Friday, December 27, 2019

Implicit and Explicit Personality Essay - 955 Words

Psychologists have long suspected that people do not have good access to their own thoughts and feelings and that self-exploration is subject to introspective limits. Empirical evidence supports this view. What results is a compelling claim for measurement procedures suitable for the assessment of cognitive processes that remain obscured if people are simply asked to report them. In â€Å"Implicit and Explicit Personality: A Test of a Channeling Hypothesis for Aggressive Behavior† The authors proposed that self-beliefs about personality influence the channels through which people express their implicit motives. On the basis of this hypothesis, the authors predicted that self-beliefs about aggressiveness would influence the channels through†¦show more content†¦In accordance with the basic foundation of such models as the five-factor theory of personality, people can convey a vast amount of information about themselves through the expression of certain relatively endur ing patterns of thoughts, feelings, and actions. In addition to being easy to interpret, self-reports are also used because they are an inexpensive and relatively quick way to collect a lot of data. Though there are many strengths of using self-reports to measure psychological constructs, there are also potentially a number of weaknesses. First, the structure of the questions affects whether the reported information accurately measures the construct under consideration. Self-reports are a fallible source of data, and minor changes in question wording, question format, or question context can result in major changes in the obtained results. There are many potential problems with the errors made by the respondent. Self-Reports leave a lot of room for response biases, which involve a systematic tendency to respond to a range of questionnaire items on some basis other than the specific item content. For example, people often respond in such a way that presents them in a more favorable light, even if these responses do not reflect how they actually think or behave. Lack of credibility due to biased responding is a major issue because it could impede the validity of theShow MoreRelatedVideo Games And Aggression : A Debate Between Socialization Hypothesis And Selection Hypothesis1740 Words   |  7 Pagescrimes. More import antly, given the results that video game exposure did not have a direct effect on violent crimes or aggressive personality, but aggressive personality did predict violent crime, it is suggestive that some aggressive individuals would actively seek out examples of violence which is in accordance with the selection hypothesis that it is the aggressive personality that drive people to seek for aggressive exposures, including violent video games.. Although these two studies respectivelyRead MoreAn Integrative Typology Of Personality Assessment For Aggression999 Words   |  4 PagesWhen it comes to selecting an employee for a job position, personality comes into play on account of the fact that it can affect behavior in the workplace. Whether positive or negative effects, it is important for the possibility of aggressive behavior to be considered as to avoid hiring persons who prove to be dishonorable toward the business through their negative actions. After reading â€Å"An Integrative Typology of Personality Assessment for Aggression: Implications for Predicting CounterproductiveRead MoreThe Importance of Memory767 Words   |  4 Pagesone. Memory plays a big role in our life. It is the processes by which information is encoded, stored, and retrieved. Everything we see, we do, we think, will goes to memory and transform to implicit or explicit memory. Which will be saved in our brain. We could recall it anytime, even I’m using my implicit memory to type this report. Simply, our daily life is formed by memory, without it, we’re nothing. Why? If we don’t have memory, we can’t learn. Learning requires memory, if we’re unable to learnRead MoreTheories Of Development Of Self And Personality Processes1496 Words   |  6 Pagesconcepts of assimilation and accommodation by explaining how affect develops. In your own words, explain how Labouvie-Vief (2005) describes the process of affect development. Provide YOUR OWN real-world example. Theories of development of self and personality processes have centered on structural or dynamic processes. Labouvie-Vief (2005) outlines a theory, called Dynamic Integration Theory, which suggests that these two aspects can be joined by expanding on Piaget’s concept of representation as a relationshipRead MoreEducation Plan For Grade Implicit Attitudes And Bias1514 Words   |  7 Pagesto Grade Implicit Attitudes and Bias What applications can be used to identify and address the hidden impulses of racial bias? Implicit attitudes develop early within every culture, where race is categorized by age 5 (Hirschfeld, 1996, 2001). While reviewing the developmental process of implicit attitudes in youth when introduced to social groups, it helps researchers understand their significance on an individual’s emotional decision making skills. The level of implicit and explicit attitudeRead MorePsychology Within Inside Out1018 Words   |  5 Pagesswept from headquarters through the dump tube and Sadness follows. With Joy and Sadness gone, Anger, Fear, and Disgust are the only emotions left in headquarters; therefore, Riley cannot be happy or sad. Because Joy and Sadness are absent, Riley’s personality islands diminish one by one. Riley fights with her family, pushes away from her friends back home, and loses interest in hockey. As Joy and Sadness navigate through Riley’s brain in search o f a way back to headquarters, they encounter many obsticlesRead MoreImplicit And Explicit Behavior : An Evaluation And Procedures For Future Studies1593 Words   |  7 PagesAbstract The research is based on ‘Implicit Social In-Group Bias.’ This research regards the work of Greenwald, A. G., McGhee, D. E., Schwartz, J. K. L. It was predicted that, there’d be a faster reaction time in the young and positive condition then the young and negative condition. 248 participants were used. The administration of IAT (Implicit Association Test) helped assess the distinction of the individual’s characteristics, associating ‘Young’ and ‘Positive’ to measure the cognitive processRead MorePresidential Elections 2016 Presidential Election1551 Words   |  7 Pagesfigures, portrayed in these comedic parodies, as well as explicit and implicit messages sent through those parodies. While Republican Party and its leading candidate Donald Trump have given a large volume of reasons for mockery, it is interesting to observe the Democratic Party and the main points that result in the comedic mockery of the debates between the candid ates. The main point is that the difference between the implicit and explicit messages has narrowed, mainly as the result of the informationRead MoreImplicit Of Implicit : Implicit Cognition And The Development Of Thought, Emotion And Behavior1676 Words   |  7 Pagesempirical research that provided evidence of the significant role implicit cognition has in the development of thought, emotion and behavior. These studies were able to use quantitative methods to help support conceptual frameworks built on past studies. Several of these studies examined the predictive value of implicit cognitions. For example, Back, Schmukle, and Egloff (2009) presented empirical evidence that implicit personality predicts the corresponding behaviors related to neuroticism andRead MoreSolution Focused Group Therapy for Depressed Individuals1360 Words   |  6 Pagesconstruct validity, assessment and diagnosis of personality disorders. They integrated contributions made from various leading clinic ians, researchers, and scholars supporting the group therapy. The authors incorporated information about proposed personality retention in DSM and details about slated deletion personality disorders (Constantino, et al 2008). It is evident that the differing arguments presented and concerns about work-group personality disorders of DSM-5 provided significant recommendations

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Eating Disorders Essay - 2312 Words

Eating Disorders An eating disorder is a serious disruption of a persons eating habits, in some cases it may be a reflection of abnormal psychological functioning. The two most common eating disorders are, anorexia nervosa, and bulimia nervosa. Both of these eating disorders are most common among adolescent girls, but they do occur amongst older people and are becoming more and more frequent amongst men. Also they were originally only found in European countries but are becoming more common all over the world. Anorexia nervosa This is a disorder where the person fears that they might become†¦show more content†¦Body-image distortion People who have anorexia don?t see their own thinness, often they continue to see themselves as being fat, despite the fact that often their bones can clearly be seen. People who have anorexia also often deny the seriousness of their low body weight, their thinness is considered vital to their high self esteem. Amenorrhoea This means the cessation of the menstrual cycle. The absence of periods for more then 3 months is a clinical characteristic of anorexia. The lack of the menstrual cycle is caused by the reduced weight. There are sometimes other physical symptoms such as paleness and loss of hair. Characteristics of bulimia There are five listed characteristics for bulimia. Binge People who develop bulimia often engage in secret binge eating. This involves eating an excessive amount of food in a short space of time, and feeling a lack of control over the eating during this period. Purge After the episode of binging, the individual will be likely to purge, to compensate for the over indulgence and to prevent weight gain. This is achieved by self induced vomiting or misuse of medications. Alternatively the individual may stop eating for a long period of time to compensate for the bingeing. Frequency To be diagnosed as suffering fromShow MoreRelatedEating Disorders : Eating Disorder1205 Words   |  5 PagesEating Disorders in Today’s World Eating disorders are alive and well in today’s world and they are a major problem. An eating disorder can look like a few different things, ranging from a severe reduction of food intake to over eating to feelings of negativity towards your body shape or weight (Lehigh University). While some disorders can only be found in specific age groups, races, etc., eating disorders can be found amongst all and it does not necessarily have to be pointed towards food (LehighRead MoreEating Disorders : An Eating Disorder1184 Words   |  5 Pagesas an eating disorder. Weir (2016) goes on to explain the origins behind eating disorders in individuals. This topic is important because, in the United States, many women and men suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some point in their life. It is important to know the influences that cause an individual to experience an eating disorder. Genetically, or environmentally, or both genetically and environmentally. Anorexia ner vosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are eatingRead MoreEating Disorders And Eating Disorder1573 Words   |  7 Pagesaffects people called an â€Å"eating disorder.† Why did you choose this topic? I chose this topic because it is a very prevalent issue in our society today, and a close friend of mine is suffering from an eating disorder. What question(s) did you want to answer or what was your hypothesis regarding this topic? As mammals, there is no chance of escaping the need to consume food in everyday life. However, when it comes to food there can be a major concern of eating too much or eating too little. Doing eitherRead MoreEating Disorders And Eating Disorder1104 Words   |  5 PagesEating disorder is a serious problem happens in both men and women. Eating disorder is a sort of disease in which a person is having a strange routine of eating like consuming a huge amount of food each time they eat. This can incorporate not eating enough nourishment or indulging. Eating disorder influence many people around the world. The larger part of peoples who are dealing with this issue are ladies. A person with eating disorder issue may focus nonsensically on their weight and shape. EatingRead MoreEating Disorders And Eating Disorder1410 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"An eating disorder is about anxiety and control and healing from trauma and food and weight are just the tools of destruction† (Floyd, Mim ms, Yelding, 2008). An eating disorder is defined as a severe disturbance in eating behavior. An eating disorder, as defined by our text book for class, is psychological disturbances that lead to certain physiological changes and serious health complications. The three most common and most easily identifiable forms of eating disorders include anorexia nervosaRead MoreEating Disorders : Eating Disorder966 Words   |  4 PagesEating Disorders Many people, both women and men of all ages, suffer from the psychological disorder, eating. Up to thirty million people in the world suffer from some kind of an eating disorder. There a two types of eating disorders, anorexia and bulimia, and have several methods of treatment. What is an eating disorder, and what do they cause? Eating disorders are maladaptive and very serious interruptions in eating. They can come in the form of overeating, or not eating enough, they are oftenRead MoreEating Disorders : Eating Disorder1031 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"The eating disorder is a very jealous and abusive partner. It requires a lot of devotion in the extent that you have to devote yourself to tending to the anorexia. There s not a lot of time left over for adult life,† was stated by Dr. Doug Bunnell, a specialist in eating disorders. Eating disorders effect a variety of people. Age, race, and gender aren’t role playing keys in eating disorders. Not everyone gets an eating disorder, but if they do then, it will more than likely destroy their livesRead MoreEating Disorders And Eating Disorder1496 Words   |  6 PagesAn eating disorder is an illness that causes serious disturbances to your everyday diet, such as eating extremely small amounts of f ood or severely overeating. A person with an eating disorder may have started out just eating smaller or larger amount of food, but as some point, the urge to eat less or more has gotten out of control. Severe distress or concern about body weight or shape may also signal an eating disorder. Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and a binge-eatingRead MoreEating Disorders : An Eating Disorder1906 Words   |  8 Pagesobtain their body goal, thus causing an eating disorder. An eating disorder is a psychological condition that is characterized by abnormal or disturbed eating habits. There are three types of eating disorders; which are Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating.These disorders affect all aspects of a person’s life, including their psychological, emotional, and physical health. There are many factors that contribute to individuals developing eating disorders including: genetics, family pressuresRead MoreEating Disorders : Ea ting Disorder1235 Words   |  5 PagesEating Disorders Eating disorders are a very serious psychological condition that affects your mind so that you are more focused on your food and weight than you are on everything else. The most known and most commonly diagnosed eating disorders are anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder; however, these are not the only eating disorders. Eating disorders cause psychical and psychological problems, which at their worst can even become life threating. Statistics show that more women are affected

