Assessment Task: Carbon Chemistry and Functional Groups

Assessment Task:Â  Carbon Chemistry & Functional Groups 1. Why does the carbon atom make so many covalent compounds? Carbon atoms have 4 single valence electrons, which mean they can bond to 4 other atoms. It bonds in a tetrahedral shape, or make straight, bent or ring shaped molecules when many are bonded together. The complexity allows it to bond to many other atoms. (1) 2. How is the structure of ethanol (key ingredient in vodka) different than the structure of acetic acid (vinegar) in terms of functional groups? Firstly, the structure of ethanol contains 6 hydrogen atoms, 2 carbon atoms and an oxygen atom. What is different from ethanol is that acetic acid has 2 oxygen atoms bonded to it rather than one and there are 5 hydrogen atoms on acetic acid while there are 6 hydrogen atoms on the ethanol. On the ethanol, the oxygen and a hydrogen atom bond together to form a hydroxyl group at the end of the chain while there is a carboxyl group attatched to the main chain of the acetic acid. The aldahyde functional group contains a double bond oxygen atom and a hydroxy group bonded to the end carbon. (1) 3. Draw diagrams of ethanol and acetic acid – clearly showing the shared pairs of electrons (covalent bonds). 4. Draw a structural diagram of glycine. (2) 5. Name the class of compounds that glycine belongs to and what do all of the compounds in this class have in common? Glycine is in the class of macromolecules. Ths class includes many repeated functional groups. 1) 6. Draw an organic compound that has two different functional groups. Lable these groups. Hydroxyl group on one end carboxyl group on the other. References 1. Allinotte, T. (2008). Chemical Basis of Life. Retrieved from

Knight of Faith vs Overman

For my final research paper, I have chosen to compare and contrast Friedrich Nietzsche’s overman with Soren Kierkegaard’s knight of faith As if a coroner were standing over a body, holding a cold hand in one and looking at his chain watch in the other, I hear Nietzsche say: God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it? – Nietzsche, the Gay Science, Section 125 As if conversing with Nietzsche I hear the response of Kierkegaard to be, God will never die, only faith in Him can, and has died, in you Nietzsche. To which Kierkegaard would add, but that’s only my perspective. Kierkegaard and Nietzsche each have views that respond to the issue of faith and the life lived by the individual. Kierkegaard’s view is called the knight of faith and Nietzsche’s called overman. The knight of faith is an individual who has placed complete faith in himself and in God. Kierkegaard argues that the knight of faith is the paradox, is the individual, absolutely nothing but the individual, without connections or pretensions. The knight of faith is the individual who is able to gracefully embrace life. Most people live dejectedly in worldly sorrow and joy; they are the ones who sit along the wall and do not join in the dance. The knights of infinity are dancers and possess elevation. They make the movements upward, and fall down again; and this too is no mean pastime, nor ungraceful to behold. But whenever they fall down they are not able at once to assume the posture, they vacillate an instant, and this vacillation shows that after all they are strangers in the world. This is more or less strikingly evident in proportion to the art they possess, but even the most artistic knights cannot altogether conceal this vacillation. One need not look at them when they are up in the air, but only the instant they touch or have touched the ground–then one recognizes them. But to be able to fall down in such a way that the same second it looks as if one were standing and walking, to transform the leap of life into a walk, absolutely to express the sublime in the pedestrian–that only the knight of faith can do–and this is the one and only prodigy. – Soren Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling, Nietzsche’s overman can be described as; overman has his own self, both his higher and lower natures, neither repressed. He has this, his world, to which he is faithful. He has the love of this life, in this world, without the illusions that this world is inferior. And he has his reflective mind that reinforces these ideas. I believe that Nietzsche would claim his perspective to better because his claim focuses on this world, the one known to exist, whereas Kierkegaard’s claim implies a next life. Nietzsche would argue that Kierkegaard’s claim has two assumptions, 1) that there may or may not be an after life, and 2) that it is superior to this life. I like Nietzsche’s view of overman; overman is strength incarnate, reveling in the beauties of this life while satisfying his desires, both worldly and not. But it begs me to ask the question, as long as the anticipation of the next life doesn't interfere with the enjoyment of this one, can an overman not love this life and carry this love so far to greatly anticipate the next life as possibly even more beautiful than this one? I would further like to challenge Nietzsche on the topic of morals, and his overman. Since there is no objective truth, there are no objective morals or values. One becomes free to create their own and this is precisely what overman does. Overman has his own set of morals and values. Unless the morals one lives by here on earth are different than those they live by in Heaven, I don't see a problem. And even then I don't see a problem, unless one desires Heaven with its values inferior to their own. If one enjoys the way they live here and Heaven takes those enjoyments and morals away, why would one desire to live in Heaven at all? Nietzsche professes that God is dead, meaning the very idea of God's salvation is no longer held in the world's belief. If this is so, then doesn't it imply that having religious faith is indeed a subjective act, if not the highest possible subjective act? The fewer people who truly believe only means that the objective uncertainty is greater. Since objective uncertainty is at a maximum, so too must be the will to believe and the passion by which to believe. If this does not require also the maximum amount of courage, I don't know what does. I also like Kierkegaard’s view, but his view as well again begs me to ask questions. Kierkegaard’s knight of faith is self sacrificing. Christianity's absurdity makes it harder to have faith than to not. It almost seems that faith is a response to the fear of being wrong about the afterlife. Better to believe in just case than not believe and burn for it. The very degree of doubt makes belief seem desperate. But strong God fearing people should not feel such apprehension for the next life. Now don't get me wrong, they shouldn't depend on the next life for salvation. They shouldn't even depend on the existence of the next life, for there may be none. But if so, one isn't even disappointed if the next life doesn't exist since this life gives them all the happiness they desire. The despair that, Kierkegaard speaks of, needn't exist if he grant the premise that God desires ones happiness in this life, and if he grant the human race the possibility of achieving this happiness, independent of the next and possible nonexistent life. Subjectivism says that it matters more how one believes than it does what or why we do. So if one believes fervently that one can be happy here, what God would impose that such subjectivity is wrong, that one can only be happy independently of this world? Nietzsche’s overman has this courageous independence, but why can't a knight of faith also have it? I think that both Nietzsche and Kierkegaard have valid points. The overman's worship of this world, a world made beautiful by God Himself, is justified. It's courageous to find happiness in a meaningless world. The knight of faith's authentic anticipation of the next is equally justified as long as such faith doesn't interfere with living an authentic life while here on earth. The overman is not inferior to the knight of faith and the knight of faith is not inferior to the overman. They are both authentic, subjective existing individuals, living life the fullest way they know how, both courageous in their own ways. They are both equally superior in courage to all the slave moralists, master moralists and mock Christians of the world. And while I live here on earth, neither the overman nor the knight of faith can discredit the other, since there may or may not be an afterlife. The lacking evidence of an afterlife doesn't suggest there isn't one. Where would be the challenge in believing in something I know to exist? Likewise the very notion of Christianity defying common logic tempts me to doubt the faith it is so hard for me to have.

Explanatory synthesis(read the prompt) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Explanatory synthesis(read the prompt) - Essay Example The recently proposed or established acts like the Homeland Security Act, the USA Patriot Act, and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act etc have initiated hot debate. Many people consider that national security should be placed above privacy of individuals, ignoring the fact that after that America is slowly being converted into a police state. However, civil privacy and personal rights are much more important and the Government must focus on enhancing security without compromising with the privacy of the common man. The fear of being attacked again, the continuous security breaching threats have put America under immense pressure and made it more vigilant, such that the Government is pulling all stops to convert the country into a total surveillance state. Most state authorities now employ cameras to keep a track of things and snoop on its citizens. I believe that this is in fact not fair at all, because such surveillance cannot only be abused but also can give false results. C hristian Parenti in the article DC Virtual Panopticon, discusses on the issue and reveals how the â€Å"police in Detroit and DC have used CCTV to stalk personal foes, political opponents and young women† which in itself is a threat to the security of citizens. Another much publicized electronic surveillance instrument- the facial recognition system is not close to what had been promised. In â€Å"trading liberty for Illusion†, Wendy Kaminer informs us that the facial recognition system used â€Å"never identified a single individual contained in the department’s database of photographs.† Some may have the opinion that electronic surveillance are an efficient method to keep track of potential threats but time and again the system has failed and the surveillance cameras have been used not for the purpose of security at all. Another crucial point about such electronic surveillance is that the chances of the camera operators keeping eye on minority civilians only rather than focusing on everyone with equal vigilance is increased. Wendy Kaminer said that it is a true fact that the security officers are bound to   Ã¢â‚¬Å"focus disproportionately on racial minorities or while away the hours peering up women's skirts†. Therefore, it is clear that even though electronic surveillance have been supposedly adopted and installed as a national security measure and keep the citizens from any harm. Yet, the ways in which the system is being abused by the security officers themselves establishes the fact that such technological measures that have been adopted are in no way enhancing security but are successfully destroying the freedom of the civilians. A similar breach of civilian privacy is the tapping of phone lines. The USA patriot Act brought in the use of wiretap warrants that allowed the USA police to engage in wiretap surveillance against anyone who was under suspicion. Therefore the Government could easily intercept the electronic c ommunication of just about anyone they liked. Though the electronic Communications Privacy Act was brought into force to safeguard the citizens from such interceptions, the ACT did have loopholes. However, many people like Joshua Quittner, believe that a little loss of privacy is not a high price for security and that most people are too paranoid about their privacy. In the article â€Å"Invasion of Privacy†, Joshua Quittner wrote that at first he couldn’t â€Å"get worked up about privacy: my right to it; how it's dying; how we're headed for an even more wired, under

Medication Profile Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Medication Profile - Assignment Example Subsequently, in interferes with the ability to clear environmental chemicals and therapeutic drugs. It is this factor besides reduced capacity for renal clearance that causes the patient develops drawn out preservation of several drugs in individuals with advanced age such as the patient in question. The profile uses the developed geriatric pharmacokinetic database to study changes in the capacity of the body to clear drugs considering the advanced age of 73 years. From the database, more than half of the drugs that hepatic cytochrome P450 enzyme processes and even through elimination in the renal averages 70 percent in the 73-year old patient. The percentage would be lower if the patient was younger preferably below 65 years. The high percentage explains why the patient is susceptible to kidney and liver diseases (Power 49). Development of these diseases complicates the clearance function of the liver and kidney further. Prescribing more drugs to the patient also referred to as polypharmacy, increases the chances of drugs interacting in the body of the patient. It comes with negative consequences. Considering the age of the patient, her nervous system has several modifications among others changed neurotransmitter, neuronal loss, altered receptor levels, and reduced capacity to change caused by xenobiotics. Changes in the central nervous of the patient increase her vulnerability to neurologic dysfunction with the threat from unitary pharmacologic agents. Other dangerous agents are environmental toxicants and polypharmacy (Priglinger 1408). The several factors affecting the patient’s ability to respond to neuroactive causal agents transforms the assessment of environmental risks in the patient a special apprehension because it presents the toughest challenge. Causal agents include pesticides, heavy metals, and general neurotoxicants. They have the potential to affect the nervous system of an individual in the end. It was the

