Definite vs. Definitive

Definite vs. Definitive Definite vs. Definitive Definite vs. Definitive By Maeve Maddox A reader asks, Would you please explain what is the difference between definite and definitive. Definite is the adjective to use in the sense of clear, certain, unambiguous. For example: Think carefully before choosing 24-bit and 96kHz, unless you have a  definite reason  for wanting these options.   One sets out into the forest for  a definite reason  and with a  definite  goal in mind. I asked my boyfriend to  give me a definite answer  about our future. Use definitive when the sense is decisive, complete, authoritative, final, determinate. Edward Van Halen: A Definitive Biography Five Reasons the 1978  Superman  Remains Definitive The Definitive Guide to Cancer, 3rd Edition The first comprehensive  psychiatry  textbook to integrate the new DSM-5 ® criteria, this acclaimed gold standard is  the definitive guide  for a new era in  psychiatric education and practice. Here are examples of definitive used in contexts that call for plain old definite: Just want a definitive answer can my 2 year old use the kids club facilities My girlfriend broke up with  me, but  she  never gave a  definitive reason as to  why. He  can’t actually  give me a definitive reason as to  why  he  doesn’t like cats. Both words connote the setting of limits, but definitive goes further than definite to mean â€Å"most complete, most authoritative.† A definitive reason, answer, or decision is one that satisfies a specific body of criteria. Studies, textbooks, and decisions by such authorities as the Supreme Court may be said to be definitive. If all you mean is unambiguous, use definite. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Possessive of Proper Names Ending in SWhat's a Male Mistress?Especially vs. Specially

15 Quick and Easy College Breakfast Ideas

15 Quick and Easy College Breakfast Ideas If youre one of the rare college students who actually eat breakfast, chances are youre rushed for time and short on ideas. And if youre one of the many college students who skip breakfast, chances are youre hungry for most of the day. Eating breakfast- even during your crazy-busy college years- is, as your mom told you, highly important. That little morning meal can help you focus, maintain your energy, prevent you from overeating throughout the day, and generally help kick-start your day. So what kinds of things can you eat that wont break the bank- or your waistline? 15 College Breakfast Ideas Muffins. You can buy pre-packaged muffins or you can make them yourself. Either way, they wont go stale for a while and they are easy to grab (and eat!) as youre running out the door.Toasted English muffin and peanut butter. Its easy. Its cheap. And its full of protein to help you power through your day.Peanut butter and jelly. Even the busiest of students can find 30 seconds to put together this classic sandwich.A piece of fresh fruit. Consider an apple or a banana- theyre natures original to-go foods and theyre good for you, too.Granola or energy bars. Keep an eye on the calories, but these little bars can pack a big dose of protein to help you make it through your morning.Veggies. Who says you can only have fruit for breakfast? Grab a bag of baby carrots and munch all the way to class. Added bonus: You can keep the snack bag with you throughout the day and munch as needed.Yogurt. You can get yogurt in a cup, in a smoothie, or even in a frozen pop. And yogurt is a healthy breakfast that often tastes like dessert. Whats not to like? Cereal and milk. Its a classic for a reason. Consider buying cereal in bulk, too; you can split it with your friends and save some serious cash.Dry cereal in a baggie. Dont have time to eat a nice bowl of your favorite cereal with milk? Pour some cereal in a Ziploc bag for an instant, on-the-go snack.Trail mix. The stuff can last for weeks and is a great way to power up without losing too much time- or cash. Just make sure the mix you choose isnt candy in disguise.Breakfast burritos. You can buy frozen ones you can heat up in the microwave, or make your own ahead of time for maximum convenience and savings. Tortillas scrambled eggs cheese other tasty items an awesome breakfast you can eat on the run. Consider adding leftovers from last nights dinner (veggies, rice, beans, and meat) for variety and extra flavor.Frozen waffles or pancakes. You can buy these frozen or make them yourself and then freeze them. Either way, a quick drop in the toaster or microwave leads to a great hot b reakfast with little to no effort. Pop Tarts or their equivalent. Consider buying a generic brand; youll save money but still get a little morning treat.Cheese and crackers. Cut a few slices of cheese, grab some crackers, and throw everything in a small Ziploc bag. Youll have a tasty breakfast ready in under a minute.Dried fruit. A small baggie of dried apricots, pineapples, apples, or other fruits you enjoy is an easy way to get a healthy, fruit-based breakfast- without having to worry about the fruit going bad. Consider buying in bulk to save money.

