Write an action plan for wellness that is custom designed for your Essay

Write an action plan for wellness that is custom designed for your use. Include recommendations offered in the textbook. Remember to cite any sources used, including the textbook - Essay Example Thus, creating one for my own would have to start with identifying my goal for getting into wellness which is to manage stress at work and stay fit at the same time. With this in mind, it would be best to factor into the plan my health needs that are affected by the kind of work I am in, the amount of time that I get sleep, and also the time I can sacrifice for working out. With this, setting specific and manageable work out goals is key. A great way to do so is to plan a 20 minute exercise, three times a week which would not demand so much that would add to my stress which leads to a lot of work out loopholes such as stress eating and lack of motivation to continue a program while still giving myself time to enjoy nourishing myself with more greens and have a spare time for rest. Also, it is important to make the most of the time committed for work out such as targeting different kinds of exercise from cardio, strength, and flexibility drills (How to Start an Exercise Program, n.d.). Shaping a mindset that does not only associated work out with the gym but pretty much in everything such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Lastly, avoiding the work out stumbling block by setting up a non-food reward system as I tend to feast on unhealthy food pleasures is best to do. Instead of food, a treat to a massage would do great! How to Create a Wellness Plan: Steps to Writing Your Own Health Routine | Suite101.com. (n.d.). Amy Kreydin Writing Profile | Suite101.com. Retrieved May 18, 2012, from

Multi-professional working Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Multi-professional working - Essay Example The nations which have paid attention in this issue and taken necessary steps to improve the child and mother health, have achieved drop in new born mortality rates (WHO, 2005). In the cycle of life an individual depends upon the availability of health care professionals not only to save the life but also to improve the physical and mental conditions of the human beings particularly (International Federation of Gynecology & Obstetrics). When taken in the context of mother child care systems these professions range from nurses to experts. They have majorly focused upon the availability of multi professional experts at the time of delivery at the hospitals (Simpson et al, 2006; Mann and Pratt, 2006; Nielsen et al, 2007; Williams 2008). These professionals majorly are nurses, midwives, physicians, obstetricians, neonatologists, anesthesiologists (Physician trained in anesthesia) (ABA, 2009) and pharmacists and the pediatricians who can examine the child right after birth for any kind of disease or life threatening condition (International Federation of Gynecology & Obstetrics). The approach to females with assumed preterm labor has altered slightly in the past 3 decades. The main element to that method is the slowdown of complete inhibition of contractions (Simhan, 2007; Caritis,et al, 1979) but to use such methods only professional team could work. Health care professionals and managers require a very strong and integrated system of care at both the local and the national level (Princeton University, 2007). These are particular in case of deliveries and C-sections. If the system of this multi professionalism is integrated at the hospitals at every level particularly in the gynecological departments millions of deaths and disabilities can be avoided as complications in the delivery can cause severe mental or physical retardations (Lane, 1987; Stockham and Alice, 1891) The major issue in his view point is also the lack of experience during the critical conditions a nd non availability of multi professionals at the time of need particularly in critical or unexpected conditions like C-sections (Ramondt, 1990). The midwifery in separate is not recommended but when the midwives join the complete health care professional team they should be given the status of a special professional (Golden, 2002; Bailey, 1998). This should be taken into account by the fact that they provide quality care and support to the mother during the child bearing and right after birth. This helps the mother to establish a loveable and comfortable relationship with the baby right after birth. They also help the mother to feed the baby immediately after birth which is a difficult task as the new born is a bit tricky to feed (Harper, 2006). To explain all these facts in detail and to establish the importance of multi professionalism in the field of gynecological departments with particular reference to the child delivery case, a special clinical case is discussed below. Case S tudy In this case study we will see the inter relationship of various people and professionals in the child birth procedure. The scenario in the case is that pregnant women with gravid 1 plus 0 primp arrived into the hospital. This means that the woman was having her first pregnancy or she had been pregnant before but had not given birth i.e. she might have had an abortion or miscarriage

