Maid: the Great Gatsby Essay

â€Å"Things gained through unjust fraud are never secure.† -Sophocles. Up to chapter 5 of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, there are recurring rumors about Gatsby’s background including that he had killed a man, is of German descent, and is a bootlegger. These rumors portray Gatsby as a man other than himself, but whether this is true is still uncertain. However, Nick’s keen awareness of Gatsby’s servants raises suspicion and allows readers to attain evidence that reveals Gatsby’s true identity. The maid, seen by Nick and portrayed through her actions, undermines Gatsby’s status and reveals his identity as phony. In chapter V, narrator Nick observes Gatsby’s house, but it is clear from Nick’s observations that something is not right; everything seems artificial and inconclusive. Nick notes that a brewer had built Gatsby’s mansion, and Gatsby tried to â€Å"pay five years’ taxes on all the neighboring cottages if the owners would have their roofs thatched† (88) so that it would complement Gatsby’s house. It is important to emphasize that Gatsby had specifically paid for the neighbor’s taxes in order to improve the looks of his house. This ostentatious action was done for reason: to attract Daisy. Nick also concludes that Americans have always been obstinate about being peasantry. At this point, he observes: â€Å"A maid began opening the upper windows of his house, appeared momentarily in each, and, leaning from a large central bay, spat meditatively into the garden.† (88) Nick sees the maid â€Å"spit into the garden† as if she di srespects Gatsby. It is important to note that the maid spat â€Å"meditatively† meaning that it was done with intention and with great thought. There was no reason for her to spit, nor was spitting a common action back in the 1920’s, but her intentions were hidden. While she â€Å"spat† in Gatsby’s garden, one of his valuable properties, her action was actually directed towards Gatsby himself. From this, it can be inferred that she disrespected him and despised him for his wealth, upper class, and fame. While Gatsby exploited his wealth, intending to impress Daisy, the maid, completely oblivious about Gatsby’s goal, could also have despised him for his pretentious attitude. Maids were usually part of the lower class, and it raises suspicion about why Gatsby would hire such a person. More importantly, it raises the question as to how she knows a lot about Gatsby and why she would hate Gatsby for his wealth. Her decision serves as a juxtaposition; Gatsby and the maid share similar qualities. Perhaps Gatsby’s background does not match the image that he portrays. It raises suspicion that Gatsby might be from the lower class as well and lives his current life as a fraud. Fitzgerald puts the maid here in this chapter to insinuate something about Gatsby’s background. Nick’s keen observations and suspicious judgment gives the readers an opportunity to make connections. Ultimately, it is the connection that Gatsby and the maid were both raised in the lower class. Perhaps Gatsby was a bootlegger, and his ways of promoting himself into the upper class led to the maid’s actions;, it was her reaction in contempt that spoils the true identity of the great Gatsby.

Glutathione

Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide that contains an unusual peptide linkage between the amine group of cysteine (which is attached by normal peptide linkage to a glycine) and the carboxyl group of the glutamate side-chain. It is an antioxidant, preventing damage to important cellular components caused by reactive oxygen species such as free radicals and peroxides. [2] Thiol groups are reducing agents, existing at a concentration of approximately 5 mM in animal cells. Glutathione reduces disulfide bonds formed within cytoplasmic proteins to cysteines by serving as an electron donor. In the process, glutathione is converted to its oxidized form glutathione disulfide (GSSG), also called L(-)-Glutathione. Glutathione is found almost exclusively in its reduced form, since the enzyme that reverts it from its oxidized form, glutathione reductase, is constitutively active and inducible upon oxidative stress. In fact, the ratio of reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione within cells is often used as a measure of cellular toxicity. 