Business-Level and Corporate-Level Strategies Essay - 13

Business-Level and Corporate-Level Strategies - Essay Example The operations carried out at America, China, and United Kingdom was very successful. It provides online shopping opportunity to its customers. Its main objective is to provide better life to its customers with the help of the donations in kind. Wal-Mart is managed by Walton family as it is a family owned business. It has around 2.2 million employees across the world. Corporate level mainly deals with framing the mission and vision of the organization and planning accordingly to reach the desired goal. It formulates different strategies which are required for attainment of objectives of the company. The Functional level objectives are derived from that of the corporate level. This level develops coordination between the corporate and business unit level. In this complex environment of the business, the strategies are required to be formulated. This strategy is very well defined as in this level the marketing strategy will be further divided between the sales. The strategy in this level helps in the attainment of functional objectives of the organization (Hoskisson, Hitt and Ireland, 2012). Strategic management is required for the growth of the organization. It helps in the formulation of effective business environment. Business strategy is compared and formulated with the five forces that build competition. The strategic position of the company can be determined by the business level strategy. Wal-Mart adopts competitive advantage by delivering unique product to its customers by providing a standardized product at a lowest competitive price. The company can select any one from the given strategies to gain competitive advantage by delivering uniqueness in the product and lowering down the cost. The retail industry focuses on the cost leadership strategy to sustain in the market and narrowing the competitive scope. When the company provides unique product the customers will be willing to pay a premium for the product. Corporate level refers to the strategy

Corporate and interpersonal communication seminar paper Essay

Corporate and interpersonal communication seminar paper - Essay Example corporations, even as early as the 1980s when the term â€Å"greenwashing† gained popular usage as a neologism to describe seedy corporate tactics, to advertise products as â€Å"green†, exploiting corporate social responsibility and corporate ethics as a means of promoting one’s products and services as more altruistic (or ethical) than those of competitors. From the perspective of the corporation, greenwashing is advantageous for those in one’s target market because it gives an additional selling point. Even if the greenwash is an exaggeration, rather than an outright lie, the marketing of that product is able to create a short- and long-term benefit scheme with which to sell the product. However, a corporation facing the accusation of greenwashing can quickly find itself in a public relations feud with environmental groups that are increasingly loud and vocal with those sympathetic with what it is trying to achieve. Additionally, because of the prevalence of greenwashing in American industries, it is likely environmental marketing groups like TerraChoice and ENN are set on making an example of demonizing corporations accused of greenwashing their products and services, due to the prevalence of the practice among primary competitors in most industries. Therefore, responding to an accusation of greenwashing from consumer or envir onmental interest groups is a tricky situation no corporation should underestimate, especially given the increasing weight the value of environmental sustainability is being given in the new â€Å"green economy†. What defines the concept of a greenwash, however, might befuddle some in-house marketers, advertisers, and public relations people for a loop both in understanding the nature of acceptable practices in product promotion and in the proper response to an accusation of such fraud. Irrefutably, the best way of preventing an accusation of an act is no consciously avoid committing such an act in the first place; but, of course, it is

Effective Approaches to Leadership Essay Example for Free

Effective Approaches to Leadership Essay There is talk that the nursing shortage is over, but the facts show that there is a substantial nursing shortage which is projected to intensify over the next several years. This fact alone will increase the demand on the remaining nurses leading to nurse burn out and increased turnover rates. Nurses are the largest group of health care professionals in America, but the majority of the nurses are close to retirement age (Institute of Medicine [IOM], 2010). This paper will address the issue of nursing shortage, nurse turnover and how nurse leaders and managers are approaching these issues, along with the personal and professional philosophy of nursing of the author of this paper. There are many reasons why a nursing shortage exists, and why it is only going to get worse over the next several years. The median age of the nursing workforce is 46 years of age and almost 50 percent of all nurses are close to retirement, which will substantially impact the nursing shortage (American Nurses Association, 2013). The Affordable Care Act of 2010 ensures that every American have access to affordable health care (U. S. Department of Health Human Services, 2013). This places an additional demand for nurses, and further increases the shortage. The results of the advances in medicine has increased the average life span, increasing the number of people living with chronic illness, and also increasing patient acuity levels which in turn increases the demand for advanced educated practioners. Nursing colleges and universities across the county are struggling to expand their enrollment levels in order to meet the rising demand for nursing care (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2012). Reductions in nursing budgets together with the growing nursing shortage has resulted in nurses working more, taking care of sicker patients and at risk for making mistakes. This further complicates the nursing shortage as this type of environment only drives the current nursing force away from the bedside. The current Registered Nurse turnover rate is 14% (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2012). One incentive that management and leadership nurses should be aspiring to is Magnet Status. The American Nurses Association in 1990 developed the Magnet status in an effort to reward hospitals that attract and retain nurses who demonstrate excellence in nursing practice (American Nurses Credentialing Center, 2013).