Michelin Star Rating System Analysis

Michelin Star Rating System Analysis Michelin Star System Chapter 2 Literature Review The system of rating organisations with a particular business sector according to the value and quality that these organisations provide to the end user, by methods such as those used by the Michelin Guide Star System is nothing new. However, it is important for the owners of these organisations to understand the relevance of such systems. For example, are they most relevant to the consumer in terms of meeting their needs and expectations and thus influencing behaviour or to the organisation in terms of improving its standing within the business sector and strengthening brand awareness? Commencing with the consumer, this critical literature review is intended to provide an understanding of the current theories and observations relating to these particular issues. 2.1 Consumer needs and satisfaction Abraham Maslows (1998) hierarchy of needs theory is recognised by most academics as having created the foundation for all subsequent research into understanding the consumer, providing a framework that allows organisations supplying a product of service to better understanding how they need to present these in order to satisfy the consumer need, thus achieving their objective of increasing market share. The research carried out by Szmigin (2003) and Porter (2004) also confirms that the success of a businesses strategy is also dependent upon the extent to which that strategy is designed to meet and therefore address the perceived satisfaction levels of the consumer. Figure 1 Maslows hierarchy of needs Esteem needs achievement, status, responsibility, reputation Self-actualization personal growth and fulfilment Belongingness and Love needs family, affection, relationships, work group, etc. Safety needs protection, security, order, law, limits, stability, etc. Biological and Physiological needs basic life needs air, food, drink, shelter, warmth, sex, sleep, etc. In relating the Maslow theory directly to the satisfaction of needs of the consumer with regards to their restaurant experience, it can be seen from the above diagram (figure 1), that this is dependent upon the level at which the consumer is within the hierarchy. For example, it is likely that those at the three basic levels of need will be less driven by optimal quality than price and pace to fulfil that need (Noone et al 2007 and Namkung and SonCheong 2007). The satisfaction of these levels of need is likely to be more important for the tourist sector of the hospitality industry, where the meal is expected to form just a part of their overall vacation experience (Atila and Fisun 2003). However, where esteem and self-actualisation becomes more important is when the consumer wants to make a statement that separates him or her from the crowd. For example, if a salesperson wishes to make an impression with a prospective client, they are likely to want to dine in a restaurant that delivers a higher level of quality. In other words they will be looking for a perfect experience that will satisfy those they are trying to impress (Gupta et al. August 2007 and Chemlinski, R., 2006). 2.2 Consumer behaviour The behavioural patterns of consumer, as with all human reactions, are dependent upon reactions that can result from a psychological, emotional or physical influence. One of the most influential factors that influence consumer behaviour is that of memory. Everything we do is affected by memory, and this will drive our conscious and sub-conscious reaction to a particular event and the ultimate choices that we make. However, the memories formed are also affected by the manner in which pre-existing experiences interpret them (Zaltman 2003, p.186). For example, if we have had a bad experience at a particular restaurant in the past, it is likely that this will deter us from repeating the experience, irrespective of how that particular restaurant may try to re-package the experience. One of the difficulties that the restaurant owner has with delivering satisfaction of needs to the consumer of their product results from the fact that memory determinants of consumer choice are driven by both conscious and unconscious thought processes and therefore can be almost impossible for an outsider to see and measure, let alone alter (Zaltman 2003, p.15). This is certainly true in relation to actions resulting from subconscious memory as, in this case, as Bagozzi et al (2002, p.132) observe, even the person making the choice could be unaware of why they have reacted in the way they did. The memory processes will influence the manner in which the consumer makes a judgement about the benefits of the restaurant product and service being offered. Based upon previous memories it will subconsciously inform the consumer whether the expected experience is likely to be negative or (Zaltman et al 2002, p.68). Furthermore, the consumer will also then use that memory to judge whether th e experience will lead to a satisfaction of their current level of need (Maslow 1998). 2.3 Branding and the consumer Brand image is another important factor that will influence the consumers choice of purchase. It is an almost automatic reaction of the consumer to make an association between the brand and what it denotes. For example, in terms of restaurants and hospitality, the brand McDonalds automatically conjures up an image of fast, cheap food or the burger type variety. Irrespective of the adjustments that the burger chain tries to make to their products, such is the depth of that association within the mind of the consumer that it will be almost impossible to change Haig (2004, p.78 and 85). Once a brand has been created therefore, changing the consumers perception of it is extremely difficult. One of the problems that the Michelin Star System has in respect of brand image is that it has, consciously or unconsciously within the mindset of the consumer, created an image of quality, but with that quality being achieved at a price. In the minds of certain segments of the consumer public this puts their recommendations beyond the bounds of affordability, irrespective of whether it will satisfy their needs (Surlemont et al 2005). However, Porter (2004) would argue that the differentiation in terms of the quality of the product and the price premium could have certain competitive advantages. For example, it would appeal to those who wish to set themselves apart from the masses or, as indicated earlier, are trying to create an impression for their own purposes. Furthermore, as the research on consumer behaviour conducted by Zaltman (2003, p.227) suggests, this differentiation may also be able to produce satisfaction in terms of another influential factor that exists within the con sumer decision-making process, this being peer influence. It is well recorded that our perception of what others think has a significant influence upon the way we make decisions. For example, we will often make decisions simply in an effort to be connected to a particular group or segment of people. As mentioned earlier, within the restaurant experience this may manifest itself in the need to impress others. However, in the hospitality sector it can be said to be equally true that people will dine at a certain restaurant simply as a means of making a statement, which indicates to others that one is within a different consumer group. In this case, the consumer will be satisfying the Maslow (1998) levels of need that relates to self-esteem and actualisation. 2.4 Restaurant recognition Literature does however show that the Michelin rating system and the recognition it brings does make a difference within some areas of the sector (Guide 2008). From listening to the videos of the comments of Gary Rhodes and Anthony Demetre (Video Links 2008), it is apparent that to the proprietors of the restaurants concerned both consider that it improves the quality of their respective brands, which in turn will enhance the business drive for success. This view is reinforced by the reaction of those who lose or fail to gain stars, which shows obvious disappointment (Latest news 2008). 2.5 Summary In the opinion of the author, the literature evaluated for this review shows why there is such a diversity of opinion regarding the relevance of the Michelin Star System within the current restaurant sector of the leisure and hospitality sector. There are those whose theories argue that, except for the higher levels of satisfying the consumer needs (Maslow 1998), which relate to self-esteem and actualisation, it has little impact upon the average consumer. Similarly, many consumers perceive that its influence is more related to the pricing strategy and restaurant environment than in delivering service satisfaction to the consumer (Snyder and Cotter 1998). However, employees and owners within the industry would argue that the Michelin Star has a beneficial impact in that it increases the strength of the brand (Balasz K 2002) and that it denotes an assurance of quality that the consumer can rely upon. Chapter 3 Research Methodology As McGivern (2006, p.4) observes within her study on the subject, research is about a systematic investigations to find things out, which means that the researcher has to devise a system of methods and rules to facilitate the collection and analysis of data (Hart 2006, p.28). Thus it follows that the particular method adopted for any research project has significant importance in relation to the intended aims and objectives of the study being conducted. Essentially, data used in a research studies can be collected through one of two methods. These are the primary resource, which often entails the direct collection of data through the use of surveys, interviews and questionnaires, or the secondary resource, which relies upon the use pre-existing data (Clark 2002). The decision that every researcher faces is which of these methods, of combination thereof, is most appropriate to the subject matter of their research project. Bearing these factors in mind, the intention of this chapter is to provide the reader with an outline of the methodology chosen by the author for this study into the Michelin Star System. 3.1 Choice of research design The restaurant sector of the leisure and tourism industry in which the Michelin Star System operates is diverse, both in terms of the numbers of participating market players, the business models used and the consumer audience to which they appeal. With the UK Michelin guide covering a total of over 4,500 hotels and restaurants (Hickman 2008) it is also a sizable sector for any research to cover. Furthermore, due to the importance of the restaurant sector in relation to the leisure and tourism industries, together with its influence upon the consumer, there is a proliferation of pre-existing academic and practical data available in relation to this sector, which is being increased on a regular basis. These include empirical studies in targeted leisure and hospitality journals, observations from external stakeholders such as magazines and newspapers and numerous regularly conducted questionnaires and surveys. The considerations to be given to the choice of the research design was therefore to assess whether this level of secondary data would provide a sufficiency of information to add value to the research being conducted or if approaching the research using a primary data approach would prove to be of more relevance to the aims and objectives that form the basis of this paper. In the final analysis the author decided to design the research around the secondary data approach. In reaching this decision, there were several reasons for the discarding of the primary option. The first of these took into account the limitations that would attach to primary data collection. Of necessity, the completion of this research is restrained by a definitive time set for its completion. Furthermore, in view of the size of the sector, it was considered that to construct and conduct a sufficiently robust primary data choice, through the use of questionnaires and interviews would be cost prohibitive. For example, there would need to be a sufficiently large sample of such data collection achieved through restaurant employees, consumers and other stakeholders to create a representative sample, which in the authors opinion could not be achieved within the prevailing limitations. It is recognised that secondary data has two potential disadvantages. Firstly, with this method, the researcher is reliant upon the validity of data being collected from an external source over which they have no control; therefore there is no direct knowledge of the responses and theories available. Secondly, there is also the issue of the validity of the data to be considered. However, its main advantage is the depth and breadth of the amount of data available. It choosing a design based upon secondary data it is recognised that there are two potential disadvantages. Firstly, with this method the researcher is reliant upon the validity of data being collected from an external source over which they have no control; therefore there is no direct knowledge of the responses and theories available. Secondly, there is also the issue of the validity of the data to be considered. However, in addition to the limitations attached to the collection of primary data, there were also positive reasons for choosing the use of secondary data as the foundation for the design of this research paper. The first of these relates directly to the fact that, from an initial exploratory examination of the data field, it is apparent that much of the secondary information is of a higher quality and has a more extensive coverage than could be achieve from a primary method (Punch 1998). Secondly, as the aim of this dissertation concentrates upon the current value and relevance of the Michelin Star System, it is necessary to study the differing views and theories of academics and researchers in respect of those who are likely to be affected by the system, including the restaurant operators and their customers. In this respect the theory relating to business branding, quality and competitive advantage, such as those promoted by Arnold (1992) and Porter (2004) need to be considered. From the customer aspect, understanding the needs, expectations and behavioural patterns need to be included. For this area was considered that the academic studies and theories promoted by authors such as Abraham Maslow (1998) and Szmigin (2003) are also relevant. It is generally accepted that these authors have a high level of expertises and therefore, as Dingwell (1997) and Steward and Kasmins (2003) suggest, their works will adds a higher level of quality to the research being conducted for this study. In reaching the choice of using secondary data for the design of this particular research, the author took the same view as other researchers, such as Steward and Kamins (1993), McGivern (2006) and Hart (2006). These authors suggest that the type of methodology used is not overly important providing the data and information collected is reliable, trustworthy and resolves the questions being posed within the research aims and objectives. The author is confident that the choices for secondary data made fulfil these criteria. 