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Beethoven and Tchaikovsky free essay sample

Tchaikovsky have much in common, they also have many differences. Both men are famous for their orchestral compositions and their future influence on other composers. They experienced a blend of horrible failures and great successes. Although they were from different musical time periods, they both made huge contributions to the world of music. Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany 1770: the second half of the classical period. After the death of his grandfather, who was also named Ludwig vanBeethoven, the family was on a downward slope financially. As far as physical appearances are concerned, young Beethoven looked much like his grandfather. Beethoven was forced to leave school at the age of eleven in order to support his family. He became an assistant court organist to Christian Gotten Neff, through whom Beethoven had his first composition, Nine Variations on a March by Dressier. After seeing Beethovens musical progress the arch-bishop Macmillan Francis sent him to study with Wolfgang A. We will write a custom essay sample on Beethoven and Tchaikovsky or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Mozart In Vienna. While Beethoven was studying withMozart his mother died and he traveled back to Bonn where he continued to serve as a court musicals. Joseph Haydn, another accomplished musician, offered to take Beethoven as a student. Beethoven accepted and moved back to Vienna where he continued to live for the remainder of his life. The works that he composed in Vienna were happily accepted by the people. Beethoven wrote to his brother saying, Things are going well with me, thoroughly well. My art wins friends and consideration for me; and what more can I ask? (Chapel 378). The community loved his piano virtuosity ND improvisational skills.Soon Heydays lessons were proving useless to Beethoven and he began to see other instructors in private. His first public appearance in 1795 was a landmark in his career. He performed a concerto by Mozart and a concerto of his own. Over the following three years Beethoven went on an international tour to Prague and Berlin. Around 1 800 Beethoven began to realize that his hearing was coming to an end. He was gradually becoming deaf and according to doctors, there was no way to reverse the Issue. The early period of the deafness did not have much of an impact on his life. He continued to perform in public and private.However as the disability worsened, Beethoven became tremendously depressed and lost all hope. Beethoven approached Johann Envenom Male, a mechanic who invented various objects, in the hope that Male could construct a hearing device for him. Male did have a hearing trumpet, as they were called, and Beethoven made use of it until his hearing was beyond what the hearing-aid could do to help. In a letter to his brothers, Carl and Johann Beethoven, we see that Beethoven pondered suicide and sought isolation. The following are excerpts from Beethovens letter, Hellishnesss Testament.But what a humiliation for me when someone standing next to me heard a flute In the distance and I heard nothing, or someone standing next to me heard a shepherd singing and again I heard nothing. Such Incidents drove me almost to despair; a little more of that and I would have ended my life. Beethovens despair is understandable. To be so gifted and attuned to the music of of music and art is what some believe kept Beethoven alive and hopeful throughout his stages of melancholy. So the fervent hope of catching one more strain, one more perfect chord kept him alive.This can be proven by another portion of his letter. It was only my art that held me back. Oh, it seemed to me impossible to leave the world until I had forth all that I felt was Nothing me. So I endured this wretched existence, truly wretched for so susceptible a body, which can be thrown by a sudden change from the best condition to the worst. Patience, they say, is what I must now choose for my guide, and I have done so I hope my determination will remain firm to endure until it pleases the inexorable Pearce to break the thread. Perhaps I shall get better, perhaps not; I am ready. 19 is the year in which his hearing was thoroughly depleted. He could no longer play the piano virtuously and had to communicate by text. As a result, he spent a majority of his time composing. Beethoven would sketch out his compositions in a book. These books have been maintained and it is evident that he would work on several pieces at once. During this time, his compositions ranged from simple melodies to more elaborate and edited works. In 1804 Beethoven completed his Third Symphony. This piece was originally a tribute to Napoleon Bonaparte, but when Beethoven found thatNapoleon was proclaimed an emperor he deleted the dedication. At this point in his life, Beethoven seriously considered marriage. His first love was for a woman named Giggliest Guardia. When this relationship eventually broke, he sought the hand of ultimates cousin, Josephine. The bond between them broke and the engagement was ended. Beethovens final attempt with a woman was with his doctors daughter, Theres Militia. As is expected, this relationship also failed and Beethoven reached the final part of his life as a bachelor. The rate and quality of his compositions slowed ND he became more and more isolated.Another depressing and negative event in Beethovens life took place in 1815. His brother died. Spar Anton Carl left behind a son and a widow and instructed Beethoven to assist in the raising of the son, Karl. Over the next several years Beethoven and his nephew had many arguments. Consequently, in 1826 Karl unsuccessfully committed suicide and Beethoven sent the recovering boy to into a military career. These dealings heavily affected Beethoven and are thought by scholars to have contributed to his death. While traveling to Vienna he caught pneumonia.He died on March 26, 1827, due to cirrhosis of the liver. Peter Illicit Tchaikovsky did not begin his musical career at a young age, asides from a few piano lessons; he was pointed in the direction of civil study by his parents. He was sent to the Imperial School of Jurisprudence in SST. Petersburg where he was a successful pupil and was inspired by operatic singing. Tchaikovsky passion for Italian music was fueled by works like Mozart Don Giovanni and other Italian operas. He became a student at the newly opened SST. Petersburg Conservatory and spent three years there studying music composition.It was not until he was 25 years old that his first piece, Characteristic Dances, was performed for an audience. He met Belgian woman, Dsire Art ¶t, who became his fiancee in 1868. They never became married and the engagement broke off. Tchaikovsky graduated and moved to Moscow teaching at the Russian Musical Society and the only reason he was able to keep the lob was with the help of his friend and director, Nikolas Rubberiest. Tchaikovsky first opera and symphony were composed while he was employed at the Society. He left Russia and traveled to Europe where a year later he completed a fantasia calledFrancesca dad Riming. In that same year he also composed the Swan Lake. However, due to bad choreography the ballad was a failure and eliminated from standard repertoire. Over the following years he and his compositions became more popular and well known. As with Beethoven, Tchaikovsky private life did not thrive. It was as if all of their passion was tied to the music that inhabited their psyches; little was left for mere mortal entanglements. In 1877 he became involved with another relationship, this time to a younger girl named Antonio Minimally. Due to their preferences and Tchaikovsky homosexual tendencies, the marriage was ended in disaster. Two weeks into the marriage he fled from his wife and, like Beethoven, contemplated suicide. It was at about this same time that his professional life took a positive turn. Tchaikovsky made contact with a wealthy widow, Maddened von Neck, ho admired his work. Over the course of fifteen or so years she gave Tchaikovsky a monthly allowance that permitted him to resign from his work at the conservatory. It Nas due to this benefactor that his musical creativity thrived during this time and composing music became his sole commitment.Most of his famous masterpieces like Symphony No. 4 in F Minor and the 1812 Overture were written during this time period. Tchaikovsky eventually settled down in the outskirts of Moscow. He lived in a small country house where he led peaceful existence. He composed, practiced piano, meandered through the forest, and enjoyed the evenings with his friends. Architraves had a fear of conducting and did not over come that fear until the debut of his opera Escherichia, in 1887. His first tour as a conductor was to Europe. In Florence, he worked hard on one of his greatest operas called The Queen of Spades. E year of 1891 marks a great honor for Tchaikovsky. He was offered to conduct at the opening of Carnegie Hall in the United Sates. While he was touring in the United States, he conducted in cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. After conducting his last symphony in SST. Petersburg, Symphony No. 6 in B Minor pathtoque), Tchaikovsky was struck by cholera. He became extremely ill, and although the doctors attempted all means to save his life, he died a few days later as result of the disease. There have been many undocumented reports about architraves death.Some rumors say that he was poisoned and some say that he made himself ill, I personally believe that his death was a result of the disease. Beethoven composed music for more than Just mere entertainment. Some of his compositions were commissioned, some were inspired by woman, some were composed because he was bored, and some were composed to convey his inner emotions. Beethoven appeared to be highly fascinated with exact tempo markings of piece. Exact tempo markings were a rare addition to compositions and during dovecotes life were not yet common or present.While Beethoven was making visits o Johann Mammals shop with regards to the hearing aid, the two men also discussed a machine that could indicate exact tempo. This machine, the nemesis of all novice musicians, is now known as a metronome. In 1816, Male successfully perfected the fascinated by this invention and began to put precise tempo markings in his compositions. One piece that he includes the tempo markings for is his Piano Sonata in a-flat Pop. 106. In 1819, Beethoven wrote a letter to Ferdinand Rises with the original metronome tempo indications for the piano sonata.He felt that specific tempo markings could bring on the success for a new composition. In another letter to Hoofer von Moses in the year 1817, Beethoven speculates aborting tempo indications such as allegro, andante, largo, etc. .. While I agree with Beethoven and his stance on tempo indications, I feel that it is ultimately the composers choice as to whether or not he/she uses specific tempo markings. I also sense that Beethoven would not want style or expression markings eliminated. For example, in Beethovens Symphony No. The first movement is labeled Allegro con brio (allegro with vigor). The title of the movement can provide the conductor and performers with a general idea on how to lay the piece; in this case the movement should be performed with vigor and Intensity. It is evident that Beethoven felt tempo to be an imperative part of music composition. One of his most famous works is Symphony No. 5. Like most typical symphonies it contains four movements and is written for full orchestra. architraves most admired piece is the Nutcracker ballet.The ballet has two acts and three scenes and is especially famous during the Christmas season. In 1891, Ivan Speleologist requested that the reluctant Tchaikovsky write the ballet. Tchaikovsky unwillingly accepted and finished the ballet in 1892. Over the years, the Nutcracker ballet has been re-arranged into Jazz songs, rock songs, and has even been used in advertising commercials. Music from this ballet is instantly recognizable to members of many generations, proving the impact that Tchaikovsky was able to have on the music world.Another major composition by Tchaikovsky is the 1812 Overture. This piece was written in honor of the Freshs defeat by Russia at the Battle of Brooding in 1812. This overture is standard literature for orchestras across the world, and has been transcribed for many different levels of wind ensembles. No fire-works show North watching would be complete without this played during the finale. I think it is interesting that Tchaikovsky inserted sixteen cannon shots to the score. This adds a different color to the piece, as well as variety.Overall, both composers had equally hard lives. Beethoven had issues with deteriorating and debilitating health issues that would have broken most men. His attempts at permanence and normality in his private life met with failure. Architraves had trouble with woman and struggled with his sexual orientation. Although Beethoven composed during the classical time period and Tchaikovsky imposed during the romantic time period, there were some similarities with their general writing styles. Both composers wrote symphonies, ballets, and concertos. Checkbooks composed several more symphonies than Beethoven; Beethoven only completed nine and was in the process of completing his tenth when he died. Likewise, Beethoven composed many more concertos in his lifetime than Tchaikovsky did. I myself enjoy Beethovens music much more than I enjoy Tchaikovsky. The music of Beethoven evokes more feeling when I listen; leading me to feel that it was composed with more emotion. His pieces always stand out among others. On the other hand, one of my favorite classical works is the 1812 Overture. I find that the cannon shots.These two composers are my personal favorites when it comes to classical music. They both agonized over public acceptance and wrestled with their private demons and insecurities. However, the fire and passion for music that they both shared compelled them forward and their seemingly broken lives produced masterpieces. Perhaps genius and creative excellence can only come from those that seem to skate on the edge of madness. Complacency and contentment may dull the knees and render the psyche unable to produce the kind of art that speaks to the soul of mankind.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Writing essay about Aesthetics Example For Students