God And The Problem Of Evil Essay -- Religion Evil God religious Essay

God And The Problem Of Evil Everyday it is possible to read a newspaper, or turn on TV or radio news and learn about evil going on in our world. Banks are robbed, cars are stolen, violent murders and rapes are committed. Somewhere in the world the aftershock of an earthquake is being felt. Cancer is killing millions of people each year, while other debilitating conditions continue to affect many with no cure to end their suffering. President Bush said that our country is fighting a war against evil. We all agree that evil is real and cannot be ignored; the problem comes when we try and rationalize the concept of God and evil coexisting. Two types of evil exist in our world today. Natural evil occurs when earthquakes, hurricanes, and storms occur causing devastation in the world. Moral evil occurs when a person makes a choice as to how he will act in a certain situation. Everyday moral decisions are made. People decide whether to steal, give in to anger and harm another, falsify information, and behave in a way unacceptable to society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The problem of evil is this; If God is loving, then he would want to end evil; and if he is all-powerful he would be able to do just that. Since evil exists, how can God be both omnipotent and loving? The Christian Science answer to this question is that evil is an illusion of the human mind. The Judaic/Christian faiths do not hold to this theory. The Bible is full of descriptions of good and evil in human life. Evil is pictured as dark and ugly. The ultimate example of evil for the Christian is the crucifixion of Jesus, a violent rejection of God’s Messiah. St. Augustine’s view is that the universe is good, (a creation of a good God and meant for a good purpose). He does not hold to the belief that matter is evil. He believes that there are higher, and lower, greater, and lesser goods in abundance and variety. â€Å"Everything is good in its own way, except that it may have become spoiled or corrupted.† Whether the evil is an instance of pain, or some disorder in nature, it is the distortion of something intrinsically valuable. Since evil is negative, logic would reason that it was not willed or created by God. Why does an all-powerful God allow suffering and pain? What about moral evil? Why was a world created in which such things exist? One defense for evil is the free-will defense. This says that peop... ...il depends on his definition of God and the word good. Most people think good means the best possible outcome, the absence of pain or problem, pleasure and happiness. Loosing is not good to us, even if loosing might help to develop good sportsmanship or a good work ethic. We do not consider being in need good, though it may help us to appreciate the times when we had plenty. A debilitating disease or handicap is not good, though any life has positive moments, and joy can be found if it is looked for. Our negative responses to all these things helps to create their outcome. How sad it would be if God has simply created a world devoid of any problems with people who never need struggle with making the right decision. Whether it is called â€Å"soul making† or character development the world is enriched by qualities such as love, compassion, generosity, and mercy. No definite answer can be reached as to why evil exists, but philosophy helps us to examine our own beliefs and consider why it is we think as we do. Sources: Augustine, St. Augustine’s Confessions VII.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hick, John. Philosophy of Religion 2nd Edition. Mackie, J. L. â€Å"Evil and Omnipotence† Mind. April 1955.