3.2 Construction of the chosen method It is important that the correct approach is used in dealing with the quantity of data collected and its subsequent analysis and evaluation. This is particularly the case in terms of eliminating any bias that exists within the mind of the author. In this particular case it is the considered view of the author that, potentially, the research may conclude that the Michelin star system is only of relevance to the internal stakeholders of the restaurant sectors, namely the chefs and owners, and is paid little regard to from the consumers viewpoint. Therefore, in selecting a range of between thirty and forty references from a range of databases, which includes books, professional journals, reports and surveys, websites and other online resources, these issues have been borne in mind. For example, in order to balance the potential bias, resources have been chosen that support the current relevance of the Michelin Star System current relevance as well as those sources that take the opposite viewpoint. Similarly, for the same reason it was felt the relationship between consumer needs, behaviour and branding also needed to be addressed, as this will provide a view of the influence that a Michelin Star brand has upon the end user of the restaurant facilities. 3.3 Sample The sample of literature used within this research has been chosen from a number of relevant sources. In the main the concentration has been upon selecting resources from the most current available sources, being generally that produced within the last two to three decades, as this was considered to be the most appropriate for the issues being discussed. Similarly, the sampling was concentrated mainly upon the UK. The only exception to this was in cases such as Maslows hierarchy of needs, which is considered to contain the founding principles of consumer behavioural determinants. With the exception of the theoretical literature, where the approach of author choice was made for the reasons discussed in section 4.1 above, the sampling method used was based upon the maximum variation approach (Hart 1998 and 2006) as this was felt to provide a firm foundation from which to address the objectives of the study. 3.4 Procedure The procedure used for the collection of the secondary data was through the normal database channels of journals, books accessed from libraries and speciality bookshops and online resources. However, these searches were further defined to ensure that there was a direct relevance to the tourism and leisure industry, with particular concentration upon hospitality. 3.5 Data analysis Having collected the data using the previously defined methods and selection choices, it then needed to be analysed and evaluated. A dual approach was used for this purpose. The first stage involved correlating the data into differing viewpoints, for example those who considered the Michelin star relevant and those that did not. The second stage required evaluating the relevance that the various theories studied had in a practical application. Chapter 4: Findings As has been discovered within the literature review, there are conflicting opinions as to whether the Michelin Star system of quality measurement is of value within the restaurant industry. Using available secondary data within this chapter is in tended to present an analysis of the findings of the current opinion and research on this issue, which will then be discussed in depth. 4.1 The Michelin Star reward system The Michelin Guide, which derives its name from the Tyre company from which it originated, was first introduced in France in 1900 (Johnson et al 2005). Its original intention was to assist drivers with technical and travel advice. From there it developed into a tourist guide until eventually, in the 1930s, it became the gastronomic guide that it is renowned as today. By 2005 the Red Guide, as it had become known, was selling over one million copies across eight countries (Johnson et al 2005). Restaurants and other eating establishments cannot be included within the guide until their location has been visited and the meals judged by a dedicated team of inspectors. In order to avoid accusations of bias and to ensure independence, these inspectors are employed by Michelin and are required to pay for their meals and any accommodation that may be required. In fact, they also do not inform the establishment of the reason for their visit until after their inspection has taken place. In this respect, Michelin suggest, and other research has confirmed (Balasz 2001), the results of the inspections show a greater level of independence than that of some other guides, which give advance notice of the inspection and do not expect to have to settle the meal bill. According to the Michelin Guides Direct, Mr Naret, the Michelin inspectors are also not swayed by the name of the chef or the establishment. This was made evident in a recent interview where he said, Inspectors arent looking at the name. They dont care whether the chef is on television or how many of his cookbooks you might have on your shelf. They enter the restaurant and look solely at what is on the plate: the quality of ingredients, how they are cooked, how well the flavours are kept, presentation, personality and consistency (Foster 2007), although as will be discussed later, there is some disagreement over this claim. The Inspectors, of which there are currently around 70 operating throughout Europe, are persons who have had at least five years experience within the hotel and catering industry, particularly in respect of the cuisine element. Prior to being allowed to commence their inspection duties, these persons also have to undergo a vigorous six months training programme to ensure that they meet with and maintain the required Michelin standards (Johnson et al 2005). Michelin states that on average one inspector will perform the following tasks during the course of a year: Inspect 240 meals per annum Undertake 130 overnight stays Submit 1000 reports It has to be stated that this is an exceptionally heavy workload for one person. It is partially because of this level of activity that some expert observers, and indeed restaurateurs themselves, have called into question the quality, appropriateness and validity of the inspection teams work and conclusions. This element of concern is discussed in later sections within this chapter. The guide includes a wide range eating establishments, most of which are included simply for information purposes, with these totalling around 50,000 in number, a level that is constantly increasing. However, amongst this number around five percent are picked out for special mention, these being rated based upon the awarding of the coveted Michelin Star to them. There are up to three stars available, the awarding of which depends upon the consistency of quality and, as Johnson et al (2005) explain, To some extent tradition. Michelin denote the definition of their stars as follows: One Star A very good restaurant in its own category Two Stars Excellent cooking, worth a detour Three Stars Exceptional cuisine worth a special journey. One always eats extremely well here, sometimes superbly. In 2005 a further merit recognition was introduced, which was called the Bib Gourmand. This is awarded to an establishment that had not quite managed to reach the level of quality required to achieve one star status, but which was considered by the inspector to be able to achieve that position within the near future. Although there is limited information available as to the criteria which is used for the determination of the star level being awarded, in the main this relies upon the standard exhibited within the following five areas: Meal ingredient quality Culinary skills exhibited in preparation and the combination of flavours Level of creativity that has been displayed How consistent the meal standards at the establishment are Monetary value of the product 4.2 General academic perception of the Michelin Brand and competition Academics such as Johnson et al (2005), Yuksel and Yuksel (2003) and Balasz (2001) have mixed views about the quality and relevance of the Michelin Star system. Yuksel and Yuksel (2003) in their research into the systems entry into the Japanese culinary market, suggest that, in that country at least, the guide fails to take into account the people factor. In other, it is being suggested that by using paid professionals, the Michelin organisations does not pay sufficient attention to the qualities of reliability and satisfaction that lead to repeat usage of the establishment by the consumers. This area is considered by many academics that study consumer behaviour to be of equal importance to the standard of the fare being offered (Bagozzi et al 2002) and should therefore be incorporated into the Michelin procedures. The second element of concern expressed related to the pressure that the Michelin Star System placed upon the establishment chefs and owners. Although, as Johnson et als (2005) research concluded, the possession of a Michelin star does not guarantee profitability, its loss was discovered to have serious implications for the business, with some experiencing revenue reductions of up to 50% when this situation occurred. Issues of a practical nature in relation to the Michelin Start system have also been raised by many observers. There is a general view that the reflection of changes within eating establishments is not dealt with efficiently by the Michelin inspectors, with the awarding or removal of stars failing to keep up with these changes in many cases. There is little doubt that the excessive workload of the Michelin inspectors outlined in section 4.1 is a contributory factor in the occurrence of these delays. Furthermore, it is felt by many that, outside of the Star system originating market, France; the rating system lacks the same level of reliability. This will be evidenced by the response from the Japanese restaurant industry presented in the following section. Surlemont and Johnsons (2005, p.589) research also indicated that, in their opinion, there were some flaws within the Michelin star system. In the first of these it was noted that there were restaurants included within the varied stars that did not merit their positions, which adds to the perception that there might be a problem with the quality and reliability of the system and its operating procedures. Secondly, the lack of a structured measurement process being implemented by Michelin, its awarding of stars being solely at the discretion of inspector reports, did mean that the chefs had no definable target to aim for. Instead they simply had to develop their own style and be patient, and hope that it would be noticed and appreciated by the Michelin inspectors at some stage. Another area that has been questioned with regard to the Michelin Star system is its prevalence for print guides. Although the company has recently introduced online facilities for consumers to respond to the content of the guides, the main method of information distribution is through the published guides, which at prices starting at around 9.99 ($20.00) is seen by some consumers to be quite expensive, especially as access to restaurant reviews and comments is freely available through the Internet. Bagozzi et al (2002), indicate that consumers pay a considerable amount of attention to peer pressure and comments, and the Internet provides them with access to this type of response. Others such as Zaltman (1998) also suggest that the reliance upon peers can be a strong determinate for purchase, thus if consumers recommend restaurant brands in many cases this will produce a more positive effect upon others than the professional approach of recommendations provided by Michelin. The recen t drop in guide sales in Europe shows that this situation is affecting the strength of the Michelin brand, at least in this geographical area, and is seen as part of the reason for the guides expansion into the US and Asia. In addition, there are competitors to Michelin Guides. There are two that are particularly worthy of note. The first, which has built a significant market share in the UK, is the AA Rosette system, which is awarded to hotels and restaurants for their culinary standards. In this case there is a five star system in operation, with the lowest being awarded to restaurants of note in their particular location to the highest being awarded to establishments that are considered to be world class. There are consumers and observers who believe that the AA Rosette system is a more reliable indicator of quality than Michelin. The other guide that is receiving good reviews, and like the Michelin guide originates from France, is the Zagat guide. What has brought this guide to the attention of culinary observers is the fact that its rating system is based upon an aggregation of the opinions of unpaid individual consumers their experiences of the restaurant establishment (Gobe 2002, p.139). Michelin would argue that this is not a professional approach to the determination of quality, standards and culinary skills. Nonetheless, the fact that the Zagat guide is increasing in popularity indicates that it is having an impact upon consumer choice and behaviour. 4.3 Industry reaction to the Michelin Brand Within the culinary industry itself there is considerable debate about the value of the Michelin star system, with the supporters and opponents of this accolade being equally vocal in expressing their views on the subject. For example, in terms of country bias, a survey of 791 Michelin-ranked restaurants conducted by Johnson et al (2005) conducted throughout eight countries indicated that France was favoured in the awarding of stars, with it being home to 62 percent of the one-star restaurants, 67 percent of the two-star restaurants, and 25 of the 32 three-star operations. Furthermore, its financial importance to financial success is also argued. For example, whilst Belasz (2002) suggests that holding a Michelin star can provide an establishment can be a key determinant for its financial success, Johnson et al (2005) disputes this claim, finding in their research that in most cases there was no indication of this being the case, at least in terms of profitability. However, Johnson et al did concede that the Michelin star made a difference to revenue in most cases, although this does not mean that the restaurant became more profitable as a result. The impact that the Michelin stars have had upon chefs and their reactions to the system has also been diverse. As Balasz (2001 and 2002) mentions in her research into behaviour and leadership within the hospitality industry, chefs belong to the rare species of individuals who are able to take on the duel role of businessperson and creator at the same time. Referring also to their dedication to the craft of culinary creation, Balasz also mentions that chefs approach this with an almost sacred obsession and in this respect they aspire simply to be the best. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Michelin star system has a significant affect upon these people. There are many chefs and culinary establishments that crave being awarded the stars and make little secret of this desire. For instance, in addition to the response from TV chefs Rhodes and Demetre (Video links 2008), one of their peers Gordon Ramsey, whose various establishments are said to currently hold the most number of stars (12), was also delighted with the recent additions to this elite club, which occurred with the recognition of his restaurant based in Manhattan, New York. In the Editorial (2007), Ramsey expounded the view that it showed the quality and customer value that the staff at the restaurant delivered to the customer. However, other US food critics and observers did not share Michelins opinion, branding the food as overcooked, rubbery, leathery and a distinct disappointment. Nevertheless, other American chefs are supporting of the Michelin rating system. Eric Ripert and Mario Batali, both of whom have been starred by Michelin have indicated that it is important to their businesses (Petkanas 2006). Ripert s

