Article Analysis of Supply and Demand Essay

The software business a few years back was at its peak and the growing demand for software gave software companies the leverage to raise prices. When firms bought software it was in the form of a perpetual license and was costly for them. In this context, a perpetual license gave the consumers unlimited access to the software and usually tried to utilize the software more efficiently. Thus lowering the demand for software, prices were also lowered because fewer consumers were willing to pay for something they could not effectively use. With a decrease in demand, supply also decreased. This paper is based on the article Supply and Demand: Software Pricing by Jeffrey Rothfeder, which was published in PC Magazine (2004). This paper presents an analysis of the article using the economic theories of supply and demand. Demand is comprised of the desire of the consumer to buy something, the consumer’s ability to pay and willingness to pay. Thus, in the peak years of the software industry, business and firms, both multimillion companies and smaller ones bought software like pancakes because of their desire for efficiency, which the software companies promised them. Then, business firms had the ability to pay for it since it was seen as an investment and would help them reap more profits. Which also made them more willing to pay for it. When companies bought additional software to complement what they already had resulted to marginal utility of the software, then as companies bought more software that the software company told them to use but could not effectively maximize it contributed to a diminishing marginal utility. Thus, the demand for software begun to decrease, coupled with this the dot.com crash came, the supply of software in the market was high, but the demand was low which eventually resulted into a lowering of the prices of the software license. This cycle meant that the software industry is dependent on what the consumer is willing to pay for. On the other hand, the changes in the supply and demand and prices of software can also be brought about by a number of factors, like the rapid technological advancements in IT, the operational costs of using software and even the attitude of managers towards the usefulness and effectiveness of the software. In the past, software companies offered perpetual licenses to its consumers, this meant that consumers would have unlimited access to the software but because of the technological advancements in the information technology, most of the software bought in the past could not run and its usefulness diminished. This entailed getting an upgrade or replacing the software entirely, but because of the past experience of mangers with the huge expenditure in buying software, it made them unwilling to pay for it the second time. A new breed of software companies also capitalized on the existing business environment, wherein they knew that consumers were looking for alternatives and options. This is what they gave the consumers, instead of making software that would replace the original software, they developed a program that would enhance their existing programs, and they could buy it by subscription, which they can renew for the time they want to use it. This gave consumers the psychological feeling of being in control, instead of being at the mercy of the software companies. Thus, demand for this kind of software and this approach in licensing also spurned the increase in supply and also in prices. But since many vendors offer this alternative, and the losses of software companies made them more careful in their business strategies, they have to remain competitive in their prices. Consumers generally would want to pay less for what they need, which the subscription approach answers. Then with the development of the new way of delivering software through the internet (ASP) which reduces operational costs of software companies again moved the prices of the product. At first, the public was hesitant in using this technology because of security and quality issues. However, big companies utilized it and therefore led to the belief that the risks associated with using this form is low and since them it has gained acceptance in the consumers. This again demonstrates how the growth in one aspect of the product can lead to an increase in demand and supply. More and more consumers have also become intelligent in what they want and need out of softwares, thus the idea of paying for a software like a utility commodity has not gained much credence. The use for softwares in business firms are numerous and a pay as you use approach is not viable since people nowadays depend on technology to become efficient in their jobs. On the other hand, the software industry have also responded with a few measures that would somehow change the quantity demanded of their products by going after software piracy and misuse of software licenses, thus effecting changes in the demand of the products like when a pirated software is confiscated or shut down and since people rely on it for their business they would probably go out and buy the real one. In conclusion, the software industry still has power over the market of their programs, but with the increasing knowledge of consumers on the intricacies of using a software, their power over the supply, demand and prices of their products would slowly wane. References Articles Rothfeder, J. (2004). Supply and Demand: Software Pricing. PC Magazine (February).Retrieved May 10, 2006 from http://www. eweek. com/article2/0,1759,1539611,00. asp Pombriant, D. (2003). â€Å"Hosted CRM Popularity Continues To Grow—But How Far Will It Go? † Aberdeen Group Websites www. softlicense. net/ webcomment. htm Software licensing tips and hints www. siia. net//divisions/software/pubs/statpage. pdf Software industry statistics.

Activity Intended for Enhancing a Skill Essay

This paper examines the effectiveness of the activity that is carried out in order to enhance a particular skill. The activity of turning letters into words is selected and carried out as a game between the members of an identified group with the main objective being attainment of improved group performance and development. The paper examines the degree of response achieved in the skill with the help of the intended activity. The game of Turning Letters into Words is an activity that is chosen to improve the development and performance of a group and is a great tool to develop knowledge abilities and skills through participation. Dividing the whole group into smaller teams helps in building a structured approach towards shared group objective. This activity creates a stimulating learning environment for each member and hones their behavioral skills to maximize the team’s performance and development. All the members participate fully in terms giving individual contribution as well as working together with others. Being an integral part of the team and having the responsibility of making the maximum words possible with the provided letters, gives a boost to the team spirit. Each member is then supposed to question oneself about whether the letters contributed by him/her helped or restricted the team members in making the most of the needed long words. This brings out the feeling of cohesiveness and suppresses the individualistic approach, which helps in rapid increase in performance levels. The collective act of choosing the letters and making maximum words not just brings the members together, but also promotes the feeling of trust, cooperation and the winning streak. The feeling of competing at the group level helps he members to cope with the distinct behaviors and perspectives, without getting into the blame game. Each member strives to achieve the maximum number of words by unknowingly working towards the strengths and weaknesses of their own teams and articulating the team’s vision. The activity of forming words as a team helps in establishing clear team guidelines, objectives and a well thought out team orientation process. The process of mapping the individual performance with the team’s overall performance while working at a high capacity in the present role augments the group development to accomplish the maximum performance. However, a close scrutiny of the team members’ reaction reveals that the age group is a significant factor in defining the individual’s response to such skill enhancing activities. The different set of values and attitude characterize the way the older generation is not so rapid with coming up with new words. The newer generation however responds more quickly to such skill grinding activities. Therefore, it can be concluded that strategically designed activities can surely be used to facilitate requisite skills such as yielding performance metrics, provided the management is well knowledgeable about the degree of responsiveness. References http://www. teambuildingportal. com/games/turning-letters-words. php