Opportunities for Students to Practice Speaking in Class

This class is composed of 30 students in Grade 6 aged from 13 to 14, whose English level is quite deferent. About 20% of them are good at English, and they are active and participant in class, while 40% of them are poor at English, so they often remain quiet In class and sometimes can't follow the teacher. And the rest of them are of average level. They want to learn English well and are trying as hard as possible, but sometimes they are shy in class and like to be audiences rather than getting involved n class activities themselves.In this lesson, I want to focus on helping students compare and describe life in different places by using different sentence patterns to express past and present events. In addition, during the whole lesson hope to crate more opportunities for students to practice speaking in class as well as encourage the weak and average students to speak out their Ideas bravely. Sample 1. Context: At the beginning of the class, I showed students two maps of Kitty's ol d and new flat and asked them, â€Å"Did she live near or far away from school? However, one of the students answered, â€Å"Yes, she lived far away from school. Comment: Since this was the second period of a new lesson, I intended to check how much the students had learned about the text in the previous period, so I started it with an alternative question. However, the student didn't answer it right, which was beyond my expectation. To grade 6 students, the lead-in sentence seemed to be too complicated with alternative question for them to grasp though they were simple. They weren't able to respond correctly both In content and grammar. Appropriately In engage grading plays a vital role In a language teacher.Therefore, Instead of Glenn a confusing lead-in instruction, I could have simply elicited a question, † Did Kitty live near school? Which would be easy for them to answer without feeling nervous after answering it wrong. And I can lead in the new lesson in an more effec tive way. Sample 2 Context: in the final part of the lesson, I asked students to work in pairs and talk about their deferent school life by using the given sentence patterns and key words. While one pair was doing the practice in front of the whole class, another pair of dents was still talking to each other about the class activity.In order to keep the class under control, I neglected the two students who were doing the practice and simply said In a loud voice, † Let's listen to them carefully and no chatting! † However, embarrassed. Comment: Although classroom management is a must for an effective lesson, my tone of instruction to keep the class under control was not very friendly. I shouldn't have interrupted the students because it broke their chain of thought suddenly and they didn't know what to do in that situation. Instead, I could have monitored the class in an more effective way by walking to them and asking them to stop talking with my body language.Sample 3 C ontext: In order to have a smooth transit from Kitty's life in different places to students' real life in different schools, I created a situation by saying, † Tom is a photographer( stress on the first syllable) for our school newspaper, and he has taken many photos about our school life. Please look at his pictures on the PPTP and think about the life in your primary school. Let's work in pairs and finish the speaking activity together. Comment: Accuracy in word pronunciation when giving a clear instruction is a basic requirement for a language teacher.Here, I gave an inaccurate stress on the word : photographer. The correct stress should be on the second syllable instead of the first one. Enough attention should be paid next time I speak out the word. Sample 4 Context: In a drill related to the key sentence patterns of the lesson, I showed students two pictures of a swimming pool and the sea and elicit a dialogue for them to practice as follows: T: What did Kitty and Ben do when they lived in the city enter? S: When they lived in the city center, they swim in the swimming pool. T: They swim? S: Oh, they swam in the swimming pool.T: Now they live in the suburbs. Where do they swim? In the sea. S: Now they swim Comment: In order to make the student aware of his mistake in grammar, I repeat the mistake with rising intonation and stress on the mistaken word so that he can pay attention to it and correct themselves immediately. Here I tried to get students to self-correct with echo correct clearly and effectively and I got instant expected feedback. Sample 5 Context: Two pictures were shown on the PPTP about Kitty and Ben getting up when they lived in the city center and when they live in the suburbs.There was a clock elicit the following questions: T: Look at the picture. What time did Kitty and Ben get up in the past? S: They got up at seven o'clock in the past. T: Did they get up late? S: Yes, they did. T: Now look at this picture. What time do they get up now? S: Now they get up at half past six. T: Do they get up late now? S: No, they don't. They get up early. T: Can you finish the sentence now? When they lived in the city center, they Now they live in the suburbs, and they After answering these questions, students can finish the sentence easily and correctly.Comment: In order to check whether students have understood the target sentence structure â€Å"When they lived †¦. , they got up I elicited several concept checking questions to make sure that they have grasped the meaning of a new sentence structure. I broke down the meaning or concept of the target structure into a number of simple questions for students to have a clear idea of it. Besides, I also showed the employed sentence on the PPTP to make the pattern of the grammar clear so that the students can memorize it better.Sample 6 Context: Two pictures were shown on the PPTP. One was a TV set and the other was the sky full of bright stars. T: Now let's look at the t wo pictures. (Teacher points to the pictures). They are about Ben and Kitty's life at night. This time let's do a pair work in two minutes. (Show students the pattern of pair work) Let's go! SSL: What did Kitty and Ben do at night when they lived in the city center? SO: When they †¦ , they SSL : Now they live in the suburbs. What do they do at night? SO: Now they K, time is up. Let's come back.Any volunteers? (Students raised their hands). K, good. Stand up please. Comment: Although it is not always necessary to use Instruction Concept Questions, they can often make sure that the learners know exactly what they are asked to do in class step by step. Here I broke down my instructions into a series of simple chunked statements so that students could understand and respond to them quickly. As a result, they could be more involved and participant in the class activities and contribute more to the class. Candidate Name: Lion Gonzalez