Plato: Patriot Or Dissident :: essays research papers

Plato, the Greek philosopher is considered to be one of the greatest thinkers in history and is called by one scholar â€Å"the fountainhead through which all western thought flows.† In his book The Republic he outlines what the perfect city-state would look like and how it would operate. Along his path of reason he makes no attempt to hide his disdain for other political systems. That includes democracy, a system he does not seem to agree with. In fact, from what I read, Plato obviously disagrees with democracy and its principals. Plato ranks democracy fourth out of what he considers to be the five major constitutions. Just barely ahead of tyranny! He even ranks it behind oligarchy; a constitution that he himself states in 552a of The Republic is the first kind of city to admit the greatest of all evils! Why does he believe this? Are all the freedom loving Americans with red, white, and blue bumper stickers on their gas guzzling cars wrong? If so, what are they missing? To understand Plato’s claim that democracy is nothing but a stopgap on the way to tyranny one must first understand Plato’s viewpoint. Plato is credited with developing a school of thought called Platonic Idealism. Platonic Idealism is based upon the assumption that the essence of the qualities you predicate to things is eternal. Examples of that are ideas such as justice, piety or equality. While we may not be able to readily define them we all know what they are and can identify them when seen. Plato contends that only through philosophy can we express those essences in language. Plato translates his assumption to mean there is something inside each and every person that is the same, it comes inborn, and contains those eternal principals. That inborn intellectual part of every person is what Plato calls the soul. Souls are like those ideas or essences they are eternal. However, if everybody has this greatest truth that is called a soul inside them, why do people do stupid selfish things or even make mistakes at all? Plato’s explanation is that the material part of us, the body stops the intellectual part from exercising the knowledge it has. The analogy that Plato uses is that of a clouded eye. It goes that the soul is like an eye that can see those eternal ideas and truths but the body and its desires cloud the view.

