Ecoterrorism :: American Government, Bush, Eco-saboteurs

Unquestionably, some of the typical targets of Eco-saboteurs are companies that use pesticides, new construction sites, SUV owners, biotech labs, and fast-food restaurants (Gale, 2006). Eco-saboteurs are members of the group called humanity Liberation Front (ELF) an Eco-terrorist group which in their ideology are protectors of the environment. They may also have been influenced by the publication of several books, including The Anarchist Cookbook (1971), by William Powell Ecotage (1972), edited by Sam Love and David Obst and The Monkey Wrench Gang (1976), by Edward Abbey, a novel about four ecoteurs who roam the Southwestern fall in States blowing up bridges and vandalizing bulldozers in the name of environmental protection (Gale, 2006). The ELF group was inspired by Edward Abbeys 1975 novel, The Monkey Wrench Gang, that was influential thus the term monkey wrench has come to mean. Moreover, after September 11, 2001, many Americans were in fear and demanded a change in priorities from former President Bush. Americans showed dear patriotic support for former President Bush and his counter-terrorism policies (Whipple, 2002). President Bush made instant comparisons between the ELF and Al Qaeda. The term Eco-terrorism has many complications of shaping Terrorism. Eco-Terrorism can be defined by the Federal Bureau of investigation as the use or threatened use of violence of a sinful nature against people or property by an environmentally oriented, sub-national group for environmental-political reasons, or aimed at an audience beyond the target, often of a symbolic nature (Long, 1998).Pursuing this further, this needs redefinition because of the term terrorism. Terrorism is acts of terror with no remorse for human safety. Not all Eco-protestors create collateral damage which is violent acts on facilities that affect the environment negatively. Their have been many nonviolent civil disobediences which have had an impact on American history in a positive way. Fo r example, the courteous Rights Movement, led by Martin Luther King, Jr. and others, included sit-ins and illegal marches which weakened segregation in the south. Another example was the Womens Suffrage Movement that lasted from 1848 until 1920, when thousands of courageous women marched in the streets, endured hunger strikes, and submitted to arrest and jail in order to gain the right to vote. Also the Anti-war movement which were actions that have included refusal to pay for war, refusal to enlist in the military, melodic line of draft centers, sit-ins, blockades, peace camps, and refusal to allow military recruiters on high school and college campuses (Starr, 1998).

Proposal College for Free :: Education School University Tuition Essays Papers

Proposal College for FreeDear Governor Bush The demands of the workplace today atomic number 18 leaning toward a more educated employee. Many businesses are looking for degree holding, college graduates. Making it a must for todays ytabooh to attend college to be in the running for a decent job. But to many another(prenominal) students today, college is out of the question, solely due to the high tuition costs. Many high school graduates are squeeze to directly start a full- date job, because the specie isnt at that place for college. The 1999 National Survey of Americas Families found that Florida is well below the national average on many economic levels. The Survey found that Florida has a large pith of children in families that experience worries about or difficulties affording food, children with no health insurance, nonelderly adults with no health insurance, and children with no usual source of health care. According to the Urban Institute, the median income f or a family with children is $33,250, with 25.9% of Florida?s population having an economic level below poverty. The Chronicle of Higher precept estimated the average cost for a four-year public college tuition at $3,510 for an academic year. This does not include books, room and board, and transportation. Books and supplies estimated cost is $704, and room and board costs $4,960 for residents and $2,444 for commuters. In total, The Chronicle estimated the costs of an academic year at $11, 338 for a resident on campus, for a commuter the estimate is $9,229. If Florida families cannot afford health care allow alone food, how can they afford to attend college? My proposal is to eradicate the costs of tuition and books. A college education is essential in today?s family to obtain a well-paying job. For many families living in Florida, direct a child to college is virtually impossible. This leaves the child at a dead end, forcing him or her to work-full time with only a high school diploma at hand. The costs of college should be paid for by the government in turn getting the money from taxpayers. I think taxes should be slightly raised in order for everyone to get a fair chance at an education. I don?t think many citizens of Florida would have much of a line with their child getting a college education for free.Proposal College for Free Education School University reading Essays PapersProposal College for FreeDear Governor Bush The demands of the workplace today are leaning toward a more educated employee. Many businesses are looking for degree holding, college graduates. Making it a must for todays youth to attend college to be in the running for a decent job. But to many students today, college is out of the question, solely due to the high tuition costs. Many high school graduates are forced to directly start a full-time job, because the money isnt there for college. The 1999 National Survey of Americas Families found that Flori da is well below the national average on many economic levels. The Survey found that Florida has a large amount of children in families that experience worries about or difficulties affording food, children with no health insurance, nonelderly adults with no health insurance, and children with no usual source of health care. According to the Urban Institute, the median income for a family with children is $33,250, with 25.9% of Florida?s population having an economic level below poverty. The Chronicle of Higher Education estimated the average cost for a four-year public college tuition at $3,510 for an academic year. This does not include books, room and board, and transportation. Books and supplies estimated cost is $704, and room and board costs $4,960 for residents and $2,444 for commuters. In total, The Chronicle estimated the costs of an academic year at $11, 338 for a resident on campus, for a commuter the estimate is $9,229. If Florida families cannot afford health ca re let alone food, how can they afford to attend college? My proposal is to abolish the costs of tuition and books. A college education is essential in today?s society to obtain a well-paying job. For many families living in Florida, sending a child to college is virtually impossible. This leaves the child at a dead end, forcing him or her to work-full time with only a high school diploma at hand. The costs of college should be paid for by the government in turn getting the money from taxpayers. I think taxes should be slightly raised in order for everyone to get a fair chance at an education. I don?t think many citizens of Florida would have much of a problem with their child getting a college education for free.

