Two Cheers for Materialism Essay Example for Free

Two Cheers for Materialism Essay Regardless of where we live, where we grew up, and where we are going, its influence has played an important role in our lives. Whether we know it or not, materialism is one of the most influential forces we interact with. In his essay â€Å"Two Cheers for Materialism† James Twitchell discusses the history, location, and impact materialism has had on society. With the use of the view points from many academics and historical figures, Twitchell offers insight into materialism’s effect on how we function in today’s world. He concludes all of this with the idea that materialism is not just the desire to collect commodities, but it’s a force that truly shows the advancement of society. From the days of horses and buggies, to modern day status quo of Hondas and Toyotas, the value of the commodity, both economically and personally, as drastically changed. The economic changing of materialism is obviously seen in the inflation of everything we buy (cloths, foods, cars, ect. ) whereas the value these items have to our identities is not as obvious. In the essay, Twitchell makes his major point by saying that over time materialism has morphed from what we have, to what we are—that is, materialism is our identity. Twitchell focuses a good portion of the essay on the development of materialism, and how it has become part of our identity. An important part of this idea, and how Twitchell views it, is that unlike how many academics view it, materialism is not this horrid idea that breaks us down into little soul-less robots, as depicted in The Great Gatsby. Twitchell argues that materialism is what makes us different then our pre-20th century selves. As Twitchell says â€Å"The outcome of material life is no longer preordained by coat of arms, pew seat, or trust fund. †(289) by this he means that materialism is now a choice. We can use it to decide who we are, by what we buy. No longer are we born into ‘what’ we are. This allows us â€Å"to be cool, hip, with it, with the ‘in’ crowd. † (289). I agree with Twitchell’s theory on this, and moreover can add that this change overtime of materialism’s role has led to groups such as â€Å"yuppies,† â€Å"indies,† and â€Å"preps. Without materialism, then we couldn’t purchase certain items that make us into the groups we want to be in. Materialism gets rid of the disadvantages we are born with, as anyone can fork over some money for knock off goods, or even splurge for the real version. Because of this, materialism has become our identity, and the beauty of it is, unlike genetics, we can change the hand we’re dealt. Twitchell says it best in this passage—â€Å"We live through our things. We create ourselves through things. And we change ourselves by changing our things. (282). Materialism is us. We are materialism. Along with suggesting this major role materialism plays in our lives, Twitchell makes various points on the academics that have critiqued materialism over the years. He scorns those who look down upon the materialistic world, while using their critiques to make points about it. I believe this condescension of academia goes hand in hand with his praise of materialism, as he points out, the academic world looks at themselves with such a high regard, they don’t see the hypocracy in their statements. Twitchell gives the example of the Volvo driving critic who will spend hours criticizing the bourgeois fascination with materials, but neglects the decals on his car, which prove to be just as materialistic. Along with scorning these critics, Twitchell praises many in their contributions to his essay. He uses an academic, Stanley Lebergott, to show the outcome of materialism’s effect on us. As Lebergott says, â€Å"most Americans have ‘spent their way to happiness’. This goes very far in enforcing the positives of materialism, and further scorns those who are against it. Twitchell’s use of other writers is very prominent in this essay, and very important in evaluating the essay as a hole. From history changing men like Karl Marx, to circle-known French sociologists Pierre Bourdieu and Jean Baudrillard, Twitchell while reading this essay, it feels like Twitchell quotes anyone who ever wrote the word materialism on a published document before. This strategy makes me very skeptical of Twitchell’s knowledge. While I agree with most of the points Twitchell makes, I think he relies too heavily on the thoughts of others, which overall ends in a weak backing of his main point. Twitchell gets stuck between †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. All in all, Twitchell makes a very important point about materialism that to me saves its reputation in American culture. Regardless of what we think about materials, materials show how far we’ve come. No longer are we born into a role, materials make it possible to become who we want to be become.

