Richard Williams, III Essays - Physical Geography, Water

Richard Williams, III Mr. Greer Practicum STEM Robotics 09222016 The Exceptional Statewide Drought in California The issue at hand is the severe drought consuming over 71% of the state of California. This drought has California the driest it's been for 500 years . The heat has the Golden State with almost no snowpack in the mountains, which are critical sources of runoff for the state's water reservoirs. If this problem isn't fixed immediately the drought will only increase every year until the state has a 100% drought and there's no water left. This issue is was caused naturally but also influenced by mane-made things and issues such as global warming, pollution, and the overuse and waste of freshwater. One of the natural causes of the drought is a mass of warm water in the Pacific Ocean that has drifted closer to the West Coast named " The Blob ". Scientists believe this mass has persisted in about the same area for over 2 years and measure 1,000 miles across and 300 feet deep. Researchers have stated this mass of water may be a partial cause of the drought due to the increased temperature of the water, it doesn't allow much cool and moist air into the atmosphere in the direction of the state. Other scientist speculate that the high pressure system " La Nina " is likely what kicked off the drought cycle in 2011 by creating a persistent high-pressure system just off to the West Coast, close to California. The high-pressure system interfered with storm tracks and wind flow, causing storms that would usually have hit California to chart a different course and drench other locations with their much-needed precipitation. Recent studies on the scientific phenomenon have found that La Nina is to blame for the emerging drought. They've also discovered another possible cause named the "Ridiculously Resilient Ridge", which is a high pressure area in the atmosphere off the West Coast, nearly 4 miles high and 2,000 miles long. This atmospheric pressure is currently blocking Pacific winter storms from coming to California, deflecting them to Alaska and British Columbia. The results of this drought can become catastrophic. During times of drought, the areas flora and fauna are visibly dry and very unhealthy. This affects the herbivores that eat the plants, consequently removing the food source for omnivores and carnivores that eat the herbivores and plants. In summary, drought can cause an entire ecosystem to fail over time. Also the water levels in lakes and reservoirs fall dramatically, causing us humans to resort to underground aquifers and wells. The bad thing about that is over time, as the drought persists, the constant removal of the backup water can result in land subsidence, seawater intrusion, and the development of sinkholes. These issues are harder to see but are more costly to manage. The decline of surface water flows can be detrimental to water supplies for agriculture, cities, hydropower production, navigation, recreation, and habitat for aquatic and riparian species. There are no known ways to prevent and mostly natural drought; however there are ways man can prevent the negative effects of them. To begin with, local governments can use recreational surveillance drones to search for possible water sources or signs of aquifers. They can also be used to locate stranded or hurt people all over California with most focus on the Mojave, Colorado, and Great Basin Deserts. Other ways to prevent substantial water loss is to attempt to replenish the supply with seawater intrusion, which is using automated machines to remove water from the oceans, purify it, and store/deliver it to holding areas until it is needed. One of the major problems that come with droughts is wildfires. Fire departments can use drones put out the fires by remote so that no firemen with have to go in harm's way. And in conjunction with that, they can use rovers to survey particularly dry areas, locate, and remove potentially combustible debris and return them to a sec ure location. The drought in California is a major concern and should be treated as so. The natural disaster itself cannot be prevented but its effects can be. Technology is the greatest advancement in human civilization; we

european enlightenment essays

european enlightenment essays The Enlightenment was an era in human history in which thinkers and philosophers were convinced that they were rising from centuries of obscurity and unawareness into a new age made clear by reason and a respect for humanity. A number of thinkers and writers, mainly in England and France, believed that they were more educated and informed than their fellow citizens and intended to enlighten them. Society and humanity were seen as being in an inferior condition, and major changes were needed to improve the human condition. However, this belief in progress did not appear out of nowhere, it was instigated by two major historical events: the Protestant Reformation and the Scientific Revolution. Both of these key elements had major effects on the ideas and changes which appeared during the Enlightenment. The Protestant Reformation was a challenging of the Catholic churches domination over the politics, economics, and culture of European society. The Scientific Revolution was an influentia l time during which, not only natural scientific and technological advances were made, but also changes in the structure of human thought were established. Both the Protestant Reformation and the Scientific Revolution were events which preceded and directly affected the era of Enlightenment in the history of humankind. The Enlightenment was a consistent progression of these two scientific and religious events, the areas most affected being politics, religion, and the social development of the world. In the modern Western world, the greatest issue at the heart of the political debate was the question of the legitimacy of authority. The arguments revolved around the notions of order, authority, and rights. Prior to the 17th century, nations had been lead my monarchs, such as Kings and Queens, but in reality countries were divided. Nations were fragmented by feudalism and divided into states and political units, each having its own political agenda. Th...