Writing essay about Aesthetics 1.To try to explain how and why aesthetics is understood, as a philosophical endeavor should first start with what I think and feel through my learning experiences what is art. Art for me is what is pure about the art form and what makes it beautiful. Beauty in art is what enhances individual senses to makes us feel all our senses are united as one. When these traits come together you are in presence of a work of art in my mind and the definition of aesthetics in art. I feel that the reason aesthetics is understood as a philosophical endeavor is because we as a society need to put a label on or problems to help develop a strategy that will help conquer these problems. So to start a branch in philosophy directed towards the arts, or anything that is meant to capture beauty or criticism should be arranged in a system of criticism. Criticism, which in particular judgments are singled out and their logic and justification displayed, is why it is and will continue to be an endeavor. I feel an artist role in society is to portray a objective and subjective view about his work before and after his work is completed to give a fair assessment to the public of how he sees the world. We will write a custom essay on Writing about Aesthetics specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now 2. If you look up the definition of aesthetics it will probably say to some extent, the particular idea of what is beautiful or artistic. The problem with this is the word beautiful can mean different things to two different people. So an individual determines the value of the word. This is why there is so much variation in our assessments of the value of works of art. Subjective and objective theories of aesthetic are a way of separating different approaches. An objective theory claims that aesthetic value is in the property of the artwork itself. The fact that we do reach agreement on the value of so many works suggests that somehow there is an objective basis for our judgments. The subjective theory claims that aesthetic value is simply a matter of the psychological effect on or the attitude of the observer, and these vary considerably from observer to observer. If aesthetic value is subjective, why do we so often try to persuade friends of the value of a work of art that we belie ve they have overlooked. 3. Plats rationalism is the conviction that the truth and the real world are disclosed through the use of the mind alone. In Platos opinion of art he say that art is here to increase the world of untrue experiences by creating images of images and illusions of illusions. He continues to say that if the world of direct sense experience is untrue and unreal in some sense, the world created by art is even more so and that by increasing human deception about reality and by appealing to emotions and feelings, therefore, art in whatever form should have no part in  an ideal human community. Now if Plato is so concerned with reality and the metaphysics of the world why doesnt he appreciate art that is produced unconsciously in our minds through direct sense experience and is created into a physical art form? Are we as artist not trying to take the unreal and trying to make real? Are we not trying to create the world around us through the dreams and illusions we cant not deny we have, but to try to give reason and cause for them? Is this what philosophers have been doing since the beginning of written language in trying to give reason for things? If Plato understood that no on perceives an apple in the same way. Why doesnt he perceive that an art form has reason in other peoples mind that he might not be able to relate to? My point is simple and that is Plato is one man with an opinion in a world of many men with opinions. What makes his opinion have meaning to himself is his ability to manipulate language to convey a reason for his opinion? I value his opinion to the highest degree but do not agree with it. Art is art because in my mind I say it is.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

As The Twentieth Century Comes To A Close, The World Can Now Look Back

As the twentieth century comes to a close, the world can now look back on a century filled with war, technology, revolution, and growth. When looking back upon the most powerful leaders that shaped past century, it can't be assumed that all of them had good intentions in mind. In fact, it is these leaders, the ones who set forth goals of destruction and massacre, that have affected the past hundred years the most drastically. The two men who fully represented this figure of dictatorship and extreme fascism are without a question Adolf Hitler of Germany and Benito Mussolini of Italy. These men strove for unrealistic and inhumane ideals, and both convinced a nation to follow them. Hitler and Mussolini took advantage of their respective nations, capitalizing on the desperation of war and poverty stricken people who needed a direction in life. These leaders cluttered the minds of the general population with their ideas of how life could be better, even if it meant the oppression of others. Through propaganda they were able to convince the people that their way was not just the best way, but the only way to handle the times in order to ensure the survival of the nation. The two most renown publications of these men were Hitler's Mien Kampf and Mussolini's The Political and Social Doctrine of Fascism. Any possible dangers or flaws within these texts were ignored by the masses and as a result caused unimaginably horrid outcomes. To better understand where these men derived their ideas, built their reputations, and maintained leadership, it is imperative to first look into the history of the man and then the history of the nation. These can be combined to help analyze why they wrote what they did, and why the people responded how they did. Both of these men had an unbelievable power over people through their speeches, propaganda, written work, and actions. These men were similar in these aspects, but differed in their approaches, structure, and goals set for their nation. Born in Austria in the year 1889, Adolf Hitler learned at an early age how to conquer hardships with his father's death and failed attempts at school. As a poor, alone reject, he soon found interest in the political views and strategies of Vienna mayor Karl Lueger. Seeing the power of speech and its effect on people, Hitler certainly kept in mind many of Lueger's ideas of anti-Semitism and mass manipulation. Following his stay in Vienna, Hitler joined the Bavarian regiment, where he received the Iron Cross. After becoming a war hero in World War I, Hitler joined and eventually took over the Nazi (National Socialist German Workers) party. After his first attempt to overthrow the Bavarian government, Hitler was sent to prison. During this time, Hitler wrote his most famous work, Mein Kampf. This book attempts to make scientific explanations for Hitler's destruction of non-Aryan races, especially the Jewish race. Using terms like Social Darwinism to explain the ?constant struggle of the superior Aryan race against being submerged in a sea of inferior peoples,? (Wall, 124) Hitler convinced influential and powerful people to listen and agree with him. Through his book, Hitler explains most of his concepts and ideals for bettering the German nation. The Germans were a defeated people looking to end a depression held over from the first World War. During the early 1930s, Germans wanted an easy solution to their discontent and depression. Hitler gave them the hope of national strength and unity, whereas other German leaders only offered peace with the enemy and the failure of German democracy. Widely using propaganda, Hitler was able to convince a depressed nation that there was hope. The nation could boost their morale, fight wars they could win, and possibly seek world domination through nationalism, militarism, anti-Semitism, and obedience to the leader. (Brower, 109) The German people believed the only solution to their political crisis was the Nazi party and its leader. What they didn't realize is how extreme Hitler would take his ideas. Feeling the only way to compensate for their bitterness towards the Treaty of Versailles and their eagerness for German expansion, the people followed Hitler. They ignored his brutality and violence, seeing it

