Edward Bellamy’s Looking Backward Essay -- Looking Backward

Edward Bellamy’s Looking Backward    People have always wondered what the future will be like. Certainly Edward Bellamy did when he wrote the novel, Looking Backward (1888). Bellamy uses a man named Mr. West as the main character in this novel. He opens by telling who he is and what his social standing is. West is a young man, around the age of 30, and is fairly wealthy. At the beginning, he tells us about his fiancà ©, Edith, and the house he is having trouble building for her. The trouble comes from the fact that the workers keep going on strike due to financial reasons, which prolongs the completion of the house. The biggest hint to the end of the novel comes from when he tells the reader that he suffers from insomnia. West must be put to sleep through a trance in his bedroom, which is an entirely padded room in the basement of his home. When people sleep they often dream, which leads one to believe they can predict the ending of the novel. The prediction to the ending of the novel is that the story, he is telling, is a dream. On page 11 he says, "I called in Dr. Pillsbury. H...

Appearance: What You See Is Not Always What You Get Essay -- Literary

Thomas Pain once said â€Å"[a] long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.† Appearances are the first thing to catch one’s attention. Whether it be a supermodel, a famous photograph, or the unmistakable golden arches: we take notice. The essays written by Judith Ortiz Cofer, Eric Schlosser, and Nora Ephron demonstrate the effect appearances have on individuals and our society undividedly. In Judith Ortiz Cofer's essay "The Story of My Body," she shares her struggle with appearance and self-esteem. Ms. Cofer admits her definitions of appearance changed when she relocated to the United States at age eight. She states "I was born a white girl in Puerto Rico, but became a brown girl when I came to live in the United States" (Cofer 323). For instance, Cofer is identified as a palm blanca in Puerto Rico and as a colored girl during her first encounter of color prejudice. In addition to her cultural dispute with appearance, Ms. Cofer displays an internal dispute with her appearance in size. At age twelve standing five-feet tall, Ms. Cofer was viewed by her family as a tall young woman in comparison to her mother who was no taller than four-foot-eleven. Her mother exemplified this by saying â€Å"†[s]ince you are so tall, this dress will look good on you†" (Cofer 326). Her classmates at her New Jersey public school viewed her appearance very differently. Ms. Co fer was perceived as the "4F, skinny, short, bespectacled" (Cofer 326) kid on the playground impervious to competition; whereas her true competition lay in the classroom. Appearance is what creates an initial attraction to one’s significant other; for example, Cofer describes her first crush, Ted, whom she describes as "pretty with yellow ... ... photographic coverage of events must be published regardless of the subject, simply because the events took place. The author states " That's why photojournalism is often more powerful than written journalism" (Ephron 438), emphasizing that censorship harms the purity of death and that interpretation and judgment must be left to the reader. Ms. Ephron establishes, appearances are memorable and powerful. Society’s views always fluctuate, as they are allowed, and censorship is a major threat the right to form our own opinions. An initial reaction can be everlasting. This is why it is believed that appearance and first impressions are most important. Although, understanding what we see versus what we get is vital. It is imperative to venture past first appearances and impressions; sometimes there lies honesty or deceit. Appearances are not always what they seem.

