What Is Social Stratification, and Why Does It Matter

Social stratification refers to the way people are ranked and ordered in society. In Western countries, this stratification primarily occurs as a result of socioeconomic status in which a hierarchy determines the groups most likely to gain access to financial resources and forms of privilege. Typically, the upper classes have the most access to these resources while the lower classes may get few or none of them, putting them at a distinct disadvantage. Key Takeaways: Social Stratification Sociologists use the term social stratification to refer to social hierarchies. Those higher in social hierarchies have greater access to power and resources.In the United States, social stratification is often based on income and wealth.Sociologists emphasize the importance of taking an intersectional approach to understanding social stratification; that is, an approach that acknowledges the influence of racism, sexism, and heterosexism, among other factors.Access to education—and barriers to education such as systemic racism—are factors that perpetuate inequality.   Wealth Stratification A look at wealth stratification in the U.S. reveals a deeply unequal society in which the top 10% of households control 70% of the nations riches, according to a 2019 study released by the Federal Reserve. In 1989, they represented just 60%, an indication that class divides are growing rather than closing. The Federal Reserve attributes this trend to the richest Americans acquiring more assets; the financial crisis that devastated the housing market also contributed to the wealth gap. Social stratification isnt just based on wealth, however. In some societies, tribal affiliations, age, or caste result in stratification. In groups and organizations, stratification may take the form of a distribution of power and authority down the ranks. Think of the different ways that status is determined in the military, schools, clubs, businesses, and even groupings of friends and peers. Regardless of the form it takes, social stratification can manifest as the ability to make rules, decisions, and establish notions of right and wrong. Additionally, this power can be manifested as the capacity to control the distribution of resources and determine the opportunities, rights, and obligations of others. The Role of Intersectionality Sociologists recognize that a variety of factors, including  social class,  race,  gender, sexuality, nationality, and sometimes religion, influence stratification. As such, they tend to take an intersectional approach to analyzing the phenomenon. This approach recognizes that systems of oppression intersect to shape peoples lives and to sort them into hierarchies. Consequently, sociologists view racism,  sexism, and heterosexism as playing significant and troubling roles in these processes as well. In this vein, sociologists recognize that racism and sexism affect ones accrual of wealth and power in society. The relationship between systems of oppression and social stratification is made clear by U.S. Census data that show a long-term gender wage and wealth gap has plagued women for decades, and though it has narrowed a bit over the years, it still thrives today. An intersectional approach reveals that black and Latina women, who make 61 and 53 cents, respectively, for every dollar earned by a white male, are affected by the gender wage gap more negatively than white women, who earn 77 cents on that dollar, according to a report by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. Education as a Factor Social science studies show that one’s level of education is positively correlated with income and wealth. A survey of young adults in the U.S. found that those with at least a college degree are nearly four times as wealthy as the average young person. They also have 8.3 times as much wealth as those who just completed high school. These findings show that education clearly plays a role in social stratification, but race intersects with academic achievement in the U.S. as well. The Pew Research Center has reported that completion of college is stratified by ethnicity. An estimated 63% of Asian Americans and 41% of whites graduate from college compared to 22% of blacks and 15% of Latinos. This data reveals that systemic racism shapes access to higher education, which, in turn, affects ones income and wealth. According to the Urban Institute, the average Latino family had just 20.9% of the wealth of the average white family in 2016. During the same timeframe, the average black family had a mere 15.2% of the wealth of their white counterparts. Ultimately, wealth, education, and race intersect in ways that create a stratified society.

Marriage Vs. Love Jane Austen s Pride And Prejudice

Jake Hammel Ms. Salrin Love and Romance 17 November 2015 Marriage vs. Love Jane Austen, author of Pride and Prejudice, wrote in an era where considerations of social class and economic status were central to the institution of marriage. This notion is demonstrated throughout the novel by exploring character’s ideas and definitions regarding love and marriage. The main character, Elizabeth, defies almost all stereotypes of early 19th century women in England. She, unlike Charlotte and Jane, believes that marriage is based around true love rather than economic status and financial stability. The first chapter in the novel provides the audience with an overall idea on how men and women view love and marriage when Jane Austen writes, â€Å"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.† Throughout the book, it is evident that women (and some men) limit themselves on who they should marry based on economic and family background. In Pride and Prejudice, some limits on marriage are accepted while other are rejected. A lot of these standards revolve around a man (or woman s) socioeconomic status and family background. For example, Jane Bennet, sister of the main character Elizabeth Bennet, meets Charles Bingley toward the beginning of the book. Charles Bingley, commonly referred to as Mr. Bingley, is significantly wealthier than Jane. In Book 1 (Chapter 7), Mr. Bingley’s wealth is brought to light as AustenShow MoreRelated Essay on Love vs. Society in Pride and Prejudice943 Words   |  4 PagesLove vs. Society in Pride and Prejudice    Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice explores the English social standards during the early 1800s. It shows the emphasis on marriage, or, namely, whom you marry. This story consists of three marriages. The first is socially based, the second is based on mutual admiration between two people, and the third represents one mans love and fight for a woman. This novel shows how marriage and love can arrest or improve social status and how love overcomes adversityRead MorePower of Real Women vs. Power of Elizabeth Bennet1558 Words   |  7 PagesPower of Real Women vs. Power of Elizabeth Bennet Elizabeth Bennet is a remarkable young woman due to her self confidence, which allows her intelligence to shine through, making her less trapped than the other young women in the novel, Pride and Prejudice. 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This tale specifically focuses on one of the eldest daughters, Elizabeth Bennet, as she discovers the true meaning of love from an unexpectedRead MoreCause and Impact Analysis on the Main Character’s Suffering in Elizabeth Gilbert’s Novel Eat, Pray, Love7348 Words   |  30 Pagesfrom love, sacrifice, humanity and sorrow. We were able to appreciate human life and do out our problem concern with psychological, social, and others. The contribution of appreciation novel was the readers have to analyze for gaining the messages. Analyzed of main character would give us insight of human life about pressure conflict that impact of psychological of main character â€Å"Eat Pray Love†. It was very different from other novels I met before. In this novel â€Å"Eat Pray Love†, an

Windows Mobile Based Devices and Security †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Windows Mobile Based Devices and Security. Answer: Introduction: Wireless Network came as a result of development of mobile IP address whose co-purpose was to break the barrier associated with the static IP that was then being used. A robust Adhoc network was require to solve the problem associated with continues reconfiguring of the IP address whenever a network node was in motion. Availability of mobile devices such as the laptops, cellular phones, smartphones and tablets brought about mobility, as such, there was urge to keep those devices connected to the network so as to facilitate easy and efficient communication among the mobile nodes. The rise of mobile Network brought with it wireless network that uses radio waves from the satellite to broadcast network wirelessly to these devices. Since these devices are not physically connected to the network, crimes that was never heard of came into existence. Anyone with malicious intentions could thus listens to the packets of the node and isolate the target node so as to listen to the communicating nodes with an intention to use that information for personal gain (Karygiannis and Owens 2010) . This kind of attack could lead to Identity theft through unauthorized access to someones personal information and later use that information to extort that person. Also it could lead to injection of malicious SQL code into a website with the purpose of gain access into an organizations database which can be fatal. As a result, measures are put in place to ensure that these kind of attacks will never have to occur if one adheres to the set rules and regulation. References Karygiannis, T., Owens, L. (2002). Wireless network security.NIST special publication,800, 48. Access through https://all.net/books/standards/NIST-CSRC/csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-48/NIST_SP_800-48.pdf Dedo, D. (2004). Windows mobile-based devices and security: Protecting sensitive business information.Microsoft Corporation Apr.retrieve from https://download.microsoft.com/documents/australia/security/summit/WhitePapers/Windows_Mobile-based_Devices_and_Security.doc

Train Ride free essay sample

Thursday night on the metro rail. Exhausted like always exiting work, but hey, life goes on. As I step into the south bound train to settle down and enjoy the ride, I see my victims for my assignment. About Ft. Tall, built, a skull tattoo on his right arm, bald, and with a pair of nice Nines, lets call him Tommy, since I didnt catch the name. Tommy was somewhat arguing with what seemed to be his girlfriend. His girlfriends name was Tania, and I promise my pockets would be bulging if I received a dollar for every time he said It.Tania, with her long curly jet black hair, nice body, must have messed up somewhere because Tommy wasnt having It. The look on his face was Like one of a murderer, ready to strike and not care. From my understandings, remember I was a distance so It was hard to catch on to them; Tania went out with a few friends the night before. We will write a custom essay sample on Train Ride or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Tommy was not aware of that since he did not receive a call from her. Of course she claimed she did, but Tommy never received the call. She kept trying to get near him and keep things cool, UT Tommy had no feeling to work with her. He would touch Is arm, attempt to lean on him, a tiny hug, anything to try and make it somewhat better. She knew she did something wrong from picking up on her actions. With all that, eye contact was very minimal from Tommy, more than half the time he was looking outside the window at the Miami nightlife. Every now and then, his arms would go up like he was conducting a plane for landing. I shouldnt say it, but it was quit amusing in a sense that I used to deal with the same situations back in the days.I work a good distance from my house, and they were on it all the way passed my stop. It takes me 30 minutes from work to get to my house, and they were silent for a total of about seven minutes, and thats being nice. Some other people I noticed were looking at them, because they seemed to be in their own world and no one was in it. My stop came, and I evacuated while they were still going at it. The last word I heard, and yes I did write it down, was movies. Im sure little lady Tania went with another little man to he movies, that was not Tommy. I wish I had the conclusion to this fiasco, maybe a little novella love story ending, with white doves flying around in the train. Or maybe Tommy pulling out flowers from out of nowhere, or even a little kiss would have shown that the war was over. It would be nice if they worked things out, because Tommy seemed as if he was having the worst day he could ever deal with. This assignment I found to be useful in the sense that you pick up on others gestures and actions.You do not have to know what Is going to or the whole situation to pick up on whats happening. I enjoyed it. Train Ride By memorandum bulging if I received a dollar for every time he said it. Tania, with her long curly Jet having it. The look on his face was like one of a murderer, ready to strike and not care. From my understandings, remember I was a distance so it was hard to catch on but Tommy had no feeling to work with her. She would touch is arm, attempt to lean actions.