Cairo Capital of Egypt Geography and Facts

Cairo Capital of Egypt Geography and Facts Cairo is the capital of the north African country of Egypt. It is one of the largest cities in the world and it is the largest in Africa. Cairo is known as being a very densely populated city as well as being the center of Egypts culture and politics. It is also located near some of the most famous remnants of Ancient Egypt like the Pyramids of Giza.Cairo, as well as other large Egyptian cities, has been in the news due to protests and civil unrest that began in late January 2011. On January 25, over 20,000 protesters entered the streets of Cairo. They were likely inspired by the recent revolts in Tunisia and were protesting Egypts government. The protests continued for several weeks and hundreds were killed and/or wounded as both anti and pro-government demonstrators clashed. Eventually, in mid-February 2011 Egypts president, Hosni Mubarak, stepped down from office as a result of the protests. 10 Facts About Cairo 1) Because present-day Cairo is located near the Nile River, it has long been settled. In the 4th century,  for example, Romans built a fortress down on the banks of the river called Babylon. In 641, Muslims took control of the area and moved its capital from Alexandria to the new, growing city of Cairo. At this time it was called Fustat and the region became a center of Islam. In 750,  though, the capital was moved slightly north of Fustat but by the 9th century, it was moved back. 2) In 969, the Egypt-area was taken from Tunisia and a new city was built north of Fustat to serve as its capital. The city was called Al-Qahira, which translates to Cairo. Shortly after its construction, Cairo was to become the center of education for the area. Despite Cairos growth,  however, most of Egypts governmental functions were in Fustat. In 1168, though the Crusaders entered Egypt and Fustat was intentionally burned down to prevent the destruction of Cairo. At that time, Egypts capital was then moved to Cairo and by 1340 its population had grown to nearly 500,000 and it was a growing trading center. 3) Cairos growth began to slow beginning in 1348 and lasting into the early 1500s due to the outbreak of numerous plagues and the discovery of a sea route around the Cape of Good Hope, which allowed European spice traders to avoid Cairo on their routes east. In addition in 1517, the Ottomans took control of Egypt and Cairos political power diminished as government functions were mainly conducted in Istanbul. In the 16th and 17th centuries,  however, Cairo grew geographically as the Ottomans worked to expand the citys borders out from Citadel that was constructed near the citys center. 4) In the mid-to late 1800s, Cairo began to modernize and in 1882 the British entered the region and economic center of Cairo moved closer to the Nile. Also at that time, 5% of Cairos population was European and from 1882 to 1937, its total population grew to over one million. In 1952 however, much of Cairo was burned in a series of riots and anti-government protests. Shortly thereafter, Cairo began to again grow rapidly and today its city population is over six million, while its metropolitan population is over 19 million. In addition, several new developments have been built nearby as satellite cities of Cairo. 5) As of 2006 Cairos population density was 44,522 people per square mile (17,190 people per sq km). This makes it one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Cairo suffers from traffic and high levels of air and water pollution. However, its metro is one of the busiest in the world and it is the only one in Africa. 6) Today Cairo is the economic center of Egypt and much of the Egypts industrial products are either created in the city or pass through it on the Nile River. Despite its economic success, its rapid growth has meant that city services and infrastructure cannot keep up with demand. As a result, many of the buildings and roads in Cairo are very new. 7) Today, Cairo the center of the Egyptian education system and there are a large number of universities in or near the city. Some of the largest are Cairo University, the American University in Cairo and Ain Shams University. 8) Cairo is located in the northern part of Egypt about 100 miles (165 km) from the Mediterranean Sea. It is also about 75 miles (120 km) from the Suez Canal. Cairo is also located along the Nile River and the citys total area is 175 square miles (453 sq km). Its metropolitan area, which includes nearby satellite cities, extends to 33,347 square miles (86,369 sq km). 9) Because the Nile, like all rivers, has shifted its path over the years, there are parts of the city that are very close to the water, while others are farther away. Those closest to the river are Garden City, Downtown Cairo,  and Zamalek. In addition, prior to the 19th century, Cairo was highly susceptible to annual flooding. At that time, dams and levees were constructed to protect the city. Today the Nile is shifting westward and portions of the city are actually getting farther from the river. 10) The climate of Cairo is desert but it can also get very humid due to the proximity of the Nile River. Wind storms are also common and dust from the Sahara Desert can pollute the air in March and April. Precipitation from rainfall is sparse but when it does occur, flash flooding is not uncommon. The average July high temperature for Cairo is 94.5ËšF (35ËšC) and the average January low is 48ËšF (9ËšC). Sources: CNN Wire Staff. Egypts Tumult, Day-by-Day. CNN.com. Retrieved from: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/02/05/egypt.protests.timeline/index.htmlWikipedia.org.  Cairo - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo

Corporate Social Responsibility in Banks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Corporate Social Responsibility in Banks - Essay Example Corporate Social Responsibility in Banks Therefore, when a corporation engages in corporate social responsibility, it is acting in the best interest of forces which are not in a close relationship with the corporation, to the detriment of forces which are (Lantos, 2001, p. 1). This theory is based upon classical economic theory which is underscored by Milton Friedman’s analysis (Bronn&Vrioni, 2001, p 208), and this theory does not leave room for behaving ethically or responsibly (Paine, 2003, p. 1) However, in today’s socially conscious world, the traditional view is short-sighted. In this world of Occupy protests, where corporations are portrayed as soulless entities, and the extreme profit motive is seen as inherently evil, corporations now will benefit tremendously from being more socially responsible. Therefore, if corporations can show society that they are not just interested in profits, but are also interested in better the world and the environment, they will be once again more attractive to consumers. Therefore, corporate social responsibility in this environment would be advantageous to the bottom line (Innes, 2006, p. 355). This is particularly true regarding the banking industry, which is widely perceived, not inaccurately, as being the catalyst to the worldwide recession that has occurred, as their shoddy practices effectively brought down economies worldwide. Corporate responsibility may be ethical, legal, economic or philanthropic. (Mohr, 2001, p. 47). There are many reasons why corporations are compelled to act responsibly. One of the reasons why a corporation might act responsibly is its image, and, as stated above, corporate responsibility helps a corporation’s image, which, in turn, helps the corporation’s bottom line – people are more likely to patronize a corporation who is seen as being concerned about the environment and other social causes that the public holds dear (Paine, 2003, p. 110). A corporation who has socially friendly practices may b e the target of a â€Å"buycott.† Friedman (1996) advocates â€Å"buycotts,† which is the flip side of a boycott. In a boycott, companies are punished for misdeeds. On the other hand, a boycott rewards the corporation for its policies when their policies are in line with activists of a certain cause. These activists are organized and induce other shoppers to patronize the store who shares their beliefs (Friedman, 1996, p. 440). A good example of this are â€Å"Green† purchasers, who look at the ethics of a certain purchase, look at whether the purchase enhances sustainability, and decides to make the purchase based upon these factors (Young, et al., 2010, p. 20). Social investing is another way that a corporation may benefit. Social investing is where people invest their money in corporations which are in line with their personal beliefs or forward causes that the individual believes in (Entine, 2003, p. 1). Alternatively, corporations who do not act socially re sponsibility may be punished for indiscretions. For instance, a corporation who is targeted for socially unfriendly policies may find themselves the target of a boycott and other problems. When corporations do not do the right thing, then they may face boycotts, PR nightmares and fewer customers buying their products (Sassatelli, 2006, p. 218). An example of this is Bank of America. When it announced plans to charge its customers a $5 monthly debit card fee, the backlash was immediate and intense. Customers were outraged at this