Fashion in the 1920s

Women's Fashion In The sass After the end of World War l, the United States president, Warren G. Harding, claimed that he wanted to return to normalcy and to bring back the peace following the years of war; society did change, but it was no where near what it had been before the war (Margarita 14). â€Å"The reactionary temper of the sass and the repressive movements it spawned arose as reactions to a much-publicized social and intellectual revolution that threatened to rip America from it old moorings† (Tindal 800). During this time, the 18th Amendment was passed in order to maintain society's previous morals and tankards.Many Americans saw the consumption of alcohol as a sin and did not want their society to lose their morals (Margarita 8). Shortly after its passage, the 19th Amendment was passed allowing women the right to vote; instead of having a passive role in society, women were beginning to be more proactive. The appearance of woman in society did not stop work place; instead, because of prohibition and the popularity of speakeasies, women were welcomed and populated such venues. Tuxedoed men accompanied women wearing the latest fashions filled the latest clubs (Margarita 27).Traditionally, 1920 was seen as marking a clear divide in the chronology of women's affairs: the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment giving women the vote ended years of struggle, and with the ‘liberation' of the war, which destroyed old stereotypes, led on to the ‘New Woman' of the sass† (Wynn 133). World War I was the turning point from traditional values to a newly enlightened America, a rebellious youth, and newly freed women; as art reflects society, the emancipation and celebration following the war is reflected in the style and fashion that came alive in this new era.Beautiful coordinated and accessories outfits were a feature of sass's ladies fashion, [which consisted of] hats, shoes, stockings, handbags, dresses and Jewelry [that] all came togethe r in perfect harmony to create a unique and elegant style† (Scott). This style portrayed the times as Americans began to stray from the past and the old American ways. â€Å"During those years a cosmopolitan urban America confronted an insular, rural America† leading to the development of urban cities (Tindal 800).In these populated cities, people began to let loose as â€Å"Prohibition indirectly led to bootlegging and speakeasies, while the rowing rebelliousness of teenagers highlighted the generation gap† (Drowned back cover). Participation in these illegal venues had been unheard of in the previous decades, but these changing times encouraged the promotion of such activities and these environments called for a certain style and fashion. â€Å"The Twenties did roar, and this volume shows the many colorful ways the decade altered America, its people, and its future† (Drowned back cover). This ‘new woman' [that arose] eagerly discarded the constrain ing fashions of the nineteenth century – pinched-in corsets, conforming petticoats, and floor-length dresses† (Tindal 801). As the times were changing, their fashion changed in order to reflect â€Å"the rebellion against prudishness and a loosening of inhibitions† (Tindal 801). These new trends shocked the old-timers as the â€Å"the revolution in manners and morals, evidenced first among young people† were represented in their clothing (Tindal 800). As women were beginning to live more freely, their style reflected the same attitude. In 1919 women's skirts were typically six inches about the ground; [but] by 1927 they were at the knee, and the flapper' was providing a shocking model of the new feminism† (Tindal 801). These omen portrayed â€Å"a period of escapism, a youthful reaction against the dark and serious clothes, behavior and mood of an older generation still clinging to old Victorian and Edwardian values† (Herald 6). They were star ting to represent the idea behind the ‘new women. ‘ During this time the girls are actually tempting the boys more than the boys do the girls, by their dress and conversation† straying away from old traditions (Tindal 801).They began â€Å"a move[meet] toward breaking down national boundaries in everything from finance to style – [which] was a theme that ran through the decade† (Herald 6). Women's fashion reflected the change in attitude evident following the war. Fashion followed the new needs of the wearers and the more rebellious consumers in urban American society. â€Å"The passing of bustles and corsets gave clothing designers much greater freedom of expression resulting in innovative styling† (Scott). This permitted the newly reformed lifestyle and attitude to be expressed in women's clothing.In came â€Å"the new and colorful fabrics [that] echoed the Joy felt by a war weary population following the end of hostilities† as well as the â€Å"slim, streamlined look of the twentieth century,† which represented â€Å"youth, ability, and a freer form of sexual expression† (Scott; Blackjacks 133). Women now had the freedom to express themselves and not worry about the opinion of the public. They no longer had to be concerned with their modesty as the ideals began to yield â€Å"to modern sensibilities,† they began to expose their limbs and a â€Å"tight encasement of the[IR] torso† (Blackjacks 133).Society demand brought the new style as they insisted â€Å"that clothes be appropriate for the time of day, the activity, or the formality of the occasion†¦ The higher someone's rank, [depicted the amount of] clothes they needed to meet society demands† (Herald 11). In addition, fashion made improvements towards practical clothing as â€Å"women's underwear changed . With corsets becoming smaller and more flexible, and modern style bras being introduced†¦ [providing] shape and support whereas the older style tended to flatten breasts and constrict the chest† (Scott).Another practical need emerged with the growing popularity of the speakeasies. Women were welcome and where the women are, the men will be and the women were flocking these clubs and actively dancing the night away. â€Å"Flappers, as the trendy young women were called in the U. S. Wore short dresses with a straight loose silhouette. By 1927 seams had risen to Just below the knee, so that part of the knee could be seen when dancing the Charleston† (Scott). â€Å"Flapper fashion featured bobbed hair, minimal undergarments, gauzy fabrics, and sheer stockings† so that they could be free to move while dancing (Tindal 801). Although the sass did abound with flappers and would be flappers, the decade also hosted†¦ Women asserting new power† (Coot 413). And while the flappers' new needs were sought out, fashion also created new opportunities in the workforce for Hes s brave and powerful women. Along with the 19th amendment allowing women's voice and freedom, fashion opened up new Job opportunities that were available to women. â€Å"Women were beginning to enter male-dominated profession, where male clerks were generally being replaced by women typists and secretaries† (Herald 11).The â€Å"office girls needed a whole new wardrobe of smart day wear [as they began working] with new-fangled machines† (Herald 11). These Jobs of â€Å"dressmaking and millinery courses in particular were embraced by women who wanted the new fashions but couldn't afford the retail prices† (Scott). Some women moved into new vocations created by the burgeoning consumer culture such as accounting assistants and departments store clerks† (Tindal 802). â€Å"All the big department stores had mail-order catalogs where you could order clothes for men, women, and children† and have them delivered (Scott).This meant country people had easy ac cess to city fashions for the first time† (Scott). Others were looking to create full part-time Jobs for themselves† (Scott). They also wanted to â€Å"support their fatherless families or to earn extra income to spend on the new luxuries. Working omen also embraced the relatively inexpensive ready-made clothes a mass production of contemporary clothing became common. † (Scott). As the times began to change, the clothes and their designers followed suit.Style and design of fashion changed as women's clothing became â€Å"lighter (due to less material and new synthetic fabrics) and brighter and shorter that ever before† (Scott). Fashion designers experimented with colors, patterns, and fabrics for textures. Evening dresses, coats and Jackets were often trimmed with fur. Hemlines rose for most of the decade† (Scott). One of the influential designers of the decade was Hattie Carnegie, known for her â€Å"personal taste and fashion sense, [which] influen ced the styles worn by countless American women† (Shaw). She sought to â€Å"interpret European style for American consumers† and her style was welcomed as it had â€Å"a guarantee of sophistication and propriety' (Shaw). Carnegie had â€Å"an approach to fashion that emphasized consummate polish in every outfit† (Shaw). Eventually she â€Å"made her name synonymous with American high fashion for almost half a century' (Shaw). â€Å"The Carnegie customer, whatever her age, seems to have been neither girlish nor attorney, but possessed of a certain decorousness† portraying the turn in attitude as well as fashion (Shaw).As the event of changing style, different fabrics were introduced changing the shape, feel, and mood of fashion. â€Å"The sass opened with an explosion of color† as the education of fabric became known and lines were becoming more demonstrated through out the style (Herald 6). Hattie Carnegie â€Å"often stressed the importance of black as a wardrobe basic for both day and evening† (Shaw). The color blue was known as â€Å"a standard color for woman's dress† in the sass's (Scott). Fashion designers used color to portray different emotions.Colors such as green were notorious for being â€Å"very restful to the eye [as] light orange is too bright to be used freely' (Scott). Later the â€Å"Barberry Company introduced its trademark red/camel/black-and-white check in the twenties as a lining for the trench coat† that is still popular today (Herald 6). As women were beginning to understand the use of the textiles, they began to see their â€Å"possibilities and make the most of them† (Scott). Fashion helped the women express their individuality as their role of the ‘new woman' was taking form.The transformation in American culture and society would not have been possible without World War l. Whether it was the celebrations for the end of the war or the results of 18th and 19th Ame ndments, society transformed from traditional values to new, enlightened customs. The celebrations, speakeasies, and superfluous lifestyles demented change and woman paved the way with fashion. Not only did women's fashion change, the new ‘modern women' was born. During this era known as the ‘Roaring Twenties' women were given the right to vote and more importantly, the right to live more freely throughout society. Fashion in the 1920s â€Å"Fashion is one of the greatest forces in present-day life. It pervades every field and reaches every class†¦. It has always been a factor in human life but never more forceful, never more influential and never wider in scope than in the last decade, and it gives every indication of growing still more important. † So with everything in mind, we can really agree with him when he said that it was more than an expression of individual taste; it was instead a statement of group membership, of involvement in the currents of one's time. â€Å"To be out of fashion,† he wrote, â€Å"is, indeed, to be out of the world.During the decade technology vastly improved which helped spread the word about what people were wearing and driving and how they were decorating their homes or designing their public buildings. Improved communication meant that a large proportion of the general population was exposed to the latest fashion trends and responded, positively or negatively, to them. During the sass the most distinctive clothing styles originated in Europe: in France for women's attire and in England for men's. Coco Channel was one of the first women designers to adopt the new era of clothing, which meant that she adopted a more boyish look.She replaced the corset with lighter clothing that wasn't so restrictive. Throughout the years dresses kept getting shorter and the backs lower. â€Å"By 1925 dresses were the shortest in history – an act of the devil, some thought. † Many people were so outraged that they passed laws in the states of Ohio and Utah that the hem length of ladies gowns had to be seven inches from the floor but these responses from mature adults simply increased young women's fondness for their short skirts and cosmetics. After all, what fun is it to rebel if nobody notices or cares? But what are some major reasons for this changes in women fashion?The first one is that after the war women continued to work outside their h ome, so the clothes had to be altered to allow for an ease of movement. Also with the lack of men due to the war, women began wearing more alluring clothing to attract a husband. The ratification of the 19th Amendment also played a major role as women soon began wearing loose pantsuits called ‘pajama suits', a direct result of the newly gained right to vote and the strong cries for further female empowerment. Probably, one of the first images that pops into your head when you hear the word sass fashion is the Flapper which is the symbol of the oaring twenties.It embodied the decades modern fashion elements such as short sleek hair, a short shapeless dress, a flat chest, and exposed limbs. Flappers also had a reputation that added to their style as well; they smoked from long cigarette holders, applied makeup in public and danced to Jazz with reckless abandonment of propriety. Men of this time wore suits, day suits, formal suits, all different kinds of suits. Along with their s uits, they wore a hat according to their class in society: the upper class wore top hats, middle class wore a fedora, and the working class wore a flat cap or no cap at all.To complete their ensemble they wore black patent leather shoes or saddle shoes. As well as the classic suit, flannel, twill, knickerbockers, and sweaters were a more commonly seen casual wear among men of all ages, Then around 1925 â€Å"Oxford bags† were introduced to the public, after being worn as a kind of uniform for Oxford University students. This style grew and grew and before you knew all the young men were wearing them. As the decade progressed, the automobile increasingly became another definer of status and social class in America, both for young people and their parent's. Henry Ford's Model T, which dominated the U. S. Rake until it went out of production in 1927, gave middle-class and even lower-middle-class citizens affordable, reliable transportation. The quintessential expression of Ameri can energy and optimism in the sass was the skyscraper, the great tower that aspired toward heaven and dominated the earth (rather, the urban streets) below. Throughout the sass, then, a concern for fashion, for style as a social and cultural delineated, flourished. Fashion developments in attire, in architecture, and in automobiles helped to define the decade and these developments proved more pervasive and more influential than they had ever been in the past. Fashion in the 1920s Women's Fashion In The sass After the end of World War l, the United States president, Warren G. Harding, claimed that he wanted to return to normalcy and to bring back the peace following the years of war; society did change, but it was no where near what it had been before the war (Margarita 14). â€Å"The reactionary temper of the sass and the repressive movements it spawned arose as reactions to a much-publicized social and intellectual revolution that threatened to rip America from it old moorings† (Tindal 800). During this time, the 18th Amendment was passed in order to maintain society's previous morals and tankards.Many Americans saw the consumption of alcohol as a sin and did not want their society to lose their morals (Margarita 8). Shortly after its passage, the 19th Amendment was passed allowing women the right to vote; instead of having a passive role in society, women were beginning to be more proactive. The appearance of woman in society did not stop work place; instead, because of prohibition and the popularity of speakeasies, women were welcomed and populated such venues. Tuxedoed men accompanied women wearing the latest fashions filled the latest clubs (Margarita 27).Traditionally, 1920 was seen as marking a clear divide in the chronology of women's affairs: the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment giving women the vote ended years of struggle, and with the ‘liberation' of the war, which destroyed old stereotypes, led on to the ‘New Woman' of the sass† (Wynn 133). World War I was the turning point from traditional values to a newly enlightened America, a rebellious youth, and newly freed women; as art reflects society, the emancipation and celebration following the war is reflected in the style and fashion that came alive in this new era.Beautiful coordinated and accessories outfits were a feature of sass's ladies fashion, [which consisted of] hats, shoes, stockings, handbags, dresses and Jewelry [that] all came togethe r in perfect harmony to create a unique and elegant style† (Scott). This style portrayed the times as Americans began to stray from the past and the old American ways. â€Å"During those years a cosmopolitan urban America confronted an insular, rural America† leading to the development of urban cities (Tindal 800).In these populated cities, people began to let loose as â€Å"Prohibition indirectly led to bootlegging and speakeasies, while the rowing rebelliousness of teenagers highlighted the generation gap† (Drowned back cover). Participation in these illegal venues had been unheard of in the previous decades, but these changing times encouraged the promotion of such activities and these environments called for a certain style and fashion. â€Å"The Twenties did roar, and this volume shows the many colorful ways the decade altered America, its people, and its future† (Drowned back cover). This ‘new woman' [that arose] eagerly discarded the constrain ing fashions of the nineteenth century – pinched-in corsets, conforming petticoats, and floor-length dresses† (Tindal 801). As the times were changing, their fashion changed in order to reflect â€Å"the rebellion against prudishness and a loosening of inhibitions† (Tindal 801). These new trends shocked the old-timers as the â€Å"the revolution in manners and morals, evidenced first among young people† were represented in their clothing (Tindal 800). As women were beginning to live more freely, their style reflected the same attitude. In 1919 women's skirts were typically six inches about the ground; [but] by 1927 they were at the knee, and the flapper' was providing a shocking model of the new feminism† (Tindal 801). These omen portrayed â€Å"a period of escapism, a youthful reaction against the dark and serious clothes, behavior and mood of an older generation still clinging to old Victorian and Edwardian values† (Herald 6). They were star ting to represent the idea behind the ‘new women. ‘ During this time the girls are actually tempting the boys more than the boys do the girls, by their dress and conversation† straying away from old traditions (Tindal 801).They began â€Å"a move[meet] toward breaking down national boundaries in everything from finance to style – [which] was a theme that ran through the decade† (Herald 6). Women's fashion reflected the change in attitude evident following the war. Fashion followed the new needs of the wearers and the more rebellious consumers in urban American society. â€Å"The passing of bustles and corsets gave clothing designers much greater freedom of expression resulting in innovative styling† (Scott). This permitted the newly reformed lifestyle and attitude to be expressed in women's clothing.In came â€Å"the new and colorful fabrics [that] echoed the Joy felt by a war weary population following the end of hostilities† as well as the â€Å"slim, streamlined look of the twentieth century,† which represented â€Å"youth, ability, and a freer form of sexual expression† (Scott; Blackjacks 133). Women now had the freedom to express themselves and not worry about the opinion of the public. They no longer had to be concerned with their modesty as the ideals began to yield â€Å"to modern sensibilities,† they began to expose their limbs and a â€Å"tight encasement of the[IR] torso† (Blackjacks 133).Society demand brought the new style as they insisted â€Å"that clothes be appropriate for the time of day, the activity, or the formality of the occasion†¦ The higher someone's rank, [depicted the amount of] clothes they needed to meet society demands† (Herald 11). In addition, fashion made improvements towards practical clothing as â€Å"women's underwear changed . With corsets becoming smaller and more flexible, and modern style bras being introduced†¦ [providing] shape and support whereas the older style tended to flatten breasts and constrict the chest† (Scott).Another practical need emerged with the growing popularity of the speakeasies. Women were welcome and where the women are, the men will be and the women were flocking these clubs and actively dancing the night away. â€Å"Flappers, as the trendy young women were called in the U. S. Wore short dresses with a straight loose silhouette. By 1927 seams had risen to Just below the knee, so that part of the knee could be seen when dancing the Charleston† (Scott). â€Å"Flapper fashion featured bobbed hair, minimal undergarments, gauzy fabrics, and sheer stockings† so that they could be free to move while dancing (Tindal 801). Although the sass did abound with flappers and would be flappers, the decade also hosted†¦ Women asserting new power† (Coot 413). And while the flappers' new needs were sought out, fashion also created new opportunities in the workforce for Hes s brave and powerful women. Along with the 19th amendment allowing women's voice and freedom, fashion opened up new Job opportunities that were available to women. â€Å"Women were beginning to enter male-dominated profession, where male clerks were generally being replaced by women typists and secretaries† (Herald 11).The â€Å"office girls needed a whole new wardrobe of smart day wear [as they began working] with new-fangled machines† (Herald 11). These Jobs of â€Å"dressmaking and millinery courses in particular were embraced by women who wanted the new fashions but couldn't afford the retail prices† (Scott). Some women moved into new vocations created by the burgeoning consumer culture such as accounting assistants and departments store clerks† (Tindal 802). â€Å"All the big department stores had mail-order catalogs where you could order clothes for men, women, and children† and have them delivered (Scott).This meant country people had easy ac cess to city fashions for the first time† (Scott). Others were looking to create full part-time Jobs for themselves† (Scott). They also wanted to â€Å"support their fatherless families or to earn extra income to spend on the new luxuries. Working omen also embraced the relatively inexpensive ready-made clothes a mass production of contemporary clothing became common. † (Scott). As the times began to change, the clothes and their designers followed suit.Style and design of fashion changed as women's clothing became â€Å"lighter (due to less material and new synthetic fabrics) and brighter and shorter that ever before† (Scott). Fashion designers experimented with colors, patterns, and fabrics for textures. Evening dresses, coats and Jackets were often trimmed with fur. Hemlines rose for most of the decade† (Scott). One of the influential designers of the decade was Hattie Carnegie, known for her â€Å"personal taste and fashion sense, [which] influen ced the styles worn by countless American women† (Shaw). She sought to â€Å"interpret European style for American consumers† and her style was welcomed as it had â€Å"a guarantee of sophistication and propriety' (Shaw). Carnegie had â€Å"an approach to fashion that emphasized consummate polish in every outfit† (Shaw). Eventually she â€Å"made her name synonymous with American high fashion for almost half a century' (Shaw). â€Å"The Carnegie customer, whatever her age, seems to have been neither girlish nor attorney, but possessed of a certain decorousness† portraying the turn in attitude as well as fashion (Shaw).As the event of changing style, different fabrics were introduced changing the shape, feel, and mood of fashion. â€Å"The sass opened with an explosion of color† as the education of fabric became known and lines were becoming more demonstrated through out the style (Herald 6). Hattie Carnegie â€Å"often stressed the importance of black as a wardrobe basic for both day and evening† (Shaw). The color blue was known as â€Å"a standard color for woman's dress† in the sass's (Scott). Fashion designers used color to portray different emotions.Colors such as green were notorious for being â€Å"very restful to the eye [as] light orange is too bright to be used freely' (Scott). Later the â€Å"Barberry Company introduced its trademark red/camel/black-and-white check in the twenties as a lining for the trench coat† that is still popular today (Herald 6). As women were beginning to understand the use of the textiles, they began to see their â€Å"possibilities and make the most of them† (Scott). Fashion helped the women express their individuality as their role of the ‘new woman' was taking form.The transformation in American culture and society would not have been possible without World War l. Whether it was the celebrations for the end of the war or the results of 18th and 19th Ame ndments, society transformed from traditional values to new, enlightened customs. The celebrations, speakeasies, and superfluous lifestyles demented change and woman paved the way with fashion. Not only did women's fashion change, the new ‘modern women' was born. During this era known as the ‘Roaring Twenties' women were given the right to vote and more importantly, the right to live more freely throughout society.