Oliver Twist the novel Essay

In Oliver Twist, the novel, Dickens uses a variety of language techniques to show how villainous Bill Sikes is. The vocabulary he uses is course and elementary. That, with the use of short, sharp sentences gives a fierce thuggish effect. In the film, Bill Sikes is calm in his words however with brutal with his actions. In the film adaptation he is also presented with a delicate, more human side rather than being pot rayed as a monster all the time, like in the novel. This is helped with the non-diegetic sound, to help create and eerie and tense atmosphere. In the novel, Dickens describes him as a ‘Robber, Housekeeper’ these negative words add to his person as wanting to be the alpha-male. The language Sikes uses is not thought out properly. He says whatever comes into his head and this is why he is always quick to reply. In the film, even though Nancy explains herself, he hits her, and only after hitting her he realises what he has done. In conclusion, the way that Bill Sikes is presented as a villain in both the original novel by Charles Dickens and the BBC film adaptation are quite different. The villainy and the traits of Bill Sikes are portrayed by the language used by Charles Dickens which is short and sharp for fast paced action. The interactions of Bill Sikes with the other characters in the scene and chapter in which Bill Sikes completely ignores Fagin’s warnings and is very brutal to Nancy. Furthermore his villainy is also enhanced by the author’s and the film maker’s craft and use of various devices such as non-diegetic music and how Bill Sikes is called various names in the novel and finally his presentation of a villain is also based upon how he treats Nancy and how he reacts to his surroundings. In the novel he is presented to far more villainous than he is in the BBC film adaptation as in the adaptation there is remorse and regret over Nancy’s death.