Principles of Micro Economics (Change in Supply and Demand) Research Paper

Principles of Micro Economics (Change in Supply and Demand) - Research Paper Example The law of demand states that there is an inverse relationship between the price of products and services and the quantity demanded in a given period, all other things being equal. In circumstances where the price of a product increases, the market responds by decreasing the demand. In contrast, when the price of a product decreases, it is expected that the market will respond with an increased demand. The market’s sensitivity to price is also known as price elasticity (Nelson 574). Supply on the other hand increases the number of its produced units when the price of goods and service increases. In contrast, supply will decrease when price decreases. It is expected as producers are driven by profit motive and they are motivated to produce more at a higher price to increase their profit and is not motivated to create when there is no incentive for profit. Corollary, producers will only supply goods and services at a price that is higher than their marginal costs (Maurya 2). For illustration, let us use the demand schedule below; Price Quantity Demanded 1 100 2 80 3 60 4 40 5 20 According to the demand schedule, for every $1 price increase, there is a corresponding decrease in demand of 20 units. The quantity demand will continue to slide by 20 units as the price increases by a dollar. Figure 1 shows how the quantity in demand decreases with every dollar increase of price. Figure 2 will illustrate the change in demand. The demand changes because the price also changed. The illustration in figure 2 shifted to the right because there is an increase in demand as more quantity is demanded at each price. Figure 1. Change in quantity demand. Figure 2. Change in demand Supply on the other hand increases as the price increases. It increases because it provides producers an incentive to profit at a higher price. In figure 4, it showed that as demand increases, supply also increases. Conversely, supply will also decrease when demand decreases as illustrated in figur e 5. Figure 4. Demand rises Figure 5. Demand falls Supply on the other hand tends to increase as price increase. As figure X will show, the corresponding increase in price is matched with a corresponding increase in supply. So how does the change in demand can affect supply? Demand is elastic and is sensitive to price. Supply on the other hand is motivated to produce more with a higher price. The elasticity of demand or its sensitivity to price affects supply by mitigating its production because higher demand that is a result of lower price does not provide much incentive for producers to supply more (Adler and Dumas 182). This contradicting nature of supply and demand (supply increases when price increases while demand increases only when price decreases) enables the price of a product and services to be established in the market. The price of a product or service is a point where the market is willing to pay certain goods and services at a price where the supplier is also willing to supply which is not at a loss to them (McCall 404-405). This is illustrated in figure 6 where supply and demand met. In the final analysis, demand determines the number of units that will be supplied in the market, thus affecting supply. Figure 6. Price established in the market On occasions that supplier will produce more than what is demanded, say for example in figure 5 where the prevailing market price for a

Business Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Business Law - Essay Example This means that there is unlimited liability and the owner will be responsible personally to repay any debts that may arise from the business. An electrical contracting business would require large amounts of capital to set up and then run the day to day activities. Such limitless capital would not be available with a single person who plans to open a new business, thus he may resort to borrowing or taking loans from lenders. This too is not a guaranteed way to acquire capital as lenders would be unwilling to invest in a new business controlled by a single person with unlimited liability. They would want the personal assets of the owner to cover their loans so that in case of default in the repayment, the assets might be used to recover the loan provided. Secondly, an electrical contracting business needs sophisticated machinery and constant supervision. A single person will not be able to control and supervise 24/7, causing mismanagement which the competition can take advantage of. However, a sole proprietorship is easy to form and dissolve as it does not include legal formalities for starting and closing a business. Although a business such as an electrical contractor would require a government license giving permission to produce and supply electricity which would require certain conditions to be fulfilled. A sole proprietor does not need to share his profits with anyone and he pays minimum income tax as he is not a partnership or a corporation which pay a large proportion of their profits in tax. Electrical contracting business as a Partnership An electrical contracting business being set up as a partnership means ownership is shared between 2 to 20 people. This means that the business will have greater capital and credit resources. A partnership is governed by the law and follows a written document known as the partnership agreement. This document contains all the provisions necessary for smooth running of the business for example managerial duties, share of profits etc. A partnership too can be formed relatively easily as compared to a company. Forming a partnership for conducting an electrical contracting service would require a government license. This license can be achieved relatively easily as compared to sole proprietor business. A partnership consists of two or more thus each person can utilize their managerial skills and benefit the business. For example a partner who is an electrical engineer can work on the machines while another partner who is an accountant can manage the accounts of the business and ensure smooth running. A partnership means the risk of the business is spread over the numerous partners thus one person does not have to take the burden. However, a partnership has unlimited liability as well. This means that all the personal assets of the partners are at risk and a bad decision by one partner can result in loss for all the partners. Being a partnership there is still a limit to the amount of capital that ca n be acquired thus the business has a limitation on the size. Lastly, a partnership will be subjected to large amounts of taxes under the law. A partnership can acquire several types of tax id numbers, e.g.  A Federal EIN Number - The Federal Tax Identification Number is used to identify a business entity and is required for employers and corporations as well as partnerships. A State Sales Tax Id - Sales tax

Management high performance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Management high performance - Essay Example In autocratic leadership, the leaders possess total authority over their team (Rao, 2010). Other members of the team are incapacitated to air their views, even when such opinions may benefit the organizations. Most employees discredit this leadership form. As such, it leads to low work force turnover. However, it may be suitable in situations requiring quick decision-making processes. Autocratic leaders tend to be more formal than informal and more centralized. Democratic/participative leadership model incorporates other team members in their decision-making process; thought the final decision-making process is mandated to the leader (Rao, 2010). This capacitates the employees to make time-to-time suggestions to their leaders for various improvements. Such leaders tend to be more informal than formal and more decentralized. In the article, ‘Is Autocratic Leadership Relevant today?’ Rao critically examines Autocratic leadership over other leadership forms and its suitability in today’s environment (Rao, 2010). Rao argues that though this form of leadership is practical in fields such as the military, it may be impractical to incorporate it in today’s business environment, where employees call for incorporation in various decision-making processes and act as core partners, since they play a key role in the goal achievement of an organization. Additionally, Rao argues that in case a firm experiences challenges, the leader takes the sole responsibility. Rao also perceives Autocratic leadership to be marred with dissatisfied customers, and the recurrence of absenteeism within an organization (Walker, 2011). Autocratic leadership also creates a weak workforce, owing to the continued fear of the leader’s directives. Wrong decisions may lead to unprecedented losses, since employees only follow such directives without questioning (Daft, 2014). Choi’s article attempts to put forward the key differences of

Human Anatomy and Physiology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Human Anatomy and Physiology - Essay Example The hip joint is a good example of a ball and socket joint. A ball and socket joint is so-called because of its general physical makeup, which consists of a bony pocket and a ball-like appendage on the connecting bone that fits within this pocket. This type of joint provides a wide range of motion in several directions as well as the ability to carry a great deal of strength. In addition to the hip joint, the shoulder joint is another example of a ball and socket joint. The bones of this joint consist of the ilium, the femur and the ischium. The ilium contains â€Å"four spines serving as sites for muscle and ligamentous attachments† while â€Å"two large processes - an upper, lateral ‘greater trochanter’ and a lower, medial ‘lesser trochanter.’ †¦ provide attachments for muscles of the legs and buttocks† (â€Å"Human Anatomy Online†, 2004). The important ligaments involved in this joint include the pubofemoral ligament, the iliofemoral ligament, the ligaments of the sacrum and the ischiofemoral ligament. The major muscles involved in this joint include the iliopsoas muscles, the gluteous muscles, the piriformis and gemellus muscles, the sartorius muscle, the pectineus muscle, the quadriceps femoris muscles, the gracilis muscle, the adductor muscles and the hamstring muscles. The iliopsoas is actually two muscles that blend (â€Å"Human Anatomy Online†, 2004). The psoas major originates at the â€Å"sides of T12 to L5 vertebrae and intervertebral discs between them† and its insertion at the lesser trochanter of the femur. The iliacus originates at the iliac crest, iliac fossa, ala of sacrum, and the anterior sacroiliac ligaments while insertions are at the tendon of psoas major and the body of the femur, inferior to the lesser trochanter (â€Å"Muscles of the Hip and Thigh†, 1998). These muscles are the strongest flexor muscles of the thigh and work to maintain erect posture at the joints as well as to raise the trunk from a flat (lying

