Childhood Obesity Annotated Bib

English 100/009 Annotated bibliography- Child Obesity in America Taras, H. , Potts-Datema, W. (2005) Obesity and student performance at school. Journal of School Health, 75, 291-295. Retrieved October 4, 2005 from EBSCO (8) This Journal talks about obesity among school-aged children and academic outcomes. The authors reviewed published studies investigating obesity, school performance, and rates of student absenteeism. The book is recent (2005) so I feel that the information provided will still be the similar to today.I feel this is relevant to my research as it proves that obesity can cause problems in other important aspects of life. It also provides very satisfying facts that will back my research very well. Okie, Susan. Fed Up! : Winning the War against Childhood Obesity. Washington, D. C: Joseph Henry Press, 2005. Print. This book examines some of the factors contributing to childhood obesity, such as poor diet, lack of exercise, suburban sprawl, and TV, and provides advice on h ow parents can make positive changes. It primarily focuses on these issues within America.It covers a wide variety of topics with the main topic of obesity, which I think I will find beneficial to my research as all these factors contribute. Dalton, Sharron. Our Overweight Children: What Parents, Schools, and Communities Can Do to Control the Fatness Epidemic. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2004. Print. This book looks at what's behind the statistics and diagnoses, and considers what can be done about the major health crisis threatening American children. Dalton begins with the basics: what obesity is, what causes it, and why it matters.Integrating information from scientific and popular sources, she reviews current diet and exercise recommendations for healthy living, comparing these recommendations with everyday realities experienced by American families. I feel this book will be good for all general understanding as it starts basic and then gets more in depth. I believ e this will contribute well to my research as it covers a wide basis and focus on main points that could be causing this epidemic i. e parents. Smith, J C. Understanding Childhood Obesity.Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1999. Internet resource. Dr. J Clinton Smith tries to cover nearly every field of obesity research. The book deals with methods of control, the body’s physical and chemical makeup, prevention strategies, new treatments and behavior modifications and future research. Again, this will be very beneficial to my research but even more so as it focuses a lot on the psychological side of obesity, where as the others and focusing more on the food itself and the contributing factors. Hills, Andrew P, Neil A.King, and Nuala M. Byrne. Children, Obesity and Exercise: Prevention, Treatment, and Management of Childhood and Adolescent Obesity. London: Routledge, 2007. Print. This book covers 3 major topics of obesity: the prevention, treatment and the management . Even though this not specifically for American children, I feel that it will still be beneficial as obesity is a global epidemic. I believe this will be a good aspect for my research as it covers how obesity in children can be prevented and I feel this is what America needs to know.

Statement of Cash Flows

Statement of Cash Flows Larry D. Abernathy ACC 421/Intermediate Financial Accounting I Richard Burden Statement of Cash Flows The facts contained in the balance sheet and the profit and loss statement is connected by the bridge that is the statement of cash flows. By recording the flow of cash and cash equivalents into and out of the company the statement of cash flow is a good indicator of a company’s health. Thus, the purpose of the statement of cash flow is to reflect in record form the cash balances reflected in the balance sheet.The statement of cash flow has three main sections and each section tells us a unique thing about the company. The operating section tells us how the company is generating and using cash to support its day to day activities. Specifically, it gives information about the payments for the sales of loans, debt or equity instruments in a trading portfolio, the interest payment, tax payment, payments to suppliers for goods and services, dividends on equ ity securities, interest received on loans, receipts received on loans and receipts from sale of goods and services.Also the cash flow statement helps assess the ability of the entity to pay its bills and meet its obligations. The investing section tells us how a company is using its cash to grow long-term. If you see a lot of investments outflow, that means that the company is investing in capital projects that will sustain its earnings in the long-term. It gives information about the investing activities that are used with operating activities. The cash that goes into the investing activity of the firm is disclose by the cash flow statement.This includes loans made to suppliers, assets like and, purchase. Financing sections tells us the equity and debt situation of the company or how a firm is raising money to support its short-term and long-term goals. In detail the cash in financing activities provides information about the proceeds from issuing shares, from issuing short term o r long term debt, from capital leases, repayment of debt principal, payments made for repurchase of shares and payments of dividends. Fundamentally, the purpose of the cash flow statement is to inform about the past sources of cash to forecast the bility of the entity's ability to generate a positive cash flow in the future. The cash flow statement provides information from where the entity's cash is coming from. Is it coming from operations mainly or it is coming from other sources. The cash flow statement also provides information about the effect of investment and financing on the operations of the business. There are three parts of the cash statement namely cash from operating activities, investing activities and financing activities.The cash flow statement gives us the opening balance of cash, the amount of cash received during the operating period, the amounts paid during the period, the net increase or decrease in cash for the period and the final cash flow balance. When asse ssing the financial strength of a business it is important to know the cash flow statement because it gives an idea if the firm will be able to pay salaries and other immediate expenses. The cash flow statement also gives information if the firm will be able to repay its creditor. The cash flow statement also informs the lender or potential lenders if the company is financially sound.The contractors and future employees can assess if the cash flows of the company will be able to pay them salaries. While assessing the financial strength of a business it is necessary to know the time, amount and chances of future cash flows, the cash flow statement provides this information. For assessing the financial strength of a firm it is important to compare the operating performance of different companies, the cash flow statement allows this comparison. Further, it is important to ass the changes in assets, liabilities and equity. The cash flow statement provides such an opportunity.Most import antly, it is necessary to know the liquidity and cash in hand of a firm. Essentially the cash flow statement helps assess the financial position of the company by indicating to an investor how much cash flowed into and out of the company over a period of time and in addition it helps reconcile the income statement with the balance sheet. The accounting assumptions that are used for preparing the income statement and the balance sheet are compared with the hard cash earned. No assumptions are made in the preparation of the cash flow statement, and there are not estimations in the cash flow statement.Finally, by closing observing the statement of cash flow, one can determine the solvency of a company and how liquid it is. Having excess cash is an indicator that a company is very liquid and will likely return money to the stakeholders and is likely to be in sound financial condition. If a company is struggling then it will have very little cash. It will struggle to meet its debt obliga tions and may go into bankruptcy as well. References The accounting process. (2010). Retrieved on December 12, 2012 from http://www. netmba. com/accounting/fin/process

The Cultural Insights of Footbinding

The Chinese practiced foot binding for over a thousand years in the Song and T’ang dynasties. Some people found it very cruel, and then some found it fascinating. The ‘Golden Lotuses’ were the art and symbol for the wealth and beauty of ancient China. For any other culture, one would ask what foot binding is? Or, how did foot binding in Ancient China compare to John Fairbank’s text â€Å"Footbinding†? Also, how does the history of ancient China and Fairbank’s text differ and how are they similar? Then, how can foot binding be defended? In this paper, one will be able to understand the cultural significance of foot binding. Foot binding was a mother’s way to prepare her daughter for her future. The mother would start to bind the daughter’s feet between the ages of five and eight, when the feet and bones were still developing. At a young age the daughters were unaware of what their future held, and why their mother put them through so much pain. After the first two years the pain would lessen for the daughters. Constricting the feet to a three inch size was only the beginning of the daughter’s worries. The bound feet required daily care which included; feet being washed and manicured while staying bounded. The mother would be the one who ultimately took care of the daughter and grooming her feet. In Fairbank’s text it says â€Å"When I was seven [said one women to Ida Pruitt], my mother†¦ washed and placed alum on my feet and cut the toenails. She then bent my toes toward the plantar with a binding cloth ten inches wide, doing the right foot first then the left. She†¦ ordered me to walk but when I did the pain proved unbearable. The night †¦ my feet felt on fire and I couldn’t sleep; mother struck me for crying. On the following days, I tried to hide but was forced to walk on my feet †¦ after several months all toes but the big one was pressed against the inner surface†¦ mother would remove the binding and wipe the blood and pus which dripped from my feet. She told me that only the removal of the flesh could my feet become slender†¦. Every two weeks I changed to new shoes. Each new pair was one-two-tenths of an inch smaller than the previous one†¦ In summer my feet smelled offensively because of pus and blood; In winter my feet felt cold because of lack of circulation †¦ four of the toes were curled in like so many dead caterpillars†¦ it took two years it achieve the three inch model†¦ my shanks were thin, my feet became humped, ugly and odoriferous. † (405) Bounding the feet made the daughters less useful in family work, and the daughters would become very dependent on help from others. Once people in China became accustom to the practice of foot binding, the ‘Golden Lotuses’ became an essential part of being able to get a suitable husband. John Fairbank accounts in his text, â€Å"Footbinding† how women in ancient China were represented. Fairbank’s text was the study of ancient China, and the subjection of women during that time. In the text, Fairbank expressed how the women fit into social classes, and how they were not equal to males in the society. The feet being the first symbol of women, marriage followed second. The feet were a prestigious item to a female, and without the bound feet they would not be able to achieve a good marriage. Clearly stated in the following poem, â€Å"Lotus blossoms in shoes most tight, As if she could stand on autumnal waters! Her shoe tips do not peek beyond the skirt, Fearful lest the tiny embroideries be seen. †(404) it becomes clear that the binding of the feet was a sexual fetish for the Chinese man. The bound feet became a sort of chastity to the female, leaving them vulnerable and defenseless. Unlike the chastity belt, the lotus feet could not be unlocked. â€Å"In a society with a cult of female chastity, one primary purpose of foot binding was to limit mobility, radically modifying the means by which females were permitted to become a part of the world at large. Painfully and forcibly reducing a little girl's foot at the precise point in her life when she was expected to begin understanding the Confucian discipline of maintaining a â€Å"mindful body† reinforced her acceptance of the practice. A woman's dependency on her family was made utterly manifest in her disabled feet, and she was fully expected to acquire considerable control over her pain, reflecting the ideals of civility, a mindful body and concealment. One of the primary allures of foot binding lay in its concealment, and to be acceptable a pair of small feet had to be covered by binder, socks and shoes,† Females had to become dependent on her husband when she would move away from her family; thus leaving the male with complete domination in all aspects of the relationship. Throughout research it is apparent that the practice of foot binding was all relatively the same. In both Fairbank’s and in other readings on foot binding, mothers bound their daughter’s feet to prepare them for wealth and marriage. As incomprehensible as foot binding may seem it actually was a way for mothers and daughter to bond. The action of foot binding resulted in deforming their feet thus crippling them from preforming daily duties. It was found by researchers that foot binding could only be defended by people who understood their customs. What is important to a social group is not only survival, but the survival of patterns of behavior which are considered â€Å"right† within the context of the culture. That foot binding was legitimized by scholars and tied to the custom of the patriarchal Chinese family, perpetuating the kinship system, was no adequate stronghold against the forward momentum of history, education, labor opportunities, and capitalist indi vidualism. † One could disagree with the act of foot binding, unless a person dealt with foot binding first hand. It wasn’t until the 1950’s that the act of foot binding significantly declined. One can see foot binding had many similarities and very few differences between Fairbank’s text and other accounts of foot binding. It was a cultural act of royal and upper class mothers, to prepare their daughters for an arranged marriage. Today in China the last surviving practitioners are handicapped by old age and arthritis, and these living ‘Golden Lotuses’ are all that remains of a vanished phenomenon.