Impact of Poor Services on Healthcare Organization

Impact of Poor Services on Healthcare Organization Assessment 4 Issue 1: Effect of Poor services On Reputation of Kindly Residential Care Rest Home Generally, the reputation of an institution, particularly elderly care facilities, is very essential in order to make known to concerned clients and their families how firm the institution is in offering quality health care services. In order for an institution live up to their reputation or even exceed the expectation of the clients and be more competent than other neighboring competitors, series of quality improvement measures are then conducted all year round. The first step or approach in quality improvement is to be able to identify certain factors that have a potential or a likelihood of contributing to the rise and fall of an institution’s reputation. Patient safety Safety for the client is always considered the highest priority and is the topmost factor to consider. Issues such as shortfalls, injury, elderly abuse and the like are indicators that help measure the quality of service rendered by the institution. If and when complaints in relation to these issues start skyrocketing, that is when measures for legislative amendments are called for. When the safety of a resident is at risk in an institution that is reputed to have substandard services and management, the said institution will be subjected to disciplinary action set by the Ministry of Health. Management The essential component of a healthy institution is quality satisfaction derived from both the staff and, most importantly, the customer or client. And the driving force of an institution is the operational team or the management. Any quality of service rendered by the staff and level of client satisfaction would greatly reflect on the management’s performance. Poor management over staff, facility and its services would lose the trust of its staff as well as its clients. Quality assurance The quest for an institution’s outstanding reputation doesn’t happen only once. Over periods of time, a series of audits, surveys, investigations, studies and statistics are continuously conducted to ensure that an institution lives up to its reputation. Quality assurance is there to make sure that the institution still served its purpose. At some point, certain issues within the institution have been overlooked and what has been known to be reported to responsible parties doesn’t seem to reflect the raw evidence that may arise from poor quality assurance. This would then lead people to think otherwise about entrusting themselves with the institution. On Accountability of Private Sectors and Public Sectors Private sectors are at an advantage when it comes to accountability. The public sector accounts more than the private sector, since most legislations and policies governing private institutions are stipulated by the public sector. When poor services are noted from the public sector, consumers or clients tend to rely more on the private sectors due to their extensive services and features. Because the government has minimal or little involvement over private sectors over quality improvement measures, the private sector may have the opportunity to expand the boundaries of their services in order to improve better client outcomes. There is no formal organizational structure compared to the public sector. Therefore, in the event that poor services may arise from Kindly Residential Care Rest Home, it may turn to be more of a challenge in order to gain competency in the health care industry. Stakeholders They are the persons who have a â€Å"stake ‘’ in any organization. They may be called: Internal Stakeholders in the Kindly Residential Care Rest Home, the Internal Stakeholders are the Owners or the Healthcare Providers, the carers, the nurses, and all who work for the well- being of the elderly especially those persons with dementia. The External Stakeholders include the Government and Non- government organizations which contribute their time, treasure and talent to help the Residential Care Rest Homes deliver quality service. â€Å"Quality of Care’’ is a difficult concept to measure particularly within the context of residential aged care, which involves lifestyle issues as much as health issues. One example is the Australian Accreditation Standards having been credited with contributing to improve care. Though they represent only minimum standards of quality, they do not focus on clinical outcomes. Individual facilities might only be assessed against these standards every 3 years; and within these years, much scope for quality variations may go unnoticed. Hence, collecting and analyzing comprehensive clinical data from aged care facility residents constitutes an essential step in the process of monitoring quality environment. Ways to Improve The USA has introduced and continued to refine, a compulsory technioque of assessment within its nursing homes aimed at monitoring quality of care and clinical outcomes. There is a Minimum Data Set/ Resident Assessment Instrument which is a system of forms to be completed at certain intervals to meet a number of purposes such as care planning, case mix funding and quality monitoring. This uses Quality Indicators as a means of implementing quality assurance and improvement within residential aged care. Residential facilities had been subsidized by the Commonwealth Government since 1962, but funding was not regulated. Initiatives relevant to residential care have included a standardized system of assessment (Resident Classification Scales) to determine resident care needs and a formal system of Accreditation to ensure quality service delivery. Because quality of care is a multi – dimensional concept, no single area of assessment can provide an accurate indication of quality. Thus, an effective assessment should contain as many items considered relevant to quality care. Hughes et. al suggested that quality measures should be integrated into routine clinical practice. The Australian Society for Geriatric Medicine described the Residential Classifications Scales as the â€Å"antithesis of a funding system that generates incentives for quality health outcomes.’’ Government –appointed bodies responsible for assessing residential care facilities compliance with standards improved quality of care within residential care facilities. Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency was introduced in 1998 that compels residential aged care facilities to seek accreditation for funding. Clark and Bowling (32) suggested that quality of life in residential care could be ascertained by looking at measurable indicators such as general health, functional status, mental health, comfort, emotional wellbeing, privacy, choice and autonomy. When considering quality assessment for residential aged care facilities, indicators of quality should encompass areas of clinical care directly related to residents’ physical health, as well as quality of life and lifestyle-related issues such as activities and family involvement. Issue 2: Quality Management Theories Pareto Analysis This is a simple methodology by which prioritization of potential changes through determining the problems that can be addressed and resolved through making necessary changes. Through this technique, the organization can make prioritization according to the individual alteration that could improve the scenario. This quality management tool utilizes the Pareto Principle or the 80:20 rules. This rule utilizes the concept of 20 percent cause that could produce to 80 percent outcome. The Kindly Residential Care Rest Home will use the following approach while taking into consideration the principles of Pareto Analysis to achieve the best practice in healthcare services of the said organization. Problem Identification and List it First, the problems and potential threats are listed down. In this step, possible inputs from clients and members of the Kindly Residential Care Rest Home (KRCRH), and conduct surveys to identify the existing problems in the organization. The root cause of problems are identified In this stage, methods are utilized that warrants the team to identify the root causes of threats and problems. Score Problems In the third step, the organization prioritizes the problems according to its severity or effect on the healthcare practices of KRCRH. Problems are grouped according to their root cause. The identified problems are put in to a group according to their root causes. Add up Scores In this step, scores are added up and identify which of the group has the highest and lowest score. Through this, prioritization is according to scores are done. Take Action In the final step, KRCRH will take actions in addressing the highest priority according to the group or problem that got the highest score. William Edwards Deming Dr. William Edwards Deming proposed the plan-do-check-act, also known as PDCA. It is a four step methodology by which used by the organization to control and improve the services and product of an organization. Kindly Residential Care Rest Home will also make use of this kind strategy to improve the healthcare services of the healthcare organization. The end result of this would be a high quality of services by the facility to the residents and staff of the organization. The following are the Steps of PDCA that the facility will make use: PLAN Objectives and