Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 20

Theory - Essay Example Suggestions are most safely comprehensible and generally powerless against question depend on the possibility that questioning, understanding, stating, denying, willing, can't, envisioning, and appearing to see. That evidence for body doesn't include the investigation of elements in an internal field, despite the fact that it is an intelligent exercise spreading out different prospects and probabilities, showing up gradually at the end that bodies exist despite the fact that they may not be as they appear. Descartes contends that any of the three primary facts in the Meditations â€Å"I exist, God exists, bodies exist† is reached by the examination of elements; absolutely they are not demonstrated on retinal pictures. These facts are the aftereffect of cautious investigation of thoughts and, on account of the cogito, of the action of attempting to question that an individual exists. There truly is no record in the Meditations of impression of bodies, no examination of informat ion on physical articles, of logical information. At the point when Descartes needed to find the idea of some item, occasion, or action, for example, light, vision, or the component of the body, he depended on perception and investigation - in any event, to what he took to be perception, likewise with the assessment of the eyes of buffs. By his uncertainty, Descartes doesn't intend to dismiss forever the entirety of his previous convictions. Some of them likely could be valid. Descartes needs to rediscover them, in the feeling of demonstrating that they follow coherently from fundamental, obvious suggestions. The fundamental motivation behind the uncertainty is to locate these obvious suggestions, with the goal that Descartes can utilize them as establishments whereupon to reconstruct his insight. The uncertainty is a method of reconsidering everything from the earliest starting point, in order to accomplish the assurance that Descartes is looking for. One standard translation of Descartess idea of clearness and uniqueness considers it to be being roused by science. Reality of the substance hypothesis depends on the accuracy of a specific

Hup Seng Essay Example

Hup Seng Paper What upper hands this organization has? Hup Seng has a truly basic plan of action with straightforward items. It has 3 auxiliaries one which is a bread dessert shop, the other is to appropriate and sells and the one it procures, Incomix. It's anything but an incredible business and a portion of its item FB business industry against any semblance of Kraft and Nestle. Hup Seng ’s upper hand is its generally lower cost or perhaps a few clients who lean toward its taste better than the other. SWOT Analysis Strengths 1. Presently in a decent monetary position (scarcely any obligations, and so on) 2. Talented workforce (small preparing required) 3. Organization name perceived on a National/Regional/Local level 4. Own premises (no extra expenses for renting)| Weakness 1. Less client 2. An excess of waste 3. Low client maintenance 4. Low creation quality contrasted with different brands. 5. Low trustworthiness of yearly report| Opportunities 1. Gifted workforce implies that they can be moved and prepared into different territories of the business 2. Contender failing (Takeover opportunity) 3. Moving an item into another market sector| Threats 1. Huge and expanding rivalry 2. Increment in charge 3. Increasing expense of Wages (Basic compensation, and so on) 4. Conceivable migration costs because of poor area as of now held 5. Nearby authority denying plans for future structure development 6. New appropriation channel| How the budgetary Performances Profitability patterns are show up? Picture appeared above is the money related features of 5 years examination of Hup Seng Industries Bhd. * From the viewpoint of turnover of the organization is steady during year 2006-2007 shows that the item creates by the organization is sold rapidly in the 5 years activity. We will compose a custom paper test on Hup Seng explicitly for you for just $16.38 $13.9/page Request now We will compose a custom paper test on Hup Seng explicitly for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Recruit Writer We will compose a custom paper test on Hup Seng explicitly for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Recruit Writer It additionally shows that organization is effective in selling their items. * Profit after duty implies the net benefit get by the organization is shockingly increment from year 2006-2009 yet then have somewhat decline. The expansion of net benefit demonstrated that organization have extend their item every once in a while as indicated by customer’s taste and lead to increment in deals * Net income per portion of the organization likewise increment shockingly from year 2006-2009 however then additionally decline a piece at year 2010. This is on the grounds that when the deals of the organization increment it prompts more prominent benefit of organization. Loads of benefit offers impact to the held benefit of the organization that is utilized to pay for the investors. 12. Would it be able to continue its productivity and intensity, in this fare business over the long haul? No, organization can't continue its benefit and intensity over the long haul in this fare business on the grounds that there’s a great deal of contenders these days who send out their items which is in similar enterprises that is purchaser items. To be increasingly explicit, organization which selling rolls as well. Their benefit may vacillate every once in a while on the off chance that they don't keep up their relationship with clients and their provider. Comprehend customer’s needs are extremely critical in business. 13. Make proper suggestions on the most proficient method to: (International market) There are 3 components to continue or upgrade its drawn out endurance Consulting †Company needs to get advisor to deal with the day by day activity so everything going smooth and exercises perform by the organization will produce more pay. Innovation †Import innovation from outside so as to build the proficient creation of the organization. Redistributing †Outsourcingâ is the demonstration of one organization contracting with another organization to offer types of assistance that may some way or another be performed by in-house workers. Frequently the errands that are redistributed could be performed by the organization itself, however by and large there are budgetary points of interest that come fromâ outsourcing. By redistributing a few items for this situation, organization can give consideration on delivering new items without stressing over the item that they re-appropriated. Presently with the appearance of data frameworks and innovation, serious data assembling in deed can to some enormous degree have any kind of effect to a Hup Seng Industries Bhd position in an industry and so far as that is concerned influence its upper hand one way or the other. This organization can either utilize their own database or instructive social occasion programming to follow its activities and get the necessary data like stock, clients, and patterns of contenders execution and about the quick moving items. In the event that a firm can keep or keep up its lead on making esteem, utilizing key resources for instance access to productive conveyance channels, keep up advertise position and might be ease advantage then it tends to be said to have a practical upper hand. This is by no means conceivable in this powerful business world. From advancement focus, some portion of that pledge to development includes grasping new and troublesome thoughts. Another significant angle is utilizing open advancement and publicly releasing strategies that unite providers, accomplices, representatives and the board. Organizations that adequately popularize advancement additionally grow more hazard resistance whenever examining for circumstances outside their quick business condition. They become all the more ready to rip apart items and administrations when exploring new development stages. They become increasingly proficient at the operational necessities of their triumphant ideas, utilizing current accomplices, systems, resources and particular capacities to help drive development through advancement

Franks Midterm Survival Guide

Franks Midterm Survival Guide I hate midterm season. Youre stressing out all week, spending the majority of your day in the library, and sleeping late to cram material. Worse yet, you have to balance studying with all your other classes going on. Its a rough and unpleasant period in the school year. Although Ive only been here for a little over a year, Ive lost count of how many midterms Ive sat through. What I do remember is that while Ive bombed my fair share of exams, Ive aced several, too. I now have a routine which works for meâ€"hopefully some of these tips help you as well. Start as early as possible. Classes will usually release midterm dates on the syllabus or at least two weeks before the exam. Note these dates down and start studying as early as possible! If you study an hour a day for two weeks, youve got at least 14 hours under your beltâ€"which is no small amount for any midterm. Starting early has two big benefits: firstly, it gives you plenty of time to cover all of the material you need to know, and secondly, its not as stressful. It does take a lot of discipline to sit down and follow a schedule, but starting early is worth it. If you have to cram, cram efficiently. Pulling an all-nighter fueled on caffeine is REALLY not fun, so Id try to avoid doing it at all costs. Unfortunately, sometimes you have to, so you might as well know how to do it well. If you start studying for an exam a day or two before it happens, dont bother going through lecture notesâ€"thatll take too long. Try find exams from the past on your course website and do as many of those as you can. Past exams are great for preparing you for the difficulty and nature of the questions that youll be tested with. Start by working through them slowlyâ€"make sure you understand the answers fully instead of just copying them down. Eventually, youll get the hang of things and be able to answer most questions on your own. Cramming works, but it feels awful and isnt as effective as starting early. Only do it if you really have no other optionâ€"there are plenty of better and less stressful study methods. Study smart, not hard. Copying out 15 lecture slides and trying to remember every single detail on each isnt just time consumingâ€"its unrealistic as well. Look for terms or topics your professor has highlighted and focus on those. Actively filter out material you wont needâ€"mindlessly copying terms down wont help you understand them. What I like to do is take notes on every lecture, and then try condense everything onto a single sheet of paper. Writing down everything twice helps reinforce concepts, and the single sheet forces me to cut useless content. Additionally, if youre in a course that allows you to bring a cheat sheet into the midterm, you can use this piece of paper! Go to the library. I find studying in my room too distracting. One moment youre drawing chemical molecules and compounds for your Organic Chemistry exam, the next youre lying on your bed scrolling through Instagram with The Office playing on the TV. Going to the library gives you a quiet environment and forces you to study. There are little to no distractions in a library, so you can completely focus on getting your work done. Plus, there are several gorgeous libraries on campus: my personal favorites are the Funk (ACES) Library and the Mathematics Library in Altgeld Hall. There are many more great spots to study on campusâ€"go to them! Although its a little far, the Funk Library is almost never crowded and is one of my favorite places to study. Take care of yourself. When you finally take that exam, the last thing on your mind should be what youre going to have for dinner. Eat normal meals, sleep a healthy amount, and take breaks. Your mind functions best when you feel your bestâ€"a diet of Red Bull and 2 hours of sleep isnt going to make you feel very good. Midterms are tough. No one likes them. But its something everyone has to go through. At the end of the day, you will be okayâ€"one bad midterm score doesnt mean youve failed your course and certainly doesnt define your intelligence. Keep your head up and keep working hard. It will always work itself out. Franklin Class of 2022 I grew up in Hong Kong, China, and I’ve come across the world to Illinois to major in Astronomy in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. I’ve always thought outer space is super cool, and I love that I’m learning everything that I can about it at Illinois.