Business Analysis Part I Mcdonald’s

Business Analysis Part I – McDonald’s Jason Christenson MGT/521 Instructor: James Anderson University of Phoenix Introduction The purpose of doing this business analysis is to decide whether or not to invest in McDonald’s. It is regarded as one of the leading organizations within the global marketplace. As a result, the preceding discussion will provide a SWOT analysis of some key areas, since the identification of an organization’s strengths etc†¦ acts as a critical core element in identifying its competitive advantage and potential as an investment opportunity.Internal and External stakeholders will be identified to help analyze their wants and needs. Strengths McDonalds has established a large and consistent brand. A client can have confidence they can purchase a hamburger and fries in one its locations and across the country receive the same quality of meal at another. It is a leading fast food service based on sales, with a network of over 33,500 restaurants serving burgers and fries in 119 countries to 68 million customers a day. â€Å"Getting To Know Us†, 2012) The company is famous for its commitment to investing in the future of its employees and creating a culture of knowledge, quality service, and cleanliness. â€Å"Since its inception, training at Hamburger University has emphasized consistent restaurant operations procedures, service, quality and cleanliness. It has become the company’s global center of excellence for McDonald’s operations training and leadership development. † (Hamburger University, 2012) Many of McDonald’s top leaders were entry level hire’s that were trained from within and gradually advanced through the ranks.Its family friendly environment with the introduction of large play structures is a major appeal for parent and kids alike. Weaknesses The major weakness facing this company is the continued focus on its health adverse menu. As obesity concerns in t he United States continue with emphasis on getting healthier it will influence people to avoid fast foods in general and opt to cook better foods at home. †Americans are heavier than ever before and, according to an advocacy group, by 2030 more than half the people in the vast majority of states will be obese. (Fox News Latino, 2012) McDonald’s has found it difficult in diversifying and expanding its menu, its failure in offering a pizza is the most recent example. Due to its high employee turnover the amount invested in training could be better utilized. McDonald’s employees are largely represented by high school students that eventually move on after graduating to obtain better employment, which identifies McDonald’s pay structure as not very competitive to keep employee’s long term.Opportunities Though health concerns identify McDonald’s current menu and offerings as a weakness, it could also be recognized as a great opportunity. McDonaldà ¢â‚¬â„¢s as a leader in its industry can dedicate itself to changing the way fast food does business. McDonald’s strives to be responsible in how it responds to the social changes happening within communities. The company continually strives to introduce healthier foods, which have helped add revenues.McDonald’s is recognized as the first in its industry to embrace the initiatives and polices being proposed by the President and upheld by the Supreme Court to help customers make better nutritional choices by requiring restaurants with over 20 locations to list calories on its menu. (Choi, September 12, 2012) McDonald’s move to do this is expected to have its rivals scrambling to do the same. Threats Outside competition will always be an external threat as new food service companies enter the marketplace focusing on more balanced menus.Established companies like Burger King, Taco Bell, and Wendy’s are also constantly striving to introduce new methods of ste aling market share away from each other. The economy continues to be a threat to the fast food industry. Though analyst are not saying we are still in a recession, the truth is companies are still reducing overhead and striving to minimizing risk, making jobs difficult to keep and find. As more people are out of work, it continues to cause households to reduce the amount they spend on fast food, deciding instead to stay home and cook.You also cannot discount the effect documentaries and lawsuits are having on the Industry as a whole. External and Internal Stakeholders Dozens of stakeholders could be identified with time, but this analysis will focus on what it considers the key external and internal stakeholders. Externally, the key stakeholders would be the shareholders and customers, because if there needs are not being met they will pull their money and customers will go to different locations. Based on the stock prices steady climb over the last ten years the indication is both of their needs are being met.Internally, McDonald's Leadership and employees would be the two key stakeholders. These two groups have large interests in the success of the company. Leadership wants to continue and drive quality food at the lowest prices to keep customers loyalties, while employees want the best possible pay and advancement potential. It’s difficult to gauge how well the workforce needs are being met, because the demand for work is so high and their willingness to take the offered pay, instead of being in a position of power to demand higher wages. ConclusionDrive by any McDonald’s and it is easy to see the demand and convenience of their business model is thriving. The SWOT analysis indicates McDonald’s has streamlined and perfected its processes over the years and though the external environmental factors indicate it faces real challenges, its continued appeal shows they are positioned well for the future. The stakeholders continue to show supp ort for the vision and mission McDonald’s has set forth. Reference Getting to Know Us. (2012). Retrieved from http://www. aboutmcdonalds. com/mcd/our_company. html Hamburger University. (2012).Retrieved from http://www. aboutmcdonalds. com/mcd/corporate_careers/training_and_development/ hamburger_university. html Fox News Latino. (September 18, 2012). Obesity in America: Can it Get Much Worse? Yes, Advocacy Group Says  . Retrieved from http://latino. foxnews. com/latino/health/2012/09/18/obesity-in-america-can-it-get-much-worse-yes-advocacy-group-says/#ixzz29UnEJO5I Choi, C. (September 12, 2012). McDonald's new menu item: Calorie counts. Retrieved from http://www. boston. com/lifestyle/food/2012/09/12/mcdonald-new-menu-item-calorie-counts/mMeWvHuN7WyRHTo9CgA3TM/story. html