Description of Life and Circumstances Essay

The interaction of different people with the country’s criminal justice systems varies significantly, and one of the common factors is that it varies according to ethnicity. Indigenous people tend to have more encounters than the others; and this encounter is always resulting into mixed outcomes. In extreme cases, death is the ultimate destiny for some of the prisoners. For Lloyd Boney, his death in custody became the subject of many inquiries seeking to investigate the many aspects surrounding his arrest, imprisonment, and subsequent death. This paper seeks to evaluate the findings of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC) report about Lloyd Boney’s death. Being a native, his death in custody served to add weight to the existing belief that indigenous people usually had a rather abstract encounter with the country’s criminal justice system (THE RCIADIC NATIONAL REPORT, 1991). The main aim of the paper is to review five factors that are deemed to have been responsible for Lloyd Boney’s ending up ion custody. Description of Life and Circumstances (Biographical Details) of Lloyd Boney Lloyd Boney’s birth took place in Walgett (THE RCIADIC NATIONAL REPORT, 1991). From his childhood, Lloyd Boney, also called James, seemed to be born with misfortune. A short time after his birth which is only approximated to have been in December 1958 (the Native Aboriginals hardly ever keep records of their birth and most of the births take place at home), his parents parted ways. So Lloyd Boney and his twin sister had to remain under the care of their father when their mother left. But being a seasonal worker, their father could hardly raise the family as required and soon the care of Lloyd Boney and his sister passed on to their aunt. They thus grew up under foster parents although this is generally acceptable in the aboriginal culture. Therefore, his aunt, who had about other fifteen children to care for together with her husband, had to treat Lloyd Boney and his sister as her own children (THE RCIADIC NATIONAL REPORT, 1991). In fact Lloyd Boney referred to her aunt and husband as his parents in accordance with aboriginal cultural requirements. His schooling is not well documented but it is believed that he joined school aged five and studied until around 1974 when he was forced to leave school (THE RCIADIC NATIONAL REPORT, 1991). Throughout this time at school, however, he seemed to have not really learnt a lot because by the time he went into prison he could not read and write well and had to solicit the assistance of others to do this. In 1973, just one year before he left his schooling in the first year of high school, Lloyd Boney faced his first charge of breaking into a house, getting into it and stealing some assets. He was convicted of the offense even though he was represented by an attorney from the Aboriginal Legal Service (THE RCIADIC NATIONAL REPORT, 1991). However, he was released on probation and required to continue schooling and to be well behaved. Lloyd Boney was later to have a record of crime various crimes committed; becoming a common antagonist with the police. In his early adulthood, he was diagnosed with epilepsy, a condition which saw him in and out of hospital very frequently. From this early upbringing, it is clear that a number of factors stand out that must have made Lloyd Boney to find crime unavoidable even as young as fifteen when it is believed he first came into contact with the criminal justice system (THE RCIADIC NATIONAL REPORT, 1991). RCIADIC Explanations for Lloyd Boney’s Pathway to Crime or Conflict with the Law The RCIADIC report is rather not very clear as to what especially led the young Lloyd to engage in crime from that early age. However, there are many reasons detailed in the findings of the report. As earlier mentioned, his life in crime was more the result of the poor care he received from the guardians. His uncle being away to work most of the time and his adopted mother being burdened with the care of many other children, Lloyd Boney was rather without the care and supervision he would have needed to grow up as a responsible child and avoid crime. Another issue that is cited as having been responsible for his life in crime was his relationship with one Grace Wilson which faired on sumptuously. The relationship moved from nasty to sour to bitter-sweet and to sweet but it was never a real satisfying one for both parties. Although they managed to live together for a long time, actually until Lloyd died in prison, it was a relationship which contributed to his crime life. This is because he was abusive and constantly found himself on the wrong side of the law for the crime. Grace helped him to indulge in excessive drinking, a factor that played a key role in most of the offences he was convicted of throughout his life. Actually, alcohol consumption is listed separately as having led him into criminal life. He was thought to be a good person until he started drinking and virtually all the offences he was arrested and charged with were committed when he was under the influence of alcohol (Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, 1991). Identification and Analysis of Five Major Factors that Explain Lloyd Boney’s Pathway to Crime or Conflict with the Law From the onset, it is apparent that Lloyd Boney was a victim of his circumstances as opposed to a person who was ready and willfully inclined to engage in crime. Instead, most of his troubles seem to start at the point when his parents separate and is left under the care of foster parents (Daly). The first factor responsible for his venturing into crime eventually, therefore, is his separation from his parents. Although this happened in a different way so to speak, it was a separation all the same. For a long time, many aboriginal children have been forcibly taken away their parents and adopted by foster parents who might be close relations of the first family or who are totally different. With different aims, these separations expose the children to a totally different kind of upbringing which in turn exposes the child to a moral deficiency. For Lloyd Boney, nothing is wrong for as long as he is staying with his parents. And although he was too young to do anything suggestive of crime, it is an undeniable fact that aboriginal parents are the only people who have the most in-depth understanding of the best ways to bring up their children. Try as they may, foster parents – whether aboriginal or non-aboriginal – cannot bring up aboriginal children to be well behaved and responsible for their actions as their own parents can. So although Lloyd Boney is living under the care of his aunt and her husband, he cannot really receive as much attention as he would have received if he was with his own parents (Ross, H. et al. , 1999). Most of the literature is full of cases of aboriginal children being separated from their parents forcibly for purposes of having them changing their way of life. They are adopted by totally different people or are placed in non-aboriginal child welfare societies where they are brought up is segregation and isolation from their parents and communities, their native way of life and their culture. The colonial powers instigated this practice but it is still applicable in certain instances. This has been a major cause of the rather high rates of aboriginal young people who find themselves on the wrong side of the law. The second factor that led Lloyd Boney to a criminal life was the general nature in which aboriginals are treated by law enforcers in contrast to non-aboriginals (Ross, H. et al. , 1999). Having been brought up witnessing the obviously favoritism that was displayed by law enforcement agencies, Lloyd Boney had no qualms that whatever he did he would be seen to be on the wrong anyway. He grew up knowing and witnessing the injustices meted on those of his own ethnicity and might have subconsciously made up his mind to rebel against anything that the non-aboriginals stood for. Theory proves it that when one is opposed to a certain personality, one moves to oppose and reject all that that personality or institution stands for. So Lloyd Boney must have become opposed to the entire law of the land because it was oppressive. So he hated the law and wanted to do all that was contrary the law not because he wished but he saw it as a way to pay back for there wrongs committed by the law and its enforcers against his own people. He also rejected school because he knew formal education was not an aboriginal thing but that of whites. The literature brings the issue of discrimination based on race into context by citing different cases that depict it. In not a few of the cases, even the law enforcers themselves admit that they are rather discriminative (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2007). They have been conditioned to believe that only black aboriginal people can do what is right. A case is cited of a group of white and aboriginal young schoolboys who are found to be drunk in the streets yet the police arrest only the aboriginal boys and leave the whites. Questioned about their actions, they claim that the white children are not aware of there being a law prohibiting getting drunk for the young. This illustrates high levels of discrimination in the legal system. The third factor that prompted Lloyd Boney become a person opposed to the law is racism. Racial discrimination is rife in this country. Every aboriginal or non- white is treated very differently by the other races not for any other reason but just because the color of one’s skin is different – black. Black is almost associated with evil and white with good. Racism has infiltrated the legal system, worsening the already frosty relationship that the aboriginal youth have with the law enforcers (Ross, H. et al. , 1999). Apart from the incident cited earlier of police picking black offenders from a mixed group of students and leaving behind the whites, many other incidents of racially motivated arrests have been reported. This has moved on to prisons where the treatment of inmates is racially motivated. This alone has made native aboriginals to dislike the police force in this country and rather than viewing them as good people doing a good job view them as enemies out to finish them. They, therefore, keep rebelling against the law (HREOC, 1997). For Lloyd Boney, this factor made him to go in and out of jail many times. He was almost always aware that the police would look for faults in him just for his being an aborigine. If this had not been the case, it is likely that he would have changed his behavior when he was first convicted of breaking in and stealing. But because it became apparent that police were watching him alone he resented the idea of ever reforming. To him, it was no use being good to the police officers when they had already labeled him and his people as bad and as a criminal. Whenever anything wrong happened it was the aborigines who were asked to explain first what they knew. The fourth factor is alcoholism (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2003). It has been established that alcohol serves as a great contributor to criminal tendencies mainly because once one is under the influence of alcohol one is unable to make sound decisions ad judgments. For Lloyd Boney, his drinking habit kept him in a trap where he virtually could not avoid crime. All offences committed by him were committed when he was und rte influence or when he wanted to get drunk (Daly). His being addicted to alcohol literally led him to commit crime, starting from domestic violence and moving on to others like driving under the influence, violating the terms of his probation, and resisting arrest. In the literature, it is found that alcohol consumption is a common practice among aboriginal communities and this could partly explain why most of them engage in crime. Finally, Lloyd Boney’s pathway to crime can be explained by social and economic factors. The natives of this country are people who are grossly deprived of even the most basic of needs there ever can be. This is in spite of the ability to lead very simple lifestyles and to survive on very little (Atkinson, 19I4). This depravity is sometimes very severe that people are compelled to commit crimes to get something to sustain themselves. Lloyd Boney constantly stole because he did not have a job so he could work and earn. Yet he had needs to meet daily. Earlier in life, he had a family which was so deprived that he had to look for was to survive. Growing up in a family of more than seventeen people al depending on one person is not an easy thing. For him, if he had the social support he required and if the resources were sufficient he most likely would not have ventured into crime (Ross, H. et al. , 1999). Reflection on Analysis Lloyd Boney is a person whose criminal life is largely the result of the conditions where he grew up as opposed of what might been in his own making (Report of the Inquiry into the Death of LLOYD JAMES BONE, 1998). This is because he is not recorded as having had any really bad habits until he was in school where he committed his first offence. What made him to go into crime are f actors that are surprisingly covered in available literature. He is a person who understands that the police in his country are racist, that the legal system itself is skewed to favor non-aboriginals, and that regardless of what has to do one is likely to find oneself on the wrong side of the law as long as one is aboriginal. From the literature, factors listed as making aboriginals to be the more likely people to find themselves on the wrong side of the law include the social and economic situation they finds themselves in, the nature of the country’s criminal justice system which is not at al fair, the cultural settings under which aboriginal children grow, and the separation of aboriginal children from their parents so they can be forced to change their characters and culture. The others are alcohol consumption which is a practice rife among aboriginal communities, peer pressure that young aboriginals experience, and the country’s racial tendencies which favor whites against aboriginals. In this entire issue of Lloyd Boney, these factors interplay from his birth to the time of his death in prison. What is evident is that he went in prison for no real seriously crime. If he had been economically capable, he probably would not have ended up in prison as indicated by the mild nature of his charges. On this basis, it is critical that such issues are considered together with the recommendations made to by the RCIADIC commission so that not only the deaths of aboriginals while in prison are reduced but their rate of committing crime is also lowered. Word count: 2,566 References Atkinson, J. (19I4). â€Å"A nation is not conquered. † Domestic violence and incest resource center Australian Human Rights Commission (2007). Bringing them home Community Guide. Australian Human Rights Commission Australian Human Rights Commission (2003). Social Justice Report 2003. Australian Human Rights Commission Australia, Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, Report of the Inquiry into the Death of LLOYD JAMES BONEY (1998) Daly, K. Government policies of protection-segregation and assimilation and their impact on Indigenous people. Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) (1997). Bringing them Home – Community Guide. Sydney, NSW: Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Memmott, P. et al. (2001). Violence in Indigenous Communities, â€Å"Causes of violence THE RCIADIC NATIONAL REPORT (1991). â€Å"The Reasons for Offending. † Ross, H. et al. (1999). ‘Risk and Resilience: Crime and Violence Prevention in Aboriginal Communities. ’ THE AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY, VOLUME 32 NUMBER 2 1999 PP. 182-196 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (1991) National Report, Vol. 2. Canberra, ACT: Australian Government Publishing Service.