Router and Switch Configuration Essay Example for Free

Router and Switch Configuration Essay When installing, setting, and configuring a switch it is important to know what kind of switch is needed and installed in the network. For this purpose I have chosen the Cisco switches main line, which is the Catalyst Switches, which is one of the popular series and models. They include fixed-configuration desktop models, configurable plug-and-play modular chassis models and packages with high-speed buses into which many cards can be inserted. To configure the Cisco Catalyst switch I will use the Visual Switch Manager, which is an IOS command line interface, or I can use the management console. The VSM is tool operated through a web browser interface and the management console is a simple, menus based interface. To access the CLI, the switch’s console port, which is at the back of the switch, must be plugged into a computer terminal or modem with an RJ-45 rollover cable and the appropriate adapter. Then one runs a terminal emulation program, which can be HyperTerminal that comes with Windows, to specify the port to communicate with. It is imperative that the settings of the switch console port and the management station or modem match or you cannot communicate. Assuming the switch and the settings are connected and match you will be shown a User Interface Menu. To move into the CLI, you press the [K] key. When you want to configure the switch using menus you would then press the [M] key (for menu). There are three categories of information which make up the console interface: configuration, statistics, and diagnostics. The configuration menu contains information on the current setting of the switch parameters. Many of these parameters are also configurable through the console interface. The second category contains switch statistics information. Through the statistics screens, users can monitor switch performance. The third menu set contains diagnostic/troubleshooting commands enabling field engineers and knowledgeable network administrators to perform simple troubleshooting functions. A factory-configured switch has no password assigned. To add or change the password, use the Password Menu. The Ethernet switch console can be accessed by establishing a telnet connection to port 6 of the terminal concentrator, which is long distance managing. Telnet is a utility used for remotely login to a device. The Cisco switch IOS have different EXEC modes with distinctive prompts. You can use these modes for executing different Cisco switch commands. The Cisco IOS user interface is divided into many different modes. The commands available to you depend on which mode you are currently in. Enter a question mark (? ) at the system prompt to obtain a list of commands available for each command mode. When you start a session on the switch, you begin in user mode, often called user EXEC mode. Only limited subsets of the commands are available in user EXEC mode. For example, most of the user EXEC commands are one-time commands, such as show commands, which show the current configuration status, and clear commands, which clear counters or interfaces. The user EXEC commands are not saved when the switch reboots. To have access to all commands, you must enter privileged EXEC mode. Normally, you must enter a password to enter privileged EXEC mode. From this mode, you can enter any privileged EXEC command or enter global configuration mode. The following are commands and their uses; User EXEC begins the session with the switch and the user prompt looks like this, Switch, use this mode to change terminal settings, perform basic tests, and display system information. Privileged EXEC, while in user EXEC mode enter enable command and the prompt will look like this, Switch#, use this mode to verify commands that you have entered. Use the password to protect access to this mode. Global configuration, while in privileged EXEC mode enter the configure command, the prompt will look like this, Switch (config) #, you use this mode to configure parameters that apply to the entire switch. Config-vlan , While in global configuration mode, enter the vlan vlan-id command, the prompt will look like this, Switch(config-vlan)#, you will use this mode to configure VLAN parameters. When VTP mode is transparent, you can create extended-range VLANs (VLAN IDs greater than 1005) and save configurations in the switch startup configuration file. VLAN configuration, While in privileged EXEC mode, enter the vlan database command, the prompt will look like this, Switch (vlan) #, you will use this mode to configure VLAN parameters for VLANs 1 to 1005 in the VLAN database. Interface configuration, while in global configuration mode, enter the interface command (with a specific interface), the prompt will look like this, Switch (config-if) #, you will use this mode to configure parameters for the Ethernet interfaces. Line configuration, while in global configuration mode, the prompt will look like this, Switch (config-line) #, this will specify a line with the line vty or line console command, you will use this mode to configure parameters for the terminal line. A VLAN is a switched network that is logically segmented by function, project team, or application, without regard to the physical locations of the users. VLANs have the same characteristics as physical LANs, but you can group end stations even if they are not physically located on the same LAN segment. Any switch port can belong to a VLAN, and unicast, broadcast, and multicast packets are forwarded and flooded only to end stations in the VLAN. Each VLAN is considered a logical network, and packets destined for stations that do not belong to the VLAN must be forwarded through a router or bridge. A VLAN comes appears when a local port is configured to be associated with the VLAN, when the VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP) learns of its existence from a neighbor on a trunk, or when a user creates a VLAN. A trunk port carries the traffic of multiple VLANs and by default is a member of all VLANs in the VLAN database. To do this one must switch to global configuration mode. To add ports to the VLAN, change to the Interface Configuration mode and use the vlan-membership static vlan# command. When done, you can view the VLANs by typing the show vlan command. To build redundancy and eliminate the creation of multiple broadcast packets, spanning tree protocol (STP) must be configured on the network switches. Spanning tree protocol allows a switch to recognize which switch on the network is handling broadcast requests from other devices on the network. STP is a Layer 2 link management protocol that provides path redundancy while preventing loops in the network, but you can enable STP on only 128 VLANs. Before you configure STP, select a switch to be the root of the spanning tree. This switch does not need to be the most powerful switch, but choose the most centralized switch on the network. All data flow across the network is from the perspective of this switch. Also, choose the least disturbed switch in the network. The backbone switches often serve as the spanning tree root because these switches typically do not connect to end stations. Also, moves and changes within the network are less likely to affect these switches†. You should type show command to show the version of the software for the switches, and then type the set spantree root vlan_id command, in order to set the priority of the switch to 8192 for the VLAN or VLANs that the vlan id specifies. Then you should type the set, spantree portfast mod_num/port_num enable command, in order to configure the PortFast setting on Switches 12, 13, 14, 16, and 17. Issue the show spantree vlan_id command in order to verify that Switch 15 is the root of all the appropriate VLANs.

Social Media and Internet Marketing Essay Example for Free

Social Media and Internet Marketing Essay Social media, although a relatively recent phenomenon, is becoming an Increasingly important part of any business’s marketing and client base development platform. According to Dragon, â€Å"The perception of social media marketing has shifted quickly no longer viewed as a trendy or passing fad, having a flexible and well-managed presence in each of the â€Å"big three† (Facebook, Twitter, and Google+) has become a must for any business seeking to secure a place in both the traditional and digital marketplace† (pg. 103). What could once be accomplished by a traditional website now needs to be supplemented by a robust and responsive utilization of the tools social media offers. Finding ways in this strange new world can be quite confusing at first but these are lessons most of today’s marketing businesses have to learn. Social media is changing the ways of traditional network marketing, to increase sales, marketing businesses have to connect with customers and join their conversations on social media sites. So even though social media marketing takes time to learn and use, social media has changed the way business is done today. Social media is changing the ways of network marketing Social media is not just a powerful tool that lets friends and family communicate, it also can be used to help market a business or product. Social media marketing as it is referred to is helping and fuelling the growing online platform of buying and selling. Many network-marketing businesses think they know what their customers want, but until they do a bit of research and discover what they want, it is just guess work. The power of social media can help network marketing businesses keep in touch with their customers and determine exactly what they want, simply by reading, capturing, and using the comments the customers make on social media sites. This new approach to marketing can help to expand and explode the marketing of products to target what customers want, and exactly when they want it. Chase and Knebl (2011) opined, â€Å"The Internet is the greatest communication tool of all time. For sales people, it is also the ultimate game changer. Past technological changes have all been improvements like voice mail, which were easily adaptable to the existing landscape, whereas the Internet is not. Over the past 15 years, it has completely taken over the way in which people get and exchange information. Over the past 5 years, it has completely taken over in which people socialize with one another. And now – right now, social networking is taking over B2B communication. Like it or not, social networking sites are completely, and permanently, redefining the way sales people find new customers† (p.p. 3 4). How marketing was managed and operated for businesses before has changed with the advent of the Internet. Traditional network marketing methods versus today’s social media marketing The traditional selling (marketing) use of the telephone is increasingly becoming obsolete as a business communication tool. The majority of business- to-business (B2B) correspondence now occurs through e-mail, simply because online communication is vastly superior to telephone as a means of sharing information. According to Chase and Knebl (2011), â€Å"The Internet has created fundamental shifts in the B2B marketplace that are driving the future of the selling profession. They require all of us who wish to sell successfully in the new marketplace to accept these changes, recognize the inherent opportunities that they offer, and become educated in the new skills needed to acquire new customers† (p. 4). In order to be efficient in marketing, it is important to realize what will work and what marketing methods are not working any more. For example, if the target market is a senior market, a yellow page ad may very well still bring in customers, but if the customers are under the age of 60, it is best to put marketing resources elsewhere. We have seen many changes to the trends and methods of marketing just over the last few years and these changes are continuing. Some of the trends and methods to watch closely according to Lake (2012) are Mobile Marketing In a report done by CTIA Wireless Association it was reported that 250+ million Americans carry mobile phones thats over 80% of the nation’s population. Mobile applications will continue to be developed and smart phones and tablet PCs will remain a part of our daily lives. Social Marketing Integration In 2011 companies began to take social media marketing seriously and because of that we saw social media explode as a marketing tool. This year we will begin to see companies heavily integrate social media into their overall marketing plan, which is how it should have been done in the first place, but better late than never. We will see social media expand from a tool used primarily for customer service and brand management to being used to collect customer data and enable better target marketing of products and services that those customers are interested. Traditional Marketing Continues to Diminishes This is always a touchy subject, because there are so many that dont want to say goodbye to the traditional marketing. Interactive or real-time marketing is easy to measure, engage and gain real time statistics that allows us to change a marketing message quickly. Customers are continuing to go online to search for information and in return making their purchases online. Its important that marketers move their marketing dollars to where the consumers are and right now thats making a gigantic shift to online. Internet marketing enables us to reach targeted audiences online, advertising costs are lower and they are easier to measure. Whats not to love about interactive marketing? Overall marketing budgets will continue to shift to a higher spend online and the traditional marketing spend will continue to diminish. Relationships will Drive Loyalty and Sales Customers want to know they matter to you and your staff. They evaluate now more than ever how they are treated, whether or not your business cares about their satisfaction. Gone are the days that they just purchase out of convenience. If you can give the best customer care, you will find that you will create consumers that are loyal to you, regardless of whether or not you have the least expensive price. They realize that in tough economic times their loyalty to you could be the life or death of your business and thats often why they will go out of their way to spend their hard-earned dollars in your place of business if you have helped in creating loyalty by giving them extraordinary care. Social media helping to promote and market businesses and products Millions of people uses social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter each day to stay up-to-date with their favorite brands and businesses. More than ever, it is important for business owners to ensure that their marketing strategies include some social media activities. Social media offers new ways to connect with current and potential customers, build online presence and also help develop long-lasting relationships with other business professionals and future contacts, Lovett (2011) made some interesting findings in his book: Social media has unquestionably entered the mainstream as consumers flock to jump on every social bandwagon, buggy, and freight train that drives past. This frenzied enthusiasm has helped the largest social networks to amass hundreds of thousands of users that rival the world’s most populous countries, while new platforms and channels emerge unabated. The early sparks of social media innovations have flourished into a raging inferno of opportunity for consumers and businesses alike. These businesses include everyone from the largest global fortune 100 to the smallest mom-and-pop shop, who are winning and losing everyday with social media. The losers are detached from their customers because they are unable to hear the outpouring of ideas and feedback over the drone of their antiquated toiling. Conversely, the winners are tapping into consumers’ needs and wants and suing social media as a method to: * Increase brand exposure * Initiate dialogue with customer * Generate interaction with their own media * Facilitate customer support * Assemble legions of loyal advocates * Spur corporate innovation * Do much, much more. (p.p. 3 4) In closing, for marketing businesses in the next decade, it will become increasingly important to monitor their brands and reputations online and to be aware of what is being said as well as do any damage control and address any issues that arise in a timely if not immediate fashion. Businesses can no longer hide behind the four walls; it is not enough to broadcast anymore. To succeed with marketing, it will be necessary to interact, engage, and create relationships to grow marketing businesses and create an effective marketing strategy in the next decade. We have seen millions attracted to social media. People are interacting and engaging daily with other individuals as well as with businesses. This will not slow down. It is believed that over the next decade one will see changes in the social media marketing platforms as well as the social media networking sites that are used. It is important to realize that when using social media in your marketing strategy, it must be remembered that it is about interaction, and not just about broadcasting. You need to create a social media marketing strategy that engages and cultivates relationships as well as solves any problems or issues that come up. Reference Lake, L. (2012). MoneyMarketingMarketing MethodsMarketing Methods and Trends Whats New for 2012. Retrieved from http://marketing.about.com/od/marketingmethods/a/marketing-methods-and-trends-whats-new-for-2012 Chase, L., Knebl, K. (2011). The Social Media Sales Revolution (1st ed.). Washington, DC: McGraw-Hill. Dragon, R. (2012). Social Marketology (1st ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Lovett, J. (2011). Social Media Metrics Secrets (1st ed.).Indianapolis, IN: Wiley Publishing, Inc..