Individual Project Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Individual Project Report - Essay Example However, we can expect some of the following demographic skews in our advertising: 1. Mostly people in America, Europe and Japan will be viewing. Many areas of the Third World have intermittent Internet access and bad bandwidth, so streaming video is difficult to imagine. 2. There will likely be an additional skewing towards white middle-class viewers. 3. People interested in our campaign will likely be people of around college-going age, 18-35, interested in upwardly mobile education and professional positions. They will likely be of middle-class backgrounds. Using YouTube to reach out to the market of people online is a brilliant move for a variety of reasons. 1. It is self-demonstrating. We will be showing people how to do online advertising while we are promoting a school that does online advertising. 2. The type of people who are likely to be interested in getting into online advertising and experienced with the type of social networks used to create viral marketing are the peop le watching YouTube videos. A recent Super Bowl ad had advertising executives discussing how to construct a commercial, with the commercial changing as they brainstormed. It was a funny, self-aware advertisement for a car that also satirized the advertising industry. Some videos in that vein could easily be produced and could be quite funny.

The Cosmology Theory and Sikhism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

The Cosmology Theory and Sikhism - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that cosmology is the study of the universe, otherwise known as the cosmos to evaluate its origin, evolution and its fate in the face of different environmental, political, religious and social forces. Cosmology theory has for years fronted an argument that the existence of the universe is enough evidence that a supreme being who created it exists. However, atheist continue to ask questions on the roles of a supernatural power in the existence of the universe and the role that god play in the entire issue of cosmos existence. The cosmological theory provides one of the only logical explanations for the existence of the universe and the presence of God who controls everything that happens within. Otherwise referred to as the first cause argument about the origin of the universe and a supreme being, the cosmological theory has been adopted by other religious organizations across the globe. The cosmological theory has also embraced an atheist point of views by providing arguments that explain how the universe began, the creative process and the person who was in charge of the creation. The cosmological argument was developed from various philosophical arguments including the positions taken by Plato, Aristotle, and the Neoplatonic traditions. Common Muslim thinkers like Al-Ghazali, Jewish philosophers like Maimonides and Christian scholastic thinkers like Aquinas and Scotus contributed to the development of the cosmological arguments. Â  

How to Use a Wood Material in Computer Hard Disk Drives Essay

How to Use a Wood Material in Computer Hard Disk Drives - Essay Example Therefore, coming up with new and easily available materials for the manufacture of hard disks would lower the cost of their installation. This report aims at coming up with a hard disk made up of wood materials. The report will commence by outlining the main parts of the device, as well as their main functions. Further, the choice of materials for each part of the appliance will be discussed. This will be tackled in two broad areas of the usage of wood currently where the same can be utilised to come up with efficient and effective hard disks. The report will conclude with a highlight of the importance of the use of wood in the manufacture of hard disks and the recommendation for the same. Breakdown of the Main Parts of the Hard Disk and the Main Function of Each The hard disk is made up of various components for data storage. Every computer possesses a hard drive; a majority of computer users are not much familiar with the hard disk and its composition. It is the brain of the compu ter and contains the following parts: (a) Heads or the Head Stack Assembly This part of the hard disk is very crucial in the sense that it magnetically reads and writes data to the platters that are in an incredible high-speed motion. This is done in extremely precise positions to achieve its function (Rubtsov, 2009). The heads can be termed as the eyes of the drive and float slightly higher from the platters approximately one micron. It is a sensitive, precise instrument and is generally the most frequent cause of hard drive malfunction (Braun 2009). (b) Spindle The spindle is highly crucial in rotating the platters at a certain speed that is measured in revolutions per minute (RPM). According to The Computer Technology Documentation Project, modern spindles have been modified to move at speeds as high as 4800 and 7200 rotations per minute. This is expected to be higher in the future with innovations to enhance the seek speed: this is the amount of time it takes the hard disk to se arch for a certain area of data. With growing file sizes and the speed of transfer, like a crucial part of computing, the platter must spin extremely fast (Rubtsov, 2009). (c) Platters Platters are found at the centre of the hard disk to hold all data on the hard disk. A hard disk may have one or more platters depending on the intended capacity. They are round with holes in the centre similar to a record used on a record player. In cases of a platter having a motor, it holds the platter together and rotates it at a certain speed measured in revolutions per minute (Braun 2009). The result is the creation of air pressure that lifts the read of write heads of the platters. The platters are very effective in holding the hard drive’s information and their sensitivity is very high (Rubtsov, 2009). A number of drives have contained more than one platter while others have only one. In cases of a drive having multiple platters, the spacing between them is consequently very precise, an d in case of misalignment, the data on the drive is mostly lost forever. (d) Electronics The green circuitry found at the bottom of the hard drive is the electronics board. It constitutes of all the electronic resistors, capacitors, and other bits holding the parts in place (Osborne, 2010.). Their function is the provision of connection with the rest of the computer and contains information referred to as firmware that informs the hard drive on how to

Asian Management - Management in India Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Asian Management - Management in India - Essay Example Indian economy during 1950 to 1980 was highly dominated by the agriculture sector and the five year plan. Some of the acts which were introduced during this period were Industrial Policy Resolution 1956 also called as the unleashing of ‘license raj’, Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act (MRTP) and Import substitution. (PBS, 2004) Bureaucratic control of private sector through licenses, permits, taxes and tariff infuriated quality global competitiveness and managerial imagination. This high level restriction, poor quality of infrastructure along with high level of corruption caused to migration of entrepreneurs from India. Family conglomeration was seen in the Indian corporate sector led by names like Birla, Reliance, Tata, Bajaj, Mahindra, Godrej and Thapar. Rajiv Gandhi emphasizes economic liberalization and pushes for development of the technology sector. The government introduces economic reforms, including reduced quantitative restrictions on imports, decreased subsidies, fewer licensing requirements, the sale of shares in select public enterprises, and tax reforms.(Source: Veen R.V., 2006) During this period of liberalization comprehensive changes were seen in the mindset of corporate leaders. India became the host for the global firms which brought world class management in the country. Indian education system improved and India produced half a million of engineers, thousands of doctor and MBAs per year. Indian entrepreneurs who were used to the art of manipulating, managing and circumventing the regime of controls and restrictions and the power centre of licensing, would be able to break away from the past and rise to the occasion of liberalization. The country stepped into liberalization. The government sold off shares in its companies and opens the door to foreign investment. Liberalization brought GDP growth to 7 percent, and pushed the inflation down. A new private sector emerged, especially in technology services, side by side

Software to Support Assessment of the Comprehensive Classroom Essay

Software to Support Assessment of the Comprehensive Classroom Technology Plan - Essay Example I am supposed to click to and fro through many pages. I am forced to look at pictures of commodities whether I want to or not, whilst attempting to find the product that I need. As a student, I am bound to figure out that the design of this website is flat. Whilst the criteria are split into sub-segments, these sub-segments are not visually identified in navigation. Therefore, in the organization platform section, there is not a single item in the look of the course-plotting links to inform the student that all administration platforms are a different sub-segment from other types of administration platforms. Additionally, varying commodities exhibited and sold on this website are supposed to be the leading items even if it means navigating through this website through the â€Å"all† criterion. Every sub-segment is supposed to have its individual color piece so that it is distinct where the student is on the website (Williams, Boone and Kingsley, 2004, p. 213). Adding a â€Å" quick search† section would enable a student to simply list all commodities or services on one page. Utilizing the uncomplicated visual technology, it is likely to have the picture for every commodity come forth when the cursor is moved above the product. Visual recognition is still existent. The stocking of the commodity is slow and makes the impression of a heavy site. Is a student looks at the home page of a commodity’s criterion; there is a huge chance that they will look at the following page. Consequently, preloading the pictures for the following pages in the background will be helpful. Such an approach will make the pictures appear on the following pages. The commodity data is surrounded by exceedingly additional visual dialogue. It is similar to attempting to hear trades tone in a noisy room. The segment that deals with the number of people who purchased a certain commodity is very busy and distracts new students (Williams,

Suitable Fire Suppression System Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Suitable Fire Suppression System - Case Study Example As a biotech company, Mutandum relies heavily on its information technology resources. Recently, it emerged that the fire safety mechanisms used to protect and ensure the resilience of the company’s information technology resources in Tucson are slightly ineffective. Technically, the Wet-Pipe System installed in the company’s Tucson facility may lead to business downtime, a situation which is not in harmony with objectives and directions of the company. Alternatively, a Water-Nitrogen Mist System feature as the best solution to the fire problem. Succeeding parts of this section contain detailed impact assessment and corporate goal coupling of the Water-Nitrogen Mist System in Mutandum. Â  Admittedly, Water-Nitrogen Mist System is superior compared to other fire suppression systems, especially Wet-Pipe Systems. Among the technical features, that enhances superiority of Water-Nitrogen Mist System include, use of the inert nitrogen gas, and minimum release of water which prevents flooding. With the use of Water-Nitrogen Mist System, Mutandum will not be forced to encounter downtime resulting from flooding of server rooms. Undeniably, water damages electronic devices, and may sometimes lead to loss of digital information. In this case, limited use of water in fire suppression will save Mutandum the ordeal of data loss and re-installation of electronic equipment damaged by Wet-Pipe System flooding (Smith 17). Environmentally, nitrogen is an inert gas with no toxicity. Therefore, use of the chemically inactive nitrogen gas in fire suppression presents no environmental harm to either electronic equipment or personnel.