Answer some guiding questions and then write a short essay with given

Answer some guiding questions and then write a short with given sources - Essay Example For this reason, culture is ordinary because it largely depends on external forces. This implies that secondary influential forces such as cultural assimilation and other languages can easily make an individual adopt a new culture and language. The legacies Williams refer to, in his arguments relating to the central cultural problem of our society, are pretence, overdependence on modernization, globalization, and the institutionalization of a culture as a social process. Culture has been manipulated in the recent past, and the blame for this manipulation is on human hands. Cultural purity has, therefore, not been observed especially due to ever-looming modernity. Additionally, cultural serenity has been impossible because the world has become a global village. Through these legacies, Williams argues that acculturation and multi-cultures have globally emerged, and this undermines the centrality of societies (Williams 97). This is the period Williams describes as the time cultural manipulation outrageously outgrown beyond repair (Williams 98). In his first dimension, Harvey outlines three types of space and time, which include absolute space, relative space and rational space-time. According to Harvey (2009), an absolute space is immovable and fixed (134). Sir Isaac Newton and Descartes also amplify this space. Absolute space, just like absolute humidity, can be understood geographically as a pre-existing, lilaceous, continuous and an unchanging framework. Relative space, on the other hand, is differentiated from absolute space by the name it is associated with (Harvey 145). It is usually inclined towards one of the non-Euclidean geometries and Albert Einstein’s theories. Relative space pre-eminently and irrationally presents the space of process and motion. Three ways of understanding space laid out in Harvey’s second (Lefebvrian) dimension are Cassirer’s distinction among organic compounds, perpetual and symbolic space (Harvey 134). Symbolic