Facts About Orthoptera :: essays research papers

Facts about OrthopteraWhere they live.Field crickets, the familiar black or brownish crickets are frequentlyabundant in meadows and fields. Also in dwellings or in small clusters in theground. Tree Crickets are more often heard then seen. normally colored greenthese slender crickets live in shrubs and trees. Mole Crickets can burrowrapidly through moist soil. They also can live in caves, hollow logs, beneathstones, and other dark moist places. Grasshoppers are also part of this group.They often become very abundant, and migrate in tremendous swarms. Destroyingwell-nigh all plants in their path. They like to live in wet grassy areas. Locustalso contribute to Orthoptera. Locust plagues have been recorded since thebeginning of score and are still one of the worlds major sucking louse problems.Cockroaches are in this group too. Their are an estimated 3,000 cockroachspecies in the world. About 55 live in the U.S., and only 4 species ar commonhousehold pets. German cockroaches or Croto n bugs, are common in the U.S.especially in the northern states. They normally enter the house in bags orboxes from grocery stores. They tend to cluster in warm moist places roughly hotwater pipes. They stay hush-hush when they are not eating.EatCrickets will eat holes in paper or in garments especially those soiledwith persperation. They also eat young root and seedlings, peanuts, gardencrops, grain, clothing, and sometimes other insects and even each other.Grasshoppers are a different story. They eat crops and destroy millions ofdollars a year in them. Cockroaches are fair a pest and they eat almost anything. Cockroaches feed on a great variety of foods, meats, cheeses, sweets,and starches(like the starch in clothing or in the glue like that in bookbindings, and stamps.). When abundant they may also eat human hair, skin andnails. They secrete sticky, odorous fluid that may be lift on foods ormaterials.MovementCockroaches move very swiftly. They have 6 legs with 3 joints, asmuscl es contract at the base of the body the legs move. This social movement causes aroach to lurch forward in rapid motion. Crickets have wings so they may fly.The movement of the crickets arent the same as the grasshoppers. Thegrasshopper is an insect that can leap about 20 times the length of its body.If a human being had the same leaping ability as the grasshopper they could cutat least 20 feet.Helpful things they do.In Russia roaches have been regarded as an antidote for dropsy. Also inSoutheast Asia, and China the bits of meat plucked from around the legs of