The Office Of President Of The United States Of America Was Never Supp

The office of President of the United States of America was never supposed to be an easy position to ascertain. The Founding Fathers went to great lengths when they met in Philadelphia to establish a system that would ensure no man would have the ability to be elected who was not in the best interests of the United States. The electoral college system - a check on the impulsive voters of the newly formed nation - the age requirement, the citizenship clause and, a final check, the impeachment provisions, all guarantee that the best possible person will hold the office. In modern times, the demands on any presidential candidate have changed greatly. In the early years, if a candidate wanted a chance at serving as the constitutional President, he, yes he, would have had to either been involved in the revolution or in the writing of the Constitution itself. In the year 2000, a presidential candidate will have a totally different set of difficulties to face. Fund raising and sound-bytes, primaries and public appearances, conventions and the campaign trail have become the giant steps on the road to the White House. The great paradox, however, is that the skills and talents needed to be elected are very different from the expertise needed to govern the richest and most powerful nation in the world. What will be required of a presidential candidate in the year 2000 if he or she wants to be elected ? First, he or she will need to be at least thirty-five years of age. Though there is no age maximum for a President, older candidates tend to have less appeal with the American people and more emphasis is placed on their Vice Presidential candidate with the assumption that the candidate, if elected, would die in office. Second, he or she must be a natural born American citizen. Third, a candidate will need to receive 270 electoral votes to be elected. The three criteria above are the official, Constitutional requirements for a person to be elected to the Presidency. The modern day, unofficial requirements are much more difficult for a candidate to meet. According to Cronin and Genovese , a candidate has ten additional challenges to face, not including an opponent from the opposite or multiple other parties. The ability to raise money, some form of name recognition, having a favorable relationship with the press, travelling to major states, speaking engagements are all key to securing a national election. Fundraising has become the single most important element in the election process. Campaign fundraising for an upcoming election begins as soon as a current election has ended and, on the presidential scale, is a four-year project. Contributions from corporations, private citizens, special interest groups, lobbyists and from China are all used by a political party to fund a presidential campaign. From a purely economic standpoint, it seems ridiculous to spend $61.8 million in government funds alone to be elected to an office that, at its absolute most, will pay only $1.6 million. However, the power and influence an Administration will have is seen as more than worth the expense. A first term President still needs to be adept at raising funds, especially if he sees himself running for and winning a second term. Second term Presidents often use their office to continue to raise funds for their party's congressional elections. The need to raise money, however, is not a skill needed in go verning our nation. Public speaking is a skill that is necessary for a year 2000 candidate and has also become a requirement for a President. In our age of media, every word a candidate or President utters is recorded somewhere and broadcast in to millions of homes around the world. Ronald Reagan, dubbed the great communicator, was one of the best public speakers the Presidency has ever seen. In the campaign of 1980, Reagan gave impassioned speeches around the nation proclaiming that ?government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem?. He used his communications skills to speak to every American and to appeal to the sense of optimism that all Americans have. Even the great orators of Presidential past, like Lincoln or the

Special K Case Essays

Special K Case Essays Special K Case Paper Special K Case Paper Kellogg is a U. S. company, which offers the Special k cereal and accompanying products (cereals in different flavors as well as granola bars and protein shakes) that are healthier options for people who are aware of their diet and want a better lifestyle. Kellogg expands the market by targeting women who skip breakfast to stay slim. The marketing strategy helps to position the brand as a healthy alternative. The commercials we chose offer a weight management plan designed to lose weight in 2 weeks by consuming Special K products. The commercials chosen are both from the same campaign and the same year- 2009. In this report we have taken into consideration different international advertising factors to show Kellogg’s international advertising strategy. In this report we used several factors of international ad models to determine that Kellogg uses a hybrid international marketing strategy. Hybrid Advertising Strategy see table 1 Based on the environmental analysis below, we concluded that Kellogg’s uses a hybrid strategy known as pattern advertising (1). We considered these environmental factors: Political and legal: Kellogg uses a global approach because both countries have similar advertising regulations; therefore, there is no need for diversification. Economic: Kellogg’s uses a global approach because both ads target the same market consisting of middle and upper class working women who have a similar income, age, and knowledge of healthy lifestyle. Sociocultural: Kellogg’s uses a local approach because in the American advertisement the idea of time and logic is very important. In contrast, in the Mexican advertisement Kellogg appeals to emotions and the idea of personal satisfaction. Technological: Kellogg’s uses a global approach because they are aware that their target markets, who are middle to upper class working women, have the technology (television, internet) to see the commercials. Creative Execution see table 1 Creative execution, or the manner in which ads are carried out and presented, is different for U. S. and Mexican ads. The impact of the message depends not only on what is said but also on how it is said in these ads (2). Messages are presented in a mix of different execution styles: Straight sell: is presented in both ads. Here, the straight sell relies on the specific benefits/attributes of the product-the target audience can lose 3 kilos in 2 weeks (Mexico)/6 lbs in 2 weeks (U. S. ) with the help of Special K products. Both ads show that by buying Special K products, the target audience will enjoy the reward of weight loss. Rational vs. emotional argument: the rational argument, or the supporting claim, is presented in the U. S. ad by stating that loosing weight will lead to the â€Å"healthier new you. This is because in the U. S. the rational argument appeals to the monochromatic culture with low power distance like U. S. On the other hand, the emotional appeal is demonstrated in the Mexican ad when it shows the woman feeling great about herself. The emotional appeals to collectivistic cultures with high power distance like Mexico. Demonstration: the actual use is seen only in the Mexican ad bec ause Mexico is a collectivistic culture heavily relying on the opinion of family, friends, etc. so therefore the target audience is able to connect with the woman eating and enjoying the Special K cereals. High-context cultures, like Mexico, are relational, collectivist, intuitive, and contemplative. Therefore, women in Mexico need to relate to the everyday situation when using Special K products. Americans rely on reason and individualism and therefore they don’t have the need to connect with the woman in the ad. Slice of life: both ads portray a real-life situation involving a problem-not being able to fit into jeans- and then both ads focus on how to resolve the problem by eating Special K, losing weight, and finally fitting into those jeans again. The slice of life is effective for everyday products such as cereals that consumers feel good about if they see real people buy and use them. Dramatization: it is used in the Mexican ad where there is a scenario in the form of a story- bad shopping experience and not being able to fit in your regular size-and the problem solution-eating special K products and losing weight. The reason for dramatization is that Mexico uses emotional/dramatic appeal in the advertising. On the other hand, U. S. commercials rely on the rational/lecture appeal. Also, Mexico is a high context culture meaning that they use more dramatizations in commercials while they do not have to use many words to explain the situation. In contrast, U. S. is a low context culture, so ads are based on words and explanations. Personality symbol: there is a central character (woman) that the audience can identify with in both ads. Special K is positioned as a cereal for adults, targeted to women and their ongoing concern with losing weight that is heavily influenced by popular culture in both Mexico and U. S. Humor: humor is used in Mexican ad when the woman tries to fit into jeans in the dressing room while her husband waits, and then she dances around when she is finally able to fit her jeans. The commercial is targeted to women, who can relate to main character because they think about the times when they tried to fit into jeans in the dressing room, and therefore they get the joke. As stated previously, the Mexican ad is appealing to women’s emotio ns and this is accomplished with the help of humor. Lifestyle: how well a product fits in consumer’s lifestyle is presented in both ads. Both ads show how easy it is to integrate Special K products into their lifestyle and lose weight. Special K ads are targeted towards working, middle class women, who do not have time to prepare difficult healthy meals, and therefore they can grab Special K cereal in the morning and pack healthy snacks for the whole day without any special, lengthy preparation. Advertising appeal see table 1 Both advertisements have an emotional appeal to their consumers, but the appeals are presented in different manners (1). Both advertisements present the issue of weight loss and women struggling to fit into their clothes. The American advertisement shows a woman trying on her jeans next to a dryer giving the impression that because she put her jeans in the dryer and they shrunk and won’t fit. Then it presents a clock, which indicates that it’s time to lose weight. Americans are very concerned with time, and the idea of losing 6 pounds or a jean size in 2 weeks can be very appealing to the American woman. In the Mexican advertisement, the advertisement involves the sense of personal satisfaction. A woman can be seen in a dressing room trying on many different garments that don’t fit her correctly while outside the dressing room a man is waiting impatiently for her. The commercial explains that no matter what, women will always have a reason to take their time. The advertisement encourages them to accept the challenge and gives them a chance to be able to win a full day of shopping. The commercial also says they can debut a new figure in new clothes. The Mexican advertisement not only has to appeal to the fact that women will lose 3 kilos in 2 weeks, but they can also win new clothes. Message see table 1 The American Special K advertisement claims that you will lose 6 pounds in 2 weeks if you take the Special K Challenge. The Special K Challenge requires you to eat their cereal and other snacks and follow the diet plan they give you. If you do this, you will lose weight. They claim that if you lose this weight, your clothes will fit you better and you will be much healthier. The Mexican Special K advertisement claims that if you use the Special K Program, you will lose 3 kilos in 2 weeks. If you use this program to lose weight, you will look better in your clothes. Also, if you buy Special K products, you will have a chance to win a new wardrobe that will flatter your new figure. Copy/ copywriters see table 1 Both ads use copywriters to communicate what the product is intended for and what it is supposed to do. In the American advertisements, they advertise the Special K challenge while in the Mexican ad they advertise the Special K program (programa de special K). Both ads in different words refer to the same thing, but are not copied from English to Spanish. Also, the slogan of the Mexican add is †because you can† (porque tu puedes) while the one in America is â€Å"It’s never too late to start a healthier new you† they both appeal to a slimmer healthier life, but again are interpreted and not presented with the exact translation. Neither of the ads present slang terms, but the American ad does present the term â€Å"wake up call† which for American means the time to change something, but in the Mexican society such idiom does not mean anything. Target market appeal see table 1 Number of people in ad: The Mexican ad reflects the collectivist culture by having many people in it. It is very busy, with many people in line and husbands waiting for their wives. The American ad, on the other hand, shows only one person, therefore appealing to the individualistic aspect of American culture. Masculine values: Both countries have a masculine culture, but the difference is that the Mexican ad reflects on the compet itive aspect, and the American ad reflects on the individual achievement aspect. Risk: Mexico is much more risk averse than the United States, so the Mexican ad backs the product with a promise of winning a shopping spree. The American ad just states that you can lose weight, therefore making you take the risk of purchasing the product for a vague reason. US product: Mexico has an overall positive attitude towards the United States, and therefore like American products. Therefore, The Special K brand is portrayed very similar in both advertisements. Availability of time: The product is a convenient and quick meal, so it appeals to people that are in a hurry. The product is portrayed in a similar manner in both advertisements. Independence of media from government control: Both countries have limited government control of broadcast television, so the company is able to freely express themselves in the ads, taking into account cultural factors. Relative importance of visual versus verbal in a message: Both cultures rely on visuals to portray a message and appeal to people. The ads both use imagery (i. e. more red in the Mexican commercial, minimalism in American) to appeal to the target market. The American ad, however, relies on verbal delivery to get the message to the viewers. Importance of self-service retailing: In both cultures self service retailing plays an important role for the deliverance of products to the population. Both ads expect the customer to purchase the product at their local grocery store. Development and acceptance of international trademark or trade name: Red, which is used for the theme color of Special K, is important in Mexican culture. The Mexican commercial underlines the red color, using it more than the American ad. Also, Special K does not mean anything bad in Mexico, so the name is acceptable. Applicability of products’ theme or slogan to other markets: Both slogans are different, but they imply the same thing. Both slogans are geared to appeal to the culture. Global media decisions see table 1 Both ads are television ads that implement sight, sound, motion, and color. Television advertising is intrusive in nature meaning that the viewer doesnt have to be actively involved to receive message. Special K is targeted towards middle-class working women and therefore both Mexican and U. S. ds run on television in the morning when women usually turn on the TV while preparing breakfast and in the evening while preparing dinner. The reason for this is the intrusive nature of TV advertising. Special K commercials also run on TV during the TV programs targeted to women. Advertising Objectives see table 1 Both Mexican and U. S. ads are hybrid of persuasive an informative advertising. The persuasiv e advertising motivates users to take action in the form a lifestyle change with the help of Special K products. There is an ongoing issue of weight loss presented in both ads and solution to lose weight. An informative advertisement communicates to create and build brand awareness by positioning Special K products as a cereal for adults that fits into working woman’s lifestyle. It informs the audience about the benefits (weight loss, healthier lifestyle) of the product. Big Idea see table 1 If your clothes are feeling tight, then you should eat Special K to be able to fit into them again. The big idea of both of these advertisements is that this product is a tasty, easy way to lose weight. This definitely appeals to many people who want to lose weight but do not have a lot of time. Also, they have many different Special K products so that the people who are trying to lose weight will have a lot of variety in the food they eat. In the Mexican ad you also have a chance to win a new wardrobe that will fit your new figure. Push/pull strategy see table 1 Both the American and Mexican advertisements use a pull strategy. Kellogg assumes that the target market has knowledge of the product. The ad’s wording them to try Special K and see for themselves that the product will help to lose weight, thus creating demand for the product. The customer will subsequently go to their retailer in search of the product. The ads encourage women to take the â€Å"special k challenge† and lose 6 pounds in 2 weeks. The Mexican ad also offers a free shopping spree for women that can fit into a specific red dress after the challenge. These challenges and offers make women look for the product at their local store. Table 1 Factor/ CountryUnited StatesMexico Hybrid advertising strategyPoliticalGlobal TechnologyGlobal EconomicalGlobal Socio-culturalLocal Creative executionStraight sellyesyes Rational/ motional argumentRationalEmotional demonstrationnoyes Slice of lifeyesyes dramatizationnoyes Personality symbolyesyes Humornoyes lifestyleyesyes Advertising appealyesyes MessagePromisesLosing 6 pounds in 2 weeks. Losing 3 kilos in 2 weeks. Benefit/ claimClothes will fit better and consumer will be healthier. Clothes will fit better and consumer will have a chance to win new clothes. Copy/copywriteCopywriteCopywrite Target marke t appeal# of people in ad 1 character-IndividualismMultiple characters-Collectivism Masculine valuesMasculine-individual achievementMasculine-competitive RiskMore risky-no promise behind Less risky-win shopping spree U. S. productAmerican is goodAmerican is good Availability of TimeLimited-convenientLimited-convenient Independence of media from government controlYes-choiceYes-choice Visual v. Verbal in messageVerbal-minimalisticVisual-dramatization Importance of self-service retailingPeople know where to buyPeople know where to buy Development and acceptance of international trademark Kellogg known Kellogg known Applicability of product’s theme or sloganVisible in adVisible in ad Global media decision Television advertisement-short commercialTelevision advertisement-short commercial Advertising objectivesHybrid of persuasive and informativeHybrid of persuasive and informative Big ideaFlavorful and convenient way of losing weight. Flavorful and convenient way of losing weight. Pull strategyKnown to target marketKnown to target market 1. Keegan, Warren J. , and Mark C. Green. Global Marketing. 6th. New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc. , 2011. Print. 2. Lakdawala, Ali. Advertising Messages. Scribd. Scribd Inc. , 2011. Web. 29 Nov 2011. .