Intercultural Society Essay

It is interesting that Raymond Williams creates a division between high class culture and lower class culture, suggesting that culture is ordinary, shared and common. If this is the case why does he emphasise a division in light of this concept? And if we all share a common culture can there be a division? It is difficult to understand the term culture. What is culture? Is it a utopian dream, is it a shared group of interests that bring a community together, or is it just simply a way of life? There are so many questions surrounding culture and its meaning. Raymond Williams described culture as â€Å"maps of meaning through which the world is made intelligible†, whether we agree with this definition or not, he was right in saying that the term culture is one of the most â€Å"complicated words in the English language†; Culture is one of the two or three most complicated words in the English language. This is so partly because of its intricate historical development {†¦} but mainly because it has now come to be used for important concepts in several distinct intellectual disciplines and in several distinct and incompatible systems of thought. To formulate an essay entirely on cultures meaning would be extremely difficult due to its meaning being so vast and indescribable and would therefore not lead to any relevant conclusion. Culture has a paradigmatic complexity and it’s this that makes it so hard to analyse effectively. However, if you were to place a leading phrase in front of the word â€Å"culture† , a word that defines its disciplines, it becomes more identifiable; pop culture, oral culture and print culture. Throughout this essay I will be mainly focusing on internet culture and will describe my understanding of the term and will address the key questions regarding the movement towards the internet revolution in terms of mass media. But before I discuss Internet culture it is imperative that I decipher the essence of mass culture and mass media. To understand the term â€Å"mass†, it is important to study Gustave Lebon. Although there have been many more recent theorists that have discussed the term â€Å"mass†; including Karl Max, John Stuart Mills and Mathew Arnold, Lebon’s theories on â€Å"mass† have pervaded disputes on the subject ever since. A quote specifically that is questioned today is his warning that â€Å"the age we are about to enter will in truth be the era of crowds† ([1895] 1916, p. 3), at a time when working class parties were more present and when western societies were dealing with the growth of industrialisation and mass migration to popular cities. His book â€Å"La psychologie des foules† was cited for its treatise to crowds, however is much more about the advent of mass society in physiological terms. He discusses â€Å"contagion, loss of individuality, and regression to a more primitive mental state were his favourite terms†. The reason for the book being described as a treatise for the mass is his connotation of crowd behaviour within a larger mass. For example Lebon quotes, â€Å"thousands of isolated individuals may acquire at certain moments, and under the influence of certain violent emotions — such, for example, as a great national event — the characteristics of a psychological crowd†. However, the mere coming together of a crowd is not sufficient enough to cause the disappearance of the conscious personality and to turn the feelings and emotions of a large group of people into synchronisation. At the same time, a crowd may cause its members to all behave in a rebellious nature, causing a local uprising, as it develops into a mass movement. Lebon describes the immediate crowd and the scattered crowd to be generically similar, in terms of the impulses that its participants receive, most of these impulses only lasting for no more than a day and even â€Å"the more important ones scarcely outlive a generation† (1926, p. 167). It is important here to note the effect of mass media and communication. Lebon assigned the responsibility of the unpredictability of the public opinion to the newspapers. Mass media such as newspapers act as a vehicle for the masses to exert influence on statesman whose fear of ever shifting public opinion is so great that the press becomes the â€Å"supreme guiding principle in politics† ([1896] 1926, p. 170) . Lebon sees everything and anything including culture, dragged down by mass media; â€Å"Contagion,† once having done its work among the lower classes, reaches the higher ones, so that in the end, â€Å"every opinion adopted by the populace always ends in implanting itself with great vigour in the higher social strata† ([1896] 1926, p. 46). Another theorist although overshadowed by Labon is Gabriel Tarde who has a less psychological and more sociological view of the effects of mass in society. The main question that he puts forward is what is it that unites a crowd of people â€Å"who do not come in contact, do not meet or hear each other; [but] are all sitting in their own homes scattered over a vast territory, reading th e same newspaper? † ([1898] 1969, p. 278). Tarde came to the conclusion that the aspect that unites people from a variety of geographical locations lays â€Å"in their simultaneous conviction or passion and in their awareness of sharing at the same time an idea or a wish with a great number of other men [sic]† ([1898] 1969, p. 278). He argues that the concept of imitation does not arise from the interaction with other members of the public on the streets within your community but of a population who are all reading the same newspapers. Without this mass readership Tarde argues that this mass public opinion could not exist on a large scale and could only exists within individual communities or within crowds limited to a range that one human voice can be heard. Perhaps this connotation reflects Williams theory that culture is ordinary in that he argues that culture is â€Å"not elitist and compartmentalized, but a continual negotiation of power via interactions, texts, and ideas† (http://cltrlstdies. logspot. com). Tarde looked upon the press medium as the major form of public communication, but never argues that this form of media could ever be a substitute to the informal discussions amongst families and neighbours. He does however look upon three other interventions, printing, the railroad and the telegraph, enabling the mass to come together more intensively and are â€Å"combined to create the formidable power of the press . . . hat prodigious telephone which has so inordinately enlarged the former audie nces of orators and preachers†, therefore enabling all publicists and promoters to have leadership over the public. It may seem that Tarde was echoing Lebon’s theory, but he certainly was not. Tarde was discussing a pluralistic society by describing the present as â€Å"the era of the public or publics†. He suggested that one cannot be part of more than one crowd at the same time, so that, â€Å"the gradual substitution of publics for crowds . . is always accompanied by progress in tolerance† ([1898] 1969, p. 281). He does however suggest that an over public can deteriorate into a crowd but that a â€Å"fall from public to crowd, though extremely dangerous, is fairly rare and] it remains evident that the opposition of two publics, always ready to fuse along their indistinct] . . . boundaries, is a lesser danger to social peace than the encounter of two opposing crowds†.