Response and Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Response and Summary - Essay Example She adds that it can help people become healthier too by reducing stress and anxiety. Likewise, it may improve creativity because people have more time to think about improving different work aspects. Damon believes that, though a three-day weekend break sounds great, reality indicates that people are â€Å"going the other way,† working longer than shorter hours per week. He adds that discipline and â€Å"benevolent employer[s]† are important for a four-day week to work (â€Å"GlobalNews†). She agrees that benevolent employers understand that employees are human beings who need extra time out. She further notes that retention rates may also increase if employees think that their employers are concerned of their general welfare. High retention rates mean lower employment costs that arise due to high employee turnout. The strengths of the claims of the speaker are its promotion of a shorter week’s benefits to individuals and societies and provision of examples of companies/nations that practice it. By promoting various benefits, Lyall may convince more organizations to implement it. In addition, through giving examples of companies and nations applying it, it underlines its popularity that may increase its acceptability for other firms. The weakness of the claims is that a shorter work week alone is not enough to attain its benefits. It may not improve the economy if people are not disciplined enough to finish their work on time. It cannot enhance work-life balance too if people bring their work to their homes. It could also hardly advance gender equality, if many people continue to think that only women must perform traditional roles and responsibilities. Despite this weakness, I agree with Lyall that a four-day week can have social and economic benefits. It means being more productive because I can focus on working more efficiently. It also gives economic advantages because I have lesser expenses in going to work. Three days of weekend

Essay on video games violence Essay Example for Free

Essay on video games violence Essay The gaming industry greatly impacts how people, from young children to adults, spend their time. According to Health Magazine (2009), â€Å"90 percent of kids aged 8 to 16 play video games, and they spend about 13 hours per week doing so (more if you’re a boy). † Whether its educational, or just plain fun and entertainment video games have evolved greatly in the last 40 years. Today’s sophisticated games are in a class of it’s own with it’s realism and impressive graphics. With this ever advancing technology, comes better games with realistic situations. There’s no harm in playing video games for recreation. However, the problem lies within the violent video games and the aggression that these video games cause in children. For years researchers and experts have issued studies linking video games to aggressive behavior. It’s a controversial subject, nonetheless, it shows just how powerful the affect the games have on children. To illustrate, CBSnews. com reports a story of a 17 year who bought the popular game, â€Å"Grand Theft Auto†. In this game, the player is encouraged to do as much illegal activity and engage in as much violent behavior as they can to be rewarded with accolades and higher points. The more heinous the act, the higher you move up in the game. After playing this game for nine months, the 17 year old gunned down three men, two police officers and a dispatcher in a county jail, in the same style he was trained from the video game. In the kids statement to police, he said : â€Å"Life is like a video game. Everybody’s got to die sometime. † This is just one example of aggressive behavior as a result of violent video games, but there are many more cases. Children’s minds are very impressionable, and violent video games are harmful to their minds because of how interactive and realistic these games can be. According to research by child psychologist David Walsh, as further reported in the article, violent video games can be linked to physical aggressive behavior in children because of the brain. His study revealed that the teenage brain is not fully developed. Violent video games have a deeper impact on a teenage brain versus an adult brain. Walsh further states, it’s â€Å"largely because the teenage brain is different from the adult brain. The impulse control center of the brain, the part of the brain that enables us to think ahead, consider consequences, manage urges thats the part of the brain right behind our forehead called the prefrontal cortex. Thats under construction during the teenage years. In fact, the wiring of that is not completed until the early 20s. Therefore, since children’s mind are still underdeveloped, violent video games have a negative effect and cause children to believe aggression is appropriate. From the National Institute on Media and Family, six medical groups issue warnings as to the effects that violence has on children: (1) â€Å"Children will increase anti-social and aggressive behavior. (2)Children may become less sensitive to violence and those who suffer from violence. (3) Children may view the world as violent and mean, becoming more fearful of being a victim of violence. (4) Children will desire to see more violence in entertainment and real life. (5) Children will view violence as an acceptable way to settle conflicts. † From studies to real life examples of violent behavior, video games has shown to have an influence on children’s behavior. Violent video games will not be going away anytime soon. The only solution to combat the issue of violent video games is for parents to be actively involved in their children’s free time and take an interest in what their children play. Once parents are informed on their decisions to allow their children to play violent video games, they will know that if choosing violence, it will have an effect on the impressionable child mind.Parents beware. References Harding, A. (2008). Violent video games linked to child aggression. Health Magazine. Retrieved from http://www. cnn. com/2008/HEALTH/family/11/03/healthmag. violent. video. kids/ Bradley, E. (2005). Can a video game train someone to kill? Retrieved from http://www. cbsnews. com/stories/2005/03/04/60minutes/main678261. shtml 2010. Fact Sheet. National Institute on Media and the Family. Retrieved from http://www. mediafamily. org/facts/facts_vlent. shtml.

The Role of Ideals and Self-Interest in the History of America :: American America History

The Role of Ideals and Self-Interest in the History of America Throughout history, beginning when settlers first arrived in America, every event that took place became part of American history. Ideals, as described by Dr. Margolies, History Professor at Virginia Wesleyan College, are "motivating, lofty goals". Some of these ideals, which shaped American history, included life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as protected by the Constitution. Self-interest, a second influential factor in American history, is shown through the gaining of benefits for oneself. Although it is debatable which of these two influential factors was more dominant in American history, the possibility arises that they coincide with one another revealed by many documented events. Self-interest can be seen in many of the writings throughout American history. The mercantile system, as exhibited by the British on the colonies, was an extremely hedonistic approach to gaining wealth for themselves. Mercantilism, as set forth by the Navigation Acts, imposed strict and extremely descriptive laws that would limit and exploit trade in the colonies, allowing Britain to control the wealth and profit of materials and goods in America. These acts were used to keep America from trading with any other countries. As stated in the Navigation Act of 1660, "no goods or commodities whatsoever shall be imported into or exported out of any lands" to his Majesty belonging"in any other ship or ships...as do truly and without fraud belong only to the people of England or Ireland" (Restoration 98). Britain knew that by controlling the colonies in this manner they could take the raw materials out and sell the finished products back, and by doing so they would profit greatly. This mercantile system exemplifies the arrogant minds of the British while America was developing. This system would soon become a failure due to the people's demands to have representation along with taxation, and their desire to separate from England as a free and independent state. Likewise, it was due to self-interest of the greedy planters and the self righteous farmers in the south that slavery was highly used. At that time they needed all the labor they could get, and the cheapest way to obtain it was through the purchase of slaves. Some of the slavery was downplayed by calling it indentured servitude, where servants were essentially slaves for a limited number of years.