Is A Wealthy Nation A Prosperous Nation - 1399 Words

In this paper, I aim to answer the question: â€Å"Is a wealthy nation a prosperous nation?† not only with my personal opinions, but with the help of many philosophers, economists, sociologist, and revolutionary socialists. I will be also delving into reasons why a country like America flourishes and thrives, while countries in Africa stay in persistent and unending poverty. Or why is it that Africa is so much poorer and so profoundly different to North America? There are many reasons why these two places differentiate so much in prosperity. Climate, as well where the country is geographically placed and it’s culture all take a place in the issue at hand. However, the main reason could be the ignorance of domestic leaders. Leaders who truly want to see their nation prosper and achieve wealth and happiness will make that happen. Many believe that a prosperous nation directly correlates with a wealthy nation. However, to achieve true prosperity, the health and happines s of the nation must be equally valued. My paper will introduce Adam Smith’s ‘division of labour’ and how it shaped social relations within and outside the factory, as well as his theory on the â€Å"Invisible Hand†. Furthermore, I will present Robert Heilbroner’s concept of the ‘drive for capital’ and how it simultaneously produces ‘wealth’ and ‘misery’ to analyze Upton Sinclair’s insights into the nature of industrial life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The division of labour is an economic concept,Show MoreRelatedThe Jungle By Upton Sinclair Essay2240 Words   |  9 PagesA wealthy nation is not a prosperous nation, as a nation can be prosperous without being wealthy. Wealth can be defined as capital or vice versa as having properties or resources and turning it into money. A country that is wealthy can have both rich and poor people living in it. There is an upper class, middle class an d lower class, which individuals are associated to. We all know that individuals in the upper class have more resources, materials, properties and more money than the middle and lowerRead MoreThe Period of the Great Depression and Political Issues in America1767 Words   |  7 Pageswar and a bureau was set up to pay an insurance policy for them that would be due in twenty years. The effects of America’s international economic and political isolationism in the 1920’s were still seen in our non membership of the League of Nations. We only sent observers to Geneva, Switzerland to check it out as investigators. Harding couldn’t completely stay out of international affairs because of the American-British competition over oil-drilling. Secretary Hughes finally negotiated a wayRead MoreAnalysis of Herbert Croly and Frank Meyer ´s Point of View Regarding the American Dream944 Words   |  4 Pageson the spiritual and intellectual aspect of one’s life. By having a political order with the sole role of protecting individual freedom, Meyer believes that we will prosper as a nation. To fix this illusion of individual freedom providing total equality, Croly, unlike Meyer, understands the importance of uniting as a nation with a common purpose. On the contrary, Meyer believes that â€Å"freedom cannot be defined in terms of the ends that a free person ought to choose, that freedom, which is the powerRead MoreThe Effects Of Global Economic Crisis On The Great Depression Of The 1930 S876 Words   |  4 PagesLiberalism generally believes that market-driven economies are better and more prosperous than those heavily regulated. If liberal states are wealthy, they tend not to want war to cause any interference. Contrastingly, it is often seen as liberalism as the only method or a gift to have, so they will not take ‘no’ for an answer. Liberalism can help us better understand world politics by assessing why policies between nations such as NAFTA are implemented. The liberal argument would say that transnationalRead MoreWhat Makes A Nation Wealthy? Essay1668 Words   |  7 PagesWhat makes a nation wealthy? Answering this basic question may not be as simple as it seems. Because we must first analyze what â€Å"wealth† is. This essay is going to cover Adam Smith and Karl Marx’s work and their views how the society works and how wealth is created. It is going to highlight the theory of â€Å"Division of labour† and how it shaped the social relations. Lastly Robert Heilbroner’s concept of â€Å"drive for capital† will be discussed and how it produces wealth and misery to analyze Sinclair’sRead MoreCinderella Man Analysis763 Words   |  4 Pages1920s to the New Deal set forth by Franklin D. Roosevelt. Cinderella Man eloquently depicts the events of the early 1900s. The 1920s was a prosperous time in our nation for most. Most people had a fairly easy time making money and paying there dues. Therefore, people were left with significantly more discretionary income. This is what made the 1920s so prosperous. With money left over, people usually chose to spend in on luxuries. In the movie, James Braddock was received a steady cash flow becauseRead MoreInfluence Of The Renaissance On Modern Western Society Essay1712 Words   |  7 Pagestime; in addition being the main producers of fine elevated their chances to conduct successful trading ventures. Venice was considered one of the largest centers of trade being a coastal city of the shores of the Adriatic Sea, which allowed for prosperous trade with what was then considered the Eastern world; the city was also well known for their quality in ship building as well which likely contributed to them being a large naval power in the region. Now due to fact that both city-states were twoRead More The Pro s and Cons of Free Trade Essay941 Words   |  4 PagesThe Pros and Cons of Free Trade Free trade is exchange of goods and commodities between parties without the enforcement of tariffs or duties. The trading of goods between people, communities, and nations is not an innovative economic practice. Nations are however the main element within a free trade agreement. By examining free trade through three different political ideologies: Liberal, Nationalistic, and Marxist approaches, the advantages and disadvantages will become apparent. ThesesRead MoreGermany is Responsible for the Outbreak of World War I972 Words   |  4 Pagesmillion in 1871 to 67.7 million in 1914 (Fulbrook 137). The continued growth in population led to sizeable increases in Germany’s manufacturing ability due to an abundance of newly oriented factory workers compared to that of other competing European nations such as France and Britain. As France and Britain experienced slow economic growth due to the use of older industrial technologies, Germany’s manufactured goods multiply by five times its normal output while Britain’s output merely doubled (FulbrookRead MoreGilded Age Essay760 Words   |  4 Pages the United States population and economy grew hand in hand, but what was going on behind the scenes for both these numbers to grow so prosperous. First, let us consider what gilded stands for; it is having a desired appearance, yet concealing something that is not so pleasing in appearance. So, the Gilded Age was a time in which the United States grew prosperous through means that did not reflect such positivity. One example, in specific, is the treatment of Indian Americans by the American government

Persuasive Essay On Racism - 1138 Words

It was during the first week of INT that I started to feel more in depth with the racism and its different terms. We talked in detail on intent, reverse racism, and white supremacy after watching few videos for each matter. It turned out that there are deeper meaning and context to these terms than the mere definition. A number of cases regarding intent have suggested that it’s solely up to someone’s motives if they are being racist or not. For instance, we talked in class about this one teacher who was bashed for letting a group of her students name themselves as something offensive. It was definitely something she wasn’t familiar with so she slid by, causing controversy for the parents and the society. But did the teacher deserve all†¦show more content†¦So why is it called reverse racism and not simply as racism? I’ve always believed that there can be equal racism on both sides before reading the â€Å"Reverse Racism Myths† online. The a rticle turned my beliefs upside down with just the two words, individual vs. institution. In fact, the word racism comes from the situation when one dominant race puts on oppression and benefits off that oppression in the other race. Some people might argue that affirmative action discriminates the white people, and it is thus an example of reverse racism. This is not the case because the goal of affirmative action is to fix the already-existing underrepresentation of people of color and to ensure that these people have the equal opportunities to be admitted and hired (Smith). For one thing, racism is the reason why Blacks are more likely to face police brutality, house or job discrimination, poverty, or high incarceration rate that the whites do not experience at the same level. Of course, individuals can be prejudice toward other race but that’s not close to saying it is racism. Being merely prejudice does not impact their lives or other people’s lives (Frederickson) . Racism is the parts that make a system in the society that puts one race at an advantage point. Simply put, white people are not oppressed and they win at everything socially, politically, and economically. Comedian Aamer Rahman half-seriously stated that â€Å"Black and Brown race wouldShow MoreRelatedPersuasive Essay On Racism1654 Words   |  7 Pageshas still not been accomplished. People get judged on their skin color and many other things all the time and it isn’t right. Not everybody of the same race, or religion, or sexual orientation are all the same. Racism is a horrible, horrible thing that many people in America experience. Racism and slavery go back many, many years ago. All the way back starting in the 17th century. Since then we have had the Trail of Tears during President Jackson’s presidency when he threw the Native Americans off theirRead MorePersuasive Essay On Racism1271 Words   |  6 Pagesthe options to chose our race. Yet we are still being ridiculed from what we are born with. Racism is one of many elements that in the United States of America affects our society. However, there is a hidden problem that promotes racism. It is the fact that a lot of people try to make themselves believe that racism doesn t exist. But unfortunately, it still does. Everyone knows about the problem of racism but don t realize that they are supporting the problem by discriminating against other peopleRead MorePersuasive Essay On Racism701 Words   |  3 PagesRacism Racism is an issue in America that has been growing, Martin Luther King was a famous black citizen for his bravery of black people as equals. We can respond to and eradicate racism only through a peaceful stand for the love for humanity. The call of Pope Francis to take â€Å" a clear stand for creative and active nonviolence and against all forms of violence† echoes the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream of a nation without racism. Inspired by Dr. King’s concept of a creative and constructiveRead MorePersuasive Essay On Racism882 Words   |  4 Pagesword to me, eventually I have come to understand her intentions during that week. Little did I know that this would not be the last time I would endure a situation like this. ‘Subtle Racism’ in America is common in society. It can come from all sides, and can have as deep an effect as blatant racism. Subtle racism to me is shown from someone who may not consider themselves to be racist, and may see themselves as a supporter of all ethnicities, but expresses certain behaviors and phrases that canRead MorePersuasive Essay On Racism1018 Words   |  5 Pagesit s working at 7/11, always smelling like curry, or mocking us with our thick accents. Stereotypes have always been around, they have been used to make some funny jokes, but others have used it personally and criticize people with it. That is why racism is a big problem in this world with people using stereotypes to verbally attack people, thinking those things are true for every race and not getting to know people before judging them. My friends always turn to these jokes when they want to makeRead MorePersuasive Essay On Racism1317 Words   |  6 Pages Is America Racist? As a privileged white female in the United States, I don’t personally deal with any racism. But millions of Americans are impacted by racism on a daily basis. They are exposed to ignorant slurs and racial violence constantly. Some people say that not everyone is America is racist. That America as a whole is accepting and welcoming. If so, why did we elect a president whose immigration policies will limit entry of millions of non-white people into our country? How is itRead MorePersuasive Essay On Racism1926 Words   |  8 Pagesdifferent culture or has different skin color? Racism is the major issues today and it still exists in our schools, works, and society. Racism at the workplace is responsible for continuous mood changes, aggressive behavior, and have a bad feeling in the minds of the affected persons. This turn bad for the employer and the society. Everyone has right to do something so why do people become races. Today it was better than years ago but still, racism exists in the United States and other countriesRead MorePersuasive Essay Racism1958 Words   |  8 Pagesloose. We learned about racism in the past, but in 2013, but we never thought we would experience it. Racism is discrimination or discrimination against another race , from one that believes that their race is superior. One of the biggest debates in America is whether or not racism exist. Racism is still present in America because America has an unlawful justice system for minorities, President Trump is causing racial tensions, and the media is racially bias. There is still racism present in AmericaRead MorePersuasive Essay On Racism1752 Words   |  8 PagesRacism is contagious to this society. It has been a growing concern in the United States for many decades now, however, no major improvements are made by any political officials in reducing it. Many individuals of color are treated unfairly just because they are of pigment. Not too long ago, many individuals in the African American communities sparked out in outrage when individuals such as Michael Brown and much more were racially profiled by were brutally attacked by the law enforcers. Racism doesRead MorePersuasive Essay On Racism1839 Words   |  8 PagesThroughout America, racism is a very prominent topic that affects thousands of American’s. Although racism has been fought for many of years in America, Americans find themselves still talking about the social divide. The subject of racism is all over the news and has even made it’s way to America’s game, fo otball. The kneeling during the national anthem has been a very big controversy that many American’s are furious about. However, for black Americans, it is an outcry that should be heard. Many