3] Glutathione is not an essential nutrient (meaning it does not have to be obtained via food), since it can be synthesized in the body from the amino acids L-cysteine, L-glutamic acid, and glycine. The sulfhydryl (thiol) group (SH) of cysteine serves as a proton donor and is responsible for the biological activity of glutathione. Provision of this amino acid is the rate-limiting factor in glutathione synthesis by the cells, since cysteine is relatively rare in foodstuffs. Furthermore, if released as the free amino acid, cysteine is toxic and spontaneously catabolized in the gastrointestinal tract and blood plasma. [4] Glutathione is synthesized in two adenosine triphosphate-dependent steps: * First, gamma-glutamylcysteine is synthesized from L-glutamate and cysteine via the enzyme gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (a. k. a. glutamate cysteine ligase, GCL). This reaction is the rate-limiting step in glutathione synthesis. citation needed] * Second, glycine is added to the C-terminal of gamma-glutamylcysteine via the enzyme glutathione synthetase. Animal glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL) is a heterodimeric enzyme composed of a catalytic (GCLC) and modulatory (GCLM) subunit. GCLC constitutes all the enzymatic activity, whereas GCLM increases the catalytic efficiency of GCLC. Mice lacking GCLC (i. e. , all de novo GSH synthesis) die before birth. [5] Mice lacking GCLM demonstrate no outward phenotype, but exhibit marked decrease in GSH and increased sensiti vity to toxic insults. 6][7][8] While all cells in the human body are capable of synthesizing glutathione, liver glutathione synthesis has been shown to be essential. Mice with genetically-induced loss of GCLC (i. e. , GSH synthesis) only in the liver die within 1 month of birth. [9] The plant glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL) is a redox-sensitive homodimeric enzyme, conserved in the plant kingdom. [10] In an oxidizing environment, intermolecular disulfide bridges are formed and the enzyme switches to the dimeric active state. The mid-point potential of the critical cysteine pair is -318 mV. In addition to the redox-dependent control is the plant GCL enzyme feedback inhibited by GSH. [11] GCL is exclusively located in plastids, and glutathione synthetase is dual-targeted to plastids and cytosol, thus are GSH and gamma-glutamylcysteine exported from the plastids. [12] Both glutathione biosynthesis enzymes are essential in plants; knock-outs of GCL and GS are lethal to embryo and seedling. [13] The biosynthesis pathway for glutathione is found in some bacteria, like cyanobacteria and proteobacteria, but is missing in many other bacteria. Most eukaryotes synthesize glutathione, including humans, but some do not, such as Leguminosae, Entamoeba, and Giardia. The only archaea that make glutathione are halobacteria. [14][15] [edit] Function Glutathione exists in reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) states. In the reduced state, the thiol group of cysteine is able to donate a reducing equivalent (H++ e-) to other unstable molecules, such as reactive oxygen species. In donating an electron, glutathione itself becomes reactive, but readily reacts with another reactive glutathione to form glutathione isulfide (GSSG). Such a reaction is possible due to the relatively high concentration of glutathione in cells (up to 5 mM in the liver). GSH can be regenerated from GSSG by the enzyme glutathione reductase. In healthy cells and tissue, more than 90% of the total glutathione pool is in the reduced form (GSH) and less than 10% exists in the disulfide form (GSSG). An increased GSSG-to-GSH ratio is considered indicative of oxidative str ess. Glutathione has multiple functions: It is the major endogenous antioxidant produced by the cells, participating directly in the neutralization of free radicals and reactive oxygen compounds, as well as maintaining exogenous antioxidants such as vitamins C and E in their reduced (active) forms. [16][citation needed] * Regulation of the nitric oxide cycle, which is critical for life but can be problematic if unregulated [17] * Through direct conjugation, it detoxifies many xenobiotics (foreign compounds) and carcinogens, both organic and inorganic. This includes heavy metals such as mercury, lead, and arsenic. [citation needed] * It is essential for the immune system to exert its full potential, e. g. , (1) modulating antigen presentation to lymphocytes, thereby influencing cytokine production and type of response (cellular or humoral) that develops, (2) enhancing proliferation of lymphocytes, thereby increasing magnitude of response, (3) enhancing killing activity of cytotoxic T cells and NK cells, and (4) regulating apoptosis, thereby maintaining control of the immune response. citation needed] * It plays a fundamental role in numerous metabolic and biochemical reactions such as DNA synthesis and repair, protein synthesis, prostaglandin synthesis, amino acid transport, and enzyme activation. Thus, every system in the body can be affected by the state of the glutathione system, especially the immune system, the nervous system, the gastrointestinal system and the lungs. [4] Function in animals GSH is known as a substrate in both conjugation reactions and reduction reactions, catalyzed by glutathione S-transferase