Inadequate Qualified Nurses Essay

HealthCare industry in United States and across the globe carried so much responsibility that they are often referred to as â€Å"god† because of the relevance, power and most importantly, their job as lifesaver. Health Care industry is a very lucrative industry in United States and they constitute the large workforce. Despite of all their numerous duties and the entire good job, they are doing, â€Å"The problem Lies Within: Inadequate Qualified Personnel. Health Care industries in United States constitute of a large workforce and most importantly, it is an essential service that carries duty non-stop. The inadequacy of the Nurses, the qualified ones, have been blamed on many factors such as working environment, societal attitude about the profession, to mention but few. The shortage of Nurse appears to be heading towards a path of decline unless an urgent measure is taken to address the situation. That not only the majority of nursing professional are aging but many young people are choosing other careers. This could be because of the hours of work put into the job, as well as the stress involved. In view of this, the experienced among them are opting out and look for less stressful and more lucrative careers. According to the statement, by the House of Education and Workforce Committee, â€Å"The nursing workforce is aging and there are not enough new nurses entering the profession to replace those retiring or leaving† (Heinrich, 2001). A survey conducted shows that half of the current employed RNs by the Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals had considered leaving the patient care field for reasons other than retirement over the past two years (Heinrich, 2001). The implications is that less qualified personnel will be handling most of the health issues which is very dangerous and most importantly all the administrators and other facilities will be affected. Meanwhile, the economy will be affected as well as social issues. The statistical rates of the birth and death rate will be affected as well. The Death rate according to the statistical data released by the United States Census bureau shows a significant increase in death rate since 2008. Most aged people and our seniors will have to be the ones that bear the great effect of this, as they need the attention as well as the touch of our Nurses. The shortage of Nurses is the issue that affects anyone who is a provider or consumer of healthcare services in United States. From the foregoing, it is clear that â€Å"Problem Exists†- Inadequate Qualified Nurses. There is no problem without a remedy or a solution. Having identified the problem, the next thing is to look for the ways out. The first thing is to improve the working conditions and the workplace environment; government should encourage the students with tuition assistance and grants as this would serve as a motives for the intended ones who will like to enroll in nursing school, though the present administration have promised to invest in education and training, this is a good step in a right direction. We should also develop a strategy for awareness and respect for the profession; this they can do to uplift the profession. Government should invest in this noble venture as well and thereby encouraging people to have an interest in the profession. There should be incentives to the new and old among them, as this would put a stop to frequent occupational mobility moving from one job to other. The incentives such as tuition reimbursement, employee’s stock purchase plan, and other incentives that improve the working environment. Finally, improving the workplace environment starts from within the profession itself. We have to take pride in whatever we are doing and this is very significant as willingness to do things come from the inside and not when someone are forced or coerced to do so. References Heinrich, J (2001, July 10). Emerging nurse shortages due to multiple factors. FDCH government account reports. Retrieved from http://ehostvgw20.epnet.com Nursing Shortage: It is likely to get worse before it gets better (Electronic Version) (2001 August) Occupational Health Management, 11(8). 85 The Evolving Nursing Shortage: A Study of Nursing Shortage in America Retrieved from: http://www.ayatravelnursingjobs.com/nursingshortage/ Facts on the Nursing Shortage in North America: Why is there a Nursing Shortage? Retrieved from: http://www.nursingsociety.org/Media/Pages/shortage.aspx

A Beautiful Mind takes place over the course of forty seven years in John Nash’s life

A Beautiful Mind takes place over the course of forty seven years in John Nash's life. It is based on a true story. The film begins with John Nash as he is entering into graduate school at Princeton in the late 1940's and lasts through the reception of his Nobel Prize in 1994. During his schooling he lives on campus alone, but a few years after he graduates, he meets Alicia Larde. Eventually he marries her, and they move in to together and have a son. Throughout the span of the film he develops schizophrenia and his condition progresses, until he is diagnosed, after which treatment is implemented. He seems to suffer from schizophrenia paranoid type, because of the prominence of his delusions, as well as his numerous interpersonal problems. The first symptom that John Nash displays which can be used to classify him clinically as schizophrenic is disturbance of language. When he is working on a difficult mathematics problem, or walking from one place to another, he mutters unintelligible things to himself. Often when coming out of one of his hallucinations he is under a lot of stress and begins talking nonsense, such as when he was giving his infant son a bath. When his wife returned to find the baby nearly drowning, John Nash insists, even though he is alone in the room, that his old college roommate, who doesn't exist, was watching the baby. Further, he claims that Charles was injected with a sort of serum that made him invisible. The meaning of his claims doesn't make sense within the context of the situation. Also, at the beginning of the movie, in response to a challenge, he tells his classmate that he is â€Å"terrified, mortified, petrified, and stupefied,† by him, which could be a form of clanging, although it actually makes sense. His disturbance of language mainly results from his disruption of perception, which includes rather complex hallucinations. The first hallucination he has, which follows him for the rest of his life, is his roommate, Charles Herman, whom he ‘meets' in graduate school. Soon after, John Nash is introduced to six year old Marcee, Charles' niece. After graduating, and being appointed to a position at Wheeler Lab, his work with the government prompts another hallucination-this time of a top secret government investigator, a William Parcher, who goes on to give Nash an assortment of ‘assignments. The many delusions that he suffers can be classified under disturbance of thought. First of all he exhibits delusions of grandeur. He estimates himself at such a high importance level that he feels as though he is invincible, and should not be capable of losing-even in a board game. Also after doing minor work with the government, he thinks he's a spy, allowing him to work with top secret government documents, but that is just a part of his delusions of grandeur. Really believing he is a spy has to do with his confused sense of self. Being a spy is a position he has created for himself. Even after being forcibly admitted to the psychiatric hospital, he continues to believe they are his enemies, that they hospital staff are merely Russians trying to trick him into divulging his secrets. He's so paranoid, that when his wife, Alicia, comes to visit at the hospital, he warns her that ‘they' may be listening through microphones. John Nash feels persecuted by his friends and the doctors. He thinks they are simply out to get him, because he cannot realize the condition he is in. There are two clear examples of inappropriate emotion that Nash exhibits in this film. When he is studying in the library at Princeton, he casually mentions how he watched a woman get mugged, and then continues to display the mathematical equation he drew depicting the event. As his hallucination of Charles Herman points out to him, it's not normal to sit by calmly and watch as a woman's purse gets stolen. Second of all, when his baby nearly drowns because of his carelessness, he does not seem very upset, and cannot understand why his wife is so distraught. John Nash can be considered abnormal by evaluating him under several characteristics. All of these symptoms that he displays throughout the movie fit the criteria perfectly. First off he shows a deviation from normal and ideal mental health. People in his life began to notice that something is just not right with John. His wife finds herself in denial, but near the end she sees it, too. Because of his condition he suffers from nearly constant personal distress and discomfort. His classmates taunt him, and even losing a simple game with one of them upsets him and sends him off running, mumbling to himself in a disturbed way. His frustration with himself at not being able to solve math problems or come up with a topic for his doctorate thesis, interfere with his functioning in everyday life. He spends the majority of his time obsessing over his work-real and imagined. Hours and hours every night he pores over magazines for his government â€Å"boss† (one of his hallucinations) trying to discern top secret codes and patterns, but in reality he is just idling away his time that should be spent with his family or performing his job. He can't seem to control his obsession with following the instructions his hallucinations give him to the point where it impairs his functioning as an instructor, a husband, and a father. He's a danger to himself, as well as to others. In graduate school in a fit of frustration he cracks his head against a glass window, cutting his head open, and once committed to the psychiatric hospital he digs a hole in his arm until he starts bleeding, trying to find the secret code he believes is implanted in his skin. Dr. Rosen, the psychologist, after a careful examination of John Nash, gives him the professional diagnosis of schizophrenia. Of the two types of schizophrenia, reactive and process, John Nash is most likely suffering from process schizophrenia, because of factors involving the way the disease progressed. His symptoms developed gradually, beginning as early as graduate school in Princeton, when he first started ‘seeing' his college roommate, Charles Herman-rather than resulting from a specific precipitating stressor. The symptoms began, as noted, supposedly close to the time when he begins graduate school, and continue to get progressively worse as time passes, lasting throughout his entire life. This type of schizophrenia has a poorer prognosis compared to the sudden-onset Reactive schizophrenia, and even though the doctors administer insulin shock and prescribe pills for John Nash, his symptoms still persist into his old age. This film begins simultaneously with John Nash's entrance into graduate school, and that is also when development of his schizophrenic symptoms began. Despite the fact that the film does not give evidence of his pre-morbid personality, it can be inferred that Nash has always had social problems. At one point he informs his ‘roommate' that he doesn't much like people, and neither do people much like him, which leads the audience to believe that he has struggled with social relationships for most of his life. In the several bar scenes, he attempts conversations with women, but finds himself lacking the social skills necessary to keep any of their favors the moment he opens his mouth to speak. In his opening line to one girl he proposes â€Å"intercourse,† in addition to mentioning something regarding â€Å"the exchange of fluids. † And his best friend in the world turns out to be a hallucination. John Nash manages to maintain only one close relationship during the entire film, and that is to his wife, Alicia-and even that tie becomes stressed when his symptoms began to increase in severity. To put John Nash's behavior into a theoretical framework, both of his methods of treatment can be taken into account. His doctors at the psychiatric hospital administer him a vigorous program of insulin shocks to begin treatment. After which he is put on a prescription of drugs to control his symptoms. According to the Biological theory his schizophrenia had to be caused by some abnormality in his genes, resulting in either a dysfunction in his nervous or endocrine systems. To correct for this Dr Rosen, his doctor, prescribed a course of medical treatments, which seemed to work, because Nash's hallucinations, as well as other symptoms, went away. The medicine had unpleasant side effects for Nash-interfering in his work because he could not focus on equations, and disrupting his personal life, because he could not respond to his wife sexually, nor interact with his son-so he decided quit taking the medication and to try a different method. John Nash's personal opinion was that he could learn to control his symptoms on his own. He felt that life wasn't worth living if he couldn't do it on his own terms, if he couldn't work, relate to his wife, or raise his son. He took on an Existential perspective, holding to beliefs that he had the freewill to be responsible for his own condition. He decided that he did not have to pay attention to his hallucinations, and while they never left him completely, he was able to live day to day without getting caught up in them to the point where it would interfere with his functioning. He chose to get better, and thought the symptoms did not go away, he was able to develop discipline on his own to ignore them. My question is how the lack of social skills is related to his development of schizophrenia. Did he suffer from poor social skills, and as a result, his condition was catalyzed by the consequential lack of meaningful relationships? Or were his poor communication proficiency and lack of perception early warning signs of the disease to come? For the paranoid type of schizophrenia, there are automatically interpersonal problems taken into account, because of the bizarre behavior, regarding interaction with their hallucinations. People suffering from negative symptoms-and thus having few social skills-tend to have a smaller social network to support them throughout the difficulty of their disease, which deprives them of the ability to function independently (Macdonald, 1998, p. 275). Lack of social skills and appropriate social responses has been determined to be caused by the slowing down of visual processing in schizophrenics. By administering a test of visual apprehension, it was shown that schizophrenics take longer to visually register gestures and facial expressions, and often the social clue lasts too briefly to be understood (Sergi, 2002, p. 239). John Nash, to begin with, has a very difficult time operating in social situations. Even his third grade teacher commented that he was give two brains, and only half a heart, so apparently his lack of social skills stems from his childhood. Since he was not able to build up a social support network prior to the development of his disorder, it was more challenging for him to be able to function normally within society again on his own. Eventually, though, it is his relationship with his wife, and his desire to be there for her, which helps him in dealing with the ongoing symptoms so that he can survive from each day to the next without giving in. Research has found that neurocognitive functioning, or a dysfunction in neurocognitive functioning-due to a biologically based disorder, like Schizophrenia-may have an effect on specific social skills. In turn, the hindrance of those skills could then indirectly affect the level of social functioning in an individual (Addington, 1998, p. 65). Thus, the disorder is not the cause or the social dysfunction, but neither is the lack in social skills a risk factor for developing Schizophrenia. While these two factors do not have a causational relationship, they do seem to have a correlational relationship-meaning the presence of one would indicate a higher probability of also detecting the other.