processes are established which are necessary to deliver the outcome in to the expected results. The KRCRH will have a clear view of their target and their goals in achieving their proposed target in this initial phase. DO The plans from the initial phase are implemented in the second step. Data collection is also vital in this phase because the data collected will be used in the later stage of the process. CHECK The KRCRH will do evaluation of the data gathered during the DO stage. These will be charted and analyzed by the facility to identify which needs to improved and which are well in the health care services of the KRCRH facility. ACT Corrective actions are done in phase. The differences between the actual and planned results are analyzed and the root causes are determined. The corrective actions are implemented to achieve the planned outcome of the KRCRH. Issue 3: Quality Management Tools Total Quality Management Behind success of Kindly Residential Care Rest Home are the people who are hand in hand managing an organization, determined to make change for rendering the best of its healthcare services. Through years that Kindly Residential Care Rest Home offers quality of care to its residents and proves its Excellency by garnering prestigious awards, positive feedback and unending trust from stakeholders, family and community its success does not end instead continuity of more complete, comprehensive and structural way of management by enhancement of strategies to improve the quality of services is their big secret towards success or the so called â€Å"total quality management†. Kindly Residential Care Rest Home utilizes total quality management to ensure that giving the quality of care for their residents will not be compromised which can lead to poor health outcomes and downfall of the organization due to improper management. Using the total quality management Kindly Residential Care Rest Home first identify the problem and plan what to do. Second is to implement the solution then evaluate or check if it resolves the problem. And lastly integrate the solution if it works upon further evaluation. As a result Kindly Residential Care Rest Home identified the following problems and able to resolve and improve its quality of service. Falls Risk – most of the common problem that arises among the elderly due to physical restriction like inability to walk or unsteady gait, mental incapacity, side effect of a drug, and in relation to disease condition like poor vision, etc. To prevent this happen solutions are the following: use of sensor mat, call bell, mattress, assistive devices (walker and gutter) , side rails (as necessary and with GP`s order) UTI outbreak – another problem that is commonly and easily acquired by elderly due to low intake of water and poor hygiene. To address this problem the following should be implemented like hand washing, proper hygiene, use of PPE, hand sanitizer to each room and even corridor, health education or information dissemination (mass production of pamphlets regarding UTI prevention), infection control, and proper waste disposal. Patient satisfaction – one of the most important thing to be prioritize because patients are the ones who receives care and they should be satisfied or even exceed the expectation of the services being rendered to them. To be able to improve the quality of care makes the patient satisfied and happy the following are being implemented to have quarterly auditing of services rendered, quality assurance, suggestion box or feedback forms. Incompetent staff – to give a quality of care means to have enough knowledge and skills to handle the patients and assist them according to their needs. Incompetent staff is another problem identified that contribute in poor healthcare delivery service and patient`s injury. For example clinical error, and negative feedback. To address this problem the following are being implemented like comprehensive recruitment and selection, trainings and seminars, disciplinary action, continuous evaluation and staff appraisal. Lean Management Lean Management is all about encouraging everyone in the facilities from the top management down to the staff to be involved in helping to participate in the improvement of quality care, and reducing errors. First, you have to identify the problem and acknowledge that the problem exists and why it is a problem, willingness to change and you can now find ways on how to solve that problem. In Kindly Residential Rest home we value our residents, respect our residents and continue to provide quality of care. We have to understand the voice of our clients, where they coming from, and made sure to meet their needs and put into action. The most important thing in lean for healthcare organization is that the errors and mistakes are being corrected nor improve, the amount of time taken is being valued, productivity increases, and so it is easy for the staff to work easier by eliminating those waste that can provide good quality of care and productivity of the staff. Here are some of the common Errors: Clinical Communication – In electronic patient record, if there is any laboratory test results needed instead of waiting for a week wherein referral needed from the attending physician of the patient and then sending back the result from the physician, the system is being made to remove any unnecessary stages instead laboratory people sends electronic results so he can access right away and evaluate the result. So, it saves time and effort of the patient from travelling. Waiting time/ Getting Appointment – Appointment System is an agreement to meet with the physician at a specific time and day and it is used also to control the demand and the problem is on the mismatch on the capacity of the patients and the physician. In order to avoid this problem the system must be monitored or may provide different type of consultation to accommodate everyone. In result, the patient is being examined on the day she wanted to be seen, less stressed for the staff. Overproducing – spending so much time on something that is not important for the patient Defects – wasted time and effort for the inspection of something that has been already done or inspected In KRRH we value our residents the most, we have to eliminate those wastes and focus to what is important to our client and be able to maintain the quality of work and our commitment to our profession and to the residents as well. Issue 4: Continuous Improvement System It is important to maintain a continuous improvement system for delivery of service to geriatrics. Quality management is one way to improve the system and it is composed of costumer focused organization, leadership, involvement of people, process approach, system approach to management, continual improvement, decision making, and mutually beneficial supplier relationships. In order to perform quality improvement an organization must consists of team that has a deep understanding of an area that requires enhancement. Organization like the Kindly Residential Rest Home is determined to continue finding solutions for the present problems as well in the future that may arise. By continuous improvement of the system there will be a positive result that will lead to a better healthcare service it will ensure the high standard of care that is cost effective and accessible to all. Organization must be sensitive to the needs of the patients and therefore must understand and ensure that there will be a plan of action to meet those needs. This is the result when an organization is costumer focused. Secondly is the Leadership, this is the action of leading a group of people and the leader should know how to unite people that will be involved in achieving the organization’s goals. Thirdly, is the involvement of the people in the organization at any level must do their part in their full capabilities in order to have a successful outcome that can be used for the benefit of the organization. Continuous improvement is necessary because there is no permanent in this world, even the facility in some point changes. Given an example is the technology; people depend on computers and this help in many ways like documentation, auditing and research. Many facilities depend on computer and internet because they make the job easier and efficient. Trainings and seminars a re also another way of improving the system. Developing and enhancing the skills of employees will lead to better healthcare delivery. A well knowledgeable and trained staffs has so much to offer that will benefit not only the clients but also the organization. They will be more confident as well as an important member of the facility. The residents will be satisfied with the care that they are getting from the healthcare providers and as the result they intend to stay longer. The facility will gain a good reputation and the business will be successful. This will attract more people to invest in the health care industry. By frequent assessment and analysis of the problem or changes there will be an ideal plan of action. Continuous improvement in an organization is part of duties and responsibilities of management. To achieve highest performance and success adapting to changes is essential. There is no such thing as constant especially when it comes in dealing with lives of people. Different approaches must be applied depending on the person’s character, behaviour or needs.