enzymes in cytosol, microsomes, and mitochondria. However, it is also capable of participating in non-enzymatic conjugation with some chemicals. In the case of N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), the reactive cytochrome P450-reactive metabolite formed by paracetamol (or acetaminophen as it is known in the US), that becomes toxic when GSH is depleted by an overdose of acetaminophen, Glutathione is an essential antidote to overdose. Glutathione conjugates to NAPQI and helps to detoxify it. In this capacity, it protects cellular protein thiol groups, which would otherwise become covalently modified; when all GSH has been spent, NAPQI begins to react with the cellular proteins, killing the cells in the process. The preferred treatment for an overdose of this painkiller is the administration (usually in atomized form) of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (often as a trademarked preparation called Mucomyst ® [1]), which is processed by cells to L-cysteine and used in the de novo synthesis of GSH. Glutathione (GSH) participates in leukotriene synthesis and is a cofactor for the enzyme glutathione peroxidase. It is also important as a hydrophilic molecule that is added to lipophilic toxins and waste in the liver during biotransformation before they can become part of the bile. Glutathione is also needed for the detoxification of methylglyoxal, a toxin produced as a by-product of metabolism. This detoxification reaction is carried out by the glyoxalase system. Glyoxalase I (EC 4. 4. 1. ) catalyzes the conversion of methylglyoxal and reduced glutathione to S-D-lactoyl-glutathione. Glyoxalase II (EC 3. 1. 2. 6) catalyzes the hydrolysis of S-D-lactoyl-glutathione to glutathione and D-lactic acid. Glutathione has recently been used as an inhibitor of melanin in the cosmetics industry. In countries like Japan and the Philippines, this product is sold as a whitening soap. Glutathione competitively inhibits melanin synthesis in the reaction of tyrosinase and L-DOPA by interrupting L-DO PA's ability to bind to tyrosinase during melanin synthesis. The inhibition of melanin synthesis was reversed by increasing the concentration of L-DOPA, but not by increasing tyrosinase. Although the synthesized melanin was aggregated within 1 h, the aggregation was inhibited by the addition of glutathione. These results indicate that glutathione inhibits the synthesis and agglutination of melanin by interrupting the function of L-DOPA. â€Å"[18] Function in plants In plants, glutathione is crucial for biotic and abiotic stress management. It is a pivotal component of the glutathione-ascorbate cycle, a system that reduces poisonous hydrogen peroxide. 19] It is the precursor of phytochelatins, glutathione oligomeres that chelate heavy metals such as cadmium. [20] Glutathione is required for efficient defence against plant pathogens such as Pseudomonas syringae and Phytophthora brassicae. [21] APS reductase, an enzyme of the sulfur assimilation pathway uses glutathione as electron donor. Other enzymes using glutathione as substrate are glutare doxin, these small oxidoreductases are involved in flower development, salicylic acid and plant defence signalling. [22] [edit] Supplementation Raising GSH levels through direct supplementation of glutathione is difficult. Research suggests that glutathione taken orally is not well absorbed across the gastrointestinal tract. In a study of acute oral administration of a very large dose (3 grams) of oral glutathione, Witschi and coworkers found â€Å"it is not possible to increase circulating glutathione to a clinically beneficial extent by the oral administration of a single dose of 3 g of glutathione. â€Å"[23][24] Vitamin D increases glutathione levels in the brain and appears to be a catalyst for glutathione production. 25] The amount of activated vitamin D in the brain is tied to how much vitamin D3 one has, either ingested through supplements or created in the skin via sun exposure. This suggests taking vitamin D3 supplements and/or getting adequate sun exposure boosts glutathione production. In addition, plasma and liver GSH concentrations can be raised by administration of certain supplements that serve as GSH precu rsors. N-acetylcysteine, commonly referred to as NAC, is the most bioavailable precursor of glutathione. 