The Consumers Decision

The Consumers Decision Introduction Consumers are individuals or groups that drive the economy by purchasing goods and services. Consumer behavior tries to explain why, how and when people do not buy or do buy products and services (Schiffman Kanuk, 2010, p. 12). As a matter of fact, it blends both aspects of sociology, psychology, social anthropology and economics.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Consumers Decision-Making Process specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In a broad perspective, consumer behavior tends to give us a better understanding of various consumer demographics and behavioral variables. Consumer behavior tries to give us a good insight on the influence of groups and the society on a given consumer. These groups can be friends, family and reference groups (Schiffman Kanuk, 2010, p. 12). On the other hand, a consumer plays the roles of being a payer, user and buyer. Discussion Consumer behavior Consumer behavior can be further understood by looking at various buyer characteristics. This can be motivations, attitudes, personality, perceptions, lifestyle and knowledge. Most of these consumer actions are directed towards the satisfaction of needs and wants. A consumer can not make a decision unless he/she has been influenced to do so. This can emanate from either internal or external influences. Internal influences can be psychographics and demographics that are further reinforced by individual characteristics (Nigel, 2007, p. 21). External influences on the other hand, can be locality, culture, family, sex, social class or lifestyle. These aspects have an impact on the overall consumer decision. Behind the noble act of making purchases by consumers, there lies a decision process. Consumer decision making process This brings us to the consumer decision making process that goes through various stages. These include; problem recognition, information search, alternative evaluation, decision and then post decision evaluation (Nigel, 2007, p. 28). Problem recognition is where a consumer sees a significant difference between his two states (actual and ideal) These individual notions are got from personal expectations and aspirations. In addition, consumers will know what is ideal through reference groups, culture and effective marketing. This will lead them to the next stage of information search that may be either internal or external.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Internal information search can be done by recalling experiences and feelings. Feelings are mostly a recollection of brands and products. Information about evaluation and attributes can also be recalled (Sandhusen, 2000, p. 32). On the other hand, external search revolves around information that is sourced from outside sources. By doing this, consumers will be engaged in an ongoing sea rch and pre-purchase. These external sources can be media search, independent search, retailers’ search and internet sources. Consumers engage in external search because of their ability, motivation and opportunity to process information (Schiffman Kanuk, 2010, p. 12). After this stage, consumers have to evaluate various alternatives. This is done by identifying alternatives and a good evaluative criterion. In addition, it involves the identification of brands which ends up with the rating of various product alternatives. After this has been done, consumers are now free to make decisions. This is done by the selection and purchase of product alternatives. These decision rules can be either compensatory or non compensatory (Sandhusen, 2000, p. 39). Finally, the decision making process ends with post decision evaluation. This means that consumers will have to evaluate products as they use them. In the end, we will have dissatisfied and satisfied consumers. Consumer behavior ha s in most occasions been influenced by various circumstances. These circumstances revolve around the purchase of a given good or service. It should be understood that there are various factors that influence a given consumer behavior (Joshi, 2005, p. 16). These can be; cost of goods or services, number of alternatives considered, degree of information search, length of time to make a decision and the level of consumer involvement. In a broad perspective, they can be grouped as social, cultural, individual and psychological factors. The impact of digital revolution on consumer behavior This brings us to an important aspect of the impact of digital revolution on consumer behavior. It is undeniable that the internet (digital revolution) has changed the way people (consumers) obtain information about potential purchases. This therefore means that technology is changing their lives as consumers. Digital revolution has redefined marketing with more emphasis being laid on one-to-one market ing. This is aimed at attaining customers, selling more products and making profits.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Consumers Decision-Making Process specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Digital revolution has enhanced the customization of products and services (Bigne, 2005, p. 34). This means that promotional messages are being done in a different way that has never been seen before. In addition, it has enhanced relationships with distinct customers. As a matter of fact, there are various changes to the business environment as a result of digital revolution. These changes have increased consumer power and access to information. Because of this, consumers are more informed about products. Since producers and manufacturers have access to various consumer patterns and preferences, more products and services are being offered. This is because digital revolution has increased and widened the market (Bigne, 200 5, p. 39). In addition, consumers have access to interactive and instant exchanges. This has redefined the normal and traditional behavior that they were used to. In this case, consumers can order for goods online and pay electronically. This evolution (to consumer behavior) has been enhanced by web connection and mobile phones. The internet and digital revolution has changed the way consumers obtain products. A notable impact has been felt from the way consumers make purchases all over the world. Digital revolution has been characterized by the emergence of a one stop shop for all products and services. This has almost killed the traditional market place. Consumers can now access a variety of goods and services at the click of a button without any problem (Bigne, 2005, p. 39). This has ultimately changed their general behavior as consumers. Increased access to information means that consumers are in a better position to make informed decisions. This can be done at their own time an d convenience without any major concerns. Marketers on the other hand are in a better position to gather information about consumers. This enables them to devise new approaches to consumer behavior. In the long run, the general consumer patterns and behavior are altered. The most significant impact of digital revolution on consumer behavior can be seen in the purchase of goods and services (Joshi, 2005, p. 18). This is characterized by e-shopping carts and numerous electronic pay services. Definitely, this gives a new definition to the general consumer behavior. In addition, consumers have learnt to adapt to the ever- changing electronic market. This means that they have embraced e-shopping in their daily lives. Digital revolution allows and offers a responsive user friendly purchasing experience. In this case, consumers can get more value for their money as they purchase products and services. As much as digital revolution has had a positive impact on consumer behavior, there are v arious concerns that need to be attended to.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There is an argument that the social aspect of shopping is being eroded (Bigne, 2005, p. 76). This is because some people enjoy talking to shoppers and sales staffs. Therefore, the social reward aspect of shopping does not exist in digital and online shopping. In addition, web access is still a problem to most consumers. This implies that low penetration of e-commerce in these areas will limit their use. There is need to deal with security concerns that have been brought about by digital revolution (Bigne, 2005, p. 98). Conclusion Digital revolution continues to have a big impact on consumer behavior. As a matter of fact, it has enhanced the customization of products and services. This means that promotional messages are being done in a different way that has never seen before. In addition, it has enhanced relationships with distinct customers. On the other hand, there are various changes to the business environment as a result of digital revolution. These changes have increased con sumer power and access to information. Because of this, consumers are more informed about products. Consumer behavior has in most occasions been influenced by various circumstances. These circumstances revolve around the purchase of a given good or service. It should be understood that there are various factors that influence consumer behavior. These can be; cost of goods or services, number of alternatives considered, degree of information search, length of time to make a decision and the level of consumer involvement. In a broad perspective, they can be grouped as social, cultural, individual and psychological factors. Reference List Bigne, E. (2005). The Impact of Internet User Shopping Patterns and Demographics on Consumer Mobile Buying Behavior. Valencia: University of Valencia press. Joshi, R. M. (2005). International Marketing. New York: Oxford University Press. Nigel, B. (2007). Marketing Research: Tools and Techniques. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Sandhusen, L, R. (2000 ). Marketing. New York: Barrons Educational Series. Schiffman, G, L., Kanuk, L, L. (2010). Consumer Behavior. USA: Pearson Education.