The Symbolic Function of the Sambo Doll in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Ma

In 1952, Ralph Ellison published the only novel of his career: Invisible Man; telling the story of an unnamed â€Å"invisible† narrator. Early on, the narrator delineates his invisibility to â€Å"people refus[ing] to see [him];† society neglects to see him as a result of his black lineage (Ellison 3). Ellison incorporates several objects, frequently appearing and reappearing throughout the novel, to expose social and intellectual issues imposed on the black community. Amid the â€Å"procession of tangible, material objects† moving â€Å"in and out of the text† is the dancing Sambo doll whose purpose is to symbolically represent cruel stereotypes and the destructive power of injustice that blacks fall victim to (Lucas 172). Ellison’s rendering of the small paper dolls, representing obedient black slaves, â€Å"unveils an astonishing correspondence between the past and the present† and functions as a force to the narrator’s most essent ial consciousness of his environment and identity (Lucas 173). The Sambo, whose sole purpose was to entertain the white community, further functions to symbolize, through its stereotype, the power whites have to control the movements of African Americans. Ellison immediately introduces readers to the Sambo stereotype at the beginning of the novel when the invisible man becomes the source of entertainment for the white man at the battle royal, engaging in a fighting match with other black men. Out of pure desperation to be accepted by these men, the narrator; like the obedient Sambo, moves in accordance to what he hears the crowd instructing him to do because â€Å"only these men [can] judge [his] ability† (Ellison 22). To further validate the narrator’s Sambo-like behavior, following the match, a blond man winks at the narrator... ...pulls its strings. For the narrator and the black community, the Sambo dolls are a constant reminder that they are unable to neither form their own identity nor control their very movements. Ellison’s incorporation of the Sambo dolls educates us on an important lesson in life, that it is important to be ourselves and choreograph our own choices and movements in life. We must not allow others to hold reign of our strings and steer us in the direction they feel is right. â€Å"Life is to be lived, not controlled;† our full potential in life lies within our ability to control our movements and decisions in life (Ellison 577). Works Cited Ellison, Ralph. Invisible Man. New York: Vintage International, 1995. Ebook Reader. Morel, Lucas E. Ralph Ellison and the Raft of Hope: A Political Companion to Invisible Man. Lexington: University of Kentucky, 2004. Print. The Symbolic Function of the Sambo Doll in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Ma In 1952, Ralph Ellison published the only novel of his career: Invisible Man; telling the story of an unnamed â€Å"invisible† narrator. Early on, the narrator delineates his invisibility to â€Å"people refus[ing] to see [him];† society neglects to see him as a result of his black lineage (Ellison 3). Ellison incorporates several objects, frequently appearing and reappearing throughout the novel, to expose social and intellectual issues imposed on the black community. Amid the â€Å"procession of tangible, material objects† moving â€Å"in and out of the text† is the dancing Sambo doll whose purpose is to symbolically represent cruel stereotypes and the destructive power of injustice that blacks fall victim to (Lucas 172). Ellison’s rendering of the small paper dolls, representing obedient black slaves, â€Å"unveils an astonishing correspondence between the past and the present† and functions as a force to the narrator’s most essent ial consciousness of his environment and identity (Lucas 173). The Sambo, whose sole purpose was to entertain the white community, further functions to symbolize, through its stereotype, the power whites have to control the movements of African Americans. Ellison immediately introduces readers to the Sambo stereotype at the beginning of the novel when the invisible man becomes the source of entertainment for the white man at the battle royal, engaging in a fighting match with other black men. Out of pure desperation to be accepted by these men, the narrator; like the obedient Sambo, moves in accordance to what he hears the crowd instructing him to do because â€Å"only these men [can] judge [his] ability† (Ellison 22). To further validate the narrator’s Sambo-like behavior, following the match, a blond man winks at the narrator... ...pulls its strings. For the narrator and the black community, the Sambo dolls are a constant reminder that they are unable to neither form their own identity nor control their very movements. Ellison’s incorporation of the Sambo dolls educates us on an important lesson in life, that it is important to be ourselves and choreograph our own choices and movements in life. We must not allow others to hold reign of our strings and steer us in the direction they feel is right. â€Å"Life is to be lived, not controlled;† our full potential in life lies within our ability to control our movements and decisions in life (Ellison 577). Works Cited Ellison, Ralph. Invisible Man. New York: Vintage International, 1995. Ebook Reader. Morel, Lucas E. Ralph Ellison and the Raft of Hope: A Political Companion to Invisible Man. Lexington: University of Kentucky, 2004. Print.