Personal Goal Essay

My purpose for seeking a Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership is to expand my knowledge of theory and research methods as it pertains to education Being a seasoned professional in the field of education as a Master Teacher for fifteen years, and having been exposed to different challenges in teaching the learners and leading the school, I had this profound realization on the critical tasks of education in this age of globalization. The way schools are led and managed is changing. The types of school leaders and governing bodies that exist today are far more diverse than they once were; and they will continue to develop given the fast-paced movement of modern technology which affects how people and society evolve nowadays. Hence, this complexity calls for leaders with exemplary leadership style that are worth emulating for others so as to make a real distinction in the lives of many people, not only in a community, but for the country, as a whole. Educational leadership and management as a field of inquiry play a significant role in the improvement of schools; leveraging learning outcomes; and enhancing instructional competence of students. In schools, high performance rating and high literacy rates among their clienteles connotes success in one’s governance in education, thus, in making relevance to the system, educational leaders need to exercise certain leadership models that are truly manifesting merit in order to achieve its goals. And I think I already have what it takes to become a leader who can have the knowledge and skills to make these goals a reality.

Black Friday

The phenomenon of Black Friday Bustling city streets, hour-long lines, and retail store chaos: only one scenario explains the commonality between these situations, shopping on Black Friday. For half a century Black Friday has become an unofficial retail holiday in the United States. It is a day that offers incredible discounts and killer deals, and most notoriously, it brings a frenzy of crazed shoppers to local retailers looking to save on purchases.Marketing strategies, paired with consumers’ need to locate the best deals on Christmas gifts has led to Black Friday being celebrated as a consumption ritual comparable in importance to Thanksgiving Day. (Thomas and Peters, 2011) How has Black Friday become the largest retail sales day of the year? What is it that drives people to artificially induced hyper consumption, almost like an annual ritual? Many scientist and psychologists have many different theories and conclusions of why Black Friday has become the biggest shopping da y of the year.In this paper, I will take your through the research and conclusions that many psychologists have produced and the advantages and disadvantages of Black Friday. Dr. Stephanie Sarkis, Ph. D. explored the work of Jane Boyd Thomas and Cara Peters, professors at South Carolina's Winthrop University, who spent two years in research trying to find common traits in Black Friday shoppers. They conducted thirty-eight extensive interviews with â€Å"experienced† Black Friday shoppers and found four recurring themes: 1. Familial bonding (multiple generations and close friends) 2. Strategic planning . The great race 4. Mission accomplished But how do the four themes they came up with relate to one another? Thomas and Peters figured that all the traits when analyzed together showed one commonality. They wrote, â€Å"the traits are coalesced around a military metaphor, and is a bonding activity Shoppers prepare for the ritual by scanning Black Friday ads, and they map out th eir strategy. † (Sarkis 2011) In essence, the family is a type of team that scans adds, plans their route and potential purchases, executes their plans by buying products, and rejoices in their accomplishments.When all of these traits are analyzed individually, they mean little to main the main outcome, bonding. But when all the traits are looked at collectively, they all contribute to the overall success and goal of bonding. Besides giving us a breakdown of bonding activities, the analysis also shows how the average consumer plan for Black Friday. Just as Sarkis found themes that make up this military metaphor, Byun, professor of consumer affairs at Auburn University came up with her own theory on why people react the way they do on Black Friday. Crowds create a sense of competition — such as when hundreds of shoppers are rushing to collect marked-down goods — they generate a different feeling entirely. Competition creates what’s called hedonic shopping v alue, or a sense of enjoyment from the mere process of buying goods. At certain levels, consumers enjoy arousal and challenges during the shopping process. † (Khazan 2011) In essence what Byun is saying is consumers get more enjoyment because the crowds create an obstacle, which hinders the execution of the plans and preparations made. The crowds make getting what they want harder, which creates more value for the goods purchased.Just as Byun noted that crowds contribute to the Black Friday Craze, Kelly McGonigal, Ph. D. describes another factors that plays a big part in the â€Å"Black Friday frenzy†. Retailers, she notes, use innovative designs to lure customers into their stores and keep them there. McGonigal says â€Å"time pressure sales on limited products or scarce resources† triggers a negative physiological affect on the consumer. Scarcity for a certain commodity creates a sense of urgency to act now, a natural instinct to survive. This survival instinct can be related to hunting for some people.Black Friday is â€Å"hunting for women,† said Leisa Reinecke Flynn, professor of marketing and fashion merchandising at the University of Southern Mississippi. â€Å"It’s so much like deer hunting it’s hard to tell the two apart. † (Khazan 2011) Unfortunately, shopping on Black Friday is not motivated by survival instincts or a life in death situation. This paradox stimulates unusual behavior in consumers that creates disadvantages and potential dangers for those that are not necessarily into the hunt. The concept of Black Friday creates a â€Å"perfect storm† for consumer misbehavior.Misbehavior, as defined by Lennon, Johnson, and Lee is, â€Å"acts that violate accepted norms of conduct in consumption contexts. † (Lennon, Johnson, Lee, 2011) This compulsive behavior, or compulsive consumption, feeds off of the idea of scarcity. It induces people to act inappropriately harming others and often the mselves. â€Å"For many, if not most compulsive purchasers, buying is a reaction to stress or unpleasant situations. Compulsive consumption is a type of consumer behavior which is inappropriate, typically excessive, and clearly disruptive to the lives of other individuals. (Ronald, Thomas, and Raymond 1987) Both hunting and shopping hinge on long-standing traditions and generally involve pursuing a goal as a group. Whether the group actually hits its target is secondary to the fun of the chase. Hunting and shopping as shown above are very closely linked and motivated by the idea of scarcity. Just like there are limited deer in the forest, there are limited goods in the stores. The result is paradoxical in nature. People are fraudulently deceived into acting compulsively. (Herpen, Pieters and Zeelenberg 2005)Just as Ronald, Thomas, and Raymond concluded that compulsive behavior negatively affects the lives of others, Peter McGraw, Ph. D. drew a similar connection. He focuses more on social trends and