FIN 352 (1) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

FIN 352 (1) - Essay Example One of the major OBS activities is the issuance of guarantees. This may be called by a bank to take place at a future time, and the dedication to lend at a forthcoming time if the borrower wishes. This may prompt the result of a contingent risk which may be out of the control of the financial institution. A duration of a zero-coupon bond is a bond that does not pay any interest in its maturity life. That is; its maturity is equivalent to maturity because hundred percent of its present value is made by the payment of the nominal value at maturity (Lee & Alice 316). The relationship that exists between duration and maturity in bonds is that the longer a bond takes to mature, the greater is its duration or volatility. Duration changes each time a bond makes a coupon installment. After some time, it abbreviates as the bond nears maturity. Elsewhere, the relationship between duration and yield is that the higher a bond yields as it nears maturity, the lesser is its duration. This is because the present value of the inaccessible cash flows gets to be dominated by the value of the closer installments. Also, the relationship between duration and interest rates is that the higher a coupon bond is, the more interest it generates and vice versa. The financial significance of duration is the mea sure of a bond’s correspondence to the interest changes in the economy. Value at risk is method used to quantify and measure the level of financial related vulnerability inside an association over a determined duration. Its approach to the market risk is based on measuring three variables that are the level of potential risk, the probability amount of the specified level of risk and the time frame. Value at risk is closely related with the normal distribution. It measures portfolio risk along the normal distribution curve. The curve was developed by Carl Friedrich Gauss hence the name

The legal nature of cards payment and the risk of insolvency Essay

The legal nature of cards payment and the risk of insolvency - Essay Example There exists a cutthroat competition that prevails in the credit card market in UK as there is a high level of card literacy among British consumers and this has resulted in the expansion of the market, with the number of cards and card transactions are showing a double-growth in recent periods in spite of global economic recession. Further, spending through credit cards in UK witnessed a dramatic increase and rose to ? 41 billion in 1995 from just ?10 billion in 1985 and then up to ? 101 billion in 2002.1 This research essay will analyse in detail about credit cards, debit cards, cheque cards, charge cards, etc. and the legal nature of the above cards and how they differ from each other and precaution to be undertaken by consumers while dealing with each type of cards in an exhaustive manner. Credit Cards Credit cards are issued based on the bank’s customer’s credit history, his total wealth and his income level. The credit limit starts from a few hundred pounds to man y thousands pounds. The client employs these cards to buy products and enjoy services or to get cash from the card service provider. The customer is expected to pay off his debt within the payment period and in case of any default, interest will accrue. Credit cards have some limitations as it could not be used for very large or very small payments. For small payments, credit cards cannot be used as it would not justify the cost of usage for the same. The credit cards will always have a security limit and due to security issues, these credit cards have a limit and cannot be used for large business transactions2. Secured Credit Cards Under collateralised or secured credit cards, the quantum of credit is decided by the quantum of liquid collateral one able to give and despite of one’s past bad credit history, credit cards are issued to applicants. Thus, secured credit cards are issued to those with bad credit history, people with no credit history or individuals who do not qual ify for traditional credit cards. To be eligible for this, a customer has to make a deposit usually for a ?500 or more for one year or 18 months by way of certificate of deposit with the issuing banker which holds it as a security. Then, the customer has the credit limit to the value of the deposit and if the customer makes a default, then, the bank may use the deposit to adjust against the outstanding. Despite the fact, these cards still attract annual fees and interest charges that are equivalent or greater than those of regular credit cards3. Cheque Cards Cheque cards are identical in general appearance and in size to that of credit cards and contain analogues similar details. All major British banks and Irish banks are issuing these types of cards. Under this category, the bank issues a card that bears the name of the bank, its address, the customer’s specimen signature and his name, a special cheque card account number and the credit limit applicable. The cheque card iss uing bank ensures to honour the cheques drawn by its customer in favour of third parties, provided the limit mentioned in the cheque card does not exceed the amount on each cheque. Before issuing the cheque cards, the banks should have to establish the creditworthiness of their customers4. It is being undertaken by the cheque card issuing bank that any cheque not exceeding a certain amount fixed by the bank will be honoured subject