ECOLOGY, RECYCLING AND CONSERVATION, Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

ECOLOGY, RECYCLING AND CONSERVATION, - Essay Example I will then compare my findings of both environments. I will be describing the organism and their habitat, I will also be looking into how the organism lives and feed. I am going to sample an area to investigate on the abiotic and biotic features and link the abundance and distribution of plants and animals to its physical features. I will use food chains, food webs and pyramid of numbers to show my findings. There are thousands of different chemical reactions occurring even in the smallest animals and plants, if these chemical reactions stop organisms will die. One of the main chemical processes that takes place in an organism is called metabolism. The study of the distribution and abundance of living organisms within a given environment is known as ecology. Ecology is the scientific study of the distribution and abundance of living organisms and how the distribution and abundance is affected by the interactions between the organisms and the environment in which they live in. All animals and plants are living organisms. They are alike in many ways as far as possessing characteristics of life, but they are also very different genetically and phonotypically. The ways in which they acquire food also varies from organism to organism. Food is what provides animals and plants with the energy they need to live. Respiration – animals and plants require energy to move, to grow and to maintain life. Respiration refers to an organism’s ability to transform energy molecules such as glucose, into actual and usable energy. (Mader, pp. 789) Growth – Growth refers to an organism’s ability to increase in size and mass over time. Typically growth hormones coupled with energy acquired through respiration and normal chemical reactions are responsible for this occurrence. (Mader, pp.876) Reproduction – In order to be classified as a living organism, an organism must be able to procreate members of its own species with

GROW Model of Coaching Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

GROW Model of Coaching - Research Paper Example Coaching in the business world refers to providing necessary support to the subordinates in order to uplift their capabilities, attitudes, skills and behaviors in a manner that will produce high and/or desired outcomes. Coaching is performed in many categories such as life, health, sports, relationships, conflicts, business or performance etc. Various approaches have been proposed in each of these categories. In this topic, business or performance coaching will be studied based on the GROW model, and an analysis will be done to understand how GROW model can help the managers and their subordinates, as well as its impact on the organization. Conclusions will be drawn based on findings from the study conducted. What is GROW? The GROW model school of coaching was first developed by Sir John Whitmore, an athlete by profession (Wilson, 2011). GROW is a short form of goal, reality, opportunity and the will to do. The GROW model provides very specific approach to coaching, unlike other mode ls, which will help the coaches in any field as it provides a step-by-step approach to the process of coaching. The GROW model provides a wide range of options in every step for the coach to study, analyze and arrive at a solution. Goal: The goals stage usually precedes all as it involves discussion of the person’s objectives and aims in the short and long-term. The topic for discussion or the coaching session needs to be clarified before beginning any coaching-related activity. The coachee’s long-term aims need to be broken into short-term objectives that are realistic and achievable. This process will help in gaining the individual’s attention and commitment to the coaching process. Umicker asserts that coaching is the first activity that an employee experiences once he joins the organization, which is conducted in the form of orientation and training (McConnell, 2010). The expectations that are set during this period will help aligning the employees to the or ganizational goals, which is critical to the employees’ performance. Reality: The next step to coaching is to identify the real situation, or the reality. This would involve analyzing the current position or situation, and the obstacles that are hindering the coachee’s progress. The best way to undertake this process is to encourage self-assessment from the candidate and to avoid any sort of assumptions from either side. A very effective method for the supervisors or leaders to check reality is to be connected to their employees. An effective method that would assist this process is ‘management by wandering around,’ as explained by Peters and Austin (McConnell, 2010). Secondly, the coach needs to assess the significance and seriousness of the issue and the goal to the coachee; the coachee’s feelings associated with his/her current situation and the goal to be achieved; any other issues that the coachee might have. Opportunity: Once the reality is id entified, the range of options available at hand need to be explored along with the coachee. This process will be most effective when the coachee is encouraged to provide suggestions and ideas along with the coach offering suggestions after a careful examination. A range of options will help in better choices to be made. However, it is also important to note that the choice of option must not be completely vested with the coachee, considering his/her knowledge and

Leadership Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words - 1

Leadership - Term Paper Example Benefits as well as setbacks resulting from ethical and unethical leadership are mentioned respectively. In addition, the role of ethical decision making in the management of public institutions is illustratively explored. Also, relevant moral frameworks and guidelines for decision making like the utilitarian approach, and the common-good approach are explored sufficiently. Moreover, a personal perception on ethical leadership is demonstrated through the hypothetical problems identified in preceding sections of the paper. Finally, the paper closes with analysis of short-term and long-term recommendations, on how to improve the unethical problems within the Operating Tax for Commercial Transportation profession. In the United States, most jurisdictions have legislations that allow for taxation of commercial transport businesses. Tax imposed on commercial transport businesses is commonly referred to as commercial transportation tax. In an effort to increase their revenues, legislations in certain states like Virginia necessitated imposition of levy fees on commercial vehicles like delivery cars, trucks, and earth moving machines among others (Lindsey, 2008). Occasionally, vehicle weight is used as criteria in determining the amount of tax payable by the commercial vehicle operator. For instance, commercial vehicles with a weight exceeding 26,000 lbs are normally required to file tax returns to appropriate state authorities. In addition, light motor vehicles like city passenger transport cars are required to file for tax returns based on the millage parameter. In this context, it is worth acknowledging that commercial transportation tax applies only for motor vehicles and other means of trans portation that carriers goods or passengers for a fee. Private vehicles, school busses and government fleets are exempted from this type of levy. During implementation of tax policies for commercial transportation, unethical practices are often reported (Brown,

Game Studies - Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Game Studies - - Essay Example Consideration of games as the most socially acceptable medium of stress relief and fitness regulation came with the progressive trend of human culture in every aspect. As a result of the extended support from the populations of different countries across the world, games became a visible form of exchange medium of culture in course of time. When such a single game has to be identified as a reformer of the cultural and socio-economic facets of the human community over a large proportion of the world population, cricket claims its emphatic position across England and other Common Wealth nations. Cricket evolved as a game from unknown time in the history, but with the enthusiasm of more and more people to pursue this game, the popularity and the cricketing culture formed part of the world’s English dominance. The influence of literature in popularizing this game was a major contributor of the development of a new culture that promoted the expansion of cricket across various countries. More importantly, cricket evolved as a mentor of the sports culture with greater consideration for the beautification of the game by eliminating possible rivalries that sustained during the ancient sports history. As many more people entered the game with expectations of prestige-over-entertainment, the aesthetic approach to the game evolved and as a result, cricket itself had forced on people, a class-difference of involvement based on their wealth and social status. As Bateman (2009, p. 7) opines, in the early stage, cricket used to be a stage where the players classified themselves as amateurs or professionals; in which the former class opted batting as their favourite element of the game while the latter had to chose the more laborious and less glamorous area of bowling. Though this separatist views about the cosmetic image of cricket continued for a long time, it was really a synopsis of the upcoming trend

The Factors Surrounding the Marketing of Magnetically Powered Products Research Paper

The Factors Surrounding the Marketing of Magnetically Powered Products - Research Paper Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that the legal-political environment is very strict because of the regulations advanced by government authorities.   There are no competitors at the beginning stage because it is an innovation. The economic environment negatively affects the purchasing power of consumers if it has high inflation and low employment rates. The product appeals to different market segments, which are families, youths and the old people. The youth would go for flashy vehicles that are unique and popular. Families need safe automobiles that are cheap to maintain. The social responsibility issues are environmental sustainability and public safety. It is not ethical to manufacture vehicles that do not guarantee safety to the consumer. Global marketing can be facilitated by the internet. The internet will allow billions of people to receive information about the product. Magnetically powered automobiles can be a breakthrough in the world where environmentally friend ly sources of energy are high demand. A market research analysis is conducted to project the performance of a product when it is introduced to the market. The research analyzes the factors that are likely to affect product performance in the market. The report presents a market research for magnetically powered automobiles. The high demand for hybrid automobiles that use electric power is a clear indicator that the industry is craving for efficient sources of energy. It analyzes different marketing conditions that will influence consumers to purchase these automobiles. The marketing mix includes all the decisions that are made to facilitate the introduction of a product in the market. It is all about getting the product in the right place at the right time and with the right price. It also involves the promotion. Magnetically powered automobiles are bound to perform well because they are unique. The product meets the customers’ need for a high-efficiency vehicle that uses env ironmentally friendly energy.