Definition of assessment

Definition of assessment Assessment is the foundation of the social work process with service users (Walker and Beckett, 2003:6). Why is assessment a crucial aspect of the social work process and what makes an effective social work assessment? What might be some of the barriers to an affective assessment and how can the worker overcome these? In your answer, you will be expected to refer to relevant research regarding social work assessment. Social workers are expected to carry out an initial assessment of situations they encounter before taking action. These are important because they provide the foundation for any plans to support, protect, manage or provide aid for a client. In a nutshell, an assessment is simply gathering information about people, their situation, factors deemed relative to that situation, and integrating this into a formal report, which will be used to look back on when carrying out a review. This will not only provide a helpful way for the social worker to quickly reacquaint themselves when looking back on a family, but it will also allow other work staff to get a gist of the situation if they are coming into it for the first time. For an effective assessment it takes someone with an organised, rational and open minded knowledge base, using these to compliment a number of unique skills they will hold, enabling them to come to grasps with the varied number of situations they will face and an ability to be sensitive to those involved. It is expected of social work graduates to understand all the legal documentations issued by work bodies (such as the Department of Health), for these will include necessary guidelines on assessment and how and when to act. However, simply knowing these will not cut it, and those who are inexperienced will simply be able to regurgitate back what they have learnt without knowing the true art of carrying out their work. An assessment is more than simply making notes on ones observations, for it includes the workers opinions, beliefs and ideas, which will be essential when carrying out interventions. They are not to be confused with evaluations, although they do contain evaluative sectors, for example determining a clients needs. Unlike evaluations however, assessments are open to more probing and study, which make them more effective tools for making a decision. For the social worker to be able to make their assessment successful, they will need to ensure they can fully appreciate a) all factors that affect the client and b) which of the clients needs are not being met. To do this they will need to establish the type of person their client is, for example how they communicate with others, how they react to stress, how they deal with problems etc. It is important for the social worker to know which bits of information are relevant, and rather than find out everything they can (scatter gun method) they pick out those bits which will serve to help them later. If they ask too many questions it will lead to general misinterpretations, often a common mistake in those just starting social work practice. One must understand that views will be different, and that other work forces, agencies or even individuals will draw out their own conclusions for a case. This makes it difficult to assume any kind of truth in an assessment, since what one sees depends on where one looks. (Jones 1983) Another problem assessors face is that there is often the case of clients scapegoating or stigmatising based on a negative assessment. Social workers are aware that they are held accountable for any action they make, and so if they make an error in the assessment that could prove costly to a families support, then they may be faced with court proceedings. In actuality, assessments are by no means a quick process. It is often the case that work staff are met with the stress of having to cope with busy offices, numerous phone calls and masses of paper work. Stress can affect workers in any number of ways, but the biggest concern is that it can lead to negligence such as making quick, inaccurate assessments because there is no time to meet the demands of the office. There is, however, a way of preventing these difficulties and that is to employ a method referred to as triangulation. This is done by drawing comparisons from other groups to find similarities between information gathered. In addition to this, it may prove helpful to discuss the assessment with clients themselves, for this will not only improve the accuracy of the assessment but will also create a sense of trust and warmth between client and worker. In spite of triangulation mistakes are still inevitable. Possibly the most common mistake would be to apply a one sided attitude towards people and/or situations. An example would be of a social worker looking at an argumentative couple; seeing things only from either the controlling wife point of view, or the unfaithful husband point of view. For this reason it is essential for the social worker to bring in other colleagues so as to form a multidisciplinary assessment. Rather than relying on one mans opinion, by working as a team, members may gain further insight into the task at hand and observations may be brought to the table that otherwise would have gone unnoticed. However, the use of multiple assessments is problematic in that the social worker will have to deal with multiple theories. This may lead to conflicts and confusions over the correct path to follow. Because of the time constraints on social work practice, alternative methods have been introduced to take away some of the pressures. Self assessments for example are often carried out when dealing with younger children. It is seen as a fun learning experience and will tell staff workers much about that child. Self assessments will compose of numerous exercises, such as multiple choice questionnaires, rating scales, producing stories, drawings of themselves, and/or their families. Adults often prefer this method as it allows them to use their own words rather than being misinterpreted. Another alternative is computer aided assessments. These have long been used in other fields such as medicine in order to make quick diagnoses. They are helpful in that they save time, and unlike humans do not forget or make errors. It is as simple as loading in all the variables, and allowing the computer to calculate the most likely outcome and therefore the best form of action. However, computers are unable to process social, emotional, or psychological factors and so can often fail to spot key issues. The use of computers is therefore limited. Recently, there have been movements in practice theory, the most important of which is a larger emphasis on the influences of powerlessness, prejudicial views, discriminatory acts and oppression. In addition, workers are starting to develop a more constructionist way of thinking. This includes seeing beliefs and ideas not as relying on the influence of the environment around those who hold said beliefs and ideas, rather them being constructed by individual people whilst they converse and respond to one anothers presence. It is this constructionist way of thinking where many theories on assessment begin. In the past 3 years it was found, through reviews from service users, that many were unsatisfied with the assessment process. One rising concern was that a large number of social workers were failing to conduct reassessments. It seems that they only look at certain information in order to confirm their theories and therefore neglect many important items. This is a critical point because assessments are the basis for all further work. An error here would be damaging for the whole investigation. Even when a reassessment is made, there still remains the problem of prioritising key areas of importance. If this is done shoddily then there is risk of the assessment giving off misrepresentations when conducting an evaluation. To prevent this, there are three areas that it is suggested the social worker start by looking at. These are: Starting where the client is, focussing on meeting the clients needs; legal considerations, which should be made known to the client; and health or safety concerns, for if there are any risks to the client then they must be informed. (Hepworth and Dean 2006) Another important issue relates to the production of a culturally competent assessment. The social worker must therefore demonstrate knowledge of cultural norms, acculturation, and language differences, the ability to differentiate between individual and culturally linked attributes, the initiative to seek out needed information so that evaluations are not biased and services are culturally appropriate; and an understanding of the ways that cultural differences may reveal themselves in the assessment process. (Hepworth and Dean 2006) There are numerous differences between cultures when it comes to forms of, for example; disciplining younger family members, selecting the most dominant group member, aiding those unable to manage for themselves, how to address one another, and many others. And because of these differences, the social worker must be wary when considering things such as; what is seen as normal behaviour in children with autism? What is seen as a healthy amount of sex in afro Caribbean tribe members? At what age is a child believed to reach maturity in China, Africa, Asia etc? The list is endless. Patterns of behaviour which may appear dysfunctional in one culture may be considered normal to another. It is important that social workers have knowledge of their clients background and if not then research it. For an error made may aggravate or offend them. It can be hard to define exactly what an assessment is, who it is intended for, and the reason it needs to be carried out. Pincus and Minaham (1973) therefore developed a model framework with the specific aim being to help social workers recognise; the reasons for their involvement, the expected goals and outcomes, which persons fit the role of agent and which fit the role of client, what needs to be maintained and what needs to be managed. Pincus and Minaham labelled three kinds of resource system which people will have contact with during their lives and four mapping systems which summarise what is occurring. The advantages of a systems approach are many. Firstly, it helps the social worker to understand a situation in such a way it gives clear definitions of those involved and how they are linked to one another. Secondly, aims and goals are clearly established early on, which helps them create a formal plan with their client and also helps both parties follow any progress made. Thirdly, it removes some of the burden of work off of the social workers back, knowing that not everything depends on their selves. It also helps them to see which areas may take the most work, and which may be met with more conflict. This will help them plan their time and resources irrespectively, know when and where they should be, and how much of their attention is required at any time. By doing this, the social worker is less likely to exclude important responsibilities, or focus too much on only one aspect. Upon evaluation of the system, if for any reason another worker sees something they wish to add, remov e or change, then this can be easily done with little time consumption. It is not unlikely that things may change at a later date, for example new clients may need to be added to the system, or new targets to be met. Peoples needs are not immutable and are always changing. The social worker must recognise this and be able to identify any changes, and adjust so as to fit them into the system. There are also certain disadvantages of a systems approach. Firstly, although it helps to maintain the flow of activities, it will not provide enough understanding of a persons life without the addition of other approaches. Alone, the model is too general, and does not include a great deal of information about the relevant difficulties being assessed. Secondly, despite all its hype about ordering data, the systems approach does not maintain that data should be collected to begin with. Furthermore, it fails to recognise the importance of existing beliefs about human behaviour, so is basically starting from scratch each time. Thirdly, the natural urge to focus primarily on the clients illness, with little attention being paid on their wellness can often lower their sprits and remove their hopes of ever finding a solution to their problem. As a social worker making an assessment, it helps to understand that, since external problems become internal, and the internal affects the external, looking at just the social aspects will prove inadequate, just as looking at just the psychological aspects is inadequate.(Milner and OByrne 1998) We need to look at both, and use various approaches to complement one another. Assessments need to draw in help from psychiatrists and psychologists, those skilled at exploring the unconscious. For it may be the case that the client has certain unresolved issues that may be of relevance. A problem workers face is that the id is like a cavern, in that it is made up of large numbers of interrelated passages. Some will affect others, while others will come to a dead end. And everything inside that cavern is hidden away from the outside world and is immune to any happenings beyond its entrance. Applying a psychodynamic approach as it were is advantageous because it is able to explain away what appears to be irrational behaviour. As I explained, many of a persons difficulties may not be explicit and observable. Many individuals use defence mechanisms as a way of hiding their emotions. And so by combining aspects of psychology (cognitive, psychoanalytic, humanistic etc.) it will allow the worker to delve deep into their clients personality and learn more about their associations with the world around them. This approach has imposed a caring, considering, communicative attitude amongst assessment workers and gets them to gain more of an emphatic relationship with their clients. Rather than applying a tick box assessment and using the same set of questions for each person, the worker now has a set of guideline questions allowing them to go off on a tangent basing each new question on the previous answer. The psychodynamic approach does indeed contribute greatly to the advances in social work assessment; however it has a number of issues of concern. First and foremost, the main interest is on the individual and so social factors are often neglected or disregarded. Secondly, abnormal human behaviour or behaviour that does not fit with the norms of society is grounds for a referral. Homosexuality for example is put down to Oedipal conflicts, homosexuals are not treated as a typical male and this causes much oppression and discrimination. Furthermore, the guidelines for communication are based on a middle class Caucasian male. Although certain groups will see equal gain from this method of practice there are many from other cultures that will react differently. And so to make an effective assessment the social worker must be able to relate their skills across cultures. Thirdly, when dealing with children, psychoanalysis may prove ineffective or even destructive. For example in cases of child abuse the sexual wants of an adult are transferred into the childs want for their parents. The child becomes the culprit and the blame is put towards the mother for being neglectful. When it comes to the ideas of Freud, the population of workers is split, half of them opposing entirely and half of them supporting entirely. As with all other approaches, the psychodynamic approach works best when in conjunction with others. An assessment which includes a descriptive evaluation of client behaviours will prove more effective than one without because the worker is then able to look at how those behaviours have come to be part of their clients being and why they continue to exist. Behavioural assessments see behaviours as being learned, and therefore can be unlearnt through training. All behaviours have an underlying cause; the point of the assessment is to therefore find the route of the problem and find ways to negate its effects. There are often however misinterpretations. For example, what is a negative reinforcer? (strengthening a particular behaviour by removal of something undesirable). Punishment is not a negative reinforcer although it is associated with something undesirable. But rather than extinguish the problematic behaviour, it is often the case that it causes resistance. And so the behaviour has become strengthened. The problem is that there are no clear definitions of positive and negative reinforcers, seeing as what is considered desirable or aversive will vary between people. What may be pain to one man may be seen as a challenge to another who will welcome it. To work around this social workers must ensure they work with their client to determine what they perceive as basically good or bad. It is important the worker be consistent when making visits (reassessments), for example if they always turn up at a foster home when they get a call the child is misbehaving, yet they rarely turn up when the child is behaving reasonably they may inadvertently be making their misbehaviour more appealing. Many behaviours, be they positive or negative, helpful or hindering, are learned during the course of life and are influenced by our life experiences. Behaviourists believe that when conducting an assessment it is important for the worker to understand where problem behaviours have come from and what reasons there are for their manifestation. Once the underlying routes have been established the worker then helps the client to unlearn those behaviours and get back on track to healthy living. An effective assessment is therefore one that considers the ABCs; the antecedents, behaviours and the consequences. Anything that causes the unwanted behaviour should be removed, whereas anything that promotes desired behaviours should be encouraged. The client should then learn to associate these positive behaviours with pleasant experiences; this way they will want to repeat them. Assessments should look at a clients history thoroughly. It is easy to miss parts out, yet everything needs to be ex amined for even something seemingly irrelevant may hold the key to a persons problem. Of course it is unrealistic to look at absolutely every aspect of a persons life, especially the elderly who have an extremely long history to cover. And so it has been argued that behavioural approaches lack validity and are unattainable. This aside the behavioural approach is still useful because it provides clear definitions of; the aims, goals and the plans for intervention. Furthermore, the approach, more so than other approaches motivates the client to have a say in the overall structure of the assessment. Sheldon (1982) believes there is the advantage that it does not manipulate the data in any way so that the client can be placed in a particular category or theory. People are seen as individuals, individual factors are considered, and client perspectives are used to shape the approach. Task centred theory makes a good starting point for new workers because it is possibly the simplest approach. Assessments can at times be overcomplicated and so it may do workers good to sometimes go back to basics and look at the most obvious action to take. Actions should depend upon ones values rather than any policy one is obligated to follow. Previous experience should be used to improve practice, even the negative ones. Difficulties are inevitable but they will only get worse if the worker continues to make the same mistakes again and again. When there is time pressure to get a job done, rather than crumble the worker should use the pressure as motivation to get things done efficiently. That way they will have to make fewer reassessments. The first task is to determine their clients needs (what it is they want). The next step is convincing the client to accept ones help, firstly recognising they have needs and secondly wanting to do something about it. Epstein (1988) calls this the Start up phase, as it gets the ball rolling so to speak. Next, the wants require their own assessment, to determine what should to be done to meet them, how long it will take and who should be involved. The assessment process is a time to give order to the persons needs, generally up to three of them. It would be helpful to consider not only what changes need to be made, but also what might get in the way of these and what further changes could be done to make the initial changes possible. It would also be helpful to find out how individual problems relate to one another, if at all. If they are then able to tackle the main problem, others may follow suit accordingly with little/no effort on the social workers account. A useful strategy for social workers is to get their clients to firstly write down their problems and secondly assign them a score ranging from no problem at all to highly serious. It is vital that needs are set out from the start and fully understood by both worker and client. Failure at this stage will lead to difficulties come the evaluation. When conducting an assessment on two or more people (such as two partners in a relationship) the worker would be advised to look toward the Want Sheet for support (Masson and OByrne 1984). This gives detailed descriptions of different wants and can be used to help service users explain what they feel. So far, no approach has come up with a solution to this problem, making the task centred approach unique. The Want Sheet can be administered to couples/groups and this way can be used to compare different ideas. Through this stage alone, it is possible for a group to resolve any issues without any need for an intervention scheme. This is most unlike other approaches , which see the social worker as an agent coming in to help the needy, an approach not unlike the medical model of mental health. It is important when assessing individuals, not to mistake the clients as abnormal people just because their behaviour may suggest so, or because they appear difficult or un-cooperative. Doel and Marsh (1992) call this shooting the reflective parrot for what they are doing is making false judgements based on observation, without getting down deep to the underlying issue. Before any interventions, it is important for any decisions to be met together, all other options have been considered, and the client is satisfied with how things are being dealt with. Once a decision is reached, there is still time for one final review. This is a useful step because at this late stage, it is still possible to change ones mind; nothing is yet set in stone. If no changes need be made, the review is still beneficial as it helps to reduce any doubts or anxieties before progression. The task centred approach to assessment seems full proof. Reid (1978) commented that it holds particular value in situations whereby the service user is able to contribute to a moderate degree. It holds the advantage over other approaches because it considers not only the client, but their interactions with the outside world. They get a fair hearing, and communication between them and the social worker is mutual, leading towards a more accurate evaluation. There have been arguments that giving too much leeway can leave the worker vulnerable to misinformation. More so with children, there are cases where the client is not responsible or trustworthy enough to be given a shared role in the assessment. In conclusion, there are numerous positives and negatives of any approach to assessment. Every worker will have a preference on how they will deal with a situation; however it need be emphasised that no two situations are alike. And so workers must be able to think on their feet if they are to become competent social workers. Those who are open minded will reap the most success, for the key lies within managing all the different approaches, integrating them into a whole. Care should still be taken, for within the approaches lie numerous contradictions. There will always be a degree of uncertainty, but what makes the difference between good and average work, is the confidence to give an opinion, whilst at the same time welcoming the views of others. In conclusion, why is the assessment process vital? Because it forms the foundation for understanding ones client, and gets the ball rolling when planning actions for change. It forms a record which can be referred to when evaluating said changes, and can also be used as evidence in court. What makes an effective assessment? One which investigates all relevant factors rather than stick to anything specific, which matches with individuals aims and goals, which is centred on the tasks at hand, which draws from multidisciplinary agencies, which forms a partnership between agent and client, and which is anti oppressive or discriminatory. What barriers do workers face? They can be time consuming, workers are under pressure to get through their work load and may be unable to spend time getting to know their client, groups who are often the target of oppression may seem uncooperative and resistant to change, and all assessments are in some part vulnerable to bias. How can these be overcome? It is imperative that when conducting an assessment one shares thoughts and ideas with not only other workers, other agencies and welfare authorities, but also with the client themselves, thus spreading out the work load, and reducing the likelihood of any errors going unnoticed. Furthermore it helps to be self aware. This way one picks up on any fool hardy assumptions they may be making. One should not be afraid to challenge higher authorities and understand that personal values and the law will often conflict. And finally, every assessment should be instigated with care and precision, frequently asking why one has come to that conclusion and what other alternatives are there. References Ahmad, A. Practice with Care, London, Race Equality Unit/National Institute for Social Work, 1990 Challis, D., Chessum. R., and Chesterman, J., Luckett, R. and Traske, K. Case Managementin Social and Health Care , Cantebury, Personal Social Services Research Unit, 1990. Department of Health. Protecting Children: A Guide for Social Workers Undertaking a Comprehensive Assessment, London, HSMO, 1988. Doel, M. and Marsh, P. Task Centred Social Work. London: Ashgate, 1992. Epstein, L. Helping People; The Task Centred Approach. Olumbus, OH: Merrill, 1988 Forder, A. Concepts in Social Administration: a Framework for Analysis, London Routledge Kegan Paul, 1974. Hepworth and Dean, H. Direct Social Work Practice: Theory and Skills, p. 179-205, London: Thomson/Brooks Cole, 2006 Jones, C. State Social Work and the Working Class, London , Macmillan, 1983 Masson, H and OByrne, P. The Family Systems Approach: A Help or a Hindrance, in Violence Against Children Study Group. Taking Child Abuse Seriously. London: Unwin Hyman, 1990. Milner, J., OByrne, P. Assessment in Social Work: Chap 7; Psychodynamic Approaches, Macmillan Press LTD, 1998 Pincus, A. and Minahan, A. Social Work Practice: Model and Method. Itasca, Il: Peacock, 1973. Reid, W. J. The Task Centred System. New York: Columbia University Press, 1978. Sheldon, B. Behaviour Modification, Theory, Practice and Philosophy. London: Tavistock, 1982. Thoburn, J. Child Placement: Principles and Practice, Aldershot, Wildwood House, 1988