Major Aspects if the Marketing Plan Free Essays

This three year marketing plan has been formulated to curb the negative effects on the perception about the McDonald’s Corporation of the larger community. Further, it is the intent behind the formulation of this plan to make positive use of all the negative publicity targeted towards McDonald’s by criticisms such as those raised by the documentary film â€Å"Super Size Me† and the book and film of the same title, â€Å"Fast Food Nation†, as publicity although negative brings with it the focus and spotlight of the media on the company and any efforts on the part of the Corporation to resurface as an advocate of healthy living will be publicized with as much fervor by the various media. The plan involves an operational as well as marketing shift in focus towards a more healthy life and a balanced diet while promoting healthy habits such as working out as well as encouraging the youngsters of the country to pursue higher education and save money for college. We will write a custom essay sample on Major Aspects if the Marketing Plan or any similar topic only for you Order Now Major Aspects if the Marketing Plan This plan is spread over a time span of three years, outlining the product, pricing, distribution and promotion strategies to be implemented and executed during this time. The plan takes into consideration that while the McDonald’s brand image is one of its greatest strengths, this strength is slowly waning away under the intense scrutiny and attention of the media towards the various criticisms launched against McDonald’s and thus it proposes a revitalization of the McDonald’s philosophy so as to focus on the youth and value a healthy lifestyle, healthy eating habits, smart choices and education. The plan also outline the structural issues that may arise during its implementation and execution, tactical initiatives to turn strategy into action and methods, means and measures for the evaluation and control of the marketing effort through regular marketing audits. The concentration on targeting the marketing efforts towards youngsters will mean a shift from marketing efforts targeted towards children in order to get to their parents’ pockets. This will also mean that the primary target market then will be between the ages of 18 and 35, whereas the secondary market will include other age groups as well. Situation Analysis Analysis of Internal Environment Since it is the world’s top fast food company in terms of sales, it is hard to believe that McDonald’s has only recently recovered from a severe and persistent downturn in sales. CEO Jim Skinner’s strategy for bringing the fast food giant back on its feet has been based largely on improving the quality of food instead of expanding rapidly and increasing the number of locations where McDonald’s is available. Furthermore, out of a total of almost 31, 000 restaurants in around 120 countries worldwide, 75% are being run by franchisees rather then by the corporation itself. In addition to improving food quality through upgrading of facilities, the McDonald’s Corporation has also been consciously attempting to decrease the number of company run outlets, with the plan of transferring ownership of 2300 locations to licensees by the year 2008. (McDonald’s Corporation Company Profile) Analysis of Customer Environment â€Å"With the successful expansion of McDonald’s into many international markets, the company has become a symbol of globalization and the spread of the American way of life† (Wikipedia). The ‘American way of life’ is fast paced, always on the go, technology driven and consistently changing; with divorce rates increasing and the number of single parent families on the rise. The world over, the number of women in the workforce is increasing year by year, contributing to the rise in families with both parents working. â€Å"Fast food restaurants differ from full-service restaurants in that customers generally order and pay before eating† because the typical fast food customer is in a hurry and demands a quick meal. The typical fast food consumer is between he ages of 18 and 35, with no children. (Fast Food and Quickservice Restaurant Industry) Analysis of External Environment According to Hoover’s profile of the Fast Food and Quickservice Restaurant industry, demand in the industry is driven by â€Å"personal income† and â€Å"demographics and â€Å"the profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations, effective marketing, and the ability to provide fast service†. Also, large companies are at and advantage because they can efficiently reap the benefits of economies of scale, making money out of volume rather then big margins (Fast Food and Quickservice Restaurant Industry). The top competitors for McDonald’s are Burger King, Subway and YUM! Foods (McDonald’s Corporation Company Profile) although â€Å"fullservice restaurants; supermarkets; delis; convenience stores; snack shops (donut or bagel shops); cafeterias† and other companies that offer prepared food are all part of the competition (Fast Food and Quickservice Restaurant Industry). SWOT Analysis Strengths Being a multinational company with operations in over 120 countries of the world, McDonald’s global presence and its sheer size as an organization is a huge strength, enabling it to benefit from economies of scale and profit sanctuaries. Other then that, McDonald’s ability of adaptation to local cultures wherever it appears on the globe has enabled it to expand across borders, countries and continents; a feat made possible by the strategy of operating through franchisees and licensees. The other great strengths of McDonald’s are its brand image, brand equity and expansive financial resources. Weaknesses The one weakness of the McDonald’s Corporation is its inability to adapt to changing tastes. Like most big companies, McDonald’s is to an extent a victim of its own success, a giant that is slow to wake up to problems and challenges. Opportunities The opportunities for McDonald’s as a multinational fast food company lie in developing countries which are home to growing markets of fast food and in developed countries where adults remain largely untapped as a market for fast food. Threats McDonald’s faces the threat of immense competition from its top competitors; Burger King, Subway and YUM! In addition to this, threats are also posed by the issues raised in the book Eric Schlosser titled â€Å"Fast Food Nation†, the movie of the same name and the documentary film â€Å"Super Size Me† by Morgan Spurlock. Schlosser’s book alleges that McDonald’s among other fast food companies â€Å"uses its political influence to increase their own profits at the expense of people’s health and the social conditions of its workers† while also questioning McDonald’s practice of advertising tactics which target children. Spurlock’s documentary film, featuring himself as the participant in an experiment where for 30 days, he ate only McDonald’s food raises similar allegations, proclaiming that â€Å"McDonald’s food was contributing heavily to the epidemic of obesity in American society, and failing to provide nutritional information about its food for its customers† (Wikipedia) Analysis of the SWOT matrix In light of the SWOT analysis conducted above, it may be concluded that McDonald’s possesses the capability of overcoming the threats posed by negative publicity caused by the films such as â€Å"Fast Food Nation† and â€Å"Super Size Me† and various other social activists because it has access to the financial resources which would be required to curb this negative publicity. The only thing lacking is a specific focus of the management on this issue and its resolution. Developing competitive advantages McDonald’s can develop competitive advantages by becoming a socially responsible and aware organization, especially by actively supporting a cause which cancels or nullifies the impact of the aforementioned negative publicity. It is proposed that McDonald’s concentrate on social responsibility and public relations by supporting a cause which it can internalize into the organization. The proposed cause is the physical and mental well being of youngsters which includes leading healthy lives free from eating disorders such as obesity, anorexia, bulimia etc and a college education. Developing a Strategic Focus To fight the ongoing battle against negative publicity against McDonald’s it is suggested that the McDonald’s Corporation develop a strategic focus on resolving this issue and through this resolution pave the path for future development and growth of the company. It is proposed that McDonald’s create this strategic focus by concentrating marketing efforts towards youngsters between the ages of 18 and 35 rather then the McDonald’s trademark of the use of ‘ester power’ to influence children. Marketing Goals and Objectives Marketing Goals The goal of marketing according to this plan will be to use marketing communications with the intent of converting the negative publicity targeted towards McDonald’s into positive and turn it into an advantage for the company. Marketing Objectives The objective of the marketing campaign will be to nullify the negative perception regarding McDonald’s that it is contributing towards the spreading of the â€Å"epidemic† that is â€Å"obesity† and establish that McDonald’s is a healthy organization which believes in and values physical fitness as well as personal wellbeing and self esteem. Marketing Strategy The marketing strategy throughout the tenure of this plan will be to focus on youngsters and students, seeking to culminate the habit of working out and eating healthy, making smart choices and supporting education of the youth of the world. Primary Target Market The primary target market for McDonald’s is students and youngsters between the ages of 18 and 35. The secondary target market includes people of all ages who are looking for a quick, yet fulfilling meal as well as children who otherwise run away from eating and would rather play in the park then be home at meal times. Product Strategy McDonald’s will offer its usual, popular products that it is known for, however it will start printing nutritional content on the actual packaging of the product in legible font size, black in colour. However, the quantities of the contents will be reconsidered and changed according to the daily requirement of each by the human body to remain fit and healthy. Pricing Strategy McDonald’s will offer student discounts at its outlets for students living away from home, granted on products specially designed for students redeemable on showing student identity cards at the time of purchase. Distribution Strategy Distribution will be carried out in the usual manner through company owned and franchised outlets and kiosks. Integrated Marketing Communication Strategy The integrated marketing communication strategy will involve the extensive use of advertising and public relations to publicize McDonald’s effort of supporting healthy eating habits and making smart choices. Marketing Implementation The marketing strategy outlined above will be implemented through an extensive media, supporting PR plan and a massive revitalizing effort designed to convert the effects of the negative publicity brought on by issues raised in â€Å"Super Size Me† and â€Å"Fast Food Nation† by focusing on students and youngsters. Structural Issues The structural issues that will be faced during the implementation of this marketing plan may include employee resistance, inconsistencies between company run and franchised eateries and slow conversion from the past practices to the ones proposed in this plan. A major structural issue will be faced in shifting the marketing and operational focus on to young adults instead of that which was previously on children through advertising the McDonald’s toys given away with the Happy Meals and the famous Play Places. Tactical Marketing Activities The tactical activities will include a number of youth oriented programs, which will support healthier eating habits for both, those who eat less then is healthy as well as those who eat more then is healthy, smarter choices by young people and assistance with educational endeavours. Jobs at McDonald’s outlets will be publicized to be open for candidates who are studying at school, college and/or wish to save for a college education; nutritional content will be printed on the packaging of products and will de re-proportioned to be aligned with the requirement of a young healthy human body; public service messages regarding eating disorders such as anorexia and obesity will be funded; Club McDonald’s will be founded where youngsters with eating disorders and the will to take control of their situation will be provided with expert counseling, interaction with others youngsters facing similar problems along with the comfort of knowing that they are not alone. Evaluation and Control Since the goals and objectives of this plan focus on dealing with the negative perception regarding McDonald’s caused by such criticisms as posed by media such as â€Å"Super Size Me† and â€Å"Fast Food Nation†, the evaluation and control measures will also focus on measuring the impact of the marketing effort on such perceptions. Formal controls Formal controls will include the establishment of performance targets for each of the tactical initiatives proposed in this plan on regular intervals, ensuring that these targets are met, and if this is not so then ascertaining the reasons for exceeding or failing to meet these targets on the part of those held accountable. Informal controls Informal controls will take the form of feedback forums on the websites for each tactical initiative as well as the reviews of participants/member of Club McDonald’s. Implementation Schedule and Timeline This plan will span over a period of three years, after which the goals and objectives would have been met in the manner that is outlined in this plan. Each initiative will be timed according to the best possible situational conditions which are conducive the successful implementation of the initiative. McDonald’s will resurface as an advocate of healthy living, smart choices and education for all. Marketing Audits During the three year life span of this marketing plan, marketing audits will be conducted at regular intervals, that once after every quarter of a year meaning that there will be a total of 12 marketing audits conducted throughout the 3 year time span of the marketing plan. Bibliography Fast Food and Quickservice Restaurant Industry. Retrieved on Jun 15, 2007 Fast Food Nation. Retrieved on Jun 15, 2007 from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_Food_Nation McDonald’s. Retrieved on Jun 15, 2007 from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonald%27s McDonald’s Corporation Company Profile. Retrieved on Jun 15, 2007 ; How to cite Major Aspects if the Marketing Plan, Essay examples

