected that customer service 24/7 means â€Å"now† kind of service, which includes a host of many other services. The client expects that the 24/7 does not only include taking in complaints, but it also included repairs, diagnoses and replacements. Here lies the problem because the company may have just meant that they were 24/7 in taking in complaints and that alone. Possible Solutions Solutions to customer service problems must be addressed by the company who is primary responsible in explaining to the client the scope of service. In 24/7 customer service, the stakes are higher. Lovelock expounds that the 24/7 kind of customer service is more than something that would entice the clients to buy the product or service. 24/7 means that the company is not only awake every minute. It’s not enough for companies to be stronger than other companies just because they stay awake compared to others. 24/7 may mean to clients that the company is not only awake and ready to take complaints but the whole corporate processes like sales, finance, repair, and delivery are awake and working as well. It is more usual that 24/7 companies have skeletal forces up during the night and weekends and holidays. However, the number of customer service staff during graveyard shifts must be proportionate to the number of possible clients that would be complaining. Another possible solution for this problem is to ensure that lines are open to take in complaints especially from irate clients. Other global companies have outsourced receiving client complaints to address managing the first burst of emotions from irate clients. An imperative in 24/7-customer care service is the clarity of what the 24/7 part is. For the experience above, the client was not cleared by the company that the only part that does not sleep is the taking of the complaint. Furthermore, this would mean that a service repairman is not promised to go to one’s house within the day, nor repair the product within 24 hours from the call. Companies around the globe are slowly addressing service marketing. With technology being more accessible, the difference between products is the kind of after sales service attached to the product being marketed. Companies must evolve into more service oriented rather than maintain old traditional marketing concepts that are product centered. As more and more companies offer 24/7, it is high time that companies and customer understand what 24/7 really means and how one prepares to do 24/7 customer service. References: Hogarth, Jeanne M. ,Marianne A. Hilgert, Jane M. Kolodinsky. 2004. Consumers’ resolution of credit card problems and exit behaviors. Journal of Services Marketing Jan 2004 Volume: 18 Issue: 1 Page: 19 – 34 Emerald Group Publishing Limited http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/viewContentItem.do?contentType=Article&contentId=856002 Lovelock, Christopher and Jochen Wirtz. 2003 Services Marketing (5th Edition) Prentice Hall; 5 edition Malhotra, Neeru and Avinandan Mukherjee. 2004. The relative influence of organisational commitment and job satisfaction on service quality of customer-contact employees in banking call centres. Journal of Services Marketing May 2004 Volume: 18 Issue: 3 Page: 162 – 174 http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/viewContentItem.do?contentType=Article&contentId=1509188 Zeithaml, Valarie and Mary Jo Bitner, 2002. Services Marketing. McGraw-Hill/Irwin 3rd ed.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Principles of Starting a New Business Essay

The formation of a new business is a challenging endeavor when the fundamental areas of focus in managerial incompetence, neglect, weak control systems, and insufficient capital is not mastered. Therefore, a careful analysis of the areas is needed to sufficiently evaluate the operations specifics of the new business to determine what effective measures to implement (Armstrong and Kotler, 2007). The new business with an associate to partake in a cookie gift basket provides a wonderful partnership agreement that levels the responsibility field of handing the operations. The agreement will outline the borderline to which jurisdiction each partner will cover, in order, to present a well organized business. The new business will acquire three managers to actually supervise in the store that covers the different shifts for maximum coverage and leadership. In addition, the three management team will have a unique personality that loves the initiative of business of specializing in selling cookies. This will bridge a synergy with the actual partners/owners of the new business to achieve its quest for ultimate success. The employees selected will be chosen by all level management personnel that will present a commitment to weed out unacceptable individuals that does not have the type of personality traits needed. Those traits are relevant to present the enjoyment of serving customer’s through-out the day and render the best customer service, in order to generate positive word of mouth. In addition, to secure a successful start of the new business certain areas of focus will be reviewed and address to provided the preferred results. Direct Action Plans To Areas of Focus For Success Managerial Incompetence or Inexperience The partners of the new business have over several years of banking and financial experience to start the new cookie business. The partnership agreement will be stimulated to hire experienced managers that have related skills and knowledge of the industry. The directive in the partnership agreement will outline the fundamental requirements from potential managers to have a college degree, previous work experience, and professional references that will be vetted to ensure the personality is on track to the synergy of the new business. The directive will also outline measures to ensure no failures of an incompetent manager or bad decision making that costs the new business financial harm. The measures are to begin an assessment of the situation from the manager level to identify all details of the issues. The assessment period will provide a needed communication model that provides senior management and managers to discuss the issue in a leadership environment. The outcome of the assessment phase will provide which direction to proceed in applying the next step to remedy the situation. If the issue is with an employee, the manager will apply the correct application to address the issue with the employee. The manager will follow up with the partners to have the sufficient next step of documentation and any additional notation concerning the action taken with the employee. If the issues are with company policy that a consumer is debating to change, the partners will approve the updated policy and communicate to all staff to follow suit. The overall focus of the action plan is to streamline an orderly process that follows the channel of command aspect within the new business. In this approach of steps, the process to involve the communication model through the resolution of the issues will eliminate the potential costly errors to the business. Neglect The objective to assure that the new business does not neglect imperative areas of focus that entails; employee satisfaction, customer service, hiring practices, and the pursuit to keeping costs down. The directive is to addressing incidents proactively by following the steps that includes; project risk management reporting, communication model, and the strategic management protocol. The project risk management reporting will be a weekly reporting with all management personnel to identify and discuss for immediate implementation to reduce such neglect (Robbins and Coulter, 2005). The communication model will be illustrated in order to streamline the findings of the reporting for management to implement what decisions and conclusions for the best remedy. The communication model will also provide a written documentation mechanism that outlines what was covered, how the strategy plan will be implemented, and any additional criteria to roll out for employees. Next, the follow up session is performed with management to showcase the incorporation of all prior decisions on needed corrections to accomplish the desired results. Weak Control Systems The control systems that are apart of the commitment to assure the new business a success will cover two team leaders to monitor quality management (Evans, 2007). The measures will start with routinely check points on processes that assist in identifying weak control systems. The reporting by the team leads, in which one lead for every five employees, to then address the identified weak issues to then be presented to management. The next step for the team leads will take initiative to solve issues that can weaken the control units from quality, direct marketing to customers, to the under-performance of sales clerks in which the team lead will follow the directive to seek management for any additional assistance. Insufficient Capital The goal of the new business is to establish a winning coalition of a talented team working together to control costs that can jeopardize the capital (Scarborough and Zimmerer, 2006). The strategic plan of action is to develop and sustain an internal cash management system from the senior management level to the managers. The most known factors for business failure are due to insufficient cash flow and poor cash management creates insufficient capital (Wild, Wild, and Han, 2006). Therefore, the internal system to manage and identify the cash flows and balance sheets of the new business that will be one of the main objectives to cover in the weekly communication model. The next measure is for the management to use the weekly review and within 48hours access any improvements to keep amounts of capitol in balance – that guarantees a financial stable business. Distinguish the differences between the major forms of business organizations and be able to know and identify the characteristics of each. There are three main forms of business organizations that an individual or group can formulate, in which offers many different aspects. The sole proprietorship is an easy start up, profit incentive, and total decision-making authority. The partnership organization is also easy to establish with more than one individual, division of profits, and much larger pool of capital for the business. The corporation organization can be a limited liability of stock holders, ability to attract more capitol, and transferable ownership that offers a wide range of possibilties for expansion. The decision to go into business stems from the objective on how it will be proceed to run the operation in the desired form of a business organization.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Latent Semantic Indexing What Marketers Need To Know

