Analyzing media-presented issues related to the nursing profession and Essay

Analyzing media-presented issues related to the nursing profession and nursing practice - Essay Example In March 2013, the ministry of health came up with an advertising campaign that which compared smoking with flatulence. The response of this advertisement is twofold, there is one group that supports it, arguing that it is effective in depicting smoking as an anti-social behavior. This is the stand that Hager (2013), an editor with the Ottawa Citizen. This is an online newsfeed that is only available via the internet. However, Quan (2013), an editor with the times news feed has a different opinion. According to her, the advert is ineffective in portraying smoking as an anti-social behavior. This is because flatulence is a normal activity among mammals. According to her, the advert encourages people to smoke because it portrays it as a normal behavior. This is because it uses the notion of flatulence. The third article that this paper analyzes is a journal article by Pechmann and Reibling (2000). This journal talks about how to create an effective anti-smoking advertisement campaign i n Canada, and the United States. It uses a case study approach in explaining the effective method of creating an advertisement campaign. Basing on that, this paper takes a stand that to create an effective anti-smoking advertisement; the creators of the advertisement must consider the age of the spokesman, the content of the message, and the manner in which the advertisers depict the behavior. Quan(2013) in her article argues against the use of flatulence in creating an anti-smoking advertisement campaign. According to her, flatulence is a normal biological process amongst mammals, and on this basis, equating smoking with flatulence sends a message that smoking is a normal social behavior. According to her, the intention of the advertisers was to denote that smoking is as embarrassing as engaging in a farting activity. This idea is wrong, and she denotes that there is nothing embarrassing with farting. She even further goes on to denote that even small children know that farting is a normal biological process. Quan (2013) describes the 53 seconds video advert. She denotes that the video depicts a young woman who admits that she farts at parties, but this does not make her a farter. According to Quan (2013), the intention of the advertisers was to denote that smoking is wrong, and it doesn’t matter where the act takes place. However, to her, the use of video in this campaign was ineffective, and therefore did not meet the objectives of the advertisers. Hager (2013) on the other hand does not agree with Quan. Hager denotes that the advertisement achieved its objective of depicting smoking as an anti-social behavior (2013). According to Hager, the target of the advertisement was people between the ages of 18 to 29. Hager denotes that farting is an embarrassing social behavior, and using this concept in the anti-smoking advertising campaign manages to give a message that smoking is an embarrassing and ridiculous social behavior. Hager (2013) further goes on to denote that the use of a young woman in the anti-smoking advertisement campaign is an effective method of reaching out to the young people. This is because they identify with her age. To support his opinion, Hager gives the number of views that the campaign got in the social media. He denotes that the advert got 36000 views within a week of its release. This to him is a proof that the advert was effective in sending out its message. Pechmann and Reibling (2000) on the other hand, in their Journal article describe how to create an

Report Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 5

Report - Coursework Example This process is called transmutation. An element keeps changing as the nucleus loses energy and mass. Coins are metallic. They also are elements that contain mass. They are fit because they have heads and tails. Radioactivity can be determined when the coins land on a different side to mean that they have lost energy and mass. It is a probabilistic method, but it works well to establish the hypothesis involved. Probability is used in these experiments determine half-life and the process of decay. It is a game. It uses random actions to prove certain trends. Probability is also used here to track progress of decay of the coins. It eliminates decayed coins against non-decayed. Two random experiments were conducted to determine radioactive decay of random coins. The purpose was to come up with a statistical explanation for their radioactivity and to establish the procedure. The coins were tossed and probability was used to determine the process of decay. The coins were tossed and each coin that landed on its head was decayed. Each coin that was on its tails was not decayed. This was the mode of separation for the decay process. The second hypothesis is also a little faulty. It is almost 3. An average of 2.97 is recorder in the table to mean that the throws after the first are mostly two or three to create two or less coins

African American Religion Essay Example for Free

African American Religion Essay Before Africans were brought to America during the slave trade, they had their own culture and society. They had their own language and dance. They also had their own religion. History tells us that the Europeans justified their abuse toward the Africans as helping them become more civilized because the Africans lifestyle appeared primal to them and not as developed and industrialized as theirs. What is often overlooked is that even though Africans were taken from Africa and Americanized and have been stripped of their religion, culture, language and even their name, the very essence of the African as a people did not go away. Some African American slaves rejected Christianity’s religion because they saw it as the â€Å"white man’s religion†. History tells us American Slave Masters abused the Africans by whipping them like animals and by treating them inhumane. The fact that these slave masters wanted the African American to worship their god was unacceptable for some because they could not fathom why they should worship a god who allowed people to be so badly treated. Some Africans accepted Christianity’s religion and faith by identifying with Jesus Christ, the son of God who according to the Bible was innocent of sin and yet he was beaten, bruised and crucified for the sins of the world. Some African Americans wanted to remain faithful to their heritage yet did not agree with the conjure practices. Seth Holly’s character is a good example of conforming to the economic prosperity of America which was founded by Christians. White Christians enforced Christian beliefs, values, and some practices based on the