Organisational Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 2

Organisational Change - Essay Example St. Mungo’s is a reputed charity that works for the vulnerable individual of the society. The employees engaged within St. Mungo’s are highly experienced and loyal towards the activities of the organisation. However, with the recent merger of St. Mungo’s with Broadway, the reliability and dependability of the employees declined and it affected the position of the organisation significantly. The employees called for a strike and it declined the success rate of the organisation in the upcoming days as compared to other competitors. The prime cause for the strike is the pay cut of the loyal and existing employees of St. Mungo’s. The non-monetary benefits that the employees received from the organisation are also restricted by the senior management with the help of reorganisation and hence, it proved negative for the employees. However, the restrictions are mainly applicable for the employees of St. Mungo’s and not for the Broadway staff. This is the ma in key reason that increased the anger of the employees of St. Mungo’s and hence, it resulted in the commencement of a strike (Kotter and Schlesinger, 2007). There are different types of organisational change that would be used by the managers to prevent the organisation from any sort of challenging situation. However, types of organisational change are segmented into two segments such as evolutionary and revolutionary change (Lewin, 2012). As per the view of Schein (2012), constant improvement may be possible only through evolutionary change.

A critical review for article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

A critical review for - Article Example The reason for choosing these three countries was the fact that each depicted a comprehensively contrasting outlook with regard to the role of adult members and their subsequent role performance. The studies are based on the assessment of the workforce division and government policies in line with this division. Countries from the region of Scandinavia have shown equal and positive distribution of work load between the adult members. To encourage the men’s participation and in comparison to maternity leave, a daddy leave was introduced that would allow the parents looking into the domestic aspect and possibly the children’s upbringing and other associated factors. Other countries have shown traces of encouraging similar trend and pattern between the members of family. For example Czech Republic came up with similar move and idea of making maximum use of the women’s abilities in a more effective manner. Other variables taken into account are the level of education, the number of children, the age group and other parameters and dynamics that have direct or indirect influence on the house activities and working patterns. Other questions put forth included the questions asking if the male family member should participate more actively in the household activities and to little surprise, the women supported the idea of involving the men in household chores undertaking. The aim was to assess the findings in terms of the variations that may have taken place between the span of eight years in which these findings and surveys were carried out. The question of happy married life and the potential causes of divorce and separation were studied in the light of factors that have an impact on the overall domestic environment and working behavior. The studied conducted revealed that the families with conventional mindset and roles assignment depicted low rates of instability. However the increased number

Race and Your Community Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Race and Your Community - Research Paper Example The basic reason for this is that racial diversity in many parts of the world is becoming commonplace including my own neighborhood. Racial diversity and tolerance has become increasingly essential for ones growth in the society we live in. This paper looks into various influences of race in my community in Atlanta, GA. Discussion Living in America as an African American is not easy and the case is not any different in Atlanta. I am currently employed at South Fulton Medical Center where people of all races converge for their medical needs. I therefore have a deep understanding of all the aspects that surround people of different races. It is however important to appreciate that people of all races, African Americans, Caucasians, Hispanic etc seem to have similar values and beliefs (Sanjek & Gregory, 1994). My family values were that all people are equal in the eyes of God and we should see all as equal. Racism in my community is not a big problem but it is a cause for concern. When I was a small child I remember that all children played games together irrespective of ones race. We even played video games, went out together and even had sleepovers. I remember also with delight how we used to be punished by our friends’ parents who were of different race and my parents would take it as a normal act of instilling discipline in all of us. The basic discipline revolved around respecting elders, one another and oneself. The level of insecurity at our neighborhood was at par with some of the best of the affluent communities but there were still some racial differences. The media in Atlanta is one that tries to capture all issues as they are irrespective of characters involved. What matters to them is the story at the end of the day and to keep all people irrespective of race, glued to the various stations. College games are at the forefront in media coverage together with many other activities. The media has for a long time tried to identify with people of all races by capturing all that is in the offing without being biased (Hartmann & Cornell, 2007). The media in Atlanta therefore offers a good platform for Black Americans like me, Caucasians, Hispanic and others to be showcased in whatever they do. Leadership in Atlanta especially in my community represents the racial diversity in the city and its environs. People have come here from all parts of United States and abroad and it is surprising to see that even people who were immigrants are leading in various departments and areas in the city (Solomos & Goldberg, 2002). Examples are the department heads in my workplace; they are 20% Black Americans, 45% Caucasians and the rest take 35%. Many of these posts are not elected but appointed which indicates that the level of racial segregation is low in my neighborhood and workplace as compared to other states in the US. This was however not the case when my parents were young as almost all the posts of leadership, political or otherwise, wer e occupied by Caucasians. It is therefore the wishes of leaders to ensure that this outfit is abolished by treating all people as equals. Minority groups to a large extent are appreciated in my community. There has been a growing trend of Atlanta picking liberalism and becoming an all-rounded city. According to Bagby (May 2010), examples are the gay community in the city who are mostly found in Midtown, black Americans, Hispanic and Asians. For one to appreciate that these people’

History of Christian Thought - Final Exam Questions Essay

History of Christian Thought - Final Exam Questions - Essay Example They were concerned with the future consequences of the kingdom. They identified themselves as â€Å"The Community of the Poor† and their social philosophies always favored the poor people (Frend, 27-28). Jesus Christ was given a violent death by his antagonists who crucified him onto a cross. The Jewish religion believed that the prophets usually sacrificed their lives as a martyr, and Jesus death occurred in a similar circumstance. Of course, being the â€Å"Son of God†, he resurrected himself within three days of his dying. Thus, his followers came to regard him as â€Å"the true and faithful martyr† who sacrificed his life for the salvation of mankind (Frend, 54). Paul, a religious genius, shifted the Christian ideology away from Palestinian Judaism to the Jewish cultural centers in Europe and Asia Minor. According to him, although Christianity was a reform movement within Judaism, one could become a Christian only through a formal process of baptism to the r eligion. However, Paul had not respected the Christian followers at Jerusalem and they naturally opposed his philosophies (Frend, 89). 2. During the 2nd century, Rome emerged as the leading center in Christianity. According to the account in Clement I, the Roman Church was governed by presbyter bishops, instead of a single authoritative bishop. Hermas’ account suggests that different religious officials were responsible of carrying out different tasks: Clement was in charge of the foreign correspondence of the Church while other bishops or overseers were asked to monitor the area of hospitality and other charitable activities of the institution. During this time, Rome also started implementing beneficial activities for communities living beyond the city (Frend, 130). During 130-180, the Christian religion experienced the advent of the Gnostic movement. The movement advocated a form of Gentile Christianity, which encouraged its followers to encompass all kinds of knowledge and experience in their ultimate aim of achieving salvation centering around the divinity of Christ. Basilides, Valentinus, and Heracleon were three of the pioneering teachers of the movement, who working in Alexandria, spread its influence to Rome, Italy, Asia Minor and the Rhone valley. The Gnostic philosophy laid the foundation for the Alexandrian school of theology and Christian Platonism, which flourished in the subsequent centuries (Frend, 195). During this time, the Christian religion was retained its presence although in a smaller scale. During the second century, Christians had become almost a minority in certain places of the western world. By this time, new religious movements were also emerging which differed from Christianity in their basic ideals. Religious fanaticism had reached such a peak that, Christians being a minority began to be persecuted at different places of the Roman Empire. 3. During the 2nd and the 3rd centuries, the Roman Empire started to witness evidence of religious syncretism among its citizens. During the ancient time, the empire had been under the pagan influence after which the Christian religion had become popular among the people. Now, influences of other religions had started percolating into Christianity and the people had started to include these new practices within their existing