The Law and Justice between Canada and U.S Essay

The Law and Justice between Canada and U.S - Essay Example In this paper, we shall conduct the comparative analysis of the law and justice between Canada and the US. Importance of Topic: The theme of this paper revolves around laws and jurisdiction in the US and Canada. Topic is related to the principles of American and Canadian system and social life in two different states. These laws regulate each aspect of citizens` life and allow them enjoy given rights within the country. Additionally, this topic significantly covers the similarities and differences between American and Canadian law and justice systems (Boyd). This topic highlights the role and rights and Canadian and American citizens who are obliged to follow country`s rule strictly. And, the manner they deserve to treat in the country under peculiar circumstances and social ethics. The topic also includes notions of legal decisions that are made with respect to the regulations of the country and adapted system. Specifically, this topic aims to cover the comparative examination of th e American law and justice system with Canadian jurisdiction system (Boyd). The Law Subject: The law subject is quite wider in scope and it allows students view law and justice system clearly and understands it completely, and provides sufficient knowledge about different law related systems of the world. The law subject is very important part of learning legal relationships and rights of legal citizens along with the statuses of immigrant citizens in the foreign countries. As Canada and America are two important and stronger countries at the global level and these countries are close in terms of regulations and jurisdictions. Therefore, it is significantly important to study the law and justice between America and Canada to view and understand the difference and similarities between the laws of these two closely related countries (Boyd). This topic is highly relevant to the subject of law as comparison between laws of two strong states helps us understand the importance of law and justice system with respect to the territory, geographical location and the governmental systems that regulate these states. Comparison between American and Canadian Law: According to scholars, majority of Canadian laws have been derived from American system of laws and justice. It has noticed that in Canada, "Canada Day" is celebrated on 1st July for the celebration of the British North American Act of 1867, which was considered as the first step towards independence of Canada that eventually resulted in the formation of Canadian constitution (Boyd). Here, we observe a similarity between American and Canadian law system, as the US has written constitution including "Bill of Rights" and Canadian constitution also has a "Charter of Rights". Moreover, it has been noticed that legal rules and law system of both the countries are derived from "English Common Law", which based on the judges` decisions for the state rather than resolution of the senate or parliament. Moreover, laws govern ing socio-economic life matters such as, contracts and negligence in Canada are also similar to the United State's laws (Vitamanti). Traffic, breakage and emergency laws are almost similar is the US and Canada such as in both the countries the rental agreement always inform the process that should be legally adopted in case of emergency or accident. It is strict law in both the states that when a blind man or woman with a white cane crosses the road vehicles should stop and

Assignment - Brain Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

- Brain Research - Assignment Example In determining if any links exist between brain function and learning ability, researchers have long hoped to be able to recommend certain curricular changes to help better reach students based upon their unique brain functions (Sousa & Tomlinson, 2011). The intent of this brief paper, therefore, is to identify the recent discoveries in the field of neuroscience, apply those to the learning process and differentiation, and to develop teaching strategies to accommodate this new information. Recent Discoveries in Neuroscience Recent years have bought some interesting new innovations in the field of neuroscience. In 2012, for example, researchers were able to begin isolating certain thoughts as they occurred in the brain. It is now possible to identify specific words and thoughts in the brain, isolate them, and be able to observe up to two different conscious thoughts at the same time. This is a sense of multitasking, and neuroscience now makes it possible to learn how this process occu rs in the human brain, as well as that of certain animals closely related to us, such as the chimpanzee. This thought process is similar to the computer, which creates even more possibilities of using neuroscience for technological, as well as educational, advancements in the future. The new discoveries, as mentioned, are having great impact on technology. In 2012, by way of example, neuroscience helped a human in a vegetative state for more than 12 years be able to communicate once again. The individual was trapped inside his own body, in pain, but unable to communicate or even move. By mapping the brain, the individual was able to begin communicating to doctors through brain mapping techniques discussed in the previous paragraph. Because of this, he was able to communicate for the first time in 12 years, providing great hope that neuroscience would be able to help bring brain mapping to the forefront of communication in the future. The Learning Process and Differentiation Let us c onsider individuals with dyslexia. In years past, it was often difficult to diagnose such individuals. They were simply considered low performing readers. As such, these individuals were often frustrated because they could not determine for themselves why they could perform well in most others areas of life, yet reading became so difficult. By implementing neuroscience in the equation, however, the learning process was enhanced as educators were able to determine what exactly was taking place in people whose brain simply reversed the letters in certain words. Once this was determined, it became possible to work within the disorder, developing strategies of differentiation, all the while enabling the individual to begin to read effectively and limit their frustration (Goswami, 2006, p. 408). Neuroscience has truly revolutionized the learning process and the way that differentiation is utilized within the classroom. Differentiation has long been used in many classroom as a way of prov iding all students in the class with the same material, but delivered in multiple ways. Educational theorists over the years have discovered that some students process information, construct ideas, and make sense of new concepts in different ways. Some of these methods have long been a mystery to many teachers, yet differentiation was utilized in an attempt to reach as many

The True Meaning of the American Dream Essay Example for Free

The True Meaning of the American Dream Essay The American Dream has been all about a greater national vision, however as time has progressed, the American Dream has shifted from a greater national vision to individual material success. These cultural aspects of the American Dream complement each other and have an underlying relationship. One often â€Å"†¦winces a bit†¦Ã¢â‚¬  at the phrase the American Dream â€Å"†¦ because it has become such a clichà ©.† (Source 7) Everyone does not know the true meaning of the American Dream because one interprets it in their own way. But the true meaning of the American Dream is that it is the dream of opportunity. The American Dream accentuates a greater national vision because it is the opportunity for something that will not only benefit you, but it will also benefit others. â€Å"It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Source 1). A greater national vision gives the American Dream a deeper meaning. For example according to Martin C. Jischke (Source 1)’ James Truslow Adams view of the American Dream is that it is a â€Å"dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.† The American Dream is more than a dream and with â€Å"†¦talent and hard work† (Source 3) one is bound to find opportunity anywhere in the world. For once the American Dream â€Å"had meant something nobler† (Source 7), but over time it has become the want for individual material success. When one comes from a background of having nothing, he/she begins to become eager for success and wants to get something for themselves. This eagerness causes them to work hard and eventually they would be able to â€Å"†¦improve their lot in life†¦Ã¢â‚¬  according to W. Michael Cox and Richard Alm in By Our Own Bootstraps. There has been thousands of people who did not have much, but they soon became very well known around the world. For instance â€Å"Bill Gates in computer software†¦Oprah Winfrey in entertainment†¦Michael Jordan in sports†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Source 3) All of these people had the â€Å"opportunity† to become who they are today and they took that chance, but only to become successful. These cultural aspects of the American Dream complement each other because every person achieves their meaning of the American Dream by first experiencing individual material success, and then seeing that it’s a deeper meaning, which is the greater national vision. Martin C. Jishke would be the perfect example of how the cultural aspects complement each other because after he had completed college, which no one had ever done in his family, his meaning of what the American Dream is became a greater national vision. He had seen that it was more to the American Dream than just achieving your goal to only benefit yourself. The underlying relationship between these two cultural aspects of the American Dream is that in order to know the greater national vision of it, you have to achieve individual material success. Due to how the American Dream is interpreted many people believe that it does not exist anymore. But those people are greatly mistaken because it still exists the meaning has just changed over time. One would agree that as the years continue to pass by the definition of the American Dream will change, but there will always be an underlying relationship between the old meaning and the new meaning. Nothing ever stays the same.