Euro American Christian interpretation of Christian text. Seth developed a kind of hatred for his own people proving that he has adopted the practices of white America in the early 1900s. â€Å"Niggers coming up here from that old backwoods†¦ coming up here from the country carrying Bibles and guitars looking for freedom. † Seth says. â€Å"They got a rude awakening† (6). Seth signifies the African American who resents assimilation to the white American culture. But, at the same time, he too attempts to connect with his heritage by simply allowing Bynum to live in his home and bless it with his conjures rituals. Seth also participates in an African dance ritual called the Juba. Bynum’s character is introduced by practicing conjure rituals. He cuts open pigeons and spreads its blood onto him as a type of cleansing to communicate with spirits. Bynum represents the African American who chose to remain faithful to the religion of his heritage. Others who have chosen the faith of Christianity view conjure rituals as evil, witchcraft, or demonic. Some African Americans wanted to remain faithful to their heritage yet did not agree with conjure practices anymore. Loomis walks in on the juba dance and goes into a trance after dinner at the boarding house. He had a vision of skeletons emerge from a body of water. â€Å"Loomis: I done seen bones rise up out the water. Rise up and walk across the water. Bones walking on top of the water† (53). Loomis recognizes through the vision, his state of ignorance to the knowledge that will lead him to the new way of thinking. Bynum serves as a supporting character reacting to Loomis’s trance. â€Å"Bynum: They walking around here now. Mens. Just like you and me. Come right up out the water† (56). Loomis’s trance and Bynum’s interpretation of it is a turning point in the story. The skeletons coming from the bottom of the sea in Loomis’s vision represent the slave ships, the disorientation experienced by the slaves during emancipation, and the confusion of his release from Joe Turner. Both Loomis and Bynum have tapped into their ancestral religion. The difference between the two is that Bynum represents the African who never renounced his religion and Loomis is the African-American who turned from conjure religion and converted to the faith of Christianity. After Joe turner took his life away from him, Loomis questioned his Christian faith and his identity. By walking in on the ancestral ritual of the Juba dance, Loomis literally walked into what he had actually been looking for, his religion, consequently, his ancestral identity and this is why he fell into the trance. Throughout the play conjures is encompasses four generations; Bynum’s father, Bynum, Loomis, and the neighbor boy Reuben. Reuben’s vision is of Seth’s mother by the pigeon coop, she encourages Reuben to release the caged pigeons. Wilson writes in a way that leads the reader to believe that Loomis needs to find his missing wife. Martha Pentecost is not the one who was lost; Loomis was the one who was lost, wondering around from town to town, searching. Loomis came into the state of belief when Bynum helped him translate his vision. That vision represented Loomis going back to his ancestral conjure religion. Loomis needed to find Martha Pentecost simply to say good-bye to her and their life former together. Up until this point of the story, I believed that Loomis needed to find his wife so they could live out the rest of their lives as a happy free family with their daughter. However, it is made pretty obvious this was never Loomis’s intentions. â€Å"That goodbye kept me out on the road searching,† Loomis says, â€Å"now that I see your face I can say my goodbye and make my own world† (90). Martha Pentecost, a woman of Christian faith, represents the African who assimilated into white America’s culture and Loomis needed to find her to say good-bye to her and the Christian faith. Martha stands by her Christian faith by accusing Loomis â€Å"you done gone over to the devil† (91). White man’s religion believed that conjure was evil or the way of the devil. Loomis finds it easier to reject her for her Christian beliefs. â€Å"Loomis: Great big old white man†¦your Mr. Jesus Christ. Standing there with a whip in one hand and a tote board in another, them niggers swimming in a sea of cotton† (92). Loomis proves with his statement, his version of a bible story that differed from other African Americans but was similar to that of the white man who believed that they were on a level below God and the African’s were beneath them, African’s were one third of a person. Loomis now believes that if African’s are going to be free then they have to take charge of their own destiny. Martha Pentecost represents the African American’s religion, she identifies that Loomis needs to â€Å"be washed in the blood of the lamb† (92) and â€Å"you done gone over to the devil. (91) Through class lessons I learned that African American slaves compared themselves with stories in the bible to instill hope of a life free from oppression, violence, and bondage. Jesus according to the bible was innocent of sin and yet he was beaten, bruised and crucified for the sins of the world. The hope of reigning in heave with Jesus is considered the ultimate reward for suffering life’s trials and tribulations. It is the faith of the African Americans who accepted Christianity religion. Blacks trusted in the Lord instead of man. America was Egypt in the exodus story and as long as the enslaving and oppressing took place America would face the same wrath as Egypt. â€Å"Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. † The bible was depended on in justifying and motivation rebellion for the blacks and used as a tool to keep blacks enslaved by the whites. African Americans used sermons, song, and prayer to convey and teach their message of travail and triumph of Israel. Some African Americans could not get past the treatment from the white people that called themselves Christians and as a result they rejected Christianity. Selig’s role suggests that the link between characters is the acquisition of material goods. Selig admits that his ancestors have always made their living pursuing African Americas; his great grandfather transported slaves from Africa, his father captured runaway slaves and returned them to their masters for a reward, and Selig locates displaced people for a fee. Selig attains his ecstasy through consumer capitalism, through the selling of material goods. African Americans are objects for exploitation and exchange in the new economy. He binds African Americans to the economic system, demanding payment of his services and products which necessitates subsistence labor by taking them from one construction site or work site to another, similar to a temporary employment agency today. You