Service Learning Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Service Learning Report - Essay Example I devised ways to develop student’s interest in active learning experiencing increased classroom participation by the end of the Service Learning project. I developed a higher sense of flexibility as compared to the time prior to this project. Students are highly unpredictable and as a teacher, one has to make sure individual awkward situations do not interfere with the rest of the lesson/ activities. I am prepared to handle change in a better way which includes predicting, planning and effecting control measures that aim to deliver the primary objectives of the lesson. I have enhanced my team building and leading skills. This stems from appreciation of unique talents, skills and ability of students and linking them into productive units/ groups. I was able to determine weaknesses in students and utilized the students in delivering classroom content beyond the actual lesson period. This raised the confidence of the weak students who improved in their class participation. I have improved my communication skills especially through listening and interpretation. I worked more on reading the student’s body language to determine the most appropriate reaction to their contribution. The experience has taught me to reflect on every aspect of learning before, during and after the classroom sessions. This opens ways to criticize and respond to assignments at a higher level than plain reading and research. Reflection helps to internalize subject contents and enhances knowledge absorption to a level that can allow for appropriate application in real life. As a student, preparing for the lesson places one at a better position to understand the teacher and respond well to the classroom content. I am a dynamic individual who excellently connects with class work when the practical aspect is put into perspective. Despite being the tutor, the simulation of the culture in Saudi Arabia made me anticipate and recall a

Analysis of Hungarian Financial Crisis Case Study

Analysis of Hungarian Financial Crisis - Case Study Example The occurrence of the international financial crisis has forced the financial markets to reexamine their patience to tolerate uncertainty. Day by day as the financial disaster increased, this, in turn, resulted in the reduction of international liquidity and also an increase in uncertainty. On the other hand, the shareholders had started to distinguish among the rising markets and judged that the Hungarian possessions have become riskier. However, it can be concluded that the vulnerability of the Hungarian economy was mostly due to these uncertainties. In this situation, the Hungarian authorities were not very sure in what way they would handle these problems. They examined the market more minutely and had increased the deposit securities as per the European Union policy. But still this policy did not work and the Hungarian government was not able to save the public from this financial crisis and there was instability throughout the economy. So, in such a situation the Hungarian gove rnment had no other option than to take help from the International Monetary Fund and the European Union (Horvath, 1-2).  Ã‚   Moreover, auctions were held to sell the new government bonds, but this too did not work. Again the shares of the Hungarian bank had fallen to a great extent. The forint had started to fall; the rates of interest had started to increase. The security market of the Hungarian government had suffered huge loss and also there was the scarcity of liquidity in different financial institutions. The Hungarian authority already had huge debt under the communist administration. The GDP-debt ratio had decreased from 90% to 50% in the year 2001. Again due to incorrect policies adopted in the year 2002 the ratio had increased to about 15% and this resulted in a 65% rise in GDP. On the other hand, the debts of the Czech Republic and Slovakia were 30% and 50% respectively (Horvath, 1-3). Reasons for Hungarian Weakness In the year 2008, Hungary was the first member of the European Union who had wanted financial help from the International Monetary Fund. This was considered as a failure of the Hunga rian government. At this moment it was very difficult to state that in the near future which are the other countries who will have to face such a crisis and which country will be most affected.

Employment Law Essay Example for Free

Employment Law Essay 1. On Friday March 16, 2012 14 workers of the Elizabeth R. Wellborn law firm in Deerfield Beach FL were fired for wearing the color orange to work. During the course of the work day the 14 employees were called into a conference room and told by management that they had interpreted the practice as some kind of a protest. One of the employees then responded by saying the group was wearing orange in order to promote that they were all together when they planned to go out for drinks after work. After conferring, the managers returned and announced that they all were immediately fired. Florida, like many other states, is a work â€Å"at will† state meaning technically the reason for the employees firing does not matter. Employees who are at will are not under contract for any definite period of time and can be fired at any time for any reason, good or bad, or no reason at all as long as the reason is not illegal or discriminatory. The former employees of the firm are basically claiming that the firm violated some of the accepted limitations to the â€Å"at will† rule. 2. Of the many judicially imposed limitations to the rule one of the generally accepted is that employees are protected from protesting working conditions. This brings up many questions for this specific issue as to the exact facts of why the employees were terminated. Originally they were told their orange shirts were being seen as some sort of a protest. After the employees denied this the management then meet outside the room and decided that they all would be fired. The question that arises is were they fired because they were thought to be staging a protest, or just because they had all decided to wear orange? Also, since the employees have publically denied actually trying to protest does that mean they are not protected by the limitation? Another possible issue with the firing is whether or not the employer was acting in good faith and fair dealing. Under the employee handbook of the law firm there was no specific mention to an employee not being allowed to wear a certain color. In the context that some of the former employees were speaking it was made to sound as if the practice of wearing orange to work on Fridays had been going on for some time without any problem. Therefore did the law firm suddenly violate an unwritten agreement that employees are allowed to wear whatever color they choose to work, and would this qualify as the employer acting in bad faith against the employees? 3. My opinion on the issue is that there certainly seems more to the story than what is being presented. In an interview on the Sun Sentinel website now former employee Janice Doble stated that a new manager started in the office around March 2nd, and that the manager had a habit of fake tanning. She suggests that maybe the manager had a â€Å"complex†, basically saying that the manager possibly interpreted the orange shirts as a way for the employees to mock him or her. Obviously, if this was the actual intent of wearing orange on Fridays the former employees would most likely not admit to it in public or in a court of law. Even if this was the actual reason for wearing orange that would mean the firing’s would be protected under the â€Å"at will† rule regardless if it is seen as a valid or invalid reason for termination. This entire issue serves as a good example of why the â€Å"at will† doctrine exists in the first place. If this issue is taken to court it would very quickly deteriorate into a he said/she said argument with very little actual verifiable facts to contend. As previously stated, it can almost be guaranteed that there is much more to the issue than will ever come out in public or in court, and without those facts it would be difficult to make a well informed decision on what is just or unjust. Because of that courts rightly leave issues like this one to be decided by a standard doctrine. If in fact these employees were wrongly terminated for simply wearing orange, unfortunately they may never be compensated for the wages that they lost which is the downside to the issue. However, justice may have already been served to the law firm by the media, since the firm will definitely have a hard time finding 14 new employees to work in what may be a toxic environment where they have to worry about being fired at any moment. Also, this bad publicity may hurt the business aspect of the law firm for some time to come.