Sunday, November 24, 2019

The Meaning of s.t. or Subject To in Economics

The Meaning of s.t. or Subject To in Economics In economics, the letters s.t. are used as an abbreviation for the phrases subject to or such that in an equation. The letters s.t. proceed important constraints that the functions must follow. The letters s.t. are generally involved in stating relationships between economic functions using the mathematical functions themselves rather than articulating the same in prose. For example, one a common usage of s.t. in economics may appear  as follows: maxx f(x) s.t. g(x)0 The above expression, when stated in or translated into words, would read: The value of f(x) that is greatest among all those for which the argument x satisfies the constraint that g(x)0. In this example, f() and g() are fixed, possibly known, real-valued functions of x. The Relevance of s.t. in Economics The relevance of the use of the letters s.t. to mean subject to or such that in the study of economics stems from the importance of mathematics and mathematical equations. Economists are generally interested in discovering and examining different types of economic relationships and these relationships can be expressed through functions and mathematical equations. An economic function attempts to define observed relationships in mathematical terms. The function, then, is the mathematical description of the economic relationship in question and the equation is one way of looking at the relationship between concepts, which become the variables of the equation. The variables represent the concepts or items in a relationship that can be quantified, or represented by a number. For instance, two common variables in economic equations are  p  and  q, which generally refer to the price variable and quantity variable respectively. Economic functions  try to explain or describe one of the variables in terms of the other, thus describing one aspect of their relationship to one another. By describing these relationships through mathematics, they become quantifiable and, perhaps most importantly, testable. Though at times, economists prefer to use words to describe economic relationships or behaviors, mathematics has provided the basis for advanced economic theory and even the computer modeling that some modern economists now rely upon in their research. So the  abbreviation s.t. simply provides short-hand for the writing of these equations in place of the written or spoken word to describe the mathematical relationships.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Analyze the HR system in Tesco in the following area training, Essay

Analyze the HR system in Tesco in the following area training, development ,planning , recruitment and selection.(in the UK) - Essay Example One of them is HRP or Human Resource Planning. This area comprises of all activities which are related to planning about the human resources and include activities such as requirement for selection, selection procedure, initial orientation programs upon recruitment and defining roles and responsibilities (Garrick 1999). Another area is HR Training and Development. This includes all activities where the employees are given trainings of different types to help them perform better in their jobs and improved on their productivity (Keep 1989). We shall also study the human resource practices from a future perspective and identify what Tesco needs to do in the future. This is one strong area of Tesco’s HR policy. Tesco has made sure that its employees get to understand their roles in contributing to the overall core purpose and values of the organisation. The first element of HRP is Recruitment and Selection at Tesco. According to The Times 100, ‘Recruitment involves attracting the right standard of applicants to apply for vacancies’. Tesco advertises its jobs in different ways. The process varies depending on the job available. At the first step, Tesco looks at the current employees and evaluates if any of the existing employees can be promoted for the vacant position. For external recruitment, Tesco advertises its vacancies on its career website or through notices on stores. For other specialized jobs, Tesco advertises externally through other mediums (Recruitment and Selection ad Tesco). In the selection process, Tesco seeks to find out the most suitable candidate for the job. One of them is screening the candidates. The screening procedure consists of evaluating the applicant’s CV or resume and performance of the applicant at the assessment centre (Recruitment and Selection ad Tesco). Another aspect is training the newly recruited employees. This has been successfully achieved via an innovative induction program. This

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Parental Perspectives Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 19000 words

Parental Perspectives - Dissertation Example This study has broadened my thought process, my zeal, inner strength, passion, knowledge, and focus on how I can help our youth discover what it takes to reach their educational goals. I also dedicate this dissertation to all those that are close to my heart: my husband, children, parents, family, and friends that supported me through this process. Their support has allowed me to climb to the mountaintop in accomplishing my goals and to continue fulfilling the desires of my heart. I owe a special thanks to my wonderful children, Jermaay and Cladorian, who are my pride and joy. Thank you for sacrificing your wants and needs and for being patient with mommy. To Floyd, my loving husband, who listened, supported and made many sacrifices for me during this difficult process; I deeply thank you. Acknowledgments This dissertation took more commitment and devotion than I ever imagined and I could not have done it by myself. So many people helped me through this challenging time of my educational journey. I am truly thankful for the grace that God bestowed upon me over these past three years. I am very grateful and honored to have such a supporting family, friends, church and cohort who provided constant encouragement. I must acknowledge my wonderful mentor, Dr. April Flanagan, who came to my rescue in the midst of my uncertainties in my research plan. I started research for my dissertation in Atlanta, Georgia, with a solid foundation and then my husband received military orders to transfer to Okinawa, Japan for three years. As a result, my research topic had to change, and I was forced to switch my focus and start over. Dr. Flanagan was a true asset in the writing of my dissertation, due to her extensive experience... This phenomenological study investigates how parents perceive their involvement in student learning. Kohls, Stafford, and Miller (2003) assert that public dissatisfaction, international comparisons and the skills needed for the 21st-century workforce â€Å"by policy makers, parents, the business community and the public have resulted in demands that schools be held accountable for learning† (p. 1). In Okinawa, Japan, the language barrier restricts military and government civilian parents of non-Japanese speaking children from entering the more challenging domestic school systems (O. Lee, August 11, 2005, personal communication). The expense of registration and monthly tuition fees for private and Japanese public schools is another issue that military and government civilian families encounter if they choose not to use the provided school system available (Military Resources & Benefits, n.d.). Parents’ expectations about their role in their children's education are essential to student learning and academic success. When parents believe their children are not receiving the best education possible, the reason is often that they feel powerless to do anything about it other than basic home intervention (Bloom, 1992). For example, parents are establishing goals and possibilities for their children to become academically successful, such as seeking technical support through computerized tutorials when questions occur on schoolwork or allowing the child to call a fellow classmate or searching the text for guidance.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Econometrics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Econometrics - Essay Example The results of the regression are demonstrated in table 2. The coefficient of male is 0.011. This indicates that the number of doctor visits increases if the individual is male by 0.011. The value is not statistically significant at 10, 5 and 1 percent level of significance since the probability is greater than the critical values in each of the alpha value. The regression results are illustrated in the table 3 in the appendix. The male coefficient is 14.89. This coefficient is positive which indicates that males spend 14.89 more on private medical services than the females. The value is statistically significant at the 1 percent level of significance since the probability value is very low. This means that there statistical significance that the level of private expenditure on medical services is highly influenced by gender. The coefficient of number of visits to the doctor in the past years is -0.562. This has been indicated in table 4 below. The coefficient is negative which indicates that there are an inverse relation between the number of visits to the doctor in the past years and health status. When the endogenous variable increases by one unit, the health status will decline by 0.562 units. The coefficient is statistically significant at 1 per cent level of significance indicating that the number of visits to the doctor in the past years is a good indicator of changes in health status. A casual interpretation exists when there is a cause and effect reaction on the regression results (Wayne A. Woodward, 2011). This means that there is a two way impact of the variables. In this case, no casual interpretation exists. This is because the number of doctor visits in the past affects the present health status negatively and on the other hand, health status in the present cannot affect the number of doctor visits in the past. Male: The coefficient of the male is -3.987. This means that when an individual is male, the health status