Deviance Behavior Criminal

Deviance Behavior Criminal Deviance: Is It In the Eye of the Beholder? Abstract Deviant behavior is described as actions or behaviors that violate cultural norms including formally enacted rules as well as informal violations of social norms. This paper will examine what the various types of deviance and will present the important theories of deviance. There is often the argument that deviance is in the eye of the beholder but after research I found out that it is not quite true. Deviance is an established abnormality in individuals and society and sociologist have been seeking to find solutions for it for decades by applying various theories upon this abnormality. There are seven major theories of deviance that are further followed by sublistings of variations on themes. These theories are differential association, anomie, Marxian conflict, social control theory, labeling, utilitarian/deterrence and routine activities. Deviance is also broadly categorized into three basic forms of rule breaking behavior; good, odd and bad behavior. It is now realized that though many acts maybe deviant they may still not constitute bad or criminal behavior. But they are still socially reprimanded because of their nature such as highly inappropriate modes of dress. There is the absolutist stand in viewing deviance and the relativist stand. The absolutist stand places all blame of the deviant act upon the individual while the relativist stand is more lenient in taking into account the larger picture that considers societal factors and other influences in causing deviant behavior. The modern day sociologist is considered to be a relativist who believes in taking the middle road when analyzing deviant behavior. According to Shur (1965), ‘The societal reaction to the deviant, then, is vital to an understanding of the deviance itself and a major element in—if not a cause of—the deviant behavior. Deviance: Is It In the Eye of the Beholder? When it come to an attempt to ascertain whether or not deviance is in the eye of the beholder, the fact is that all the research that is related to deviance only proves that it is a phenomena that is not in the eye of the beholder but a valid and recognized form of socially abnormal behavior. In any given society of the world, deviance is an established of behavior that breaks out of the recognized norms and requires to be corrected in order for the normal flow of social life to progress. Deviance describes actions or behaviors that clearly violate cultural norms including formally and informally enacted rules as well as informal and formal violations of these rules, regulations and norms. This paper will try to depict how deviance is seen, created, challenged and enforced. Deviance is an act defined as the deliberate violation of the cultural norms of a given society. The most prevalent form of deviance is crime of any sort or the violation of societal norms enacted by a society that have been formally enacted into criminal law (What is Deviance?) Deviance has been recognized as an integral part of every society and hence is studied as a sociological science. In being studies as a science of society, there is little doubt that deviance should be considered to be in the eye of the beholder. The sociology of deviance is based on the study of deviant behavior as the recognized violation of cultural norms. It also deals with the creation and enforcement of those norms. It is important to understand that certain deviant behaviors may not be recognized as such by all societal standards. In other words, not all societies have rules that would disallow all forms of behavior. But still every society does have its own set of social rules that when broken, consti tute deviance for the members of that particular society. Rather on the contrary, deviance is defined in relative terms with different societies having different ways to view the same behavior (Sociology of Deviance). Many of the theories that are related to deviance and criminal behavior are simple and uncomplicated stating one or two explanatory principles that apply to all instances of the particular form of deviance that is being explained. These are also called simple theories that are conventionally classified into six or seven major categories and have sublistings of variations on themes. The categorical schemes that are most popular are related to strain, learning, labeling, control, opportunity, psychodynamic and biological. According to Pearson and Weiner (1985) the simple theories that are most important are differential association (Sutherland and Cressey 1978), anomie (Merton,1975), Marxian Conflict (Bonger 1916; Quinney 1970), social control (Hirschi 1969), labeling (Becker 1963; Gove 1975, 1980; Schur 1971), utilitarian/deterrence (Andenaes 1974; Becker 1968; Cornish and Clarke 1986; Gibbs 1975; Tunnell 1992; Zimring and Hawkins 1973) and routine activities (Cohen and Felson 1979) ( Tittle, 1995). Sutherland and Cresseys theory of differential association is considered to be one of the most prominent social learning theories. Sutherlands research was focused on white collar crime, professional theft and intelligence and disputed the notion that crime was a function of peoples inadequacy in the lower classes. He did not consider crime to stem from individual traits or from socioeconomic positions but to be a function of a learning process that could affect any individual regardless of culture. The acquisition of behavior is a social learning process rather than a political or legal process. Consequently the skills and motives that are conducive to crime are learned as a result of contact with pro-crime attitudes, values, definitions and other related pattern of criminal behavior. The basic principles of differential theory are that criminal behavior is learned, learning is a byproduct of interaction, learning occurs within intimate groups, criminal techniques are learned, perce ptions of legal code influences motives and drives, differential associations may vary in frequency, duration, priority and intensity, the process of learning criminal behavior by association with criminal with anticriminal and criminal influences involve all of the mechanisms that would be involved in any other learning process and that criminal behavior is an expression of the general needs and values but it is not excused by those general needs and values because non-criminal behavior is also an expression of the same needs and values (Seigel, 2005). The theory of anomie was presented by Robert Merton and it explains the occurrence of crime as well as wider disorder and deviance. This theory is considered to be a wide ranging and essential sociological explanation for deviance. Merton borrows the term anomie from Durkheim and rejects individualistic explanations of crime and criminal behavior stating them to be socially learned. He also says that there are social structural limitations imposed on access to the means to achieve these goals. The focus of his work is on the position of the individual within the social system rather than on personality characteristics. He says, â€Å"Our primary aim lies in discovering some social structures exert a definite pressure upon certain persons in the society to engage in non-conformist conduct† (Burke, 2005). This theory is based on the work of Karl Marx and views a dominant class as being in control of the resources of society, using its power to not only create institutional rules but entire belief systems that support this power. The theory looks at the structure of society as a whole in trying to develop explanations for deviant behavior. According to this theory the economic organization of capitalist societies is responsible for producing deviance and crime. Since this scenario causes certain groups in society to have access to less resources in capitalist society they are hence forced into deviance and crime to sustain themselves. The high rate of economic crimes such as theft, robbery, prostitution and drug selling is explained by conflict theorists to be the result of the economic status of these groups. Contrary to emphasizing values and conformity as a source of deviance, as done by functional analyses, the conflict theories view deviance as the direct result of power relations hips and economic inequality (Andersen, Taylor, 2006). The theory of social control was offered by Hirschi and it evolved from many previous contributions. The primary concept of the theory is the ability to deviate from normative behavior. Many people do not engage in deviant behavior because of their bond to society. Social bond was also conceptualized by Hirschi on the basis of the attachment of the individual to others, commitment to conventional lines of action, involvement and belief in legitimate order. These four components were regarded by Hircshi as being independent and having a generally negative association with the chances of engaging in deviant behavior. It was his opinion that when the elements of social bond were weakened, the probability of delinquency and deviancy increased (Weis, Crutchfield, Bridges, 2001). Labeling theory is considered important in the study of deviance since it focuses not only on crime but also the situation surrounding the crime. It goes beyond viewing the criminal as a robot like person whose actions are predetermined by also recognizing that crime is often the result of complex interactions and processes. Decisions to commit crimes and other acts of deviance involve the action of a variety of people that include peers, victims, police and other key characters. Additionally, labeling also fosters crime by guiding the actions of all parties involved in these criminal interactions. Actions that are considered insignificant and innocent when committed by one person are considered provocative and deviant when committed by another who has been labeled a miscreant. On the same note, labeled individuals may also be quick to judge, take offense and misinterpret the behaviors of others due to their past experiences (Siegel, 2004). Sociologist clam that when a person becomes known as a deviant, and is ascribed deviant behavior patterns, it is as much, if not more, to do with the way they have been stigmatized, then the deviant act they are said to have committed. As a matter of fact, labeling theory has subsequently become significantly dominant in the explanation of deviance. This theory is also often referred to as rationale choice or â€Å"economic† theory. The main idea of the theory is that all human acts are decisional and that any behavior is more easily understood in terms of relative costs and benefits. When the cost of any behavior exceeds the benefit or utility for any individual he or she will in all likelihood forgo it. But when the benefits exceed the cost, the behavior will follow. Hence if one could learn the costs and benefits of different courses of actions it would make it easy to explain and predict what will happen (Tittle, 1995). The theory of routine activities asserts the fact that high crime rates in the US have always been a part of normal life. The main concept of the theory are taken from the insights of a number of other perspectives on crime and victimization such a the free-will basis of human action or rational choice and empirical studies that reflect that patterns of crimes and victimization differ in time, in location and in the social distance between the victim and the offender. The key claim of the theory if that the patterns of victimization and crime are the result of the everyday interaction of the potential offenders, suitable targets, and guardians. It is the interaction of these three variables within geographical space and in time that eventually determines the rates of crime and delinquency in modern society (Beirne, Beirne, Messerschmidt, 1999). Deviance is broadly categorized into three basic forms of rule breaking behavior; good, odd or bad behavior. Deviance that could be considered good or even admirable but which still breaks out of social norms is something akin to heroism such as putting ones own life in danger in an attempt to save the life of another person. There are many behaviors that may be considered odd even though they may not be criminal. They are considered odd because they are different than behavior that is shown by other people. Examples of this deviance range from outlandish or inappropriate modes of dress, mildly eccentric behavior such as a person who sees nothing wrong in sharing their house with 50 cats to outright madness. Bad behavior is what the name implies it to be; law breaking or criminal behavior that in some way is seen as being something more than simply outlandish or eccentric. The different kinds of behavior in this category constitute crime, violence, crimes against property and the lik e dependant on the time and place at which they take place (Types of Deviance). Though the definition of deviance and the different ways of interpreting it have undergone much research over the years, the fact that there is indeed such behavior in every society that clearly deviates from the norms of that society and hence constitutes deviant behavior hasnt changed. According to Rock (1973), â€Å"The common sense definition has not changed: the absolutist orientation still prevails. Not so for social science. Sociologists in particular now realize that, contrary to common sense, the identification of and reaction to deviance in everybodys life is no different from other areas of life: these processes hinge on one persons interpretation of another persons deeds. The chief difference between interpretations in other areas of life and those in deviance lies in the use of a moral yardstick when deviance is interpreted. To be sure, what is seen a deviant is part of everyday knowledge of common-sense reality. But it is a socially constructed reality† (Rosenber g, 1983). Because most of the world does have a socially constructed view of deviance, it makes people view the act and not the actor. Societies, heritages, morals passed down from generations, and religious preferences have all blinded individuals from using their own personal judgments and common sense. My interest in this particular topic had a lot to do with my free will of judgment in reference to how I myself viewed deviance and although I guide my kids into what is believed to be right and wrong, I also teach them to make their own decision on what they consider to be deviant in their eyes. As times change, so does the world and although some things are more acceptable, values remain the same. However, if one really wants to understand the way deviance is viewed, created, challenged and enforced, one has to take a much deeper view. It is not enough to focus on the individual deviant and the means of society trying to transform a behavior into some acceptable normal thing; one also needs to examine those who insist on this transformation and who have defined it as deviant in the first place. In some cases, it may be the actual values or the way people judge and label deviant behaviors that is more deviant than the acts or behaviors itself. In conclusion, after examining the types of deviance and the different theories of deviance it can be surmised that it wont be logical to say that â€Å"deviance is simply in the eyes of the beholder†. Deviance is a recognized social ill. It also needs be mentioned here that there are two ways in which sociologists view deviance; the absolutist way and the relativist way. The absolutist are not willing to cut any slack at all in the discussing of deviance being an effect of environment, society and other factors related to it laying all blame of the deviant behavior entirely on the individual. To the contrary, the relativists are the ones who present their case in a manner akin to â€Å"so deviance, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder†¦almost every conceivable human characteristic or activity is pariah in somebodys eyes† (Simmons, 1969). In modern times most of the sociologists are relativists where they claim that human action is neither inherently deviant nor inherently nondeviant but dependant of the effects of the environment and society as well. However, in determining the validity of deviance it is best to adopt a middle position which is neither strictly absolutist nor strictly relativist. Given the growing diversities of societies all over the world, it is only by adopting this middle path can one truly judge deviant behavior and seek plausible solution to it by applying the theories of deviance upon them. According to Schur (1965), ‘The societal reaction to the deviant, then, is vital to the understanding of the deviance itself and a major element in—if not a cause of—the deviant behavior. In my opinion, deviance is in the eyes of the beholder nonetheless, it is still a societal ill that first needs to be treated as such before solutions can be sought to remedy it. References Andersen, M. L., Taylor, H. F. (2006) Sociology: Understanding a Diverse Society. Pp. 170 (Thomson Wadsworth 2006) Beirne, Beirne, P., Messerschmidt, J. W. (1999) Criminology: Third Edition. Pp. 215 (Westview Press, 1999) Burke, R. H. (2005) An Introduction to Criminological Theory. Pp. 100 (Willan Publishing 2005) Rosenberg, M. (1983) Introduction to Sociology. Pp. 404 (Routledge 1983) Siegel, L. J. (2004) Criminology: The Core. Pp. 173 (Thomson Wadsworth 2004) Siegel, L. J. (2005) Criminology. Pp. 226 (Thomson Wadsworth 2005) Sociology of Deviance. Wikipedia. Retrieved on July 12, 2008 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociology_of_deviance Tittle, C. R. (1995) Control Balance: Toward a General Theory of Deviance. Pp. 1 (Westview Press 1995) Types of Deviance. Retrieved on July 15, 2008 from http://www.sociology.org.uk/wsdo2.htm Weis, J. G., Crutchfield, R. D., Bridges, G. S. (2001) Juvenile Delinquency: Readings. Pp. 364 (Pine Forge Press 2001) What is Deviance? Retrieved on July 15, 2008 from http://www.geocities.com/tdeddins/deviance.htm