Trends in Computer Hardwares Essay Example for Free

Trends in Computer Hardwares Essay In the last two decades, businesses have come to rely more and more on technology, notably with the increased prominence of the PC and the ever demonstrated boundless resilience of the Internet.   Whereas, if 10 years ago had these innovations fallen out of use, businesses would not have even worked themselves up, these days virtually all of these companies would have completely grounded to a halt.   Indeed, there is not much work any business can do today without the aid of technology.    In the not-so-distant past business defined technology.   Today, the question is already of how to use technology in growing the business.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The most familiar computer hardware to most people is the PC.   Over recent years since 2000, the PC has basically become faster with the improvements on the micro chip, which came in various versions designed and released by industry leaders Microsoft, Macintosh, and AMD.   Improvements in circuitry make the PC more reliable, while memory capacity is increased.    Meanwhile, the physical size has become smaller, though no less powerful, resulting in more compact machines, as well as the rise of more powerful laptops (Computer Hardware, in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, 2007).   Scott Williams of Hispanic Business Magazine (2004) quoted Christopher Ireland, CEO of consulting firm Cheskin, in that sales in laptops would increase in the future and thus earn a larger share of the pie of the PC-buying dollar.   According to him, sales volume for laptops was less than 25 percent in January 2000, which shot up to 54 percent in 2003. As can be observed even by the non-specialists, the trend in computer hardware development has moved towards faster, smaller, cheaper –getting better, overall.   As far as the hardware market will go, Gartner, Inc. released in 2003 their predictions on the hardware market trend in the Asia Pacific Region over a 4-year period, specifically focusing on client-part, server, storage and documentation hardware.   The report graphed the PCs to dominate most market sales, while workstations would tend to be the least purchased.   Market for all the mentioned hardware was said to peak at 2005, and then gradually decrease into 2007 (Wu, 2003).   The benefits for the business world from the onset of technological developments, therefore, are two-sided: it affects both vendors of computer products and the corporate consumers who use the products. As for the present time, technologies continue to become more sophisticated and expand possibilities in communication and business, as well.   Advancements in wireless technology have resulted in greater connectivity.   Continued improvements on the USB have led to the Certified Wireless USB, which will utilize the connectivity of Ultra-wideband (UWB) radio technology. Wireless USB revolutionizes the â€Å"interoperable connections† and brings it into the wireless world (Universal Serial Bus [USB], 2007).   UWB, meanwhile, is a recent short- innovation in low-power, short-range wireless technology, specifically designed for wireless personal area networks (WPANs).   It functions similarly to Bluetooth, but enables the transmission of high-bandwidth data like video and audio between devices, and complements longer range technologies (Intel Corporation, 2007).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Arguably the second most familiar gadgets after the PC, mobile phones and handheld devices are among the rapidly morphing technologies in recent years.   Along with increased mobility, features like a colored display, built-in digital camera, mp3 player and internet access are among the latest innovations, and are undergoing still more transformations yet.   A new technology expected in the near future in cell phones and handhelds is an Organic Light Emitting Device (OLED) display, which is self-luminous and does not require backlighting (Williams, 2004).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The development of technologies closely related to business has evolved, as well.   One of the big challenges to companies is the storage of massive amounts of information that is sustainable, secure, and into as less space as can be managed.   As information pours out from more and more channels, humans cannot react to the volumes of data that needs to be managed. Now more than ever, businesses need the applications in information technology to store and manage incredible amounts of data in a scalable manner.   A concept that is emerging in talks among business analysts is virtualization.   One of its perceived functions is running multiple virtual servers so as to no longer add new servers when running new applications.   This method will help reduce costs in the future, and is actually more feasible as companies become more swamped with market  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   data (Wall Street and Technology, 2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Technologies involved in business are ever more reaching new heights.   The endless possibilities that pour from the Internet, for one, creates a more active and challenging environment for businesses, especially in information management.   Accenture.com (2007) recognizes four major trends that will shape information technology, in relation to business, three of which relate to hardware.   Regarded the most significant trend on the horizon is the large-scale adoption of service-oriented architectures (SOAs). It is said to have the potential to alter the fundamental structure of businesses and the information industry, and the software industry as well.   The adoption of SOAs will ultimately mean simpler systems and lower costs for CIOs.   With the growing demands for information processing and storage, technology for business is moving towards an abundant era of infrastructure.   The world of technology will experience an increase in the number and type of embedded devices, and with the demands of SOA, infrastructures must be dynamic and flexible.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Information management will be challenged by the massive growth in information, especially due to the emergence of real-time information from sensors and embedded devices that existing databases cannot handle.   Companies will become more dependent on external information, which is beyond their control.   The major consequence of these trends would be virtualization, ultimately digitizing communication and information. Accenture.com predicts it will industrialize information technology on all levels.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ultimately, the matter is not really whether future trends in computer hardware, and technology for that matter, help or hurt businesses in the long run.   Companies essentially need technology to be able to keep afloat in the sink-or-swim world of business.   It is, rather, about learning to read technological trends and applying insights gained from them, as applicable in the company’s affairs.   The company should know, then, its technological requirements.   It is applying technology inappropriately or unnecessarily, or failing to do so, that would hurt business, not technology in itself.   After all, in these times, it is technology that drives business to evolve. References Accenture.com (2007). Major Trends That Will Shape IT. Retrieved February 12, 2007, from http://www.accenture.com/Global/Services/Accenture_Technology_Labs/Services/FromIT.htm Anthes, G. (2006, May 1). Computer Science Looks for a Remake. Retrieved February 12, 2007, from http://www.computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/story/0,10801,110959,00. html Betts, M. (2002, November 18). The Next Chapter: The Future of Hardware. Retrieved February 12, 2007, from http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticle TOCspecialReportId=120articleId=75887 Blu-Ray Disc (2007). In Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved February 12, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc Clark, T. (2007, January 24). Surging Electronic Trading Volumes and Reg NMS Require Financial Firms to Enhance Underlying Technology Infrastructures. Retrieved February 12, 2007, from http://www.wallstreetandtech.com/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=K0135A L3OVGAGQSNDLOSKH0CJUNN2JVN?articleID=197000218 Computer Hardware (2007). In Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved February 12, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_hardware Funny Relationship Between Technology and Business in Startup Companies (2004, March 4). In Viewpoint of an Entrepreneur: A Business Intelligence Software Blog. Retrieved February 12, 2007, from http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/bi/entrepreneur/archives/funny-relationship-between-technology-and-business-in-startup-companies-517?sp=CM Hayes, F. (2002, November 18). The Story So Far: Hardware. Retrieved February 12, 2007, from http://computerworld.com/hardwaretopics/hardware/story/0,10801,75888,00.html History of Computing Hardware (2007). In Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved February 12, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_computing_hardware_ (1960s-present) Intel Corporation (2007). Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Technology. Retrieved February 12, 2007, from http://www.intel.com/technology/comms/uwb/ Mid-Hudson Library System (2002). Future Trends. Retrieved February 12, 2007, from http://midhudson.org/resources/administration/trends.htm Universal Serial Bus (2007). Certified Wireless USB from the USB-IF. Retrieved February 12, 2007, from http://www.usb.org/developers/wusb/ Wall Street and Technology (2006, July 19). Equities Market, Technology Infrastructure and Virtual Servers Are Top-of-Mind for ISE SVP. Retrieved February 12, 2007, from http://www.wallstreetandtech.com/search/results.jhtml;jsessionid=DMSJCSVYBCV3GQSNDLRSKH0CJUNN2JVN?site=500004sort=datequeryText=virtualizationxse.x=0xse.y=0 Williams, S. (2004). Top Trends. Hispanic Business Magazine. Retrieved February 12, 2007, from http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/newsbyid.asp?id=16030cat=Magazine more=/magazine/ Wu, J. (2003, July 15). Asia Pacific, 2003 Hardware Forecast. Retrieved February 12, 2007, from http://www.gartner.com/teleconferences/attributes/attr_46494_115.pdf