Challenge 1 Report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Challenge 1 Report - Assignment Example This can be instrumental in marketing the business and creating awareness to its potential and existing clients. However, for success to be attained, the management should objectively scan the environment to identify any opportunities to be exploited as well as the threats that might make it challenging for it to accomplish its short and long term goals. Amongst the external factors that need to be considered are social and demographic environment; economic environment; technological environment; competitive environment; and legal environment (Gomez-Mejia 2008). Social demographic environment entails the economic, social and cultural features of the population. In this case, population is the market being served. So, when setting up a dentist facility, the investor needs to consider the clients’ age, gender, marital status, culture, level of income and level of education. All these can greatly influence the purchasing power of the clients. For instance, clients with a higher level of income have higher purchasing power because they have enough resources to spend. Culture and religious beliefs can also influence the clients’ demand for the dental services to be offered by the facility. Economic factors can also influence the success of the business. If factors like inflation, interest rates and employment are taken into account, the facility can be put in the right path for success. The higher the interest rates and inflation in the country, the more expensive it can be to operate the business (Gomez-Mejia 2008). This is because they help in increasing the costs of operations. Therefore, for success to be realized, inflation and interest rates should be lower. Otherwise, the buyers would be constrained. Meanwhile, technological environment also needs to be considered while marketing this business. For the dentist to enjoy a competitive advantage, he needs to make a good use of modern high technologies.

Tourism in Bulgaria

Tourism in Bulgaria Introduction Bulgaria is one of the most visited countries in Europe. Situated in Southern Europe and occupying northeastern part of the Balkan Peninsula, Bulgaria has many attractions that keep more than 5 million tourists visiting the country annually. Tourism has been one of the most important sectors of its economy for a long time since it started a revolution about 10-15 years ago. In 2006, more than 6 million tourists visited the country. This number reached about 8 million in 2007 and is expected to rise further in 2008. The country has both old tourist cites and also new sites which draws that attention of many people all over the world. These sites are reinforced with an effective transport system of railways, automobile, air and water. (Bell 1998, p. 45) Attraction sites in the country Tourism activities in the country ranges from skiing, hunting, mountaineering, mountain bike riding, caving, bird watching, hiking and walking, and horse riding. These forms the land activities that can be undertaken in the tourism sector in the country. Water activities are diverse ranging from swimming and surfing, rafting, canoying, kaying, and diving. There are also various attraction sites including resorts, national parks, mineral water springs, water parks, Adventure Park and zoo, museums and other archeological sites. Air activities include paragliding in sunny and dry climates. There are a number of attraction sites in Bulgaria ranging from natural sites to man made sites. There are several sites in Bulgaria that are found in UNESCO list of landmarks. It is a world of world natural and cultural heritage. These forms the general attraction sites like Kazanluk Tomb which is dated 4th and 3rd century B.C. This tomb is located in the Tyulbeto hills near the town of Kazanluk. Ivanovo Rock Churches is a monastery compound believed to of Archagel Michael which contains preserved churches. This is believed to be one of the most significant 14th century Bulgarian arts. The Madar Horseman is a rock reef cutting into the northern slope of Provadiisko Plateau. The Rila Monastery forms an impressive 13th to 14th century architectural work and a spiritual centre for Bulgarian people. Nessebur, forms the old part of the town with architectural, historical and archeological significance situated at the Black Sea coast. Pirin National Park which is a part of the Pirisn Moun tain contains plant and animal species. In the UNESCO list there is also Sreburna reserve and Sveshtari tomb. Also there are several tourist centers in Bulgaria like Borovetz, Bansko, Pamporove, Vitosha and others which are picturesque also popular ski resorts. It also has famous summer resorts like Sozopol, Nessebur, Sunny Beach, Albena, and others. Winter resorts include Bansko, Chepelare, borovetz, Vitosha, and others. Rural tourism attractions include Arbanasi, Madzhorobo, Kumani, and others. It has also developed city tourism in sites like Sofia, Varna, Kardzhali, and others. There is hiking and paragliding in Balkan Mountains. Cultural tourism is greatly developed in Bulgaria. It has been the home of many civilizations including Thracians, Slavs, Romans, Byzantines, and ottomans. People are attracted to Bulgarian to see the architectural and other remains of these civilizations. There are quality hotels found in major tourist sites in the country. In Sofia there are hotels like Castle Hrankov, Gloria Palace Diplomatic Club, and others. Most of the tourist hotels are found in Sofia. Plovdiv has hotels like Rodopi, Ambassador, Atlantic, and other. In Varna there are quality hotels like City Plane, Elegance, Lukos, and others. Burgas has least number of hotel including Kosmos, Mirage, White Rose, and others. Like in other tourist site in the world, these hotels fall into categories with most of them being 3 star and 5 star hotels. In total there are about 190 000 beds in the Bulgarian hotel sector. Accommodation facilities have grown rapidly in the sector since the government started privatizing the hotel facilities. This has seen a 12% growth in the accommodation sector in the industry. Tourism in Bulgaria is supported by availability of other facilities which support tourism activities. There are multipurpose halls, conference halls, offices and exhibition areas in major hotels in the country. These facilities are reinforced by technical facilities including simultaneous translation and sound systems, other audio visual facilities including film projectors and video equipments. This ensures that all hotel activities are served with quality services. Bulgaria has a lot of potential to develop tourism. It has sites that attract people and with little development in some weak areas, the sector can flourish to be an important foreign earner. However there has been criticism that tourism in Bulgaria is underdeveloped. It faces weaknesses which continue to undermine the industry. Seaside tourism heavily relies on short season which make it face stiff competition from other countries offering similar services. The industry is also faced by inadequacy of hotels in the ski resorts and the resorts are also underdeveloped. Support services in the transport are also inadequate and are undermined by low airline services and poor road condition which makes it difficult to access most tourist sites in the country. (Grunt 2001, p. 65) Tourism business strategies The state and the private in Bulgaria has done remarkable job in trying to come up with the above marketing requirements. The State Agency for Tourism has made a lot of strategies aimed at marketing Bulgaria as a tourist destination in the world. This has resulted to increased number of tourist visiting the country in the recent past. The government has taken stem in recognizing some of the most potential marketing including other EU countries. With the country expected to join the EU on January 2007, the tourism agency has taken steps towards marketing the country all over the world. This is expected to increase business tourism into the country and the government has undertaken necessary measures to upgrade business support services. (Kaytcheve and Purchell 2006, p. 21) On of the most important made by the government in promotion of tourism in the country is through privatization of most hotels in the country. Most of the hotels in Bulgaria were state owned which led to poor management and consequently most of the facilities became worn out. From 2001, the government embarked on a plan to privatize most of the facilities. The government also embarked on renovation of most of the tourist attraction sites and facilities. The government has also responded well by holding foreign trade fairs through which it has been able to market its tourism sector. The private sector has also responded very well. With the privatization of most tourist facilities in the country and the consequent renovation and upgrading of the facilities, major international tourist operators has responded very well into acquisition of these tourist facilities. Over the last ten years, accommodation facilities has grown by more than 75% in the country while it has actually doubled in the Black Sea regions due to the concerted input from the government and the private sector. The marketing strategies in the country have been targeting regions. One category includes markets of the geographical region within the EU. Germany had been a leading market for tourism in Bulgaria but other countries like United Kingdom, Russia, Scandinavia, Greece, ad others have emerged as potential markets as well for the industry. It has held exhibition in these markets which has enabled exchange of information about tourist sites in the country. The other categories include emerging markets where the government should continue to lay more emphases on. These markets are a special market category in which the government has continued to hold special trade fairs and exhibitions. The government has done a lot of promotions for the domestic market which has continued to make contribution to the tourism industry. (Petreas 2007, p.67) Economic impact Tourism industry remains one of the most untapped business sectors in Bulgaria. Although it has a lot of business potentials in the tourisms sector, little has been done in order to improve this sector. This is because there have been infrastructure issues that have been the main block in the development of tourism in the country. However the sector has grown in years and has performed relatively well in the past 10 years. The sector has recorded growth with the increasing attention that is being paid to the development of the tourism sector. In 2007, the industry recorded a 10 percent more booking than it has received in the previous year. This represents a higher growth which is also reflected in earnings from the sector. For the same period the number of tourist increased by more than 5 percent growth margin. This has an effect on financing the income of the population. In 2007, revenues from tourist sector rose by more than 16 percent. There has also been a growing trend in the rise of domestic tourism. A big number of Bulgarians has recognized the importance of domestic tourism and for the period ending 2007, there was 15 percent increase in the number of domestic tourist the country. With the country expected to join the EU, the number of tourists coming in and out of Bulgaria to the EU region increased by more the 11 percent for the same period. Therefore in terms of important of the sector, Bulgaria has recognized the importance that the sector can play in the growth of the economy. In particular, special emphasis on diversification of tourist sites and other attractions has been very crucial in ensuring that the sectors grow evenly and makes a contribution to the overall GDP of the country. But there is need for the government to take more bold steps toward improving the marketing strategies in order to ensure that the sector makes more contribution to the growth of the economy in the country. Social-environmental impact of tourism in Bulagaria Apart from coming with positive economic impact, tourism has had positive and negative impacts on the tourism business in the country. This has been through the increased number of visitors in the country and the increased interaction between the people of Bulgaria and the outsiders which has brought about cultural interaction. On the environment impact, there have been environmental issues that have come along with booming tourism business in the country. In a recent study, it was revealed that a total number of 268 000 tourists and 52 150 vehicles visited Rila National Park alone between January and June 2007. This shows that there has been increased number of tourists visiting other parks in the country. Keeping this visitors and ensuing that there is positive environmental impact is quite difficult. There have been environmental challenges that have been encountered in ensuring that the flood of people and cars is kept to the check. (Bulgarian Country Commercial Guide FY2001, 2008) Environment impacts have been on the increased emissions from the cars that have been used and difficulties that have been enounced in managing the waste from the residential areas where the tourist are housed. The nature has not been spared either as more and more negative impact on the natural environment are being reported in the effort to create more tourist attraction to the country. On the issue of social concerns, it has been shown that the wave of globalization has not left Bulgaria out and tourists have immersingly contributed. There has been mix up of outside cultures with that of Bulgaria. This has led to efforts which are aimed at streamlining the industry such that the culture of the country is protected. At the same time there have been efforts that are aimed at integrating the culture of Bulgaria with that of the outside world. There have been efforts which are all aimed at ensuring that the culture of Bulagaria and that of the outside world is integrate in aspects of foods, music, and other attraction which are aimed at increasing the level of attraction to the country. However it has had negative impact of eroding the culture of most Bulagrina community. The once rich culture has been contaminated with external practices which is reducing the value of cultural tourism in the country. The focus in the recent times has been development of cultural tourism in the country. The level of cultural tourism in the country has been very low and the hence the effort are supposed to market the rich cultural mix of country in order to make it a tourism activity. This will help in neutralizing the negative effects that it has had on the cultural of Bulgaria. There have been other challenges on social issues that have come due to tourism business. Key among this issue has been the ever disturbing problem of underage sex tourism. It has been found the rate of underage sex tourism has been on the increase and it is raising concerns from all quarters. The issues have been the way in which these children are misuse for tourism purpose by some tourism activity which has been seen as bleach on the social right of these children. There have been other issues parting social life of the people that has been interrupted by tourism activity. (European Union, 2006) Recommendation Tourism in Bulgaria has been instrumental in contributing to the economy of the country. It has also done a lot to market the country to the outside world. This is because more and more people are becoming attracted to the country. Therefore there are measures that should be taken in order to market the country more to the outside world. Since the country has joined the EU, there is more chance of developing the sector more since it will be supported by EU funds. However there must be systematic effort to improve the attraction sites in order to diversify the number of sites in the country. This will raise the number of visitors and increase the level of tourist activities. Diversifying the number of attraction sites in the country should also take into account the need to give the people more chances to be involved in tourism activist. This is the main focus of recent development in cultural tourism. Tourism support facilities should also be supported by improving their condition. T his will also help in diversifying attraction to the country. In conclusion we can say that tourism business in Bulgarai is one of the lucrative investment opportunities for any investor willing to invest in the country. Reference: Annstova, L. Purchell, K 1997, Human Resource management in Bulgaria tourism, Journal of International Hospitality Management, Vol. 3(3): 34-67 Bell, J. D 1998, Bulgaria in Transition, Wiley, New York Bulgarian Country Commercial Guide FY2001, Tourism Infrastructure Summary, Retrieved from, http://www.factbook.net/countryreports/bu/Bu_Tourism.htm, on 30th January 2008 Discussion about the Bulgarian Tourism before 2005, Retrieved from, http://209.85.129.104/search?/htm, on 30th January 2008 European Union 2006, Technical Assistant to the Bulgarian State Tourism Agency- Bulgarian State Tourism Agency â€Å"Strategy for the Development of Bulgarian Tourism for the Period 2006-2009† Final Report, Vol. 1, Issue 3 Grunt, M.D 2001, Business marketing management: a strategic view of industrial and organizational markets, London, Dryden Press Kaytcheva, E. Purcell, K 2006, Tourism Management in Bulgaria: The challenge of change, Oxford University, Britain. Petreas, C 2007, â€Å"Competitiveness of Bulgarian Tourism, in the EU† EU expert for Tourism