Latent Semantic Indexing What Marketers Need To Know Whats the first thing you think of when you hear latent semantic indexing? The  answer is probably, uh, what? Its  okay if thats the case. Fortunately, its a simple concept to get a grip of (scary-sounding technical language aside). In fact, youre probably familiar with the concept, even if youve never heard of the term. So, what is  LSI, exactly? In simple terms, it describes the algorithmic process search engines use to identify related words. Understanding how it works is essential to conducting smart keyword research and crafting an effective SEO strategy. The more you get it right, the easier it is to  create content  that  ranks higher for long tail keywords  and drives more traffic to your content. Assuming your  content is good, that could even mean more revenue for your business. Interested in learning more? Then get ready.  Were about to go full-nerd here. How To Improve Your Keyword Research With Latent Semantic Indexing What Is Latent Semantic Indexing? Let's start with the technical explanation first. According to SEMPO, latent semantic indexing "uses word associations to help search engines know more accurately what a page is about." It's essentially an algorithmic principle built into search engines to  process synonyms and understand topical relationships between words. LSI is built into search engines to process synonyms topical relationships between words.That's about as much as we marketers need to know. We could go more in-depth. However, we don't want anyone to feel like this: Why Is LSI Necessary? Say you're talking to a friend about marketing. You start discussing how content calendars work. Throughout the discussion, you also use the term editorial calendar interchangeably. Since you're intelligent human beings, you can understand that when someone says "content calendar," they might also mean "editorial calendar." If one of you had  mentioned , you might understand that's a content calendar solution. The same would apply if someone said they use a "printable calendar template." You know those are all semantically related terms, connected to the same topic. Search engines aren't humans. They can't naturally process language like you and your friend in the example above. Search engines aren’t humans. They can’t naturally process language like humans can.That's where latent semantic indexing comes in. It's what helps them attempt to interpret relationships approximately the same way real people would.  By connecting  related terms and interpreting the search intent behind them, search engines can offer up results that more closely match what people are looking for (even if the search terms they use aren't exactly the same  keywords used on the  web page). What Are LSI Keywords? These are the actual terms and phrases that are semantically related to one another. This means words that refer to the same topic (or drill deeper within a topic). For example, "Tesla Motors" is semantically related to "electric cars," since the company makes electric vehicles. LSI keywords are  actual terms and phrases that are semantically related to one another.It may be easiest to think of LSI keywords  as secondary keyword phrases that relate to your primary keyword. For example, let's say you're writing a piece of content about electric cars. "Electric cars" might be your primary keyword. Then, you might reference different models of electric vehicles (like the Tesla Model S, the Chevy Spark, and so on). Recommended Reading: How To Make An SEO Strategy That Will Improve Your #1-3 Results By 248% Benefits Of LSI-Driven Keyword Research This is where LSI starts to matter for you, the intrepid content marketer. Incorporating LSI keywords can  help your content rank for a wider variety of search terms. This means more visibility in search results, and more traffic back to your blog or website. They can also help you create content that more thoroughly satisfies what searchers are looking for. It's important to remember that LSI keywords aren't just limited to synonyms for your primary keyword. For example, a post targeting "classic Chevy motors" might also rank for "classic Chevrolet engines" because Chevy and Chevrolet are the same, as are motors and engines).  If you were to include sections for engines from specific Chevy models, you might rank for those terms as well.   Not using LSI keywords? You're missing out on ranking higher and getting more traffic.5 Ways To  Find LSI Keywords You need to know how to find LSI keywords before you can use them. Fortunately, this isn't difficult. You can even use a lot of the keyword research tools you're probably already familiar with. 1. Use The LSI Keyword Generator One quick tactic is to use a tool called the LSI Keyword Generator. Just type in a keyword or topic, and it'll instantly generate a list of related terms. Best of all, it's completely free. 2. Look At Related Searches In Google This tactic is great because  it leverages actual search terms. These are also terms Google can clearly see are related. Just try searching a given keyword, then scroll down to the bottom of the page. You now have eight different LSI variations to inspire your keyword research. 3. Use The Google Keyword Planner 1. Access the Keyword Planner and select the first option shown below. 2. Once you've entered a handful of keyword terms, you'll see more related keyword groupings under the Ad Group Ideas tab. 3. Clicking into any of these keyword groupings will show you related keywords. 4. Use The New-And-Improved Ubersuggest Try using Ubersuggest. This classic keyword tool (which pulls in Google autocomplete data) recently received an overhaul. It's now better than ever, and this nifty video will show you how it works. 5. Use the SERPs Keyword Database Formerly known as Keywordini, this free keyword tool is useful for finding keywords related to a given topic and fast. Just enter a keyword, click the button, and you're on your way in seconds. Here's an easy way to supercharge your #keyword #researchRecommended Reading: An SEO Driven Approach To Content Marketing: The Complete Guide How to Select The Right LSI Terms Once you've generated a list of possible phrases, it's time to narrow down best options you'll use. The goal is to find terms that are most directly related and have a decent amount of search volume. It’s important that the LSI terms you use align with the search intent of your primary keyword.Step 1: Understand the Searcher Intent Behind Keywords It's important that the LSI terms you use align with  the search intent of your primary keyword. This requires developing an understanding of what people are looking for when they search the keywords you're targeting. You don't want to guess at this. You want to know, as best you can, what your audience needs from your content. This will give you a good idea of what your own content needs to address the topic. Step 2:  Narrow Your Options Through Process Of Elimination Start by weeding out terms that obviously don't fit. These are terms that aren't quite directly related to the topic of your post. Ideal LSI keywords should essentially fit underneath your primary keyword. They need to help further explain your topic in deeper detail.  They should not be distinctly different topics. For example, if you were writing a post about "Chevy engine maintenance," you wouldn't want to load your post with pictures of "classic Chevy cars".  In this case, keywords that go deeper into the specifics of Chevy engine maintenance would make better choices. In this case, you'd eliminate anything that isn't directly related to some facet of working on Chevrolet engines. Ideal LSI keywords should essentially fit underneath your primary keyword.Step 3: Choose The Best Options From What's Left Next, copy and paste what's left into  the keyword tool of your choice.  Pick terms that have a decent amount of search volume (but not more than your primary keyword).  If you uncover keywords that get searched more than your main topic, that may be a sign you should be targeting that term instead. It's also important to make sure your selected LSI keywords directly fit your topic. Free Template: Keep your keywords organized using this free LSI keyword organization template. Since it's a public Google Sheet you can make a copy of it for your own use. Recommended Reading: How To Write Headlines That Drive Traffics, Shares, And Search Results How To Implement LSI Keywords  Into Your Content Once you've selected your LSI keywords, it's time to determine where they'll go in your post. Start by  identifying your blog post topic and a good primary keyword to focus on. Then, identify other keywords that relate to sub-points beneath that topic. For example, if you were writing a post about the different styles of restaurants (this is really generic, we know, but it's just an example), your main keyword might be something like, "styles of restaurants." Then, each LSI keyword might be a specific style of restaurant. For another example, "pepperoni pizza" and "cheese pizza" are related terms (both are different types of pizza). If a web page were all about pizza, and pizza was the primary keyword, then specific types of pizza could be used as LSI terms. Then, the page could have a sub-section for each type of pizza. Your post might then look something like this: Headline: 10 Styles Of Restaurants You Need To Try Now [Insert Body Text Here] [First Subheading: Italian Restaurants] [Insert Body Text Here] [Second Subheading: Buffets] [Insert More Body Text Here] [Third Subheading: Fast-Food Restaurants] This isn't a great example, but you should get the point. LSI keywords aren’t just important for search engines. #blogging #SEOLSI Keywords Help Google And People Understand Your Content LSI keywords aren't just important for search engines. Readers want to be able to skim and see that your post covers deeper details about the topic they're searching. This makes incorporating LSI terms  particularly effective when included in subheadings, where they're easy for readers to pick out, and are given greater weight to search engines. Pro Tip:  When you're writing your blog post outline, try including LSI keywords to label your subheadings. Ultimately, the goal is to create a post that targets a complete (yet focused) topic, rather than just dumping a keyword essay onto a page and hoping it will rank.  This approach works best if your secondary keywords relate to specific details about your main topic. 3 Keyword Targeting Pitfalls To Avoid Do you know which traps to avoid when picking #LSI #keywords?There are some traps to avoid when picking LSI keywords to target in your content. Here's how to dodge them and swing  your way to victory. Recommended Reading: How To Boost Traffic With 27 Important SEO Tips You Need To Know (+ Free Checklist) Avoid Blending Unrelated Topics Let's say your main keyword is "car maintenance". However, you also notice "motorcycle maintenance" also gets a lot of search volume. You then decide to write a post titled something like, "10 Awesome Car Motorcycle Maintenance Tips." Something like this might work. However,  it's more likely that searchers looking for "car maintenance" and "motorcycle maintenance" are really only looking for one or the other. In this case, you'd better serve your readers by writing one post on each topic. Then, you'd have two super-focused posts on your blog that nail the specific needs of each audience. Pro Tip: It's best to choose LSI keywords that drill down into one topic. Not two keywords that address two different topics. Avoid Diluting Your Keyword Targeting It's important to remember your content should only target one primary keyword. For example, if you're writing a blog post about "easy car maintenance," you probably don't need to add a section about "the history of cars." Even if both terms get a high search traffic, the history of automobiles isn't directly related to car maintenance. It'd be better to focus on keywords related to the different car maintenance tasks your post would cover, like: engine maintenance, tire maintenance, and so forth (note: this is a strictly hypothetical example). The key takeaway here is to make sure your posts stay focused in on one topic (and that you choose LSI keywords that drill deeper into that one topic). Make sure your blog posts stay focused in on one topic.Avoid  Keyword Stuffing Use LSI keywords judiciously. This means incorporating those terms tastefully to make  your content more complete.  Avoid shoehorning terminology into your content  merely for the sake of it. If there isn't an editorial purpose for incorporating a section around a given term, then leave it out. Recommended Reading: The Simple 10-Step Guide To Better Search Engine Ranking For Writers Have Questions About Latent Semantic Indexing? By now, you should understand what LSI means. You also know how it impacts best practices for keyword research.  However, this is a complex topic. We're sure you probably have some questions, and if so, we want to hear them. Drop us a line below and help us get the conversation started.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Financial Markets and Institutions Essay