SEMESTER 1501 COURSEWORK ASSIGNMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

SEMESTER 1501 COURSEWORK ASSIGNMENT - Essay Example The Labour party took power and halted the sales of the houses. This decision made Mr. Gibson sue the respondents claiming a breach of a binding contract. The county court and the court of appeal ruled in his favour but this was appealed to the House of Lords where the earlier decision was quashed. The dispute was a result of distinguishing between an offer and an invitation to treat. Notably, it should be comprehended that an offer is an expression of the desire to contract on various conditions upon acceptance while mere negotiations to enter into a given contract are not offers but invitations to treat. However, Geoffrey Lane LJ who was a court of appeal judge dissented and held there was no enforceable contract. The House of Lords unanimously allowed the appeal and made a final decision that there was no binding contract between the two parties. The principle behind the decision of the court of appeal was affirmed by Lord Denning. The honorable judge emphasized that the communication between the parties should be also established by their conduct. Their conduct had supposed a binding contract between them and this led to the parties coming into an agreement. The House of Lords had a unanimous approach in this case. The court affirmed that there was never an offer by the council available to be accepted or rejected. Therefore, if there was no offer in the first place then, a binding contract was not realized between the two parties. The council cannot be accused of breaching. Lord Diplock embraced the conventional approach which affirmed that there was never an offer which constituted to a legally enforceable contract. The conventional approach requires that the documents to be relied upon to be analyzed thoroughly and ascertained whether in their construction there can be found a contractual offer to sell the house and an acceptance of such an

More Beer, Inc Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

More Beer, Inc - Case Study Example More Beer Inc. has to take extreme care while issuing termination notice to any of the employees included in the list supplied to me by you. I am trying to analyze the cases of each employee one by one in order to get more insights into the moral, legal and business aspects involved in the termination of them. Mike is definitely an asset to the company since his track records are above average. One of the major problems facing by HR managers at preset is the identification of skilled personnel for a particular job. In this difficult period, the services of people like Mike who is performing above average is essential for More Beer Inc. when we consider the future of our company. It should be noted that many of our employees are performing average or below average and Mike is one among the few of the employees who are performing above average. Mike’s age is definitely a positive factor for our company. People in the 30’s and 40’s are normally performing better than people in the 20’s or 50’s. In other words, younger age and older age of the employees are equally problematic to an organization. Young employees may have enough energy, but they may not have enough experience or expertize whereas older people may have enough experience, but they may not have enough energy or willingness to perform well. Under such circumstances Mike is an idle person for the company in his dedication to work. He has not taken a single day leave during his career with us which is definitely a factor we must consider in favor of Mike. As we all know, the major drawback of Mike is his heavy accent of speaking English. It is a fact that others are facing some problems in understanding him. However, firing Mike only because of his poor accent cannot be justified under the existing laws in America with respect to race discrimination. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), prohibits the

Egyptian and Mesopotamian Civilisation Essay Example for Free

Egyptian and Mesopotamian Civilisation Essay In this essay, we shall attempt to examine the earliest examples of human civilisation, using examples from early Mesopotamian civilisations up to c2600BC. The earliest examples of civilisation are generally acknowledged to be found in Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus Valley, Chinas Yellow River valley, and quite separately Peru. While some cultural trade and exchange can be expected from the initial 4 candidates, the Peruvian example implies that civilisation can and will occur separately and without influence; not an export, but simply a natural development. All of the earliest civilisations share certain characteristics. Claude Kluckhohn defined civilisation as any societal group which shared 2 of the following 3 characteristics: towns of greater than 5,000 people, a written language, and monumental ceremonial structures. While this works well as a rule of thumb, it fails to address certain important points; namely, how an area can accommodate high population densities, how written language is able to develop, and why monumental structures were built at all. Firstly, we shall tackle population density. For an early civilisation to achieve a population density in excess of 5,000 people to a single city or town, the first problem it must deal with is the most basic: that of food. Hunter-gatherer societies obviously cannot support this level of habitation mankind must be regarded in this matter as a top predator, and typical predator-prey ratios would imply that a hunting group of humans in excess of 5000 people would need a territory of around 75,000 kmà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½. The only possible answer to the question of how to concentrate this many people into a grouping is through the use of agriculture, and the development of farming techniques which allow large quantities of food to be produced using a relatively small area of land. Through the manipulation of the local environment to create food as needed, early civilisation was able to lower its dependency on natural conditions and begin the slow march of progress. However, there are other factors which must also be observed in the concentration of so many people into such a small area. The maintenance of social order is, by its very nature, an exponential equation; for every new member added to the group, he must form a social relationship with every existing member. Hence, high levels of social hierarchy and stratification become necessary very quickly its much more difficult to run a grouping of 100 people than it is to run one of 50, unless you have the correct social tools available to maintain control. Thankfully, increasing agricultural production allows for specialisation or at very least, taxation, which by its nature is a facilitator for specialisation. The surplus food supply means that actor X no longer needs to farm for himself, allowing for him to become a soldier, a lawyer, a priest, or even a god-king. The emergence of social specialisation almost certainly precedes concepts of state and law Hammurabi, author of the Code of Laws, was not the first priest-king to rule in Mesopotamia. In early Egypt, at very least, lestate cest moi certainly applies; it is very likely so in the other cradles of civilisation, with justice being doled out by personal decision of the king or his adjutants, on a case-by-case basis. The Code of Laws of Hammurabi leads us neatly to another of the foundations of early civilisation, that of writing. Possibly developed as a simple form of keeping tax records in Sumer, writing grants the author an external record of thoughts, one that can be read across time. It separates the writer from the concerns of time his words are no longer merely a short-term monodimensional event, but can be held and transcribed indefinitely, and literacy allows for information to be distributed far more effectively. While no mans voice can reach 5.5 million people directly, the Daily Mail is read by that many people every day though it is beyond the scope of this essay as to whether that paper can be regarded as information. Perhaps the most important aspect of writing, however, is that it creates an external bank of knowledge; a repository which may be added to continuously and with much more longevity than the lifetime of a single man. Hence, the sum total of human knowledge can be expanded indefinitely, rather than relying on the frailties of human memory. The eventual result of these major innovations is the rise of the city. Cities are the very essence of civilisation; the engines of progress which drive the advancement of technology and philosophy. Fed by the agricultural surplus, controlled by the new governments, and protected by the newly specialised military elites, the city allowed people to learn new trades and develop new concepts. Pottery can emerge in newer, more impressive forms; masonry can be developed and refined, and ideas such as mathematics, geometry, natural philosophy and any other conceptual discipline can be followed. It is no surprise, then, given the primary importance of the food supply, that the first civilisations emerge without fail on flood plains. Until irrigation and other farming technology is developed, the dark alluvial soil of the Mesopotamian flood plains, or the Nile river valley, is the only medium which can be exploited for the kind of mass-production of food needed for human population to reach the critical mass required for civilisation. Water is, of course, one of the main requirements of life; it would appear that it is also the catalyst for civilisation, not merely in the direct provision of drinking water, but also in the action of laying down fresh soil each year. Mesopotamia is often regarded as the initial starting point of civilisation as a whole, considered to pre-date the other centres, with the early Ubaid period beginning in c6000BC. This was still pre-history, with writing not appearing for another 2500 years or so; however, excavations at Ubaid by C.L. Woolley in the 1920s uncovered evidence of irrigation channels, canal systems, and temples connected to the period, as well as clay and terracotta ware, and, importantly, stone tools. Stone is not native to Iraq, implying a trade network; its also worthy of note that the wheel is considered to have been invented by the people of Ubaid. The Ubaid civilisations northern sites suffered some form of catastrophe in the mid-4th century BC, at around the time of the rise of what is known as the Uruk period; whether this was an outside invasion replacing the people of Ubaid, or a natural progression of the society itself is open to debate. The Uruk period (c4000BC-c3100BC) is notable for the beginnings of monumental architecture the first proto-ziggurats as well as the rise of the first large-scale cities, reaching up to 50,000 inhabitants. It is also, contentiously, where writing first appears to develop, in around 3500BC; though the primitive pictographic tablets of the period are effectively just pictures and incapable of describing concepts beyond the purely visual. There is also a great deal of evidence to imply a definite government structure, and therefore also social stratification, and also mass-production of pottery. It is the period immediately following Uruk, known as Jemdet Nasr or the proto-literate period, where writing really begins to take hold, and that history can definitely be said to have begun. Cuneiform symbols developed, possibly for the purpose of tax records, and while some pictographic elements remained within the written language, their numbers began to drop significantly and their meanings move from strictly descriptive to multi-purpose. The development of the pictographs into cuneiforms may have been spurred by the adoption of the wedge-shaped cuneus as the standard writing implement, which made the pictograph itself more difficult to achieve; however, the concept of syllabic writing was still undeveloped, and given the Sumerian tendency to monosyllabic speech forms it would take a while to appear. Jemdet Nasr is also known as Uruk III, and it shares a majority of the typical cultural markers of the previous period, in more highly-developed forms. Most notable of the periods legacies is the sexagesimal number system, still used in time measurement today. Following the proto-literate phase, history can begin properly, and the Sumerian civilisation truly begins. However, the term civilisation implies a unity which was certainly not present in ancient Mesopotamia at the time; the Sumerians were divided amongst themselves into a series of small, competing city-states, in a manner akin to the classical Greeks. This competition took the form of both war and trade, with the area trading its substantial food surpluses for metals and wood from neighbouring areas. In each city, a Priest-King would rule in the name of the citys God, and each city had a different patron deity. Every so often, one city or another would gain primacy in the area, leading to its king claiming the title king of Kish, possibly due to Kish being the first such state to gain hegemony. The city states themselves became increasingly fortified, and warfare between the various kings became near-constant. In spite of the healthy food surpluses, and the vast storehouses kept for grain, farmland and water were a constant prize for these wars, possibly due to food being the primary trade good. While these wars were often violent and repetitive, the king of Kish would occasionally be brought in for arbitration between feuding states; this king could also seemingly try to call on the military aid of other kings should he need it, although not always successfully. This principal of first amongst equals appears to have been shaky at best, with the other states never far enough behind the leader to be safely considered vassals. In conclusion, the origin of civilisation is firmly connected to the supply of food. It is the surpluses which allow it to arise, it is the fertility of the flood plains which marks the site of early civilisation, and it is even the food wealth of Mesopotamia which created the technological hotbed of organised warfare. The intensive competition for limited agricultural land, with little other natural resources, naturally encouraged startling innovations, such as writing and the wheel, just as in Greece they led to the growth of philosophy and mathematics, and in Europe to the rise of the jet fighter and the ballistic missile.