pay for an employee to work for some time, but Selig is getting paid by the person looking for work or a ride to a chance of freedom. Selig cannot find a person that has not purchased a dustpan from him because he keeps the names of his customers. Seth is determined to achieve material success, he has very little patience for African Americans migrating north looking for the same prosperity that he desires. Seth is very demanding of his patrons, insisting on advance payment in full, and is preoccupied with maintaining a respectable house. â€Å"It’s hard enough now without all that ignorant kind of acting. Ever since slavery got over with there ain’t been nothing but foolish-acting niggers. Word get out they need men to work in the mill and put in these roads†¦ and niggers drop everything and head north looking for freedom. †(5, 6) Seth wants to blend in with the white man’s world; therefore he keeps a link with Selig by negotiating the manufacturing and sale of dustpans. Seth does not have any idea of what it would be like to be a slave, as he was born free in the North and was educated. He demonstrates his education with his math calculation when dealing with the boarding house patrons and the quick notation of him letting Selig know that he is trying to overcharge him for the dust pan materials. Educational differences played a role in tension with Southern blacks, most of who were forbidden from learning to read, saw religion as a matter of oral tradition and immediate experience and emotion. Northerner blacks, stressed that one could not truly be Christian unless they was able to read the Bible and understand it. This play denies individual worth and identity for some of Wilson’s characters. To be defrauded of the products of one’s labor or to see that creation diminished, like with Jeremy and the guitar contest, is to be denied a reflection of individual worth and identity. If people have been separated from this truth of individual worth and identity through oppression their capacity to bond with one another, form friendships, or couples, families are undermined. Social alienation in Wilson’s characters are expressed in their stores of broken relationships, uncertainty, or suspicion that they feel toward one another. â€Å"Seth: Something ain’t setting right with that fellow, Bynum. He’s one of them mean-looking niggers look like he done killed somebody gambling over a quarter. †(20) Connection between oppression, alienation from self and inability to form bonds with others is displayed in the character of Loomis. Joe Turner’s ability to oppress Loomis carried a judgment of non-worth. â€Å"Loomis: He told me I was worthless. Worthless is something you throw away. Something you don’t bother with† (73) Turners judgment of worthlessness forced Loomis to accept the reality of the white man’s power; he was marked as â€Å"one of Joe Turners niggers and forced to forget his song. †(71) Being alienated from himself and displaced with his relation to the world, Loomis is unable to establish bonds with people around him. The oppression encountered by Wilson’s characters is material or economic, that oppression is spiritual as well in the capacity to deprive the individual of a sense of himself or his unique song. The reawakening of Loomis after his encounter with cultural wisdom is not the self discovery of an average African American but creation of a new source of cultural wisdom, a new African holy man. Wilson uses many metaphors throughout the play. The song is a metaphor for Loomis’s identity and the African American cultural identity. Music is a large part of African American identity, so it makes since that in search of one’s identity they are searching for their song. The boarding house serves as an inn for traveling folk, but the tenants actually receive a form of healing during their stay. Tenants get direction and guidance from Bertha and Bynum. The shiny man that Bynum is in search for signifies African American independence. The man that Bynum met on the road was an independent African American, just as Loomis was freed by his past when he cleansed himself in his own blood. â€Å"Bynum: Herald Loomis, you shining! You shining like new money! †(94) Loomis has dismissed that the blood of Christ can wash away his sins and make him the man he used to be, but by washing himself in his own blood he has sacrificed the old life to begin his new journey on his terms. Bynum’s shining man has been found, meaning his work is complete; he has passed his powers on to the next generation, Loomis. â€Å"They tell me Joe Turner’s come and Gone† is a song that is sung by Bynum, when I first read the story I thought that the meaning was came and now he is dead however, the second time I read the play I realized that it meant that Joe Turner has come and snatched the men and now he is now gone. August Wilson uses symbolism in the play as a very important part in conveying the meaning of the story. Wilsons use of symbolism is demonstrated through Mr. Wilsons use of the road, Martha Pentecost, and Herald Loomis. Symbolic importance is give to the word freedom. The word freedom has instilled hope into the lives of African Americans: during slavery, hope for the release from bondage; after emancipation, the right to be educated, employed, and to move about freely; twentieth century, social, political, and economic justice. Freedom has always stood for the absence of any restraint, because God made all men from his image. There are a number of characters that travel around searching for their place in the world. Mattie, mentions that she keeps on looking, seems like she just keeps starting over, I ain’t never found no place for me to fit. † (76) Reuben tells Zonia, when he finds out that she is leaving the boarding house in search of her mom, â€Å"when I get grown, I come looking for you. †(84) Jeremy does not seem to care much when he loses his job because, â€Å"don’t make me no difference. There’s a big road out there, I can always get my guitar and find me a place to stay. I ain’t planning on staying in one place for too long noway. † (64) Martha Reverend Tolliver moved the Church up north because of the trouble the church was having. When the Civil War finally brought freedom to previously enslaved African Americans, the task of organizing religious communities was only one element of the larger need to create new lives, to reunite families, to find jobs, and to figure out what it would mean to live in the United States as citizens rather than property. August Wilson’s play, Joe Turner’s come and Gone, examines African Americans search for their cultural identity following slavery. Bibliography Murphy, L. G. (2000). Down By the Riverside. New York: New Yourk University Press. Wilson, A. (1988). Joe Turner Come and Gone. New York: Penguin Group.