Financial Markets and Institutions Essay Financial Markets and Institutions Essay Financial Markets and Institutions Dr. Marcus Crawford FIN 350 – Finance Markets and Institutions Financial Markets and Institutions Financial Market Role Financial market is a market in which people and entities can trade financial securities. There are general markets and specialized markets. There are several types of financial markets capital, commodity, money, derivatives, futures, and insurance and foreign exchange markets. These types of financial markets play an intricate part in creating economic wealth. Real economic resources from lenders to borrowers are transferred by the facilitation of the financial markets. They allow lenders access to gain interest from their surplus invisible funds and this causes an increase to individual which is an economic gain. A money market fund is a type of fixed income mutual fund that invests in debt securities that are characterized by their short maturities and minimal credit risk. Money markets are savings account that will help with future retirements and they pay higher interest. Your money is always safe no matter if the bank closes because it is insured by the FDIC. Another financial market that helps creates wealth is capital market securities. Capital market securities are your stocks and bonds and are traded in separate markets. In order to raise funds for various purposes companies, corporations and government use market securities. Capital market securities are supervised in every country by regulatory authorities. In the debt securities dealing bond is the medium. There is a vast of bonds in the international market. There are several types of bonds such as corporate, municipal, government bonds and many more. Stocks are also important capital market securities. Stocks are preferred by the investors because they can get huge returns from this capital market instrument. Trading of company stocks, other securities and derivatives is what the stock market is used for. Companies raise funds for certain purposes in the stock market. The stock market is sometimes turned to by the government to generate funds. Securities There are a few types of securities in the financial market such as, debt security markets, equity markets and derivative security markets. Money markets, bond markets and mortgage markets are types of debt security markets. â€Å"Money market securities are debt securities with a maturity of one year or less (Madura, 2012, p.123).† The first financial market security I am researching is Cigna. Cigna Corporation is a global health service company that provides insurance and related products and services dedicated to improve health, well-being and sense of security. â€Å"The $16 billion market cap health insurer is up 25% in the last year, essentially doubling the market’s performance (Doiron, 2013).† The current market price for Cigna is about $87.17. Another financial market security is the world’s largest investment management company Vanguard. They offer a large selection of low cost mutual funds and other related services to all type s of people such as investors, individuals, financial professionals and others. It was founded in 1975 and as of today is has assets of 2 trillion in U.S. and international mutual funds. Their core purpose is to â€Å"take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success (Vanguard, 2013).† The last security I am interested in researching is Bank of America. The current market price for Bank of America Corp is about $15.59. The original name of was Massachusetts Bank which opened in 1784. At the time it was only one of the three commercial banks that existed in the U.S. Over the years the bank has grown to the successful financial institution it is today. Today it is services individual consumers, small and middle market businesses and large corporations as one of the largest financial institutions. The stock is listed

Sunday, October 20, 2019

How to Make a Kids Scientist Halloween Costume

How to Make a Kid's Scientist Halloween Costume A scientist Halloween costume is not only very cool, but also easy to make and either free or else inexpensive. Scientist Costume Ideas To make a lab coat, cut a plain white cotton t-shirt or undershirt up the middle (they are knit so they wont unravel).Glasses are always a nice science-y touch. Unless you really wear glasses, you may want to just set them low on your nose and look intelligent peering over them. Try reading glasses, sunglasses, wacky glasses, or safety goggles.You can make a construction paper geeky bow tie, which can be attached to a shirt or lab coat with a safety pin or paper clip.Scientists may or may not wear bow ties, but they do use calculators. If your lab coat has a pocket, stuff it full of pens and a calculator.Use some styling mousse to give your hair that Im too busy thinking science thoughts to comb my hair look. You can spike your hair if you want more of an Ive just been electrocuted look. Zany colors work, too.Print a lab safety symbol and attach it to the lab coat with a safety pin or even double-stick tape. The radioactive symbol is classic, but the biohazard symbol is also quite ni ce. Looking for something a bit more unusual? Try the ionizing radiation or chemical weapon symbol. Dont forget props! This could be a beaker (or glass) filled with dyed water and a bit of dry ice to make a secret, bubbling potion. You could carry a stuffed rat or microbe. A calculator or stopwatch is appropriate, too.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

The Philosophy of Manifest Destiny Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Philosophy of Manifest Destiny - Essay Example It was the driving force behind the fast growth of America from west to east. The idea of Manifest Destiny was promoted in newspapers and other media. In political circles, the Manifest Destiny meant that the American government was destined to launch uninterrupted political influence traversing the entire North American continent. The American people used it to extend political control over frontier lands hence taking control of European powers and Native Americans. The idea of manifest destiny also involved a component of religion. The first puritans inhabited New England and had a feeling that God had â€Å"destined† them to establish a religious, political and moral country. Although the philosophy of manifest destiny has become history, the sense of purpose associated with it has persisted in the American society. Similarly, a strong secular element of its vestiges has a principle of American foreign policy. Though manifest destiny marks a past era in the history of Ameri ca it is perceived as the main cause of imperialism in America today. How the Ideas of Manifest Destiny Reflect Certain Racial attitudes Prevalent in the Country in the Mid 19th Century Racism is considered to be a modern idea. The first traces of racism began in America with the establishment of the race-based slave system. The ideas of manifest destiny and the white man’s burden, both capture the notion of racial differences and civilization. In respect of Manifest Destiny, the notion of racial inferiority has been institutionalized in the laws and government policies. As a result, racial definitions have also changed with time (University Microfilms International 34). The idea of Manifest Destiny, which initially had seemed holy, came to be proved as more of a bomb wrapped in Idealism. This is because it later sparked a lot of concern among the Americans. For instance, the manifest destiny had stern results for the American Indians as continental expansion targeted the Nat ive Americans who were to occupy the land. The Indians were encouraged to sell their land to the Native Americans and become civilized. This meant pushing away Indians who were not supposed to live like the whites. During the Manifest Destiny period, the idea of Indians selling their land referred to as Indian removal, became more prominent. Hence, the racial rhetoric went high during the manifest destiny era and it was explained by Francis Parkman. Parkman acknowledged that the Indians’destiny was to melt and disappear before the expanding waves of Anglo-American power which went unchanged and unopposed. Why Tension Increased Between the American Settlers in Texas and the Mexican Government Texas was originally Spanish land which borders the United States. It had few Spanish settlers despite it being colonized by the Spanish. Tejanos were the most popular in that land and they were the first people to live in Texas. Stephen Austin, who was a bankrupt miner, was granted permi ssion by the Spanish to establish a colony in Texas. Soon after Austin reached Texas, Mexico became independent leading to Austin’s initial colony becoming worthless. He later asked for land from the Mexicans and was given it on condition that its settlers were to become Mexican citizens and Catholics as well.  Ã‚  

Friday, October 18, 2019

Architecture of the UAE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Architecture of the UAE - Essay Example sis is now placed on projects to be completed within the specified project duration due to the current trend of shifting most projects towards the fast track approach. This has led to the need to pinpoint exactly the relevant causes of delay that have to be monitored during the entire phases of the project on time. (Olsen & West, 2007) There is a major construction boom in Dubai; Garhoud Bridge expanding hotels, sky scrapers, projects, palm islands, metro and so on, is currently in full swing. This requires a lot of investment and Dubai has been successful in attracting foreign investment by giving benefits such as residence visa and 99 year freehold ownership. All this has led into a vicious circle where the flow of money in Dubai has increased resulting increase in absolute prices which has in turn led to higher inflation. (Stern, 2009) Who is building this huge new city and its peers around the United Arab Emirates? Some of the worlds most acclaimed architects — whose reputations in western capitals, China, and India have put them in high demand — have been drawn to these desert lands. They include Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, Tadao Ando, Rem Kolhaas, Carlos Ott and many others. (Kaufman, 2007) To the untrained eye, the Dubai of 25 years ago might have seemed an unappealing place to build. The region was more or less a blank slate. But to talented international architects striving to execute their unique vision and to the firms that grew around them, Dubai was fertile ground. Here there was no need to remove previously constructed housing complexes or industrial structures, theater districts or public buildings (Stern, 2009). There had been no visionaries or practitioners of architecture whose footprints would be erased in order to build anew. Most importantly, there were ample funds available, and the support of the local population who shared the new, unique vision of development. As a result, the imagination and creativity of the worlds greatest architects

What it feels like to skydive Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