The Transmission of Diseases from Livestock :: History Disease Health Medical Essays

The Transmission of Diseases from Livestock The signs at the Philadelphia International Airport are bold and make a clear point. The bright, yellow billboards all but shout: "Keep Foot and Mouth Disease out of America." Soon after seeing these signs upon entrance to the airport, travelers are greeted by customs agents who check documentation and bags to insure that the traveler has not been prone to the disease on his journeys. Any traveler exhibiting the warning signs of an individual who carries the disease is quickly swept away- removed from the general populace in order to prevent possible spreading of the disease. The above precautions may seem extreme. Then again, the precautions may appear normal in a world that has quickly strengthened airport security in response to recent terrorist activities. Neither of these reactions to the security checks would be fully accurate. The security checks preventing free entrance by individuals who have come into contact with animals or areas that house animals abroad are an innovation designed to prevent the most common method for spreading disease. These precautions have been implemented in order to prevent the spread of diseases infecting livestock. Throughout the course of history, diseases have been the greatest killers of humans. In fact, the winners of most wars were simply the ones who proved less susceptible to the germs carried by the enemy (Diamond, p. 197). Diamond correctly points out, then, that diseases have been the largest shaper of history. For instance, what would the world look like now if the Native Americans had carried germs that were far more potent than the Spanish conquistadors? (p. 197) The diseases that have been the great molders of the human experience are very often and quite easily traced back to animals, specifically livestock. Food production was seen relatively early in history of civilization as a better means for providing for a great number of people than the hunter-gatherer model that was once the primary model of existence. The success of food production in maintenance of human life leads to a society which has become dependant on farming, ranching, and other ways of life that produce foods from animals. The increased number of individuals able to be supported by a society supported by agriculture serves as an important factor in the spreading of disease. The most common method for spread of disease is direct transmittance from the animals to the humans.