Overview Of Tourism In Malaysia Tourism Essay

Overview Of Tourism In Malaysia Tourism Essay This chapter is designed to provide an overview to tourism in Malacca and the background of Jonker Street. It is divided into few sections to explain about culture as a factor for travel among tourists, tourism situation in Malacca, background of Jonker Street, problem statement, research objectives, significance of study, limitations of study, definition of terms, methodology as well as research organization. Overview of tourism in Malaysia Tourism sector in Malaysia is the second largest economic contributor to the countrys Gross Domestic Product after oil and gas production. Authorities has been giving attention to this sector as it helps in generating employment opportunities, increasing economic revenue as well as creating the opportunity for development. Malaysia is a country that boasts with its natural environment such as sandy beaches, tropical islands, national parks and mountains, which one of it is known as Southeast Asias highest mountain Mount Kinabalu that is situated in the state of Sabah. Furthermore, Malaysia is home to a mixture of unique identities, featuring multi-racial and multi-ethnic communities; hence, Malaysia has become a country rich in culture, arts and traditions. Over the years, this industry in Malaysia has its ups and downs in tourist arrivals and receipts (refer to table 1), due to economic downturn and natural disasters. The most significant decline in number of tourists was experienced in year 2003 when an outbreak of disease Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome [SARS] hit the world environment. However, despite facing the world economic recession in year 2008 and H1N1 flu disease in 2009, tourist arrivals to Malaysia continued to grow by 57.32% which is from 15.7 million tourists in year 2004 to 24.7 million tourists in year 2011. Table 1: Tourist Arrivals to Malaysia from 2002 to 2011 Year Tourist Arrival (million) Tourism Receipts (RM billion) 2002 13.2 25.8 2003 10.5 21.3 2004 15.7 29.7 2005 16.4 32.0 2006 17.4 36.3 2007 20.9 46.1 2008 22.0 49.6 2009 23.6 53.4 2010 24.6 56.5 2011 24.7 58.3 Source: Tourism Malaysia (2012) Cultural Tourism in Malaysia In todays world of travel, the process of learning and experiencing different cultures has been cited as a common and growing factor for travel among tourists (Lynch, Duinker, Sheehan, Chute, 2011). This factor was not a favourite among tourists when a poll was conducted in the 1980s at the country of United States by Lou Harris, however, in the 1990s, citing visiting cultural, historical and archaeological treasures was important to most of the surveys respondents (Lord, 1999). This occurrence indicates that cultural tourism has long been in demand from the tourists perspective. According to Richards (2007), cultural tourism has the potential to be a new form of alternative tourism among local and international tourists. Therefore, cultural tourism is now a widespread tourism phenomenon. Cultural tourists seek authenticity in their travel (MacCannell, 1973), hence, it is important for a destination to preserve its own unique identity. Malaysia is a country rich of natural beauty and cultural diversity. As more tourists are into the notion of traveling for the purpose of learning other cultures, Malaysias promotional board, Tourism Malaysia, has created the slogan Malaysia, Truly Asia as an effort to attract tourists. Besides, Malacca has also created the slogan Visit Historic Melaka Means Visit Malaysia (Hamzah, 2004). Cultural tourism has become a factor that has lured tourist arrivals to Malaysia and had turned out to be a potential form of alternative tourism for both international and domestic tourists (Mohamed, 2005). Two out of thirteen states in Malaysia are popular destination for cultural tourism, which are Malacca and Penang that has gained listings into UNESCO Heritage List on 8th July 2008. Malacca and Penang both share similarities regards to elements of heritage in the state. For example, both cities depend on historical colonial buildings of the city as main physical attraction for promoting tourism (Ismail, Baum, Kokranikkal, n.d.). Besides, these two cities are located along the Straits of Melaka and were important trading port in the past, had illustrated the multi-culturalism it possesses in the city. (explain the stats) 1.3 Overview of tourism in Malacca For this cultural tourism study, the city of Malacca has been chosen as the studys destination due to the fact that is has been the focal point of Malaysias history. On 15th April 1989, Malacca was then declared as a Historical City to promote its image as a historic tourism destination in Malaysia and was seen as an effort to zone land for tourism and urban conservation (Ismail et al., n.d.). Malacca together with Georgetown Penang has gained listings into UNESCOs (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage List in its Culture Category as Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca in year 2008 due to its historical and cultural factors. Among the criteria that has made Malacca into the list are representing the multicultural trading town in East and Southeast Asia; tangible and intangible multi-cultural living heritage whereby different Asian religions, ethnic, language, dance, costumes, art, food and music coexisted; reflects a unique blend of Asian and European colonial influences on its architecture, townscape and culture, especially, its shop houses and townhouses with some originating in the Dutch and Portuguese periods (UNESCO, n.d.). However, in order to keep the title of being a World Heritage Site, Malacca has to conserve, preserve, and sustain the true unique, beautiful historical and cultural parts of Malacca. Malacca has divided its tourism sector to 12 different subsectors and each subsector has its own unique selling point. Two of the main subsectors in Malaccas tourism context, is heritage tourism and cultural tourism. This is due to the fact that Malacca is a state rich with multicultural society and surviving artefacts that dates back into the 15th century. For instance, Malacca has a mix community of Baba and Nyonya, Kristang (Portuguese-Eurasian or Portuguese-Malaccan), Chitty, Chinese, Malay and Indian; each with its unique cultural identity. Hence, it can be summarized that tourism activities that is based on heritage and culture is significant in Malacca because besides historical aspects, Malacca also has the uniqueness of tangible and intangible cultural heritage which is not available in any other states in Malaysia, for example the Dutch Square and AFamosa. Figure : Tourist Arrivals in Malacca Source: (Melaka-Tourism-Promotion-Division, 2012) Figure 1 shows numbers of tourist arrivals to Malacca for the past 5 years. Before the declaration of Malacca as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, tourist arrivals recorded by the Melaka Tourism Promotion Division (refer to figure 1) was as much as 6,023,311 people in year 2007. However, despite facing world economic recession in year 2008 and 2009, Malacca after the UNESCO declaration, tourist arrivals has shot up by 19.62% to the number of 7,205,492 tourists in year 2008 and an increase of 23.59% by year 2009 with a total of 8,905,273 tourists. The increase in numbers of tourist arrivals has shown that Malacca has the attractions that could catch the attention of tourists who are mostly domestic tourists. After the world economic crisis, tourism was projected to rebound strongly in year 2010 and 2011 in international tourist arrivals and receipts (Kapiki, 2011). Conversely, in year 2010 and 2011, although there is an increase in the number of tourist arrivals, it is noticed that the number had increase by a smaller percentage. For instance, tourist arrivals in year 2010 has an increase by 16.28% compared to arrivals in year 2009; and 17.49% in year 2011 compared to arrivals in year 2010. In other words, although number of tourist arrivals recorded in year 2011 was 12,165,866 tourists, which is the highest record than previous years, however, the arrivals of tourists had reduced while the world economy has slowly improved. This has prompted the question of whether Malaccas attraction is able to provide the authentic experience which is seek by cultural tourists. 1.3 Background of Jonker Street History of Jonker Street, according to a documented research done by Lim and Jorge (2006), dating in the 15th centuries, Jonker Street was one of the densely- populated area of merchants and artisans during the reign of Malacca Sultanate. It continued to be so during the period of Portuguese and Dutch. Following the defeat of Portuguese power to the Dutch, Jalan Hang Jebat was named as Jonker Straat (Noblemans Street) by the Dutch. With the strategic location of Jonker Street situating near the sea, it has helped in prospering the area and became home to most well-to-do people. To ensure a better landscape is seen in Jonker Street, the Dutch government in the mid 1600s, had implemented rules and strict regulations to the houses design, size of brick, position of windows, walls and drain, so that all houses are conformed to the same building standards. In the 1800s, more Chinese merchant bought up houses at Jonker Street, thus, adding Chinese architecture and designs to the faà §ade of buildings. There is a mix community of Chinese, Dutch, Muslim and Portuguese-Eurasian noted staying at Jonker Street until the 19th century, bringing in a diverse of culture and architecture. At the present time, Jonker Street is a five hundred meter long street with a stretch of buildings by both sides of the road. The facade of these buildings features a mixture of Dutch and Chinese architecture. Many of these houses are as old as 300 years. Although the width of houses along Jonker Street seems narrow, however, the length of these historical buildings is at least 50 meters long (Ong Ong, 2004) and creates a space in the middle of the house as courtyards for better air ventilation. Furthermore, the width of Jonker Street is narrow; hence, this historical settlement was designed without a sidewalk for pedestrians. Jonker Street also known as Jalan Hang Jebat, was selected to form a part of the World Heritage Site listings for its residential and commercial values. It is basically, a street that is full of small businesses, cafes, art gallery, handicraft shops, antique shops and clothes shop, which has made it into a shopping zone in the area. However, it could be noticed that some of the shops conducts two or three types of businesses in one shop lot to increase revenue. For example, the owner of an ancestral hall had rented out half of the lower ground of the building to an enterprise to sell local food product and traditional Chinese wedding accessories such as bed linens, wedding attire and red packets and so on; In addition, a shop selling souvenirs and antiques, is also selling desserts. These shops are mostly operated by Malaccan residents whereby some of the shops are being passed down from generation to generation such as an antique shop known as Abdul Company. Besides, Jonker Street is also a place with a variety of artisans and craftsmen such as goldsmiths, watch repairers, clog makers, beaded shoemakers and local chefs. Furthermore, religious activities are conducted at places such as temples, clan buildings and ancestral halls, located along this road. The presence of temples and clan buildings had not only served its purpose in representing the needs of its clan members, but it had also strengthened the cultural elements of Jonker Street. By looking at its past, it is evident that Jonker Street is rich with different architectural styles, and traditional shops that had made it outstanding. However, measures to promote this priceless treasure have not served its purpose. Malacca tourism officers had noted Jonker Streets heritage and cultural value, thus, to further promote it as a tourism spot, more cafes, shops and accommodations emerged; and in June 2000, the local authorities had added a weekly activity at Jonker Street which is Jonker Walk, where it became a street that is popular for its weekend flee market that opens every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Jonker Walk is a popular attraction for tourists as there is an array of products to be sold, ranging from, snacks, souvenirs, apparel and accessories. According to a study on tourist movement patterns in Malacca done by Rahman, Ismail, and Wai (2011) in observing 8 tourist zones, which is Dataran Sungai Melaka, St. Pauls Hill, Kota Street, Laksamana Street, Temenggung Street, Kampung Pantai, Tokong Street and Jonker Street, it is proven that the tourist attraction with the highest number of tourists, occurs at Jonker Street. Streets in Melaka World Heritage Site such as Tokong Street, Temenggung Street and Kampung Pantai share similar character as Jonker Street; for instance, these streets have traditional traders such as goldsmiths, tin smiths, shop houses and business traders. However, one factor that makes Jonker Street outstanding is the design of its buildings. According to Rahman et al. (2011), Jonker Street was the most visited tourist destination in Malacca as it provides shopping, hotel and catering facilities to the tourists all in one street. Hence, Jonker Street is chosen as the studys destination. Furthermore, Jonker S treet together with Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, has formed the oldest heritage zone in Malacca, and were introduced by Malacca as its living museum (Ong Ong, 2004). Problem Statement Malacca is a state rich in history and culture, which some of it, could not be found in other states of Malaysia. Therefore, plenty of efforts have been made to develop tourism products in Malacca and actively promoting it both within and outside of the country. Jonker Street is one of the examples where by the authority had recognised it as a tourist attraction due to its advantage as the oldest heritage zone in Malacca. 1.4.1Influence of Chinese architecture and presence of Chinese clans When the British took over in the 1825, most of the properties at Jonker Street were acquired by Chinese merchants and changed the architecture of houses at the street with Chinese facades as more wealthy and influential Chinese merchants began to arrive. Soon in the 1900s Jonker Street depict strong Chinese influence with the presence of nine Chinese clan associations and temple for worship. Traditional skills such as goldsmith, carpentry, bricklaying, boatbuilding and baking were also brought in by the Chinese community. 1.4.2 The beginning of commercial area Shortly, in 1927 Eurasian community begin to appear at Jonker Street. This was when Jonker Street begins to build its reputation as a commercial area with shops selling liquor, repair shops, furniture shops, car showroom and etc. By the end of World War Two and the Japanese Occupation, many residents had moved out of the place, making room for local businesses to start serving the basic needs of Malaccans. 1.4.3 Increase of employment opportunities Tourism sector is now considered as one of the three main source of fiscal strength in Malaysia besides sources from petroleum and industry (Hoffman, 1979). This sector has provided local people with a lot of employment opportunities; it is also seen as a main indicator that contributes to the economic growth of a place. Malacca is a state rich with cultural diversity, this in hand, has given Malacca the opportunity to develop its cultural tourism sector. Conceptually, Jonker Street represents the characteristics of rich historical and multi-cultural background of Malacca. Being in a unique cultural setting has also provided opportunity to the multi-cultural society to transform their culture into a saleable object. For instance, tangible culture of Chinese and Baba Nyonya heritage could be sold to tourist through food such as chicken rice balls, nyonya laksa and traditional nyonya cakes; clothes such as nyonya kebaya, wooden clogs and beaded shoes. This popularity has attracted a variety of new art gallery, curio shop and restaurant operators to begin business in the area. Besides plentiful of shopping choices, the arts and culture of Jonker Street was also reflected through orchestral music performances, dance lessons, food and souvenirs. Jonker Street is now deemed as a cultural attraction by the Melaka Tourism Promotion Division. Jonker Street is being promoted as a shopping district, emphasizing on things to buy such as antiques and souvenirs rather than its unique architecture buildings and culture. Undeniably, generating sales is a must in a tourism destination in order to obtain economic benefits from the tourists, yet, are the products sold reflect the culture of Jonker Street? Are the tourists able to remember where they get that piece of product from? Jonker Street has been chosen as the case study based on previous research citing that there is vagueness to the meaning of Jonker Street as a cultural attraction despite possessing criteria that proved it is. According to Ong and Ong (2004), whose study is based on Jonker Walk- the weekend night activity in Jonker Street, has garnered evidence that the project has received negative criticism from the public, citing that it is a negative development on Jonker Street and it is a poor idea in conserving Malacca. One of the criticism mentioned in Ong and Ong (2004), was from Elizabeth Vines (Unesco Asia-Pacific representative) noting that the development of Jonker Walk as a tourist attraction has changed its original character into a commercialised tourist attraction; Vines also mention that in order to bring success to tourism development and promotion of the state, the State Government and entrepreneurs has to consider Malaccas character, soul and authenticity. Furthermore, Lim and Jorge (2006), has also point out that the development of Jonker Street as a night market on weekends, has become the means of destruction of the streets heritage by evicting traditional craft masters and demolition of heritage buildings. For example, premises of goldsmiths from the 1800s to year 2000 were renovated, taking away antique painted glass panels and wall mirrors to accommodate a fast food outlet, a craftsman of traditional Chinese bound foot shoe maker as well as incense and joss stick maker were evicted from their premises and demolished the buildings to make way for new multi-storey hotel which had failed to happen. More to the point, this issue was also brought up by Lindt (2012), Jonker Street is an example of culture street in Malacca that had been transformed into a tourist destination which is less authentic, citing that liquors, batik linens and cheeky T-shirts are among the products sold to tourists at the centuries old heritage street. From the discussion above, the most significant problem being discovered is since the local authorities implemented a new project named Jonker Walk to add to the attractions of Jonker Street, this has raised the question of whether this development affects the cultural values inherent to it? How much of culture value in Jonker Street still remains after the transformation? What cultural experience does Jonker Street offer? Hence, this research is to study what are the products that are provided at Jonker Street in relation to culture tourism elements; and the authenticity of cultural products at Jonker Street from the perspective of stakeholders. 1.5 Research Objective The main objective in this study is to examine whether tourists perceived Jonker Street as an authentic cultural attraction. From this main objective, three sub-objectives are formed, as listed below: To study the existing product provided at Jonker Street in relation to culture tourism elements To study the authenticity of cultural products at Jonker Street from the perspective of stakeholders (government, Jonker Walk Committee, entrepreneur and tourist) 1.6 Research Question As an investigative research study, the research questions developed are based on the objectives of the research. The research questions are as below: What product is provided at Jonker Street in terms of cultural attraction? What are the demographics of tourists in Jonker Street? What is the interest to visit Jonker Street? What is the perception of stakeholders towards authenticity in Jonker Street? Table 1: Summary of Objective and Research Question Research Objectives Research Questions To study the existing product provided at Jonker Street in relation to culture tourism elements What product is provided at Jonker Street in terms of cultural attraction? What are the demographics of tourists in Jonker Street? What is their interest to visit Jonker Street? To study the authenticity of cultural products at Jonker Street from the perspective of stakeholders What is the perception of stakeholders towards authenticity in Jonker Street? Significance of study Jonker Street is among the famous tourist attraction in Malacca. The authorities have to ensure that Jonker Street has its unique selling point that would be able to attract tourists revisiting the place again. Tourist influx to the street has generated income for some of the residents at the area by selling souvenirs, clothes, food and so on. However, it is noted through observation that products sold at Jonker Street, especially souvenirs are mostly imported goods from other countries and does not symbolize or reflect cultures of Jonker Street. Hence, this research is to study the authenticity of cultural products at Jonker Street. Authenticity is related with cultural tourism as authenticity in tourism context means the desired experience a tourist gets associated with visits to tourism destinations; the result of encountering a culture different than of the tourist (Smith, 1989) which is similar to the objective of cultural tourism that is for the tourist to learn and experience the culture of other nations. This study will be significant to the tourism promotion boards of Malacca as it tries to understand the attractions at Jonker Street, characteristics of tourists and stakeholders perceptions. Perceptions of stakeholders determine whether Jonker Street is able to provide the authentic experience that tourists seek in a cultural tourism destination. This in turn helps tourism planners of Malacca to further enhance cultural tourism in its state, whilst maintaining the culture of Malacca people. 1.8 Scope and limitation of study This study is limited to stakeholders related to Jonker Street, Malacca only. It is focused on stakeholders perception of authenticity of cultural product at Jonker Street, Malacca. The dependent variable of this study is perception of stakeholders while the independent variables are products provided at Jonker Street and characteristic and profile of tourist. This study will use authenticity as a measure to view stakeholders perception on Jonker Street. This will show whether Jonker Street is perceived as a cultural attraction or vice versa. The unavailability of secondary data of tourist arrivals at Jonker Street and time restrain has also caused limitations to this study. Definition of terms The following definitions of terms are used for this study: Authenticity Authenticity comes from the word authentic. In general, authentic means genuine, realness and purity. Authenticity in the leisure context means the real or genuine experience a tourist gets during their travel to places with cultures different than their own (Hillman, n.d.). Objective authenticity is an experience whereby tourists are able to understand the culture of other society at a tourist destination (Hillman, n.d.). Cultural tourism Culture includes a broad spectrum of beliefs, a set of practices that acts as a general guiding principle. According to Bonink and Richards (1992), cultural tourism is defined as travelling to specific cultural destinations such as heritage sites, artistic and cultural attractions, arts and drama at places outside of their usual environment (as cited in (Ding, 2009)) Cultural Products Cultural products reflect a cultures characteristic. As said by Ivanovic (2008), the cultural attraction itself is known as the cultural tourism product. The author has noted that when intrinsic cultural value is found at a cultural attraction, it gives the place potential to be developed as a cultural tourism product. Furthermore, the development of accommodation, infrastructure, services and facilities at that cultural attraction, will be an added value to the product. Hence, the intrinsic value of culture along with added value has formed the destinations cultural resources into cultural tourism products. For example, when a tourist visits a destination, they are actually using the total cultural product, which are, accommodation, food, weather, transportation, hospitality and attitude of hosts (Ivanovic, 2008). Cultural products could be categorized into two groups which are tangible and intangible. Tangible products are things that are presented in a material form while intangib le products are that societies believe it exists but could not be seen. Examples of tangible products are toys, musical instruments, dresses, types of residence, food, sports equipment, literature and artwork; while intangible products are such as dance, music, language and literary styles (Lawrence, 1999). Methodology Research Objective Literature Review Culture The concept of Cultural tourism The concept of Authenticity Pilot study Data Collection Structured Interview Data Analysis Data gathering key in Data Selection Formulation Content Analysis Summary of findings Final Report Background Study Malacca, voice from the street (Lim Fernando, 2006) The making of Jonker Walk (Ong Ong, 2004) Research Problem Scope of Research Jonker Street, Malacca Product mix Characteristic and profile of tourist Preparation of Interview The research approach for this study will be based on observation, literature review and interview. Selection of respondents will be chosen through purposive sampling. The survey will be conducted at Jonker Street, Malacca on weekends to collect data from domestic and international tourists and entrepreneurs as well as to conduct structured interview on weekdays with other stakeholders such as government and Jonker Walk Committee. Data collected through this survey will be analysed through content analysis. The purpose of the data analysis is to discover the interest for tourist to visit Jonker Street, the products provided at Jonker Street regarding to culture tourism and to understand the perception of stakeholders towards authenticity of cultural products at Jonker Street. 1.11 Research Organisation Chapter 1 Chapter 1 is an introduction to the background of research, research problem, research objective, research question, scope and limitations of study, definition of terms, research procedure and research organization Chapter 2 Chapter 2 will discuss about theoretical framework to explain regarding culture tourism, culture products, authenticity, and relations of cultural products to authenticity. This will explain about the effects of authenticity of cultural products to tourists. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 highlights the methodology of research which will be used in this study. The perspective of stakeholders towards authenticity of cultural products at Jonker Street will be collected through structured interview. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 explains on the authenticity of cultural products from the perspective from stakeholders of Jonker Street, Malacca. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 gives conclusion on the study by analyzing findings on the perspectives of stakeholders chosen and make suggestions to the relevant authorities of Malacca. Chapter 6 Chapter 6 states the limitations of study, conclusion and presents information on possible extensions on future research.