What it feels like to skydive - Essay Example Then there is a downward acceleration, where someone falls with no expectation to land. This occurs at high speeds of about 150 miles per hour and surprisingly, it is hard to feel the speed (Mattern, 2010). At one moment, it feels like there is zero gravity where there is a floating sensation. After a while, an individual realizes that there is an upward push from the strength of the wind. The environment is contradictory because it is calm and so loud at the same time. After a successful adventure, it is time to pull the chute. This immediately changes the excitement and the mood of the experience. The chute goes down in a slow manner that someone can get dizzy and only the wind reminds someone of the heights. In a moment, the chute makes landing easy and enjoyable. At this point, a person feels dizzy and their ears could pop due to the changes in atmospheric pressure. Skydiving is indeed a worthy

Thursday, October 17, 2019

A journal article critique in the family health area - 1

A journal critique in the family health area - Article Example The author employed the methods correctly since all the results indicated that chiropractic care produced positive results that improved the quality of life. However, there might be error in the research, since the author assumes that those who do not get chiropractic care do not get other health services, but in reality they could be receiving other health care in different forms. The evidence in support of the topic can be the 1992 research where people who received chiropractic care had a higher immunity than the average population or cancer patients. Dr. Petro states that chiropractic health care imparts maximum efficiency to whatever genetic makeup one may be possessing, while in the 2005 research, the study indicates that chiropractic health care determines normal physiological process which influence DNA repair and oxidative stress. This implies that subluxations removal has a positive influence on health. The strength of the evidence can be that chiropractic care has positive results on the immune system and can be recommended for quality life, while the weakness can be that those who got chiropractic care may have lived in the same environment which favored the practice or have specific biological background. The author supported the topic by explaining that the immune and nervous system were connected, and therefore manipulating the nervous system would produce a result, which in this case is chiropractic care which has positive results on the immune system. Other authors have conducted chiropractic research. They include shekelle et al (1992) and they concluded that manipulation of the spine fastens recovery from minor low back pains, after literature review on 25 trials. Van Tudler, Bouter and Koes in Netherlands found superior evidence for efficiency of manipulating the spine for chronic back pain. Bronfort (1999) conducted a review and found short term capacity

Aging population in Japan Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Aging population in Japan - Research Paper Example Despite the challenges, the aging population seems to create new opportunities because people will have longer healthier lives hence extended working years besides different capacities and needs (Lutz 34). The key to survival depends on adaptation on individual, organisational and societal levels. Japan is facing the population-aging crisis now. It is a resource-poor island hence changes in population size and structure tends to present a serious problem. Japan faced a problem of a large not-working population until the 1950s. From 1600-1868, the Edo period, Japan opted to hold down its population through extremely desperate means such as infanticide as well as negligence of the old people (Coulmas 5). Towards late 19 century, the population rose and it was unlikely that japan would ever face a shortage of births. However, that is what Japan is experiencing and has experienced over a couple of past decades. Over the last half century, death rates have reduced and the life span has increased by about 30 years. For women, life expectancy is currently at 82 whereas for men it is 76 (Uhlenberg 134). The number of those aged 65 and above was 14% of the population in 1994 and by the 2010; Japan was among the leading in the world in this measure. In Japan, people in their seventies and eighties are prevalent and even centenarians have increased in number. The difference in population structure is due to factors such as fertility and mortality(Coulmas 25).Women in Japan are no longer in a hurry to get married like in previous generations and when they marry, they sire fewer children. In Japan, unmarried women rarely have babies hence the slow rate of marriages contributes to the decreased young population. Women in japan have also opted on continuing with their education to get better job opportunities compared to those of earlier years. In addition, unmarried men are more than unmarried women hence

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

A journal article critique in the family health area - 1

A journal critique in the family health area - Article Example The author employed the methods correctly since all the results indicated that chiropractic care produced positive results that improved the quality of life. However, there might be error in the research, since the author assumes that those who do not get chiropractic care do not get other health services, but in reality they could be receiving other health care in different forms. The evidence in support of the topic can be the 1992 research where people who received chiropractic care had a higher immunity than the average population or cancer patients. Dr. Petro states that chiropractic health care imparts maximum efficiency to whatever genetic makeup one may be possessing, while in the 2005 research, the study indicates that chiropractic health care determines normal physiological process which influence DNA repair and oxidative stress. This implies that subluxations removal has a positive influence on health. The strength of the evidence can be that chiropractic care has positive results on the immune system and can be recommended for quality life, while the weakness can be that those who got chiropractic care may have lived in the same environment which favored the practice or have specific biological background. The author supported the topic by explaining that the immune and nervous system were connected, and therefore manipulating the nervous system would produce a result, which in this case is chiropractic care which has positive results on the immune system. Other authors have conducted chiropractic research. They include shekelle et al (1992) and they concluded that manipulation of the spine fastens recovery from minor low back pains, after literature review on 25 trials. Van Tudler, Bouter and Koes in Netherlands found superior evidence for efficiency of manipulating the spine for chronic back pain. Bronfort (1999) conducted a review and found short term capacity

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Psychosocial Interventions With Psychosis Essay

Psychosocial Interventions With Psychosis - Essay Example A wide array of nervous system stressors can result in a psychotic reaction both at organic as well as functional level. However, the first line treatment for psychosis is generally associated with the administration of antipsychotic drugs and in some cases hospitalization, but there is increasing research evidence that suggests cognitive therapy; family therapy can be effective in the management of psychotic symptoms. This paper critically reviews on psychological intervention with patients affected by serious and prolonged mental disorders and the strengths and weaknesses associated with such types of therapeutic interventions. Psychosis is a mental state defining a group of mental disorders come into one singe head in psychiatry and it is characterized by certain common fundamental factors such as hallucinations or sensation of non-existent objects or phenomenon; delusions or possessing beliefs not based on reality; thought insertion, withdrawal, thought blocking, thought broadcasting lack of insight or being unable to understand the wrongs in the thinking or activity patterns. However, there are number of controversies associated with the psychiatric classification of psychosis, but usually the most common disorders come under the general title of psychoses are as follows: - Schizophrenia - Schizoaffective disorder - Maniac Depression (Bipolar Disorder) - Mania - Delusion (Paranoid) Disorder - Psychotic Depression Although these disorders differ in their symptoms but they consist of a common parameter that the individual suffering from any of the disease does not experience reality as most of the other people in general. Sample Case Study The patient is a female of 18 years doing graduation in a co-education college. She was brought to the clinic by her mother and sister for lack of sleep, verbal and physical aggressiveness, suspicion that the male faculty members in her college are writing love letters to her and making obscene gestures during the lecture and the fear of becoming a male. She had the habit of peeping into the bathroom when her mother takes bath. Sometimes she blamed her mother of appearing nude before her. Her elder sister and elder brother had innocuous relationship. She did not have any intimate relationship with the member of the same sex. The family disapproved of her friendship with boys of questionable character. Therapeutic Strategies Suggested The patient mentioned in the case study is suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. In the initial phase of the treatment, she was suggested to undergo neuroleptic pharmacotherapy especially antipsychotic drugs. The medication has been found to be effectual in treating the 'positive symptoms' of the disease, the treatment of 'negative symptoms' has not very yet found to be very successful. Later on she was suggested to undergo psychotherapeutic interventions like reality-oriented individual therapy so that she could be able to cope up with stressful thoughts and events encountered which eventually reduce the risk for relapse, cognitive-behavioural approach helps in monitoring and changing the negative patterns of thoughts and behaviours in ways to make her able to regulate irrational thoughts