26] Other supplements, including S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe)[27][28][29] and whey protein[30][31][32][33][34][35] have also been shown to increase glutathione content within the cell. NAC is available both as a drug and as a generic supplement. Alpha lipoic acid has also been shown to restore intracellular glutathione. [36][37] Melatonin has been shown to stimulate a related enzyme, glutathione peroxidase,[38] and silymarin, an extract of the seeds of the milk thistle plant (Silybum marianum) has also demonstrated an ability to replenish glutathione levels. [39][40] Glutathione is a tightly regulated intracellular constituent, and is limited in its production by negative feedback inhibition of its own synthesis through the enzyme gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, thus greatly minimizing any possibility of over dosage. Glutathione augmentation using precursors of glutathione synthesis or intravenous glutathione is a strategy developed to address states of glutathione deficiency, high oxidative stress, immune deficiency, and xenobiotic overload in which glutathione plays a part in the detoxification of the xenobiotic in question (especially through the hepatic route). Glutathione deficiency states include, but are not limited to, HIV/AIDS, chemical and infectious hepatitis, myalgic encephalomyelitis chronic fatigue syndrome ME / CFS,[41][42][43] prostate and other cancers, cataracts, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, radiation poisoning, malnutritive states, arduous physical stress, and aging, and has been associated with suboptimal immune response. Many clinical pathologies are associated with oxidative stress and are elaborated upon in numerous medical references. [4][44][45] Low glutathione is also strongly implicated in wasting and negative nitrogen balance,[46] as seen in cancer, AIDS, sepsis, trauma, burns and even athletic overtraining. Glutathione supplementation can oppose this process, and in AIDS, for example, result in improved survival rates. [47] However, studies in many of these conditions have not been able to differentiate between low glutathione as a result of acutely (as in septic patients) or chronically (as in HIV) increased oxidative stress, and increased pathology as a result of preexisting deficiencies. Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are associated with lowered glutathione. Accruing data suggest that oxidative stress may be a factor underlying the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and schizophrenia (SCZ). Glutathione (GSH) is the major free radical scavenger in the brain. [48] Diminished GSH levels elevate cellular vulnerability towards oxidative stress; characterized by accumulating reactive oxygen species. Replenishment of glutathione using N-acetyl cysteine has been shown to reduce symptoms of both disorders. citation needed] Cancer Preliminary results indicate glutathione changes the level of reactive oxygen species in isolated cells grown in a laboratory,[49][50] which may reduce cancer development. [51] [52] None of these tests were performed in humans. However, once a cancer has already developed, by conferring resistance to a number of chemotherapeutic drugs, elevated levels of glutathione in tumor cells are able to protect cancer ous cells in bone marrow, breast, colon, larynx, and lung cancers. 53] [edit] Pathology Excess glutamate at synapses, which may be released in conditions such as traumatic brain injury, can prevent the uptake of cysteine, a necessary building-block of glutathione. Without the protection from oxidative injury afforded by glutathione, cells may be damaged or killed. [54] Methods to determine glutathione Reduced glutathione may be visualized using Ellman's reagent or bimane derivates such as monobromobimane. The monobromobimane method is more sensitive. In this procedure, cells are lysed and thiols extracted using a HCl buffer. The thiols are then reduced with dithiothreitol (DTT) and labelled by monobromobimane. Monobromobimane becomes fluorescent after binding to GSH. The thiols are then separated by HPLC and the fluorescence quantified with a fluorescence detector. Bimane may also be used to quantify glutathione in vivo. The quantification is done by confocal laser scanning microscopy after application of the dye to living cells. 55] Another approach, which allows to measure the glutathione redox potential at a high spatial and temporal resolution in living cells is based on redox imaging using the redox-sensitive green fluorescent protein (roGFP)[56] or redox sensitive yellow fluorescent protein. . When we speak of glutathione, what will really come to mind is that glutathione which most Filipino thought of as a whitening agent. It comes in soaps and any other beauty products which hopefully will make one whiter and fairer when used. But what we really don’t know is that glutathione is found in each of three trillion cells in our body. It is the most powerful an antioxidant which we cannot find in a fruit or in a berry a common but it is found in our body. In fact its absence will make one die. In my first blog I ‘ve told you about the glutathione story. Now I’m going to tell you what glutathione really is and its role to our over all well being. So what is glutathione really: Glutathione is a tripeptide, What is glutathione?