Effects of Price Changes in Customers

Effects of Price Changes in Customers Demand and supply are two very basic and important terms in economics to study and determine the market equilibrium. A market is the process of buyers and sellers exchanging goods and services. Buyers, as a group, determine the demand side of the market, whether it is consumers purchasing goods or firms purchasing inputs. On the other hand, sellers, as a group, determine the supply side of the market, whether it is firms selling their goods or resource owners selling their inputs. It is the interaction of buyers and sellers that determines market prices and output through the forces of supply and demand. Demand simply means the ability and willingness of consumer to buy certain amount of goods and services at a particular price. According to the law of demand, the quantity of a good or service demanded varies inversely with its price, other things equal. A demand curve is a downward sloping curve and it shows negative or inverse relationship between price and quantity demanded. When the price increases, the quantity demanded by consumer decreases, conversely, when the price decreases, the quantity demanded by consumer increases. A change in quantity demanded is a movement along the demand curve, when price increases, point A moves to point B, and point A moves to point C when there is a price drops as figure 1 shown. Movement along the curve occurs only when there is a price change. There are several reasons why the relationship between price and quantity demanded is negative or inverse. Observed behavior tells us that consumers will buy more goods and services at lower prices than higher prices, ceteris paribus. Diminishing marginal utility is also one of the reasons, it means in a given time period, a buyer will receive less satisfaction from each successive unit consumed, therefore, consumers will only buy added units if the price were reduced. Whereas, a change in demand is a shift of the demand curve, demand curve shift rightward when demand increases and shift leftward when there is a drop in demand. A shift on the curve is caused by the other factors than the price of the good such as government regulations and technology change. When there is a price change, there will be two effects on consumers. First, the substitution effect is an effect caused by a rise in price that induces a consumer (whose income has remained the same) to buy more of a relatively lower-priced good and less of a higher-priced one. For instance, when the price of coffee increases, there are many close substitute goods as options to replace coffee, and consumer can replace coffee by tea with the same amount of income that they are holding and the same price of tea. In this case, it brings a result that the quantity demanded for coffee decreases and the demand for tea increases. Generally, the consumption of goods and services is vastly related to the income available to consumers. Income effect suggests that at a lower price, one can afford more of the good without giving up any alternative goods. In other words, a drop in price will increase the purchasing power of an individual, thus, they are able to buy more of the product than before. For instance, initially, the price of a product is RM200 per unit, and the constant income of an individual is RM1200, this individual is able to purchase 6 units. However, when the price of the product increases to RM220 per unit, he or she can only purchase 5 units. Apart from that, the other important term is supply. Supply means the ability and willingness of producer to produce and supply certain amount of goods and services at a particular price. A supply curve is an upward sloping curve and it shows a positive or direct relationship between price and quantity supplied. When price increases, the quantity supplied increases as well, vice versa, the quantity supplied drops when there is a decrease in price. Changes in prices of a good lead to changes in quantity supplied, which are shown as movement along the supply curve in figure 2 from point A to point B to point C. Changes in supply occur for other reasons than changes in the price of the product itself. For instance, natural disaster, expected future price and many more. A change in any other factor can affect supplier behavior results in a shift of the entire supply curve. A leftward shift is a decrease in supply, and a rightward shift is an increase in supply. Market equilibrium is a situation where quantity demanded equals to quantity supplied at a particular price. The market equilibrium is found at the point E at which the market supply and market demand curve intersect as shown in figure 3. The price at the intersection of the market demand curve and market supply curve is called the equilibrium price, P* and the quantity at the intersection of the market demand curve and the market supply curve is called the equilibrium quantity Q*. A shortage exists at when the quantity demanded exceeds the quantity supplied, whereas, a surplus exists at when the quantity supplied exceeds the quantity demanded. For example, when the market equilibrium price is at RM10 and it increased to RM15, then there will be a surplus of 20 units in figure 4. The quantity demanded dropped to 10 units. Hence, the solution is to decrease the price to market equilibrium price, RM10, to achieve market equilibrium. In figure 5, there is a shortage of 20 units. Suppose the market equilibrium price is also RM10 and the price is decreased to RM5, the quantity demanded increased to 30 units. Thus, it brings a result that quantity demanded exceed quantity supplied which means shortage. To resolve this problem, the price has to be increased to the market equilibrium price, RM10. There are various types of government policies to change the market equilibrium. In an open-market, government intervenes to control the market prices to make improvements on the development and economy of the country as well as social well-fare in view of a conflict that consumer always wants lower prices and supplier wants higher prices. Besides, government intervention in the market also with aims to correct the market failure and minimize the income inequality. The motivations for price controls vary with the market under considerations. Government sets a price ceiling for goods deemed important to low-income households such as flour. A price ceiling is a legal maximum on the price at which a good can be sold. Conversely, a price floor is a legal minimum on the price at which a good can be sold, it is often set by government for wages, since wages are the main source of income for households. When government imposes a price ceiling on a product, there are two possibilities, either a binding or a non-binding price ceiling. However, for a price ceiling to be effective it should be a binding price ceiling and the price ceiling must be set below equilibrium. A price ceiling set above the equilibrium is a non-binding price ceiling, and the price will go back to the equilibrium price eventually by the demand and supply forces. In Malaysia, during the festive season, The Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-Operatives and Consumerism will impose price ceilings on the essential goods for various festivals. In a recent year, 2013, the Controlled Price Goods Scheme have imposed price ceilings for 20 essential goods including standard chicken, super chicken, local beef, imported beef and so on. For instance, as figure 6 shown, the market price of chicken per kg was initially RM8.50 and the government fixed the price ceiling at RM7.70 per kg which is 70sen lower than the market price. This price ceiling was in force for 17 days only, from 26th July to 11th August 2013 for the festival, Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Themalaysianinsider.com, 2013). The objective of setting the maximum price for the essential goods is to avoid the sellers raising the prices of the essential goods for Hari Raya Aidilfitri. When a price ceiling is imposed, the quantity demanded will exceed the quantity supplied, and a shortage will occur (Thesundaily.my, 2013). Price ceiling is often applied on rent controls, the objective of controlling the prices of rent is usually to counteract the inequality of bargaining power between landlords and tenant, as part of a minimum set of rights to make the market fair. It is very well-known that there has always been housing shortage in New York City, therefore, to avoid rent hikes caused by housing shortage, New York State legislators defend the War Emergency Tenant Protection Act to protect the tenants from rent hikes. For instance, the equilibrium rent is $1000 per unit per month, and the government imposes a price ceiling below the equilibrium rent at $800 per unit per month as shown in figure 7, thus, the price of rent cannot go any higher when it hits the price ceiling and the maximum price of rent will be $800 per unit per month. Rent ceiling is imposed to protect the low-income households in the short run but the long run impact is to avoid abandon of property out of the reason that the investors a re not willing to purchase or construct new housing with low rents, because it is unprofitable to the investors. Beside the benefit of low rent for tenants, there is also a bad impact on tenants. When the rents are low, the landlords tend to provide improper maintenances, poor repairs and painting in order to minimize the cost of renting to make more profit (Block, 2008). As it was mentioned before, price floor is the same as price ceiling but the opposite, it is a legal minimum on the price at which a good can be sold. The best example would be wages as it is the primary resource of most households’ incomes. For example, the New York government has fixed a minimum wage at $8.75 which is above the equilibrium wage ($8.00) in 2014 as figure 8 shown, the wages cannot go any lower than $8.75 as it hits the price floor. This price floor is effective and is called binding price floor. Therefore, the minimum wage is now fixed at $8.75, and the market wage is equals to the price floor (Labor.ny.gov, 2013). Thus, for a price floor to be effective, it must be fixed above the equilibrium wage which is called a binding price floor, a price floor that is set below equilibrium is a non-binding price floor. When a price floor is imposed, there will be a surplus of low-skilled workers, because it would produce willing workers who will be unable to find jobs, an increase in the minimum wage would create additional unemployment for low-skilled workers. The unemployment impact of the minimum wage falls vastly on the least experienced, least skilled persons, often teenage labour, holding the lowest paying jobs. In the most recent case, the Malaysian government has increased the price floor for the acquisition of property for foreign buyers from RM500000 (2010) to RM1million in Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan, according to a circular issued by Economic Planning Unit (EPU) of the Prime Minister’s Department on 1st March (Thestar.com.my, 2014). The main reason for this implementation is aim to control the ownerships of properties by foreign interests. Refer to figure 9. Beside imposing price floor and price ceiling, the government also intervenes to change market equilibrium through taxes and subsidies. There are two forms of taxes, direct and indirect tax. Direct tax is a fee levied by government on income, whereas, indirect tax is a fee levied by government on the price of goods and services, and indirect tax is the tax that able to make changes on market equilibrium. The objective of collecting taxes is to finance government expenditure, and the government uses the collected taxes for public infrastructure such as streetlamp and so on. Another reason is to discourage of production and consumption. The changes in demand and supply curve vary from the tax levied on sellers or buyers. When government levies taxes on buyers, the consumers tend to buy less. On the other hand, when tax is levied on suppliers, the cost of production will be increased and the suppliers tend to produce less. Just like many other countries do, Malaysian government is imposing Goods and Services Tax (GST) organized by Royal Malaysia Customs Department starting on 1st April 2015 in response to the fiscal deficit that Malaysia is experiencing. GST is an indirect tax based on consumption that applied on all goods and services and it is set at 6%. GST is imposed to provide more revenues to government besides income tax, it is also said to offer a more comprehensive, efficient, transparent and effective tax system (Khoo et al, 2013). As shown in figure 9, when GST is imposed, the supply of goods and services will decrease from SS to SS1 and causes prices rise from P to P1, and the equilibrium quantity will decrease from Q to Q1, thus, the new equilibrium is at E1. Apart from GST, imported motor vehicle tax in Malaysia is very high and it can be taxed up to 100 percent or even more. According to Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), the excised duty imposed on vehicle ranges from 65 percent to 105 percent on top of the 10 percent sales tax. A Japan-made 2013 Toyota Prius, the price after tax is around RM140000 but a similarly equipped Prius sells for only around RM80,000 in the US and Japan (Hans, 2013). The objective is to reduce the loss of Ringgit Malaysia outflow to foreign country and protect local vehicle manufacturing industry. The local vehicle manufacturers, Proton and Perodua are heavily supported by the Malaysian government through the National Automotive Policy (NAP) (Lee, 2013). This is the reason why the price of vehicle in Malaysia is very expensive as shown in figure 10. Lastly, subsidy can also change the market equilibrium and it may be regarded as a negative tax. Subsidy is a benefit given by the government to groups or individuals usually in the form of a cash payment or tax reduction. The subsidy is usually given to remove some type of burden and is often considered to be in the interest of the public. A subsidy might be given to assist the poor, to help producer and to encourage consumption of goods and services. The Malaysia government has been subsidizing cooking oil since 1992, and more than RM1billion will be given out to stabilize the price of cooking oil every year. Without subsidy, the price of cooking oil was RM3.50 per kg, and the subsidized price is RM2.50. Refer to figure 11, when the cooking oil is subsidized, the supply will shift rightward which is an increase in supply from SS to SS1, then the price of cooking oil drops and the quantity increases from Q to Q1. The government provides subsidy for cooking oil is targeted for household consumers, unfortunately, 30 to 35 percent of subsidized cooking oil are flow to the restaurant operators, hawkers and small-scale food-based industry, it is also said that even 10 percent of them has flowed to foreign countries (Adnan, 2012). On 2nd October 2014, there was a decrease of 20sen on fuel subsidy and the price has increased from RM2.10 per liter to RM2.30 per liter. As shown in figure 12, the supply for fuel decreases from SS to SS1 and the quantity decreases from Q to Q1. The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Najib Razak who is also the finance minister stated that the reduction in fuel subsidy is due to the reduced revenue for national expenditure. The fuel subsidy was also reduced for other assistance such as education aid and many more (Ahmad and Singh, 2014). Reference List Adnan, H. (2012).  Archives | The Star Online.. [online] Thestar.com.my. Available at: http://www.thestar.com.my/story/?file=/2012/10/2/business/12110226 [Accessed 25 Nov. 2014]. Ahmad, S. and Singh, N. (2014).Najib talks about further subsidy cuts. [online] Free Malaysia Today. Available at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/10/22/najib-talks-about-further-subsidy-cuts/ [Accessed 25 Nov. 2014]. Block, W. (2008).Rent Control: The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics | Library of Economics and Liberty. [online] Econlib.org. Available at: http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/RentControl.html [Accessed 22 Nov. 2014]. Hans, (2013).Explaining The Mystery Behind High Car Prices in Malaysia Part 1. [online] Livelifedrive.com. Available at: http://www.livelifedrive.com/malaysia/news/view/3802/explaining-the-mystery-behind-high-car-prices-in-malaysiapart-1 [Accessed 23 Nov. 2014]. Khoo, C. (2013).GST in Malaysia. 1st ed. [ebook] Malaysia: KPMG tax Services Sdn Bhd, p.2. Available at: http://www.kpmg.com/MY/en/services/Tax/gst/Documents/tl-gst-malaysia.pdf [Accessed 23 Nov. 2014]. Labor.ny.gov, (2013).Minimum Wages New York State Department of Labor. [online] Available at: http://www.labor.ny.gov/workerprotection/laborstandards/workprot/minwage.shtm [Accessed 22 Nov. 2014]. Lee, I. (2013).What Causes High Car Prices In Malaysia?. [online] iMoney.my. Available at: https://www.imoney.my/articles/high-car-prices-in-malaysia [Accessed 24 Nov. 2014]. Themalaysianinsider.com, (2013).New ceiling price for chicken from July 26 – RM7.70 per kg The Malaysian Insider. [online] Available at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/new-ceiling-price-for-chicken-from-july-26-rm7.70-per-kg [Accessed 20 Nov. 2014]. Thestar.com.my, (2014).Foreigners can only buy properties costing RM1m and above from March 1 Business News | The Star Online. [online] Available at: http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2014/02/28/Foreigners-can-only-buy-properties-costing-RM1m-and-above-from-March-1/?style=biz [Accessed 22 Nov. 2014]. Thesundaily.my, (2013).Ceiling price for chicken fixed at RM7.70 | theSundaily. [online] Available at: http://www.thesundaily.my/news/775160 [Accessed 20 Nov. 2014].