Sufism & Its Effects On Islamic Culture Essay Example for Free

Sufism Its Effects On Islamic Culture Essay â€Å"Sufism is the journey and the realization of truth, and a Sufi, is the seeker of truthâ€Å" (Janghda, 144). Therefore, in order to understand the lives of Sufis and their contribution to Islam, one must first comprehend the meaning of Sufism. â€Å"Sufism is the spiritual practice by which one can achieve ultimate spiritual gratification. The term ‘Sufism’ has been derived from various words, such as ‘Safa’ which means ‘pure’ and ‘Saff’ which means high in rank† (All About Religion). All these meanings have one thing in common which is also apparent by the looks of a Sufi, uniqueness. That Sufis do not fit the general perception of a man or woman, they were people who gave up the world’s material belongings and it’s luxuries to explore the inner self. â€Å"One must live in the world, not be of the world†, Jamal ad-Din al-Rumi. Love is the basis of Sufism, like most of the religions of this world and the core objective of Sufism is to find the oneness. A Sufi must realize that God exists everywhere, as the creator and the creation. Tasawwuf is a practice in Sufism in which one purifies oneself by the remembrance and obedience of God. It is the complete detachment from the worldly issues and devoting your mind, body and soul to God. This practice is similar to conventional Islamic practices such as zikr and prayer. Thus to achieve a status of a Sufi, one must go through many levels, such as killing your ego, breaking away from the material wants and loving everything, as all is created by God. Sufism has no boundaries as it a spiritual religion; it seeks truth through divinity and not sections. Instead of mentors or preachers who have learned about religion through people, a Sufi seeks his own answers. There are no value of favoritism and preference, all creations are equal. Sufism is not just a religion, it is a way of thinking and a lifestyle, and thus one must be open-minded, tolerant and humble to start the journey. Without these traits one cannot achieve spiritual enlightenment. â€Å"Therefore, most of the well known Sufis that have passed have known to not conform to the society they reside in, providing knowledge about Islamic mysticism to their people through poems, stories and various texts which are still enchanting and informing people till this day† (Arbery, 15). Farid ud-Din Attar was a similar mystic, born in the city of Nishapur in Iran and also buried in a tomb in Nishapur (The Free Dictionary). Although he lived over centuries ago but some of Attar’s works are still read and appreciated even now. His name Attar, meant herbalist who was also his profession, as he was a well-known medic. He would see hundreds of patients daily, prescribing herbal medicines that he himself prepared to his patients. In his days of youth, he travelled comprehensively through Egypt, Damascus and even performed pilgrimage at Mecca in search for wisdom. After a long journey, Attar came back to his hometown and embarked on his Sufi journey. During this time, Attar wrote tremendous texts but his most well known is Maqamat-e Toyur (The Conference of the Birds). Attar’s ability to look beyond the texts and find a deeper meaning in not just readings but in every daily doings made him a better author and poet, his teachings and poems still are relevant for that alone reason. Attar passed away in old age, even though the details of his death are weary but a traditional tale does narrate the demise of Attar. In this folk tale, Attar had been made a prisoner by the Mongol when they invaded Nishapur. During that time, an unknown person came to the Mongol king and offered a thousand pieces of silver in turn of Attar’s freedom. When Attar heard this, he recommended the king to not take such a ransom, and the king did just that in greed. Later, another man came to the emperor and offered him a bundle of straws in exchange of Attar’s freedom, to which Attar advised the king to take the offer, as that is what he was worth. When the Mongol king heard this, he decapitated Attar in anger (Arbery, 74). The authenticity of this tale is not important but the message it has is very valuable. It shows that a man of such knowledge of religion, mysticism and medicine, thought of himself as only worthy of a bundle of straws rather than thousand pieces of silver. Therefore, a Sufi must be self-less to attain the truth. The truth is that the body of a person is just a shell, in which the soul resides, a soul that mirrors God. Even if you kill the body, which is of no value, the soul will live on forever.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Urban Design for Community Development | Case Study