Working holiday free essay sample

Thank you for your letter dated 2 September enquiring about our working holiday scheme. We are glad to provide the information you need. Our department has been holding the working holiday scheme for the past 15 years and this scheme aims to provide an opportunity for young adults to work over seas. Our team will ensure that you have a memorable and pleasant experience. Please visit our website at http://whs. esdlife. com/ for more comprehensive information on our scheme with reference to the feedback of our previous participants. As an ordinary visit visa holder is not allowed to work in the selected country. , each successful applicant of our scheme will be issued a working holiday visa, which is valid for 12 months and the time spend out of the country is neglected. In addition, it will allow you to leave and return to the host country multiple times. However, there is a limitation that you can only work for the same company for 3 months for your permit. We will write a custom essay sample on Working holiday or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page You need not to be worry of the English skills as there is no language requirement for attending our scheme. To be eligible, you must be able to produce financial proof of availability funds to meet your living cost when staying in New Zealand, which is about NZ$4,200 and I am sorry to announced that no financial assistance is provided by the government. On the other hand, I would like to give you some advice on job searching. I suggest you try some seasonal jobs like fruit picking in farms and vineyards. You can not only stay close to nature, but also meet people in all ways of life. It will be a fresh experience as it is hard to be performed in Hong Kong. What is more, you have mentioned that you plan to work in New Zealand for half a year, so you are reminded to work for a new company by 3 months . For the application procedure, you may approach the relevant consulates in Hong Kong and an administrative fee of HKD250 will be charged. Lastly, there is an annual quota of 400 for nationals to take working holiday to New Zealand, please submit your application as soon as possible as no administrative fee will be charged for the first 50 applicants. Thank you for your interest in our working holiday scheme. Please contact us again if you have any further queries. Yours sincerely, Steve Petersons Steve Petersons Senior Immigration Officer

Brazilian Economy Essays - Public Finance, Austerity,

Brazilian Economy An Economy Recovering From Chaos. Brazil earned the reputation of being a "miracle economy" in the late 1960s when double-digit annual growth rates were recorded and the structure of the economy underwent rapid change. Since 1981, however, Brazil's economic performance has been poor in comparison to its potential. The country's dramatic reduction in output growth, which averaged an annual GDP growth of only 1.5 percent over 1980-93, reflected its inability to respond to the events of the late 1970s and 1980s. Some events that took place during this period were: the oil shock, increases in real interest rates, the debt crisis, and the resulting cutoff of foreign credit and foreign direct investment. These shocks, in combination with poor management of public finances and heavy state intervention, resulted in large fiscal deficits at state and federal levels. Even if the fiscal deficits were reduced after 1990, deviating policies generalized indexation, and exchange rate management contributed to keeping inflation high and increasing. Monthly inflation skyrocketed from 3 percent in the late 1970s to 50 percent in mid-1994. The country's income distribution, already poor, worsened drastically in the 1980s. Against these conditions, the success of the Real Stabilization Plan in effect since mid-1994, which has reduced inflation to an annualized rate of about 15 percent, stand out noticeably. Growth rates were satisfactory in 1994 and 1995 at 5.8 and 4.2 percent, respectively (Page 45-47). From Portugal's discovery in 1500 until the late 1930s, the economy relied on the production of primary products, such as sugar cane for exports. Portugal subjected it to a strict enforced colonial pact, or imperial mercantile policy, which for three centuries heavily restricted development. The colonial phase left strong marks on the country's economy and society, lasting long after independence in 1882. Significant changes began occurring only late in the eighteenth century, when slavery was eliminated and wage labor was adopted. Important structural transformations began only in the 1930s, when the first steps were taken to change it into a modern, semi-industrialized economy. These transformations were particularly strong between 1950 and 1981, when the growth rates of the economy remained quite high and a diversified manufacturing base was established. However, since the early 1980s, the economy has experienced substantial difficulties, including slow growth and stagnation. Nevertheless, the country still has the potential to regain its former dynamism. In the mid-1990s, it had a large and quite diversified economy, but one with considerable structural, as well as short-term problems. Socioeconomic transformations came about rapidly after World War II. In the 1940s, only 31.3 percent of its 41.2 million inhabitants resided in towns and cities. By 1991 its population had reached 146.9 million and 75.5 percent lived in cities, therefore creating two of the world's largest metropolitan centers ? Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The rate of population growth decreased for about 3 percent annually in the transition. By mid-1999 it had an estimated population of 166 million (Levine 200). The share of its primary sector in the gross national product declined from 28 percent in 1947 to 11 percent in 1992. Despite this reduction, the agricultural sector remains important. Although part of it is primitive and demanding, part is modern and vigorous. Brazil remains one of the world's largest exporters of agricultural products. In the same 1947-92 period, the contribution of industry to GNP increased from less than 20 percent to 39 percent. Its GNP per capita in 1999 was of $4,750 per year. The industrial sector produces a wide range of products for the domestic market and for export, including consumer goods, intermediate goods, and capital goods. By the early 1990s, it was producing about 1 million motor vehicles annually and about 32,000 units of motor-driven farming machines. On an annual basis, it was also producing 1.8 million tons of fertilizers, 4.7 million tons of cardboard and paper, 20 million tons of steel, 26 million tons of cement, 3.5 million television sets, and 3 million refrigerators. In addition, about 70 million cubic meters of petroleum were being processed yearly into fuels, lubricants, propane gas, and a wide range of petrochemicals. Besides, Brazil has at least 161,500 kilometers of paved roads and more 63 million megawatts of installed electric power capacity (Becker 88-90). Even with these figures, the economy cannot be considered developed. While the economic changes since 1947 raised the country's per capita income above US$2,000 in 1980, per capita income in 1995 was still only US$4,630. Growth and structural change have not altered significantly the country's extreme unequal distribution of wealth, income, and opportunity. Regardless of impressive rise in economic growth and