The Return: Shadow Souls Chapter 9

Even as Elena opened her mouth to speak, she could feel herself lifted as if in a hurricane. For a moment she clung to the boy who was being torn from her grasp, then she just had time to shout, â€Å"I'll be back,† and to hear his reply, before she was pulled into the ordinary world of baths and manipulation and motel rooms. â€Å"I'll keep our secret!† That was what the little boy had cried to her at the last moment. And what could that mean but that he would keep their rendezvous from the real (or â€Å"ordinairy†) Damon? A moment later Elena was standing in a dingy motel room, and Damon was clutching her upper arms. As he released her, Elena could taste salt. Tears were flowing freely down her cheeks. It didn't seem to make any difference to her attacker. Damon seemed to be at the mercy of raw desperation. He was shaking like a little boy the first time he kissed his first love. That's what's driving the control away, Elena thought fuzzily. As for herself, she felt as if she might faint. No! She had to stay conscious. Elena pushed and twisted, hurting herself deliberately against the apparently unbreakable grip that held her. It held. The possessor? Shinichi again, sneaking into Damon's mind and making him do things – ? Elena fought harder, pushed herself until she actually could have screamed with pain. She whimpered once – The hold broke. Somehow Elena knew that Shinichi wasn't involved in this. The true soul of Damon was a little boy held in chains for God-knew-how-many centuries, who had never known warmth and closeness but who still had a tearful appreciation for them. The child who was chained to the rock surrounding was one of Damon's deepest secrets. And now Elena was trembling so hard she wasn't sure she could stand up, and she was wondering about the child. Was he cold? Was he crying like Elena? How could she tell? She and Damon were left staring at each other, both breathing hard. Damon's sleek hair was mussed, making him look rakish as a buccaneer. His face, always so pale and self-composed, was flushed with blood. His eyes dropped to watch Elena automatically massaging her wrists. She could feel pins and needles now: she was getting back some circulation. Once he'd looked away, he couldn't seem to look her in the eye again. Eye contact. All right. Elena recognized a weapon, groping for a chair and finding the bed unexpectedly close behind her. She didn't have many weapons right now; and she needed to use all of them. She sat, giving in to the weakness in her body, but she kept her eyes on Damon's face. His mouth was swollen. And that was†¦unfair. Damon's pout was a part of his most basic artillery. He had always had the most beautiful mouth she'd ever seen on anyone, man or woman. The mouth, the hair, the half-drooping lids, the heavy lashes, the delicacy of his jawline†¦unfair, even to someone like Elena, who'd long ago gotten past interest in a person because of some accident of beauty. But she'd never seen that mouth swollen, the perfect hair disordered, the eyelashes trembling because he was looking everywhere except at her and trying not to show it. â€Å"Was that†¦ what you've been thinking about while you've been refusing to talk to me?† she asked, and her voice was almost steady. Damon's sudden stillness was perfection like all his other perfections. No breathing, of course. He stared at a spot in the beige carpet that by rights ought to have broken into flames. Then, finally, he lifted those huge dark eyes to hers. It was so hard to tell anything about Damon's eyes because the iris was almost the same color as the pupil, but Elena had a feeling that at this moment they were dilated so far as to be all pupil. How could eyes as dark as midnight trap and hold light? She seemed to see in them a universe of stars. Damon said, softly, â€Å"Run.† Elena felt her legs tense. â€Å"Shinichi?† â€Å"No. You should run now.† Elena felt her thigh muscles relax slightly and was grateful not to have to try to prove that she could run – or even crawl – at this exact instant. But her fists clenched. â€Å"You mean this is just you being a bastard?† she said. â€Å"Have you decided to hate me again? Did you enjoy – ?† Damon whirled again, stillness into motion faster than her eyes could track it. He hit the frame of the window, once, pulling the punch almost completely at the last instant. There was a crash and then a thousand little echoes as the glass showered like diamonds against the darkness outside. â€Å"That might†¦bring some people to help you.† Damon wasn't trying to make the words seem more than an afterthought. Now that he was turned away from her, he didn't seem to care about keeping up appearances. Fine tremors ran through his body. â€Å"This late, in this storm, this far away from the office – I doubt it.† Elena's body was catching up with the adrenaline spurt that had allowed her to fight her way out of Damon's grip. She was tingling all over and she had to work to keep it from turning into outright shaking. And they were back to square one, with Damon staring into the night and her staring at his back. Or, at least, that was where he wanted them to be. â€Å"You could have just asked,† she said. She didn't know if this was possible for a vampire to understand. She still hadn't taught Stefan. He went without things that he wanted because he didn't understand about asking. In all innocence and with all good intentions, Stefan left things until she, Elena, was forced to ask him. Damon, she thought, didn't usually have that problem. He took whatever he wanted as casually as if picking items off of a grocery store shelf. And right now he was laughing silently, which meant that he was truly stricken. â€Å"I'll take that as an apology,† Elena said softly. Now Damon was laughing out loud, and Elena felt a chill. Here she was, trying to help him, and – â€Å"Do you think,† he broke into her thoughts, â€Å"that that was all I wanted?† Elena felt herself freeze again as she mulled this over. Damon could easily have taken her blood while he held her immobile. But – of course – that wasn't all he wanted from her. Her aura†¦she knew what it did to vampires. Damon had been protecting her all along from other vampires who might see it. The difference, Elena's native honesty told her, was that she didn't give a damn about any of the others. But Damon was different. When he kissed her she could feel the difference inside her. Something she had never felt before†¦until Stefan. Oh, God – was this really her, Elena Gilbert, betraying Stefan by the simple act of not running away from this situation? Damon was being a better person than she was; he was telling her to take the temptation of her aura away from him. So that she could start the torture anew tomorrow. Elena had been in many circumstances where she'd judged that it was best for her to leave before things got too hot. The problem here was that there was nowhere that she could go to without turning up the heat – putting herself in greater danger. And, incidentally, losing her chance to find Stefan. Should she have gone with Matt? But Damon had said they couldn't get into this Dark Dimension place, not two humans by themselves. He'd said they needed him with them. And Elena still had some doubts as to whether Damon would take the trouble to even drive to Arizona, much less search for Stefan, if she wasn't with him every step of the way. Besides, how could Matt have protected her on the dangerous road she and Damon were following? Elena knew that Matt would die for her – and that's just what he would do, too, if they came up against vampires or werewolves. Die. Leaving Elena facing her enemies alone. Oh, yes, Elena knew what Damon did each night when she slept in the car. He put some kind of dark spells around her, signing them with his name, sealing them with his seal, and they kept random creatures of the night away from the car until morning. But their greatest enemies, the kitsune twins, Shinichi and Misao, they had brought with them. Elena thought about all this before raising her head to look Damon in the eyes. Eyes which, at that moment, reminded her of those of a ragged child chained to a rock. â€Å"You're not going to leave, are you?† he whispered. Elena shook her head. â€Å"You're really not afraid of me?† â€Å"Oh, I'm afraid.† Again Elena felt that inward shiver. But she was flying somewhere now, she had set the course, and there was no way that she could stop. Especially not when he looked at her like that. It reminded her of the fierce joy, the almost reluctant pride he always showed when they took down an enemy together. â€Å"I won't become your Princess of Darkness,† she told him. â€Å"And you know that I could never give up Stefan.† A ghost of his old mocking smile touched his lips. â€Å"There's plenty of time to convince you to my way of thinking on those matters.† No need, Elena thought. She knew that Stefan would understand. But even now, when it seemed the whole world was whirling around her, something rose up in Elena to challenge Damon. â€Å"You say it's not Shinichi. I believe you. But is all this because – of what Caroline said?† She could hear the sudden hardness in her own voice. â€Å"Caroline?† Damon blinked as if thrown off his stride. â€Å"She said that before I met Stefan I was just a – † Elena found it impossible to get the last word out. â€Å"That I was†¦promiscuous.† Damon's jaw hardened and his cheeks flushed quickly – as if he'd been struck from an unexpected direction. â€Å"That girl,† he muttered. â€Å"She's already fixed her destiny and if it were anyone else I might be inclined to take some pity. But she goes†¦beyond†¦she's†¦beyond†¦any propriety†¦Ã¢â‚¬  As he spoke his words slowed, and a look of bewilderment clouded his face. He was gazing at Elena and she knew he could see the tears standing in her eyes, because he reached up to brush them away with his fingers. As he did, however, he stopped dead in midmotion, and, his face suddenly bemused, he brought one of his hands up to his lips, tasting her tears. Whatever they tasted like to him, he didn't seem to believe it. He brought the other hand up to his lips as well. Elena was openly staring at him now; he should have been put out of countenance – but he wasn't. Instead a kaleidoscope of expressions passed over his face, too quickly for her human eyes to catch them all. But she did see astonishment, disbelief, bitterness, more astonishment, and then finally a kind of joyful shock and a look almost as if there were tears in his own eyes. And then Damon laughed. It was a quick, self-mocking laugh, but it was genuine, euphoric, even. â€Å"Damon,† Elena said, still blinking back tears – it had all happened that fast – â€Å"what is wrong with you?† â€Å"Nothing's wrong, everything's right,† he said, while raising a scholarly finger. â€Å"You should never try to fool a vampire, Elena. Vampires have many senses humans don't – and some we don't even know we have until we need them. It's taken me long enough to realize what I know about you. Because, of course, everyone was telling me one thing, and my own mind was telling me something else. But I've figured it out, at last. I know what you really are, Elena.