A Visit to a Famous City

A few months ago my father and I visited Singapore, one of the most famous cities in Asia. Singapore, a small island, lies at the southern and of West Malaysia. A long and narrow piece of land joins Singapore with Johore Hahru, the southern-most town of West Malaysia. Singapore is now an independent state. The city of Singapore is extremely beautiful. It is well known for its centers of business and other activities. There are many places of interest such as the Tiger Balm Garden, the Botanical Gardens and Raffles Museum.There are also many important centers of learning such as the University of Singapore, Science Centre, the Nanyang University and the Polytechnic. Being a famous city, hundreds of people come everyday from various parts of the world to do business or to enjoy the sights of the city. Singapore therefore has large and beautiful airports and its harbors are full of ships. There are many night schools where people who cannot go to the day schools for some reason or other can continue their studies. And, the government of Singapore is still doing its best to make further improvements in the city for the benefit of the people.During my stay in Singapore, I went out everyday with my father to see the beautiful and interesting places and things in the city. One day we went to the Tiger Balm Garden where I saw several statues of people, animals and other strange creature beautifully made and kept. The sea near this garden makes it a pleasant place to visit. We spent almost half of the day at this place. Another day we visited the museum where I saw hundreds of curious things preserved for scholars and others. It was indeed an education to see all those things.There is so much to learn here that every visit by any person is sure to add to his knowledge. I also visited some of the harbors and saw the large ships anchored there. The sight of the ships aroused a desire in me to cross the oceans and go round the world. I was indeed deeply impressed by activi ties at the harbor. Then every night, I went round the town and visited some of the parks and other places of interest. The numerous lights and the constant stream of traffic kept the city alive. I visited a few of the cinemas as well. In short, I enjoyed every moment of my stay in this famous city of Singapore.

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe Essay

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer and polymath back in the 1800s. Goethe is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. Although he was alive so long ago, the ideas he put out there are still pertinent to the modern world: such as my personal life, recent movies, and current events. Goethe came up with this viewpoint on life: Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help that would never have otherwise occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision rising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen, incidents and meeting and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, proven and magic in it. Begin it now! Goethe’s quote is a universal truth. His philosophy is even proven in my life. A project was given to me that I grew abhorrence for. Procrastinating until a couple days before the due date, I became upset and overwhelmed. I started convincing myself I could not do it. My mother said, â€Å"you’re making it harder than what it is. Do your research. Let the ideas come to you. It will all come together once you start. Stop putting it off and just do it. â€Å" With that in mind, I centered my concentration to my project and nothing but my project. Ideas kept coming to me as I let my mind and words flow. I became the person I needed to pretend to be for the project. I completed it to my best ability. I even made the appearance of my project outstanding. My teacher was so impressed with my work that she presented it to the class, and it was passed around the room. It all happened because I focused my mind on that specific goal. The movie Forrest Gump is an all-time favorite. The main character was committed to every task he was given. One day he decided to run, and he ran across the United States. It took him 3 years, 2 months, 14 days and 16 hours until he felt he was finished. Furthermore, while he was at camp in the army, all he did was play ping-pong. All he thought about was ping-pong. He even played ping-pong in his sleep. He was so good a whole crowd would come to watch him play. Even when he was in the army and went to save his â€Å"best good friend† Bubba, he didn’t stop until he found him. He saved his whole platoon that day while searching for Bubba. Every time he was on a mission or had a goal, he would direct all his focus to that particular objective. He had the ability to focus on anything and do it to his full potential. In the world today, we are in an economic crisis. Companies lay off workers; therefore, there are loads of unemployed people. Since they have no jobs, they are not receiving money. Companies aren’t selling much because people have no money to buy things that are not necessities. There is no flow of money. Everyone is afraid to put their cash out there because they are frightened by the fact that they might not be successful and wouldn’t have enough to buy necessities anymore. There is ineffectiveness and hesitancy in the world. No one wants to take a risk and be committed to one thing. Once people devote themselves to fixing the economy, it will happen. However, everyone is waiting on someone else to do it. Just like in the great depression, everyone was afraid to do something about the problem, until everyone said enough is enough and were devoted to fixing the problem; and look what happened because of that. We solved the crisis. In my final analysis, many people are not focused and are worried about too much. Focus on one thing and commit yourself to it. Everything a person does should be there center of attention. By doing this, one will achieve their goal and maybe even more than expected. Goethe’s philosophy shows how to reach a goal: Focus, commit, and do it. Just like Nike, a successful shoe company, says, â€Å"Just do it† and whatever you want to happen, will happen.