Buddha and his sermon :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hindu Kshatriya, who was warned by â€Å"Brahman soothsayers†, let his son leave home to live among the seekers of the forest. His son was Gotama Siddhartha, known to most historians as Buddha. What is said to be Buddha’s first sermon was delivered briefly after his enlightenment. The sermon contains what eventually becomes the way of life for people who follow the Buddhist religion; the four noble truths, the eightfold path, and the middle way. Since Siddhartha was so sheltered from reality, he set out on a journey to find out where he would fit in his life, and through this he became extremely enlightened.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Siddhartha questioned many things on his daily adventures in the park. Why people aged, why people died, why some pursued religious beliefs, and why illness fell on certain people. He asked himself what these people have done to deserve these things. The raja did not like the fact that his son was feeling sorrow for these people. From then on he made sure that Siddhartha was surrounded with only blissful sights. The raja figured if he kept seeing these things, he would never want to become a ruler. Throughout this story it seemed as though Siddhartha lived, until this point, a very unrealistic life. (Reilly, 164)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Siddhartha’s journey he witnessed a man with a yellow robe, and no hair. The charioteer explained to him that he was a very religious man and valued everything in life. He then went home and shaved off all of his hair and wore a yellow robe. (Reilly, 171) The people were outraged that the prince took these actions, and thought it was foolish; because by doing these things did not make him religious. Siddhartha became known as Gotama the Bodhisat. All he wanted was to find a way for people to escape their sufferings and misfortunes. Siddhartha then started becoming enlightened on his journey to become religious.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The real meaning of Buddhist thought involved the following; four noble truths, the eightfold path and the middle way. The four noble truths contained four statements of logic. Stating that life is sorrow, sorrow is the result of selfish desire, selfish desire can be destroyed, and it can be destroyed by following the eightfold path. The eightfold path is eight steps to a peaceful mind. The eight steps included right views, right resolve, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.