Free Affirmative Action Essays - Affirmative Action is Reverse Discrimination :: affirmative action argumentative persuasive

Affirmative Action is Reverse Discrimination "That student was accepted because of affirmative action policies." With my first intake of the phrase, I realized that the student, whom I knew and worked with so many times, the one with such a lack of motivational ability, confidence, and ideas, was now occupying my chances towards a preferred school. "Affirmative action", I soon found out, was used by President John F. Kennedy over 30 years ago to imply equality and equal access to all, disregarding race, creed, color, or national origin. As a policy setting out to resolve the problems of discrimination, Affirmative Action is simply nothing more than a quota of reverse discrimination. Affirmative Action emphasizes prospective opportunity more towards statistical measures. It promotes the hiring and acceptance of less experienced jobs of the workforce and less able students. Sometimes the affirmative action policies forces employers and schools to choose the best workers and less privileged students of the minority, in all, regardless of their potential lack basic skills. As remarked by Maarten de Wit, an author who's article I found on the World Wide Web, affirmative action beneficiaries are "not the best pick, but only the best pick from a limited group." Another article I found, "Affirmative action: A Counter- Productive Policy" by Ernest Pasour also on the W.W.W., is one example which reveals that Duke, a very famous and prestigious university, adopted a resolution requiring each of it's department to hire at least one new African-American for a faculty position the 1993 date. More proofs of Affirmative Action in action is the admission practices at the University of California Berkeley. In the same article by Pasour, it states that while whites or Asian-Americans need at least a 3.7 grade point average through high school to be in consideration for admission in Berkeley, most minorities with much lower standards are automatically admitted. All the preferential treatment may provide a basis for employers, employees, as well as real applicable students to fight for an end to Affirmative Action. The development of more racial tensions are yet another part of the Affirmative Action policy. Tensions between blacks and whites and other racial groups at U.S. colleges are related to preferential treatment. Tensions at the workplace also deal with the toleration of race and sex

Rasin in the Sun Walter Character Analysis Essay

Depression is ongoing feelings of hopelessness, sadness, unhappiness, and causes a bleak outlook on life. When someone is suffering from depression they cannot be at the top of their game. A Raisin in the Sun is a play by Lorraine Hansberry that debuted on Broadway in 1959, which was the first play written by a black woman to be produced on Broadway. The story is based upon the family getting an insurance check; from Walter senior’s death, and the troubles of an African American family in the 1950’s. One Character, Walter shows almost every sign of depression throughout the play. He uses bad cooping skills, like alcohol, hurting his family meanwhile. Walter begins the play, as an unhappy man who is selfish but later matures into a better husband, father, and head of the household. When someone is unhappy, they tend to make impulsive decisions. In the case of Walter Lee Younger, he follows those footsteps. He proves that statement to be true when he tells the character Mama, also know as â€Å"Lena Younger† how he feel his job is nothing, saying, â€Å"†¦Mama, that ain’t no kind of job†¦ that ain’t nothing at all† (Hansberry 73). When Walter is talking to Mama about his future, he tells her he feels as if it’s, â€Å" †¦ a big, looming blank space- full of nothing† (73). That darkness he is showing in that conversation proves to us, that he is very unhappy where his life currently stands. The unhappiness he is experiencing now will later help him become a stronger man. Throughout the play, Walter shows the audience that he is a very selfish man, who will do whatever to get his way. In the beginning of the play, Walter says while talking to Ruth â€Å"I got me a dream† (33). He wants to buy a liquor store with his father’s $10,000 life insurance money, he tells Ruth, â€Å"†¦the initial investment on the place be ‘bout thirty thousand, †¦that be ten thousand each† (33). Walter is oblivious that Mama and Ruth want a house, and Beneatha wants money for college, showing that Walter only cares about himself. The Younger’s get a call from Walter’s work, Ruth answers and they tell her that Walter hasn’t been to work for three days. This shows that Walter is being selfish and missing work to grieve at a bar because Mama didn’t give him money for the liquor store, when he knows the family is struggling for money. Ruth confronts Walter and tells him, â€Å"†¦Mr. Arnold has had to take a cab for three days†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and â€Å"†¦If you don’t come in tomorrow that they are getting a new man† (105), Walter looked at her and laughed. Walter thinks that through his selfish acts that he is going to get his way, but little does he know that it is just going to add fuel to the fire. Sometimes it’s better off to shut up, swallow pride, and accept wrongdoing. It’s not giving up, It’s called growing up. That is exactly what Walter Lee did in the third act, he proved himself that he could be a better man. When he was talking to Mr. Karl Linder about if they where going to accept his offer, â€Å"†¦to buy the house†¦ at a financial gain†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (118), Walter was planning to accept his offer, but realized his family really wanted to move into this home. He told Mr. Linder that, â€Å" †¦we have decided to move into our house because my father – my father he earned it for us brick by brick† (148) which is a very big improvement for Walter. Usually Walter does impulsive selfish acts, not thinking about his family. When Mama told Walter, talking about Travis, â€Å" †¦You make him understand what your doing, Walter Lee. You teach him good. Like Willy Harris taught you. You show where five generations done come to† (147) something triggered Walter to realize what he was actually doing and made him reject the offer, doing something exceptional for the family, making himself a better head of the household. Walter also tells Linder that he is proud of Beneatha, which is very unusual. He tells him, â€Å"†¦ that’s my sister over there and she’s going to be a doctor – and we are very proud† (148), that is a very big statement that he told Linder. Earlier in the play he told Beneatha, â€Å"Who the hell told you to be a doctor? †¦ go be a nurse like other women – or just get married and be quiet.† (38), Walter completely changed his view, and actually was proud of Beneatha. Making himself a better brother. Walter Lee Younger makes a commendable change throughout the play. Walter becomes a better man, making himself better suited to be the head of the household. It took him time, but he realized what life was really about. He  stood up for the family, showing responsibility, maturity, and love to the family. * Hansberry, Lorraine . A Raisin in the Sun. 7th. 51. New york: Random House, Inc., 1958. 0-151. Print.