The Battle of the Alamo 1836 - Texas Revolution

The Battle of the Alamo 1836 - Texas Revolution Battle of the Alamo -  Conflict Dates: The siege of the Alamo took place from February 23 to March 6, 1836, during the Texas Revolution (1835-1836). Armies Commanders: Texans Colonel William Travis Jim BowieDavy Crockett180-250 men21 guns Mexicans General Antonio Là ³pez de Santa Anna 6,000 men20 guns Background: In the wake of the Battle of Gonzales which opened the Texas Revolution, a Texan force under Stephen F. Austin encircled the Mexican garrison in the town of San Antonio de Bà ©xar. On December 11, 1835, after an eight-week siege, Austins men were able to compel General Martà ­n Perfecto de Cos to surrender. Occupying the town, the defenders were paroled with the requirement that they forfeit the majority of their supplies and weapons as well as not fight against the Constitution of 1824. The fall of Cos command eliminated the last major Mexican force in Texas. Returning to friendly territory, Cos provided his superior, General Antonio Là ³pez de Santa Anna, with information about the uprising in Texas. Santa Anna Prepares: Seeking to take a hard line with the rebelling Texans and angered by perceived American interference in Texas, Santa Anna ordered a resolution passed stating that any foreigners found fighting in the province would be treated as pirates.   As such, they would be immediately executed. While these intentions were communicated to US President Andrew Jackson, it is unlikely that many of the American volunteers in Texas were aware of the Mexican intention to forego taking prisoners. Establishing his headquarters at San Luis Potosà ­, Santa Anna began assembling an army of 6,000 with the goal of marching north and putting down the revolt in Texas. In early 1836, after adding 20 guns to his command, he began marching north through Saltillo and Coahuila. Fortifying the Alamo: To the north in San Antonio, Texan forces were occupying the Misià ³n San Antonio de Valero, also known as the Alamo. Possessing a large enclosed courtyard, the Alamo had first been occupied by Cos men during siege of the town the previous fall. Under the command of Colonel James Neill, the future of the Alamo soon proved a matter of debate for the Texan leadership. Far from the majority of the provinces settlements, San Antonio was short on both supplies and men.   As such, General Sam Houston advised that the Alamo be demolished and directed Colonel Jim Bowie to take a force of volunteers to accomplish this task. Arriving on January 19, Bowie found that work to improve the missions defenses had been successful and he was persuaded by Neill that the post could be held as well as that it was an important barrier between Mexico and the Texas settlements. During this time Major Green B. Jameson had constructed platforms along the missions walls to allow the emplacement of captured Mexican artillery and to provide firing positions for infantry. Though useful, these platforms left the upper bodies of the defenders exposed. Initially manned by about 100 volunteers, the missions garrison grew as January passed. The Alamo was again reinforced on February 3, with the arrival of 29 men under Lieutenant Colonel William Travis. A few days later, Neill, departed to deal with an illness in his family and left Travis in charge. Travis ascent to command did not sit well with Jim Bowie. A renowned frontiersman, Bowie argued with Travis over who should lead until it was agreed that the former would command the volunteers and the latter the regulars. Another notable frontiersman arrived on February 8, when Davy Crockett rode into the Alamo with 12 men. The Mexicans Arrive: As preparations moved forward, the defenders, relying on faulty intelligence, came to believe that the Mexicans would not arrive until mid-March. To the surprise of the garrison, Santa Annas army arrived outside of San Antonio on February 23. Having marched through driving snow and foul weather, Santa Anna reached the town a month sooner than the Texans anticipated. Surrounding the mission, Santa Anna sent a courier requesting the Alamos surrender. To this Travis responded by firing one of the missions cannon. Seeing that the Texans planned to resist, Santa Anna laid siege to the mission. The next day, Bowie fell ill and full command passed to Travis. Badly outnumbered, Travis sent out riders asking for reinforcements. Under Siege: Traviss calls went largely unanswered as the Texans lacked the strength to fight Santa Annas larger army. As the days passed the Mexicans slowly worked their lines closer to the Alamo, with their artillery reducing the missions walls. At 1:00 AM, on March 1, 32 men from Gonzales were able to ride through the Mexican lines to join the defenders. With the situation grim, legend states that Travis drew a line in the sand and asked all those willing to stay and fight to step over it. All except one did. The Final Assault: At dawn on March 6, Santa Annas men launched their final attack on the Alamo. Flying a red flag and playing the El Degà ¼ello bugle call, Santa Anna signaled that no quarter would be given to the defenders. Sending 1,400-1,600 men forward in four columns they overwhelmed the Alamos tiny garrison. One column, led by General Cos, broke through the missions north wall and poured into the Alamo. It is believed that Travis was killed resisting this breach. As the Mexicans entered the Alamo, brutal hand-to-hand fighting ensued until almost the entire garrison had been killed. Records indicate that seven may have survived the fighting, but were summarily executed by Santa Anna. Battle of the Alamo -  Aftermath: The Battle of the Alamo cost the Texans the entire 180-250-man garrison. Mexican casualties are disputed but were approximately 600 killed and wounded. While Travis and Bowie were killed in the fighting, Crocketts death is a subject of controversy. While some sources state that he was killed during the battle, others indicate that he was one of the seven survivors executed on Santa Annas orders. Following his victory at the Alamo, Santa Anna moved quickly to destroy Houstons small Texas Army. Outnumbered, Houston began retreating towards the US border. Moving with a flying column of 1,400 men, Santa Anna encountered the Texans at San Jacinto on April 21, 1836. Charging the Mexican camp, and yelling Remember the Alamo, Houstons men routed Santa Annas troops. The next day, Santa Anna was captured effectively securing Texan independence. Selected Sources The AlamoBattle of the AlamoTexas State Library: Battle of the Alamo