Shakespeares Portrayal of Henry V as the Model Monarch Essay -- Papers

Shakespeare's Portrayal of Henry V as the Model Monarch In this essay I intend to show that Shakespeare portrays Henry as the Classic Sovereign as he is patriotic, brave, cunning, religious, natural leader & in touch with the lower class of the country. I will use quotes and remarks in the play to show this and present it. I shall firstly do a summery of the play and give a basic image of what it contains, and then give a detailed analysis, which will give a more detailed view of particular scenes to show how Shakespeare shows Henry's character and finally I shall make a conclusion to present my evidence, to show that Henry is presented as a model monarch. The play is based around Henry V's later life after he has become monarch. He is shown in the plays forerunner Henry IV were he is a young prince he is shown as an insurgent young future king. He Drinks with a group of lowlifes from the criminal underworld of London and visits Brothels with them. However he is shown to have fitted into the role of King perfectly, and the play Henry V shows the most successful years of his life, in his campaign to gain France. The Chorus asks the audience to excuse the limitations of the theatre and to use their imaginations to conjure up the great events, which are to be presented in the play. ACT I. The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely are anxious about a proposed bill, which would transfer a vast deal of the Church's property to the King. The Archbishop hopes that he may have averted this by the offer of a sizeable amount of money. We hear that the Kings disposition has significantly enhanced since he has come to the thron... ... military commander and avoids useless loss of life such as at Harfleur. In matters of state Henry is firm and decisive. His reply to the Dauphins "tennis balls"insult is angery but restrained and he listens to the advice of others. He dispences justice in a fair and impartial manner. The three traitors are condemned to death because they have threatened the safety of the kingdom and does not seek personal revenge & also has qualities which encoiurage us to believe in him as a human being, not just a paragon of kingly virtues. He has a sense of humour and is awkward and blunt when speaking to Katherine. I have done an Introduction, General summery, Detailed analyasis and a Conclusion and have put forward all my views and fulfilled the question criteria and have proven that Henry V is portrayed as a model monarch.

Energy Bars and Resulting Glycemic Levels Essay -- Health Nutrition Di

Energy Bars and Resulting Glycemic Levels   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Atkins’ diet has been sweeping the nation as more and more Americans struggle to lose weight. Opposed to other diets which require less fatty foods and more fruits and vegetables, Atkins’ takes a different approach. The Atkins’ diet suggests that removal of carbohydrates alone will lead to a thinner and healthier body. Atkins’ encourages intake of low-carb and high protein foods such as meat, and discourages consumption of foods high in carbohydrates such as bread. Divergent from proteins, carboyhdrates store sugars for a longer period of time and eventually turn into fat. To accommodate the diet, Atkins came out with the low carb Atkins Advantage energy bar. But losing carbs isn’t the only path to weight loss as other bars with this macronutrient also affect glycemic levels (liquid derived from fats). Such bars, including the Balance Bar and Power Bar, substitute low-glycemic carbs for higher glycemic carbs as the former have been associated with weight gain and increased blood cholesterol. A study went underway to determine just how successful the energy bars are in affecting glycemic levels.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A study took place to see just how effective energy bars are with glycemic levels. The Atkins Advantage, which in nearly free of carbs, the Balance Bar, which provides its energy from 40% carbs, 30% protein, and 30% fat, and the Power Bar, that’s high in carbs, all were scientifically studied to see how well they live up to their names. The bars were abbreviated LC for low in carbs (Atkins), MC for moderate, (Balance) and HC for high (Power). The goal of this study was to compare the different glycemic responses of each bar to wh... ... leading to faster processing of fat and muscle gain versus weight gain. The Power bar on the other hand, which contains more carbs than the average carb substance such as white bread, is affective when eaten after exercise as it replenishes loss of glycogen in the muscles. So, each bar under this study affectively alters glucose levels, but with different results. The Atkins Advantage, or LC, contains drastically lower carbs leading to weight loss. The Balance Bar assists in weight loss to a smaller degree (with have the carbs of bread) but what it lacks in pound shedding makes up for with energy (from the protein and fats). And finally the high carb Power bar, with an additional amount of carbs, provides the energy and muscle aid which in turn can lead to weight loss. In sum, each bar is functional in their different dietary functions.