Strategic Business Plan Lexus Motors

Strategic Business Plan Lexus Motors This report is about the meaning and analysis of LEXUS in respect of strategic planning and implementation point of view. In this report I have deliberated about the history of LEXUS and their strategic marketing analysis in terms of its positioning besides its growth rate and market share in todays business environment. And main resolution of the report is to plan the implementation of the strategy. Moreover, we have discussed about the vision, mission, objectives and current marketing trends as well as the SWOT (mà ©tier, weaknesses, opportunities threats) analysis, external internal conservational scanning of the concern in respect of their participants and strategic formulation of the firmpolicyalso how we will going to tool these strategy and also give some recommendations that can help to grow their marketplace share in the upcoming competitive marketing environment. LEXUS competing the competitors maintaining strong relationship with patrons by taking under consideration its Macro PC environment very efficiently. In this report, we also make a thorough review, monitoring and control that how company studied and control the strategy of LEXUS., policies such as corporate strategies, business level and its real-worldpolicies, action program and economical protection of the business. 2 Back Ground The standard for examination was basically the criterion given to me by our teacher. Before commencing my project I have stay in the company. I had conducted few group meetings in which I meticulously discuss concepts and over view of my project. The Business that I would remain researching on was properly selected keeping in view the contact besidesaccessibility.It was basically research project owed to me by our awarding body Edexcel. The main theme of the project was to choose particular excising organization and constructs its organisationplan; develop vision, mission and objectives besides measures plain for the implementation of the strategy the research was led by by direct and projective techniques and animated research.This was basically a very good learning experience as I conducted proper field study, and this gave me a factual idea of the strategy formulation and implementation of the finished strategy that I might be hesitant upon throughout my professional life and for preliminary my profitable it s really realobliging for future. 3 METHODOLOGY My research project contains detail evocative research. It doesnt include any quantitative investigation its solely based upon qualitative data. which I calmfinishedright visiting to the organization besidesleadingmeetings .and myself also collect some financial information of the businessafterhereyearly financially record books. I also conduct information from different online resources. That is I showed the penalties qualitatively. E.g. how my company frames, appraise and control group for the appeal of the plan. 4 Vision, Mission and Objective 4.1VISION Statement To be the professional and innovative in Motor Industry in all around the World. 4.2 LEXUS MISSION STATEMENT Lexus is stanch to customer satisfaction through offering high quality with excellent services and good value of their price. We take great pride in aiding each other, our customers. We seek continuous improvement in all that we do for the benefit our stakeholder and the society we live within. To attract and retain customers with the highest worth products and services and the most satisfying tenure experience. 4.3 Statement of Values Lexus firmly stanch with a corporate philosophy that incorporates solid values. We encourage a culture of mutual respect and treat in cooperation our team members and users with quick facilitiesthenupkeep. We aim to be proactively responsive to new ideas only if variety of Motors as compare toward our competitors. 4.4 Objectives To Increase advertising by 70% by December 2011. Generate 70% brand awareness within the consumers target market by December 2011. To break even by the end of 2011 To increase in market share by December 2011. To earn a good reputation and create a good image of the company by reducing customers complaints by December 2011. To increase the sale of Lexus motors up to 3million by the end of 2014. 4.5 CORPORATE FINANCIAL OBJECTIVE To achieve return on sales 90% by JUNE 2011 and double it by JUNE 2012. To achieve cost to income ratio of 90% by May 2010 and reduce this ratio by 30% on a yearly bases. To capitalize the business by January 2012 To always maintain high sales of 100% by January 2012. 5 EXTERNAL INTERNAL ENVIRONMENTAL SCANNING 5.1.1Political Analysis Since Lexus Motors operates in multiple countries across Europe and Asia, the Vital East, and Australia, it requirements to pay close care to the political climate Which are also laws then regulations in all the countries he operates in while also paying attention to regional leading bodies. Laws governing commerce, trade, growth, andasset are reliant on the local government as well as how Successfulnativebazaarsthenthrifts will remain due toward regional, national and local influence. 5.1.2 Ecumenical Analysis Functional in numerous countries across the world, Lexus Motors occupations with a globalpecuniary perception while focusing on each individual market. Because Lexus is in a rapid growth period, expanding or forming a joint undertaking in over six countries world-wide since 2007, a worldwide approach enables Lexus Motors to adapt and learn from the other different regions within the complete automotive industry. They needability and resources from five continents across the globe, thus when any mutable changes in the marketplace they can gather information andfunds from all over the world to talk any issues. For instance, if the value of the aluminum required to make train blocks goes up cutting-edge Kenya, Lexus has the selection to get the aluminum from other suppliers in Asia who they would generally get meanwhile for production in Ukraine or China. 5.1.3 Social Analysis With out any confusion, the beliefs, opinions, and general boldness of all the stakeholders in an organizationwill touch how well a company does. This includes every stakeholder since the CEO and Premier, down tothe line workers who rivet the door panel into place, after the saver to the customer, the culture and attitude of all these people will eventually determine the future of a Organization and whetherthey will be lucrative or not. For this aim, Lexus Motors inclines to use anaddition and seldom separation technique by foreign companies theyobtain. In 2007, LexusEngines acquired fordmarketableVehicles Company, which was at the time Koreas second largest truckmaker. Slightly than using de-acculturation or integrating Daewoo, Lexusappropriated an integrated approach, and continued building besides marketingDaewoos current models as well as introducing a few new copies transnationallyunbiased as it had continual done below Korean organization. 5.1.4Technological Analysis Lexus Motor viewpointits parent company, the Lexus Group, are ahead of the game in the know-how field.The Organization growth is a deep empathetic of financial stimuli and customer needs, andthe ability to translate them into customer-desired aidsfinishedprincipal edge. Engaging 1,500 experts and concocts,LexusGas-poweredTraining and Development team is debauched of the pack inUK marketplace and right concluded the rest of the field globally. AmongLexus innovatorsbe located the first indigenously industrial Light CommercialVehicle.In all ancarbuilder must modificationfamiliarize andproduce to vacation competitive in the automotive eagerbesides this is exactly what Lexus is doing over their rapid development, thenextensive research and growth. 5.2 Industry Competitive Analysis 5.2.1 Threat of New Entrance For the current UK marketplace for Motor Industry, it is not difficult for a Motor Industry to enter the market. However, it would remain extremely difficult to take ended already running major Big Government dominancy in UK or even make a important amount of profit Ford holds the first-mover benefit into the Green Cars specialty Motor Industry that gives them free reputation. Customers, especially heavy lorry drivers who remain used to going to TTC as a treat or reward after their company are not going toward go to other company theyve not ever heard of. The makedesignation is before established also, there is nowa large variety in the numerous western-style trains is obtainablein UK, such as Rover,Ponto and Land Rover. 5.2.2 Threat of substitute products As printedoverhead, there are a few major contestants in the Motor Manufacturing in Uk for Lexus, namely Ford and Ponto. The substitute products, in this case, would be TerrestrialNomad. Though they standcompetitors, their chiefcropsvaryimportantly from each other, in that they vend, Magana, Old-styleUkchic Motors, These alternatesopinionabsolutelycautiousfit as compared to the Lexus. Smooth Motors from street sellerstotalby way of substitute Motors. 5.2.3 Threat of bargaining power of suppliers The suppliers, like the buyers, have very little bargaining power. In terms of Lexus , Fords upon its move into UK, advised many of its Indian. suppliers to also extend branches into Europe. Lexus also began helping local suppliers by giving them technological support to improve their products. This is a brilliant strategy because the provisions that Lexus would otherwise need to import after the U.S. can now standgotten domestically, and if the Indian. Suppliers decide to raise their prices;Lexus caneffortlessly switch to the nativedealers. This gives us a brilliant strategy. By this strategy, Lexus created competition among its suppliers, lowering the supplier bargaining power. In terms of human resources, toil cost is extremely low because the supply of non-skilled workers great exceeds the demand for them. With so slight buyer and supplier hagglingpanels, Lexus remains able toward have a real tight switch over its prices and expenses. 5.2.4 Threat of bargaining power of Buyers The customers of Lexus, especially as individual buyers, have almost no bargaining power because doubt only one client threatens to no longer Buy Lexus, the store is not going to lower its price because the cost of late one customer is not very great.If Lexus is not providing any Other deal or upsurge the standards then customer will automatically switch toward other contestants e.g. Ford, Peugeot,and Land rover, can control these things by giving them a variety of Creation and other deal at sensiblestandards in command to grab the market and to maintain stability 5.2.5 Rivalry among existing competitors More or less what one would expect, Lexus has little rivalry with similar Motors in India. The primary aim is that their essential products are different, as in they sell different types of Motors with very different tastes and styles. For example, if Lexus elevatedhis price for normal car by a small quantity, UK Motors lovers who may not be as accepting to any other motors In addition to that, these businesseshave such different target patrons that the fluctuation of price for one out let is not going to affect the others. For sample, a full range car at Lexus ranges about  £30,000, but a full range keep is onFords motors can cost over  £40,000. The drastic difference in price swears no price opposition between these motors. 