Technology In The Hospitality Industry

Technology In The Hospitality Industry Introduction This document explains the technological change which has happened in hospitality industry and in particular hotel industry. The impact of information technology in hotels is quite significant. It has not only given people knowledge as what to seek when looking for a hotel but also a whole preview as what is available in the market. This whole revolution of information technology has changed both the industry and the consumer. Industry has to become more transparent and competitive in order to satisfy customer needs. One needs to keep in mind the enormous variability of the technology rather than assume its determining powers. (Poster, 1995) Information technology is an inevitable part of any organisations functionality. If an organisation seeks to progress in industry then it has to be competitive and up to date in its technological needs. In a world wide technology survey (Hensdill, 1998), hoteliers and other consultants explained how the hotel industry lagged far more behind in terms of automation than other industries. This document will explain what has changed hotel industry from technological perspective and what the demands of consumers are in post modern era. 1.1 Claridges Hotel Claridges hotel is situated in Mayfair, in the heart of Londons west end just a few minutes walk from the shops and boutiques of Bond Street, South Molton Street and Oxford Street. It has 203 rooms including 67 suites. The Reading Room restaurant and The Foyer Designed by Thierry Despont. The Fumoir The intimate, candlelit bar is a push, sophisticated place to enjoy cocktail. Claridges Bar designed by David Collins plays host to Londons movers and shakers. (www.claridges.co.uk) The most important change in recent times is Gordon Ramsay at Claridges restaurant head by Head chef Steve Allen. It offers finest dining in London, celebrating flavourful combinations of the freshest ingredients which is designed by Thierry Despont it is sumptuous and elegant, but intimate. (www.claridges.co.uk) Claridges hotel has always been considered as living in modern era but very famous in royalty and celebrities for its iconic image. But in recent years there have been many changes which has mixed modernism and post modernism in Claridges and this is why author thinks it is the best example to show how information technology has had its impact on Claridges. 1.2 Claridges Hotel Website Claridges website provides facility to both its customers and partners in order to book hotel rooms, table at restaurant or for afternoon tea. Online presence of Claridges hotel is one of the main examples of post modern era. Now any type of customers can just go online and book room for them. Two or three years ago trying to find hospitality IT vendor with an e-mail address, never mind a website, were an almost futile search (Frew, 2000). There were many hotels which were still on the old phone/agent booking system. Now agents have live database in which they can see when to book and Claridges gets these bookings automatically. Dr. Martin Peacock argues that the systems currently being implemented in the hospitality industry emphasise the controlling side of technology: they provide performance measures; they work to restrict the options of both line managers and staff. As he suggests as well that this to be the cause for the irrelevance of management. 1.3 Gordon Ramsay at Claridges Restaurant Celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay has his own restaurant in Claridges which is headed by Chef Steve Allen. In todays technology revolutionised era, it is very important to have someone famous to boost the brand. Most of the people know Gordon Ramsay through TV, newspaper and media and having his name with Claridges is key to enhance its brand name. People not only take it as a typical hotel but also a place to spend afternoon and dine out. According to Cline (2002) Hospitality ebusiness is destined to play an increasingly significant role and will have profound impact on the way hospitality business is conducted in the future. Literature 2.1 Research Methods There are various ways to perform research in order to understand technological requirements and changes in Claridges hotel. Dr. Martin Peacock has laid down three fundamental rules in order to choose and research on choice establishment. First, he suggested that it should be of interest of the author, secondly the fulfilment of the criteria of sufficient secondary data which is deemed possible. Finally, a possibility of primary data being available so that core reasons and suggestions can be presented in shape of an argument. This primary data can either be collected by talking to choice establishment or its customers. 2.1.1 Observations In order to understand and feel technological changes in Claridges, author visited the hotel himself and had afternoon tea in the hotel. Author also visited Gordon Ramsay restaurant and saw their seating plan and menu for customers and also understood how customers are being booked at the restaurant. Author also visited halls and visited bedrooms to understand and feel the same which a customer feels. Author understood that online customer booking facility is quite famous among customers due to ever changing consumer demands and post modern era. Claridges also provides online facility to its partner companies/agents to book for rooms/restaurants. 2.1.2 Interviews One of the primary research techniques is to interview the owner or people working in the choice establishment. It is also very important to take interview from customers so that proper analyses can be done. Author tried to book interview with IT staff of Claridges hotel but the concerned person in IT department was not available. So author has relied mainly on observations and secondary data. 2.1.3 Online Sources Main online sources used are hospitality journals available online, website of Dr. Martin Peacock, Claridges website and google search. 2.2 Limitations It was not possible to conduct survey with customers as Claridges does not allow external person to conduct any questionnaire survey with its customers without prior permission from higher management. It was not also possible to take interview with staff of claridges who can give insight about Claridges IT performance except few observational meetings with receptionist just to understand the functionality of basic information systems. Impact of Technological Innovation Technology has often been used as an instrument of control and the term itself has a link with the use of tools to control inanimate objects. Possibly the best illustration of the use of technology to control people is Zuboffs (1988) example of Benthams Panopticon. Here a prison is designed with glass walls and corridors radiating out like spokes from a wheel. The concept is that these corridors can be controlled by one guard situated at the centre of the wheel. The technology (in this case glass walls, a rotating chair and innovative design) is used to control the inmates. This is not an