Chris McCandless Essay

McCandless wanted to live an independent and self-reliant life. As a child, he grew up in a materialistic and dysfunctional family. Although he had a close relationship with his sister, Carine, Chris preferred isolating himself. It was unimaginably difficult for Chris to have a relationship with his father after he had found out about his father’s second family. Chris’s mother, Billie, didn’t have much of a relationship with him either. For Chris, being alone was normal and part of his every day routine. As he got older he wanted more and more to live on his own and be in the wild. Chris and his family would go to the mountains every year to visit which gave Chris this love for nature. He wanted to live in his own Utopia, in the wild. McCandless wasn’t careless or delusional. He was determined, and focused on his task at hand; to, in his own words, â€Å"no longer be poisoned by civilization, and walk alone to become lost in the wild. † He met many people through-out his travels towards Alaska, but didn’t stay too long to become attached to them. On April 28, 1992, James Gallien gave Christopher McCandless a ride to the Stampede Trail in Alaska where Christopher set out to begin in journey into the wild. This was the last date that anyone ever saw Christopher McCandless alive. Walking into Denali National Park with a . 22 caliber rifle and a 10 pound bag of rice isn’t necessarily ridiculous, but expecting to survive an entire summer off nothing but the land and wild game certainly is. Chris read many books by his favorite, Jack London being one. Jack wrote a book about the wild and the dangers of being in it, which is where Chris got some inspiration from. Chris carved the phrase â€Å"Jack London is king† in a tree stump near his campsite.. Chris writing that phrase shows that his quest went farther than finding himself. Chris wanted a connection with nature. He did what he was striving for and although his ending was tragic, he still did it by himself and without anyone or anything.

Endothermic and Exothermic Chemical Reactions

Endothermic and Exothermic Chemical Reactions Many chemical reactions release energy in the form of heat, light, or sound. These are exothermic reactions. Exothermic reactions may occur spontaneously and result in higher randomness or entropy (ΔS 0ï » ¿) of the system. They are denoted by a negative heat flow (heat is lost to the surroundings) and decrease in enthalpy (ΔH 0). In the lab, exothermic reactions produce heat or may even be explosive. There are other chemical reactions that must absorb energy in order to proceed. These are endothermic reactions. Endothermic reactions cannot occur spontaneously. Work must be done in order to get these reactions to occur. When endothermic reactions absorb energy, a temperature drop is measured during the reaction. Endothermic reactions are characterized by positive heat flow (into the reaction) and an increase in enthalpy (ΔH). Examples of Endothermic and Exothermic Processes Photosynthesis is an example of an endothermic chemical reaction. In this process, plants use the energy from the sun to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. This reaction requires 15MJ of energy (sunlight) for every kilogram of glucose that is produced: sunlight 6CO2(g) H2O(l) C6H12O6(aq) 6O2(g) Other examples of endothermic processes include: Dissolving ammonium chloride in waterCracking alkanesNucleosynthesis of elements heavier than nickel in starsEvaporating liquid waterMelting ice An example of an exothermic reaction is the mixture of sodium and chlorine to yield table salt. This reaction produces 411 kJ of energy for each mole of salt that is produced: Na(s) 0.5Cl2(s) NaCl(s) Other examples of exothermic processes include: The thermite reactionA neutralization reaction (e.g., mixing an acid and a base to form a salt and water)Most polymerization reactionsCombustion of a fuelRespirationNuclear fissionCorrosion of metal (an oxidation reaction)Dissolving an acid in water Demonstrations You Can Perform Many exothermic and endothermic reactions involve toxic chemicals, extreme heat or cold, or messy disposal methods. An example of a quick exothermic reaction is dissolving powdered laundry detergent in your hand with a bit of water. An example of an easy endothermic reaction is dissolving potassium chloride (sold as a salt substitute) in your hand with water. These endothermic and exothermic demonstrations are safe and easy: Exciting Exothermic Reactions to Try: Heat things up with one of these simple exothermic reaction demonstrations.Create an Endothermic Reaction: Some endothermic reactions get cold enough to cause frostbite. Heres an example of a reaction safe enough for kids to touch.How to Create an Exothermic Chemical Reaction: Some exothermic reactions produce flames and get extremely hot (like the thermite reaction). Here is a safe exothermic reaction that produces heat but wont start fires or cause a burn.Make Hot Ice From Vinegar and Baking Soda: Sodium acetate or hot ice can be used as either an endothermic or exothermic reaction, depending on whether you are crystallizing or melting the solid. Endothermic vs Exothermic Comparison Heres a quick summary of the differences between endothermic and exothermic reactions: Endothermic Exothermic heat is absorbed (feels cold) heat is released (feels warm) energy must be added for reaction to occur reaction occurs spontaneously disorder decreases (ΔS 0) entropy increases (ΔS 0) increase in enthalpy (+ΔH) decrease in enthalpy (-ΔH) Endergonic and Exergonic Reactions Endothermic and exothermic reactions refer to the absorption or release of heat. There are other types of energy which may be produced or absorbed by a chemical reaction. Examples include light and sound. In general, reactions involving energy may be classified as endergonic or exergonic, An endothermic reaction is an example of an endergonic reaction. An exothermic reaction is an example of an exergonic reaction. Key Facts Endothermic and exothermic reactions are chemical reactions that absorb and release heat, respectively.A good example of an endothermic reaction is photosynthesis. Combustion is an example of an exothermic reaction.The categorization of a reaction as endo- or exothermic depends on the net heat transfer. In any given reaction, heat is both absorbed and released. For example, energy must be input into a combustion reaction to start it (lighting a fire with a match), but then more heat is released than was required. Resources and Further Reading Qian, Y.†Z., et al. â€Å"Diverse Supernova Sources for the r†Process.† The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 494, no. 1, 10 Feb. 1998, pp. 285-296, doi:10.1086/305198.Yin, Xi, et al. â€Å"Self-Heating Approach to the Fast Production of Uniform Metal Nanostructures.† Chemistry of Nanomaterials for Energy, Biology and More, vol. 2, no. 1, 26 Aug. 2015, pp. 37-41, doi:10.1002/cnma.201500123.