Financial Statment Analyasys Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Financial Statment Analyasys - Case Study Example was established in the year 1980 for retail sale of â€Å"natural and organic foods† (Edgar Online 1). It became the first grocer enterprise to receive national organic certification among grocers. The organization’s history has been based on its mission of quality products towards high health standards and supports national movements for natural and organic foods. The organization floated its initial public offer in the year 1992 and currently operates more than 300 stores globally. Most of its stores have many years of existence in the market, with an average of ten years in their respective locations. Most of the stores are in the United States but subsidiaries exist in Canada and the United Kingdom. Retail in natural and organic foods is the organization’s core operation. Focus on social responsibility such as environmental consciousness and the need to improve health through quality product, despite nature of competition, are the most interesting features of the organization. I preferred the company to others because of its prominence in the industry. 2. The purpose of the ‘management discussion and analysis section’ is to offer the management’s position on its organization’s financial features on a times series scale. ... The section also explains existence of competition, describes the entity’s products, and offers a summary of financial data over the past three accounting periods. Its clear and outlined organization is the most interesting thing and it communicates high prospects and stability of the entity. 3. Ernst & Young LLP is the organization’s independent auditor. 4. The auditor’s opinion validates reported information by the management. The auditor’s opinion, in the form, approved the company’s statement to be a fair representation of the company’s financial position. The opinion is unqualified because it offers no reservation on reliability of the financial statements. 5. The company did not change its auditors. 6. The 10-K includes certification statement required by Sarbanes-Oxley and John Mackey signed the certification. The certification qualifies the report’s compliance with sections 13(a) and 15(d) of the Security Exchange Act and that the report is a fair representation of the organization’s financial position and operational outcomes and means the management’s adoption of the financial statements. 7. The lowest stock price for the last financial year was $ 60.39 while the highest price was $ 100.5. The following table summarized trend in data for the period ended 2012. Graph 1: Stock daily closing stock prices 8. The stock prices had a generally decreasing trend with a level of volatility, politics is a major factor as the nation headed for presidential elections in November 2012, and the management did not associate the decline with economic factors. 9. The industry identifies positive prospects based on accounting rations such as revenue growth, return on equity, and long-term

Alice in Wonderland (2010) Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

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Prosperity Without Growth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Prosperity Without Growth - Essay Example This paper illustrates that economists like Tim Jackson have deviated from the notions of economic growth, to incorporate more ideas that lead to sustainable economies. Indeed, the well-being of the individuals and households has taken center stage and the politics have been geared to address these forgotten notions. Indeed, most of the growth that had been the focus of most economies in the past has led to massive boosts in the global economy, but at the cost of the environment and the society. On this grounding, the productions and consumption activities have contributed to more than 60% of the degradation of the eco-systems, raising serious questions on whether this path will lead to sustainable development in the near future. Indeed, only a very small portion of the benefits of the global income is redistributed to the poor, worsening the gap between the rich and the poor. Getting an equitable distribution of resources, therefore, is one of the reasons that the author points to z ero economic growth in prosperity in the world economy. The notion of endless growth has engulfed modern economists, who overlook the social progress related to such kind of growth. Indeed, social stability and development are one of the key pillars of sustainability, which leads to prosperity even in the global economy. In addition, the convening of countless global economic summits to address economic growth and challenges have not prevented the world from going into countless recessions. On this platform, the capitalist movements seem to postulate an endless path of growth, spurred by economic activities of production, looking for new markets and consumption as the main drivers of growth. From this perspective, the postulation of prosperity without growth comes alive, because this continuous cycle may go on indefinitely without improvements in the standards of living of the masses. Indeed, it is imperative to note that any human activity is geared towards the improvement of welfa re, and when such a system fails, it would be preferable to have prosperity even without growth in the world.

The Impact of Political Change in Central and Eastern Europe Since Essay

The Impact of Political Change in Central and Eastern Europe Since 1989 - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that comes from a background of massive shortages in almost all fronts, including the very basic human freedoms, guided by the communist principles, the momentous series of events of the post-1989 East and Central Europe was essentially apolitical and not the harbingers of ideological innovations.The present research has identified that driven in part by the comparative aspects of the prosperous, Capitalist West to rather in-control communist institutions forcefully planted right after the WWII by Stalin himself, the experiences of the post-1989 East-Central Europe were but rectifying revolutions aimed to connect up constitutionalism with the just political systems associated with capitalism. According to the research findings, it can, therefore, be said that though crisis symptoms were visible in all spheres of public life across countries in the sub-regions mentioned as well as in their relations among themselves and the west, the road to democracy and to freer market economies was, however, not to be easy; for the â€Å"Iron   Curtain† created   as a result of the Soviet   Union’s   share   of   victory   in   the   World   War   II had great impact over neighboring East and central European countries, dividing it into two halves: the East and the West, thus the origins of the Cold War.  