Capone :: essays research papers

At January 25 1919, the League of Nation was founded. It was an international organization founded after WWI with its system being approved by the Paris Peace Conference. The Leagues goals included disarmament, preventing war through collective security, settling disputes between countries through negotiation and diplomacy * harangue blah blah* and so on. This topic will fit perfectly in what we are studying right now, I am not going to talk about it because it is really very boring. (trust me, I read though it) Besides, I found something else far more interesting then this. At the homogeneous day (January 25th) 28 years after the League of Nation was founded, a famous gangster died.Alphonse Capone, a famous American gangster during the 1920s and 1930s, had a very special life. When he was thirteen, he joined two gangs, the Brooklyn Rippers and the Forty Thieves Juniors and engaged in crimes. Capone quit high school at the age of cardinal when he fought with a teacher who as bea ten up very badly. After staying with small-time gangs for sometime, Capone joined the big gang, the Five Points gang. It was at this time he began working as a bartender at the Harvard Inn. It was at the Harvard Inn, it was there where Capone would engage in a knife fight and was slashed on his face, vainglorious him the nickname that he would bear for the rest of his life Scarface. Capone later worked for one of the most powerful bosses in the gang called Johnny Torrio. Torrio immediately recognized Capones talents and by 1922 Capone was Torrios second in charge, responsible for much of the gambling, alcohol, and prostitution in the city of Chicago.Only a few years later after Torrios death, Capone took over his purpose and all his jobs. He then became the boss of the gang. He made a whole lot of money though his illegal activities, some estimates that he was qualification more than 100 million US dollars a year at that time. Capone was a very smart person, he always did his bu siness through reckon men and had no accounting records linking him. Although the government knew that he was the one at the back controlling, they did not have anything to prove any of his illegal activities including seventy-one organized crime killings or even at least 2 murders he had committed. Till 1927, new laws were passed in 1927, it allowed the federal government to pursue Capone on tax evasion.

freudian psychology :: essays research papers fc

Annotated BibliographyPersonality Theories. Ed. Dr. C. George Boeree. 1997. Shippensburg University. .This site was very good in giving me insight into the fundamental principle of psychology. I looked at the Freud category mostly because he is a big name and his theories were pretty easy to understand. Applying it to my paper, I used his ideas and descriptions of the id, ego and superego in an enterprise to correctly justify the main characters actions and reasons for doing what he did.Freud and Dreams. Freud Museum in London. 1998..This was one of the nicer pages I visited to find info about dreams and the significance of them. I sincerely liked the way the site explained Freuds theories behind what dreams are and what they represent. I used a lot of this in the dreams I act to recreate in the story attempting to make them seem as realistic as possible.Rowell, Maria Helena. The Freud Page. 1998..This was another great place for information on Freuds theories. I knowing a lot a bout the conscious, preconscious, and unconscious minds. From here, I tried to figure out ways of masking which mind was in control during the story with the change dreamscapes and rapid changes in consciousness.Jung, Carl G. Anatomy of a Dream. 1997. .In an attempt to get another opinion on what dreams are and how they function, I looked to this page. I found around very useful information about what causes dreams and what manifestations result in the conscious mind from them. I used this to try and tie his dreams to his everyday happenings. Also, I tried to relate this info to how his dreams were related to what was happening to him while conscious.

freudian psychology :: essays research papers fc

Annotated BibliographyPersonality Theories. Ed. Dr. C. George Boeree. 1997. Shippensburg University. .This site was very good in giving me insight into the basics of psychology. I looked at the Freud category mostly because he is a big name and his theories were pretty easy to understand. Applying it to my paper, I used his ideas and descriptions of the id, ego and superego in an attempt to correctly justify the main characters actions and reasons for doing what he did.Freud and Dreams. Freud Museum in London. 1998..This was one of the nicer pages I visited to find info about dreams and the significance of them. I really liked the way the site explained Freuds theories back tooth what dreams are and what they represent. I used a lot of this in the dreams I tried to recreate in the story attempting to make them seem as earthy as possible.Rowell, Maria Helena. The Freud Page. 1998..This was another great place for information on Freuds theories. I learned a lot about the conscious, p reconscious, and unconscious minds. From here, I tried to figure out ways of masking which mind was in control during the story with the shifting dreamscapes and rapid changes in consciousness.Jung, Carl G. Anatomy of a Dream. 1997. .In an attempt to get another opinion on what dreams are and how they function, I looked to this page. I found some very useful information about what causes dreams and what manifestations chair in the conscious mind from them. I used this to try and tie his dreams to his everyday happenings. Also, I tried to relate this info to how his dreams were related to what was happening to him maculation conscious.