Used Cooking Oil as Candle

Used Cooking Oil as an Additive Component of Candle Abstract The study aims to produce a low-priced, high-quality candle by using used cooking oil as a major component. The following candle compositions were used: 100 percent paraffin wax; 90 percent paraffin and 10 percent oil; 80 percent paraffin and 20 percent oil; 70 percent paraffin and 30 percent oil; 60 percent paraffin and 40 percent oil; 50 percent paraffin and 50 percent oil. The firmness, texture, and light intensity of the candles were tested and compared. Results of the tests showed that the candle made from 100 percent paraffin wax had the lowest melting rate, lowest amount of melted candle, and a light intensity of 100 candelas (cd). The 90:10 preparation had the next lowest melting rate and amount of melted candle. The other preparations ranked according to the proportion of used cooking oil in the candle, with the 50:50 preparation performing least comparably with the 100 percent paraffin wax candle. Introduction Today, candles are made not only for lighting purposes but for many other uses such as home decor, novelty collections, as fixtures for big occasions (weddings, baptismals, etc. ), and as scented varieties for aromatherapy. Candles are made from different types of waxes and oils. Cooking oil is a major kitchen item in Filipino households. It is also used substantially in fast-food outlets, where it is used in different stages of food preparations. Ordinarily, used cooking oil is discarded. This waste oil pollutes and clogs canals and sewerage systems

Marketing Sample Essay

T equal to(p) of Contents executive compact 2 Introduction . 2 securities industry invention and Auditing 4 b angiotensin-converting enzyme up epitome . 5 Strengths 5 Weaknesses 5 Opportwholeies . 6 Threats 6 grocery store ramble place Conditions .. 7 The 4Ps of trade .. 8 Price 8 Products 10Place .. 10 Promotion .. 10 Recommendations . 10 cobblers last . 12 Works Cited .. 13 Audi Executive Summary Audi is a bulls eye of vehicle that is manufactured by a German automobile corporation, ranging from super-mini to cross over SUVs, attach to by various eubstance styles as closely as diametric ranges of grocery store expenditure. Audi is leveled on the same brand as the Volkswagen convocation (Oneighturbo). Audi is named after its founder- August Horch.Horch instrument to listen in German and on translation it means Audi in Latin. though the Audi headquarter is in Ingolstadt, Germany, the brand is tradeed and cognise world great. This groundup volition give mai n trouble on merchandising the brand Audi, in regard to the extend, securities industry segmentation, the size and the development Audi food food market, market psychodepth psychology regarding strengths and weaknesses as s come up as fronting recommendations. The trade st regularizegy of Audi is to underscore the ability of the simple machine to beat separate automobile manufacturers in the global market. Audi is a global brand and is astrayly embraced furthermost and aside from the association headquarters inGermany. The management of the Audi smart range has been at the forefront of better and evolving into peeled models since its inception. The machine status has to be improved by all standards in methodicalness to avoid being over shown by opposite naked car ventures in the war-ridden market. Introduction August Horch (1868-1951) realised an automobile follow in 1899 prototypal as A. Horch & Cie. in Cologne Germany. However, due to the dispute bet ween him and the advisory board, he quit the guild. Later on, in 1909, Horch conventional a nonher automobile partnership kn procl bet as Horch Automobil-Werke GmbH (Baldwin and Laban).In 1910, the initial Audi automobile event A 10/22 (16 KW) Sport-Phaeton in Zwickau (audiusa). Horsh continued to face tribulations and was evicted unwrap of the company he had played an grand procedure at creating (Audi Website). He proceeded to start a youthful company in Zwickau. The Audi car first went to the market with an inclined- quadruple engine, a 2612 cc model, thereafter a 3564 cc, and wherefore 4680 as headspring as 5720 cc models came into the market (Baldwin and Laban). Volkswagen is the largest sh beh centenarianer of Audi. It owns over 99 take of the boilersuit shargon capital.Furthermore, Volkswagen, in its own financial statements, owns the consolidated accounts of Audi. Audi however was at the helm of the heading the Audi Brand assort which is a subdivision of the Volks wagen group, consisting of SEAT and Lamborgini, that more often than not focused on sports car (Volkswagen Group). The Audi has quadruplet rings as its badge, which is considered to be peerless of the oldest emblems of automobile manufacturing company in Germany. The four badges symbolyze the merger of four automobile manufacturing companies videlicet the Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer. These companies form the connerstone of the menses AUDI AG (Volkswagen Group).The symbol below shows how the badge looks like The old logo used by Audi until 2009, manners of the Audi Website. The Audi Company today is on-line(prenominal)ly having a write up of exalted woodland, immutable issue of cars. Their slogan, Vorsprung durch Technik, importantly implies Progress by dint of with(predicate) engine room (Volkswagen Group). railcar users abide been yearning for utmost- gauge, durable and efficient cars, and apparently, this is what the company has been giving its clients. It is deserving noting that the automobile market is very competitive and the company annot downplay this notion, if it wants to hold off the current status or change magnituded barters in the global market. mart plan and Auditing It is signifi dissolvetly imperative for any cable to commit a plan for the future day in an effective manner so that it may be successful. It is equally consequential for any product line to have a well formal and startlined selling plan in decree to well sell its harvest-times. These are precautions that are carried fall out by every firm. In this regard, Audi, a global firm, is not left rear end starting from the moment it was established up to today. Audi has been effectively doing this by means of and by selling its model.Through marketing the Audi model, the company sets down easy to get through objectives. The firm does the current position auditing as well as having policies of developing and implementing the current achievable ob jectives. Audi can achieve these through the following * set corporate objectives much(prenominal) as dinero and product * meeting information through market interrogation * Assessing the current situation, referred to as the market analysis * Production of fig out analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) * Setting objectives of the market, such