pressures being the root of the problem. In The Link between Thanksgiving Gluttony and Black Friday Insanity, McGraw makes a connection between Black Friday shopping and Thanksgiving Dinner. He explores the idea that once a year, people will consume more calories in one meal, than the average person consumes on a normal day.The next day they wake up, or sometimes not sleeping at all, and go shopping for hours on end. (McGraw and Warner 2011) Dr. McGraw’s research shows us that in a short period of forty eights hour there is over consumption of food on Thanksgiving and the hyper consumption or shopping on Black Friday. McGraw believes that the cause of this phenomenon is social influence and pressure. He writes, â€Å"One of the hallmarks of psychological science is that we are influenced by the actions of others—often more so than we'd like to admit.Sometimes we're impelled to take positive actions, such as switching to reusable bags or cutting down on littering. Other times, social influence can be quite negative. When it comes to Thanksgiving and Black Friday, unfortunately, the influences skew more toward bad than good. † (McGraw and Warner 2011) In other words McGraw places responsibility of hyper consumption on social trends, pressures, and even perhaps familial rituals for the ever-popular Black Friday. Another concept of Black Friday is one of mutual benefit for both consumer and retailer.Consumers’ benefit from large discounts on all sorts of items including clothing, electronics, furniture, and literally any other commodity available on the market. Retailers’ benefit by getting out of the red zone, finally making a profit for the fiscal year. The opportunities available on Black Friday is what drove 212 million shoppers to stores during Black Friday weekend in 2011. (Wilson, 2010) Retailers experience surging sales during Black Friday and the days that follow. This monetary benefit is what drives t heir extensive promotion and deal offerings, further influencing the consumer’s willingness to partake in the shopping frenzy.In a society where a corporation or business’s main purpose is to grow profits for the benefit of its shareholders, a company’s number one purpose is to increase sales, in order to increase profits. According to a New York Times article written by Adam Davidson, approximately one fifth of retailer’s total annual sales are made during the holiday shopping season. (Davidson, 2011) In conclusion, we can see that shopping on Black Friday brings people together in one way or another. For some, it brings people together in a positive way.Families and friends are able to work as a team who plan, prepare and execute their plans to achieve their goals. For others, Black Friday shoppers experience the negative affects of other people’s behavior. There are also advantages and disadvantages for both the consumer and retailer. Consumers get amazingly cheap prices on products while retailers experience a massive surge in sales. However one may look at Black Friday, it is a day that cannot be ignored. It’s influence and popularity are ever growing and expanding. Reference Page Davidson, Adam. The Black Friday Effect: Let’s Stimulate the Economy with Inflation. † The New York Times, 16 Nov. 2011. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. Herpen, Erica van, Rik Pieters, and Marcel Zeelenberg (2005) ,†How Product Scarcity Impacts on Choice: Snob and Bandwagon Effects†, in Advances in Consumer Research Volume 32, eds. Geeta Menon and Akshay R. Rao, Advances in Consumer Research Volume 32 : Association for Consumer Research, Pages: 623-624. Faber, J. Ronald, O’Guinn, C Thomas, and Krych, Raymond. (1987) â€Å"Compulsive Consumption†, in Advances in Consumer Research Volume 14, eds.Melanie Wallendorf and Paul Anderson, Advances in Consumer Research Volume 14: Association for Sonsumer Research, Pages: 132-135. McGonigal, Kelly, Ph. D. â€Å"The Science of Willpower. † Comments on â€Å"Black Friday Shopping: How Stores Use Psychology to Fill Your Cart† N. p. , 19 Nov. 2010. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. . McGraw, Peter, Ph. D. , and Warner, Joel. â€Å"The Humor Code. † The Link between Thanksgiving Gluttony and Black Friday Insanity. N. p. , 21 Nov. 2011. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. . Ridgwar, Nicole, â€Å"Black Friday Sales Hit Record. † CNNMoney. Cable News Netwrok, 26 Nov. 2011. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. Sarkis, Stephanie, Ph. D. â€Å"Here, There, and Everywhere. † Black Friday: A Collective Consumption Ritual. N. p. , 20 Nov. 2011. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. . Thomas, Jane Boyd, and Peters, Cara. (2011) â€Å"An exploratory investigation of Black Friday consumption rituals†, International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, Vol. 39 Iss: 7, pp. 522 – 537 Wallendorf, M. , Arnould, E. â€Å"We gather together: consumption rituals of Thanksgiving Dayâ € , in Journal of Consumer Research, (1991) Vol. 18 No. 1, pp. 13-31. Wilson, April. â€Å"By the Numbers: Black Friday Shoppers and Their Impact on the Economy. † The Luckie ReTink Tank. 23 Nov. 2011. Web. 30 Oct 2012. . Black Friday The three sources to be compared are all in relation to the events that occurred on â€Å"Black Friday†, particularly surrounding the conduct of the metropolitan police. Source 10, taken from â€Å"The Times† newspaper presents the view that the police were more victims of the women and raiders that they were trying to control, and that it took some effort to restrain the women that were protesting on that day.Whereas source 11, taken from a memorandum that was sent to the home office after ‘Black Friday† gives the view that the police were acting violently towards the women protesting and that the women in this situation were the victims. Source 12, a statement from a suffragette who participated in â€Å"Black Friday† presents a similar opinion to that in source 11, indicating that the woman in question received several injuries from a police officer.The events that occurred on â€Å"Black Friday† and the conduct of the police have been under dispute by many historians, which some taking the side of source 10, and others agreeing more with the recollections presented in sources 11 and 12- it can therefore be argued how much sources 11 and 12 challenge the view contained in source 10 about the conduct of the police on â€Å"Black Friday†. Source 10, taken from â€Å"The Times’ newspaper on 19th November 1910 is an extract from a report covering the events of what eventually became known as â€Å"Black Friday†.It presents the view that the police â€Å"kept their temper very well’ towards â€Å"the ladies who flung themselves against (them)†. It also speaks of how â€Å"several police had their helmets knocked off in carrying out their duty† and later mentions that â€Å"one was disabled by a kick on the ankle† and another â€Å"was cut on the face by a belt† therefore implying that the women who were present on Black Friday were acting violently towards the police , and that any rough handling of the police towards the protesters was only in response to the treatment they were receiving.It could be said then, that this article presents the police in a positive light and shows the suffragettes to be the ones at fault on â€Å"Black Friday† which comes as no surprise given that the article comes from â€Å"The Times†- a newspaper that would have been primarily aimed at educated men, and its purpose therefore would