Elizabeth Taylor's personality Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Elizabeth Taylor's personality - Term Paper Example 10). This was her first film role, and she played the role of a young equestrian who was competing in a national championship event. This role in National Velvet landed her other subsequent, but perhaps less notable roles, until she filmed Cleopatra, which rocketed her to cult star status. According to Royster (2003), â€Å"Indeed, for the rest of her life, Elizabeth Taylor tended most often to apply the excessive blue eyelid makeup designed for Cleopatra† (pp. 225). What Ms. Taylor is also known for is her elaborate relationships. According to the biographical news article â€Å"Elizabeth Taylor: News Stories About Elizabeth Taylor† (2011), â€Å"During her 79 years, Elizabeth Taylor appeared in more than 50 films, won two Oscars, and was married eight times to seven men† (pp. 1). Ms. Taylor also had several romances. According to the Elizabeth Taylor Biography article (2011), â€Å"Elizabeth's marital affairs have been a target of many tabloids† (pp. 1). Ms. Taylor did much charitable work. According to the article â€Å"In Loving Memory of Dame Elizabeth Taylor† (2011), she worked tirelessly for raising charitable donations to AIDS victims, gaining more federal funding for AIDS research (pgh. 4). Until her death, she was always supporting her various causes. As stated in Elizabeth Taylor’s Charity Work, Events, and Causes (2011), Ms. Taylor also worked to ensure the ethical treatment of animals by supporting the foundation entitled Dogs Deserve Better (pgh. 1). Certainly, Ms. Taylor was a woman of remarkable talents with assets to further her causes—which were extensions of her graceful and compassionate heart. Hopefully others will follow her example. An Analysis of Liz Taylor’s Behavior, Personality Traits and Observations About Feelings, Values, and Social Relationships Ms. Taylor’s behavior, personality traits, and some observations about her feelings, values, and social relationships will be discussed here. Ms. Taylor was never much of a â€Å"drama queen†Ã¢â‚¬â€except when it came to acting as well as personal life. She was not a standoffish person, but rather was a warm and kind individual thrust into the spotlight of fame perhaps a bit early. However, Ms. Taylor handled all of her interactions with grace and beauty. Even in her declining years, when she no longer could walk by herself, Ms. Taylor radiated a certain glow about her that was unmistakable. One of Ms. Taylor’s personality traits included the fact that she was a serial monogamist—at least, when she wasn’t having an extramarital affair. Why is it that under the long shadow cast by â€Å"old† studio Hollywood, such behavior was tolerated? Liz Taylor was indeed a beautiful woman, but what may have compelled her to get involved in such destructive relationships? Of course, no one can really entirely map out the reasons why someone would engage in romances on the side, but i t may have spoken to Ms. Taylor because—even though she was very rich—she was continually dissatisfied with what she had or who she was with seemingly many times. Having been married eight times, it seems that she would have been a very fickle wife. Perhaps it could be attributed to her vanity, but perhaps there is also a deeper meaning behind those divorces—that she was seeking something that she could not find in one man alone—