image totally distant from modern information systems within tourism and hospitality. (Chapter in Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism (edited by D.Fesenmaier), Springer, Wien, 2000) (Cultural tourism product emphasising on information and infrastructure, by Daniela Freund De Klumbis Wil Munster in Developments in the hotel industry: Design meets Historic Properties) Sector (significance of under ANOVA 0.000). Hotels had 68.6% in the enthusiastic user category, whilst restaurants could only count 41.9% in this group. (Martin Peacock, 1994) Modern information systems privilege a vision of technology which has close links with Benthams glass prison. In the NEDC working party report on competitiveness in tourism (1992), TGI Fridays use of technology to provide control and monitoring systems, is listed under Case Studies Best Practices. The same report also praises McDonalds use of systems. Baker et al (1998) suggested that the EPOS system developed for Bass Taverns removed the uncertainties of operative fraud and the black economy for public house managers. (Chapter in Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism (edited by D.Fesenmaier), Springer, Wien, 2000) This systematic standardisation of the hospitality product provoked a counter-movement inspired by consumers searching for hotels with unique or sophisticated and innovative characteristics, called boutique, design or lifestyle hotels. In the beginning of the 80s of the last century the term boutique hotel swept through the market and was used to describe unique 50-100 rooms properties, non chain-operated, with attention to fine detail and individual decoration in European or Asian influenced furnishings (literally a boutique as opposed to a department store). Sophistication and innovation explain the growth of the design and lifestyle hotel niches. In order to employ a generic term for these new niches, we will refer hereafter to the boutique, design and lifestyle concepts with the term lifestyle hotels. Being independent enterprises, lifestyle hotels join voluntary groups (membership affiliations, consortia) in order to benefit from the advantages of chains especially global marketing and promotion services, common packages and international reservation systems without having the disadvantages of chain box hotels like absence of management autonomy, architectural uniformity and standardized operational procedures (Yu, 1996; Andrew, 2001). Examples of these voluntary groups are marketing and sales reservation networks (e.g. SRS World Hotels) and free alliances. The confrontation of box and lifestyle hotels by means of Kotler ´s product levels shows clear differences between both concepts. On the core and facilitating product levels, box hotel companies present savings in building and staff costs due to the standards of performance as a major advantage to the hotel operator. In the marketing policy, the uniformity of the concept and the strong recognition of the brand are used to influence the consumers choice. Commoditization generates, within traditional segments, a feeling of security and familiarity. For the widely-travelled tourist, however, the stay in a box hotel turns into alienation and anonymity. Many of them share the experience of awaking in a hotel room while asking oneself: Where am I now? This negative guest experience, caused by impersonality, predictability and boredom, has led to an important loss of clients and turnover with box hotel companies. Table below shows us, by means of a confrontation matrix, the hotel guests main differences in choice criteria (Naber, 2002). BOX HOTELS LIFE STYLE HOTELS Demands quality guarantee Expects quality given the high quality level of lifestyle hotels Minimum standards Exceeding standards No annoying surprises Surprise-adventure-history Experiences are sought outside the hotel The hotel stay is an experience in itself Recognition of the product Recognition as a guest To feel at home by means of the hardware To feel at home by means of the software Reliable unique selling propositions Really unique selling propositions Familiar with the brand image Search for a specific identity (By Daniela Freund De Klumbis Wil Munster in Developments in the hotel industry: Design meets Historic Properties) What is key component to drive todays hospitality industry? Information technology is the key component which is driving hospitality industry. It has already revolutionised hospitality industry in post modern era and now it is driving it as major decisions are being taken and are based on Information systems provided by IT. Claims of overall increases in productivity caused by increasing use of information technology are difficult to justify empirically both at the local and the global level. US improvements in productivity can be linked directly to computer manufacturing (Anonymous, 1999) with productivity growth in other sectors stalled or falling. Landauer (1995) reported Roachs findings that information workers in the US (1960-87) had seen no increase in productivity. Martin Peacock and Humphery Shaw, (1996); Bytes and Bias suggests in this paper that the specific issue of the attitudes to new technology in the hospitality industry. Yet, outside the specific question of the industry, society too illustrates very ambivalent attitudes to new technology. One of the best illustrations of this is the Unabomber debate. The Unabomber is an American mail bomber who has attacked pro-technology targets (principally academics) over the last 18 years. Last year his manifesto was published in the Washington Post and other American publications (Anonymous, 1995). Technological change defines the horizon of our material world as it shapes the limiting conditions of what is possible and what is barely imaginable. It erodes taken-for-granted assumptions about the nature of our reality, the pattern in which we dwell, and lays open new choices. (Zuboff, 1988) New technologies do not spell the end of traditional technologies. The synthesiser has not replaced the piano. Each has their traditional and contemporary roles to fulfil. However, the advent of the synthesiser has effected the way in which we see and use the piano. It is something different to what it was. (Biggs, 1991) Tiles Oberdiek suggests in 1995 that modern technologies in short, behave like ecosystems. When we intervene here, unexpected consequences pop up there. As Tiles Oberdiek suggests in 1995 that on the other hand there are people who have become deeply pessimistic as a result of observing the path of so called technical progress. As they see it, we are strangely impotent in the face of, indeed are enslaved by, a pervasive technology that, ironically, we ourselves have made. Belonging to the primary tourism enterprises, the hospitality industry is an essential component of the cultural tourism product. Hospitality products need to fulfil customers needs on several levels (Kotler, 2003): (a) The core product answers the basic question: what is the buyer really buying? It refers basically to the benefits provided by the hotel to the