have been to share the opinion that women were out of control and lacked the dignity to receive the vote. Source 11 on the other hand disagrees with the view presented in source source 10.It is an extract from a memorandum by the Parliamentary Conciliation Committee for Women’s Suffrage send to the Home Office after â€Å"Black Friday†. It agrees with the source ten in the sense that it admits a â€Å"relentless struggle† occurred between the police and the suffragettes, but it disagrees with source 10 because it presents the view that it was the police acting violently towards the women, who it says were â€Å"flung hither and thither amid moving traffic, and into the hands of a crows which was sometimes rough and indecent†.This opinion is presented because the purpose of the memorandum sent to the home office was to request a public inquiry into the conduct of the police on â€Å"Black Friday†, because they did not follow their â€Å"usual course of action† which â€Å"would have been to arrest the women on a charge of obstruction† but they â€Å"had been instructed to avoid, as far as possible, making any arrests† which is why, the women argue that the police were so violent.Also, this article presents the events of â€Å"Black Friday† in such a different light, because it was written by those who sympathized with Suffragettes and therefore supported them, the Committee was set up in 1910 to encourage support for women’s suffr age, so it would have wanted to make the actions of the police look bad in order to gain support for the women who were protesting. Similar to source 11, Source 12, from a statement by a 60 year old suffragette who had participated in the demonstration on â€Å"Black Friday† is of the opinion that it was the police who acted wrongly during the events, and not the women protesting.The suffragette talks about how she was â€Å"seized by several policemen† and how â€Å"one twisted (her) right arm behind (her) back with such brute force that (she) really thought he would break it†. She also mentions that â€Å"another policeman gave (her) a terrible blow in (her) back, which sent (her) whirling into the crowd†- clearly presenting the view that the police were acting violently and out of conduct towards the women and as a result disputing the viewpoint held in source 10.However, it must be taken into consideration the purpose of this statement, which was a te stament before the Parliamentary Conciliation Committee for Women’s Suffrage, who we know from source 11 sympathized with suffragettes and were trying to gain support from them. Therefore, the women who gave this testament would have been trying to give as much evidence against the police as possible in order for the Committee to have a case against the police and order for an inquiry to be made.In addition to this, it was the aim of suffragettes at time to create as much publicity towards their cause as they could, whether good or bad, they wanted attention, and by complaining about the police it would have prolonged the time that â€Å"Black Friday† was publicized in the media which was what they wanted. In conclusion, sources 11 and 12, which present the view that it was the police who acted wrongly on â€Å"Black Friday† disagree with the view presented in source 10, which is that it was the women who were at fault.This is because the purpose of both sources 11 and 12 was to create sympathy for the suffragettes in order to gain support for their cause, whereas source 10 was aimed at an audience who did not support women’s suffrage, and by publishing an article presenting women in a bad light, â€Å"The Times† newspaper would have been ensuring that it’s readers remained loyal. Although sources 11 and 12 agree with source 10 in the fact that a violent dispute took place, they differ in opinion of who was the victim in the situation, therefore sources 11 and 12 challenge the view presented in source 10 about the conduct of the police on â€Å"Black Friday†. Black Friday The phenomenon of Black Friday Bustling city streets, hour-long lines, and retail store chaos: only one scenario explains the commonality between these situations, shopping on Black Friday. For half a century Black Friday has become an unofficial retail holiday in the United States. It is a day that offers incredible discounts and killer deals, and most notoriously, it brings a frenzy of crazed shoppers to local retailers looking to save on purchases.Marketing strategies, paired with consumers’ need to locate the best deals on Christmas gifts has led to Black Friday being celebrated as a consumption ritual comparable in importance to Thanksgiving Day. (Thomas and Peters, 2011) How has Black Friday become the largest retail sales day of the year? What is it that drives people to artificially induced hyper consumption, almost like an annual ritual? Many scientist and psychologists have many different theories and conclusions of why Black Friday has become the biggest shopping da y of the year.In this paper, I will take your through the research and conclusions that many psychologists have produced and the advantages and disadvantages of Black Friday. Dr. Stephanie Sarkis, Ph. D. explored the work of Jane Boyd Thomas and Cara Peters, professors at South Carolina's Winthrop University, who spent two years in research trying to find common traits in Black Friday shoppers. They conducted thirty-eight extensive interviews with â€Å"experienced† Black Friday shoppers and found four recurring themes: 1. Familial bonding (multiple generations and close friends) 2. Strategic planning . The great race 4. Mission accomplished But how do the four themes they came up with relate to one another? Thomas and Peters figured that all the traits when analyzed together showed one commonality. They wrote, â€Å"the traits are coalesced around a military metaphor, and is a bonding activity Shoppers prepare for the ritual by scanning Black Friday ads, and they map out th eir strategy. † (Sarkis 2011) In essence, the family is a type of team that scans adds, plans their route and potential purchases, executes their plans by buying products, and rejoices in their accomplishments.When all of these traits are analyzed individually, they mean little to main the main outcome, bonding. But when all the traits are looked at collectively, they all contribute to the overall success and goal of bonding. Besides giving us a breakdown of bonding activities, the analysis also shows how the average consumer plan for Black Friday. Just as Sarkis found themes that make up this military metaphor, Byun, professor of consumer affairs at Auburn University came up with her own theory on why people react the way they do on Black Friday. Crowds create a sense of competition — such as when hundreds of shoppers are rushing to collect marked-down goods — they generate a different feeling entirely. Competition creates what’s called hedonic shopping v alue, or a sense of enjoyment from the mere process of buying goods. At certain levels, consumers enjoy arousal and challenges during the shopping process. † (Khazan 2011) In essence what Byun is saying is consumers get more enjoyment because the crowds create an obstacle, which hinders the execution of the plans and preparations made. The crowds make getting what they want harder, which creates more value for the goods purchased.Just as Byun noted that crowds contribute to the Black Friday Craze, Kelly McGonigal, Ph. D. describes another factors that plays a big part in the â€Å"Black