Internet Connecting Point A to Point B Essay

How should an meshwork connection be made for the current campus? Why did you select this option over the others? AT&T is the letter carrier providing service to the existing campus as well as the new campus. Examine the offerings for Internet access to select the one that should be used. (10 points) ST which is made by at&t is the most popular connector for multimode networks, like most buildings and campuses. It has a bayonet mount and a long cylindrical ferrule to hold the fiber. or so ferrules ar ceramic, but some atomic number 18 metal or plastic. And because they are spring-loaded, you have to make sure they are seated properly. If you have high loss, reconnect them to attain if it makes a difference.2. How should the existing and new campus locations be connected to each other? (10 points) The Existing campus locations should be connected to each other via fiber heart cable. eccentric optic cables are less expensive, there is less signal degrading, Non-flammable, and la st but not least extremely lightweight compares to the competitors.3. Should the two locations share an Internet connection? (10 points) Yes. Paying for two separate internet connection methods would be pointless for this scenario. Sharing one connection is more toll effective.4. Compare the advantages, disadvantages, and cost of fiber optic cable, 5 GHz wireless bridges, and free space optics as a means to interconnect the campus buildings to the IT wing of the Administration Building. (10 points) Fiber optic cable is more expensive of hardware and installation overall, but it is the fastest connection currently. Wireless bridges provide wireless connection, however if the proper precautions are not put into place there may be additional interference and signal loss. Free spaceoptics is perfect for smaller networks and cheap5. What would be required to interconnect the existing campus and the new campus to each other using fiber optic cable laid within the hiking trail right of d elegacy? (10 points) Outdoor cables and enclosures such as Central tubes are definitely necessary.The central tube design consists of one Thermoplastic PBT buffer tube encasing individually colores fibers. These fibers are surrounded by gel for moisture resistance. The central buffer tube is also surrounded by peeing swellable fiberglass yarn for overall water resistance and added strength.6. Examine the data shown on the DSL Line Utilization Report found in Doc Sharing. This is a typical bandwidth utilization name for ADSL line used to connect each building on the campus to the Internet. Keeping in mind that there are eight of these DSL lines connecting the campus buildings to the Internet depart a higher speed connection be needed when these are consolidated into one connection? (10 points) Yes. A higher speed connection go away be needed when everything is consolidated. The Utilization report shows bandwidth but doesnt take into account the 8 lines.7. If the two locations sha re an Internet connection will a single connection suffice for both sites? (10 points) It would be feasible but not comfortable or ideal. Ideally you would want one connection per site.