as market share, tax income among others * Implementing market plan Using reviews through market research SWOT outline for Audi The SWOT analysis gives a partition of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that an organic law is faced with (USDA, 2009). The strengths and weaknesses base their analysis on the internal factors that affect the organization while the opportunities and threats focus on the impertinent factors. Strengths One of the main strength the company relies on is the well reputation that it boasts of in the worldwide arena. The Audi Company has the capacity of producing a car of hi gh quality as well as using insurance premium price.The sp final result power is large since they have built the brand over a long period of time, and as a global company, have been pull inable in the market during the past period. The company is able to produce quality cars and has a huge marketing budget, through promotional material of its brands, through addition of luxurious features, and so having benefit in the otherwise competitive market. In addition, the company relies on the success and the good reputation of the previous models, which included the A6, as well as the quality of the cars, which curl up higher prices, in turn ending up building the overall company reputation.Weaknesses The company has a challenge of having to delegacy exorbitant prices for its cars, including A6 to summit the be, with the eventual aspirations that strength clients depart cater for these costs. The company, in battle array to effectively fight other competitors, has to mark off that they manufacture naked as a jaybird models through technology and innovation, which during many occasions prove to be quite expensive. This pull up stakes ultimately overhaul to high set in order to cover the costs of takings, transportation and costs of promotion. OpportunitiesAudi has in the most recent times released market price for its cars that none of its major(ip) competitors in the market have had an hazard of meeting, thus lucreing an ample part of the market. The Audi, which has been in the market for many years, has tremendously been growing, though other competitors have had to pull out of the market. The good economic environment is an hazard for Audi to venture into the global market. Threats Audi is faced by the threat of its other main competitors let go new models of cars immediately after it releases its own, thus attracting new potential clients away.Other highly regarded competitors in the automobile industry such as the Mercedes and the BMW have been having a good reputation, and Audi have to fit that this threat is contained. One of the models, A6 has been having an waxy product and the price fluctuation may result in revenue loss. Consequently, the SWOT analysis enables the Audi Company to embrace one of the following methods * Matching Audi Company may have to build on its strengths and take the advantages imposed by the opportunities, or * conversion the company may resort to reating new and innovative strategies that pull up stakes overturn the weaknesses into strengths and finally into opportunities. Market Conditions Besides using the SWOT analysis, Audi Company go away employ the testing of the current market conditions prior to producing a good marketing strategy. Market examination can be done through carrying out research in telling to the opinions of the potential customers. The following are the major issues to be cross-examined a) Market size this implies that Audi go out have to look at the ov erall size of the market, through measuring the market in depots of volume or set (price x volume).In this regard, it is equally important to ascertain that Audi owns a large market. b) Market share this is the total sales destiny that a particular brand/product has as compared to the total market. In 2003, Audi boasted of 2. 7% of the total market share in the United Kingdom. From the initial perspective, this can pct of market share can be deemed to be small, but when several factors are put into consideration, say, the number of automobile companies in the market, as well as the market share that Audi has in Germany, which is depicted to be three times the market share it had in the United Kingdom (Niedermeyer). ) Market proceeds this refers to the actual rate of increase in the size of the market. Audi has been experiencing tremendous growth in market size. For congresswoman, in the 2002, 2003 period, Audi had significantly increased the sales of its brand in the United Kin gdom by 6. 9%. however, this only portrayed the rise in market share by 0. 6%. this therefore means that the Audi market is experiencing recommendable growth at a faster rate (Niedermeyer). d) Market segmentation this is the appeal do by a brand to distinct move of the market, generally in unlike ways by transfrming the market mix.For instance, Audi Company has been on the forefront of changing the features of the Audi car so that it appeals to different individuals, such as women, youth, sporty individuals among others, through re-inventing different body size and engine size. The 4ps of market The 4ps of marketing is a marketing tool that looks at how the business is positioned to line the benefits of marketing. The 4ps are the price, product, place and promotion (Ehmke, Fulton, & Lusk, 2009). The graph below is a federal agency of the benefits of using the 4ps of marketing (Ehmke, Fulton, & Lusk, 2009).Price The price of a product is a big(a) determinant of how the market responds to the product. Factors that affect the set of Audi car include costs the company exit be obliged to cover the costs in order to make profits. For instance, making and testing Audi car is quite expensive, thus its high set (Huber). Pricing of Audi is also affected by the price elasticity of demand this implies the sensibility of the product to change the price. Therefore, if the price is sensitive, minacious of a products price willing lead to turnover increase.Audi does not experience price elasticity, hence the high set. High pricing is directly conjugated to heavy branding, limited competitors (lack of new automobiles in the A6 class), having a selling point that is unique, high unit cost since constructing prototypes,testing the product as well as the overall production of the product is quite expensive quality design, and having limited distribution ( Audi is mainly interchange in the showrooms and via the internet) may, among others also increase the pricin g.There are quite a number of pricing methodologies that Audi may embrace, including Price skimming-this is the dish out of ambit the initial price high so as to achieve maximum profit that is short-lived,-penetration pricing- in this case, Audi may set lower prices in order to gain the market share. When the market