Friday frenzy†. Retailers, she notes, use innovative designs to lure customers into their stores and keep them there. McGonigal says â€Å"time pressure sales on limited products or scarce resources† triggers a negative physiological affect on the consumer. Scarcity for a certain commodity creates a sense of urgency to act now, a natural instinct to survive. This survival instinct can be related to hunting for some people.Black Friday is â€Å"hunting for women,† said Leisa Reinecke Flynn, professor of marketing and fashion merchandising at the University of Southern Mississippi. â€Å"It’s so much like deer hunting it’s hard to tell the two apart. † (Khazan 2011) Unfortunately, shopping on Black Friday is not motivated by survival instincts or a life in death situation. This paradox stimulates unusual behavior in consumers that creates disadvantages and potential dangers for those that are not necessarily into the hunt. The concept of Black Friday creates a â€Å"perfect storm† for consumer misbehavior.Misbehavior, as defined by Lennon, Johnson, and Lee is, â€Å"acts that violate accepted norms of conduct in consumption contexts. † (Lennon, Johnson, Lee, 2011) This compulsive behavior, or compulsive consumption, feeds off of the idea of scarcity. It induces people to act inappropriately harming others and often the mselves. â€Å"For many, if not most compulsive purchasers, buying is a reaction to stress or unpleasant situations. Compulsive consumption is a type of consumer behavior which is inappropriate, typically excessive, and clearly disruptive to the lives of other individuals. (Ronald, Thomas, and Raymond 1987) Both hunting and shopping hinge on long-standing traditions and generally involve pursuing a goal as a group. Whether the group actually hits its target is secondary to the fun of the chase. Hunting and shopping as shown above are very closely linked and motivated by the idea of scarcity. Just like there are limited deer in the forest, there are limited goods in the stores. The result is paradoxical in nature. People are fraudulently deceived into acting compulsively. (Herpen, Pieters and Zeelenberg 2005)Just as Ronald, Thomas, and Raymond concluded that compulsive behavior negatively affects the lives of others, Peter McGraw, Ph. D. drew a similar connection. He focuses more on social trends and pressures being the root of the problem. In The Link between Thanksgiving Gluttony and Black Friday Insanity, McGraw makes a connection between Black Friday shopping and Thanksgiving Dinner. He explores the idea that once a year, people will consume more calories in one meal, than the average person consumes on a normal day.The next day they wake up, or sometimes not sleeping at all, and go shopping for hours on end. (McGraw and Warner 2011) Dr. McGraw’s research shows us that in a short period of forty eights hour there is over consumption of food on Thanksgiving and the hyper consumption or shopping on Black Friday. McGraw believes that the cause of this phenomenon is social influence and pressure. He writes, â€Å"One of the hallmarks of psychological science is that we are influenced by the actions of others—often more so than we'd like to admit.Sometimes we're impelled to take positive actions, such as switching to reusable bags or cutting down on littering. Other times, social influence can be quite negative. When it comes to Thanksgiving and Black Friday, unfortunately, the influences skew more toward bad than good. † (McGraw and Warner 2011) In other words McGraw places responsibility of hyper consumption on social trends, pressures, and even perhaps familial rituals for the ever-popular Black Friday. Another concept of Black Friday is one of mutual benefit for both consumer and retailer.Consumers’ benefit from large discounts on all sorts of items including clothing, electronics, furniture, and literally any other commodity available on the market. Retailers’ benefit by getting out of the red zone, finally making a profit for the fiscal year. The opportunities available on Black Friday is what drove 212 million shoppers to stores during Black Friday weekend in 2011. (Wilson, 2010) Retailers experience surging sales during Black Friday and the days that follow. This monetary benefit is what drives t heir extensive promotion and deal offerings, further influencing the consumer’s willingness to partake in the shopping frenzy.In a society where a corporation or business’s main purpose is to grow profits for the benefit of its shareholders, a company’s number one purpose is to increase sales, in order to increase profits. According to a New York Times article written by Adam Davidson, approximately one fifth of retailer’s total annual sales are made during the holiday shopping season. (Davidson, 2011) In conclusion, we can see that shopping on Black Friday brings people together in one way or another. For some, it brings people together in a positive way.Families and friends are able to work as a team who plan, prepare and execute their plans to achieve their goals. For others, Black Friday shoppers experience the negative affects of other people’s behavior. There are also advantages and disadvantages for both the consumer and retailer. Consumers get amazingly cheap prices on products while retailers experience a massive surge in sales. However one may look at Black Friday, it is a day that cannot be ignored. It’s influence and popularity are ever growing and expanding. Reference Page Davidson, Adam. The Black Friday Effect: Let’s Stimulate the Economy with Inflation. † The New York Times, 16 Nov. 2011. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. Herpen, Erica van, Rik Pieters, and Marcel Zeelenberg (2005) ,†How Product Scarcity Impacts on Choice: Snob and Bandwagon Effects†, in Advances in Consumer Research Volume 32, eds. Geeta Menon and Akshay R. Rao, Advances in Consumer Research Volume 32 : Association for Consumer Research, Pages: 623-624. Faber, J. Ronald, O’Guinn, C Thomas, and Krych, Raymond. (1987) â€Å"Compulsive Consumption†, in Advances in Consumer Research Volume 14, eds.Melanie Wallendorf and Paul Anderson, Advances in Consumer Research Volume 14: Association for Sonsumer Research, Pages: 132-135. McGonigal, Kelly, Ph. D. â€Å"The Science of Willpower. † Comments on â€Å"Black Friday Shopping: How Stores Use Psychology to Fill Your Cart† N. p. , 19 Nov. 2010. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. . McGraw, Peter, Ph. D. , and Warner, Joel. â€Å"The Humor Code. † The Link between Thanksgiving Gluttony and Black Friday Insanity. N. p. , 21 Nov. 2011. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. . Ridgwar, Nicole, â€Å"Black Friday Sales Hit Record. † CNNMoney. Cable News Netwrok, 26 Nov. 2011. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. Sarkis, Stephanie, Ph. D. â€Å"Here, There, and Everywhere. † Black Friday: A Collective Consumption Ritual. N. p. , 20 Nov. 2011. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. . Thomas, Jane Boyd, and Peters, Cara. (2011) â€Å"An exploratory investigation of Black Friday consumption rituals†, International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, Vol. 39 Iss: 7, pp. 522 – 537 Wallendorf, M. , Arnould, E. â€Å"We gather together: consumption rituals of Thanksgiving Dayâ € , in Journal of Consumer Research, (1991) Vol. 18 No. 1, pp. 13-31. Wilson, April. â€Å"By the Numbers: Black Friday Shoppers and Their Impact on the Economy. † The Luckie ReTink Tank. 23 Nov. 2011. Web. 30 Oct 2012. .