econs assignment Essay

econs assignment Essay econs assignment Essay An economist once said that most economic activities can be summarized as, â€Å"People respond to incentives. The rest is commentary† (Mankiw, 2008). This clearly highlights how vital it is the role of incentives in the field of economy. Incentive in short means the factor that benefits a certain group of people and encourages them to an option instead of other alternatives. The reason why people respond to incentives is because it benefits them and they often get more out of the same or lesser opportunity cost. Incentives can often be seen as a form of reward, resulting in a positive impact on people. Mankiw (2008), a renowned and experienced economist from Harvard University discussed the subject of his personal work incentives. He stated the worth of incentives that kept him working as well as the opportunity to work and earn some extra pay. In Malaysia, the Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister is attempting to pacify Malaysians by assuring them that the Government is trying their very best to maintain the fuel prices even tough global prices for oil are rising (The Star Online, 2011). If oil prices increase, prices for other goods will also increase as the same time and this would lead on a negative impact for consumers. This indirect incentive that the government is helping to lift is actually allowing better conditions for consumers. On a personal level, an example of incentive in our daily life is the usage of credit cards. Credit card is an important tool in today’s world with the incentives provided including low interest rates and longer term of minimal amount repayment. However, there are many stiff competitions between companies such as Visa, MasterCard and American Express offering the same service and the only way the companies can attract customers is with their incentives. Visa gives a percentage of the purchases as cash back from some cards; accrue points in reward programs from other cards that allow the customers to get merchandise for paying their debts on time (Ramachandran, 2009). Recently, there is a new scheme that allows young adults that are earning less than RM3, 000 a month to own their own home (The Star Online, 2011). These young adults could own homes costing from RM100, 000 to RM200, 000 with 100% loans. My cousin is a newly graduated doctor that soon to be finishing his house manship now could actually afford to get his own home. Before, he couldn’t afford the 10% down payment even after 2 years working. Since this new

Channel Tunnel (between UK and France) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Channel Tunnel (between UK and France) - Essay Example Apart from that it also has a significant role in both the International Union of Railways (UIC) and the Community of European Railways (CER). This channel is also popularly called as the â€Å"chunnel† because of its three-way tunnel encompassing rail connections. It connects at one end with Folkestone in England to Calais in France at the other one. After the treaty for the construction of rail link between France and England was signed in 1986, the consortium, which was responsible for carrying out the managerial tasks of this project, started to face severe problems. These problems were mostly based on fiscal (economic) matters. Apart from the money hurdle which was being faced with at the time, meeting the already set schedule and the most important of the lot, ensuring safety for the rails as well as the passengers traveling in them was a much bigger problem than the other ones. By 1990, many people started to have serious doubts whether this project would ever be completed. There was a do or die situation attached to this project and the authorities at the helm of affairs really had to do something solid to restore the confidence of people that was lost from them in this project. Channel Tunnel’s fire of 1986 is one classic example of the handling of fire regime within the tunnel and how the same should be tackled in the wake of another fire instance within the mega structure. When it became quite evident that this project was in serious jeopardy, Eurotunnel called upon the resources of Bechtel to play a bigger role in the accomplishment of what was left at that moment of time, a sheer dream. Bechtel’s involvement began in 1987.

Religion As A Means For Political And Economic Gains Essay

Religion As A Means For Political And Economic Gains - Essay Example This statement will be tested through qualitative analysis of the existing literature on religion and a case study of Taliban. By looking into the question of whether Pakistan used Islam through Talibanization of Afghanistan essentially to stem the growing Pashtun nationalist movement, I will attempt to show that religion was used for political gains and virtually economic gains by a country which broke apart at the hands of a similar nationalist movement three decades ago. The outcome of this research can help to bring us closer to understanding religion and add to an ongoing debate on religion and its correlation with politics and economy. Keywords: religion, religious exploitation, religious values, fundamentalism, Taliban, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Pashtunistan Research Design in Anthropology (Final Project) 1. OBJECT The main function of religion is maintaining a desirable social order which protects the individuals and the society from physical and emotional harm caused by fellow members and "promises deliverance from deprivation" (Columbia Encyclopedia), but since it has the ability to gain a high level of acceptability among its followers, sometimes to the level of reverence, it demands a blind faith from who follow the rituals without reasoning. In their introduction to the first volume of the famed "Fundamentalism Project, " Fundamentalisms Observed, editors Martin Marty and R. Scott Appleby (1991) claim that the religious aspect of fundamentalism tends to express itself in the following four ways: as a "fighting for" the worldview associated with the religion; a "fighting with" the myths, traditions and doctrines created by the religion; a "fighting against" those who do not subscribe to the religion; and finally, a "fighting under" the god or other transcendent reference thought to be the religion's ultimate source. In under-developed societies religion has a stronger hold over the poor and the powerless who seek protection in its name and solace when they when they fail to achieve the desired goals in life. Since the clergy claim ownership of religion their role becomes the most important for the society as well as for the individual, sometimes even more important than God himself. Some high-priests become so powerful that their ascendancy rivals the powers of the rulers and other pressure groups. Thus religion commands absolute obedience from the poor and the powerless which enslaves them to the custodians of religion namely the clergy which in turn gives them the power to alter social behavior. More recently, such a phenomenon has come to be identified as "fundamentalism" whereby the clergy and associates have sought or achieved change of social, political and economic nature. "Any socio-political movement that requires of its members a strict adherence to specifi ed "fundamentals" or doctrines; that seeks to impose those fundamentals, by persuasion or force, on any who are outside the movement; and that claims for its motivation in doing so a divine, or otherwise transcendentally grounded, mandate." (Carr & Saha, 2001) This has happened in some societies while elsewhere other social factors emerged to mollify or cancel the magic of the religion and its custodians such as interfaith or sectarian rivalry, rise of progressive forces which further the power of reasoning and science and so on. History is full of incidents where clergy using religious edicts and faith have tried to alter social