The Curious Murder of Rasputin

The Curious Murder of Rasputin The mysterious  Grigory Efimovich Rasputin, a peasant who claimed powers of healing and prediction, had the ear of Russian Czarina Alexandra. The aristocracy held negative views about a peasant in such a high position, and peasants disliked the rumors that the czarina was sleeping with such a scoundrel. Rasputin was seen as the dark force who was ruining Mother Russia. To save the monarchy, several members of the aristocracy conspired to murder Rasputin. On the night of Dec. 16, 1916, they tried. The plan was simple. Yet on that fateful night, the conspirators found that killing Rasputin would be very difficult indeed. The Mad Monk Czar Nicholas II and Czarina Alexandra, the emperor and empress of Russia, had tried for years to give birth to a male heir. After four girls were born, the royal couple was desperate. They called in many mystics and holy men. Finally, in 1904, Alexandra gave birth to a baby boy, Aleksei Nikolayevich. Unfortunately, the boy who had been the answer to their prayers was afflicted with the royal disease, hemophilia. Every time Aleksei began to bleed, it would not stop. The royal couple became frantic to find a cure for their son. Again, mystics, holy men, and healers were consulted. Nothing helped until 1908, when Rasputin was called upon to aid the young czarevich during one of his bleeding episodes. Rasputin was a peasant born in the Siberian town of Pokrovskoye on Jan. 10, probably in the year 1869. Rasputin underwent a religious transformation around the age of 18 and spent three months in the Verkhoturye Monastery. When he returned to Pokrovskoye he was a changed man. Though he married Proskovia Fyodorovna and had three children with her (two girls and a boy), he began to wander as a strannik (pilgrim or wanderer). During his wanderings, Rasputin traveled to Greece and Jerusalem. Though he often traveled back to Pokrovskoye, he found himself in St. Petersburg in 1903. By then he was proclaiming himself a starets, or holy man who had healing powers and could predict the future. When Rasputin was summoned to the royal palace in 1908, he proved he had a healing power. Unlike his predecessors, Rasputin was able to help the boy. How he did it is still greatly disputed. Some people say that Rasputin used hypnotism; others say Rasputin didnt know how to hypnotize. Part of Rasputins continued mystique is the remaining question as to whether he really had the powers he claimed. Having proven his holy powers to Alexandra, however, Rasputin did not remain just the healer for Aleksei; Rasputin soon became Alexandras confidant and personal adviser. To the aristocrats, having a peasant advising the czarina, who in turn held a great deal of influence over the czar, was unacceptable. In addition, Rasputin loved alcohol and sex, both of which he consumed in excess. Though Rasputin appeared to be a pious and saintly holy man in front of the royal couple, others saw him as a sex-craved peasant who was ruining Russia and the monarchy. It didnt help that Rasputin was having sex with women in high society in exchange for granting political favors, nor that many in Russia believed Rasputin and the czarina were lovers and wanted to make a separate peace with the Germans; Russia and Germany were enemies during World War I. Many people wanted to get rid of Rasputin. Attempting to enlighten the royal couple about the danger they were in, influential people approached both Nicholas and Alexandra with the truth about Rasputin and the rumors that were circulating. To everyones great dismay, they both refused to listen. So who was going to kill Rasputin before the monarchy was completely destroyed? The Murderers Prince Felix Yusupov seemed an unlikely murderer. Not only was he the heir to a vast family fortune, but he also was married to the czars niece Irina, a beautiful young woman. Yusupov  was also considered very good looking, and with his looks and money, he was able to indulge in his fancies. His fancies usually were in the form of sex, much of which was considered perverse at the time, especially transvestism and homosexuality. Historians think that these attributes helped Yusupov  ensnare Rasputin. Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich was Czar Nicholas IIs cousin. Pavlovich was once engaged to the czars eldest daughter, Olga Nikolaevna, but his continued friendship with the homosexually inclined Yusupov made the royal couple break off the engagement. Vladimir Purishkevich was an outspoken member of the Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament. On Nov. 19, 1916, Purishkevich made a rousing speech in the Duma, in which he said, The czars ministers who have been turned into marionettes, marionettes whose threads have been taken firmly in hand by Rasputin and the Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna- the evil genius of Russia and the czar...who has remained a German on the Russian throne and alien to the country and its people. Yusupov  attended the speech and afterward  contacted Purishkevich, who quickly agreed to participate in the murder of Rasputin. Others involved were  Lt. Sergei Mikhailovich Sukhotin, a convalescing young officer of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. Dr. Stanislaus de Lazovert was a friend and Purishkevichs physician. Lazovert was added as the fifth member because they needed someone to drive the car. The Plan The plan was relatively simple. Yusupov was to befriend Rasputin and then lure Rasputin to the Yusupov palace to be killed. Since Pavlovich was busy every night until December 16 and Purishkevich was leaving on a hospital train for the front on December 17, it was decided that the murder would be committed on the night of the 16th and in the early morning hours of the 17th. As for what time, the conspirators wanted the cover of night to hide the murder and the disposal of the body. Plus, Yusupov noticed that Rasputins apartment wasnt guarded after midnight. It was decided that Yusupov would pick up Rasputin at his apartment at half past midnight. Knowing  Rasputins  love of sex, the conspirators would use Yusupovs beautiful wife, Irina, as bait. Yusupov would tell Rasputin that he could meet her at the palace with the innuendo of a possible sexual liaison. Yusupov wrote his wife, who was staying at their home in the Crimea, to ask her to join him in this important event. After several letters, she wrote back in the beginning of December in hysteria saying that she couldnt follow through with it. The conspirators then had to find a way to lure Rasputin without actually having Irina there. They decided to keep Irina as a lure  but fake her presence. Yusupov and Rasputin would enter a side entrance of the palace with stairs leading down to the basement so that no one could see them enter or leave the palace. Yusupov was having the basement refurbished as a cozy dining room. Since the Yusupov palace was along the Moika Canal and across from a police station, using guns was not possible for fear of them being heard. Thus, they decided to use poison. The dining room in the basement would be set up as if several guests had just left it in a hurry. Noise would be coming from upstairs as if Yusupovs wife was entertaining unexpected company. Yusupov would tell Rasputin that his wife would come down once her guests had left. While waiting for Irina, Yusupov would offer Rasputin potassium cyanide-laced pastries and wine. They needed to make sure that no one knew that Rasputin was going with Yusupov to his palace. Besides urging Rasputin not to tell anyone of his rendezvous with Irina, the plan was for Yusupov to pick up Rasputin via the back stairs of his apartment. Finally, the conspirators decided that they would call the restaurant/inn Villa Rhode on the night of the murder to ask if Rasputin was there yet, hoping to make it seem that he was expected there but never showed up. After Rasputin was killed, the conspirators were going to wrap up the body in a rug, weigh it down, and throw it into a river. Since winter had already come, most of the rivers near St. Petersburg were frozen. The conspirators spent a morning looking for a suitable hole in the ice to dump the body. They found one on the Malaya Nevka River. The Setup In November, about a month before the murder, Yusupov contacted Maria Golovina, a longtime friend of his who also happened to be close to Rasputin. He complained that  he had been having chest pains that doctors had been unable to cure. She immediately suggested that he should see Rasputin for his healing powers, as Yusupov knew she would. Golovina arranged for them both to meet at her apartment. The contrived friendship began, and Rasputin began calling Yusupov by a nickname, Little One. Rasputin and Yusupov met a number of times during November and December. Since Yusupov had told Rasputin that he didnt want his family to know about their friendship, it was agreed that Yusupov would enter and leave Rasputins apartment via a staircase in the back. Many have speculated that more than just healing went on at these sessions and that the two were sexually involved. At some point, Yusupov mentioned that his wife would be arriving from the Crimea in the middle of December. Rasputin showed interest in meeting her, so they arranged for Rasputin to meet Irina just after midnight on December 17. It was also agreed that Yusupov would pick Rasputin up and drop him off. For several months, Rasputin had been living in fear. He had been drinking even more heavily than usual and constantly dancing to Gypsy music to try to forget his terror. Numerous times, Rasputin mentioned to people that he was going to be killed. Whether this was a true premonition or whether he heard the rumors circulating around St. Petersburg is uncertain. Even on  Rasputins last day  alive, several people visited him to warn him to stay home and not go out. Around midnight on December 16, Rasputin changed clothes into a light blue shirt, embroidered with cornflowers and blue velvet pants. Though he had agreed not to tell anyone where he was going that night, he had actually told several people, including his daughter Maria and Golovina, who had introduced him to Yusupov. The Murder Near midnight, the conspirators all met at the Yusupov palace in the newly created basement dining room. Pastries and wine adorned the table. Lazovert put on rubber gloves and then crushed the potassium cyanide crystals into powder and placed some in the pastries and a small amount in two wine glasses. They left some pastries unpoisoned so that Yusupov could partake. After everything was ready, Yusupov and Lazovert went to pick up the victim. Around 12:30 a.m. a visitor arrived at Rasputins apartment via the back stairs. Rasputin greeted the man at the door. The maid was still awake and was looking through the kitchen curtains; she later said she saw that it was the Little One (Yusupov). The two men left in a car driven by a chauffeur, who was actually Lazovert. When they arrived at the palace, Yusupov took Rasputin to the side entrance and down the stairs to the basement dining room. As Rasputin entered the room he could hear noise and music upstairs, and Yusupov explained that Irina had been detained by unexpected guests but would be down shortly. The other conspirators waited until after Yusupov and Rasputin entered the dining room, then they stood by the stairs leading down to it, waiting for something to happen. Everything up to this point had been going to plan, but that didnt last much longer. While supposedly waiting for Irina, Yusupov offered Rasputin one of the poisoned pastries. Rasputin refused, saying they were too sweet. Rasputin wouldnt eat or drink anything. Yusupov started to panic and went upstairs to talk to the other conspirators. When Yusupov went back downstairs, Rasputin for some reason had changed his mind and agreed to eat the pastries. Then they started drinking the wine. Though potassium cyanide was supposed to have an immediate effect, nothing happened. Yusupov continued to chat with Rasputin, waiting for something to happen. Noticing a guitar in the corner, Rasputin asked Yusupov to play for him. The time wore on, and Rasputin wasnt showing any effects from the poison. It was now about 2:30 a.m. and Yusupov was worried. Again he made an excuse and went upstairs to talk with the other conspirators. The poison obviously wasnt working. Yusupov took a gun from Pavlovich and went back downstairs. Rasputin didnt notice that Yusupov had returned with a gun behind his back. While Rasputin was looking at a beautiful ebony cabinet, Yusupov said, Grigory Efimovich, you would do better to look at the crucifix and pray to It. Then Yusupov raised the pistol and fired. The other conspirators rushed down the stairs to see Rasputin lying on the ground and Yusupov standing over him with the gun. After a few minutes, Rasputin jerked convulsively and then fell still. Since Rasputin was dead, the conspirators went upstairs to celebrate and to wait for later in the night so that they could dump the body with no witnesses. Still Alive About an hour later, Yusupov felt an inexplicable need to go look at the body. He went back downstairs and felt the body. It still seemed warm. He shook the body. There was no reaction. When Yusupov started turning away, he noticed Rasputins left eye start to flutter open. He was still alive. Rasputin sprang to his feet and rushed at Yusupov, grabbing his shoulders and neck. Yusupov struggled to get free and finally did so. He rushed upstairs shouting, Hes still alive! Purishkevich was upstairs and had just put his Sauvage revolver in his pocket when he saw Yusupov come back up shouting. Yusupov was crazed with fear, [his]  face was literally gone, his handsome...eyes had come out of their sockets...[and] in a semi-conscious state...almost without seeing me, he rushed past with a crazed look. Purishkevich rushed down the stairs, only to find that Rasputin was running across the courtyard. As Rasputin was running, Purishkevich  yelled, Felix, Felix, Ill tell everything to the czarina. Purishkevich was chasing after him. While running, he fired his gun but missed. He fired again and missed again. And then he bit his hand to regain control of himself. Again he fired. This time the bullet found its mark, hitting Rasputin in the back. Rasputin stopped, and Purishkevich fired again. This time the bullet hit Rasputin in the head. Rasputin fell. His head was jerking, but he tried to crawl. Purishkevich had caught up now and kicked Rasputin in the head. Enter the Police Police officer  Vlassiyev  was standing on duty on Moika Street and heard what sounded like three or four shots in quick succession. He headed over to investigate. Standing outside the Yusupov palace he saw two men crossing the courtyard, recognizing them as Yusupov and his servant Buzhinsky. He asked them if they had heard any gunshots, and Buzhinsky answered that he had not. Thinking it had probably just been a car backfiring, Vlassiyev went back to his post. Rasputins body was brought in and placed by the stairs that led to the basement dining room. Yusupov grabbed a 2-pound dumbbell and began indiscriminately hitting Rasputin with it. When others finally pulled Yusupov off Rasputin, the would-be assassin was splattered with blood. Yusupovs servant Buzhinsky then told Purishkevich about the conversation with the policeman. They were worried that the officer might tell his superiors what he had seen and heard. They sent for the policeman to come back to the house. Vlassiyev recalled that when he entered the palace, a man asked him, Have you ever heard of Purishkevich? To which the policeman replied, I have. I am Purishkevich. Have you ever heard of Rasputin? Well, Rasputin is dead. And if you love our Mother Russia, youll keep quiet about it. Yes, sir. And then they let the policeman go. Vlassiyev waited about 20 minutes and then told his superiors everything he had heard and seen. It was amazing and shocking, but after being poisoned, shot three times, and beaten with a dumbbell, Rasputin was still alive. They bound his arms and legs with rope and wrapped his body in a heavy cloth. Since it was almost dawn, the conspirators were now hurrying to dispose of the body. Yusupov stayed at home to clean himself up. The rest of them placed the body in the car, sped off to their chosen location, and heaved Rasputin over the side of the bridge, but they forgot to weigh him down with weights. The conspirators split up and went their separate ways, hoping that they had gotten away with murder. The Next Morning In the morning of Dec. 17, Rasputins daughters woke to find that their father had not returned from his late-night rendezvous with the Little One. Rasputins niece, who had also been living him, called Golovina to say that her uncle had not yet returned. Golovina called Yusupov  but was told he was still sleeping. Yusupov later returned the phone call to say that he hadnt seen Rasputin at all the previous night. Everyone in the Rasputin household knew this was a lie. The police officer who had talked to Yusupov and Purishkevich had told his superior, who in turn told his superior, about the events seen and heard at the palace. Yusupov realized that there was a lot of blood outside, so he shot one of his dogs and placed its corpse on top of the blood. He claimed that a member of his party had thought it was a funny joke to shoot the dog. That didnt fool the policemen. There was too much blood for a dog, and more than one shot was heard. Plus, Purishkevich had told Vlassiyev that they had killed Rasputin. The Czarina was informed, and an investigation was opened immediately. It was obvious to the police early on who the murderers were. There just wasnt a body yet. Finding theBody On Dec. 19, police began looking for a body near the Great Petrovsky Bridge on the Malaya Nevka River, near where a bloody boot had been found the day before. There was a hole in the ice, but they couldnt find the body. Looking a little farther downstream, they came upon the corpse floating in another hole in the ice. When they pulled him out, they found Rasputins hands were frozen in a raised position, leading to the belief that he had still been alive under the water and had tried to untie the rope around his hands. Rasputins body was taken by car to the Academy of Military Medicine, where an autopsy was conducted. The autopsy results showed: Alcohol, but no poison was found.Three bullet wounds. (The  first bullet entered the chest on the left, hitting Rasputins stomach and liver; the second bullet entered the back on the right, hitting the kidneys; the third bullet entered the head, hitting the brain.)A small amount of water was found in the lungs. The body was buried at the Feodorov Cathedral in Tsarskoe Selo on Dec. 22, and a small funeral was held. What Happened Next? While the accused murderers were under house arrest, many people visited and wrote them letters congratulating them. The accused murderers were hoping for a trial because that would ensure that they would become heroes. Trying to prevent just that, the czar stopped the inquiry and ordered that there be no trial. Though their good friend and confidant had been murdered, their family members were among the accused.   Yusupov was exiled. Pavlovich was sent to Persia to fight in the war. Both survived the Russian Revolution of 1917 and World War I.   Though Rasputins relationship with the czar and czarina had weakened the monarchy, Rasputins death came too late to reverse the damage. If anything, the murder of a peasant by aristocrats sealed the fate of the Russian monarchy. Within three months, Czar Nicholas abdicated, and about a year later the entire Romanov family was also murdered. Sources Rasputin: The Saint Who Sinned, by Brian Moynahan; 1998  The Rasputin File, translated by Judson Rosengrant; 2000