Investigatory Project Essay

IntroductionOil use in cooking foods is normally derived from vegetable. Cooking crude is graduate(prenominal) in fat calories. Unsaturated and saturated fossil oil colors have approximately the same number of fat grams and calories. Olives, safflower, corn, cottonseed, canola, sunflower seed, soy decoration and coconut oil all contain about 13.5 grams fat and 120 calories per tablespoon. Cooking oil is commonly used for frying and its usually thrown away. The recycling of cooking oil also provides a form of revenue for restaurants, which are sometimes compensated by cooking oil recyclers for their used dusky fryer oil. Cooking oil recycling also results in less used oil being disposed of in drains, which can clog sewage lines due to the build-up of fats.AbstractThis investigatory project determines the possibility of purifying used cooking oil using sedimentation method. The activated carbon was also used in the experiment to absorb some dissolved substances in the oil. The purified oil was compared to commercial oil in terms of color, odor and clearness using acceptability test The means of the samples were compared and revealed that purified oil had no significant difference to commercial cooking oil in terms of color/clearness and odor as the result of the acceptability test.Statement of the ProblemThis Investigatory project aims to answer the following questions Can this purified vegetable oil become clearly as spick-and-span oil?Is the product will be effective and safe to use?Is this product may lessen your daily expenses?How many times does this purified vegetable oil can be use?Objectives of the StudyThe Objective of the study areTo help you to lessen your expenses in home because its thrifty. To make the vegetable oil purified as new cooking oil.Significance of the studyThe used cooking oil cause problem to the kitchen pipes, clogging them and creating odors, therefore all of us, the students should do campaigns of discipline so our people understand the requisite to recycle the used cooking oil. Some of the products that we can get from recycling used cooking oil are detergents, candles, soap, paint, waxes and varnishes. We can get fertilizer for the agriculture too.And very important it can be recycled to make bio-diesel for engines in general. For every liter of used cooking oil that is recycle, one liter of bio-diesel can be produce.Chapter IIReview of Related LiteratureName Cooking oilBackgroundCooking oil is plant, animal, or synthetic fat used in frying, baking, and other types of cooking. It is also used in food preparation and flavouring that doesnt involve heat, such as salad dressings and bread dips, and in this sense might be much accurately termed edible oil. Cooking oil is typically a liquid at dwell temperature, although some oils that contain saturated fat, such as coconut oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil are solid. For centuries, people have rendered fat, squeezed olives, put in cream and savored fish to obtain the fatty acids their brains, nervous systems, immune systems and body cells need to function well. Luckily for us, things are a bit easier these days and the oils we need for good health are available on the shelves at Whole Foods Market. they dont improve with age. Heat and light can damage oils, particularly polyunsaturated ones, so keep them in the refrigerator to avoid rancidity.For the record, youll know your oil is rancid if it takes on a characteristic bad taste and smell, in which case you should toss it and buy fresh oil. Heating oils beyond their smoke point the temperature at which the oil begins to smoke, generating toxic fumes and harmful free radicals is never a good idea. Always discard oil thats reached its smoke point, along with any food with which it had contact. Some oils are refined to make them more stable and suitable for high temperature cooking. Keep in mind, though, that the process removes most of the tone of voice, color and nutrients from the oils, too. Thats whyrefined oils are perfect for baking and stir-frying, where their high smoke point and neutral flavors are a plus. On the other hand, unrefined oil is simply pressed and bottled so it retains its original nutrient content, flavor and color. Unrefined oils add full-bodied flavor to dishes and are best used for low- or no-heat applications.http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooking_oilhttp//www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/food-guides/cooking-oils