share is gained, the prices will eventually be hiked, competitor ground pricing-Audi may resort to move the same prices as its competitors, demand ground pricing- when the demand is high, the prices are hiked. The company approximates the expenditure of consumers on its products.In this regard, the company will use the history of the previous sale of A6, cost plus pricing- a firm may decide to increase a certain amount to the unit cost, a simple and a best-selling(predicate) method. Audi may resort to use thi method so that it ensures that cars are not change at a loss, predatory pricing- this is the process of setting prices at a lower level with the main aim of driving away other competitors, eventually change magnitude the price when the competitors are out of the market, price discrimination- this method ensures that different prices are charged for different segments of the market, for instance diplomatic personnel, overnment personnel, civil servants, and finally, psychological pricing- this is whereby the consumers perception of the the pricing is given attention. Consumers would discover that they are not getting value for their money when the price is set high, and on the other hand, when the price is too low, they would thik that the product is of poor quality. Product The product is what the customer buys, and therefore it inevitably to be mark well, have an attractive cover and match the expectations of the customer (Volker). The product moldiness be of high quality.Audi has a good performance, has example features such as air conditioning, CD player, cruise control as well as good reliability. Place The place refers to the location of the business, and how reachable it is to the customers (Londre), or the contribute of distribution. Audi is a company that is well established in the global market, thus needs no big expansion into new markets. Promotion Promotion refers to the communication regarding a product so that customers are advised about it. It is the creation of awareness (Londre).Audi is mostly promoted through advertisements through the T. V, automobile magazines and billboards. This will eventually increase the sales since the customers will have been informed about its features and price. Recommendations Audi is a brand that is recognized world wide and as such should endeavor to retain its current status, as well as bringing innovative technological cars in the market. This therefore means that the company should sweep new marketing strategies that many a times are used by various other companies in marketing their goods and services.For instance, different marketing strategies should be adopt for different Audi models such A6s marketing strategy ought to be different from the instead cheaper, though well established A3 model. even off though, as mentioned in the preceding parts of this paper, Audi has a wide global market and therefore should not endeavor in expanding its market place, the product should strive to pass through the alert market. It is imperative to increase the market share for Audi through venturing and penetrating the active market, through changing marketing mix.This can easily be achieved through new product development and diversification of the existing market. Audi should also resort to developing a new car/product for the already existing markets. However, Audi has been endearing to achieve this culture through manufacturing of the new A6 model, though undefendable to the already competitive car market. The process of new Product development starts with both(prenominal) internal and external generation of ideas. sexual process i nvolves research and development, while, on the other hand, external processes involve investors, consumers and competition.Audi Company should then put these ideas into analysis in order to ascertain their feasibility, therefore developing them through methods of prototypes, before testing for quality and golosh of the products. Since Audi is competing in the massive world wide market, it is imperative for the company to maximize on the promotion of its products. In this regard, the A6 will be accorded several advantages over its main competitors, since the buyers will be fully aware of the offers that Audi has. The all-embracing promotion should be done by maintaining the already reputable brand name, hence improving sales.Furthermore, if the Audi brand name is well-kept through A6, then the model will have a bright future. It is recommended that Audi strives in investing in maintaining the current market for its A6 product. This will eventually lead to increase the market shar e as well as achieving long term profit margins and the gaining the set internal and external targets. In order to achieve this, investment in the long term must be carried out so that short term profit is reduced. Competitive pricing must well be established in the already competitive market, so that the potential buyers are not scared away by the exorbitant prices.The company should ensure that they minimize the costs, so that the innocent consumer is not made to pay for it. Conclusion Audi is a company that manufactures durable and high quality cars for a long period of time, and this reputation should be withheld by the management. When the mentioned recommendations are followed to the letter, then the already reputable Audi Company will increase its market share, eventually increasing its sales. The management should ensure that the current market share is increased through new innovations, thus not giving fair to middling space to its competitors. Works Cited Audi website htt p//www. udiusa. com/us/brand/en/about/main/history. hypertext markup language Baldwin, Nick and Brian Laban. The World Guide to Automobile Manufacturers. Facts on File (1987) 43-44. Brand family tree. audiusa com. Retrieved 21 September 2011. Ehmke, C. , Fulton, J. , & Lusk, J. Marketings iv Ps First locomote for New Entrepreneurs (Revised ed. ). Warren, Michigan, USA SAGE Publishers, 2009. Huber, Peter. Manufacturing the Audi Scare. Manhattan make for for Policy Research, 1990. Londre, L. S. Marketing, IMC, Advertising, Promotion, Media and More (Revised ed. ). Perth, Australia Wiley & Sons, 2009. Niedermeyer, Paul. The Audi 5000 Intended inadvertent Acceleration Debacle. The Truth About Cars ,2010. Oneighturbo. Oneighturbo. 10 December 2009. Oneighturbo. com. 21 September 2011 . felo-de-se Prevention Resource Center. Instructions for Conducting a SWOT Analysis (Revised ed. ). Newton, MA, USA genteelness Development Center, 2009. USDA.. SWOT Analysis A tool for making bett er business decisions (Revised ed. ). Perth, Australia Routledge, 2009. Volker, M. 4 Ps f MARKETING. Ed. Illustrated. Southfields, Michigan SAGE, 2010. Volkswagen Group Business lines and markets. Volkswagenag. com. Retrieved 21 September 2011.