Friday, November 15, 2019

SWOT Analysis of Ultra Tech Cement Industry

SWOT Analysis of Ultra Tech Cement Industry The SWOT analysis about Ultra Tech cement and its position in the market. The company is one of the best in the cement industry, analysing it through the different framework of analysis in order to judge the actual situational and industrial position of the company in order to find out how actually is the company doing. The company is facing a lot of problem regarding its promotion and marketing techniques due to which it faces a short of awareness in the market due to which people are not aware of the product but instead of all the problems it is quite stable and maintain its position in the market. After performing Swot analysis of the company by reviewing porters 5 forces and pestel analysis companys strategic standing and positioning have been analysed. Currently the company is having a better standing as threat of entry is very low due to high initial funds required to establish the factory setup. Contents INTRODUCTION: Ultra Tech is Indias biggest exporter of cement clinker. The companys production plants have increase across eleven integrated area, one white cement plant, twelve grinding units and five terminals four in India and one in Sri Lanka. Most of the plants have ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certification. In addition, two plants have outcome ISO 27001 certification and four have received SA 8000 certification. The process of certification is at present started for the left over plants. The company exports over 2.5 million tons per annum, which is about 30 per cent of the countrys total exports. The export market comprises of countries around the Indian Ocean, Africa, Europe and the Middle East.ÂÂ  Export is a pressure area in the companys strategy for growth. Worlds top 10 cement companies comprises of Ultra Tech Cement Limited. The company has an annual capacity of 48.8 million tones, and manufactures and markets ordinary There is blast furnace slag cement and There is Pozzol ana cement. The companys subsidiaries are Dakshin Cements Limited, Harish Cements Limited; there is Ceylinco (P) Limited and Ultra Tech Cement Middle East Investments Limited. (Kalesh, 2009) SWOT ANALYSIS: STRENGTHS: Cement demand has grown in tandem with strong economic growth derived from: Growth in housing sector (over 30%) key demand driver. Infrastructure projects like ports, airports, power projects, dam irrigation Projects. National Highway Development Programme. Bharat Nirman Yojana for rural infrastructure and rise in industrial projects. Production The companys production facilities are spread across 11 integrated plants, one white cement plant, 12 grinding units and 5 terminals, 4 in India and one in Sri Lanka. High quality cement production is increasing annually.ÂÂ  Annual production capacity is 23.10 million tones. Use of high-end equipment such as the Gamma Metrics Machine and the X-ray Analyser ensures that each product passing out of company. There is manufacturing facility adheres to global standards of quality andÂÂ  performance. Logistics: Ultra Tech Can directly deal with the limestone tenders and thus the middle man do not affect its cost. Company use the local transporters which provide the efficient transportation cost. Thereby reducing the extra expense and making cement more economical for the local man to afford. Plantation: Ultra techs manufacturing plant uses ultra-modern technology and imported machinery. Companys Unit at Koala is the only Unit in this sector in India to have a desalination plant. It is used for meeting the water needs of the plant and the colony. The waste gases from the cooler are used in the desalination plant. that makes the product recyclable and environmental friendly thereby contributing to the environment. The Ultra Tech cement manufacturing the greenbelt at companys Units is simply awesome and is surrounded by trees all around. At some points, company is advancing to achieve the skyline. Only the leaves and the flowers and hear the cacophony of the birds.ÂÂ   Companys CSR (corporate social responsibility) activities extend to 127 villages, in proximity to its plants, across the country. (William B. Werther, David B. Chandler, 2010) Brand Positioning: In the world, Aditya Birla Group is the eighth largest cement player. Ultra Techs products include Ordinary Portland cement, Portland Pozzolana cement and Portland blast furnace slag cement. The company exports over 2.5 million tons per annum, which is about 30 per cent to the countrys total exports. Ordinary There is cement is the most commonly used cement for a wide range of process. Applications cover dry-lean mixes, general-purpose ready-mixes, and even high strengthÂÂ  pre-cast and pre-stressed concrete. OPC(ordinary Portland cement) is used for applications, such as commercial buildings, industrial constructions, Multi storied complexes, cement concrete roads and heavy duty floors. PPC ( Portland Pozzolana cement )cement is used forÂÂ  big construction like dam and thermal powerÂÂ  plant. Distribution Channels: Ultra Techs distribution network is very widely spread out in the country with over 5,500 dealers and 30,000 retailers with its strong distribution channels currently Ultratech is starting to acquire a strong positioning in the market giving head on competition to its rivals. Quality: All the plants of Ultra tech are ISO 14001 Environment Management Systems certified sustain toÂÂ  OHSAS 18001 standards. Clean technologies and processes that combine economic progress and sustainable environment are adopted by the company for better performance. There is plants at Awarpur and Ratnagiri in Maharashtra; There is Jafrabad and Magdalla in Gujarat; Hirmi in Chhattisgarh; Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu; Tadipatri in Andhra Pradesh; Jharsuguda in Orissa and DurgapurÂÂ  in West Bengal.ÂÂ  They have won the Capexil Certificate of Export Recognition Top Exporter -Cement, Clinker, Asbestos and Cement Products for the years 2000, 2002 and2003. Bhartiya Udyog Ratan Award presented to Sh. KYP Kulkarni By Indian Economic Development Research Association (IEDRA) for good quality of cement to customer, New Delhi in 2004. (Narayanan, 2007) WEAKNESSESS: Cement Industry is highly fragmented and it is also highly regionalized and Low value commodity makes transportation over long distances uneconomical. Not available in all the places: Ultra tech is not available at all the places as it is not manufactured at all places and all plants are not available everywhere due to which people cannot find it everywhere hence the profit margins are affected to a greater extend. Human Resource: Due to openness in the Ultra techs work culture which is very informal that does not suit forÂÂ  better management in corporate . The environment being very informal affects the management a lot as being the management they have to maintain a distance and discipline but due to the openness there is no such thing and they face a lot difficulty to control. And Ultra tech has insufficient man power due to its easy recruiting and selection method. Marketing: Lack of awareness program for consumers due to low promotion mix: the company faces the problem of proper promotion due to which the customers doesnt know much about the product resulting into less sales of the product instead of being a good product. Lack of marketing mix: ÂÂ  the company suffers with the problem of proper marketing mix which in return results into the whole confusion state and the product does not reach to the customers properly and in fact a lot of them dont know about it also. Delay in supply: the company being situated in the outer parts of the city and its plant not being located in every city causes delay in the supply of the product. (Porter, 1988) Health: Highly dusty environment at the time of dumping the cement is hazardous forÂÂ  health. It affects humans respiratory system adversely. Ultra tech is therefore not contributing to society as its corporate social responsibility remains unfulfilled due to many hazards. Others: Cement industry is highly fragmented and regionalized as Low value commodity makes. As transportation over long distances is uneconomical for value sector, so cost of transporting cement is high and this keeps cement from being profitable over long distances. In other talks, shipping cement costs more than the profit from selling it. PESTEL ANALYSIS: Analysing the above through pestel framework Ultratech was highly affected by the environmental factors. As cement plants are very harmful for the environment causing a lot of pollution and is harmful for the health of human being hence proving that the environmentally it is not good and hence its plants all are made to be situated outside the city where the population rate is low or no population. So Ultratech is bearing great difficulty in managing the environment along with the health issues. OPPORTUNITIES: With the low per capita consumption of cement in India 102 kg compared to the global average of 260 kg and the emphasis on infrastructure development, Ultra tech has ample opportunity to ride the growth curve. Ultratech can develop new marketing area. It can sign MOUs (memorandum of understanding) withÂÂ  government regarding supply of cement forÂÂ  government work. Ultratech can also maintain the position of competition in the market. Institutional market like corporate and offices, school society complexes are growing in large scale, which will increase the requirement. People are opting for more stable structures and good future, so large use of cement is taking place, so government isÂÂ  spending heavily on infrastructure project as Indian industry base is growing rapidly Thus, this is the right time to fully invest in these market. There is regular demand of cement which in turn will increase foreign investment in this sector. As roadsÂÂ  transformation proce ss is going on throughÂÂ  which the traditional method of road building will be convert by modern concrete roads. Substantially lower per capita cement consumption as compared to developing countries (1/3 rd of world average) Per capita cement consumption in India is 82 kgs against a global average of 255 kgs and Asian average of 200 kgs. For green field capacity 20 million tons per annum will be required to match the demand in pipeline for other two years leading to favourable demand supply scenario. (verma, 2008) THREATS:ÂÂ   As huge cement industry emerge there is more competition for ACC (Associated Cement Companies) to carefully enhanced its price , product and at the same time satisfy its dealers and customers. Cheap priced brand are capturing like a mushroom to lower income customerÂÂ  base. Players such as Jaypee Cement, Prism Cement, and Birla cement. ACC cement are eating up considerable market share. Due to India satisfy growth many new international cement companies are expected in coming years which will bring enormous change and can start price war. Government intervention to adjust cement prices Transportation cost is upgrading. Due toÂÂ  loading restriction there is overloading industrialist shows increase in costs due to the shortage in coal industry. Many retailers are influence by better profit margin, andÂÂ  other Benefits because of small industries increase competition among them, which in turn give heavy discount to customer and start malpractices. Timber is also being considered as one of the substitutes of cement, which is cheap and long lasting. Due to continuous attack of earthquake, many countries like Japan, Indonesia, Singapore etc are now using timber in construction since those areas are high earthquake affected. (Kalesh, 2009) PORTERS 5-FORCE MODEL(THREAT) ANALYSIS: Analysing the above through the five forces framework: Threat of New Entrants: TheÂÂ  high costs are major entry barrier for the entry of new players. The high shipment costs make it difficult to import cement. Cement being a high volume low value commodity results in high goods costs, which makes cement imports economically unlikely. Domestic Cement industry is highly integrated from global cement markets. Making cement duty free, as cement is being imported from neighbouring countries. However, due to logistics issues and lack of port, handling capabilities, imports of cement will remain negligible and do not pose a threat to domestic industry of Ultratech. Competitive rivalry between existing players: Previously the rivalry was strong among the players, as the industry was not consolidated. During the last few years the industry has become more consolidated with the Top 3 players Ultratech is having a combined market share of 49 percent in 2005-06 as compared to 32 Percent in 1999-2000. (Porter, 1988) Its competitive analysis is as follows: Domestic players competing Ultratech are: Associated Cement Companies Ltd (ACCL) Associated Cement Companies Ltd manufactures ordinary Portland cement, composite cement and special cement and has begun offering its marketing expertise and distribution facilities to other producers in cement and related areas. The company plans capital expenditure through expansion of existing units and/or through acquisitions. Birla Corp Birla Corps product portfolio includes acetylene gas, auto trim parts, casting, cement, jute goods, yarn, calcium carbide etc. The cement division has an installed capacity of 4.78 million metric tones and produced 4.77 million metric tones of cement in 2003-04. The company has two plants in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and one each in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh and holds a market share of 4.1 per cent. Going forward, the company is setting up its captive Power plant to remain cost competitive. Madras Cements Madras Cements Ltd is one of the oldest cement companies in the southern region and is a part of the Armco group. The company is engaged in cement, clinker, dolomite, dry mortar mix, limestone; ready mix cements (RMC) and units generated from windmills. Lafarge India Lafarge India Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of the Lafarge Group, has a total cement capacity of 5 million tonne and a clinker capacity of 3 million tonne in the country. Lafarge commenced operations in 1999 and currently has a market share of 3.4 per cent. It exports clinker and cement to Bangladesh and Nepal. It produces Portland slag cement, ordinary Portland cement and Portland Pozzolana cement. Grasim-Ultra Tech Cemco Grasims product profile includes viscose staple fiber (VSF), grey cement, white cement, sponge iron, chemicals andÂÂ  textiles. With the acquisition ofÂÂ  Ultra Tech, L Ts cement division inÂÂ  early 2004, Grasim hasÂÂ  now become the worlds seventh largest cement producer with aÂÂ  combined capacity of 31million tones. Grasim (with Ultra Tech) held a marketÂÂ  share of around 21 perÂÂ  cent in 2005-06. Gujarat Ambuja Cements Ltd (GACL) Gujarat Ambuja wasÂÂ  set up inÂÂ  1986 with the commencement ofÂÂ  commercial production at its 2 million tonneÂÂ  plant in Chandrapur, Maharashtra. The group has clinker manufacturing facilities at Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, Punjab and Rajasthan. The company has a market share of around 10 per cent, with aÂÂ  strong foothold in the northern and western markets. ItsÂÂ  total sales aggregated US$ 526ÂÂ  millionwith a capacity ofÂÂ  12.6 million tonne in 2003-04. Gujarat Ambuja is one ofÂÂ  Indias largest cement exporter and one ofÂÂ  the most cost efficient firms. It hasÂÂ  also earmarked around US$ 195-220 million for acquisitions Cements Ltd. CONCLUSION: As India is the second largest producer of cement in the worlds many big player presents in the market after that Ultratech cement increases his market share due to the high growth rate of real estate. Because of continuously growth of ultra tech cement after little yearÂÂ  company may occur top cement manufacturer in India. After swot analysis of Ultra Tech I found that company has many strength, but few weakness also present, there are various opportunities for companyÂÂ  in IndiaÂÂ  and other Asian countries because the infrastructure is continuously developing. Company has won the best Employer award in 2007, so young generation have various career opportunities in it. Overall performance of company is increasing continuouslyÂÂ  in each sectorÂÂ  like as Production, HR, Marketing it is good for company it is soon about to establish a strong brand name in the industry due to its good quality and reputed image that is making it exclusive from its competitor s.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Two Girls with the Courage to Change their World