Urban Design for Community Development | Case Study Introduction Urban design is considered the practice of influencing and managing the urban environment. Its role and potential for creating better places in areas with community issues shall be discussed with reference to Hulme, an area one mile south of Manchester city centre. During the late 80s Hulme fell into a state of inner city decay, it became a marginal area notorious for crime, social deprivation and poor housing. However, during the early 90s an ambitious urban regeneration plan covering an area of 240 acres was created, the programme was entitled The Hulme City Challenge Initiative. This was managed by a joint venture company, Hulme Regeneration Limited consisting of Manchester City Council and AMEC Plc; over the years a host of other public, private and community interests have been involved. Hulme is an extreme case of an area with community issues some of which remain unresolved. However, more than 12 years since the programmes launch and with over  £250 million invested into numerous regeneration projects it provides a wealth of information for making clear points throughout the essay. Hulmes new qualities and past deficiencies will enable genuine connections to be made with urban design theories while highlighting possible measures one could consider when addressing areas with community issues. How do community issues arise? When addressing community issues one of the first roles is to understand how the existing problems have arisen. A rigorous transparent analysis should be conducted so that previous errors are not repeated because areas swept away in wholesale redevelopment are often the very areas which today are failing and undergoing significant change (CABE 2005, p.12). This occurred to Hulme during the 60s,. When different social and ethnic underprivileged groups live together in marginal areas like Hulme they all generally have limited access to resources and rights while various communal tensions can arise from sparse public spaces. These limited public spaces experience pressures from various patterns of use; from people living in flats without gardens, to those who spend a long time outdoors, like the homeless, drug addicts, loitering teenagers with nothing to do and migrants with nowhere to socialise. This causes friction and competition between these groups who in turn intimidate others who want pass through or use these areas. Those intimidated usually withdraw themselves from these group dominated spaces; they tend to be the elderly, disabled and young children. Incidentally, the 1960s Hulme design discouraged permeability through the public realm; it lacked diversity of space and available institutions, which created defensible areas and isolation. These past issues imply Hulme suffered from placelessness (Jacobs Appleyard 1987), whereby people withdraw from community involvement to enjoy their own private and limited worlds (Jacobs Appleyard 1987, p.115). Neglect and decline of space is common in marginal areas, but why is it we find litter ridden streets, vandalised outdoor furniture, tip heaps in parks, empty business units, areas of poor maintenance, and so forth. Some blame can be directed towards the local authorities for the latter; however in this case one will address neglect shown from local residents. When residents allow their environment to fall into a state of decline it highlights their lack of attachment to place. Alternatively, the concerned minority believe any attempts to maintain the area will only be in vain. The lack of attachment with place can result from transient inhabitants who feel no responsibility in looking after or respecting short-term, low-quality accommodation and surrounding public spaces. As an area declines over time so does the quality of life, it portrays a sense of abandonment within the community. For Hulme it became stigmatised with a negative perceptual image presented through dilapidated bui ldings and its depressing environment. This can have a knock on effect by deterring local businesses who fear no returns on their investment and are sceptic about security. This not only degrades public areas through reduced street activity and social integration but it reduces self-policing, increases unemployment levels which fuels localised crime from the resulting low levels of social organisation (Wilson, 1997 p.21). Hulme managed to force those with any aspirations out of its area through defining itself as an estate via its rigid zoning of activities and housing tenure. Its unstable and declining local population not only weakened community bonds but assisted the process of residualisation in Hulme and hence crime figures rose. Working with and resolving community issues Having scratched beyond the surface of some common community issues, one will discuss potential methods of approach suggested by urban design theorists. These will be cross referenced with several socially healing developments in Hulme. Selected Preservation Firstly one should strive to understand the collective social meanings and values communities place on their existing physical environment via extensive consultation with residents. This allows one to distinguish the character and uniqueness a specific place presents; this may be through specific buildings, public spaces or landmarks. Calthorpe and Fulton state that conservation and restoration are practical undertakings that can besocially enriching (Calthorpe Fulton 2001, p.48). Therefore the urban designer should seek to maintain these focal points weaving them into future development, thus strengthening the communities urban identity. Through preserving some familiar settings it provides a psychological comfort for long term residents; specifically the elderly. One of the main and incidentally oldest buildings conserved during Hulmes regeneration was the congregational Church for Zion Institute, built in 1911. This iconic building was maintained and converted in 1997 into a mult i-arts facility for young people; its success has helped provide creative opportunities for youngsters as well as delivering socially enriching communal events. It is these constant events and public performances that have reinforced and created group connections within Hulme. This hub for young people has tempted idol children off the street and assisted with the reduction in juvenile crime. Connecting People to Places At a macro scale communities suffering from a sense of entrapment and abandonment can be helped through increased permeability and connections to the city. One of the first major actions in Hulme was the re-instatement of Stratford Road which provided a vital link to Manchester city centre; this allowed the communities to feel integrated with the wider context and thus reduced their restriction to resources. Additionally, the completion of the landmark Mancunian Way Footbridge in 2002 symbolically linked Hulme Park with Knott Mill and the City Centre. It was significantly designed for pedestrians and cyclists to be able to cross the busy Mancunian Way, but how can designers encourage pedestrian and cyclist movement in an unsafe environment? Incidentally, various design measures can be employed to increase public realm safety while collectively reducing the impact of the car; incidentally the car dominated Hulmes 60s design, ideally the most important public places must be for pedestrians, for no public life can take place between people in automobiles (Jacobs Appleyard 1987, p.119). Public and private space should be clearly defined (Jacobs 1961). A variety of well-lit routes that pedestrians or cyclists can choose should any problems arise. Routes should not be isolated; they should be self-policed with sufficient eyes on the street through shops and housing which increase a sense of safety (Jacobs 1961). Street layout should be clear to minimise the distance from A to B. The grain of the street should become thin around nodes of activity to influence permeability of the space. At a localised scale increasing social integration amongst a diverse community is difficult. Designing physical space has its limitations when trying to inform where and what types of social interaction will occur. What can be provided to communities are areas that encourage chance encounters which in turn may create group formations. There are generally two types of group formations, formal and communal. From an urban design perspective the former group type can be encouraged more because they have a prescribed purpose with defined patterns. It is the communal groups which have to evolve themselves, however design can allow social patterns to be easily recognised via unrestricted access to activities within public spaces. It is through repeated activities such as markets that friendships can be made over time between existing and new residents. Furthermore, areas designated for specific activities, for instance sports can support group relations. Observing other people and their act ivities, like watching a local football match, can make others, such as new residents feel a temporal sense of belonging without actually participating in the activity themselves (Carr et al. 1992). This reinforces the argument that public spaces must be accessible to all groups to enable observation as well as verbal interaction. Hulme Park is a prime example of how a public space can have a positive impact on a community. It not only brings people together but improves their quality of life and projects a confident image of the area. The respective brief was to deliver a safe and appealing park to attract a variety of groups. Psychological barriers rather than physical installations were employed to create a public but secure park. Firstly its width never exceeds 70 metres, this allows users to recognise one another and subconsciously not feel anonymous within the space. Secondly the new surrounding houses provide natural surveillance, also an existing road and perimeter parking increase nearby activity which creates a sense of security. Community Engagement Identity When a neighbourhood neglects their own environment it is important as a designer to try and restore a sense of pride and public ownership of the suffering area through community engagement. Building a rapport with residents from the offset can be advantageous during the development process and local input can positively influence design decisions. User participation in the design process and management of space provides communities with a feeling of control over their own neighbourhood (Carr et al. 1992); this can increase their attachment to place resulting in a revived interest in their surrounding environment. Providing opportunities for personalisation of space can also reinforce this goal. The development of Hulme Park involved a series of meetings with residents from the area so its design could appeal to its potential users. Due to diverse requests from a range of age-groups, the designers, Landscape Projects went with a popular theme which arose during the consultation proce ss; swimming and surfing. The design theme reflected the communities interest and stamped their identity and involvement on the project. This generated a high level of respect for the space and has resulted in minimal vandalism of the park. Additionally, accurate decisions can be made by working with the community when determining suitable functions for a space. It is the function or activity within a space that can become meaningful to individuals, groups and communities. One can create meaningful space based upon understanding the residents lives and patterns of use (Carr et al. 1992). Public space incorporating various functions can be designed by categorising site characteristics and linking them to desired activity settings suggested by the community. The facilities within Hulme Park were strategically located in order to gain maximum social integration. For instance, the sports area was specifically located next to the existing Proctors Youth Centre so coaches could train and observe the whole team. Local requests for a skate park were integrated into the design too, thus increasing its diversity and user appeal. New developments always ignite some form of opposition, usually from long-term residents as the thought of change unsettles them. Generally they are in search of assurance that their community and the environment in which they live have a future and most importantly that they are part of that future. Territoriality can be a sensitive issue when community groups develop strong feelings about their rights to have a space developed; this can create tension between the designer and can instigate neighbourhood disputes as a result of a groups claim over a space. From an urban design perspective indistinct boundaries are the typical cause of such disputes, therefore delineating spaces that are collectively owned can minimise conflict while strengthening a sense of public ownership. Physical installations can help unify communities and reinstate a sense of identity; public art can portray shared social values of a neighbourhood while iconic landmarks can make a positive statement of change, which helps revitalise an area through nullifying previous stigmatisations. This has been achieved in Hulme with Wilkinson Eyres striking Arch Bridge, its key location (a major route from the City Centre to the main motorway network) helps highlight and reinforce the positive transformations occurring within Hulme. It is one of many new landmarks which have attracted more people and businesses to the area, thus building a stronger community which contributes to more eyes on the street and increased local employment results in lower crime levels. Diversity Flexibility According to Calthorpe and Fulton (2001), diversity is one of their fundamental elements for improving communities. Providing a range of local activities within close proximity enables community identity resulting in a strengthened urban quality. New diverse buildings should be visually interesting if people are to enjoy experiencing their environment, if a citys streets look interesting, the city looks interesting. (Jacobs 1961, p.27). Fig 2 displays how Hulme has become a more attractive place to live with its dramatic diversification of housing stock and its replacement of the notorious Hulme Crescent with modern housing. Additionally, Carr et al. (1992) state how nature not only adds diversity to an area but develops bonds between people and places. The best public spaces are the most flexible ones (Madanipour 2004, p.285), hence why spaces deliberately left undefined in Hulme allowed new uses to evolve over time. Through not overdesigning a place it enables users to adapt space to their needs. Incidentally, the Hulme horticultural society was officially revived through local adaptable space; it also reinforces the fact that nature can bring disparate individuals and groups with various interests together. Conclusion To summarise, the Hulme case study has demonstrated how quality urban design has the potential to resolve community issues and make a place better. Despite some remaining troubles in Hulme one was keen to focus upon the positive urban design elements which healed many of its community problems. The social benefits realised in the development and revival of Hulme is summarised under the following key urban design elements: Preservation; maintaining key buildings like the Zion Art Centre have sustained the historic identity of Hulme which comforts long-term residents, while those regenerated have created nodes of social integration. Permeability Accessibility; connectivity with the wider environment of Manchester has removed the sense of entrapment and abandonment within Hulme. Communal institutions Public Space; the revival of Stratford Road as a shopping destination and the success of Hulme park are examples of how Hulmes urban environment has been activated, with increased social activity and group formations. Safety on the streets; through logical street design, increased facilities and communal opportunities the greater number of eyes on the street have made the area safer. Neighbourhood involvement; through community consultation during developments, residents now feel a sense of ownership, well-being and respect for their environment this has helped reduce vandalism in the area. Landmarks; Hulme Arch bridge has helped promote Hulme in a positive light which has resulted in an increase in residents and local businesses; resulting in its stronger community spirit and reduced crime rates due to local employment opportunities. Diversity Flexibility; the diversity of housing and public space has made the area a more attractive place to live thus increasing the communities quality of life. Flexible space has provided the opportunity for further positive developments when community interests and desires change. What is apparent is that all the above are interwoven and affect one another in some way therefore they must be purposefully combined to support one another. It is also obvious that environmental and economic factors have an underlying effect on the success of such design elements. However, one should strive for a complementary economic, environmental and social strategy to maximise community benefits. Bibliography Carr, S. et al., 1992. Public Space. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Calthorpe, P. Fulton, W., 2001. The Regional City Planning for the end of sprawl. London: Island Press. Jacobs, J., 1961. The Death and Life of Great American Cities The Failure of Town Planning. New York: Vintage Books. Wilson, W.J., 1997. When Work Disappears The World of the New Urban Poor. New York: Vintage Books. Jacobs, A. Appleyard, D., 1987. Toward an Urban Design manifesto. Journal of the American Planning Association, 53, pp.112-120. Madanipour, A., 2004. Marginal Public Spaces in European Cities. Journal of Urban Design, 9 (3), pp.267-286. CABE, 2005. Creating Successful Neighbourhoods Lessons and Actions for Housing Market Renewal. London: CABE.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Priesthood :: essays research papers

Priesthood The position of priesthood in the church has been evident since the earliest existence of the church. Jewish priests first were established in the seventh century BC performing religious ceremonies. They were even more established around 950 BC due to the establishment of the Temple in Jerusalem. The major role of the traditional Jewish priest was to perform sacrificial rituals. According to the Bible, the Temple was built as a place for God to live with the people. It was the holiest building that existed, and needed to be kept holy by the priests. Their role of the priests was to perform animal sacrifices to God as an offering. The priests performed these sacrifices as specialists on behalf of a community or congregation in order to restore the holiness of the community and of the Temple. It was believed that if there was sin among the people then God would not come and be with them. After the Temple was destroyed during the war with Rome, these animal sacrifices were stopped, and there were no more active Jewish priests. The religious leadership in the synagogue was led by the rabbis. In the Protestant religion there exists a "priesthood of all believers"("Priesthood", 529). This meant that each member in the community serves as his or her own priest, with direct access to communication with God. Protestants believe that the role of the priest is an "officiating mediary"("Priesthood", 529), rather than a one who performs ritual sacrifices. This stems from the Protestant belief that Jesus Christ served as "the ultimate" sacrifice, and therefore there is no use in animal sacrifices. Protestants also do not call their religious leaders "priests" because the name itself implies that he is of a higher level than his fellow man or that he has more access to God than others. There exists two different forms of priesthood: hereditary and vocational priests. A hereditary priest is a limited position in that it can only be held by a person who a direct descendent of the tribe of Levi. This tribe is one of the original 12 tribes of Israel as set forth in Genesis 49. There exists among this tribe one High Priests who head of the other priests. He is the only priest who was allowed to view the holy Ark of the Covenant during the existence of the Temple in Jerusalem. These hereditary priests, unlike most priests in today's society, were allowed to marry in order to carry on the line of priesthood. The vocational priests are those which have been "called" to the ministry by God himself.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Research paradigm Essay