7 Ways You’re Messing Up Your 401k

7 Ways You’re Messing Up Your 401k A 401k can be a magical thing. It’s a tax shelter available to most every American that can offer great returns- particularly if you have a matching program to take advantage of. But you may not know all there is to know about this personal financial tool. Read up on a few ways in which you might be messing with the goose that wants to lay your golden eggs, and make sure you’re not doing any of these things:1. Not Being MatchedIt seems obvious: don’t turn down free money. And you get free money if you contribute enough to trigger your company’s matching plan. Usually, this is about 3-5% of your gross. Figure out what corners you need to cut to make this possible, and then smile your way to the bank.2. Not Maxing OutContributing 5% is great, but if you can configure things to  do better, you definitely should. Depending on your tax bracket and age, you can defer between $18k and $24k of your salary. Put in as much as you possibly can- and more if you and your spouse are both working.3. Borrowing From YourselfIt’s so tempting, but unless you’re in an absolute emergency situation, act as though your 401k is totally off-limits until retirement. You’ll be penalized and taxed for withdrawals and loans come with a high tax rate. And remember: if a big emergency expense does come up, you could consider using your credit instead. Worst case scenario, most 401ks remain safe in bankruptcy proceedings.4. Transferring/Cashing OutIf you’re switching jobs, don’t cash out your 401k or you’ll have to pay a 10% tax penalty. But don’t just roll it over into your new employer’s plan either. Consider opening a traditional IRA; there won’t be a penalty if you follow the appropriate procedures, and then you have much more investment freedom.5. Not Upping Your ContributionEvery time your pay rises, automatically increase the size of your 401k contribution. Try living on your old salary and put ting the whole difference away for retirement. This helps you avoid lifestyle creep and means you can retire earlier and better.6. Not Managing Your PortfolioKeep and eye on your allocations. Are you investing too much or too little in stocks? Are you risking too much or too little? How close are you to the golden retirement age? Are you being the right amount of careful for where you are in your career? Don’t just fall asleep at the wheel and let good money get drained away by unanticipated market crashes.7. Not DiversifyingDon’t just put all of your 401k in one fund, particularly if your 401k is your primary investment source. Try to cover four categories: index, growth, international, and bonds. This will spread out your risk and keep your portfolio diverse. And make sure to choose funds with low fees (i.e. expense ratios of less than 1%).

A perfect world

Can you imagine a perfect world, a world where you had everything you wanted, no matter where you were or when it was? What would your world be like? Would your world be the same as it is now or would you change it in any way possible and create a completely different place? Well if I had to choose I would make my flawless world like it was in the essay Walden by Henry David Thoreau or even like it was in the speech â€Å"I Have a dream† by Martin Luther King Jr. In the essay Walden by Henry David Thoreau, Thoreau completely isolates himself from society and goes his own way. In my perfect world society wouldn’t be judgmental and rude and completely careless of how others felt or reacted to certain things. People will be able to walk down a street or even a hallway without getting bad looks or gestures or having to hear whispers about themselves behind their backs. People would be able to do what they want without getting judged or given bad motions or signals or even nods. People should be able to see others the way others see themselves. Nobody wants to be judged or talked about so why should they have to. In the speech â€Å"I Have a Dream â€Å"by Martin Luther King Jr. he stands up for not only himself but also all the African Americas of the world. He wanted to make sure everyone was treated equally. So in my impeccable world there would not only be no racial tension or segregation but also no discrimination of any sort and there would be peace between all no matter what race or background the person had or has. All people were created the same way why can’t they be treated the same way. Why does a person’s race, religion, background or even culture have to determine the way a person is treated? Or the rights they have been given. Why does it have to change when the person didn’t? So in my world everyone would be treated equally and no one would be judged because of their race, religion, background , or culture. Both these writings consist of the moral of standing up for yourself. Although they both also contain two different morals that are both needed in all areas of the world. Both morals that I would in want to have in a perfect world. These two morals are acceptance from society and equality between all people around the world. In conclusion, a perfect world for me would not only contain parts from the essay, Walden or the speech â€Å"I Have a Dream†. It would be a combination of both creations. Both acceptance and equality. A completely perfect world in my eyes.

Building and Sustaining Strong Talent Pipeline Essay

Building and Sustaining Strong Talent Pipeline - Essay Example Implementation of essential principles is essential to bring a positive change in the organizational structure as well as in the employees' performance. Some of the main objectives for the application of principles include understanding the employees’ nature, understanding the organizational culture, developing effective leaders, developing productive teams, and increasing employee productivity. There are five main types of behaviors included in the organizational behavior literature. The types of behaviors include organizational citizenship, task performance, joining and staying with the organization, counterproductive work behaviors, and maintaining work attendance. All these types of behaviors are of significant importance for the success of an organization. Studying organizational behavior is extremely necessary for managers to increase productivity of their respective companies and organizations. The study not only makes an employee know his/her importance in the organiza tion as an employee but also helps him/her develop some key characteristics and behaviors that an employee requires to progress in the professional life. Managers of the organizations must be able to recognize the unique perspectives of their employees in order to manage a better working relationship with the employees. The knowledge of organizational behavior