† For half a minute Elena sat in shocked silence. â€Å"If you do, then I might as well tell you right now that no one will believe you.† â€Å"Maybe not,† Damon said, â€Å"especially if they're human. But vampires are programmed to recognize the aura of a maiden. And you are unicorn-bait, Elena. I don't know or care how you got your reputation. I was fooled by it myself for a long time, but I've finally found the truth.† Suddenly he was bending over her so that she could see nothing but him, his fine hair brushing her forehead, his lips close to hers, his dark eyes, fathomless, capturing her gaze. â€Å"Elena,† he whispered. â€Å"This is your secret. I don't know how you've managed it, but†¦you're a virgin.† He leaned in toward her, his lips just brushing hers, sharing his deliberate breaths with hers. They stayed like that for a long, long time, Damon seeming enthralled to be able to give Elena something from his own body: the oxygen that both she and he needed, but acquired in different ways. For many humans, the stillness of their bodies, the silence, and the sustained eye contact, for neither of them had shut their eyes, might have been too much. It might have felt as if they had plunged themselves into their partner's personalities too far, that they were losing definition and becoming an ethereal part of each other before one kiss had even been completed. But Elena was floating on air: on the breath that Damon gave her – and in the literal sense. If Damon's strong, long, slender hands had not held her shoulders, she would have escaped his grip entirely. Elena knew that there was another way that he could keep her down. He could Influence her to let gravity have its way with her. But so far, she had felt not the slightest touch of attempted Influence. It was as if he still wanted to give her the honor of choice. He would not seduce her by any of his many accustomed methods, the tricks of domination learned over half a millennium of nights. Only the breathing, which was coming more and more quickly, as Elena felt her senses begin to swim and her heart began to pound. Was she truly sure that Stefan wouldn't mind this? But Stefan had given her the greatest honor possible by trusting in her love and her judgment. And she was beginning to feel Damon's true self, his overwhelming need for her; his vulnerability because that need was becoming like an obsession to him. Without attempting to Influence her, he was still spreading great soft dark wings all around her so that there was nowhere to run, nowhere to escape. Elena felt herself begin to swoon with the intensity of the passion they had wrought between them. As a final gesture, not of repudiation, but of invitation, she arched her head back, exposing to him her bare throat, and let him feel her longing. And as if great, crystal bells were ringing in the distance, she felt his jubilation at her voluntary surrender to the velvet darkness that was overtaking her. She never felt the teeth that broke her skin and claimed her blood. Before that happened she was seeing stars. And then the universe was swallowed up in Damon's dark eyes.

Classical and post-Classical periods Essay

The Silk Roads were created when classical empires were established, and the scope of long distance trade expanded, connecting much of Eurasia. Throughout the Classical and post-Classical periods, the Silk Roads provided a way for not only goods to be introduced to new lands, but also ideas, religions and technology. The Silk Roads changed drastically due to expanding empires, new technology and diseases. Although the effects and empires with which the Silk Road was connected changed continuously throughout the Classical and post-Classical period, the thing that remained constant was the trade of spices and goods to and from Asia and Europe, and the Silk Road never lost its importance to the economies of the empires. The growing empires directly affected the Silk Roads. The growth and spread of empires was a direct result of who had the most control over the routes and what ideas were being spread, for instance religion. When disease decreased much of a population, that empire would stop trade with other nations and focus on interregional trade, until their empire was back up on its feet, and then it would again join in trade on the silk roads. This constantly happened with the introduction of new diseases to empires throughout the end of the Classical period and all of the post-Classical period. One example of this was China, when diseases were brought to its shore from the ships, its population decimated and they stopped trading with vast nations for luxuries and kept the trade within its empire till its economy grew and then they continued in trade throughout the silk road. The new technology introduced to the Silk Road had the most impact on the trade patterns. Throughout the classical period not many changes in technology occurred, however during the post-Classical, you start to see many new technologies introduced to the Silk Road. Yolks, saddles and stirrups were just some of the new transportation technology developed. In the 600s B.C.E., yolks, saddles and stirrups were used to allow more goods to be carried on horse, camels and ox and allowed them to travel further distance. Saddles were first developed in Southern Arabia for transportation. Then, Stirrups first appeared in Afghanistan, created by the Kushan folk. The stirrup is a piece of equipment that extends from a saddle on both sides, and the person sitting in the saddle can put their feet into the stirrup while riding to gain better control of the animal being ridden and to be more secure on the animals back. Lastly, the yoke allowed for more than one ox to plow fields. The yoke would link the two oxen together and attach them to something heavy, like a plow or a tool used for turning the earth. Another invention, which came from China, was a compass, which pointed north, and allowed sailor to navigate more easily. They also invented better-equipped, long-lasting ships to travel greater distances for the sole purpose of acquiring goods that people at home in China so desperately desired. These boats were called junks, and allowed for the Chinese to sail great distances for the goods they desired. However, they were not alone in the making of these big ships, Indians also began to craft larger and improved boats called dhows. Another major innovation that fueled trade was the Grand Canal. Created under the authority of Sui Yangdi in the Sui Dynasty. The Chinese needed a fast and easy way to transport essential crops, such as rice, from the Yangzi River to the North. Therefore they built the Grande Canal running through North and Southern China, creating an efficient way to transport good through northern and southern China. Other than transportation technology, there was other technology introduced in the post-Classical period. The Chinese invented printing and paper, which created an even faster and easier way to spread ideas, religion, and technology throughout the Silk Roads. Although the Silk Roads had many positive features, along with the spread of ideas came the spread of disease. This occurred throughout the whole period. Unbeknownst to the traders the ships and caravans, with which they traded, brought disease along with their many goods. Worlds apart, neither the two parties, the transmitter and the infected, were aware, at least primarily, of what the devastating effects would be when coming in contact with these diseases. Due to the fact that they were from different parts of the world, and seas away from each other, those who were infected were not immune yet to the diseases the merchants carried, and it had devastating effects of the population. These massive disease outbreaks resulted in drastic changes, beginning at the end of the Classical period. As the germs traveled from one side of the world to the other, they became more dangerous. One of the most obvious examples of what disease did throughout the Silk Road was in the Americas. When European settlers came to colonize America, they brought with them infectious diseases such as the bubonic plague, and malaria, killing off almost 90% of the native people. This made it especially easy to conquer lands and force Natives to work, and when they were running out of native workers, they just imported slaves from Africa. The diseases they brought made it possible for them to conquer as much land as they did and it also made it possible for the Europeans to destroy many of the Natives history, because the Natives could not stop them, for they only had few people left. Other than the natives in the Americas, both the Han Empire and the Roman Empire, tremendous trade destinations, had immense problems with disease in the 100s and the 200s C.E.: most likely these people experienced the bubonic plague, smallpox, and measles. For example, in the 100s C.E., about 45 million people lived in the Roman Empire, but in the 400s C.E. the population dropped at least 5 million. Likewise, the population in China dropped by 10 million in the 200 years following 200 C.E., sinking to 50 million. Unfortunately, the transfer of these devastating diseases to places without natural immunity to them caused devastating population decline throughout the classical and post-classical period. Despite the constant changes in materials traded, the original purpose of the Silk Road remained undamaged throughout the Classical and Post-Classical period. Asian goods were traded with European merchants along the Silk Road and vice versa. In particular, spices from Asia, which were traded with most wealthy empires, particularly Europe, fueled Asia’s economy. These spices were wanted by the Europeans constantly and elaborated the importance of the Silk Road. During the Post-Classical period, many countries like Portugal and Spain, tried to take control of the Spice trade. Although unsuccessful, it shows the importance of the spice trade to the Silk Roads. The spice trade created an economic boom in Asia and every other country wanted that leading to wars and a race to find the quickest route to Asia. Furthermore, Asia’s economy, specifically China’s economy, was dependent on the money from trade on the Silk Road, regardless the type of goods that were traded to fuel their economy. Likewise, Asian trades drove Europe’s economy. Throughout 200 B.C.E to 1450 C.E., the Silk Roads had drastic changes due to its growing empires, new technology and spread of diseases. One thing that remained constant was trade between Asia and Europe and their economies’ reliance on such trade. The effect the Silk Road had on empires and how it allowed ideas, like religion and philosophies, to be spread throughout the Silk Roads also remained constant throughout the Classical and Post-Classical period. Growing empires contributed new ideas, technology and crops. It also controlled much of the influence throughout Eurasia. New technology provided better transportation and faster ways to spread ideas. Lastly, diseases directly affected populations that were not immune to foreign diseases such as the bubonic plague, malaria and small pox and decimated populations.