As Fast as Food Essay

Fast food restaurantA fast food restaurant, also known as a quick service restaurant (QSR) within the industry itself, is a specific type of restaurant characterized both by its fast food cuisine and by minimal table service. Food served in fast food restaurants typically caters to a â€Å"meat-sweet diet† and is offered from a limited menu; is cooked in bulk in advance and kept hot; is finished and packaged to order; and is usually available ready to take away, though seating may be provided. Fast food restaurants are usually part of a restaurant chain or franchise operation, which provisions standardized ingredients and/or partially prepared foods and supplies to each restaurant through controlled supply channels. The term â€Å"fast food† was recognized in a dictionary by Merriam–Webster in 1951. [1] Arguably the first fast food restaurants originated in the United States with A&W in 1916 and White Castle in 1921. [2] Today, American-founded fast food chains such as McDonald’s and KFC are multinational corporations with outlets across the globe. Variations on the fast food restaurant concept include fast casual restaurants and catering trucks. Fast casual restaurants have higher sit-in ratios, and customers can sit and have their orders brought to them. Catering trucks often park just outside worksites and are popular with factory workers. HistorySome trace the modern history of fast food in America to July 7, 1912, with the opening of a fast food restaurant called the Automat in New York. The Automat was a cafeteria with its prepared foods behind small glass windows and coin-operated slots. Joseph Horn and Frank Hardart had already opened the first Horn & Hardart Automat in Philadelphia in 1902, but their â€Å"Automat† at Broadway and 13th Street, in New York City, created a sensation. Numerous Automat restaurants were built around the country to deal with the demand. Automats remained extremely popular throughout the 1920s and 1930s. The company also popularized the notion of â€Å"take-out† food, with their slogan â€Å"Less work for Mother†. Some historians and secondary school textbooks concur that A&W, which opened in 1919 and began franchising in 1921, was the first fast food restaurant (E. Tavares). Thus, the American company White Castle is generally credited with opening the second fast-food outlet in Wichita, Kansas in 1921, selling hamburgers for five cents apiece from its inception and spawning numerous competitors and emulators. What is certain, however, is that White Castle made the first significant effort to standardize the food production in, look of, and operation of fast-food hamburger restaurants. William Ingram’s and Walter Anderson’s White Castle System created the first fast food supply chain to provide meat, buns, paper goods, and other supplies to their restaurants, pioneered the concept of the multistate hamburger restaurant chain, standardized the look and construction of the restaurants themselves, and even developed a construction division that manufactured and built the chain’s prefabricated restaurant buildings. The McDonalds’ Speedee Service System and, much later, Ray Kroc’s McDonald’s outlets and Hamburger University all built on principles, systems and practices that White Castle had already established between 1923 and 1932. The hamburger restaurant most associated by the public with the term â€Å"fast food† was created by two brothers originally from Nashua, New Hampshire. Richard and Maurice McDonald opened a barbecue drive-in in 1940 in the city of San Bernardino, California. After discovering that most of their profits came from hamburgers, the brothers closed their restaurant for three months and reopened it in 1948 as a walk-up stand offering a simple menu of hamburgers, french fries, shakes, coffee, and Coca-Cola, served in disposable paper wrapping. As a result, they could produce hamburgers and fries constantly, without waiting for customer orders, and could serve them immediately; hamburgers cost 15 cents, about half the price at a typical diner. Their streamlined production method, which they named the â€Å"Speedee Service System† was influenced by the production line innovations of Henry Ford. By 1954, The McDonald brothers’ stand was restaurant equipment manufacturer Prince Castle’s biggest purchaser of milkshake blending machines. Prince Castle salesman Ray Kroc traveled to California to discover why the company had purchased almost a dozen of the units as opposed to the normal one or two found in most restaurants of the time. Enticed by the success of the McDonald’s concept, Kroc signed a franchise agreement with the brothers and began opening McDonald’s restaurants in Illinois. [3] By 1961, Kroc had bought out the brothers and created what is now the modern McDonald’s Corporation. One of the major parts of his business plan was to promote cleanliness of his restaurants to growing groups of Americans that had become aware of food safety issues. As part of his commitment to cleanliness, Kroc often took part in cleaning his own Des Plaines, Illinois outlet by hosing down the garbage cans and scraping gum off the cement. Another concept Kroc added was great swaths of glass which enabled the customer to view the food preparation, a practice still found in chains such as Krispy Kreme. A clean atmosphere was only part of Kroc’s grander plan which separated McDonald’s from the rest of the competition and attributes to their great success. Kroc envisioned making his restaurants appeal to suburban families. [4] At roughly the same time as Kroc was conceiving what eventually became McDonald’s Corporation, two Miami, Florida businessmen, James McLamore and David Edgerton, opened a franchise of the predecessor to what is now the international fast food restaurant chain Burger King. McLamore had visited the original McDonald’s hamburger stand belonging to the McDonald brothers; sensing potential in their innovative assembly line-based production system, he decided he wanted to open a similar operation of his own. [5][6] The two partners eventually decided to invest their money in Jacksonville, Florida-based Insta-Burger King. Originally opened in 1953, the founders and owners of the chain, Kieth J. Kramer and his wife’s uncle Matthew Burns, opened their first stores around a piece of equipment known as the Insta-Broiler. The Insta-Broiler oven proved so successful at cooking burgers, they required all of their franchises to carry the device. [5] By 1959 McLamore and Edgarton were operating several locations within the Miami-Dade area and were growing at a fast clip. Despite the success of their operation, the partners discovered that the design of the insta-broiler made the unit’s heating elements prone to degradation from the drippings of the beef patties. The pair eventually created a mechanized gas grill that avoided the problems by changing the way the meat patties were cooked in the unit. After the original company began to falter in 1959, it was purchased by McLamore and Edgerton who renamed the company Burger King. [7] While fast food restaurants usually have a seating area in which customers can eat the food on the premises, orders are designed to be taken away, and traditional table service is rare. Orders are generally taken and paid for at a wide counter, with the customer waiting by the counter for a tray or container for their food. A â€Å"drive-through† service can allow customers to order and pick up food from their cars. Nearly from its inception, fast food has been designed to be eaten â€Å"on the go† and often does not require traditional cutlery and is eaten as a finger food. Common menu items at fast food outlets include fish and chips, sandwiches, pitas, hamburgers, fried chicken, french fries, chicken nuggets, tacos, pizza, and ice cream, although many fast food restaurants offer â€Å"slower† foods like chili, mashed potatoes, and salads. CuisineModern commercial fast food is highly processed and prepared on a large scale from bulk ingredients using standardized cooking and production methods and equipment. It is usually rapidly served in cartons or bags or in a plastic wrapping, in a fashion which reduces operating costs by allowing rapid product identification and counting, promoting longer holding time, avoiding transfer of bacteria, and facilitating order fulfillment. In most fast food operations, menu items are generally made from processed ingredients prepared at a central supply facilities and then shipped to individual outlets where they are cooked (usually by grill, microwave, or deep-frying) or assembled in a short amount of time either in anticipation of upcoming orders (i. e. , â€Å"to stock†) or in response to actual orders (i. e., â€Å"to order†). Following standard operating procedures, pre-cooked products are monitored for freshness and disposed of if holding times become excessive. This process ensures a consistent level of product quality, and is key to delivering the order quickly to the customer and avoiding labor and equipment costs in the individual stores. Because of commercial emphasis on taste, speed, product safety, uniformity, and low cost, fast food products are made with ingredients formulated to achieve an identifiable flavor, aroma, texture, and â€Å"mouth feel† and to preserve freshness and control handling costs during preparation and order fulfillment. This requires a high degree of food engineering. The use of additives, including salt, sugar, flavorings and preservatives, and processing techniques may limit the nutritional value of the final product. Value mealsA value meal is a group of menu items offered together at a lower price than they would cost individually. They are common at fast food restaurants. Value meals are a common merchandising tactic to facilitate bundling, up-selling, and price discrimination. Most of the time they can be upgraded to a larger size of fries and drink for a small fee. The perceived creation of a â€Å"discount† on individual menu items in exchange for the purchase of a â€Å"meal† is also consistent with the loyalty marketing school of thought. [8] TechnologyTo make quick service possible and to ensure accuracy and security, many fast food restaurants have incorporated hospitality point of sale systems. This makes it possible for kitchen crew people to view orders placed at the front counter or drive through in real time. Wireless systems allow orders placed at drive through speakers to be taken by cashiers and cooks. Drive through and walk through configurations will allow orders to be taken at one register and paid at another. Modern point of sale systems can operate on computer networks using a variety of software programs. Sales records can be generated and remote access to computer reports can be given to corporate offices, managers, troubleshooters, and other authorized personnel. Food service chains partner with food equipment manufacturers to design highly specialized restaurant equipment, often incorporating heat sensors, timers, and other electronic controls into the design. Collaborative design techniques, such as rapid visualization and parametric modeling of restaurant kitchens are now being used to establish equipment specifications that are consistent with restaurant operating and merchandising requirements. [9] Business Consumer spendingIn the United States alone, consumers spent about $110 billion on fast food in 2000 (which increased from $6 billion in 1970). [10] The National Restaurant Association forecasts that fast food restaurants in the U. S. will reach $142 billion in sales in 2006, a 5% increase over 2005. In comparison, the full-service restaurant segment of the food industry is expected to generate $173 billion in sales. Fast food has been losing market share to so-called fast casual restaurants, which offer more robust and expensive cuisines. Major international brandsMcDonald’s, a noted fast food supplier, opened its first franchised restaurant in the US in 1955 (1974 in the UK). It has become a phenomenally successful enterprise in terms of financial growth, brand-name recognition, and worldwide expansion. Ray Kroc, who bought the franchising license from the McDonald brothers, pioneered many concepts which emphasized standardization. He introduced uniform products, identical in all respects at each outlet, to increase sales. At the same time, Kroc also insisted on cutting food costs as much as possible, eventually using the McDonald’s Corporation’s size to force suppliers to conform to this ethos. Other prominent international fast food companies include Burger King, the number two hamburger chain in the world, known for promoting its customized menu offerings (Have it Your Way). Multinational corporations typically modify their menus to cater to local tastes and most overseas outlets are owned by native franchisees. McDonald’s in India, for example, uses chicken and paneer rather than beef in its burgers because Hinduism traditionally forbids eating beef. In Israel some McDonald’s restaurants are kosher and respect the Jewish Shabbat; there is also a kosher McDonald’s in Argentina. In Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Singapore, all menu items are halal. North America Animal fries from In-N-Out Burger’s secret menu Many fast food operations have more local and regional roots, such as White Castle in the Midwest United States, along with Hardee’s (owned by CKE Restaurants, which also owns Carl’s Jr., whose locations are primarily on the United States West Coast); Krystal, Bojangles’ Famous Chicken ‘n Biscuits, Cook Out, and Zaxby’s restaurants in the American Southeast; Raising Cane’s in Louisiana; Hot ‘n Now in Michigan and Wisconsin; In-N-Out Burger (in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Texas) and Original Tommy’s chains in Southern California; Dick’s Drive-In in Seattle, Washington and Arctic Circle in Utah and other western states; Halo Burger around Flint, Michigan and Burgerville in the Portland, Oregon area. Also, Whataburger is a popular burger chain in the American South and Mexico, and Jack in the Box is located in the West and South. Canada pizza chains Topper’s Pizza and Pizza Pizza are primarily located in Ontario. Coffee chain Country Style operates only in Ontario, and competes with the famous coffee and donut chain Tim Hortons. Maid-Rite restaurant is one of the oldest chain fast food restaurants in the United States. Founded in 1926, their specialty is a loose meat hamburger. Maid-Rites can be found in the midwest – mainly Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, and Missouri. International brands dominant in North America include McDonalds’s, Burger King and Wendy’s, the number three burger chain in the USA; Dunkin’ Donuts, a New England based chain; automobile oriented Sonic Drive-In’s from Oklahoma City; Starbucks, Seattle-born coffee-based fast food beverage corporation; KFC, a part of the largest restaurant conglomerate in the world, Yum! Brands; and Domino’s Pizza, a pizza chain known for popularizing home delivery of fast food. Subway is known for their sub sandwiches and are the largest restaurant chain to serve such food items. [11] Quiznos a Denver based sub shop is another fast growing sub chain, yet with over 6,000 locations it is still far behind Subway’s 34,000 locations. Other smaller sub shops include Blimpie, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Mr. Goodcents, Jimmy John’s, and Firehouse. A&W Restaurants was originally a United States and Canada fast food brand, but is currently an International fast food corporation in several countries. In Canada the majority of fast food chains are American owned, or were originally American owned but have since set up a Canadian management/headquarters location in cities such as Toronto and Vancouver such as Panera Bread, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Five Guys, Carl’s Jr. and Chili’s. Although the case is usually American fast food chains expanding into Canada, Canadian chains such as Tim Hortons have expanded into 22 states in the United States, but are more prominent in border states such as New York and Michigan. Tim Hortons has started to expand to other countries outside of North America. The Canadian Extreme Pita franchise sells