Going Back to Archaic Greece :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Going Back to Archaic Greece   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Amasis Painter seemed to lure me into his world while reading these works compiled by these very prolific writers. Or maybe it was the writers that brought me back to experience what they felt while studying these paintings and giving up their thoughts to question as they questioned others. In either case it has sparked my interest in this painter, and potter if you will. He combines a perfectionistic attitude with an imaginative flare that is subtle and refined, giving him that contrasting edge that one looks for in an artist. I would first like to start with a look at these artists status in the Athenian Greek world. How did they become artists and how did they live as artists? One might suspect that you need just to turn to the old adage of the â€Å"starving artist†, to get a good idea of what it was like, but I hardly think they were starving or even poor for that matter. Of course I wouldn’t suspect that they were very well off at what they were doing, but they probably didn’t do to bad. In fact I look at Pedley and what he says that, â€Å"vase painting †¦ is the product of private enterprise†(Pedly p 77). This gives me speculation that the vase painters in Archaic Greece might have been sufficiently paid for their services. I get a sense of secure ness of who he is and what he’s doing with his paintings and his pots for that matter. If he does do both it would cut out another hand in the trading deal that would no doubt increase the size of his share. Also by doing this he has total control over the whole making of the vase itself, which shows in the way he presents the figures spatially and sometimes even simply in his works Something that adds to that of course is competition between artists, especially between Exekias and Amasis. These two were the closest in style, and were probably the most sought after painters of their time. A specific vase by Exekias has Memnon with two African attendants naming one of them Amasis. One can conjecture that there stands a good chance that he may be speaking of his colleague. Whether this is derogative towards Amasis in some way, maybe through his heritage, who knows, it shows competition either way.

Marketing and Private Label Products

Topic: Zappos’s private label products Recommendation: To persuade the Zappos. com sell private label products to increase the revenue and decrease the transportation costs Audience Analysis: The board of Zappos. com, Operation Department Manager, Marketing department manager. Accountants of Financial department manager. Agenda: 1. Double-Digit annual sales decrease. 2. Blooming sales by selling private label products 3. Benefits and concerns of implementing this project 4. conclusion I. Introduction Zappos, world’s greatest online shoes retailer.Though we hit 1 billion in our annual sales last year, two years before we expected, we are now confronted with challenge to keep stable growth in revenue. our profit has been decreased slightly since we committed next day delivery. During the economic recession times, we have to make some change to conquer this problem. As Marketing department staff, my proposal is that we could produce and sell our private label products. we have good reputation and large customer network. We can raise our profit by produce and sell private label productsTransitions Let’s get started with the problem II. Body A. Double digit sales decrease during the economic recession times 1. During the economic recession times, our revenue remain growing slightly, however our growth rate has been decreased rapidly. Let’s see the chart of our annual sales growth rate since 2001-2009. 2. Since many brands sell Canadian distribution rights to other partners, we can not sell these brands on its Canadian site. As a result, we can’t set a distribution center there to achieve substantial volume. B. Solution 1.Selling private label shoes which are designed in US headquarter, manufacture in China. 2. Corperate with Chinese local factory to sign a contract to produce guaranteed qualified shoes. C. Benefits 1. Selling products from suppliers is less profitable than selling private label items. â€Å"If you can find a way t o add 10 points of margin, you’re going to have a big success in that product line,† says Schmid, chairman and founder of J. Schmid & Associates in Shawnee Mission, KS. Selling products from suppliers is less profitable than selling private label items.As we can see from the chart of Gross margin. 2. Selling   private label supports a catalog’s brand positioning. â€Å"Having hard-to-find or unique merchandise sets you apart — and this is especially [important] for a cataloger D. Counters 1. To Manufacture private label shoes, Zappos will increase R&D expenditures. It might be a problem for company’s operation cash flow. 2. Another big concern of sell private label shoes is risk of bad reputation of private label shoes. But I have confidence in our product department.Transition: I have demonstrated the current problem we’ve met and I listed the advantages of selling private label items, the cost and benefits we would gain if we do this pro ject. And the last, the next steps to be taken for this proposal. III. Conclusion 1. As we realized that our annual sales growth rate has decreased rapidly, also our gross margin has been maximized. Zappos should improve all aspects of its business to prepare for the difficult economic times 2. By outsourcing manufacture to China and designing in US, it can bring Zappos low cost, high quality shoes. . Final Recommendation: As Board of Directors of Zappos. com, you should consider selling private label shoes to our customers. References: 1. http://blog. minethatdata. com/2008/04/zappos-sales-trajectory-and-customer. html 2. http://bls. gov/fls/chartbook/section3. htm 3. http://blog. minethatdata. com/2009/09/zappos-profit-and-loss-statement-2007. html 4. http://blogs. zappos. com/blogs/ceo-and-coo-blog/2008/02/19/zapposcom-update-february-19-2008

Heraclitus

The one of the Renaissance’s greatest master painter, Raphael was the one who created the masterpiece, ‘The school of Athens’. It was a great fresco that was painted between from 1510 to 1511. The painting contained famous professionals such as mathematician, philosopher, scientist, and many other professionals including Raphael himself. Raphael of course admired all the people in the painting that he drew himself. For me when I see the drawing I admire these three people: Heraclitus, Alexander the Great, and Pythagoras the most. I also believe that Raphael himself had admired these people like me because of many reasons. Heraclitus was a great man who was considered to be known as one of Greek’s principle philosophers. However, he is more known to be a great scientist who has created a foundation of modern physics. His philosophy or his way of thinking has changed the view of European world completely. His theory was called â€Å"Logos† or being more specific it was an important word that he used to explain his philosophy, which became an important in subjects such as philosophy, psychology, rhetoric, and religion. The term â€Å"Logos† has been used by many famous people other than Heraclitus, but what is it that makes this person special? The answer to this question I believe has lead Raphael who drew Heraclitus to admire him. Heraclitus was a new kind or type of thinking man in his age, since his view of the world was totally different from the others. He used the word â€Å"Logos† in explaining his philosophy and defined it as opposite things like water and fire being one together. It is very hard to understand and even Heraclitus himself has said that the term â€Å"Logos† could not be defined completely accurate by us human beings even though it is always with us in the present. As I have said before this philosophy made by Heraclitus however changed the view point of the Europeans and Raphael, who was known have the mind of the humanist could have also been affected by this. The opposites are suppose to be one whole thing, but we humans who see these things are the ones who perceive differently than what the reality tells us. A person who was known to be one of the greatest warriors of whole time, Alexander the Great was drawn on the painting by Raphael. Being a king and also being a student of a famous philosopher, Aristotle, Alexander the Great was a famous person. His philosophy if said it would match the one by Aristotle, since he did learn from Aristotle. However, Alexander aside from his master’s philosophy had a logical way of thinking and one example of that was adapting his empire to the Hellenic culture(Greek culture), which was more reasonable and logical by any means in life. For example, the education, government, and many other things including art and philosophy of the Greek culture was much better in most of aspects. This part of the Alexander was what I believe Raphael idolized the most. There are of course more aspects about him that are considered good and bad. The good parts would mostly have been his aspect about the culture, especially the art and the philosophy of other countries. On the other hand the bad parts would have been about him being very violent and impulsive nature. Overall, he is considered to be a great warrior now days and must have also been acknowledged by Raphael, since Raphael drew Alexander on the painting. Finally the person who was known to be a philosopher, scientist, and most of all famous for being one of the greatest mathematicians is Pythagoras. He was a very knowledgeable man and the reason was because he spent about half of his life learning and traveling to many different countries. Pythagoras learned many things and part of the learning was about religion, which made him to believe in transmigration, or should I say the rebirth of a soul over and over until it becomes immortal. He was also in religion worshipped as a god or a supernatural figure that could travel between time and space. This situation in a way allowed him to create his own school that was religious and secretive. Of course beside from this kind of achievement he created the â€Å"Pythagorean Theorem†, which now days is very important part of math. The theory in summary is stating that in right angled triangle the square of a hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the left over sides. This theory indeed affected a lot of things in math, but Pythagoras’ influence didn’t stop at this point. Instead, the influence got bigger until he influenced most of other subjects such as music, science, and religion. This great influence on the education must have been what Raphael idolized because Pythagoras was also acknowledged by other famous philosophers like Aristotle and Plato for his powerful influence. Heraclitus, Alexander the Great, and Pythagoras are three people that I most admire when I see the â€Å"School of Athens† are also the same people who must have been idolized by the creator, Raphael. The influences of all three of them were very powerful in many ways, for example, Heraclitus’ philosophy became the base of physics, Alexander the Great changed the culture of many countries, and Pythagoras’ math theorem became important part in our math today. There are of course many other great and famous professionals who are inside the picture and they in many ways have been admired by Raphael like the three I most idolize. However, in my opinion I do think that Raphael himself should be acknowledged as well, since compare to the people in the picture, he also has achieved great things like them.