Animals Idioms in Chinese and English Cultures

Animals Idioms in Chinese and English Cultures Idioms are by all means the crystallization of a language due to its long history and also, they telling demonstration of wisdom of a nation. Chinese and English idioms have their different cultural traits. This paper compares Chinese and English idioms of animals, discusses the influence of cultural differences on Chinese and English idioms and gives some specific approaches to the understanding of Chinese and English idioms of animals. Keywords: cultural differences; similarities and differences; English contrast; idioms of Animals; 1. The concept of idioms of Animals and the reasons for studying the idioms of Animal The English world is just like a Kaleidoscope, also we can treat it as a Labyrinth.Animals and human beingshave been friends since old times. Languages of all kinds of nations own lots of words related to animals and so do Chinese and English. In the development of our society, animal words gradually get their stable meanings in all kinds of languages, namely, people associate their feelings and emotions, even thoughts and natural phenomena with different kinds of animals which are treated to represent different characters like people, or serve as omens. So animals gradually have become a certain kind of symbol in our thoughts, then this symbol rooted in the language at last. So in this world, there is a branch which can not be ignored-the english idiom whose function is indispensable.In this essay, it will focus on one branch of the English idiom, the idiom of animals, because when people use this kind of idiom, sometimes they will feel confused of this kind of idiom, for the reason of the different culture background and emotion towards different animals, people from west and east usually holds different view towards the same animals, but they can also reach agreement sometimes (à ©Ã†â€™Ã‚ Ãƒ §Ã‚ ¦Ã‚ Ãƒ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Ã‚ 1999) .In the body part, Section 1 shows the different view towards the same animals. Section 2 talks about the same view towards the same animals. Section 3 states the  influences  of  Cultural  factor  on  idioms of animals.From the dictionary, the difinition of idiom is they are by all means the crystallization of a language due to its long history and also, they telling demonstration of wisdom of a nation. Without idioms, especially the idioms of animals.The language can became very dull and we can not express some feelings as vivid as right now. If we use a metaphor way to express, then it is just like the filtered water came from the purer water, the filtered product of a languageidioms, are of high quality. In terms of similar ity, the essay will deal with from the originating from folk life, originating from daily life and originating from custom background.The differences will be foucused on reflecting different geography, reflecting different value concepts and reflecting different religions. 2. The cultural connotation towards the animals in the English culture and Chinese culture The western history begins when the ancestors find and fight for their natural habitat by sailing in the sea, the western people have a complicated mixture of marine culture. During those tough timeof the struggle against with the sea, the western people formed a strong sense of controlness and invasion by force to enlarge their territory. Based on this thoughts, the western culture is marked by the westerners appreciation for competition and enterprise. These differences leads to so many cultural differences. For example, the geographic location, individual values, social awareness, the way of communication and expression.All these thoughts have formed the culture background which effects the idioms of animals. 2.1. An animal word has the same cultural connotation in English and Chinese In both English and Chinese, the same animal words contain the same or similar cultural connotation . All humanbeings are lives on the same planet. People have similar living atmosphere, cognitive ability and psychology;In both Chinese and English, people almost have the same information towards animals. Therefore, they have the same or similar realization and give the same cultural connotation to animal words. People sometimes also hold same views towards the same animals in both English and Chinese, Based on this emotion concept.then the influences have taken effects on the same animals.The intension of idioms of animals can connected with los of background informattion.However, the cultural reasons are difinitely ranks on the top of the list.Based on the aspect of folk life and the aspect of stereotype of thoughts., the study of the same view towards the idioms of the same animals will analyze it. 2.1.1 Discussion from the aspect of the intimacy with the human beings In this world, maybe the dog is the most loyal animal which people from both east and west would love it. But even dog is a favorite animal for most people, we still can find out that the emotion towards dog is a little different.From some popular American folk song, we can find how deep the emotion of the Americans towards the dog, people from the west often treat the dog as one of their family members. In the west, the common name of dog is Fido which extended from the latin word-fides which means faithful (Bakerà ¯Ã‚ ¼Ã…’Mona. 1992). Also lots of people of west name their dogs after their beloved family member, for instance, the ex-president of America, Bill Clinton name his dog after his uncle.So the idioms related to the dogs cames out, just as the top dog means the winner, the big dog means Mr.Big etc.But in the east, the idioms of dogs often have derogatory sense. Discussion from the aspect of religion influence People who learn English might know an idiom of elephant-the white elephant, which means an inanimate possession that is similarly unwanted and hard to get rid of, but too costly simply to throw out or abandon. Another idiom of elephant in english is as thick skinned as an elephant, which means stubborn and Obtuse. However, in the eastern country, the elephant is a symbol of strength and power, in some Buddhist countries, the elephant is also a holy symbol of their religion. 2.1.3 Discussion from the aspect of folk life Both the east and the west treat the pig as a symbol of idleness and stupid.The idioms of pig in the west and the east are all related to the bad side.For instance, Never cast ye your pearls before swine (Christine Ammer, 2005), this idiom means to waste precious words or deeds on the underserving. Another example is you cant make a silk purse from a sows ear, this means you cant turn an underserving creature or thing into one of great worth. Discussion from the aspect of stereotype of thoughts Both the Chinese and English think that the fox stands for cunning, so when English people say He is a fox, the Chinese people can easily catch the meaning of the sentence at the same atmosphere. To the English speaker and Chinese people, the first impression of pig is fat. It also represent laziness and stupidity. Thewolf is one kind of fierce wild animal in the forest. So its natural instincts are avariciousness and fierceness rooted in peoples minds. So we often hear some of the same expressions in English and in Chinese, such as a wolf in a sheeps clothing or cry wolf. In addition, when wolf is used to refer to a person, it means a man who always ready to make unsual advances to a woman. Therefore, in English, there is an idiom a wolf whistle (Christine Ammer, 2005). 2.2. An animal word has different cultural connotations in English and Chinese It can be seen that the cultural connotations of animal words in different languages in a subject to be further probe and the contrust and analysis of cultural connotations of animal words between English and Chinese. It is clear to get the conclusion that animal words is not only reflects the real animal but also get special cultural connotations of different cultures ( Bakerà ¯Ã‚ ¼Ã…’Mona. 1992) .Gnerally speaking, if people want to get a good knowledge of animal words, they must try their best to grasp the connotations of these words especially the cultural connotations, so they should have a comprehensive knowledge in order to understand the cultural differences in this task. People can be deeply acquaint with the cultural convention and living customs, then they can communicate with English speaking people naturally and easily. These idioms are given the same cultural meaning from their features, so in both English and Chinese, they can understand each other directly and easi ly no matter in cross-cultural communication or not. Meanwhile, with more and more communication, lots of new words come into both languages. We can find some idioms of animals with even the same images and the same intonations. 2.2.1 Discussion from the aspect of usage in daily life At first, doney is called ass which refer to the stupid and stubborn things and person.In the Aesops Fables, there is an ass in a lions skin, the other animals thought the lion is coming, and run away quickly.the donkey felt proud, but a fox know its not a lion, but a donkey, so the fox mocked the donkey (Nida, 1975). In English, an ass in a lions skin means to act/play the ass or to make an ass of onself. In the western culture, donkey is a symbol of foolishment, the ass wags his ears means the fool pretend smart. However, in the culture of east, people thought donkey is industrious, whats more, people dont need to look after them too much. 2.2.2 Discussion from the aspect of value concepts There is a paragraph taken from the Bible, the main ideal is when people come to this world, the God will choose the good from the bad. From this, we can get to know that the goat refers to the bad, from the time of the Bible, people realized that the value of sheep is more than the goat, so in English, the goat means the bad people or the Satyr. Let us look at the idiom of goat, for example, If beards were all, then goats would preach. This means old age does not necessarily betoken wisdom. In the east, people thought the goat is good, they take the advantages of the goats meat and skin, the goat has lots of usage (Smith, 1957). 2.2.3. Discussion from the aspect of custom background This is another good example of this essay, in the east, people think the bull is brave and industrious. Take the chinese people for instance, from the old times, people begin to use the bull to plow the fields.nowadays, the bull is still being used in the countryside, so the chinese usually use the bull to describe the industious people who work very hard and practical. Whats more, they also use the bull to describe the peole who seems very strong and healthy. In the west, people raise the bull in order to get the milk and meat, they did not use the bull in the agriculture too often. So in the west, the bull is refer to the fool, the people who are rude (Nida, 1975). For example, the bullhead means the stubborn.Irish bull means ridiculous way of saying. 2.2.4. Discussion from the aspect of geography influences From the day that can be recorded, horse is served to the human beings. No matter in the day of peace or the time of war, horse plays a very important role in every fields.Horse is an industrious animal. In the English, there are lots of idioms about horse, and the complimentary sense is basically the same.When it does not want to do something, then even you force him to do something, it still not works. In the east, people has the same way of saying. Among all the animals the horse may be the most sensible creature. She seems to understand men better than men understand them. If you are a careful observer, then you can find out that horse is always looking at its master. Knowing whatever feeling her master has. Apart from the horses sensitivity it always works without complaining. This is one of the reasons why Americans like to encourage other people to work as hard as a horse. It reminds us of the saying that we cannot force other people to do what we wish them to do without their content, of course. Without these expressions we can hardly find any means to let others know how we feel and what we think (Christine Ammer, 2005). 2.2.5 Discussion from the aspect of value concepts Fly is just like a mote in peoples eyes, they are noisy and dirty. So people use the fly in the ointmeny to express a trifling annoyance that spoils ones enjoyment. In the eyes of peole, they just treat the fly as some pests, so a fly on the wall means an unseen witness to a private situation, etc (Christine Ammer, 2005). 3. The  influences  of  Cultural  factor  on  idioms of animals They reflect the relationship between language and culture. Human beings common social activities are in many aspects similar, so English and Chinese idioms of animals have similarities. Because of the cultural differences, English and Chinese idioms have differences in their detailed contents. Now the essay will list two main cultural impacts on the idioms of animals (à ¦Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¤Ã‚ ¸-à ¨Ã…  Ã‚ ±, 2003). 3.1 Similarities between English and Chinese idioms In both the English and Chinese, the idioms of animals are descriptive when they are aim to convey the right meanings. A western scholar once said that between two languages, chances are against it that there is a equivalence of phrases and sentences, only a few exceptions. Idioms are just one of those reasons to this are that human beings live on the same environment, confined to the same objective restrictions.From these aspect, it can be concluded that there is a common union of the sameness of the thoughts and emotions in human being of defferent parts in the whole world. 3.1.1 Originating from daily life Idioms are the common reflection of peoples daily life and experience, whats more, they are closely related to the practice of peoples daily life and work, revealing a universal truth from details so as to enlighten people. There are many idioms refined from the folk life. These idioms are created by working people, for instance, the farmers, workmen, businessmen, hunters, Soldiers and so on. They use familiar terms that were connected with their own life experience. 3.2 Differences between English and Chinese idioms Language is a medium of the culture in each nation. Generally speaking, the differences between English and Chinese idioms are the result of different cultural reasons. The Chinese Culture stress on the part of argriculture which has cultivated from generation to generation and is what our basic condition of life is attached to. Growing up in this land-foucused notion, the chinese people have long been dedicated to their homeland, they are able to feed themselves by raise the argriculture, in result, they thought of expansion and invasion of other nations is never of their concern. 3.2.1 Reflecting different geography Geographic Position. Lots of idioms of animals share the features of its surrounding environment. Nations geographical environment is a pattern that a language and culture have been developing. The geographical characteristics of the country are reflected in the national language in general and idioms in particular. The England is an island country which located in the western seaside of Europe. English people live by seaside and their life naturally connected with the industry of sailing and fishing. So many English idioms of animals are related to the creature in the sea. 3.2.2 Reflecting different value concepts The differences between Chinese and western value concepts mainly lie in the individualism and collective.The Westerners believe that everyone share the equal rights. They adore to the freedom and equality. Many English idioms of animals show Americans advocating of this aspect. Idioms are the essence of a language. They are closely related to a nations culture and enjoy great cultural values. They reflect the relation between culture and language. Each nation has its own geography, history, religion and social attitude. Because of the cultural generalities and differences (à ¦Ã‚ Ã… ½Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ©Ãƒ ¦Ã‚ ­Ã…’, à ¥Ã‚ ¼Ã‚  Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ Ã… ½Ãƒ ¦Ã‹Å"Ã… ½, 2002), English and Chinese Idioms have their similarities and differences. They are permeating and interfusing each other. So a comparative study of them can help us to learn a language well and understand the true meaning of others word in cross-culture communication. 3.2.3 Reflecting different religions Religion is a very important theme of culture. Different religions reflect different cultural thoughts, different cultural backgrounds and different cultural customs. Religion is a cultural phenomenon. Sometimes, the idioms of animals are closely related to theaspect of culture, just like the example of white elephant list above. So idioms can reflect the different religious background information. English and Chinese people share different religious faith. Different religions lead to the differences between English and Chinese idioms of animals. 4. The value of study on idioms of Animals in both Chinese culture and English culture The similarities and disfference between English and Chinese idioms lies deeply in the cultural background. 4.1. The importance of studying idioms of Animals Learning a foreign language, especially the idioms of animals is a long way and we need to pay a lot of attention and efforts, what we should know is that we cannot and should not learn a foreign language in a very short time, so does the idioms of animals learning. The learning and using idiomatic appropriate is very difficult for non-native speakers, especially when we learn the idioms of animals, after we have a clear view of the culture background information of these idioms, we can have a better understanding of this area, and for this reason we need to learn it gradually, only in this way, we can handle them easily and effiently. 4.2. Consideration of the eassy This article should be an enlightment to all of us that when welearning English idioms of animals, we are supposed to grasp the cultural background in mind in order to acquire better learning. Whats more, the study of both English and Chinese idioms shed lights for our studying of the thinking patteren of both languages, which is of central essence for our learning purpose. Moreover, the analysis of origins causing different idiomatic expressions and cultural differences in this article can provide a way for us to understand idioms correctly and use them in cross-cultural communication precisely and accurately.