consumer and not the features, e.g. room comfort and convenient location. (b) Facilitating products are those services or goods that must be present for the guests to use the core product, e.g. bellboy in a luxury hotel. (c) Supporting products are extra products offered to add value to the core product and help to position it through differentiation from the competitors, e.g. full-service health spa. (d) The augmented product includes atmosphere and customers interaction with the service organization and each other, e.g. lobby socializing. The augmented product is an important concept because it is in this level were the main differences arise between the various hospitality concepts, e.g. atmosphere created by focus on lightning, marriage of textures and colours to please the senses. How Technology works in Claridges? The expansion of the international hotel chains, in their vast majority, was accompanied and made possible by a process of standardisation and commoditization. Technological innovation has had huge impact on this expansion. Research data, which hotel chains keep and also have track record of ever changing customer needs is really important in order to expand the hotel chain as well as keeping an iconic image in the market. Claridges hotel has uniqueness which is to keep itself as one and only one hotel. It is part of group of hotels which is called Maybourne Hotel Group who has three big hotels (Claridges, Connaught, The Berkeley) in their portfolio and few other hotels internationally. Customers like to book online using Claridges website. Travel professionals in tourism industry also have online access available through website where they can make bookings on behalf of their customers. Booking online provides facility to customers to request anything extra they want to the hotel and that will fulfilled. Due to recent trend in technology and use of internet has changed the old perspective of booking via phone. A customer can book anywhere while sitting in airport or in a cab and as soon as they arrive at the hotel, everything is ready for them. It is very important to show in this document what are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats which are being faced by Claridges. This analysis shows this data using SWOT technique which can be applied to other life style hotels as well and will give sufficient information in order to take the required decisions. SWOT Analysis of the Claridges hotel Strengths Weaknesses Well-defined concepts with an unique identity and a modern character, taking into account the four levels of the hospitality product. Need to re-adapt constantly to the fast changing market demands. Diversity in guest experience. In some cases, hotel becomes the cultural attraction in itself Larger hotels groups cause lifestyle-fatigue through over-branding Low costs of soft branded distribution by the sharing of costs of distribution, technology and purchasing Low profitability as compared to box hotels Autonomous control over operations by the hotel itself, allowing the personal expression of passion for hospitality High maintenance and staffing costs Opportunities Threats Emergence of new soft brand distribution models: organization of independent hotels (e.g. Design Hotels Resorts) Global chains dominate supply through acquisition and development. They practise brand management across multiple brands (economies of scale) Design is becoming an element adopted by the various hospitality products (e.g. Accors backpackers concept Base) Emergence of low service stylised concepts or imitators Create programs that allow customers to spend all their money Aggressive down-pricing by box hotel chains to retain market share Needs and wants of the post-modern consumer: quality tourism, traditional hospitality, personal approach, sustainable hotels, the brand as a self image, diversity of experiences Familiar with travelling, nowadays consumers expect value and quality for their money. Effective use of Customer-Relationship-Management databases and customer-choice-modelling experiments can allow hospitality establishments to personalize products and services thus increasing satisfaction, retention and loyalty. Good informed and critical consumers Use of co-branding synergies with other lifestyle brands as the allocation to an existing Claridges brand name enables a quick transfer of the hospitality product values and contents to the client (e.g. Gordon Ramsay at Claridges Restaurant) Because of the unpredictable buying behaviour of the post-modern consumer, brand loyalty is difficult to achieve. Many consumers can no longer be easily segmented on the basis of education, income, social class and geographic origin. Utilisation of opinion leaders in the segment addressed and of the power of famous influencers (e.g. Famous hotel for George Clooney when he is in London) The consumer is wary to media, makes his choices and can hardly be influenced. ICT solutions for one-to-one marketing High cost level of ICT-investments Development of websites that convey the types of pleasurable experiences promised by the hotel and ensure pleasant browsing experiences High complexity of the global distribution model Conclusions By using the research methods and proper use of literature, it is quite apparent that technological innovation is inevitable and in hospitality, any establishment who does not believe in this will be out of the industry in no time. It is and will always be the case of being more innovative and creative in information technology and more strategic decisions are being taken by using proper IT research methods. It is imperative to keep up to date information systems in place if to succeed in the market is the goal. In future, it will not only the case of looking good and be more hospitalise but also to use core hospitality techniques along with good knowledge of customer needs. This knowledge can only be gained if proper information system is in place. Author believes that customer should have the power to customise the facility according to his/her needs. Hotel should accommodate customer and help him/her to customise as per requirement. This can only be done if hotel has sufficient information available which covers all expected and legitimate needs of any customer. Cline (2002) as well as Peacock (1995) point out the industrys slow and measured approach to IT and to innovation generally. But as the sophistication of technology increases (e.g. Fisk, 1999) it was suggested that a more organic or humanistic approach to IT is needed to make the technology more useable to the organisation, employees and customers. Effective innovation appears more at the operative level, at the point of sale. Creative problem solving, product remodelling, and effective marketing have been encouraged by technological change in other industries. New modes of service delivery have grown directly from the potential of new software (Barras, 1990). It is the imaginative coupling of new technology with new services and new modes of organisation which represents its real potential. (Martin Peacock Humphery