Organizing Religious Landscapes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Organizing Religious Landscapes - Essay Example Seeking to bring the analysis into a relevant current day application, the essay will seek to understand the means by which religious landscapes continue to define life, politics, and culture within the counties that comprise central Wisconsin. As a function of seeking to understand such a reality, it will be the hope of this author that such a level of research will help to shed a level of understanding on how and why certain regions have developed and exhibit some of the key indicators of both culture, religion, and politics that they do. Returning to the way in which religious barriers can differentiate a region or define a culture in a different way, one need look no further than the way in which many of the cultural and religious boundaries that exist within Europe have differentiated the entire continent in a way that it would not likely have been differentiated had religious differences not existed in the first place. Whereas the study of geography, anthropology, and sociology leads one to the understanding of how natural barriers and language barriers help to define and distinguish one group from another, religion serves no lesser nor more important purpose in achieving the same level of differentiation among individuals. To see a prime example of how geography can be decided upon religious terms alone, one need look no further than the way in which the British or French colonialists divided much of the world both in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia based upon religious lines. Evidence of this can of course be seen with regards to the creation of Lebanon, the creation of Papua New Guinea as compared to Indonesia, or the way in which African nations had their borders drawn specifically as a means of differentiating between animist, Muslim and/or Christian. However, geography and the means by which it is defined is not always chosen by an outside force. Oftentimes, the means by which geographic representations are determined are more often than not the r esult of domestic decisions and choices made at the lowest levels. This low-level decision making about what defines â€Å"the other† is oftentimes a result of the way in which religion and the practice thereof helps to differentiate one culture with regards to its neighbors. Due to the inherent truth that religion by its very nature seeks to instill a certain personal and group dynamic within the individuals that practice it, it is necessarily a formulary of the way in which culture is defined and comes to shape a given geography. However, it should not be understood that religious differences necessarily leads to the splitting of a nation or a state of war and/or conflict with another group of individuals. Rather, there are many religiously diverse regions within the world that live in more or less social cohesion and harmony. An obvious example of this would be with regards to the United States and many regions within Africa, Western Europe, and elsewhere around the globe. However, merely because a level of conflict does not exist should not be seen as an indication that the existence and adherence to different religions within diverse geographies does not have a

Organisational Culture in Social Work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Organisational Culture in Social Work - Essay Example It should be noticed that the service manager of the department is respected by the staff and for this reason no conflict can be observed within the workplace as everything is appropriately regulated and monitored in accordance with the commands of the service manager. The assessment team has as a main task the completion of assessments for children in Need (as described by the Children Act 1989), for pregnant women (pre-birth assessment) or even for young people that are admitted to hospital after an episode of self-harm. Despite the well structured organizational hierarchy, the hospital’s main building looks as being ready to fall apart while no initiatives of renovation have been taken until now. This is a fact that could influence negatively the hospital’s visitors. Apart from the above issue, the hospital’s operational structure should be characterized as effective; the responsibilities have been appropriately distributed among the existed staff and the supp ort provided to the hospital’s visitors can be considered as quite satisfactory taking into account the conditions under which the hospital’s employees have to proceed with their tasks. In order to evaluate the organizational culture of the hospital we could use the theories of Brown and Schein. In accordance with the former ‘with regards to organisational culture†¦the available literature offering the interested reader an embarrassment of definitional riches; it is unsurprising that there should be a great diversity of opinion concerning what the phrase ‘organisational culture’ refers to’ (Brown (1998, p. 7). Indeed, the description of organizational structure is a challenging task if taking into consideration the fact that firms’ culture can be differentiated in accordance with the structure of the ‘internal hierarchy’, the personal attitudes of the firm’s owners and the trends of the market (who are often considered as a criterion for the