The research paradigm considered by the researcher in regard to this work included the consideration of packaging in special occasions and which factors companies should focus during the period of social occasion in order to make their packaging their selling point. During the festival seasons market is flooded with various gift options. Due to the competition various organizations offer attractive schemes and offers to allure the consumers. Consumers due to various kind of motives of buying gift which can be personal, individual, altruism, cultural, reciprocal and other reason wants to buy attractive gifts for the people within his circle from family to the friends and relatives. The competitions companies face to attract these customers comes from various sectors of the industry or outside the industry. Now a days even service organization have become very competitive and services can also be offered as a gift. In such case company faces all kind of product, generic, industry specific and other kind of competitions. The packaging decisions are one of the important aspects of the marketing mix which can not be ignored in such a competitive environment where everything needs to be perfect. This paradigm has been utilized many times in the study of packaging in special occasions for all the group of respondents. I. i. a. Sample selection The data sampling was randomly managed utilizing stratified means with sixty five questionnaires completed by both male and female retail consumers. The percentages of female respondents were higher than that of male. The choice to use retail consumers alone in this research was made for three reasons. †¢ First, it was far simpler to have access to consumers from retail organization in regard to the researcher’s availability. †¢ Second, the focus itself is on understanding attitudes and perceptions for the packaging of gifts in special occasions and retail organization is a place attracting major customers to buy gifts. †¢ Third, the quantification of such information allows the researcher to gain a broader perspective on how respondents observe and realize the meanings of different components of packaging during special occasions and how it impacts their buying behaviour. I.i. b. Reliability and viability Reliability for the researcher was achieved in the assurance that only a specified group of men and women were utilized in regard to the research. The focus of the research has been on the consumers from retail organization. These consumers from retail organization were approachable. Data was collected in the presence of researcher. This gave the research a more focused view of the research goal. The validity was managed as a result of this focus and emphasised in the considerations involved in the data collection, variables and sampling methods. Privacy and confidentiality methods included assigning numeric and alphabetic coding to each responding questionnaire. This ensured anonymity in regard to the researcher and the subjects of the research process. I. i. c. Sample size Approximately 100 questionnaires have been distributed to collect the information. However in 35 questionnaires the information was not completed and due to that these has been withdrawn from the studies. 65 fully filled questionnaires have been utilized for the purpose of study. I. i. d. Questionnaire design The questionnaire design was simple. The questions included in the paper are related to the attributes of the packaging. The time taken to complete the questionnaire was less due to its simple nature. Most of the questions are simple circle question where respondent has to make a circle around the most appropriate and applicable option. I. i. e. Data analysis and findings Analysis of information in regard to research managed by the researcher must include complete and full understanding of the questionnaire. This understanding focuses in the use of the questionnaire created specifically for this process. It is the considerations realized within the questionnaires, no matter their simplicity, that will focus considerations in later chapters of this work. Within this section of Analysis and Findings there will be measurement of all responses in regard to the questionnaire. †¢ Analysis strategy Analysis strategy included a full series of statistical diagrams of all information collected including positive and negative responses, gender variations and marital status. This strategy provided the researcher with a wider spread for the conclusions that became evident in regard to the researcher’s focus. This information was broken down into specific charts for the benefit of visual context. The visual context provided insight in regard to perceptions of packaging and considerations by consumers from retail organization in regard to the impact of components on them. These perceptions and considerations provide the researcher with evidence to support the hypothesis made in that effective packaging decisions during the special occasions will support organizations to delight the consumer. †¢ Awareness The researcher held awareness of the potential for study in regard to packaging during special occasion through many methods. Those methods include observation, interaction and extensive research. The awareness of the media discussions of packaging amongst collegiate level men and women and the similar studies within this idea would in fact have influenced the choice made. The choice of analyzing how consumers from retail organization amongst this particular population would in fact consider their packaging options and knowledge allows for a singular perspective isolated from the more broadly painted view. The focus itself was on the consumers from retail organization and how they absorbed information available before deciding on packaging decisions. Overall, the respondents to the questionnaires provided insight in regard to how many individuals are learning more and more about packaging decisions. From the literature review it is evident that usually colour of the packaging which makes impact on sender or receiver of any gift. The questionnaire aims to measure the frequency to which people buy gifts for others and what are the factors they consider for the packaging. †¢ Understanding The understanding of this information gathered is proven in the statistics within the questionnaires that were completed and submitted. Each respondent have been explained the objective of study. Researcher has helped the respondents if s/he faces any difficulty in understanding any question. The research found that all respondents understood the material being requested and filled the questionnaires accordingly in timely fashion. The responses of questionnaires were filled in the database as the completed questionnaires had been received from the respondents. This information was then examined thoroughly for consistency and validity. The researcher now understands that there is a great deal of diversity in gift buying and packaging behaviour among the consumers from retail organization. Respondents can learn about better packaging options through their own personal research, their parents, friends or other family members. †¢ Findings The questionnaire included demographic details like of the respondents Demographic Profile †¢ Age Large section of the respondents (41. 5%) fall under the age group of 22-30 years old, followed by people within the age group of 41-50 years who are 20% of the total respondents. Approximately 15% of the total respondents fall under the age group of 18-21. Figure III. 1 Age of Respondents Ethnic background: 43% of the total respondents were from White community while 34% were Asian. Black other and Black African were 14% and 6% respectively of the total respondents. None of the respondent was from Hispanic or African background. Figure III. 2 Ethnic Origin of the Respondents Gender Majority of respondents are female with percentage of 66 while remaining 34% of the respondents are male. Figure III. 3 Gender Consumer behaviour. When respondents were asked the question â€Å"How frequently do you buy gift items? † twenty five out of sixty five responded that they buy gifts once in a month. Twenty two out of sixty five responded that they buy three to six times in a year. Nine respondents told that they buy less often gifts for anyone while the same number of respondents told that they buy gifts once in a week. No respondent told that s/he never buys any gift items. Figure III. 4 Frequency of buying Gift Items Components of Packaging on Special Occasion Colour:When consumers were asked what they feel about the statement â€Å"It feels good to receive a present in Colourful packaging on special occasions† approximately 48% of the respondent strongly agreed to the statement while 35% agreed to the statement. Remaining respondents felt they were neutral to the Colour of packaging. Figure III. 5 Colourful Packaging Respondents when asked to respond on the statement â€Å"On special occasions (like Christmas), packaging is more Colourful than normal. † Majority of them agreed to the statement. 37% of the total respondents strongly agreed to the statement while approximately 50% agreed to the statement. 10-% of the total respondents felt neutral about the statement while approximately 1% disagreed to the same. Figure III. 6 Packaging on Special Occasions Respondents were asked to respond on the shape and Colour attribute of a product. They were asked to respond on the statement â€Å"People are mostly attracted by different shapes and sizes in gift items. † 58% of the total respondents agreed to the statement while approximately 16% strongly agreed. 18% respondents were neutral to this statement while 4% disagreed. 1. 5% of respondents strongly disagreed to the statement. Figure III. 7: Colours and Shapes of Product. When respondents were asked whether or not they agree to the statement â€Å"Packaging styles vary for different occasions† 44% agreed to the statement while 30% strongly agreed. 18% were neutral to the statement and 4% strongly disagreed. Figure III. 8 Packaging Style in Different Occasions When consumers were asked about their own perception regarding shapes and Colours of the product by the statement â€Å"I am attracted to a product because of different Colours and shapes in packaging when I buy for a special occasion† approximately 40% of the total respondents agreed to the statement while 26% strongly agree to the same. 18% respondents were neutral to the same, 17% disagreed and 1. 5% strongly disagreed to the statement. Figure III. 9 Impact of Shape and Size of packaging in special occasions To the statement â€Å"Colourful and attractive packaging makes a good impression about the sender to the receiver. † Approximately 50% strongly agreed to the statement while 43% agreed to the same. 6% of the total respondents were neutral while 1. 5% strongly disagreed to it. Figure III. 10: Colourful and attractive packaging and impression about sender.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Pride and Prejudice: Elizabeth and Darcy Essay

In Pride and Prejudice, Darcy and Elizabeth first encounter at the ball in Meryton. Not such of a good impression they had on each other. Darcy’s first opinion is well understood as he says, â€Å"She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me.†(Page 8) As Elizabeth overhears his critical comment, she dislikes Darcy in that very moment for being so proud and full of himself. As Darcy is being convinced to dance with Elizabeth he accepts while she refuses. That is when Darcy gets his first insight of Elizabeth’s attitude. It came shocking to Darcy that Elizabeth refuses to dance with him; a fine young man who has such fortune and reputation. Through conversation with Elizabeth, Darcy notices she is not like other women. At the time women settled for what was given to them for beneficial pretenses such as marrying a man of good reputation with a fortune. Eliza does not give herself out to Darcy, instead she speaks her mind not giving much importance to the disagreements others including Darcy, will have on her comments or opinions. Darcy likes that she is not like other women, so in need of a husband. Unknowingly Darcy is being drawn in by her inner and outer beauty. Darcy is a clever, proud, and demanding man as Elizabeth describes him. (Page 33) He considers himself superior to others who according to him were not brought up well and have such low connections. It comes naturally for Elizabeth to laugh at Mr. Darcy for being so bitter and dull. Little by little he begins to show his emotions for Eliza as he becomes weak against her. Miss Bingley is one of the first to ever notice this weakness he has for her and tries to feed to his negative opinions of her and her family only letting him reveal that he had never met such a beautiful acquaintance as Eliza. So it was, Darcy had completely fallen in love with Elizabeth and reveals his emotions to her thus at the same time insulting her and her family for being of such low class in comparison to him. Elizabeth becomes very insulted and refuses his proposal of marriage. Eliza says to Darcy, â€Å"Why  with so evident a design of offending and insulting me you chose to tell me you liked me against your will, against your reason, and even against your character?† (Page 163) From this moment on, Eliza began to fall in love with Darcy as well. It is evident that they are both completely in love with each other. Their relationship is most convenient to the Bennets while they have a daughter who will marry a man of great fortune that will as a result make them look good to society. Most importantly, Eliza is going to marry out of love rather than to settle for less as Charlotte did by marrying Mr. Collins whom she did not love but instead married for her own convenience. As for Darcy, not everyone is in such agreement that he marries such a woman as Eliza but yet their marriage is most likely to succeed knowing that the most important factor, love, is in place. At the end, Lady de Bourgh has no choice but to be in agreement of their marriage.