Shaw, (1996); Bytes and Bias) Competition is fierce on the international hotel market and imitation of successful concepts is a proven method to attract new target groups. So it is no wonder that many of the ingredients which contribute to the lifestyle hotel experience, have been adopted by box hotels. Glocalisation, the combination of globalisation and localisation, has been introduced as a leading principle in marketing policies of chain hotels. In promotional campaigns of box hotels, the role of local culture as component of the hospitality product is highlighted by means of slogans like Think locally, act globally (Hilton Hotels) and International standards, local flavours (Claridges). While ten years ago design and style were unique selling propositions, nowadays they are minimum requirements to attract the sybaritic post-modern guest. Large hotel groups are even causing lifestyle-fatigue through over-branding and, at the same time, the number of low service stylish concepts is increasing with design becomi ng an element adopted by various hospitality products, e.g. Base, the backpacker concept of the Accor group. In this competitive struggle, the cornerstone of success for the lifestyle hotel product will be to pursue to satisfy the fast changing needs and wants of the post-modern consumer by offering an inimitable individuality and a full-balanced hospitality experience. The effective use of customer-relationship-management databases and one-to-one marketing actions has to be strengthened in order to be able to personalize products and services, thus increasing satisfaction, retention and loyalty. The quality of the staff will continue to be a key success issue because the lifestyle traveller seeks more than advice or recommendations. Hotel employees should not only be trained to manage the information exchange, but also be required to match guests to experiences. To perform such a consultancy task, they are expected to be informed about the hospitality product itself as well as its cultural environment (Freund, 2002). Furthermore, hospitality employees will be required to possess commercial skills based primarily on making the most out of each customer transaction by creating experiential programs that push the guest to spend the greater part of their money at the hotel. It should be noticed in this respect that consumers see food, accommodation and culture merely as elements of a greater whole relating to a total experience. Because of this, a relevant opportunity for lifestyle hotels, from a marketing perspective, consists in co-branding the property with a leading brand outside the tourism industry, e.g. fashion designers, retail companies, lifestyle brands. As the allocation to an existing brand name enables a quick transfer of the product values and contents to the client, co-branded hotels (e.g. Cerrutti, Armani and Bulgari Hotels) have a competitive edge in penetrating the market. However, co-branding in the hospitality industry requires a profound evaluation of both brand partners strengths and weaknesses, a strategy for the long term co-operation and, above all, a prudent implementation. References Freund de Klumbis, D. (2002), Seeking the ultimate hotel experience, paper originally presented at the XIIe International Leisure and Tourism Symposium ESADE-Fira de Barcelona, Barcelona, April 2002, and published in Gestià ³n en H, No. 11, May-June 2003, pp. 58-76. Naber, T. (2002), Chain or independent: box hotel or boutique hotel? lecture given at the Eurhodip Conference 2002 Hospitality Management in Europe: Moving into a New Dimension, Maastricht, May 2002. Andrew, G. (2001), Evolution of tourist offers: the importance of an individual hotel experience in an independent hotel chain, lecture given at the Eurhodip Conference 2001 The Hotel and Catering Trades for Employment and Economic Development in Europe, Venice, November 2001. Peacock, M., Information Technology in the Hospitality Industry, Cassell, London, 1995 Smith, T., Does Technology Drive History, The MIT Press, London, 1994 OConnor, Peter Using computers in Hospitality, Cassel, 1996. `Bytes and Bias: Technophilia in technology writing, (refereed conference paper for `Hospitality Information Technology Association Worldwide Conference, 1996). Ms. Rita Fernandas (2010); observations during meetings held with Ms. Fernandas, a receptionist at Claridges hotel. Online Sources: www.claridges.co.uk http://www.maybourne.com/page.aspx?id=4458 http://www.maybourne.com/uploadedFiles/Claridges/About_the_hotel/Claridges_London_English.pdf http://www.maybourne.com/uploadedFiles/Maybourne/Supplementary_Navigation/Travel_professionals/Downloads/Group_Guarantee_UK.pdf http://www.avlk87.dsl.pipex.com/martin/hospital.htm , (Hospitality managers who love computers too little?) by Dr. Martin Peacock

The Mystery of Style :: Plays Mysteries Essays

The Mystery of Style Introduction: There has been a fight in a bar and a person was killed. Through the investigation the detective is bringing forth testimonies that give clues to who the people are (what they do). It is the up to the audience to guess what Jill, Tony and Robert do. Characters: Detective Joe Jill Tony Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A bar set back, stage left. Three or four tables set in various places on stage. Lighting is dim. One table and two chairs, close to stage right, have been knocked over. Light rock music is heard. Lighting is dim. The bartender is wiping a glass or serving a drink. There is a customer at the bar and two at tables. Lights become brighter. Detective enters stage right - he is writing in his notebook. The music quiets. Detective: [walking toward the bar] Coffee Joe? Joe: [reaches under the bar for a cup and the coffeepot] Sure thing. Detective: [taking the cup of coffee and turning toward the people at the tables] O.k. folks. I just have to ask you a few questions and then you can leave. [looks at Jill] IÕll start with you. Jill: [looks uncomfortable] I'll tell you what I can officer, but I really don't know much. Detective: [sits down across from her at the table] That's fine ma'am. Any information you can give me right now will help. [notices Jill is uncomfortable] Now just relax and tell me what you saw. Jill: [tries to relax, takes a drink from her glass] Well, I must tell you first of all that I don't normally visit this sort of place but my husband and two children are on a camping trip... they went up north... anyway, my friend Darla calls me and talks me into meeting her at this place for one drink. She says I need to get out more but I knew I should have stayed home... Detective: Could you please just tell me about the incident in question ma'am? Jill: Sorry officer [fidgets in her chair] Anyway, as I said, I was here to meet Darla - who never arrived- and I was just about to leave when this big guy comes in and goes up to the little guy, who was sitting at that table by the door, and begins shouting at him. They began to shout back and forth and calling each other names - [leans closer to Detective] I don't have to repeat the names do I officer?