Analysis of Jane Austin’s Pride And Prejudice Essay

Elizabeths and Darcys epithet ( non literal but rather implied) of Proud and Prejudiced as the title of the book indicates, is clearly evident in the discourse and the use of pronouns found in distil A chapter 10. Extract B chapter 58, has an entirely antithetic use of discourse and the polarity of persons is fundament wholey different to that of extract A, the I and you of Elizabeth and Darcy become increasingly more like a metaphorical we or us as the book progresses, bring about a new implied epithet of humble and accepting. Benveniste refers to the use of pronouns as bringing ones egotism into reality through the othering of people. The culture of politeness at the time that Jane Austin wrote Pride and Prejudice dictated that a person had to be furthermost more subtle in their approach to, amongst others, insults. This was predominantly done through the heighten in indexicals, in the same manner we as the reader ar able to pick up on the transition from repulsion between Elizabeth and Darcy through to attraction and ultimately love, all as an event of language.In extract A Mr. Darcy moves closer, drawing near bank bill 2, to Elizabeth , this is indicative of his affection towards her although it may be on a sub-conscious level. The reader can assume this as he moves his entire body towards her in a private manner. He then(prenominal) proceeds to other and mock her in line 4 by not including his own subjectivity in the discourse. Do not you feel a great inclination, Miss Bennet, to seize such an opportunity of dancing a wave? In this utterance Mr. Darcy does not include himself in the discourse and refers to Elizabeth as you, this creates a distance between the two as the you is not linked to Mr. Darcys I. Mr. Darcy extenuates Elizabeth by referring to her as Miss Bennet, in this he creates more distance by the formal address.The word seize is a shrill attempt to incite a reaction from Elizabeth by emphasizing her familys economic situation by insinuating that being poor, she would jump at the opportunity to permit loose and revel in the opportunity to participate in, it is implied, this rargon treat. In actuality Darcy is using an ironical touch to provoke a response and although othering Elizabeth is desperately quest her attention. The same practice is performed by most young children, often mocking and behaving in a callous manner to the opposite sex in pose simply to engage them. Elizabeth does not answer his question and he is forced torepeat it. This indicates to the reader that although the two seem to be partaking in an argument, it is more than that and they are rather just trying to get attention from one another. It is important to note that at the time the novel was written it would be considered extremely ill-mannered to not answer a direct question and the fact that Elizabeth does this to Darcy shows us that she is a head strong proud individual and that she feels comfortable enough with Mr. Darcy to b e impolite.After having repeated the question Elizabeth answers him. The polarity of the subjectivity and deixis is well demonstrated in her response to him. I heard you before, she involves him as a you (the object) and rebukes him by making him aware that he knew she had heard and there was no need to repeat the question. She continues by re-iterating her intention of othering him by using in reply line 9 opposed to to you. To illustrate his opinion and highlight his rudeness, she proceeds and turns him into the subject by placing the you at the beginning of the sentence in line 9, You indirect requested me. Elizabeth does this in align to embarrass Darcy and in doing so becomes a hypocrite, by using a tit for tat approach. She rebukes his poor cordiality but in doing so becomes just as malicious as Darcy.Elizabeth s rebuttal reaches the crux with her proverbial but line 10 after involving him she utterly removes him as a subject in her discourse and moves into a statement, I delight in overthrowing those kind of schemes, and cheating a person of their premeditated contempt. The reader can chance upon the those and their as a way of putting Darcy and his verbal banter in the same category as any other person she has encountered in her past. To prove her point with dramatic effect she slows the tempo of her utterances I have, therefore, made up my mind to tell you, that I do not want to dance a reel at all and now despise me if you dare. Once again she makes herself the subject with the I have then a the series of pauses so that the reaffirmation of her subjectivity can occur distinctively three times I have, made up my mind, that I do not want. In closing Elizabeth forces the polarity onto Darcy by using direct and powerful words despise and dare. It is thus impossible for Darcy to avoid discourse and resorts to a defence of his ego offered by the I.Extract B chapter 58 begins with Darcy explaining to Elizabeth the circumstances of his youth that bro ught about the selfish line 8 adult that he became. In this monologue Darcys use of pronouns from lines 1 through to 11 are all self involved and one can notice the repeating of I at the beginning of sentences and after conjunctions or the start of a new point. This is unlike the use of I found in earlier extracts as well as future extracts this is due to Darcys explanation being of little importance to any polarity of persons but rather a abbreviated description. Darcy has by this stage of the book evolved into almost an entirely different I or person.When he uses the I in this section of the extract he is in essence borrowing it from his old self in order to justify his Prejudiced actions towards not only Elizabeth but all people he comprehend to be of an inferior class. The introduction of Darcys new self occurs in line 12 with his inclusion of you and the use of Elizabeth s name, but for you, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth. The surrender of all ego is done by attributing deare st and loveliest to the you of Elizabeth , importantly he uses the pinnacle of these attributes to raise her above all others. By you I was properly humbled. line 14 this positioning of the you before the I show that Darcy has completely surrendered himself over to Elizabeth by giving the you tenure of the I.Elizabeth, not surprisingly, also gives herself over to Darcy by reversing the order of pronouns in line 17 Had you then persuaded yourself that I should?. The use of pronouns as Benviniste demonstrates is a direct representation and the only true representation of ones ego. Both Elizabeth and Darcy then proceed in a rather shameful manner to reverse the polarity of persons in order to apologise to one another. How you must have detested me after that evening line 22, the reader should take note of the utterance being formed as a question but made as a statement.Certainly Elizabeth is seeking a response but in a very passive manner Darcy replies in an equally passive tone bu t hints of defensive tones can be observed in his response of Hate you I was angry, perhaps, at first, but my anger soon began to take a proper direction line 23. Darcy involuntarily reverts back to his old I as a means of defence and finding a comfort zone, correcting himself he introduces and Elizabeth and her you by implyingthat she is the proper direction. The lines that follow are of the same passive nature as slowly the I and you of Darcy and Elizabeth become one.Benviniste tries to convey that our use of pronouns is in essentially the only way in which or utterances or communication can be of any importance. Pronouns are the gateway in which or egos can be transmitted into reality. These two extracts from Pride and Prejudice show wonderfully how this is done. Through the book we notice a clear change in the polarity of persons from that of egotistical to unselfish and relinquished pronouns.BibliographyJane Austin Pride and Prejudice