How to Write a Perfect Caregiver Resume (Examples Included)

How to Write a Perfect Caregiver Resume (Examples Included) caregivers, also known as home health aides, are an essential part of the healthcare industry. they may not get the glory or the fame, but it doesn’t get much more necessary than helping people get through their daily lives. with patience, compassion, and a stellar bedside manner, these aides work with patients at home to help them with daily tasks like feeding, bathing, and moving around. their patients may include people with disabilities or the elderly. if you don’t have a degree (beyond high school/ged), or are just getting started, this can be a great career path. let’s look at caregiver resume samples from three different caregivers: one just starting out, a daycare provider, and a certified home health aide. first up is helene, who is looking for her first fulls)How to Write a Perfect Occupational Therapist ResumeHow to Write a Perfect Physician Assistant Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Receptionist Resume (Examples Included)How to Create a Perfect Retail ResumeHow to Write a Perfect Sales Associate Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Social Worker Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Truck Driver Resume (With Examples)How to Write a Perfect Administrative Assistant Resume (Examples Included)

Disproving Tolstoy essays

Disproving Tolstoy essays Music is the shorthand of emotion, (Leo Tolstoy). One may take this statement one of two ways. Tolstoy may mean that music, through the use of smaller elements, communicates a greater idea. He also may mean that music is an end to justify a superficial mean. Judging by Tolstoys theories and the fact that he often omits music (or vast genres of it) when arguing his philosophies of art, the latter is more probable. A Russian fiction writer turned philosopher, Tolstoy has some rather interesting theories of what is art. Throughout the course of this paper, I will explain what total serialism is, why its art, what Tolstoys theories are and why they do not hold up when looked at in relation to total serialism. Total serialism is an extension of Arnold Schoenbergs 12-tone technique, also known as dodecaphony. It was one of the most important and influential compositional styles of the 20th century. In the most basic terms, 12-tone serialism is a technique that aims to compose music in which no one tone more important than another. Through the use of a complex mathematical structure called a matrix, the music is composed. Though it may seem a little arduous to explain how this system works, it is important so that the reader may understand the amount of effort and creativity it takes to compose a serialistic piece. There are four different structures in a matrix. The original 12-tone row is called the prime. The prime is a series of randomly generated numbers (0-11) that correspond with each pitch in the chromatic scale. The prime backwards is called the retrograde. When all the intervals of the prime are inverted, it is called the inversion and when the inversion is played backwards, it i s called the retrograde inversion. A matrix includes each of these structures starting on each of the 12 pitches. The intervals are constant for each type of structure (i.e. prime, retrograde...) the only thing that changes ...

Research Process and Terminology Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Process and Terminology - Research Paper Example Hence, correctional personnel, the police forces, judges, and other legal practitioners use qualitative and quantitative research to improve in their service delivery. The role that research methods plays in criminal justice cannot be overemphasized. With many research methods available in the field of research methods, the terminologies involved are crucial when applied to the field of criminal justice. This expose elucidates on the whole issue of criminal justice while focusing on new terminologies learnt, how failure to understand the terminologies used affects individuals conducting research in criminal justice, and the importance of knowing these terminologies as assets to individuals evaluating and analyzing studies or data in criminal research. One key word in criminal justice research is conceptualization. Simply put, a concept is the mental image an individual forms that summarizes a position on their ideas, feelings, or their observations. Case in point, a concept such as t hat involving substance-free housing necessitates a precise definition since there is a lack of certainty whether all readers share the same definition. Therefore, the meaning of concepts is usually under dispute from the experts in a certain field ultimately not benefitting those not familiar with the concepts. Nevertheless, in order to carry out sufficient research, conceptualizing the research matter in criminal justice is crucial to distinguish inner characteristics of a concept. Thus, conceptualization becomes the process of specifying the meaning of a term in a research study. Hence, conceptualization in deductive research becomes useful in translating parts of an intangible premise or theory into a hypothesize involving a variety of variables tested in the research study. On the other hand, conceptualization in inductive research is crucial to making sense of observations with related or similar evident features (Bachmann & Schutt, 2010). Effectively, without conceptualizatio n research in criminal justice would prove to be completely different and incomplete. In this case, if a researcher never understood the meaning of conceptualization, understanding the concept under study becomes challenging to them. Effectively, since they will lack the ability of defining the concept, identifying the variable of the study in criminal justice research becomes a challenge. Failure to identify clearly the variable of research influences the research findings with researchers embarking on study of the wrong variables. Eventually, the conclusions and findings becomes nothing more than a misinformation adversely affecting the case presented and its outcomes. Another crucial term in criminal justice research is casual. Casual, in criminal justice research parlance, does not mean the approach to doing things or carrying out research work. Casual implies that criminal justice research should concentrate in researching the cause-and-effect relationship of variables in the r esearch study (Hagan, 2005). In effect, this clearly illustrates that studies should simply carry out the observatory role. Case in point, a research study might seek to express the proportion of people holding a particular attitude. In this regard, most research in criminal justice and other social sciences explore relationships. Effectively, this makes such studies use descriptive and correlation studies as the major components of the studies. Thus, the failure to understand the term casual makes an individual

Breast Cancer Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Breast Cancer - Research Paper Example Other areas of the breast can also be affected, however, this is rare. Treatment will also vary considering the type of breast cancer and the stage it is in. One can find out if they are a victim to this disease by getting an examination by a physician, a biopsy, a mammography or an ultrasound test. Rates of breast cancer have risen over the years, however there are many women who also fight this disease and survive in America. Men can also suffer from this disease. (society, 2000) Causes of breast cancer The exact factor that causes breast cancer is yet to be pinpointed. Certain factors increase the probability of the cancer’s occurrence. Some can be controlled and modified in order to avoid the onset of the disease; whereas other factors cannot be controlled. There are some main reasons as to why it occurs; Family tree: having family members, especially closely related women in the family such as an aunt, a sister etc. who have breast cancer greatly increases the chances of developing breast cancer. Age: as a person grows older, the chances of breast cancer also increase. Life history: having cancer in one breast increases the likelihood of having cancer in the other breast in the future, or other different types of cancers in the same breast. Menstrual cycle: women with a cycle that started before twelve or ended before fifty five are more susceptible to this disease. Race: black women tend to have stronger potential to avoid the tumor than white women Breast tissue: women with a denser breast tissue as compared to others have a higher probability of developing breast cancer. Giving Birth: having no children or having children at a very late age can also increase the probability of breast cancer occurrence. Studies show that a breastfeeding mother for one or two years has a lesser probability of developing breast cancer. Weight: obese people have a greater probability of suffering from breast cancer than women who have an average body weight. Use of c ontraceptives: The use of oral contraceptives for about ten years or so increases the probability of breast cancer occurrence. Exercise: Exercise has been shown to lower the probability of breast cancer. Alcohol consumption: The rate of consumption of alcohol and the probability of developing breast cancer are directly proportional These are the risk factors that are associated in the development of cancer of the breast in women. Aspects such as age cannot be controlled, as one cannot stop aging, however other factors such as exercise, weight and alcohol consumption etc. can be controlled. (Majure, 2000) Signs, symptoms and diagnosis One of the most common symptoms of breast cancer is a mass or lump in the breast. Other symptoms include dimpling or swelling of the breast, nipple or breast pain, or discharge from the breast or redness. A healthcare provider can confirm whether these signs or symptoms point towards breast cancer. Mammograms are usually used to detect breast cancers. A nd women should at least at the age of forty get regular screen shots in order to prevent the disease or catch it at its earlier stages. A clinical breast exam, CBE, should also be conducted in women in their twenties or thirties in order to be aware of the changes that the breasts are undergoing as well as the early onset of the disease or possibility of the disease. A self-exam of the breast can also be done called a breast self-exam (BSE) by women especially those in their early