Color blind by the Counting Crows Essays -- song analysis

I am colorblind Coffee black and egg white Pull me out from inside I am ready (repeat 3 times) I am taffy stuck and tongue tied Stutter shook and uptight Pull me out from inside I am ready (repeat 3 times) I am fine I am covered in skin No one gets to come in Pull me out from inside I am folded and unfolded and unfolding I am colorblind Coffee black and egg white Pull me out from inside I am ready (repeat 3 times) I am fine (repeat 3 times) The song â€Å"Colorblind† by The Counting Crows nothing less than perfect for the scene it was chosen for in the film â€Å"Cruel Intentions†. It was played was one of the film’s main characters lost her virginity to another character. Though it was a beautiful fit for the scene which it played upon I don’t believe the meaning behind the song is the newness of being deflowered. The lyrics and the instrumentals accompanying them are both extremely simple in contrast to the actual meaning behind the song. To be quite succinct, the song itself is relatively simple but it is the meaning and the effort put forth in each and every line that makes it so deep. In the first line, "I am colorblind† (1), this is a clear depiction the songwriter’s (Adam Duritz) perception of everything. His emotions have been dulled due to pains of the past cnsequently renderring him cold and unfeeling. He sees everything as it is; there is simply no middle ground or grey area when it comes to life. This can be seen in the next line, â€Å"Coffee black and egg white" (2) He sees everything just as it is presented, not for what it could be if viewed differently with an open mind and open heart. â€Å"Coffee black† is a representation of how he merely sees the black of the coffee, as opposed to perceiving the richness, aroma, or other detectable qualities. The next two lines, "Pull me out from inside. / I am ready, I am ready, I am ready" (3-4) signifies the fact he is in a shell with a wall of defense up. He does not want to let his guard down, leaving him vulnerable to the pain that only a loved one can bring. In the next line when he says he is ready for love three times, this is an indication of the fact that he is ready to succumb to the power and the feeling of love. He indeed is apprehensive about the situation and is having... ...es metaphorical use to promote the ambiguity of his subject matter. Imagery is also present within the context of the song. The imagery portrayed in this song because it allows the listener visualize this scenario and his emotions. Phrases like â€Å"coffee black and egg white† which is repeated twice in the song, enables the listener to envision the message he’s trying to convey. Refrain is one of the characteristic components of many lyrical compositions, whether poetry or song. The refrain identified in this song is when the writer repeated the phrase â€Å"I am ready† three times; this is the key phrase that most accurately expresses the writer’s mentality, thus dictating the tone of the song. The repetition only serves to the purpose of reinforcing the message. The song, once again, is quite simple but it is this simplicity that makes the song as powerful as it is. It was very well written and every musical instrument that accompanied the song was epic. This piece of work is truly a masterpiece.

1- Explain the Differences Between Pangloss’s Philosophy of Life and Martin’s. How Do Each of These Characters Influence Candide

Pangloss’s philosophy of life is that all is for the best in the â€Å"best of all possible worlds. † This optimistic philosophy actually is the key element of Voltaire’s satire. Pangloss’s philosophy is against the ideas of the Enlightenment period. Pangloss believes that a powerful God had created the world and that, therefore, the world must be perfect. When creatures of the world, see something as wrong or evil, it is because they do not understand the ultimate good that will come out of it. Voltaire satirically shows the reader that Pangloss is not a believable character. Voltaire illustrates this by showing us that he keeps his optimistic thought even when he is imprisoned. Pangloss ignores any evidence that contradicts his initial opinion. He also uses illogical arguments to support his beliefs. Pangloss’s philosophy tries to impose a passive attitude toward all that is wrong in the world. If the world is the best one possible, then there is no reason to make any effort to change things. Martin is more believable than Pangloss, not because he is more sophisticated, but because he is smarter and more likely to draw conclusions with which we can identify. Martin had been robbed by his wife and beaten by his son and deserted by his daughter and also lived financial setbacks, and therefore he’s a pessimist whereas Pangloss is an optimist. He uses his experiences to judge the world whereas Pangloss was merely using a theory. As a result, Martin is more insightful than Pangloss to foresee events that will happen. Even though Martin’s philosophy is more believable than Pangloss’s, he’s still not good at predicting how some people will behave because his philosophy is coming from extreme pessimism. Therefore it might not be wrong to say that Voltaire is trying to prove that we need flexible thought in our lives based on real evidence. Both philosophers will ultimately fail because there’s no room for exceptions in their beliefs. Candide starts his journey with the influence of Pangloss’s belief of â€Å"best of all possible worlds†. Pangloss and Candide, suffer and witness a wide variety of horrors and tragedies together. During these tragedies, Pangloss’s s philosophy proves to be useless and even destructive at the end, because it prevents them from making realistic judgments. For example while Jacques was drowning, Pangloss doesn’t let Candide save him by saying that the bay of Lisbon had been formed for this Anabaptist to drown in. Also when Candide was buried under the rubble of the Lisbon earthquake, he asked for oil and wine because he was dying, but Pangloss ignored him and still tried to reason with the causes of the earthquake. At the end Candide rejects his philosophy of optimism and as he and his servant Cacambo travel and go through more horrors, Candide starts believing a pessimistic view of life. When Candide meets Martin, they set sail together and Martin is just the opposite of Pangloss. He does not believe that everything is for the best in this world. Even though Candide tries to oppose Martin by talking about free will but it does not solve the problem of presence of evil in the world. In general, Martin’s arguments seem more reasonable than Pangloss’s ideas. But, like Pangloss, Martin believes so firmly in his own view of the world that he is not flexible and usually dismisses real evidence that contradicts his philosophy. When Candide cannot find Cunegonde, Martin shows the bad influence of his pessimism. Instead of attempting to comfort his friend, Martin uses Candide’s distress to further confirm his own world-view. Just like Pangloss’s optimism, Martin’s pessimism also keeps him from taking initiative to improve the world.