Family and Unaffected Manner

EssayEdge Says This is an excellent way to introduce a discussion ot a person who has influenced you significantly. Instead of launching immediately into a list of this mans excellent qualities and admirable accomplishments, this introduction lays the foundation for a comprehensive look at erect why the man had such a profound Impact on you. It also places the most Importance on the American Dream, as Is fitting In an essay Ilke this one Art Is e reflection of ones self-identity In the most unaffected manner. Because artifice is actually personal, it has no right or wrong. The type of art that has influenced me mostIs music. EssayEdge Says The first two sentences in this introduction set the kind of tone you want to maintain throughout your essay Introspective and creative. However, It moves on to a very boring and stilted structure in the third sentence. To glide by the tone creative, you could replace that sentence with the following Although artistic expression can take many another(prenominal) forms, It Is music that has captivated me. Back to Top Who Am l? My name is . My ethnic background explains a lot ot who I am, and the values that I take aim developed. My name was chosen using a religious method thatIs based on astrology. My parents are both from India and moved here only a compeer of years before I was born. They spoke little English, and as a result, I was taught Gujarati as a first language. I grew up with a king-sized family because my parents, grandparents, and my uncles family all lived In the same house. Growing up In this environment helped mold me into the man that I oblige become today. My family is religious and we went to the temple every week. Even as a child I attended temple schooling where they taught us about our heritage, which in turn educated me about where I came from.However, now I am not that religious and dont go to the temple because believe It s becoming corrupted. My family and my parents In particular, provided m e with the morals that I hold to be true. am very grateful of the way my parents brought me up. They always told me do to others ds you would Ilke them to do toyou. That phrase is what I keep in mind be neer encountered the type of adversity that can crush people, that can drive people crazy, that can drive them to suicide. EssayEdge Says This introduction is indeed compelling, but it raises important questions about captivate content.Be careful to avoid writing a personal essay that Is far too personal. You do not want your reader to think that you might have character weaknesses that prevent you from handling stressful situations well. I chuckle to myself every time think about this. I am perceived as a mild- EssayEdge Says Did the first sentence of this introduction confuse you? This was no doubt its intention. By creating a little mystery in the first sentence, the reader is forced to keep reading and keep wondering, what is this kids secret? until the final word, which pops in the readers mind, sort of like a gunshot riflery.