Religion and Ethnic Diversity Paper Essay Example for Free

Religion and Ethnic Diversity Paper Essay According to Grace Communion International, people of the black churches believed much like the European Americans. They shared the belief that God’s past dealings give light of future life. The black churches tend to see America as the land of captivity rather than the promise land. The black churches shared similar beliefs to other groups but they did not always see quite the same, black churches tend to hold church into the late afternoon and felt they should try to help all members of the church with all aspects of life, other groups did not hold church for many hours. The historically black churches took it upon themselves to care for blacks, not just spiritually but physically as well because they felt they were discriminated against. The churches made it their job to try to care for the people who had no one else to care for them. Many churches offered services to blacks and whites, even though they did this the blacks were still segregated from the whites. It was standard practice for things of this nature to be done before there were churches built specifically for them, some didn’t even allow their presence. The black churches received a lot of discrimination, hatred, and prejudice from the white community. Often times they were not treated equal to white people as they should have been. I feel that reading a little bit about the black churches has given me a lot more history on it but it has not really helped me to understand the religion more than I already did. I have visited a black church and while they do not believe very different they practice their religion very differently. Black of the African decent are otherwise known as African Americans differ from many other groups based on their hair, skin tones, physical appearance, and the way they talk. Black people even have beliefs about how children should be raised and cared for. They may have similar qualities of other groups but there are many more differences. African Americans have had many, many experiences with other groups and how they differ from them and what qualities they display. Blacks are often discriminated against by many groups for the choices they make and the beliefs they practice. Blacks as a group tend to keep to their own and mind their business. Blacks originally over from Africa bring many things to the American culture such as food, clothing styles, music and much more. The African decent in foods has altered spices and more, and clothing varies by pattern and style of clothing but both have made a rather large impact. For many years in history  blacks were made to be slaves and were bought, sold and bartered for in America and even other countries. They were enslaved for a very long time until the north and south finally went to war over the matter and they gained their American right to freedom. Blacks were also segregated from whites for many years. Blacks were very heavily discriminated against by many groups but especially whites. Whites made enslaving blacks very important in their lives, while whites were the main source of slave drivers, there were also very wealthy black people who chose to have black slaves. Blacks received discrimination from many directions. I feel that I already had a very fair amount of information on blacks and the discrimination and prejudice they have received in the past and continue to receive. Blacks are often not given enough credit for all that they have to put up with, but society in my opinion has lightened up tremendously. Prejudice and discrimination in historically black churches and blacks are very similar, they were made to remain segregated for many years, and they were also discriminated against by many especially the whites, both groups revolve around blacks which make the prejudice and discrimination very similar. The prejudice and discrimination that blacks and the historically black church differ in the fact that the churches were not enslaved. There are not that many differences due to the fact that the churches are for the blacks. There are far more similarities than differences in the groups. From my personal knowledge of these two groups I can conclude that blacks are mostly discriminated against by whites, especially further back in history. Other groups discriminate against blacks and the historically black church but whites much more commonly discriminate against them and are prejudice. The more time that passes the better the circumstances become between groups.