Ruskins Influence on Victorian Architecture Essay

Ruskins Influence on Victorian Architecture - Essay Example For many years, theorists in Victoria believed that a building not only conveyed meanings but also communicate these meanings in deep precision.1 The meanings communicated vary widely from the society, past, present, the architect, occupants, materials, man, God, its functions, among other meanings, all encoded in its form. However, most Victorian authors believed that between the Middle Ages and the 19th century, the unique architecture in Victoria lost its identity and meaning, and had become dishonest, empty and irrelevant.1 Ruskin was called a prophet and a true polymath with thorough knowledge of the Bible, which he deeply knew, and intimately meditated by heart.2 He was later to use this knowledge to reform this art that had lost meaning. Due to this immense understanding, Ruskin sought to know more and understand the world around him, and would later become a reformer to remedy the evils of a â€Å"dissolutely reforming and vulgarly manufacturing age.†3 Ruskin saw an En gland that had sacrificed, and ignored the love of man, and had embraced the love of wealth and progress, which was honesty to self-interests. 1. Kaufman N.E., (1982). The weight and vigor of their masses: mid-Victorian churches and the lamp of Power in the Ruskin Polygon. Manchester: John Dixon Hunt., p30 2. Atwood, S.E., (2006). â€Å"A cowslip form an oxlip and a blackthorn form a white:† Ruskin’s educational; philosophy and Fors Clavigera. UMI, Ann Arbor, 48106-1346., p1 3. Craig, D.M., (2004). Naves and Nukes: John Ruskin as â€Å"Augustinian† social theorist? Journal of Religious Ethics, 32(2); pp325-356. Ruskin remarked that the world had forgotten and done way with its soul, and has to be brought back to the things that determined its peace and coexistence.4 It was due to the immorality in the society that Ruskin developed a moral philosophy, which he taught through architectural works and drawings. For example, he likened buildings with sentiment beings remarking that the wall should be â€Å"like an organized creature†, which answer, and can end in living energetically. Generally, Ruskin remarked how wonderful it would be to read buildings, and how more wonderful it would be, if these buildings could speak to people.5 Ruskin aim was to transform the society in England through his deep moral teachings, and love for nature that represented coexistence and harmony. His â€Å"logical drives through deep religious impulses was not a clerical career but was more of a prophetic one†.6 Through his artistic work Ruskin, continued to advocate social reforms, though he declined any pretensions of leadership.6 To explain his simplicity and value for home as representing families, Ruskin had much if his paintings on domestic architecture. Ruskin had a love for picturesque, the essence of a house as a home, and the idea that a home has to be built by the inhabitants.7 Largely, Ruskin opened a new dimension in artistic work where he saw artistic work, and economic life as mutually reinforcing realms of human entity, either for good or bad, depending on the social relationships that govern the two.8 His treasure on unity and aesthetic is found when he defended the gothic style in terms of its appreciation for higher and lower nature of all things.9 4. Masterfield, J. (1920).