Women and Religion in the Middle East

Religion and Women in the Middle East Religion goes hand in hand with culture, and in the Muslim countries this is very apparent. The cultural importance of men over women may have stemmed from religion, however it was further recognized when imperialist countries introduced capitalism and class divides. â€Å"Islam must combat the wrenching impact of alien forces whose influence in economic, political, and cultural permutations continues to prevail† (Stowasser 1994, 5).Now, instead of an agrarian state where both men and women had their place, difficulties have formed due to the rise in education and awareness that women can and do have a place in society beyond domestic living Though women are not equal to men anywhere around the world, the differences between men and women are greater possibly in the Muslim world, partially due to religion and culture. â€Å"Fewer women are educated in the Muslim world than in other culture areas†¦The percentage of women working other than agriculture is probably the smallest in the world, the birth rate the highest, and the laws regarding marriage and related matters most unequal† (Stowasser 1994, 5). Though, of recent years inequality has been blamed on the Islamic religion, gender inequalities were in the Middle East before Islam. However, by radical groups and male elite, women are being discriminated because of their gender due to religious connotations amongst other things. The male bias, like in most religions, has been enforced within society like in the text of the Qur’an.Keddie and Beck asserts that, â€Å"In Islamic law women have male guardians; woman’s testimony is worth half that of a man; women are considered to have less reason than men† (Beck and Keddie 1978, 25-26). So the Qur’an in many of the Middle Eastern countries has been taken and formed in ‘Islamic Law’ which may not entirely reflect what is said in the Holy Book, but has been used to discr iminate and divide, not only gender, but class and status. What will be discussed is the divide between men and women due to religion, and why that is in certain countries in the Middle East and not others.It is not necessarily the Qur’an that has brought about the discrimination of women. There is male dominance in most every religious book. However it is how it has been translated, either by modernists, conservatives, and fundamentalists and how this has altered the treatment of women in society. In addition to this, it is also important to consider the country and how it is run. In the Middle East, regime is varied and eclectic; it would seem that the countries that are run by elite monarchists such as Saudi Arabia, have stricter laws on women and are more conservative or fundamental Islamists.On the other hand, countries that have a more lenient approach have better education and rights for women (though still not as forward as some Western countries). These thoughts by f undamentalists or conservatives relate to Muhammed’s spouses and how they are discussed in the Qur’an as there are no female prophets. According to Stowasser, the main components and treatment of women are set in the Qur’an, which is ‘segregation and quiet domesticity; modest comportment, indeed, invisibility through veiling; ascetic frugality; devout obedience to God and His Prophet.Insofar as the latter was these women’s husband, special emphasis is also placed on wifely obedience (Beck and Keddie 1978, 118). ’ This is seen as a very conservative view and parts of the Qur’an have been used to determine this, which is said to be harmful to women. Modern interpretations of the Qur’an suggest that manipulation of texts has led to foreign intervention due to human rights issues on gender. However, the modernists do not believe in segregation, and though religion is important to have, you should not be discriminated on how devout y ou are.They use the Qur’an not in a literal sense, but in a way which fits into modern society and works with both genders. The teachings in the Qur’an can be twisted either way. Practices of fundamental Islamists vary when it comes to marital rights, education, and behavior and punishment of women according to the Qur’an. In some societies, women in the judicial process have very few rights that are the same as men, and their punishment seems to be much greater. Treatment by the Taliban in Afghanistan, and by other groups such as the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood all contribute to how women are treated legally.Zohreh Arshadi asserts that in countries such as Iran, â€Å"The Islamic punishments have encouraged a culture of violence against women†¦ The fact that men receive a lighter punishment if they commit a violence against women undoubtedly encourages such violence. We saw how women could be killed with impunity during alleged adultery. Stoning t o death for adultery, although technically admissible for both sexes, has also been carried out mainly against women† (Arshadi 2012).It is in countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and some non-Middle Eastern countries where the Qur’an is taken as a literal word and law, and there is constituted into actual state law. This means that certain texts from the Qur’an are used to treat women violently. For example a passage in the Qur’an states: Hadith Muslim (4:1982)   The Prophet said, â€Å"I saw Hell also. No such (abominable) sight have I ever seen as that which I saw today; and I observed that most of its inhabitants were women. They said: Messenger of Allah, on what account is it so?He said: For their ingratitude or disbelief (bi-kufraihinna). It was said: Do they disbelieve in Allah? He said: (Not for their disbelief in God) but for their ingratitude to their husbands. † Again, the inferiority of women to men that is listed in the Q ur’an has meant that fundamentalist groups put pressures on women that is not apparent for the men. The repetition of how ‘unholy’ and disobedient women are means that is the way they are treated, which infringes on their rights. This was apparent in Kuwait, where a monarch (Sheikhs) and the elite ruled with heavy Islamic laws until the 1980s.There were no schools for girls; it was compulsory for women to be covered in only black by puberty, where then they would soon be married; and Polygamy was common place where not only could a man have up to four wives (condoned by Islamic Law) but could also keep female slaves (Beck and Keddie 1987, 174). This is a typical scene in fundamental countries; women with no education, little rights that match the men, and severe punishment if thought to be misbehaving. Though this has changed since the 1980s, it will still haunt their history.Though there are very few states that are run by this ancient Islamic way, there are sti ll groups that carry this out in modern Middle Eastern countries. For instance the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt have carried out ritual beatings and stoning of women, and it has been made clear they use the Qur’an as a way of putting women in a domestic place only. Asserted by a female blogger in Egypt ‘It is abundantly clear that the Muslim Brotherhood do not see women rights as natural and inalienable. Their rights must be restricted by Sharia and their duties in society; duties which are in themselves dictated by Sharia. (2011. On Coptic Nationalism; The Position of the Muslim Brotherhood on Women and Children – Analysis and Critique of the FJP’s Parliamentary Election Program. ) Another example is the Taliban in Afghanistan. The Revolutionary Women of Afghanistan have claimed that there is whipping, beating, and verbal abuse of women not clothed in accordance with Taliban rules. For instance not having their ankles covered, adultery, and with the ban of cosmetics even painted nails could result with their fingers being cut off. (2012.Punishment of Muslim Women. ) This punishment and treatment is said to be within Islamic teachings, however it is conservative and fundamentalist groups that read the Qur’an literally that enforce such rulings. When we talk of fundamentalist countries in the Middle East in association with religion, Saudi Arabia comes to mind. It is, so to speak, the heartland of religious and holy land. Mecca and Medina, the place where billions take holy migration to, is situated here and therefore Saudi Arabia has strong religious ties and feelings within.It is ruled by the Saud family, who are said to be direct descendants of the prophet Muhammed. The Saud family uses this as a determinant of power. George Lipsky claims that, ‘[Saud’s] used this deeply conservative and puritanical Sunnite orthodoxy as a basic instrument for gaining and wielding power. The result was the creation of a political order in which paramount authority is in the hands of an executive who fills three traditional roles, that of the tribal leader, religious leader, and king. ’ (Lipsky, George A. 1959. Saudi Arabia; its people, its society, its culture.New Haven: Hraff Press. Pg 5) This should assert that the Saudi Kingdom rules by very traditional and conservative ways, including religion. ‘The public practice of any form of religion other than Islam is prohibited in Saudi Arabia. Severe punishment (imprisonment and deportation) can result should such activities come to the attention of the authorities. ’ (British Embassy Riyadh. 2012. UK in Saudi Arabia. http://ukinsaudiarabia. fco. gov. uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-saudi-arabia/) All laws in Saudi are based from the Qur’an, and the law is sharia.This means that as an extremely religious country, it has had problems facing gender equality and human rights. The penalty for any misconduct, be it adultery to dr essing ‘inappropriately’ is punishable by public beheading or death by stoning. To enforce religious law, the Mutawwa or religious police have been put in place. Mutawwa police have the right to cut off women’s left hand if misbehaving. It is this large enforcement of extreme religion which has gained attention from the Western countries, but little else due to their huge amounts of oil.Lipsky reiterates that, ‘Women, the vast majority of whom live in seclusion and are almost totally without education. ’(Lipsky, George A. 1959. Saudi Arabia; its people, its society, its culture. New Haven: Hraff Press. pg 131) There have been countless claims and acts of violence towards women due to ‘religion. ’ However, it is more of a way for the Saud regime to stay in power, religion is used as a means of quieting the masses. Though the country is forever modernizing, and women’s groups funded by the West are starting to show, the punishment f or speaking out is far too dangerous and risky.Modernization of the Middle East has had it’s implications, good and bad. The treatment of women and their rights in most countries have improved. The countries that were colonized have modernized much more than the Middle Eastern areas that were ignored by imperialist. Politically, economically, and socially these countries have improved their human rights with the course of industrialization. The gap between women and men has not gotten worse, but instead have been brought to the attention of international human rights advocators.Countries such as Iraq, Egypt, Syria, and other revolutionary countries has seen the rise in female activists of the Islamic religion. This may be due to these countries more lenient state approach to having Islam as a main feature of their political system. As these states have seen the rise in social demands for political reform, it means their policies are more liberal than that of a monarchical run state with heavy religious influence. Stowasser asserts that, â€Å"Modernists have long opposed the notion that women’s segregation is a necessary aspect of moral Muslim society† (Stowasser 1994, 132).She goes onto agree with modernists who maintain that, â€Å"the Qur’an established women’s equality with men in all essential respects, a fact misunderstood by Medieval Muslim lawyers† (Stowasser 1994, 132). ’ Modernists believe that many fundamentalist groups manipulate what the text of the Qur’an says in order to fit their social rule. With the study of Kuwait, modernization of the country brought much social reform and change. Instead of the state being run by heavy Islamic law and religious lineage, Beck and Keddie say that, â€Å"the community and education of women [in Kuwait] had been the entry of women into government service†¦Hundreds of Kuwaiti women [are] working in schools and offices alongside men† (Beck and K eddie 1978, 175). Though there are still problems facing women in Kuwait, due to modernization, religion has less of a restrictive connotations, and more of a liberating one. When speaking of modernization versus fundamentalism, in terms of religious rule, the dress code and especially the Hijab and veiling is a topic that determines how liberal a state is on religion and gender. Initially, the dress code of women, particularly the Hijab, was mainly a garment of status.In the Qur’an, it says that women must be dressed modestly and cover in accordance so. Again, it is how groups and states interpret the Qur’an and how extreme and literal they take this to mean. Still today the way a woman dresses reveals status and wealth, though punishment for covering that is not in accordance to law or is seen as provoking can be punished with death. Though the veiling of women has initial religious meanings, it has become more of a political gesture and stance. To not be seen with a veil or appropriate dress has ‘Western’ connotations, which has negative implications.Leila Ahmed agrees that, â€Å"it is a discourse on women and the veil in which another history is also inscribed, the history of colonial domination and the struggle against it and the class divisions around that struggle† (Ahmed 1992, 130). ’ It has little to do with religion; however, the veil has been used as a way to enforce religion in fundamentalist areas. It is more of a way to speak against imperialists and the Western world, not necessarily religion. Haddad and Esposito assert that, ‘The veil and Islamic dress are the outward obvious signs of women’s adherence to the new Islamic trends.However, the veil and formal compliance with tradition do not necessarily mean commitment to all the ideological baggage associated with it† (Haddad 1998, 182). They agree that is mainly a conservative way of approaching Islam and anti-imperialist feelings. Tho ugh the discourse on the Hijab and dress has been battered with human rights issues, it is not religion to blame, only the extreme use of it in states. Due to modernization, the human rights of women in the Middle East and the