Art history Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Art history - Essay Example The museum can be used for academic purposes for major academic resources to reinforce data and documents on relevant subjects. Thus, its importance lies in the fact that students, teachers, professors, art enthusiasts, archaeologists, and historians can utilize the museum for some exploration of knowledge that would aid research. The museum can likewise provide entertainment and knowledge to tourists who decide to visit it. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is located in New York City and was designed by Richard Morris in 1895 after being founded in 1870 by a group of civic leaders, philanthropists, and artists. The conception of the museum began in 1866 when a group of Americans gathered at a restaurant in Paris, France to celebrate the American Independence Day on that Fourth of July. They came up with a proposition to establish a national institution and gallery of art and convinced American civic leaders, art collectors, and philanthropists to participate in the project. In 870, the Metropolitan Museum of Art was finally established which was housed in two different locations in New York City. The first was in 681 Fifth Avenue which was later moved to 128 West 14th Street.1 It includes European paintings on display, an unparalleled Egyptian gallery, and Asian art, sculpture, photography, and armory in its more than 1.5 million square feet of exhibition space. More than 2 million works of art are kept in the museum, spanning 5,000 years of culture from different parts of the world and from different historical periods.2 The aim and thrust of the museum is to educate the public and cultivate a high standard of artistic taste. The museum does not merely aim to establish a great collection of art objects, but to pursue and develop the study of the fine arts. The inspiring thought it carries is â€Å"Art for humanity’s sake.†3 The New York City owns and

ROLE OF THE STATE IN ENSURING DEVELOPMENT IN A COUNTRY Essay Example for Free

ROLE OF THE STATE IN ENSURING DEVELOPMENT IN A COUNTRY Essay INTRODUCTION A state may be simply defined as a nation or territory considered as an organized political community under one government. Claude Ake (1992) defines a state as: The organized aggregate of relatively permanent institutions of governance. It is seen as a set of associations and agencies claiming control over defined territories and their populations. The main components of the state are, consequently, decision making structures (executives, parties and parliaments), decision-enforcing institutions (bureaucracies, parastatal organizations and security forces) and decision-mediating bodies (primary courts, tribunals and investigatory commissions). The character of the state in any particular country is determined by the pattern of organization of these institutions at specific points in time. The government is usually used interchangeably with the state but it however represents the people or officers in power who change from time to time but the state does not change. see more:the role of youth in nation building The state plays a major role in the development of a country as it is the government/state that enacts key policies are key to economic success and development in a given country. There has however been a lot of contention especially in African countries about the role of the state in regards to development of a country. This is because many African states relied and still rely heavily on foreign markets and expatriates for development in the country. For example in southern Africa most post colonial states depended on expatriates for the formulation of national developmental plans that ran for 5 to 15 years. These plans were also still financed by foreign donors. AÂ  similar case was seen in Tanzania whose first phase of its ambitious 15 year development plan was funded by external powers with domestic funding being only a fifth of the raised capital. Hence the there is debate as to whether development is brought about by the state or by market forces that are independent. The role of the state in development The state plays the following roles that facilitate development in a country. These roles can be divided into the following categories: a. The role of the state in current development programmes b. Development of good governance c. Development of policies Implementation of reforms These reforms include structural adjustments in the country that manage and control pricing of commodities in the country. Also the state has the powers to control various institutions including private institutions. The state should aim at implementing stable property rights, enforcing the rules and laws of the land and elimination of corruption. The state should also provide supervision over the provision of public goods and services such as transportation and security. Implementing development programs The state plays a major role in implementation of development programs that form a back bone other which development takes place. For example in Tanzania there was implementation of a 15 year development plan with funding from both the state and foreign markets. In Kenya the vision 2030 is another good example of a state drive n development plan that aims at achieving development in the country through various started. The vision 2030 aims to create a globally competitive and prosperous nation with a high quality of life by 2030. The pillars for this 2030 development program include: economic pillar that is aiming at a 10% gross domestic product increase by 2012 by targeting tourism, agriculture, whole sale and retail trade, manufacturing, IT services and financial services. The second pillar in Kenya’s 2030 development program is the social pillar. This pillar aims at investing in the people of Kenya in order to improve the quality of life for all Kenyans by targeting education and training, health, environment, housing and urbanization, youth and sport development, gender children and social development. The state’s role in improvement of these factors will have a direct influence in development in the country. For example the improvement of education by ensuring that all people receive formal education and professional training to create a pool of qualified work force that will supports the economic pillar of development and hence increase in the GDP. The third pillar of the vision 2030 development program is the political pillar. This aims at moving into the future as one nation and envisions a democratic system that is issue based, people centred, result oriented and is accountable to the public. This pillar aims at creating a transparent and accountable government. The vision 2030 for development has already commenced in Kenya with 120 transformational and flagship programmes across each pillar already in progress. This shows one of the roles of the state in implementing development programs and monitoring them. Implementation of quality governance. The state has the function of implementing stable rules and laws that govern the country. These rules protect property rights and create an entrepreneur friendly environment for local and foreign investment in the country. Studies have shown that there is a direct relationship between good governance and the level of per capita income in the country. Establishment of quality governance leads to increase of per capita income in the country. A good example is China that has experienced exponential growth over the last decade. State-centred accounts attribute China’s economic success to the organizational capacity of local government to monitor and intervene to promote the development of township and village enterprises (Walder 1995). This has seen china change to a strong capitalist economy and by-pass other nations such as the former Soviet Union i.e. Russia that were the favourites to see increased economic and development growth. China boasts of a strong authoritarian national leadership and an elite state bureaucracy that pursues developmental goals and industrial policy (Wade 1990). However this role of the state in development, that is the implementation of good governance has been criticized because in developing countries of which a majority of African countries are there are no resources to implement good governance. This is due to lack of adequate skilled man power and capital to implement close supervision of state development projects. There is also neglect of various areas when development is taking place with localized development of capital cities and major towns at the expense of national development. This leads to most developing countries shifting to economic marketism with privatization of most institutions and the role of development shifts from the state to the market forces and foreign influence that comes with its own disadvantages in that development in the region in a situation of minimal state intervention remains low when compared to the era of economic nationalism, which seems to have recorded higher levels of social development (Khabele, 2002). Implementation of policies The state has the role of implementing policies that increase development and economic growth in a country. In most developing countries the policy challenge is not to get the state out of the way on the assumption that a capitalist market economy is already in existence and that the problem is to make it work better by removing excessive government regulation. The policy challenge is to create market and this should be reinforced by the state. The state should formulate policies that will ensure innovation in the country, structural transformation in terms of infrastructure and industrialisation; policies that will ensure creation of jobs for the people of the country and hence aid to lower poverty in general and increase per capita income in the country. The state has the role of implementing policies in Kenya that will shift the policy in agriculture from neglect of the agriculture sector to active support to farmers through rural infrastructure, developing of linkages between agriculture and other sectors such as foreign exchange and industries. The government should also implement policies to aid in financing agricultural projects and improve the use of technology in agriculture. The Kenyan population rely heavily on agriculture for income and concentration on this resource can increase development in a country. The state also has the role to implement industrial policies that will enable increase in industries and manufacturing in a country. It should also ensure proper attention is paid to the education and training system in the country so that there is a pool of workers for the industries. Increase in industrialisation leads to economic growth and hence developments. The state should also implement good trade policies both locally and internationally. Good trade policies supplement the industrial policy and support the trading environment to maximize on the attractiveness of a countries products and services in the region and globally. Lack of implementation of proper trade policies can hinder economic development and development. A good example is Zimbabwe that had failed to implement a comprehensive national trade policy. This lead to the decline of export earnings by 49% from US$2.6 billion in 1997 to around US$ 1.3 billion in 2008. This limited export of good lead to increased foreign debt of about 25.3% of the GDP in 2001 that greatly hindered economic development in the country. (Khabele et al 2002) the government of Zimbabwe has now realised the need for implementation of proper national trade policies in order to successfully participate in regional and global market. Zimbabwe has now implemented the National Trade Policy whose policy vision is to have trade as the engine for sustainable economic growth and development in Zimbabwe. CONCLUSION The role of the state in development has been an issue of heated debate at theoretical and policy arenas in the African especially since the attainment of independence of most of the countries. Two main alternative or contrasting development agendas that have driven the debate were those of the nationalist political elite or the state (economic nationalism) on one hand and those of foreign capital (economic marketism) on the other. State intervention, as a key policy thrust of a development process is much stronger in respect of economic nationalism, which in itself is an expression of the political commitment of African states to chart independent development paths for their countries. However the role of the state in development is not independent of marketism as foreign and local markets play a huge role in the development process. The ideal situation would be for the state, foreign markets and private sectors to work together I good relation to ensure development in the various A frican countries. REFERENCES 1. African Development Indicators, Drawn from World Bank Africa Database, The World Bank, Washington D.C., 2001 2. Ake, C., ‘Democracy and Development in Africa’; The Brookings Institution, Washington DC., 1996 3. Khabele M., ‘The role of the state in development in SADC region’; council for development in Africa, Ghana, 2002 4. The ministry of Industry and commerce of Zimbabwe data base: ‘www.miit.gov.zw/policies’, 2012