The 9 Free Email Marketing Templates You Need to Execute Everything - CoSchedule Blog

The 9 Free Email Marketing Templates You Need to Execute Everything Blog Email marketing is complex. From planning to execution to measurement, there are tons of things you need to build an effective strategy. Even producing one piece of email content requires several steps. Here’s a short list of line items to create an email newsletter: Ideation. Writing subject lines. Customizing preheader text. Crafting body copy. Design. Adding tracking codes. Editing and review. Selecting email list segments. Scheduling delivery time. Hitting send. Reviewing performance data. Reporting. That’s quite a number of things to take into account, and this is for just one piece. So, it’s a good thing you’ve found this post. In order to help you work as efficiently and effectively as possible, it includes a roundup of nine email marketing templates and other posts you need to learn how to use each one. Plus, it also covers other tools (free and paid), resources, and templates you can use to get everything you need to get  done. The 9 Free Email Marketing Templates You Need to Execute Everything by @Ben_Which Templates Does This Post Include? There’s something here for every step of the process, from planning, to execution, to measurement. Here’s everything you’ll find in the free bundle below: Table of Contents Email Marketing Calendar Template Email Marketing Strategy Template Email Newsletter Template Email Marketing Report Template Email Subject Line Writing Templates Email Subject Line A/B Test Template Welcome Email Newsletter Template 21 Ways to Build an Email List (Guide) Best Email Send Times Guide Download them now, then get the low-down on how to use them. Email Marketing Calendar Template Plan your work, then work your plan. That’s a common mantra heard around the office. There’s a good reason for that, too. It’s easier to work efficiently toward meaningful goals when you’re not frantically scrambling. The best way to plan email marketing is on a calendar. Here are some of the benefits behind using one: Being intentional about what you send. They keep deadlines visible to all team members. Managing delivery times and scheduling. Without a calendar, email marketing often descends into chaos. So, with this template, you can organize: Send dates and times. Email owners. Email type. Target / persona. Source. Buying season. Email list. Lead stories and email content. Here's what you can do with an email marketing calendar:It’s a simple spreadsheet that’s easy to update, too. There are three rows for each month, but it’s easy to edit if you need to plan more emails per month. Start with your send date and time, who’s creating this email, which category it falls under, and which persona or customer segment it targets: Next, fill in the source (which might be a blog post, campaign brief, or anywhere else to find more information about the content this email will promote), buying season (if seasonal buying cycles are relevant), and the name of the email list segment that should receive the email: Finally, list which pieces of content the email will promote. These could be headlines, general ideas, or anything else that’s helpful for indicating each type of content that will be dropped into the newsletter: Recommended Reading: The Best Email Marketing Calendar You Need to Manage Marketing Newsletters Email Marketing Strategy Template Without a strategy, you’re just winging it, and hoping for the best. It’s tough to achieve much  success that way. Even harder to sustain it, too. So, why risk failure when you plan to succeed? While hitting your goals is never guaranteed, developing a sound strategy is an essential starting point. Any type of marketing strategy effectively revolves around four ideas: Who are you trying to reach? How will you try to reach them? What do you want them to do? How will you measure results? Documenting your strategy can dramatically improve your results, too. For evidence, a study found marketers with documented strategies were 538% more likely to be successful. Using the PowerPoint-based template in this post, you’ll start by identifying your target audience: Next, you’ll figure out ways to build your email list: That list will then need to be broken into specific audience segments: Then, you’ll plan your execution and schedule: And what you’ll measure to gauge success: Recommended Reading: The Best Way to Organize an Effective Email Marketing Strategy Email Newsletter Template Your email copy needs to be clean, crisp, and persuasive. It also helps to keep your content organized and easy to edit. Handing off a Word doc to an editor is easier for review purposes than immediately writing directly into an email editor. This template includes everything you need to document the following: Subject line options. Preheader text. Intro copy. Lead story content blocks. Call to action. Those are all the elements included in most email newsletters, but since the template is a simple Word doc, it’s easy enough to edit to fit your needs. Recommended Reading: How to Create Awesome Internal Company Newsletters That Actually Get Read Email Marketing Report Template Marketing without measurement is a fool’s errand. You need to know which actions produced which results. More than this, though, you also need to be able to explain how you made an impact to your company and your clients. If you can make that data look appealing and easy to understand, so much the better. That’s what this template is intended to help you achieve. It’s a well-designed PowerPoint deck that makes it easy to present data and numbers in a way that isn’t super dry. Recommended Reading: Email Marketing Analytics: How to Measure and Report on the Most Important Metrics Email Subject Line Template Without a good subject line, nothing else in your email matters. However, writing them well is easier said than done. If you need a spark of inspiration, these fill-in the-blank templates should help: Then, you can score your subject lines using ’s free Email Subject Line Tester: Recommended Reading: Everything You Need to Know About Writing Awesome Email Subject Lines Email Subject Line A/B Testing Template Now, writing subject lines is an art. One of the best ways to improve your skills is to A/B test subject lines. Over time, this will help you understand what works best with your audience. Most email service providers have built-in A/B testing functionality: MailChimp Campaign Monitor ActiveCampaign Constant Contact Then, use the template to track your results: Recommended Reading: How to Make an Email Newsletter Your Customers Love Welcome Email Newsletter Template What’s the first thing your new subscribers see when they sign up for your email newsletter? If it’s not a well-written welcome email, you might be missing out on an opportunity to retain more subscribers, and convert more customers. With this template, you’ll be able to craft effective welcome copy that makes a warm introduction. To put it to full use, check out Scott Cohen’s blog post on writing them, and follow the great examples curated by Michael Quoc in this post, too. Email List Building Guide Before you can succeed with email marketing, you need to have a list. After all, without recipients, an email newsletter is worth much. But, how do you start building a list? Fortunately, there are tons of ways to start building email contacts before you have a list going. And that’s exactly what this brief PDF guide will help you get started with. Recommended Reading: 21+ Easy Ways to Build an Email List That Will Skyrocket By 140% in a Year Best Email Send Times (Guide) Every time you send an email, you want to make sure you’ve optimized every variable to tilt the odds of success in your favor. One simple factor you can control is your email delivery times. According to curated data from 10 different studies, here are the best days to send email: And the best times: So, this is what curated research shows. But, how do you determine what works best for you? That’s where this free PDF guide comes in, included in your template bundle. It’ll walk you through how to use your own data, to help determine your own email schedule: Recommended Reading: What 10 Studies Say About the Best Time to Send Email Other Places to Find Email Templates So far, you’ve seen all the templates the team has built to make email marketing easier. But, what if you need something that’s not listed here? Don’t worry, check out these other resources. Campaign Monitor If you’re a Campaign Monitor customer, they’ve made tons of templates available that you can use to quickly create your email newsletter. Envato Templates for MailChimp MailChimp is massively popular, and lots of third parties have built templates that work on the platform. ActiveCampaign ActiveCampaign offers a robust marketing automation platform that includes an effective email platform. If you’re a customer, you may have seen their complete lineup of templates, too: Theme Forest Constant Contact customers aren’t left out here, either. The folks at ThemeForest have several paid templates available for the platform (as well as others): Recommended Reading: The Best Email Marketing Sending Frequency Backed By 20 Studies 3 Sources for HTML Email Templates Modern email marketing platforms make it easy to create marketing emails without needing to learn code. But, what if you’re old-school and prefer hard-coded HTML? There are plenty of sources to find helpful templates for you, too. Raw HTML emails do still offer some advantages some marketers like, such as design flexibility and editability. If this type of template is what you’re after, check out the following places. ColorLib Making HTML emails mobile-friendly and responsive can be tough. These 25 templates, frameworks, and layouts meet both of those criteria. Litmus The team at Litmus knows email marketing inside and out. Naturally, they have an array of templates available for creating different types of email content. What’s great about theirs is how they’re organized by industry and use case: HTMLEmail.io These HTML email templates are compatible with most major email service providers, and they’re responsive too. Keep in mind they aren’t free, though ($49 for a single client license, or $299 for an unlimited license). The lineup of compatible ESPs these templates work with includes several familiar logos: Recommended Reading: Get Inspired Now With 21 Examples of Awesome Email Marketing Keep Email Marketing Organized With Before you go, take a minute to check out . It’s an industry-favorite marketing calendar platform, and it now integrates with popular email service providers  to keep all your email marketing organized (alongside all your other projects). With , you can: Integrate your marketing calendar with your email service provider: See deadlines and publish dates for every email: Add email content on your calendar and get visibility into everything, all in one place. Manage your email marketing process: With Task Templates and Discussion Threads, you can easily collaborate with your team and manage workflows more productively. Start your free trial now and get 14 days free. Go Put Your Templates to Use Now that you have tons of different resources available, it’s time to get down to work. Here’s a quick recap of what you’ve just read: You’ve downloaded your free template bundle. Then, you’ve gotten a brief summary on each post explaining how to use each one. Finally, you took a look at other sources for more templates you might need. Hopefully, this will all help make doing better email marketing, easier. Best of luck.

Compensation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Compensation - Essay Example Each company in every industry across all countries has accountants who similarly have the same qualifications and skills with all the other accountants and thus, accounting is one example of a benchmark job. Once an individual is able to afford all the basic needs then the attainment of these needs seizes to become a motivating factor. However, the individual can become motivated again if he or she focuses on achieving other higher needs such as safety or social needs. If a school administrator sets a target for teacher to achieve for example to ensure that more than 50% of the students achieve grade B and above, if the teacher achieves this target he or she will receive an extra pay that is known as merit pay. According to the writings by (Milkovich, 450-700), broad banding is described as a practice whereby the human resource categories different jobs in ‘bands’ based on a broader classification such responsibilities and skill requirements. Broad banding eliminates small grouping of jobs, which usually result in many jobs groups. (Milkovich, 450-700), noted that among the key advantages of broad banding is that it reduces rivalry between employees in an organisation since it eliminates the emphasis on hierarchy or status within the organisation. Secondly, broad banding is advantageous to an organization because it makes the payment structure to be more flexible and responsive to the vary needs of the evolving environment. (Milkovich, 450-700) stated that it is not possible for certain organisations or countries to adopt the practice of broad banding, this is especially if the organisation or countries gives much regards to status or titles because of social factors and either the country or organization prefers the use of well defined procedures and policies. However, the practice can easily be adopted in organizations that are much flexible and prefer cross or lateral

Road to Perdition Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Road to Perdition - Movie Review Example The movie is based on a graphic novel of the same title by Max Allan Collins. Depression-era Chicago serves as the perfect period in which to set the story of Road to Perdition. The stark grittiness of the early 30's best illustrates and complements the troubled nature of Road to Perdition's story. It provides a backdrop where gangsters rule and where death is an everyday business. The story is set in 1931, which is considered an in-between era since it is a different world from three years before and three years after. Albert Wolsky, costume designer for the film even found it hard to find existing clothes to match the era Michael Sullivan lived in since the 1930's is sandwiched between the flamboyance of the 20's and the fashionable gangsterism of the mid 30's. The early 30's was a time of austerity and depression, and the spirit of this era snugly fits the film's premise. The film, through an excellent use of the era, imposes a heavy, dark cloud of depression on its viewers which only briefly diffuses during the scenes between Sullivans Sr. and Jr. near the end of the movie. Technically and aesthetically, Road to Perdition excels. The film is a wonderful tour de force of some of the most notable figures in directing, acting, scoring, and cinematography. Sam Mendes (American Beauty), in his interpretation of the film, added to the depth of the conflict by using ingenious presentation methods. For example, to emphasize the gap between Michael Sullivan's Jr. and Sr., he employed a method that had both characters talk through obstacles like mirrors and doorposts. This had the effect of alienating both characters from each other since they had to communicate with each other indirectly. Later on in the film, Mendes uses close crops of both characters to symbolize a new found openness towards each other. The way Mendes presents each scene is subtle yet meaningful - a truly subconscious treat. Unfortunately, this may have backfired on many of the viewers, as there has been the comment that the movie left many of the viewers alienated and cold too. It may be that Mendes' plan worked a little too well. The story of Michael Sullivan and his son takes place mainly during winter. The eerie frozen landscape has a telling effect on the movie's plot. Mendes says the snow "symbolizes a frozen world... frozen in the emotional sense. It's a paralyzed family until the father and oldest son are thrown together by tragedy, and they begin to have the relationship they never had before. So out of the bad comes good, and everything that was intended to be set in ice at the beginning begins to thaw."(qtd. in "Road to Perdition Synopsis") The first thing to catch one's attention upon watching this film is the gorgeous cinematography by Conrad Hall. Hall is a master of mood and lighting, and it shows in his work on Road to Perdition. He makes good use of snow and the broke-down alleyways to convey a sense of despair in the film. The viewer gets the impression that beneath the paleness of the snow lies tension that has to be let loose. The film also uses washed out colors to give an aged look. This, in a way, authenticates the period which the film is based on. In one scene, Hall makes clever use of light shining through rained-upon windows to give the impression that the room is weeping. It would be observed that he does not use sweeping views of the backdrop. Instead, he uses pensive shots that are starkly beautiful. The screenplay by David