5.3 Internal Environmental Analysis Strategy Structure Style Staff Skills Systems Shared value Lexus focusing the horizontal growth strategy in the Motors industry. Lexus has top to bottom and bottom to top style of structure as top level of management also take feedback from lower level of management, Lexus is following participative leadership style all decisions took place in General meetings on popular bases Lexus has skilled and skilled staff to work within. Lexus provide proper training to staff on to meet set standards. A special log in addition checked with in body of Health besides Safety. Lexus has detached production department based on very capable worker for making of Motors. Lexus conduct changed types of polls for the feedback from their costumers and manner different types of products for their imposts. Lexus uses Quality Organization Program Managing quality in a manufacturing occupational revolves everywhereconcernedclient expectations. Lexus aim is to be proactively sociable to new ideas individual if variety of Motors as compare to our entrant in order to s atisfy clients. 6 SWOT Analysis 6.1 Strength New speculation by Toyota for its Lexus brand in factories in the US and China saw 2007 profits rise, against the international motor industry trend. Remaining profits rose 0.8% to 1.17 trillion yen ($11bn;  £5.85bn), while sales were 7.4% higher at 18.55 trillion Dollars. In 2003 Toyota analyzed its contestants Ford into third advertisement, to become the Worlds second largest carmaker with 6.78 zillioncomponents. The business is still behind rivals Over-all Motors done 8.59 million units in the same period. 6.2Weakness Being big has its own problems. The World market for cars is in a state of saturate and so car creators need to make sure that it is their models that clients want. The company needs to preserve producing flatcars in order to keep in mind its prepared efficiency. Car plants symbolize a huge deal in expensive fixed costs, as well as the from top to toe costs of homework and recollecting labor. 6.3 Opportunities Lexus and Toyota now have a reputation for manufacturing environmentally friendly vehicles. Lexus has RX 400h hybrid, and Toyota has it Prius. Lexus is to target theurban youth marketplace. The company has launch its new Aygo, which is targeted by the sharp youth market and captures (or attempt to) the nature of dance plus DJ culture in a very viable section. 6.4 Threats Product recalls are always a problem for vehicle manufacturers. In 2005 the company had to recall 990,00 sports utility vehicles and accidental trucks due to faulty front delay systems. The company is also exposed to any force group in the price of raw wealth such as rubber, steel then fuel. The key economy in the appeasing, the US and Europe also gengo-slows. These financial factors are potential intimidations for Toyota. 7STRATEGYFORMULATIONS 7.1. Corporate level Strategies Lexus focal argument on Horizontal growth strategy, Lexus always make a decision to pursue new and additional customers and furthermore it chooses to search new technology. E.g. Green Cars is one of the mile nuggetsof this group. 7.2. Business level Strategies Lexus was able to greatly decrease lead-time and cost using the TPS, while humanizing quality at the same time as a Business level Strategy. This allowed it to become one of the ten largest companies in the world. Him is now as lucrative as all the additionalcarriagecorporations shared and became the main car manufacturer in 2008. 7.3. Functional/Departmental Strategies The Principles of Functional Approaches of the Lexus Way is aadministrationviewpoint used by the Lexus firm that includes the Lexus Production System. The main ideas are to base organisation decisions on a philosophical sense of purpose and think long term, to must a process for solving problems, to add value to the organization by emergent its people, then to recognize that continuous solving root problems drives organizational knowledge. 8. Critical Success Factor (7 S model) 8.1 Strategy Lexus is the world main and most well known Motor Production Company, per chain in more than 15 thousand locations and worldwide in 75 countries Lexus had refocused global strategies to grow up its lucrative and licence Motor base overall over the world. 8.2 Structure Trainee Managers help with day-to-day running of the restaurant, and need to ensure that all operations, customer service, cash handling, marketing, purchasing, human resources, supervision and training development policies are followed Responsible for working the service areas in addition ensuring quality product, service and hygiene is delivered to all customers by top speed too with a smile. 8.3 Style Lexus spotlight on participative leadership style. Each out let manager uses the style of interpersonal edge with their employees. Lexus management relationship-oriented have both touchingthenuseful elements. 8.4 Staff Lexus also give proper training to all of their employees to maintain standard of the business. Lexus worker revenue is low so all of their staff is loyal and shows obligation. Lexus and its grant employees are further than 700 thousand in all over the world. Lexusbe necessary fully expert and acquaintancesupervise to slog with. 8.5 Skills and Competencies Lexus centre on relational skills as well because they are dedicated to purchaserpleasure through influence high quality with excellent services and good value. Lexustoomaintain industrial skills by keep reviewing Continuous improvement process to provide good quality Standard motors to their customers. 8.6 Systems The quality, service, and spotlessness program for judging the quality of service outcomes from the standpoint of every customer. The operations provision review program for measuring a Quality process implementation performance against Lexus process condition. The results of these two classextentsequencers are incorporated addicted to the Officialdom. Lexus hires a dedicated interviewing service to survey customers on their impression of formationdelivery and quality. 8.7 Shared Values Lexus too focus on imaginative ideas by given that after sale facilities and have some special ability for the commercial customers. Lexus as an association permits are by convenient places e.g. nearby city centre, big spending malls, chiefsubstructures and native area. Brand evenhandedness is one of the key strength aimed at Lexus to spread its outlet all about the world. 9Implementations Strategy Implementation Strategy implementation is the development of allocating resources to support the chosen strategy Objectives Department Action required Resources required Profit maximization. Promotion Large scale advertising activities Bill Board To get a good reputation and create a good image of the Lexus Feature control Supply product according to set standard require Best Stock for Manufacture 3. Stronger out lets all over Country Land survey team New land reform news keeping tab on the competing chains 4. Interactive Relationship Marketing Marketing Focus on Electronic way Building local public relations E Employee loyalty HR Keeping employee turnover low Commitment proper training 6. On time Delivery Transport More Vehicles needed  £ 50,000.00 10. Review, Monitoring and Control 10.1 Monitoring Policy Lexus habitsspecial techniquesin additionworth system for monitor all collect process and sales behavior. Lexus specially focus on to uphold quality and provide product according to set normal so they obligate quality specialists staff employed for monitor all managerial process behavior day to day bases. 10.2 Control Lexus has its own Data base to keep all the record of sales and clientele. Lexus control and share aggregated demographic with publicist and related all franchises. Lexus also use outside companys t beakoperators for if services. Lexus has good team who manages and keeps control off all effortssince they are the part of Lexus. Lexus all statistics and in order is copy right and highly secret to reservation its standard in the intimidatingforcefulmarketplace. 11 BUDGETS 11.1 Financial performance for the last 3 years (2008-2010) Actual and forecasted financial statement for the period ending 2010 2008( £000) 2009( £000) 2010( £000) Revenue 10000 17000 30000 Cost of Sales (5500) (5000) (6700) Gross profit 5500 7000 15400 Distribution costs (800) (1000) (1100) Administration expenses (1200) (1600) (1800) Net profit for the year 1200 6600 7700 Gross profit % 45% 60% 68% Net profit for the year % 18% 55% 55% 11.2 Actual balance Sheet as at 2008-10 and forecasted balance sheet 2008( £000) 2009( £000) 2010( £000) Non-current Asset Property, plant Equipment 6676 7500 7940 Current Assets Inventories 515 700 536 Receivables 291 500 280 Cash cash equivalent 645 500 692 Total current Assets 751 1200 2208 Total asset 7527 7200 8148 Equity and Reserves Issued share capital 2723 2535 1839 Share premium 6899 3600 5381 Revolution reserves (128) 1200 9025 Retained earnings 16 85 203 Total Equity Reserves 7727 5100 9148 11.3 Summary of financial budgets for the next 3 years Actual balance Sheet as at 2007-10 and forecasted balance sheet 2011-2013 2011( £000) 2012( £000) 2013( £000) Non-current Asset Property, plant Equipment 90000 10000 11000 Current Assets Inventories 4000 6000 6000 Receivables 11000 22000 70000 Cash cash Equivalents 12000 220000 10000 Total Assets 114000 144000 155000 Equity and Reserves Issued share capital 80600 95600 87350 Share premium 7500 7600 8600 Revolution reserves 6000 12200 25000 Retained earnings 12900 14400 25150 Total Equity Reserves 154000 130000 155000 G A N T T C H A R T Total Budget  £300 Million. Marketing Activities Time (when action) Responsibility 2010 2011 J F M A M J J A S O N D Advertisement à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ Advertising Agency Sponsorship à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ Marketing Asstt Sports Event Hosting à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ Marketing Asstt Events New Car Launch à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ Country Director Road Show à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ Total  £ 12 Conclusion The GX 470 is one of the three SUVs offered by Lexus luxury nameplate, Lexus. The vehicle is placed in the middle of the smaller RX and the full-size LX in everything from size to price. It linked the Lexus line-up in 2010 and is currently in its first generation.AirConditioner. SomeLexus GX470s may mustglitches with the air conditioner system. Cutting-edge some cases (exact to the 2007 to 2010 model ages) the A/C may not cool sufficiently, requiring various parts to be marked for repairs. Some 2007 vehicles might need the expansion valve replaced as a consequence of breakingbeforereport noises after the hindmost air conditioner component.