Th Brain :: essays research papers

Your brain has two sides ,and each has a distinctly different way of looking at the world. The more we integrate those two sides, the more developed we make ourselves. Integration not only increases our ability to creatively solve problems, but to control physical problems such as epilepsy and migraines. Even more startling is evidence coming to light that we have become a "left-brain culture". Your brain's right and left side have distinctly different ways of looking at the world. Your two hemispheres are as different from each other as me to you. The left brain controls the right side of the body (the exception to this occurs with left handed people which is 15 percent of the population) and is logical scientific, judgmental and verbal. It's interested in the facts, and efficiency. The right brain controls the left side of the body and deals with the creativity and imagination. It is concerned more with the visual and emotional side of life. As you read, your left-side is sensibly making connections and analyzing the meaning of the words, the syntax and other complex relation-ships while putting it into a "language" you can understand. Meanwhile, the right side is providing emotional and even humerous cues, recognizing visual information and causing you to find humor or sadness. While all of this is going on, the two sides are constantly communicating with each other across a connecting fiber tract called the corpus callosum. There is a certain amount of overlap but essentially the two hemispheres of the brain are like two different personalities that working alone would serve no efficient purpose, but when functioning together bring all things into perspective. The most creative decision making and problem solving come about when both sides work together. The left brain analyzing issues, problems and barriers; the right brain generating fresh approaches; and the left brain translating the into plans of action. "In a time of vast change like the present, the intuitive side of the brain operates so fast it can see what's coming," says Dr. Howard Eisenberg, a medical doctor with a degree in psychology who has studied hemispheric relationships. "The left brain is too slow, but the right can see around corners." An increasing number of medical professionals believe that being in touch with our brain, especially the right half, can help control medical problems. For some doctors use "imaginable thinking" to control everything from migraines to asthma, to high blood pressure. It is said that by teaching someone to raise to raise their temperature - by imaging they are sunbathing or in a warm bath- they can control their circulatory Th Brain :: essays research papers Your brain has two sides ,and each has a distinctly different way of looking at the world. The more we integrate those two sides, the more developed we make ourselves. Integration not only increases our ability to creatively solve problems, but to control physical problems such as epilepsy and migraines. Even more startling is evidence coming to light that we have become a "left-brain culture". Your brain's right and left side have distinctly different ways of looking at the world. Your two hemispheres are as different from each other as me to you. The left brain controls the right side of the body (the exception to this occurs with left handed people which is 15 percent of the population) and is logical scientific, judgmental and verbal. It's interested in the facts, and efficiency. The right brain controls the left side of the body and deals with the creativity and imagination. It is concerned more with the visual and emotional side of life. As you read, your left-side is sensibly making connections and analyzing the meaning of the words, the syntax and other complex relation-ships while putting it into a "language" you can understand. Meanwhile, the right side is providing emotional and even humerous cues, recognizing visual information and causing you to find humor or sadness. While all of this is going on, the two sides are constantly communicating with each other across a connecting fiber tract called the corpus callosum. There is a certain amount of overlap but essentially the two hemispheres of the brain are like two different personalities that working alone would serve no efficient purpose, but when functioning together bring all things into perspective. The most creative decision making and problem solving come about when both sides work together. The left brain analyzing issues, problems and barriers; the right brain generating fresh approaches; and the left brain translating the into plans of action. "In a time of vast change like the present, the intuitive side of the brain operates so fast it can see what's coming," says Dr. Howard Eisenberg, a medical doctor with a degree in psychology who has studied hemispheric relationships. "The left brain is too slow, but the right can see around corners." An increasing number of medical professionals believe that being in touch with our brain, especially the right half, can help control medical problems. For some doctors use "imaginable thinking" to control everything from migraines to asthma, to high blood pressure. It is said that by teaching someone to raise to raise their temperature - by imaging they are sunbathing or in a warm bath- they can control their circulatory