Issue Connection Paper

Brittany Baron Professor Brinker English 1190 30 November 2010 Problems in the U. S. A Today Out of all the things going on in our world today, I find that our human interest naturally draws us automatically toward the unusual or what's not normally excepted, valued, or understood. It's more of how we were taught when we were kids or how we were raised in specific environments that sets us apart from every one, everywhere else. The issues I have connected are: legalizing marijuana, medical heroine, and the widening acceptance of Ritalin.I have looked at each issue individually and also looked at them together in different orders or groups to see what issues led to another more easily or in a more direct fashion. As a whole I feel that mainly they're all connected by trying to help people, either with health problems, addictions, or just to help them feel better. Jenna spoke on the issue of legalizing marijuana, Matt spoke on the subject of medically administering heroine, and Jessica spoke about the widening acceptance of Ritalin.Jenna had the issue of legalizing marijuana and stated that â€Å"847,000 people a year were arrested for marijuana related charges†, which I found to be a lot of people. People who I'm sure are not all criminals and don't act or hold themselves in a criminal manner. At least not in societies general viewed description or image of one. It seems like this is just creating a larger problem than trying to prevent or stop it. Just like Ritalin, marijuana can be used for good or abused in the worst ways, which could lead to sickness or even worse, possibly death(worst case scenario).She also went on by stating that â€Å"Marijuana helps with tumors. â€Å", this I find is a great thing and can be connected to the issue of medical heroine. Both of these so called drugs are viewed as a menace and nuisance to the society. If you look at them in a more helpful and positive way, they can help many people who need it. People all over the country who struggle from a lifestyle full of pain just because of their illness can at least try to relax or live the rest of their lives in ease. Which seems morally and egally acceptable in any one's eyes if they have a heart that feels sympathy. An addict should be looked at just like an alcoholic. An alcoholic has a hard time telling themselves not to drink, in many cases, they cannot stop themselves and ended up drinking or drunk multiple days out of the week. If they don't, they end up going through withdrawals and their bodies themselves are all confused and shaken up. Just like that, heroin addicts need their fix just as bad. Their brain has been overrun by this drug and pre-programmed to make the body crave and need it to function properly.Without such normality, they cannot function, they literally get involuntarily sick and cannot do anything about it but want more. At this point, I'm pretty sure there needs to be some medical action because no humans body should be put through such rigorous drastic changes as these. What Matt brought to my attention on his issue was that other countries have tried medically administering it to addicts twice a day and showed improvement or complete treatment in due time. Except there are some negative to this also: Who would be left to pay for these facilities that the U.S has not built yet? and the 100% dose of heroin that the doctors do administer them, who pays for that? From what and who I know, addicts don't have the money to necessarily do either. Heroine is becoming a larger and larger problem in the U. S. Matt even stated that the DEA statistically proves that 1. 2% of Americans have already tried it at least once. Not to mention, the heroine that's on the streets could be cut with fentanyl or other drugs that can lead to death when mixed. Just the mixture of fentanyl with heroine alone leads to multiple deaths in the Detroit area alone every year.It's sad to think that an addict could be looking for a fix so they weren't sick, and ended up dying because of some fentanyl-cut-drug. With the issue being as large-at-hand as it is, maybe this should be broadcast across the news and have the country vote or decide on what is right to do or not to do. We as Americans should be willing to help out our brother and sister American citizens that are in need, especially since we have no problem sending millions of dollars over seas to help other countries with their problems when they don't involve us at all.Finally, the growing acceptance of Ritalin: is it taking over our country? According to Jessica, Ritalin itself helps control the central nervous system, relieves repulsive behaviors', and aids levels of transmitters. These seem to be good symptoms' and all until she explained that the drug was being given to kids as young as 3-5years old. When she went further on to explain what exactly this drug was for, it came to me as if the symptoms these 3-5 year olds were being diagnosed with, could possibly be just any young kid acting out or being themselves for that matter.Just like any other drug such as Tylenol or Advil, on the back of the bottle they have directions or explanation of age(s) and pills per hour(s) to be consumed or given daily, any prescribed medications should be taken with caution too. I don't care what kind of doctor you are with what level of degree you hold, I would NEVER in my right mind feed my little child(if I had one) Ritalin if the child was under the age of five years old. It seems absurd! Especially when Jessica went on to tell us that, in 1991,10-14year olds were arriving at the Emergency Room because of Ritalin.Furthermore, that it was found to cause weight loss and over 2000 thefts of it were reported in the year 2000 by the DA. You'd figure this prescribed drug would be used as a helpful tool of the medical age we have grown so accustom too, but just a like every other drug, even street drugs, can be used in both positive and negative ways . So if you step back and look at all these drugs in perspective, some may look worse than they actually are, and the ones you expected to be the more accepted because of their prescribed status could be the more dangerous.I am not saying that every case follows the last because it never does, but I think America needs to come to the conclusion that marijuana and heroine might not be as bad as they're made out to be. And some prescribed drugs can be abused and cause death and disaster. Take caution when it come to drugs, don't put yourself in any unnecessary circumstance, and don't take any chances if you don't need to, Because doing it once could have you hooked for life. And we don't want that, now, do we?