Construction Incident Report of Hospital

Construction Incident Report of Hospital Introduction This report looks at incidents that have occurred on a project to extend and refurbish a cancer centre at a North-West Hospital. Assumptions With sectional completion dates, it is taken section cannot commence until the previous section has been completed (Chappell, 2011), with all the incidents relating to section 1. The contractor has issued their master programme as clause 2.9.1.2 of the contract, this programme is not contractually binding but for reference purposes only (Out-law, 2013). Incidents Overhead Cable The overhead cable diversion works do not form part of the contract (Chappell, 2014), clause 2.7.2 of the contract allows the client to undertake works not part of the contract with permission of the contractor and that permission is not to be unreasonable refused (Chappell 2014). Clause 2.27.1 requires the contractor to give notice as soon as they are aware an issue may cause delay (JCT, 2011), this allows the contract administrator to monitor the situation and insure the cable is diverted before any delay occurs (Chappell 2011). Failure to provide notice or late notice may be considered not to comply with clause 2.28.6.1 requiring the use of best endeavours to avoid delay (Chappell 2011). The client relocated the cable prior to the steel erection date thus no delay to the contract works occurred. The contract administrators response notice under clause 2.28.1 it will state that no extension of time is to be granted as no delay materialised. Access The tender information did not include the restrictions detailed in the quality manual, visiting site would not have highlighted these issues to the contractor. This omission of information is a relevant event under clause 2.29.7 as it imposes a new impediment on the contractor not included in the contract, this impediment being under the control of the client (Chappell 2014). However, clause 2.28.6.1 requires the contractor to use best endeavours to prevent delays, and clause 2.28.6.2 requires the contractor to proceed reasonably when a delay occurs (Dunn, 2011).   Knowing after the first meeting of restricted access it is reasonable that the contractor plan work so access is not required on these Thursdays, access for everyone else is still available so works can proceed (Dunn, 2011) Reduced Hours The no machine digging between 2pm and 4pm is different as this occurs every day making re-planning difficult for the contractor, the delay only relates to digging operations and no other site activities. In Amalgamated Building Contractors Ltd v. Waltham Holy Cross Urban District Council [1952] the cause of delays occurred every day, it was held that it was reasonable for the contract administratorto decide on extension of time on completion (ICE 2007). Delays associated with the other incidents are likely to mean that the adjusted completion date is not affected by this issue. Drainage Works Under clause 2.13.2 of the contract the contractor is not responsible for the employers design (Dunn, 2011), clauses 2.14.2 and 2.14.3 allow the correction of any errors in the design with corrections treated as a variation (Cartlidge, 2013). Thus, an instruction is to be issued under clause 3.10 to undertake investigation works and the alteration works being instructed under 3.10.2 requesting a quotation based on the revised design (Dunn, 2011). The investigation works should be valued as clause 5.7.1 daywork rates as the extent of the works would not have been known (Cartlidge, 2013) with the alteration works being valued as clause 5.2.2 and the accepted quotation. A variation is a relevant event under clause 2.29.1, with the drainage alterations solely in the confines of the site preventing any other works from progressing, clause 2.28.1 of the contract requires the contract administrator to issue a fair and reasonable extension of time. The completion date of section 1 should be adjusted by 5 weeks, this can be done even without notice under clause 2.27.1, London Borough of Merton v Stanley Hugh Leach Ltd. 1985 to prevent time going large (Dunn, 2011). Cladding The cladding is an undefined provisional sum, this will mean that the contractor has not allowed for these works in the price or programme (Suttie 2013).   Provisional sums require an instruction from the contract administrator to progress under clause 3.16 and an undefined provisional sum becomes a variation and relevant event under clause 2.29.1 (Brooks et al., 2011). In Walter Lilly Co Ltd v Clin [2016] the court stated that when not defined in the contract the client is responsible for providing sufficient information in time to obtain the required planning consents (Tulloch 2016), delay in issuing any instruction due to planning authorities is the responsibility of the client. When instructed, it should be based on a quotation from the contractor, the works are then valued as clause 5.2.2. The contract administrator needs to consider whether any delay to the cladding works will mean that the works go beyond the previously adjusted completion date of section 1. Cladding Programme and delay Time Weeks Date Task Complete Delay Weeks Revised Design 1 29/08/2014 Foundation works 0 Planning Decision 8 24/10/2014 2-week foundation works 0 5-week delay in steel erection 0 1-week steel erection 0 Quotation 2 7/11/2014 2-weeks steel erection 0 Material ordering 6 19/12/2014 1-week steel erection 5 Installation 4 16/01/2015 4 Total 21 9 Loss and expense Clauses 4.23 to 4.26 of the contract cover loss and expense relating to the delays (Chappell 2011). The current delay is 5 weeks for the drainage and 9 weeks for the cladding, any entitlement to loss or expense must be directly related to the actual timing of the delay (Chappell, 2011). The contractor cannot make an over exaggerated claim for loss as found in C P Haulage v Middleton (1983) the claim for any loss must be justified (RICS, 2015). The average weekly costs for the contractor during the delay were  £4,609, not all costs were non-productive as the investigation works, diversion works and cladding are valued in the contract, members of the site staff would have been carrying out both other on-site works and preparation works for future activities (Chappell, 2011). The contractor must minimise loss due to the delay this includes relocating staff and plant where possible (Chappell, 2011), evidence that relocation had not been possible is required to claim for these items as Shore v Horwitz Construction v Canada Ltd (1964) (RICS, 2015) Security  £650 Light/Power  £125 Sundries  £230 Insurances  £234 Safety Precautions  £123 Weekly Total  £1,362 14 weeks  £19,068 Actual on-site loss to the contractor following the removal of productive items or those that could be reallocate are as follows: The contractor may also claim for office overheads that they cannot divert to new projects during the extra time on-site (Lomas-Clarke, 2014). These losses can be calculated using a formula such as the Emden formula (Lomas-Clarke, 2014) as J F Finnegan v Sheffield County Council (1988) (RICS, 2015) (Overhead and Profit Percentage) 7% x (Contract Sum)  £4,000,000 (Contract Period) 52 Weeks Equals  £5,384 per week x 14-week delay =  £75,376 (Lomas-Clarke, 2014) The total loss and expense claim is  £94,444, for all loss and expense claims the contractor must provide evidence (RICS, 2015) Liquidated Damages The extension of time granted to section 1 adjusted the completion date for this section, if this adjusted date is not met by the contractor then the liquidated damages stated in the contract for section 1 can be claimed by the client (Murdoch Hughes, 1993). On completion of each section the liquidated damages no longer apply to that section going forward (Murdoch Hughes, 1993). Following completion of section 1 section 2 can commence with its original duration that is stated in the contract (Dunn, 2011) if the contractor then fails to meet the adjusted completion date for this section then liquidated damages as stated in the contract can be claimed by the client (Murdoch Hughes, 1993). Conclusion The project has suffered delays which have required adjustment of the contract completion date and allowed a loss an expense claim by the contractor. The contractor is required to proceed at a reasonable pace and if they do not complete by the adjusted completion date the client will be able to claim liquidated damages as set out in the contract.

Oil and Saudi Arabia Essay -- Essays Papers Oil Saudi Arabia Papers

Exposing the Saudi Arabian Royal Family, U.S. foreign policy, and the poverty currently occurring within Saudi Arabia Preface The current world dependence on oil leaves much to be said about the impact of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East on foreign policy and international politics. Presently the world's largest consumer of oil, the U.S. depends on Saudi Arabia and much of the Middle East for the energy to run its businesses, its homes, and most importantly, its automobiles. In the past few months U.S. consumers have felt the pressures of increasing gasoline prices as they struggle to commute and live their daily lives. This leaves the U.S. with important decisions to be made on behalf of its citizens and its position in the international realm. Saudi Arabia, the leader of OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Companies), maintains a powerful position in negotiations with the U.S. and other countries. Its vast supply of oil directly effects per barrel pricing and is a unique bargaining tool in international politics. But Saudi Arabia is no ordinary country in today's world. Its borders are governed by a royal family of nearly 30,000 individuals, all of which share most of the wealth and almost all of the power. Its people, with foreign exceptions, are wholly Islamic and many practice the faith with a frightening sense of devotion. And despite the immense revenue generated by its oil reserves, part of its population still lives in absolute poverty. Although recently it has seen immense change, it is still a country fair behind the progressive world. This report draws from many publications written over the last twenty years exposing the unique situation in Saudi Arabia, while also utilizing recent headl... ... September 2003 (31 May 2004). ?Oil jumps back near $42,? (31 May 2004). ?Plots and bombs,? The Economist, May 1 2004: 47. ?Still at its mercy,? The Economist, May 22 2004: 10 ?The limits of reform,? The Economist, Mar 27 2004: 47. ?US Challenges and Choices Saudi Arabia: A View from the Inside,? The Atlantic Council of the United States, The Middle East Institute, The Middle East Policy Council, and The Stanley Foundation, (May 31, 2004). ?What if The Economist, May 29 2004: 69. William Powell, Saudi Arabia and its Royal Family, (New Jersey: Lyle Stuart Inc., 1982). World Bank Report 2003, ?Saudi Arabia,? Oil and Saudi Arabia Essay -- Essays Papers Oil Saudi Arabia Papers Exposing the Saudi Arabian Royal Family, U.S. foreign policy, and the poverty currently occurring within Saudi Arabia Preface The current world dependence on oil leaves much to be said about the impact of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East on foreign policy and international politics. Presently the world's largest consumer of oil, the U.S. depends on Saudi Arabia and much of the Middle East for the energy to run its businesses, its homes, and most importantly, its automobiles. In the past few months U.S. consumers have felt the pressures of increasing gasoline prices as they struggle to commute and live their daily lives. This leaves the U.S. with important decisions to be made on behalf of its citizens and its position in the international realm. Saudi Arabia, the leader of OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Companies), maintains a powerful position in negotiations with the U.S. and other countries. Its vast supply of oil directly effects per barrel pricing and is a unique bargaining tool in international politics. But Saudi Arabia is no ordinary country in today's world. Its borders are governed by a royal family of nearly 30,000 individuals, all of which share most of the wealth and almost all of the power. Its people, with foreign exceptions, are wholly Islamic and many practice the faith with a frightening sense of devotion. And despite the immense revenue generated by its oil reserves, part of its population still lives in absolute poverty. Although recently it has seen immense change, it is still a country fair behind the progressive world. This report draws from many publications written over the last twenty years exposing the unique situation in Saudi Arabia, while also utilizing recent headl... ... September 2003 (31 May 2004). ?Oil jumps back near $42,? (31 May 2004). ?Plots and bombs,? The Economist, May 1 2004: 47. ?Still at its mercy,? The Economist, May 22 2004: 10 ?The limits of reform,? The Economist, Mar 27 2004: 47. ?US Challenges and Choices Saudi Arabia: A View from the Inside,? The Atlantic Council of the United States, The Middle East Institute, The Middle East Policy Council, and The Stanley Foundation, (May 31, 2004). ?What if The Economist, May 29 2004: 69. William Powell, Saudi Arabia and its Royal Family, (New Jersey: Lyle Stuart Inc., 1982). World Bank Report 2003, ?Saudi Arabia,?

Fitting In in the book I Want to Be Miss America Essay examples -- Jul

In â€Å"I Want to Be Miss America,† Julia Alvarez examines her adolescent struggle to be â€Å"American.† For Alvarez, her Hispanic culture becomes a burden to her inclusion in American society. So, Alvarez and her sisters, struggle to become what they are not, Americans. Alvarez uses a somewhat biased stereotype to identify the model of an ideal American, but she does make clear. The struggle of all American teenagers to fit into or molded by a standard which for many of them is impossible to achieve. Relating to Alvarez and her struggle is very easy and well known in every generation. Society puts a ridiculous high standard on outer appearances, especially for girls and women. Women grasp the perspective of the standards that are set and put them into drive. Women become stressed, emotional, and nutcases because they want to please others instead of pleasing themselves. In some cases, women have died trying to live up to these customaries, if not becoming dangerously ill. As a young lady, knowing what could happen, frightens but doesn’t phase me. Wi...