Although most humans are born free, they can live life bound by the barriers and expectations of society. The novels The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and Sister Wife focus on female protagonists who break out of the moulds their societies place them in and form their own identities. In this essay, I will argue that these novels show how feminism has a positive impact on society and on the individuals who practise it. To do this, I will analyze how the cultures restricted females, how each protagonist resisted conformity, and the successful conclusion each character reached. In The Sweetness of the Bottom of the Pie, the main character, Flavia DeLuce, epitomizes the struggles women faced for equality in England during the 1950’s. In the aftermath of World War II, a new emphasis was placed on the nuclear family as the foundation of society. Although during the war many women worked outside the home and participated in the war effort, after its end they were encouraged to assume roles of wives and mothers as the government aimed to re-establish domesticity as women’s primary occupation. The fictional town of Bishops Lacey was no different. Women were expected to perform domestic work or jobs considered to be specific to their gender, such as a cook or librarian, and men were expected to perform the superior roles, such as detectives, professors or priests. The society Flavia was raised in expected females to be dependent and accepting of their male superiors. Flavia, the protagonist of the novel, can be described as an independent, self-reliant, and persistent eleven year old. Throughout the novel, her feminist qualities and resistance to the moulds of her culture are evident. Flavia verbally declares on several occasions that she is just as capable, if not more so, than her male counterparts: â€Å"Yes, I’d solve this case and present it to him wrapped up in gaily colored ribbons† (95). In this statement Flavia affirms her belief that she has the ability to solve the case just as effectively as the male detectives. Similarly, Sister Wife‘s main character, Celeste, questions the inferior place of women and their lack of rights in the context of a polygamous community. Celeste was born in Unity, home to The Movement, a conservative religious group that lives apart from mainstream, modern society. Unity is a society based on conformity and unwavering obedience, especially when it comes to women. Women in this society are not granted the option to choose; before they are born, their roles in society are already planned, â€Å"Fathers and mothers †¦ from the time your daughter can crawl, you must teach her that she does not belong to you but to the prophet and the man the prophet will assign her to in marriage. Only these men†¦ can take your daughters to the highest degree of the celestial kingdom† (33). This statement, spoken by the prophet, clearly shows the roles of women in Unity and their dependence on the male figures that dominate their society. Celeste, who can be described as an opinionated and individualistic young girl, has to hide aspects of her natural personality to find acceptance in Unity. Celeste begins to question the ways of The Movement as the day when she will be assigned to a husband draws near. She does not want to be married at 15; she seeks higher aspirations, such as â€Å"an education, a career, to fall in love and chose her own husband, to be independent and think for herself† (264). However, Unity would never permit Celeste to do any more than become a celestial wife. A celestial wife is a term commonly used in polygamous communities meaning heavenly or holy wife; a woman can be considered a celestial wife when their husband marries more than one women. This forces Celeste to decide whether to conform to the roles laid out for her, or to resist her male dominated society. In the novel The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, Flavia, contrary to Celeste, avidly verbally and physically, defies her male dominated society. Flavia hates being undermined and judged based on her gender instead of her abilities; â€Å"’why it’s only a girl,’ ‘I could’ve slapped his face,’† (242). These statements occur after Flavia is caught breaking into a boys boarding school. When a teacher notices her he calls the police, assuming that she was a boy and therefore a legitimate threat to security. However, when he discovers that she is a girl, he apologizes for alerting the cops and claims that if he knew, he could have easily dealt with the situation. In Bishops Lacey, many male figures decide the scope of Flavia’s abilities before they get to know her; as a result Flavia receives great joy in proving them wrong. In the beginning of the novel, Flavia discovers a dead body in her front yard. Instead of initiating the expected female response of running to get help, Flavia kneels over the body and exclaims, â€Å"I wish I could say I was scared, but I wasn’t. Quite the contrary. This was by far the most interesting thing that had ever happened to me in my entire life† (29). Although Flavia wakes Dogger, a maintenance worker in the De Luce home, she takes care of the dead body herself. Flavia calls the police, confirms that the victim is dead, and is the first to greet the detectives when they arrive. Her natural ability to remain calm and take control of the situation is very uncharacteristic of the females in Bishops Lacey. Ms. Mullet’s response to the situation is much less refined: â€Å"Oh, good Lord! † (14). Later, when Flavia’s father is charged with the murder, she cannot just watch as men try to wrongly convict him of the crime: â€Å"My duty was to my father and it had fallen upon my shoulders to help him† (152). Despite the detective’s setbacks, Flavia begins to unravel the mystery which will free her father and prove that she is just as capable of solving the case. During her journey to discover the truth, Flavia ignores the rules created by the men in her life, such as ignoring the detective’s obvious worry for her safety, her father’s pleas for her to â€Å"Go home,† and unlawfully breaking into a hotel room and a clock tower (173). Flavia’s determination and unwillingness to rely on men are admiral qualities; however, they do place her in serious danger. Near the end of the mystery Flavia is kidnapped by the murderer Frank Pemberton. Although this is the first time in the novel she shows fear, Flavia still refuses to submit to his demands. Despite the fact that she is physically bound and unable to resist, she believes she can still conquer Pemberton with her wit. Throughout the novel Sister Wife, Celeste also defies the male dominance in her society; however, she does this in a much subtler way. Through the majority of the novel, Celeste mentally resents the restrictions and roles of women in her society; however, physically, she seems to follow and obey the laws laid down by men. This is one of the major differences between the two characters, as Flavia could be characterized as a woman of action whereas Celeste could be described as a woman of thoughts. At the beginning of the novel, Celeste seems to be the perfect daughter: she is obedient and respectful of her culture. However as more of her character is revealed, the reader discovers that Celeste is consumed with thoughts of a life outside Unity. Within the community, Celeste’s lifestyle is so structured that â€Å"a person doesn’t really need to think at all† (11). Yet, Celeste still doubts the system and finds it impossible to accept the prophet’s laws without questioning them: â€Å"God is not in the religious ranting, he’s not in the rules or the sacred book. He is here in this beauty of this divine morning† (129). When Celeste meets a young, attractive boy named Jon, she begins to believe that she should have the right to fall in love with a boy her own age. Although Celeste and Jon’s relationship is banned in Unity and considered blasphemy, neither character can stop romantically seeing the other. Celeste wonders whether â€Å"it’s time for her to change things†¦. Refuse to be assigned to a husband† (49). This shows Celeste’s feminist tendencies and her subtle way of resisting her society. However, Celeste’s loyalty and love for her family prevents her from acting on her desires. When Celeste and Jon are caught, he begs her to leave with him: â€Å"’Celeste you know you don’t want this life’†; she responds: â€Å"‘But I also know that I cannot disgrace my family’† (142). After Jon’s departure, the whole community becomes aware of Celeste’s indiscretion and Celeste reaches a new level of despair. She laments that â€Å"What Daddy wants is right for him. Nobody asked me if being a celestial wife was right for me; if they had I would have said no† (148). Celeste begins to feel like a caged animal and every movement becomes an effort. This leads the reader to conclude that without the right to think independently and make decisions for oneself, people can lose the very essence of what makes them human. The days begin to blur for Celeste and soon she finds herself engaged to Jon’s father. It does not matter how much she is repulsed by the idea of her new husband; Celeste cannot leave Unity and in the end she chooses to marry the one the Lord reveals for her. In the end, Flavia’s resistance to the gender inequality in her society changes Bishops Lacey forever. When sitting in a room alone with a raging murderer, Flavia realizes that there are no miracles in Bishops Lacey. If she wants to live she â€Å"must make things happen for herself† (315). Flavia knows that â€Å"humans were incapable of accepting their own helplessness,† (316) and as a result they have become survivors. She was not giving up without a fight, and although she knew that she could not escape alone, she physically fought Pemberton with everything she had. Flavia proclaimed that â€Å"Napoleon had once called the English a nation of shopkeepers†¦ but we were a nation of survivors, and I, Flavia Sabina De Luce, could see it even in myself,† (331). Even as the strength leaves her body, Flavia stalls Pemberton using her knowledge of the murders he had committed, hopefully buying her rescuer the time he needs. In moments, Dogger arrives, freeing Flavia from Pemberton’s grasp. When Flavia is freed from the pit she had been concealed in, the residents of Bishops Lacey no longer view her as just a girl. They regard her as â€Å"somehow a different Flavia than the one†, they knew â€Å"only two days ago† (349). Flavia will forever be remembered as the girl with enough courage to defy all the odds and uncover the truth. The symbolism of her heroic journey is evident as Pemberton is arrested in complete darkness and her father is released in the light that followed. The idea of darkness becoming light also symbolized the rebirth of Bishops Lacey, as their previous view that â€Å"females were disadvantaged by nature† (275) had been proven false by Flavia’s actions. In the weeks that follow her kidnapping, Flavia comes to be perceived as an equal in her community, consulted by the detectives and police. As a result her independence flourishes. In contrast, Celeste’s resistance to the gender inequality in her society changes her life forever by providing her with enough strength to follow her dreams. Celeste does not find any more happiness in married life than in life with her biological family and feels as though she has â€Å"been sentenced to a life without hope. My heart feels as though it will never heal† (246). This statement reveals the psychological realities of many women trapped within the system of polygamy. To keep a level of sanity, Celeste creates Inukshuks; this allows her to regain some control in her life and feel connected to the earth. As male dominance leaves little room for female imagination, Celeste manages to express herself through her creations and this ends up saving her soul: â€Å"When I concentrate on rocks, I forget everything else, and for those short hours I experience peace† (246). The idea of using an element of creation to explain one’s society and her place in it is a common theme shared by both novels. In The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, Flavia uses chemistry to express her creativity and knowledge, using chemical analogies to explain her world. After only a few months of marriage, Celeste becomes pregnant, and as a result, her devastation increased because a child would forever bind her to Unity. But on the first day of spring her daughter, Hope, is born, and suddenly everything in Celeste’s world changes. She wants her daughter to have everything she did not have: â€Å"I may not have been strong enough to leave Unity for myself, but in this moment I know that I will find the strength to do it for her† (264). Celeste’s dream of escape become reality when she leaves Unity a few months after her daughter is born. The courage to believe that society should have a place where everyone is equal is the foundation of feminism in both the novels Sister Wife and The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. The two female protagonists defy the male dominance in their societies and discover who they truly are. Each character faces the obstacle of a very repressive culture and yet, are able to summon the courage of the feminists who lived before them to resolve the conflicts of their time. Though Flavia’s resolution had more of an immediate impact than Celeste’s, by leaving Unity, Celeste set a new precedent for girls in polygamous communities and helped others realize that there is a way out. Therefore, it is justified to claim that both girls resolved aspects of gender inequality in their societies. These unique women have positively impacted society and contributed to the rights and freedoms modern women enjoy.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Intelligence Agencies and Just War on Terrorism Essay