low fat and salt pita sandwiches with stores in the larger Canadian cities. Other Canadian fast food chains such as Manchu Wok serve North American style Asian foods; this company is located mainly in Canada and the USA, with other outlets on US military bases on other continents. Harvey’s is a Canadian burger restaurant chain. The United KingdomIn the United Kingdom, many home based fast food operations were closed in the 1970s and 1980s after McDonald’s became the number one outlet in the market[citation needed]. However, brands like Wimpy still remain, although the majority of branches became Burger King in 1989. JapanTraditional ramen and sushi restaurants still dominate fast food culture in Japan, although American outlets like Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, and KFC are also popular, along with Japanese chains like MOS Burger. NigeriaIn Nigeria, Mr. Bigg’s, Chicken Republic, Tantalizers, and Tastee Fried Chicken are the predominant fast food chains. KFC and Pizza Hut have recently entered the country. PakistanFast food In Pakistan varies. There are many international chains serving fast food, including Nandos, KFC, McDonalds, Dunkin’ Donuts, Subway, Pizza Hut, Hardees, Telepizza and Gloria Jean’s Coffees. In addition to the international chains, in local cuisine people in Pakistan like to have biryani, bun kebabs, Nihari, kebab rolls etc. as fast food. South AfricaKFC is the most popular fast food chain in South Africa according to a 2010 Sunday Times survey. [12] Chicken Licken, Wimpy and Ocean Basket along with Nando’s and Steers are examples of homegrown franchises that are highly popular within the country. McDonalds, Subway and Pizza Hut have a significant presence within South Africa. China and Hong KongIn Hong Kong, although McDonald’s and KFC are quite popular, there are 3 major local fast food chains providing Hong Kong Chinese style fast food. These 3 major chains are Cafe de Coral, Fairwood Fast Food, and Maxim MX. In recent years, they have also been extending their operations to Mainland China. IsraelIn Israel, local burger chain Burger Ranch is popular as are McDonald’s, Burger King and KFC. Domino’s Pizza is also a popular fast food restaurant. Chains like McDonalds offer kosher branches. Non-kosher foods such as cheeseburgers are rare in Israeli fast food chains, even in non-kosher branches. There are many small local fast food chains that serve pizza, burgers and local foods such as falafel. New ZealandIn New Zealand, the fast food market began in the 1970s with KFC (opened 1971), Pizza Hut (1974), and McDonald’s (1976),[13] and all three remain popular today. Burger King and Domino’s entered the market later in the 1990s. Australian pizza chains Eagle Boys and Pizza Haven also entered the market in the 1990s, but their New Zealand operations were later sold to Pizza Hut and Domino’s. Two fast food chains were founded in New Zealand: Georgie Pie and Hell Pizza. Georgie Pie opened in 1977, and was based around the Australian and New Zealand meat pie. They went through a failed expansion attempt in the mid-1990s and became economically unviable, resulting in the chain being sold to McDonald’s in 1996; the last Georgie Pie restaurant was closed in 1998. Hell Pizza was founded in 1996 in Wellington, and is known for its satanic marketing. Today, it has 64 stores in New Zealand, and also has stores in the UK, Australia, Ireland and Canada. TrendsHealth concernsSome of the large fast food chains are beginning to incorporate healthier alternatives in their menu, e. g. , white meat, snack wraps, salads, and fresh fruit. However, some people see these moves as a tokenistic and commercial measure, rather than an appropriate reaction to ethical concerns about the world ecology and people’s health. McDonald’s announced that in March 2006, the chain would include nutritional information on the packaging of all of its products. [14] Consumer appealFast food outlets have become popular with consumers for several reasons. One is that through economies of scale in purchasing and producing food, these companies can deliver food to consumers at a very low cost. In addition, although some people dislike fast food for its predictability, it can be reassuring to a hungry person in a hurry or far from home[citation needed] In the post-World War II period in the United States, fast food chains like McDonald’s rapidly gained a reputation for their cleanliness, fast service, and a child-friendly atmosphere where families on the road could grab a quick meal, or seek a break from the routine of home cooking[citation needed]. Prior to the rise of the fast food chain restaurant, people generally had a choice between greasy spoon diners where the quality of the food was often questionable and service lacking, or high-end restaurants that were expensive and impractical for families with children[citation needed]. The modern, stream-lined convenience of the fast food restaurant provided a new alternative and appealed to Americans’ instinct for ideas and products associated with progress, technology, and innovation. [citation needed] Fast food restaurants rapidly became the eatery â€Å"everyone could agree on†, with many featuring child-size menu combos, play areas, and whimsical branding campaigns, like the iconic Ronald McDonald, designed to appeal to younger customers. Parents could have a few minutes of peace while children played or amused themselves with the toys included in their Happy Meal. There is a long history of fast food advertising campaigns, many of which are directed at children. In other parts of the world, American and American-style fast food outlets have been popular for their quality, customer service, and novelty, even though they are often the targets of popular anger towards American foreign policy or globalization more generally[citation needed]. Many consumers nonetheless see them as symbols of the wealth, progress, and well-ordered openness of Western society and therefore become trendy attractions in many cities around the world, particularly among younger people with more varied tastes. [citation needed] Impact of fast food restaurant availabilityOver time, fast food restaurants have been growing rapidly, especially in urban neighborhoods. According to US research, low-income and predominantly African-American neighborhoods have greater exposure to fast food outlets than higher income and predominantly white areas. [15] This has put into question whether urbanized neighborhoods were targeted, which causes a more unhealthy group of people compared to people from a higher socioeconomic status. It has also been shown that there is a lower chance of finding a fast food restaurant in a suburban neighborhood. In a study of selected US locations, Morland et al. (2002) found the number of fast food restaurants and bars was inversely proportional to the wealth of the neighborhood, and that predominantly African-American residential areas were four times less likely to have a supermarket near them than predominantly white areas. [16] Innovations timeline 1872: Walter Scott of Providence, RI outfitted a horse-drawn lunch wagon with a simple kitchen, bringing hot dinners to workers[17] 1902: First Horn & Hardart Automat opened in Philadelphia 1912: Horn & Hardart opens a second Automat in Manhattan 1916: Walter Anderson built the first White Castle in Wichita, KS in 1916, introducing the limited menu, high volume, low cost, high speed hamburger restaurant[17] 1919: A&W Root Beer took its product out of the soda fountain and into a roadside stand[17] 1921: A&W Root Beer began franchising its syrup[17]. 1921: White Castle opens its first restaurant 1926: Maid-Rite opened its first restaurant in Muscatine, Iowa. 1930s: Howard Johnson’s pioneered the concept of franchising restaurants, formally standardizing menus, signage, and advertising[17] 1948: In-N-Out Burger begins drive-through service utilizing call-box technology 1967: McDonald’s opens its first restaurants outside the U. S. [1] 1971: McDonald’s begins serving breakfast, test-marketing the Egg McMuffin in the U. S. [2] 1971: The first Starbucks store opens in Seattle, Washington in Pike Place Market to sell high-quality coffee beans and equipment 1980: 7-Eleven introduces the 32-US-fluid-ounce (950 ml) Big Gulp 1981: Arby’s offers nutritional information 1987: Howard Schultz leads purchase of the Starbucks brand from its founders (who adopted the name Peet’s) and begins offering coffee drinks modeled after those sold in Italian coffee bars 1994: McDonald’s begins â€Å"supersizing† Extra Value Meals. 1994: Arctic Circle becomes the first fast food restaurant to sell Angus beef exclusively. 1994: Arby’s is first fast food restaurant to implement a no-smoking policy 2002: McDonald’s cuts back on the amount of trans fat by 48 percent on french fries 2006: Arby’s begins elimination of trans fat oils in french fries Criticisms Hot Dog The fast food industry is a popular target for critics, from anti-globalization activists like Jose Bove to vegetarian activist groups such as PETA. In his best-selling 2001 book Fast Food Nation, investigative journalist Eric Schlosser leveled a broad, socioeconomic critique against the fast food industry, documenting how fast food rose from small, family-run businesses (like the McDonald brothers’ burger joint) into large, multinational corporate juggernauts whose economies of scale radically transformed agriculture, meat processing, and labor markets in the late twentieth century. While the innovations of the fast food industry gave Americans more and cheaper dining options, it has come at the price of destroying the environment, economy, and small-town communities of rural America while shielding consumers from the real costs of their convenient meal, both in terms of health and the broader impact of large-scale food production and processing on workers, animals, and land. The fast food industry is popular in the United States, the source of most of its innovation, and many major international chains are based there. Seen as symbols of U. S. dominance and perceived cultural imperialism, American fast food franchises have often been the target of Anti-globalization protests and demonstrations against the U. S. government. In 2005, for example, rioters in Karachi, Pakistan, who were initially angered because of the bombing of a Shiite mosque, destroyed a KFC restaurant. [18] Legal issuesIn 2003, McDonald’s was sued in a New York court by a family who claimed that the restaurant chain was responsible for their teenage daughter’s obesity and attendant health problems. By manipulating food’s taste, sugar and fat content, and directing their advertising to children, the suit argued that the company purposely misleads the public about the nutritional value of its product. A judge dismissed the case, but the fast food industry disliked the publicity of its practices, particularly the way it targets children in its advertising. [19] Although further lawsuits have not materialized, the issue is kept alive in the media and political circles by those promoting the need for tort reform. [20]. In response to this, the â€Å"Cheeseburger Bill† [21] was passed by the U. S. House of Representatives in 2004; it later stalled in the U. S. Senate. The law was reintroduced in 2005, only to meet the same fate. This law was claimed to â€Å"[ban] frivolous lawsuits against producers and sellers of food and non-alcoholic drinks arising from obesity claims. † The bill arose because of an increase in lawsuits against fast food chains by people who claimed that eating their products made them obese, disassociating themselves from any of the blame. Fast foodFast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a packaged form for take-out/take-away. The term â€Å"fast food† was recognized in a dictionary by Merriam–Webster in 1951. Outlets may be stands or kiosks, which may provide no shelter or seating,[1] or fast food restaurants (also known as quick service restaurants). Franchise operations which are part of restaurant chains have standardized foodstuffs shipped to each restaurant from central locations History. Pulling wheat dough into thin strands to form lamian See also: Fast food restaurant history The concept of ready-cooked food for sale is closely connected with urban development. In Ancient Rome cities had street stands that sold bread, sausages and wine. Pre-modern EuropeIn the cities of Roman antiquity, much of the urban population living in insulae, multi-story apartment blocks, depended on food vendors for much of their meals. In the mornings, bread soaked in wine was eaten as a quick snack and cooked vegetables and stews later inpopina, a simple type of eating establishment. [3] In the Middle Ages, large towns and major urban areas such as London and Paris supported numerous vendors that sold dishes such as pies, pasties, flans, waffles, wafers, pancakes and cooked meats. As in Roman cities during antiquity, many of these establishments catered to those who did not have means to cook their own food, particularly single households. Unlike richer town dwellers, many often could not afford housing with kitchen facilities and thus relied on fast food. Travellers, as well, such as pilgrims en route to a holy site, were among the customers. [4] United Kingdom Fish and chips with mushy peas In areas which had access to coastal or tidal waters, ‘fast food’ would frequently include local shellfish or seafood, such as oysters or, as in London, eels. Often this seafood would be cooked directly on the quay or close by. [5] The development of trawler fishing in the mid nineteenth century would lead to the development of a British favourite fish and chips, and the first shop in 1860. [6] A blue plaque at Oldham’s Tommyfield Market marks the origin of the fish and chip shop and fast food industries in Britain. [6] British fast food had considerable regional variation. Sometimes the regionality of dish became part of the culture of its respective area. The content of fast food pies has varied, with poultry (such as chickens) or wildfowl commonly being used. After World War II, turkey has been used more frequently in fast food. [7] As well as its native cuisine, the UK has adopted fast food from other cultures, such as pizza, Chinese noodles, kebab, and curry. More recently healthier alternatives to conventional fast food have also emerged. United States. Neighboring fast food restaurant advertisement signs in Bowling Green, Kentucky for Wendy’s, KFC, Krystal and Taco Bell As automobiles became popular and more affordable following World War I, drive-in restaurants were introduced. The American company White Castle, founded by Billy Ingram and Walter Anderson in Wichita, Kansas in 1921, is generally credited with opening the second fast food outlet and first hamburger chain, selling hamburgers for five cents each. [8] Walter Anderson had built the first White Castle restaurant in Wichita in 1916, introducing the limited menu, high volume, low cost, high speed hamburger restaurant. [9] Among its innovations, the company allowed customers to see the food being prepared. White Castle was successful from its inception and spawned numerous competitors. Franchising was introduced in 1921 by A&W Root Beer, which franchised its distinctive syrup. Howard Johnson’s first franchised the restaurant concept in the mid-1930s, formally standardizing menus, signage and advertising. [9] Curb service was introduced in the late 1920s and was mobilized in the 1940s when carhops strapped on roller skates. [10]. The United States has the largest fast food industry in the world, and American fast food restaurants are located in over 100 countries. Approximately 2 million U. S. workers are employed in the areas of food preparation and food servicing including fast food in the USA. [11] On the go McDonald’s first two-lane drive-thru was at the Rock N Roll McDonald’s in Chicago. Fast food outlets are take-away or take-out providers, often with a â€Å"drive-through† service which allows customers to order and pick up food from their cars, but most also have indoor and/or outdoor seating areas in which the customers can eat the food on-site. Nearly from its inception, fast food has been designed to be eate.