The changes in ethnic cultures over the years in America

The USA is consists of a wide variety of cultural and ethic groups. Such diversity has variously been described as being a â€Å"melting pot†, â€Å"cultural mosaic† or evens still a â€Å"tossed salad†. Such ethnicities include Chicano, Afro-Latin American, Asian American, American-Indian and African-American. Such peoples exhibit different cultural elements through clothing, food, ceremonies and recreation. Native Americans have evolved from the interaction of typical US culture plus subjection to alien government structures, ideology, and social arrangement with different Native Americans’ traditional civilizations.Present Native Americans exhibit certain common features which, to some extent, may be a merger of conventional elements, adaptive tactics, as well as different acculturation levels to prevailing cultures. Such elements include: a persisting feeling of pride regarding cultural legacy; a conviction in spirit and body interrelatedness; dependen ce upon relationship networks and extended society and culturally unique communication methods (Amoko, 2000, 377). The communication style so depicted is less spoken and less direct compared to that of mainstream USA culture.It exhibits courtesy standards and suitable interaction standards. African Americans are in touch with some conscious knowledge of existing as an ingredient of a grouping having a specific historical position and some political association with different groups in the USA. Additionally, particular African Americans have common world viewpoints and affiliations which are based upon aspects of Protestantism, conventional African culture and indenturehood, subordination and slavery within United States society.Every African American does not embrace a black uniqueness. Possession of such identity implies that reference grouping functions within individual identity become grounded within an individual’s blackness (Tamase, 2007, 476). The values, cultural favo rites, artistic flavors, leisure actions, food preferences and cooking methods, religious and secular musical preferences, church association, group membership, plus social associations or close friends all are prejudiced by individual apparent relationship with black persons.Therefore, several or majority of the hope and meaning individuals have for leading purposeful lifestyle’s are related to personal self-perception as African-Americans (Azoulay, 1999, 364). Africentric viewpoints of the world are characterized by common responsibility, interdependence and cooperation. Protestantism within black civilization promotes collectivity and group unity. Extended families are the suitable examination for African American family studies. With no regard to revenue levels, African Americans exhibit more probability of living together with extended family relatives.African American place substantially more value to spiritual matters in treating and causing developmental plus other ph ysical disabilities. Rather that, or on top of, seeking medical help or consulting rehabilitation schemes, numerous African Americans greatly depend upon community assistance, especially church aid. Parents of African American children exhibit wider perceptions regarding normalcy plus they possess a broader variety of expectations regarding developmental landmarks in the behavior of children as compared to numerous educational experts (Pincheon, 2000, 273).The Hispanic culture exhibits high diversity as regards ethnicity, Culture, economic and education levels, and geographic source. However, certain commonalities as regards beliefs, customs as well as world viewpoints exist. Conventional Hispanics exhibit a culture founded on catholic philosophy with inextricable intertwining of native South American and central ideologies concerning the world.Characteristics identified from Hispanic cultures include: the dominance of the family concept having a obviously defined authority hierarch y; an individualized though ritualistic admiration based upon selfhood as opposed to achievement, and that which makes persons from conventional Hispanic civilization to feel at ease amid north American-type professionalism that accords respect based on a person’s possession of particular skills and devaluation of persons with darker skin and according of more value to social standing (Amoko, 2000, 376)Viewpoints regarding disability among Hispanics are prejudiced by convictions regarding the interaction of spiritual and physical realms. Families, acting as very influential support organizations, regard certain situations as being only reflections of personal differences as opposed to disability. They thus adapt work and family roles in order to put up with such differences (Anderson, 2004, 346). Nevertheless, extreme disability, particularly developmental types, is regarded as a shame within traditional Hispanic families.Numerous conventional families, despite the fact that they could look for aid from conventional health structures, also could look for assistance from traditional healers and clergy members. However, acculturated, urbanized Hispanics do not exhibit much utilization of traditional healers’ services. A 1991 survey involving seventy five Mexican women revealed that 97% were conversant with traditional healing and in excess of 50% had already been subjected to folk healing (Dernbach, 2005, 503).Thus, for numerous Mexican Americans, traditional medical services as well as folk therapy are crucial, with each tackling various requirements in various ways. The Asian American group is very difficult to explain owing to huge racial disparities among groupings and disparities regarding language, culture and religion. It comprises close to 5 percent of the American population. However, certain commonalities exhibit themselves because the core of eastern civilizations is harmony and collectivity.Such cultures exhibit characteristics such as: social regulation; harmony; regulations regarding propriety; benevolence; filial faithfulness; cooperation; loyalty; obligation and reciprocity. Such qualities exist in a structure of arranged relationships and roles which focus on interdependence and subordination. A conviction regarding the preeminence of the collective harmony over the individual is further exhibited in respect to history (Amoko, 2000, 382). American having Chinese lineage exhibit high levels of social harmony (collectivism) as opposed to individualism portrayed within mainstream USA culture.Such concern for harmony-within-hierarchy borrows heavily from Confucian ideology and usually persists to influence American with Chinese lineage. Such preoccupation with conventional Chinese culture regarding operation in structured and well-defined social linkages could result to certain Chinese Americans expecting similar well-defined system and function within a counseling (rehabilitation) relationship (Simon-Klutz, 2002 , 284). The client-oriented viewpoint employed by numerous USA rehabilitation therapists could be regarded as too ambiguous by clients of Chinese descent.Pacific civilization exhibits cultural observations like observing humility, respect, family involvement and choice and being and living with ones family. Conventional pacific Culture reveres family life plus the safeguarding of family respect. For instance, within conventional Samoan traditions, individuals are conferred identity only if they can illustrate their relationships to â€Å"alga† or the extended family (Tamase, 2007, 472). Individual requirements, eccentricities and objectives should be suppressed to benefit the family grouping.Within Samoa as well as in the greater Pacific region, strong restraints against exposure of family issues to outside parties exist. The language used among American Samoans originates from the Austronesian linguistic family. The subgroups are Tuvalu, Tokelu and Samoan. Residents of Ameri can Samoa speak both English and Samoan languages. Symbolism among Samoans exists in from of ‘the Samoan way† or ‘fa’samoa’. This includes beliefs, traditions and attitudes symbolizing a world viewpoint explaining suitable way of life, common through out the archipelago (Anderson, 2004, 349).Ancient Samoans cultivated taro and yams, kept chickens, dogs and pigs and practiced lapita pottery. They sailed using double-hulled sea vessels. Under United States navy government, Samoan culture was preserved when it was not counter to us regulations. Hereditary and talking chiefs had permission to continue assemblage forms to handle local politics. Up to the 1900s, Samoans practiced rural lifestyles and this still is the case within many villages out of Pago Pago Bay and outlying isles. Urbanization has been slightly attained near the airfield and Pago Pago bay.Up to the 1950s, ‘fale’ or traditional homes consisted of elliptical structures having corral pebble floors plus round wood prop underneath a beehive-like roof enveloped by sugarcane leaves thatch. Such open residences promoted contact with members of the public and offered little privacy (Esbenshade, 2004, 351). Many households had a sleeping plus a cooking house of smaller size located at the rear, several owned guest houses for hosting visitors. Starting in the 1970s, construction of ‘hurricane’ concrete houses having corrugated metallic roofs has been encouraged by the American administration to reduce tempest damage.Such rectangular houses exhibit increased privacy since they have windows, doors, and at times room dividers. Houses may also be constructed from brick or wood (Amoko, 2000, 385). Traditional homes had minimal furnishings consisting only of sleeping and sitting mats however, contemporary houses exhibit full furnishing with most having telephones and television. Parliamentary structures are of the conventional elliptical shape, as well as community school structures, sections of the airfield terminal and the growers market.Several business buildings at present depict American building designs. Staple foodstuffs in American Samoa include breadfruit, taro, coconuts, bananas, mangoes, papayas, chicken, canned corned beef, seafood and pork. Occasional foods include potatoes, onions, lettuce, carrots, cabbages, tomatoes and beans. Mostly foodstuffs found within us markets are in stock in supermarkets (Anderson, 2004, 356). Long ago, food was eaten during the mid-morning plus early dusk. Food gets cooked although it could be eaten raw. Majority of families sat on mats down on the ground in the traditional times.Guests and elders get served initially and children and women eat last. Owing to changing work cycle, now families have three mealtimes per day. Majority of Tutuila restaurants concentrate on American plus other alien foods, however several present more conventional Samoan foodstuffs (Pincheon, 2000, 277). Foods dis hed up during ceremonial functions include: entire pigs plus daily fare; potato salad; puddings; palusami; chop suey; ice cream and cakes. A lot of food is prepared and served during special occasions as guest may carry home excess servings.Kava, which is a slightly narcotic, none-alcoholic drink, is given to chiefs during ceremonial events. Majority of land is possessed by Samoans except for a little church and government owned land. Traditional communal land ownership was done through ‘aiga’ and was governed by ‘matai’ and this remains the case up to now. Several whites who were spouses to women from Samoa obtained land ownership prior to the 1930s at the time land selling was prohibited by the USA navy (Esbenshade, 2004, 351). Personal land buying is currently allowed only fro individuals having a minimum of 50% Samoan ancestry.Majority of business is related to trading in imported commodities and the American dollar is the exchange medium. Eating places are the most popular retail business ventures followed by grocery shops especially little family-operated general shops. Fish handling and canning is the biggest industry. Tuna is canned and exported to the USA. Age is crucial in determining work functions; young people undertake strenuous undertakings and elderly persons have more inactive, educational and supervisory roles. Children responsibilities are bases in the household while older and middle-aged people assume leadership functions.Formerly a number of persons possess special skills regarding making traditional houses and boats, medicine and fishing (Dernbach, 2005, 511). No real class systems exist within American Samoa. The titles of chiefs are classified to some extent on the basis of ancient traditions. Such titles are reserved to particular families, called ‘aiga’; however, a number of them are positioned higher and get more respect compared to others. Such ranking is basically important ceremonially becau se it decides membership to the ‘village council’ or ‘fono’ and the order of serving kava, however everyone gets a speaking opportunity (Azoulay, 1999, 369).Any man can vie to become a â€Å"matai, because titles get obtained through democratic elections held by the â€Å"aiga†. Prior to adoption of currency economic systems, men performed strenuous agriculture, house building and fishing. Young males prepared most of normal meals and cooked during ceremonial occasions. Women’ chores included weaving mats, sewing, child nurturing, laundry and afterwards preparing meals using contemporary appliances. Majority of such traditional chores persist to