Values

Another thing I value is happiness this is a personal value for me, I believe in being happy as much as you can and to keep a positive mind set, happiness is also a key factor in helping me get through the tough times that I face through-out my life. Motivation is something else I value and this is also a personal value. I always try my hardest to stay motivated and be positive, I value this is because it helps me to keep going and to give all I have in order to receive the best results in whatever I do.Three core values that influence practice are respect, confidentiality, non- judgmental attitude and protection. Maintaining a non-judgmental attitude around the clients is very important. The belief of social care work does not include assigning guilt or innocence. When using a non-judgmental attitude you have to allow the listener to hear and understand exactly what is being said and enable the person to talk freely and comfortably about problems without feeling that he or she is be ing judged. The attitudes involved in being non-judgmental are acceptance, genuineness and empathy.Acceptance is all about representing the person's feelings experiences and values, even if they are different from yours it is important that you do not criticism them because of your own attitudes or beliefs. Genuineness is about showing the person that you accept them and their values by what you say or do. Try to reach a position where your body language reflects what you say. Empathy is the ability to place yourself in another person's shoes and to demonstrate to the person that you truly hear and understand what they are saying and feeling.This is not the same as sympathy which is about feeling sorry for the person. Another value that influences practice is confidentiality you must strive to establish and maintain the trust and confidence of service users and career. A duty of confidence arises when one person discloses information to another in circumstances where it is reasonabl e to expect that the information will be held in confidence. Confidentiality is a fundamental part of professional practice that protects human rights.It is not acceptable to discuss matters related to the people in their care outside the clinical setting, Discuss a case with colleagues in public where hey may be overheard or leave records unattended where they may be read by unauthorized persons. Miller describes confidentiality as â€Å"The idea of protecting information from misuse† (2005:46) she then suggests information should only be passed on when necessary and the individual must be made aware that information can and will be passed on if necessary.Miller (2005) refers to the organization and not the employee as an individual. She also discusses the strict guidelines of confidential information. Confidential information gathered for one purpose should not be used for another. The consent of the individual should be given at all times other than in exceptional circumst ances this must be made clear to the service user. Another value that influences practice is protection.As a social service worker, you must protect the rights and promote the interests of service users and careers. You must treat each person as an individual, you must respect their dignity, must not discriminate in any way against those in your care, you must treat people kindly and you must act as an advocate for those in your care, helping them to access relevant health and social care information and support.

Positive Psychology Essay

Martin Seligman is considered the father of positive psychology (Friedman & Schustack, 2012). Positive psychology pertains to helping people live happier and healthier lives (Friedman & Schustack, 2012). Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi states that â€Å"positive psychology at the subjective level is about valued [sic] subjective experiences,† such as â€Å"well-being, contentment, satisfaction (in the past), hope and optimism (for the future) and flow and happiness (in the present)† (McNulty & Fincham, 2011, p. 101). Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi are also states that the â€Å"individual level is about positive individual traits† and the capability â€Å"for love and vocation, courage, interpersonal skill, aesthetic sensibility, perseverance, forgiveness, originality, future mindedness, spirituality, high talent and wisdom† (McNulty & Fincham, 2011, p. 101). Finally, Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi state that positive psychology â€Å"at the group level is ab out the civic virtue’s† and† the institutions that move† individual’s â€Å"toward better citizenship† and the â€Å"responsibility, nurturance, altruism, civility, moderation, tolerance and work ethic† (McNulty & Fincham, 2011, p. 101). The chosen article states that the â€Å"field of positive psychology† believes that people have specific â€Å"psychology traits† that are inherited of the individual’s positive mental health (McNulty & Fincham, 2011, p. 101). Studies show that â€Å"forgiveness, optimistic, positive thoughts and kindness† can â€Å"benefit or harm† individuals (McNulty & Fincham, 2011, p. 101). The researchers state that the psychologist should move forward and examine the individual’s traits that may support well-being. The researchers show three approaches to search for a better understanding to positive psychology. First, psychologist need to examine the process of happiness and factors (McNulty & Fincham, 2011). Second, psychologist need to understand, prevent, relieve and understand people who suffer (McNulty & Fincham, 2011). And finally, to study shows that â€Å"short term† and â€Å"long term† effects of psychological traits character istics (McNulty & Fincham, 2011, p. 107). References Friedman, H. S., & Schustack, M. W. (2012). Personality Classic theories and modern research (5th ed.). [Vital source ebook]. Retrieved from Vital Book file McNulty, J. K., & Fincham, F. D. (2011). Beyond positive psychology? Toward a contextual view of psychological processes and well-being. American Psychologist, 67(2), 101-110. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0024572

Carlos Villaluz Francisco Essay Example for Free

Carlos Villaluz Francisco Essay Carlos Villaluz Francisco, born in 1914, was the son of Felipe Francisco and Maria Villaluz of Angono, Rizal. Francisco studied at the University of the Philippines (UP) School of Fine Arts. Before the war, he did illustrations for the Tribune and La Vanguardia, and later, with Victorio Edades and Fermin Sanchez painted sets for the Manila Grand Opera House, and the Clover Theater. He was also a member of the â€Å"Thirteen Moderns† a group formed in 1938. After WWII, Francisco taught at the University of Santo Tomas, simultaneously working in film-making with Miguel conde, as the scriptwriter for â€Å"Ghenghis Khan, Putol na Kampilan† (Broken Sword) and â€Å"Tatlong Labuyo,† (Three Wild Roosters). He also designed costumes for â€Å"Romeo at Julieta,† (Romeo and Juliet) as well as â€Å"Prinsipe Tenoso,† (Prince Tenoso) â€Å"Ibong Adarna,† (Adarna Bird), â€Å"Siete Infantes de Lara,† and the Juan Tamad series. Francisco belonged to the first generation modernists who, with Edades and Galo B.  Ocampo, constituted the pioneering triumvirate which attempted to change the direction of Philippine art from the tenacious influence of the Amorsolo school in new and fresh idioms of visual expression. In the struggle for modern art, Francisco was one of the artists/protagonists in the center of the fray. His painting :Kaingin† (Swidden), a modernist composition with strong design and rhythm, won him the first prize in the historic first national art exhibition of the Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) held at the National Museum in 1948. Francisco, along with Edades and Ocampo were commissioned to do a number of murals for lobbies and for private residences such as that of the architect Juan Nakpil. These murals featured stylized figures in flowing curvilinear lines: nymphs dancing or playing the flute, often against a background of tropical vegetation. Through these works, the artists contributed towards developing a Filipino imagery, drawing inspiration from the the customs and traditions of the Philippine people, as well as from familiar environments. In the quest for a Filipino modernist idiom, Francisco, who chose to be based in his fishing village of Agono, observed Philippine folk aesthetics and researched Philippine histon,, customs, and traditions. He arrived at an idiom which was both Filipino and Asian. Francisco employed bold folk colors, flowing rhythmic lines and decorative patterns often covering the entire field of the painting. He evoked the communal life of Philippine gatherings and celebrations. His images of women were drawn from mythology. uch as Mariang Makiling; from history and legend, such as Princesa Urduja; from customs of the past, such as the maiden carried on a hammock across the mountain in Antipolo; and from contemporary folk, such as the woman preparing fish for sinigang. Fisherfolk were among his favorite subjects since he lived in a fishing village. He showed his closeness to the folk in paintings such as the â€Å"Camote Eaters,† his last and unfinished work. Francisco’s first important mural was done for the 1953 International Fair held in Manila. On the theme of 500 years of Philippine History, its scope covered the legendary origin of the Filipino with the first man and woman Malakas and Maganda springing from the primal bamboo, up to the administration of then incumbent President Elpidio Quirino. The mural was finely executed in wood by the Paete woodcarvers. Foreign visitors to the Fair were impressed by Francisco’s mural which received full Newsweek, but local sentiment was lukewarm and the work was promptly carelessly disposed of after the fair. Francisco’s major masterpiece is the mural for the Bulwagang Katipunan of the Manila City Hall, commissioned by Manila mayor Antonio Villegas during his administration. â€Å"Filipino Struggles through History† chronicles the history of Manila from the first great Rajahs of Tondo, the Spanish colonial period, Balagtas, Rizal and the Revolution of 1896, up to the American colonial period which becomes the history of the entire nation itself. In this work Francisco often integrated several historical episodes, in smaller scale, under one period. The episode groups, however, are not static but flow into each other by means of various linking devices, such as a winding river, flames branching out, or clouds coiling in spirals. The murals are marked by artistic vigor and inexhaustible inventiveness, a lively characterization of the numerous historical figures, and unifying all, a strong sense of design. Andres Bonifacio’s figure makes a compelling visual impact as he is shown forging forward, leading the Katpunero with their long bamboo spears, rifles, and bolos. Among the many dynanic scenes is the encounter between Limahong and the Spanish soldiers as they thrust their weapons at each other. A smaller mural is the Pageant of Commerce in four sections: two sides on the history of Philippine trade, from commercial relations with China and Arabia to the Manila Acapulco alleon trade: a section on the development of modern industry in factories, travel and communication; and the central one of a Filipino couple in native costume, the woman slipping a coin into a bamboo alkansya, with the spirit of commerce hovering above. Francisco also did the murals on the Life and Miracles of St Dominic for Santo Domingo Church, 1954; and the Stations of the Cross for Far Eastern University, 1956. He worked with Victorio Edades and Galo B.  Ocampo on the mural of Rising Philippines for the Capitol Theater and murals for the Golden Gate Exposition, the State Theater, the houses of Pres Manuel Quezon, Ernesto Rufino, and Vicente Rufino. Francisco’s Kaingin won first prize in the 1948 painting competition of the Art Association of the Philippines. He received the Patnubav ng Sining at Kalinangan Award from the City of Manila in 1964. He was proclaimed National Artist in painting in 1973. Carlos Villaluz Francisco. (2016, Dec 12).