Analytical Paper: Justin Martyr, First Apology Essay

Justin Martyr was the Greek apologist of Christianity who lived in the 2nd c. A. D. He was famous for his two Apologies (the First Apology dates back to about A. D. 155, rediscovered in 1364 ), and the Dialogue with Trypho. Both Chadwick and Richardson called him one of the most prominent advocates of Christian faith due to the most genuine spirit and voluminosity. The First Apology is addressed to the emperor Antoninus Pius and his confidants. The eloquent speech, which sometimes resembles of Platonic dialogues or defensive declaration in classic court, explains to the hostile prevailing authorities the foundations of Christian theology from the point of a true believer. As Richardson noted, the work was not recklessly structured, so far as it was difficult for commentators â€Å"to find a clear outline. † There is a scheme of the Apology given in chapter 23, though it â€Å"is hard to follow through in detail. † However, Richardson observed a distinctive rhetorical scheme consisting of seven themes: Plea for a Fair Hearing (chs. 1 to 8), The Faith and Life of Christians (chs. 9 to 20), Superiority of Christianity to Paganism (chs. 21 to 29), The Argument from Prophecy (chs. 30 to 53), Paganism an Imitation of Christianity (chs. 54 to 60), Christian Worship (chs. 61 to 67), and Conclusion (ch. 68) (1953, 236). Thus, the First Apology topically consists of the appeal to the Pagan Emperors who used to prosecute early Christians, the description of Christian theological position, the comparison of Pagan and Christian faiths, the overview of Biblical prophecies in regard to Jesus Christ, the account of Christian traditions (Eucharist, prays, etc. ) and the summary of previous argumentations. Justin addressed the Emperor and his relatives as philosophers and lovers of culture in the name of people regardless of nationality being â€Å"unjustly hated and reviled† for their faith. The apologist evidently held the hearers for humans being able to follow reason. More than that, Justin Martyr called for the high reputation of the Emperor as the pillar of justice who could not send a criminal to death before conviction but, nevertheless, illogically did not pause to murder Christians. The author swept aside the suspicions that he would flatter higher authorities, or try to seek their indulgent protection. Instead, Justin suggested that the listeners should voluntary â€Å"give judgment according to strict and exact inquiry† without â€Å"prejudice or respect for superstitious men, or by irrational impulse and long-established evil rumor. † No doubt that the author built his argument as if he was a solicitor speaking before the trial jury. In evidence of his firm and sincere position of a Christian, he exclaimed, For we are firmly convinced that we can suffer no evil unless we are proved to be evildoers or shown to be criminals. You can kill us, but cannot do us any real harm. Justin’s discourse is founded on the concept of reason and truth. He juxtaposed the negative rule of custom to the positive guidance of truth. The apologist’s conceptualization of truth linked to the one of justice even at the cost of life, as well as to the most perfect embodiment of Reason, God. Justin warned his audience, â€Å"if those who learn [the truth] do not do what is right, they have no defense before God. † Chadwick stated that, according to the apologist, â€Å"the gospel and the best elements in Plato and the Stoics are almost identical ways of apprehending the same truth. † It seems to be true that Justin did not afraid to appellate to the authority of pagan philosophers, Plato and Socrates. The latter â€Å"made the race of men endowed with intelligence, able to choose the truth and do right, so that all men are without excuse before God, for they were made with the powers of reason and observation. † He was executed for denouncing the power of evil demons who seduced humans and made them act wickedly. Justin found that there were parallels between the Stoics’ catastrophic comprehension of the world and â€Å"the eschatological fire of God’s judgement. † Still, the Christian spirit proclaimed by Justin is closer to Plato’s teaching. For example, in regard to death and martyrdom the apologist seemed to echo the Greek philosopher in the utterance, â€Å"we are not troubled by being put to death, since we will have to die somehow in any case. † The Christian idea of eternal punishment for sinners and salvation for true and virtuous believers, when â€Å"the souls of the unrighteous will be punished after death, still remaining in conscious existence, and those of the virtuous, delivered from punishments, will enjoy happiness,† also seems to correspond with Plato’s ideas. It looks as if Justin assigned both philosophers and the prophets of the Old Testament to the one and the same position. He argued that Plato in his saying that, â€Å"The blame belongs to him who chooses, and God is free from blame,† sounded like the prophet Moses. The concept of Divinity as bodiless and formless substance having created the Universe traveled from one philosophic mind to another. Justin seemed to view the role of the Old Testament prophets in paving the road to the descending of Jesus Christ to people to redeem them of sins and evil. Justin wrote, â€Å"There were among the Jews certain men who were prophets of God, through whom the prophetic Spirit announced in advance events that were to occur. † One may assume that the apologist had knowledge of human psychology and community behavior. He assumed that â€Å"God testified in advance through the prophetic Spirit that things which are unbelievable and thought impossible among men would happen, so that when this should occur it would not be disbelieved, but received with faith because it had been predicted. † Citing the Bible, Justin analyzed the evidence from the Old Testament in regard to the events of the New Testament. He stated further that there were even more events to have been predicted by ancient prophets and there would be the second epiphany of Christ to Earth. Justin Martyr was a pioneer in underlining the Christian emphasis on spirit and dismissing human flesh as the driving cause for any acts and events. According to him, Christians were outstanding in their â€Å"longing for the life which is eternal and pure. † When the writer compared the pagan tradition of portraying gods as the objects of craft, he stressed that it was disgusting because of craftsmen’s licentious habits. He recalled ancient accounts of pagan gods living material life in contrast to Christian God who â€Å"has no need of material offerings from men, considering that he is the provider of all. † It is interesting to observe how Justin tried to build the hierarchy of three Christian deities: the Father, the Son and the Spirit. He made his best to explain that Christians honored Jesus as occupying the second place in the system, whereas the prophetic Spirit was in the third rank. He dwelt in details on the teaching of Jesus where people were taught to love and trust each other, live in purity and clarity of thought and deed. That formed a sharp contrast to the pagan traditions of prostitution, greed, lust and wilderness. Justin put Christianity superior to Paganism because Christian God let believers â€Å"not to consume by fire the things he has made for our nourishment, but to devote them to our use and those in need, in thankfulness to him sending up solemn prayers and hymns for our creation. † Christian God pursued the genuine truth and did not enjoy prejudices and human blindness in referencing to the truth. Involuntary, Justin sometimes made similar Christian and Pagan deities. However, he immediately tried to explain those analogies â€Å"as imitations of the truth inspired by the devil, who with foresight and sagacity has thereby tried to inoculate men against the gospel by caricatures of the Incarnation or of the virgin birth or of baptism and the eucharist. † What is the use of Justin’s First Apology in the Roman and modern period? First, he addressed plain people who craved after the main idea for their lives. Second, he integrated the new teaching in the sequence of human thought to change the outliving mode of political and spiritual life. Third, he was â€Å"utterly frank and open-hearted† in describing the emerging faith. So far as his theological contribution is concerned, Justin was artful enough â€Å"to piece together a mosaic providing a clear and surprisingly full account of his doctrines of God, Creation, Incarnation, Atonement, the Church, the sacraments of baptism and eucharist, and the Last Things. † Richardson admitted in his turn that Justin Martyr stood apart from other apologists in his warm and human tone: â€Å"Most of the other Apologists lead their reader to the door of the church [†¦] while Justin opens it and tells a good deal about what goes on inside. † Bibliography Chadwick, Henry. Early Christian Thought and the Classical Tradition: Studies in Justin, Clement, and Origen. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1984. Richardson, Cyril Charles. Early Christian Fathers. Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1953.