date, however, fresh alternatives are significant.Women and men currently work within banks, tuna factories, stores, schools and tourist ventures. Men are employed in transportation, construction, government organizations and shipping. Historically, men have dominated Samoan society with women exertin g much behind-the-scenes authority authoritative and professional posts are mostly held by males, however females occupy significant positions within government organizations and sometimes act as â€Å"matai† (Simon-Klutz, 2002, 282). The youth select wedding partners; however marriage remains basically a financial alliance joining families.Previously, chiefs’ children intermarried, while those having lower statuses usually eloped. Individuals may not marry or date close relatives. Almost all persons marry, often during mid towards late 20s, and marriages involve intricate exchange of gifts by two family units. Divorce cases are uncommon; however remarriages among the youth are quite common. Households average 7 persons consisting of a single or additional nuclear family units plus relatives. They involve 3 generations and exhibits flexibility as regards composition. Members are linked by blood, adoption and marriage.Following marriage, reside at the groom’s or bride’s household. Each household is led by a ‘matai’. All economic and social activities are governed by ‘matai’ (Anderson, 2004, 350). The biggest kin grouping remains ‘aiga’ that involves every person having a shared ancestor. Such extensive family could have family units in various sections of the village or within a number of villages. Such households’ matai exert different authority levels in the ‘aiga’. Matai resolves family disputes and decides regarding fiscal contributions of a family to funerals, church gifts and weddings.The complete aiga primarily intermingles during funerals, weddings, elections plus matai installation and emergencies within families (http://www. everyculture. com/A-Bo/American-Samoa. html). Infants are accorded much attention and affection and are carried or held in the initial year. Household usually have grandmothers who often act as key babysitters. Usually young kids are overseen by grandmothers or other household females and usually by elder siblings. Respect and reverence for authority and age are instilled from early ages.Educational programs for nursery kids plus universal community school schooling is in place. America Samoans exhibit meticulousness regarding courtesy, especially to chiefs and elderly persons. It is not proper to stand up when other people are sitting. In case an individual gets into a room and finds other persons seated on the ground, they ought to slightly bend and utter â€Å"tulouna† or ‘excuse me’. Respectful terms are employed when holding discussions with chiefs. Etiquette plus reciprocal politeness are used during political and ceremonial events.Prior to influx of missionaries by 1830, the maker of the isles plus the people therein was taken to be Tagaloa and religious headship from families was provided by matai (Tamase, 2007, 475). Initial missionaries were from the London Missionary Society and they establis hed the congregation of Christian Church of American Samoa to which 5% of Samoans belong. The Catholic Church has 20% of Samoan followers while the other 30% is taken by Methodist, Pentecostal and Mormon denominations. Western rites are involved during church proceedings with vocal music being a vital element.Devotion of fresh churches has supreme significance and vocal competitions and feasts mark it. Visitors from the USA and close by islands come for such celebrations. Death is regarded as the will of God and the customary conviction that when one dies at a far away location from their residence such person’s spirits trouble survivors continues. Up to the 1980s, funeral services were held one day after one died. Introduction of morgue services permits delayed interment to cater for elatives abroad. During burials, the deceased family is offered gifts.Interment happens on relations’ land (Dernbach, 2005, 515). April 17th Flag Day is marked by activities like customar y grouping singing and dancing, cricket matches, canoe races and speeches. This commemorates the time when the Samoan isles became part of the USA in 1900. Oratory remains a vital custom, and numerous mythology, poetry and legends have survived owing to usage by talking chiefs during village committee deliberation as well as during ceremonial events (http://www. ncddr. org/products/researchexchange/v04n01/cultures. html).The people of Samoa treasure bark cloth wall-hangings (siapo) plus finemats and regard them as family possessions for exchanging during ceremonial events. Finemat and siapo production increasingly is becoming rare. Formerly having tattoos was a prerequisite for being admitted into aumage or qualification fro the title of ac chief. Such art was outlawed within American Samoa a long time ago. However, fresh interest recently draws young males to previously Western Samoa to have the intricate knee-to-upper-abdomen tattoos done on them.Dancing and singing in groups rema in popular forms of art. Huge women or men dancing groups perform unified movements characterized by body and hand claps. Village ritual princesses (taupou) perform Solo dances at times accompanied by men prop dancers (http://www. everyculture. com/A-Bo/American-Samoa. html). The ‘face’ notion, originating from Confucian ideology, among traditional Pacific and Asian Americans makes people’s belief that â€Å"losing face† owing to mental diseases within families could subject families or the person to spiritual or religious crisis.Asians exhibit the least optimistic attitudes towards disabled persons. Numerous Asian Americans are convinced that metaphysical or supernatural forces have a function in disease and health and in misfortune and fortune (Anderson, 2004, 357). Such convictions greatly influence perceptions regarding reasons for disability, therapy of such disability and guilt feelings and shame or responsibility related to having a disabled family member. Conventional Asian Pacific citizens usually source for assistance from sources different from, or on top of, western rehabilitation or medical system.Families will usually desire to seek customary Asian therapies, like herbal medication, or perform particular actions with a view to restoring the equilibrium of the natural world. Asian Americans depend more upon casual social associations as compared to other minorities. American Indians comprise of in excess of five hundred tribal groupings that exhibit great diversity within. Majority of conventional Indian dialects have no word for disabled, handicapped or retarded. Instead of utilizing such classifications, phrases regarding persons descriptive of disabilities, for instance, â€Å"one-who-walks-with-a-limp† or â€Å"one-arm,† may be assigned.Convictions regarding spirit and body interrelatedness contrasts with mainstream belief systems. Strongly traditional American Indians could source for assistance form t raditional healers and also the typical rehabilitation and medical systems (http://www. ncddr. org/products/researchexchange/v04n01/cultures. html). Paradigm modifications happen within all disciplines as technology or knowledge advances. Key shifts within such cultural models are comprehensive, rare and significantly impact on cultural, social as well as political precedence within society.Industrial revolution’s second stage resulted to contemporary society which is characterized by capitalism, humanist principles, political democratic systems, Newton’s physics and transcendental romanticism. Contemporary regimes witnessed the appearance of bourgeoisie, contemporary art plus the conviction that it is possible to understand the earth by applying reason. Modern age also incorporated cultural, economic and political policies on the basis of freedom and equality ideals and progress. Postmodernism’s arrival within the 1960s led to slight alterations within contempo rary society.Despite the fact that postmodernism dislodged occidental theories plus numerous other ideals related to the contemporary period, it failed to offer the momentum needed to restructure society. This impetus required some circumstances which exposed social injustices prevailed within existing economic and political systems and at the same time offer alternative solutions (Anderson, 2004, 359). America has ceased to be a â€Å"melting point† because it does not incorporate minorities within majority cultures. Currently, there exists diverse pluralism of culture developed by way of acculturation.Such pluralism is described in regard to minorities’ liberties relative to prevailing culture. Minorities contribute within majority cultures while disregarding the threat of losing their sub-culture uniqueness. Racial minorities, religious groupings, and philosophical subcultures exist side by side and stand other groups’ customs. A non-hierarchical democratic p luralism supported through communication expertise is substituting the prevailing culture. The notion of regarding product utilization as being an end is dying away and focus is directed locally.The majority has discarded its fixation upon consumerism to embrace fresh attention to friends, family plus social groupings having comparable interests. Owing to divisions emanating from cultural wars and facing economic stagnation, the majority culture started self-realignment on the basis of sub-cultural schemes that offer belonging and equality (Amoko, 2000, 388). While America is enduring economic woes, fresh social systems are developing within the debris offered by disenfranchised cultures.Majority cultures are experiencing transition from a community of financial classes, credit expenditure and consumer principles to an extra group-centered society. Such shift involves change from getting cultural significance out of purchasing and possessing media-produced patterns’ consumer commodities, to promoting an extra individualized participatory and personality culture. Such change of priorities emancipates a stressed community and offers a feeling of dignity and authority to society (http://www.culturewars. org. uk/index. php/site/article/changing_cultural_paradigm/). The principal culture has ditched the business sponsored political programs, because of the wickedness within oppressive economic and social policies and also owing to the absence of prestige and gratification exhibited by buyer indulgence within the financial crisis. While the principal culture was losing confidence within consumer principles, the pluralism of culture metamorphosed to become pluralism free of hierarchies.Within such fresh systems, privileges and rights existent within a democracy get expressed within society with no oppression to lower castes. This seems to be a result of free market financial systems having their majority cultures being hierarchically- arranged. The divisions g enerated through culture wars merged the diverse and vast multicultural system of hyphenated citizens and subcultures to form a political grouping united through democratic principles, humanitarian standards, and the requirement to make the playing arena even.Pluralism, which necessarily is not liberal owing to its incorporation of every political viewpoint, also existed alongside the cultural war. Such a multicultural grouping became prominent when consumerism faded away from the principal culture, and assumed the role of acting as a representation of the fresh social arrangement (http://www. culturewars. org. uk/index. php/site/article/changing_cultural_paradigm/). Works cited Amoko, Apollo O. Resilient Imaginations: No-no Boy, Obasan and the Limits of Minority Discourse. Mosaic, vol.33. 2000; pp. 375-390 Anderson, Crystal S. Racial Discourse and Black-Japanese Dynamics in Ishmael Reed’s Japanese by Spring. MELUS, vol. 29, 2004; pp. 345-360 Azoulay, Katya Gibel. The New Col ored People: The Mixed-race Movement in America. African American Review, vol. 33. 1999; pp. 360-374. Crank, R ip. (April 17th 2009). Culture Wars. Changing Cultural Paradigm. Retrieved on 5th may 2009 from http://www. culturewars. org. uk/index. php/site/article/changing_cultural_paradigm/ Culture of American Samoa Forum. (2007).Culture of American Samoa History and Ethnic Relations, Urbanism, Architecture, and the Use of . retrieved on 5th may 2009 from http://www. everyculture. com/A-Bo/American-Samoa. html Dernbach, Katherine Boris. Spirits of the Hereafter: Death, Funeral Procession, and the Hereafter in Chuuk, Micronesia. Ethnology, vol. 44, 2005; pp. 502-517 Esbenshade, Jill. Codes of Conduct: Challenges and Opportunities for Workers Rights. Social Justice, vol. 31, 2004; pp. 340-355. Pincheon, Bill. â€Å"A Deeper Territory†; Race, Gender, Historical Narrative and the Recorded Field Blues.The Western Journal of Black Studies, vol. 24, 2000; pp. 270-283. Simon-Klutz, L ufuata. On Being Samoan, on Being Woman (E Au Pea Ina’ilau a Tama’itai) (1). Frontier- A Journal of Women’s Studies, vol. 23, 2002; pp. 275-291. Southwest Educational Development Laboratory. (2004). Descriptions of Ethnic Cultures in the United States. Vol. 4, no. 1. Retrieved on 5th may 2009 from http://www. ncddr. org/products/researchexchange/v04n01/cultures. html Tamase, Tui Atua Tupua. In Search of Tagaloa, Samoan Mythology and Science. Archaeology in Oceania, vol. 42, 2007; pp. 462-478.