America and its allies face Ð ° world that has become more and more dangerous with its weapons of mass destruction and Ð ° shadowy world of terrorists more than willing to use them. The wisdom of the past does not have the prescience or universal insight to deal with this new threat. America and its allies must change direction if they wish to respond to the challenge in an effective manner, even if it means employing policies that seemed dubious in the past. The state is called to protect its citizens in Ð ° Machiavellian world, filled with depravity and compromise. The church is called to submit to the superior wisdom of those who have the special intelligence, experience and expertise to handle the current crisis. Our forefathers came from Europe to settle in Ð ° wilderness that was not always hospitable. Death was imminent, and survival was uppermost on all their minds. The settlement in Jamestown, after the death of Powhatan, suffered an unprovoked attack at the hands of the Native Americans in 1622, in which some 375 settlers were massacred. The immediate response was to make Ð ° perfidious treaty with the natives and then starve them by burning their crops late that summer. It was Ð ° matter of survival. It was either ‘us or them’. (Amit 2003 127) â€Å"The same policy was followed by the Puritans of Massachusetts when the Pequot Indians, Ð ° most war-like people, presented an imminent threat in the mind of these settlers. Rather than wait around to die, they proceeded to attack them first, killing in one horrific conflagration of Ð ° Pequot fort some 4oo men, women and children. The exact motives behind the massacre remain unclear, but no doubt survival was uppermost in their minds. Today the situation that confronts the American people is not so different. It is similar to that of their ancestors in many ways and direr in regard to the number of lives at stake. one can debate whether the times have ‘waxed worse and worse’, but it is beyond question that the times have proved ‘more and more critical’ with their weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and the ever-increasing number of potential users. The nation of Israel felt this threat in 1981 when it conducted Ð ° pre-emptive strike against an Iraqi nuclear reactor. The United States roundly condemned the action at the time, but with the threat now facing them from this and other rogue nations Ð ° new policy has emerged. The nefarious intentions of the Iraqi regime are apparent to most observers. It appears as if this regime plans to continue the production of WMD and deliver these weapons themselves or distribute them through the shadowy world of terrorist networks to designated targets in this clandestine manner. The signs of the times are all around us. Iraq already has violated over fifty UN resolutions to date. The UN inspectors revealed that Saddam was vigorously working on Ð ° stockpile of WMD—chemical, biological and nuclear, and by the mid-9os he began to deny them access to his supply. He already has used these weapons against his own people and waves of foot soldiers in his war with Iran. He has pledged on Ð ° number of occasions to bring destruction upon the United States, and even planned the assassination of its former president, George Bush. He has subsidized and continues to support terrorist groups throughout the region, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad according to seized Palestinian documents. His relation to terrorism is Ð ° matter of grave concern. â€Å"(Rahul 2002 37-44) It provides Ð ° special channel to deliver and promote his wicked designs, Bin Laden has called it Ð ° ‘religious duty’ for his minions to obtain and use WMD against the infidels, but he knows that his terrorist network needs help. It is only in the movies that Dr No is able to create the facilities to manufacture and deliver WMD. In the real world of terrorism, the capacity to make and utilize these weapons requires the help of Ð ° government. Aum Shinrikyo, Ð ° Japanese cult, tried to kill thousands of commuters with Ð ° potent nerve agent but managed to kill only Ð ° dozen after spending somewhere around thirty million dollars. The loss of these lives was tragic but much less than expected and displayed the complexity of operations using these agents. The cult was not able to produce the chemical (sarin) in sufficient purity and resorted to using Ð ° most primitive delivery system—carrying it on Ð ° train and piercing bags of it with tips of umbrellas. Ð  government working with Ð ° terrorist organization would produce Ð ° more lethal combination. 3 In light of this threat, it appears as if the only long-term solution is to eliminate the regime in Baghdad. Some would argue that there is no need to rush into war. But one wonders how realistic this option is in view of the track record of the regime. Is it realistic to believe that Iraq would comply with inspectors? It did not the first time around, not in toto, would the UN impose the necessary sanctions and penalties if it did not? Or would it ignore certain closed doors and cave in as it did before to Iraqi demands? And even if unmolested, would the inspectors catch the regime in its lies, knowing that it is likely to play Ð ° shell game and was given four years to hide its weapons? (Bruce 2003 44) Donne’s fatalistic maxim succinctly defines the essential context that modern intelligence services function within, and the variables determining their relative fortunes. Their experiences suggest that they are very human institutions largely shaped by the vagaries of circumstances beyond their control, not to mention misfortune and luck. As refined information used by the state to further national goals and policies, intelligence is directed, collected, analyzed and disseminated (the ‘intelligence cycle’) within the milieu of international politics. Intelligence work must therefore function within the ‘anarchical society’ of Great Powers. 1 Equally significant is the extent to which intelligence functionaries serve at the mercy of their policy masters. The intelligence officers themselves, in their various professional incarnations, are the ‘desperate men’ in this formulation, striving as they do to carry out their risky and/or problematic duties in the face of inertia and outright opposition on the part of rivals, enemies, and occasionally their own countrymen. It is unlikely that any intelligence service in history has ever completely escaped subjugation to such restrictive bondage. â€Å"As mentioned in the previous chapter, the war on al Qaeda should be Ð ° deliberate broad-front attack. It is already that in practice, but the rationale for sustaining this approach is less established and troubles are certain because such Ð ° strategy requires relating the efforts of multiple agencies, subagencies, and even nations, and it sometimes necessitates rapid action. This would seem to require two enhancements of capability which may at first seem contradictory, but they are complementary and equally important. â€Å"(Paul 2002 31) These facts hold particularly true for the office of Strategic Services mission in London, America’s critical liaison and operational intelligence outpost during the Second World War. Expanding to Ð ° peak of 2,800 personnel in 1944, OSS/London was originally established in October 1941 with the arrival of Ð ° single representative, followed by Ð ° staff nucleus the day after America’s entry into the war. Eventually consisting of contingents from the four major OSS branches-Research and Analysis, Secret Intelligence, Special operations, and X-2 (counter-intelligence)-the mission served as Ð ° focal point for Anglo-American intelligence relations in the decisive theatre in the war against Germany. The London mission was at the heart of OSS relations with British intelligence, and as such it personified the essence of that connection in the Allied war effort. The Allied invasion of Europe ensured that OSS/London, more than any other OSS outpost, would have the greatest opportunity to perform Ð ° decisive role in the intelligence war. Other OSS missions would also make important contributions, notably in Cairo, Algiers and Italy; but these were ultimately secondary theatres, while in the Pacific and Asia, OSS never acquired the sound relationship with the military necessary for intelligence operations. London was at the heart of the Allied war effort, and at the heart of the Anglo-American alliance itself. While intelligence exchanges with the Soviet Union have been documented by Bradley F. Smith, London was the ‘big league’ in Allied intelligence during the war. Many significant matters were accordingly played-out there, offering detailed examples of intelligence services in action. The experiences of OSS in London therefore illuminate the process by which America was introduced to the various components of intelligence and clandestine work, and how well American intelligence performed in its own right. As the presumed precursor to the post-war US Central Intelligence Agency, OSS further invites study in order to understand the antecedents of America’s Cold War intelligence service. The significant Anglo-American context of the evolution of modern American intelligence moreover suggests that the Anglo-American ‘Special Relationship’ had an intelligence component that was manifested most strongly and clearly in OSS/London. (Bruce 2oo3 75) The mission thus provides Ð ° case study of how US intelligence matured and became institutionalized within the context of the larger Anglo-American political-military alliance. This analysis accordingly examines an aspect of that alliance and of intelligence history in particular, that has not yet been explored in any comprehensive detail. It is part of Ð ° current historiographical review of the significance of intelligence services in military and international affairs. It specifically examines OSS/London within the context of Anglo-American relations, as well as the evolution of both modern American, and Allied, intelligence during the Second World War. The general research approach blends what has been termed the American and British ‘schools’ of intelligence scholarship. The more historical nature of British intelligence studies has been noted by Kenneth G. Robertson, while Roy Godson’s ‘Intelligence: an American View’, in Robertson’s British and American Approaches to Intelligence, distinguishes between this historical methodology and the more conceptual or theoretical nature of American studies (for example, Sherman Kent’s Strategic Intelligence for American World Policy). British diplomatic historian D. C. Watt has therefore identified these approaches as two distinct schools of intelligence study, though Ð ° recent noteworthy British contribution to the theoretical school is Michael Herman’s Intelligence Power in Peace and War, which surveys the interrelationship between post-war structures, tasks, and effectiveness. This study for its part demonstrates the influences of both schools by linking theoretical concepts to the role of intelligence ties within the larger wartime Anglo-American alliance. (Neville 2004 45)