World’s Best Cup of Joe Essay Example for Free

World’s Best Cup of Joe Essay Many Americans start their day off with a morning cup of coffee. Some brew a pot at home but many add a few extra minutes to their morning commute to stop for a cup of their favorite flavor. With dozens of different coffee shops, how is one supposed to choose? The battle has been going on for over a decade between the two main contenders, Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks. Starbucks sells an upper class lifestyle to their coffee drinkers, while Dunkin Donuts sells a cup of joe for the average Joe. Each goes about advertising in a different manner. Through the use of print advertising, Starbucks shows its superiority to Dunkin Donuts by using powerful text, creating an aesthetic scene, and evoking specific emotions and thoughts. The text in each advertisement says something about the product and company. The Starbucks’ ad reads, â€Å"The best coffee for the best YOU. Taste of Inspiration.† The words are so simple yet have a powerful meaning. Starbucks makes the consumer feel good about buying their product because if you are the best, you deserve the best. After all, they are selling an upper class lifestyle. The best part of the ad is that the emphasis isn’t even on the coffee; it is on â€Å"you† as it is displayed in big, bold green lettering. By making â€Å"you† feel like the best, one is more inclined to spend money on products that make them feel like the best. The statement, â€Å"Taste of Inspiration†, adds another layer of sophistication to this ad. Those words are written in script unlike the other words, to add elegance to it. It’s as if with a single sip of Starbucks you will feel enlightened. Starbucks markets itself as not just a coffee shop bu t also a lifestyle, unlike Dunkin Donuts. Dunkin Donuts’ advertisement is all about the coffee. Dunkin Donuts’ ad reads, â€Å"There’s Coffee. Then There’s America’s Favorite Coffee.† DD gets to the point quickly; their ad comes right out and says they’re â€Å"America’s Favorite†. This statement seems somewhat presumptuous considering the amount of coffee shops all across America but also shows DD’s confidence in their product. They use America as a testimonial for their product. If it’s America’s favorite then they must have a great product. The text in advertisements is a major component but it would be nothing without the scene around it. It is important for advisers to create an advertisement that will make people take time out of their day to look at. The Starbucks’ ad is a blend of about 5 warm colors. It gives a welcoming feeling as if the coffee is from your own home. The main focus in the picture is a normal Starbucks cup in the foreground but everything in the scene is relevant. Although the background is blurred to allow the cup to be the attention getter, the background is still an important part. The background is the inside of a Starbucks, which can be determined by the blurred outlines of chairs and tables. Using a Starbucks as the scene is a great marketing strategy because now the consumer is only thinking Starbucks. The advertisement leaves no room for confusion; it is all Starbucks. With Starbucks on the brain and a beautiful scene, who could look away? The ad has caught the consumer’s eye and with the text as reinforcement, it does a great job advertising Starbucks. On the opposing side, Dunkin Donuts is more concerned with the actual coffee itself. The normal pink and orange lettering is displayed proudly on the standard cup of coffee. The cup is placed directly in front of your face. The text, mentioned above, isn’t the most important part of this advertisement. DD wants people to see the rich, black coffee in the cup. They want potential consumers to see the cup of coffee they could be getting if they choose to get DD. The text above the cup is only to reinforce the quality of it. Dunkin Donuts does a good job with product placement but is lacking character. The DD ad doesn’t add anything fun or relatable to it. Starbucks not only mentioned â€Å"you† the consumer, but rather centered the whole ad around â€Å"you†. The customer is very important to Starbucks. The DD advertisement has a more â€Å"take me or leave me† approach. It’s almost like, â€Å"Hey! We’re America’s favorite, why would you go anywhere else?† The text in the DD ad is almost arrogant. Starbucks textual portion was well thought out and works well to bring the ad together. When creating ads, advertisement companies choose every component specifically to create a precise feeling and thought in the potential consumer’s mind. The combination of colors and the text, in the Starbucks’ ad, make a person want to smile. Starbucks’ advertisement makes one feel warm and welcome. The contrast between the dark and the light colors creates a scene that people want to stop and look at. It’s welcoming to anyone, from teenagers to elderly citizens of any race. This advertisement’s demographic is anyone who drinks coffee, not just business people. Customers are meant to look at the ad and think, â€Å"I am the best, I deserve the best coffee.† The ad actually gives people self-confidence, in that, they promise to provide the best coffee to you because you are, in fact the best. In contrast, Dunkin Donuts’ advertisement makes a statement about their reputation. They are less concerned with the consumer’s self-confidence but rather more concerned with giving the consumer a reason to choose them. They proudly state that they are America’s favorite, what more does a consumer need? No one is going to take a poll of everyone in America to confirm this statement; so instead, customers are left to rely on the information DD has provided. Dunkin Donuts’ advertisement leaves room to be challenged by expert coffee drinkers. The only way customers can prove the statement right or wrong is by going in and tasting a cup for themselves. Once they have purchased a cup, whether they agree or disagree, DD has won. The ad was meant to make a sale and it has done just that. In conclusion, both ads approached their print advertisements in a different way. Starbucks’ text shows that they are focused on the customer and not themselves unlike DD. The scene Starbucks shows is more aesthetically pleasing to consumers. Lastly the thoughts and emotions evoked from the Starbucks’ ad have more impact on potential customers.