Friday, November 8, 2019

Is the Banana Republic Credit Card Right For You Full Review

Is the Banana Republic Credit Card Right For You Full Review SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The Banana Republic credit card is a solid option for frequent shoppers looking to earn points, but like many store brand cards, it’s not without it’s pitfalls. You may be wondering: what are the pros and cons of the Banana Republic credit card? Do I have to be a frequent shopper at Banana Republic to reap any benefits? What do users say about this card, and how does it stack up against similar cards? Is this card right for me? In this post, we’ll answer all these questions and more, doing an in-depth review of the Banana Republic credit card so you can make a fully informed decision about whether or not to apply. What Is the Banana Republic Credit Card? First, let’s discuss the basics. Banana Republic is one of the brands under the Gap, Inc. umbrella, which also includes The Gap, Old Navy, and Athleta. There are technically two Banana Republic cards: the Bananacard and the Banana Republic Visa Card. When you sign up, depending on your credit, you'll be given one of them. If you have poor to limited credit, you’ll be given the Bananacard. The Bananacard is a basic store card. A store card works like a credit card except it can only be used at the brand or umbrella brands that issues it. It won’t work if you try to use it to purchase anything anywhere else. So the Bananacard can only be used in-store or at any of the other Gap Inc. brands. If you have good credit, you’ll be given the the Banana Republic card. The Banana Republic card is an actual Visa credit card, so it can be used at any of those stores but also be anywhere else Visa is accepted. It’s a chip card with standard fraud protection services, and the primary cardholder can add an authorized user. Regardless of the card you get, you will receive 20% off your first purchase at any Gap, Inc. store by signing up. In this post, we will focus on the Banana Republic Visa card and its upgrade, the Banana Republic Luxe card. If you love to shop at BR, this could be a great card for you- but there are a few caveats! What Are the Banana Republic Credit Card Features and Rewards? As stated above, when you open a Banana Republic Visa credit card, you will receive a 20% discount off the first purchase made with that card at a Gap-branded store. Beyond that, each purchase made by the credit card earns points. Cardholders receive: 3,000 bonus points (worth $30) when you make your first purchase outside the Gap, Inc. brands five points for every $1 spent at any Gap, Inc. brand, and one point for every $1 spent elsewhere. no annual fee for the card These points can be used on purchases made both online and in person. If you don’t use the points during the billing cycle you earn them in, they are rolled over into the next cycle for up to two years before they expire. In addition to points, cardholders also receive: access to exclusive sales and events throughout the year at Banana Republic and their factory stores birthday coupons every Tuesday, 10% off at every affiliated store except Banana Republic Signing up for email account updates will get you 500 bonus points, and opting in for paperless statements gets you another 500, for a fairly easy $10 back. One big benefit of the Banana Republic Visa card is the lack of an annual fee. The Banana Republic Luxe Upgrade If the cardholder meets certain criteria, they can upgrade to the Banana Republic Luxe card. These criteria are that the cardholder: must earn 5,000 reward points annually, ie, spend $1,000 or more with it per year, must keep the account in good standing, and must make the minimum payments due. Luxe Upgrade Benefits The Luxe card offers some additional benefits that the regular visa doesn’t, including: a quarterly bonus of 20% of the points earned that quarter (a three-month period, so four times a year), once per quarter, a choose-your-own-sale day in which triple the regular points (15 points per dollar spent or 15% back) are awarded, free three-to-five-day shipping of online purchases at any of the Gap, Inc. brands, and unlimited alterations of Banana Republic merchandise. You have to use your Banana Republic Luxe card at least once per year at a Gap, Inc. store to maintain Luxe status. There is no annual fee on the Luxe card either. Free shipping is a great perk of the Luxe card for online shoppers! What are the Downsides of the Banana Republic Visa Card? The Banana Republic Visa card does have several drawbacks. The biggest downside is that, like most store credit cards, there is a very high interest rate charged on Banana Republic Visa cards, and there’s no reduced rates initially. They have a 25.24% APR, which is actually even higher than the 23.88% average for store credit cards. This means that you absolutely shouldn’t hold a balance from month to month: you should pay off your balance in full each month to avoid very high fees. Secondly, it should be noted that the points do expire after twenty-four months. You also can’t redeem more than 25,000 points (up to $250) in a single billing period or more than three rewards earnings on any one purchase. Together, these limitations make it necessary to redeem your points very regularly in the small amounts allowed in order to maximize your benefits. They do this because this encourages more frequent shopping on your part! Moreover, there is a 3% foreign transaction fee, so this card would not be a good choice to use abroad. Another thing to consider is that some of the promotions and coupons that cardholders receive get â€Å"leaked† online, so you can search for, find, and use the codes pretty easily via sites like Retailmenot. Finally, the card is issued by Synchrony Financial, and customer reviews for Synchrony aren’t that great. Many cardholders report confusing contract terms, slow response times when fixing statement inaccuracies, and bad customer service. However, it’s hard to find good reviews of any consumer financial services company, so take this with a grain of salt. Lots of people open store cards around the holidays to try and save money on gifts! The Bottom Line: Is the Banana Republic Card For Me? If you are a frequent or even a semi-frequent shopper at Banana Republic, Gap, Old Navy, Athleta, or any of the Gap, Inc. brands, this card has a very competitive rewards structure and would be a good choice for you. The 5% cash-back on all of their many brands combined with the lack of annual fee make it good for shoppers looking to save money. Plus, the free shipping and alterations for Luxe cardholders are an excellent perk. Families with children and parents who frequently the many Gap, Inc. brands will find this card especially helpful. However, you need to be able to pay the full balance on the statement every month. Otherwise, with its extremely high APR, it will become more expensive than it’s worth. If you rarely shop at Banana Republic, Gap, Old Navy, Athleta, or any of the Gap, Inc. brands, this card isn’t for you. The 1% points deal on all other purchases is only about average for a credit card, and you should be able to get better deals depending on where your money does go. Note that most retailer cards also have a high interest rate and no annual fee, so these perks won’t help you decide between store cards. But if you don’t shop at Gap, Inc. brands or any other one store or company that often, it’s a better idea to go for a more general credit card anyway, which often offer better financing options for those who need to carry a balance- especially considering that the "point" reward system will not be useful to you, since it's different from cash back. If you're thinking about getting the Gap visa card instead, note that the two cards are almost identical in terms of costs and benefits (very literally- the Gap card has the exact same rewards structure and it also applies to all Gap, Inc. brands). The only exception being on the first Tuesday of every month, Gap cardholders get 10% off at Gap.com and in Gap stores.