Childbirth In Ethnic And Cultural Groups Essay

Discuss disparities related to ethnic and cultural groups relative to embarrassed birth metric weight unit infants and preterm births. Describe the impact of extremely pocket-sized birth weight babies on the family and on the community (short-term and long-term, including economic considerations, on-going c are considerations, and comorbidities associated with prematurity). Identify at least (1) support service within your community for preterm infants and their family. try the link for your colleagues to view. Does the service adequately address needs of this population? Explain your answer.Babies who weigh 5.5 pounds (2500grams) or less at birth are low babies with low birth weight. Babies weighing 3.3 pounds (1500 grams) or less are Very low birth weight babies. According to World Health Organization The 30 billion low-birth-weight babies natural annually (23.8% of all births) often face severe short- and long-term health consequences. execrable birth weight is a major dete rminant of mortality, morbidness and disability in infancy and childhood and also has a long-term impact on health outcomes in adult life. Low birth weight also results in substantial costs to the health sector and imposes a significant burden on society as a whole (WHO, 2014).The infants born to non-Hispanic Black women, 3.0 percent were very low birth weight in 2008, compared to 1.2 percent of infants born to non- Hispanic White, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander women and 1.3 percent of American Indian/Alaska Native women. The rate of infant mortality (death in the first year) has fallen steadily for both blacks and whites over the past twenty-five years. In 1980, 18 out of 1,000 black singleton babies did not live to their first birthday by 2000 that figure had fallen to 12 out of 1,000. For white babies the comparable rates were 9 out of 1,000 in 1980 and 5 out of 1,000 in 2000(Reichman, 2005).The majority of costs accrue in the first year of life and costs for rehospitaliza tion are high than outpatient costs.Most relevant cost components after the neonatal period are expenses for re-hospitalization, outpatient visits, pharmaceuticals, medical aids and nonmedical costs for education, travelling, accommodation, child care as well as indirect costs (mainly parental time and/or wage losses) (Hodek, Schulenburg and Mittendorf, 2011). The local or federal government ought to provide financial assistance to the families while theyare taking care of them. The Alta Bates Summit Medical Center is the local resource I found that provides information about what is premature birth, delivery of you premature infant, what to hold back when you have an extremely premature infant and symptoms of the premature baby.http//www.altabatessummit.org/nicuedu/preemie.htmlReferenceWorld Health Organization, 2014 Nutrition, Feto-maternal nutrition and low birth weight. Retrieved on November 25, 2014 from http//www.who.int/nutrition/topics/feto_maternal/en/Reichman N. 2005. Lo w Birth Weight and School Readiness Retrieved on November 25, 2014 from http//futureofchildren.org/publications/journals/article/index.xml?journalid=38&articleid=118ion id=774Hodek J., Schulenburg J., Mittendorf T., 2011 Measuring economic consequences of preterm birth Methodological recommendations for the evaluation of personal burden on children and their caregivers Retrieved on November 26, 2014 from http//www.healtheconomicsreview.com/content/1/1/6

Selective Reasoning

When the pretense was first assigned, I in truth had no idea what to expect. I assumed that my group members and I would be creating various written documents, which was understandably not the case. After selecting a group composed mainly of my c hurt friends, we began to read through the various materials given to us to help oneself us successfully complete the simulation. After watching a few of the videos from our clients and reading the given document about Minnesota Mircromotors, we began the simulation.Before the simulation started our group decided that we treasured to tack customer atisfaction as our top priority, over market sh be and profit. After our first quarter, we began to panic because every satisfaction arrow was in the red. Immediately we make changes to everything we did before, restoring us back to equilibrium in the second quarter. From there on out, the simulation ran a stack more than(prenominal) smoothly. In our first attempt at the simulation, we pla yed around with the scathe of the product a lot, trying to lionize it lower for Customer D, while also sometimes bringing it up to help increase profits.By the time I took the simulation individually, I realized that playing with the price was a waste of time. What I found outstrip was to keep the price at $142 or $143, ignoring was Customer D wanted. I found over time the discounts to be much more important. We as well as l, ever so gave Customer D the largest discount, followed by Customer A, Customer B, and finally Customer C. This gave us the highest customer satisfaction while keeping the price relatively the same. For the distri excepter discount, we unplowed it relatively constant throughout, but increased it towards the end in order to keep the customers happy.For the sales force emphasis pie chart, we tried a lot of different methods to try nd get the scoop out result. The first few times through the simulation we focused our attention on Customer A and C over B and D. This worked throughout fairly well, but wasnt ultimately the best solution. During my last individual attempt, I completely cut out customer D, while giving half of my attention to Customer. Roughly the remaining half was split between A and B, but it fluctuated a little throughout the simulation. This confguration of the pie chart ended with me getting a much larger add together than previous attempts.During the group simulations, we vomit a lot of time into figuring out the best way to plit up spending on large/small customers, as well as retaining those same customers. We argued a lot about which should get more emphasis and which did not. I found that no matter what I did, that the small customers seemed to always be very satisfied. Because of this, what I found to work best was to keep both spending and retaining large customers retributory slightly about the small. I kept this relatively simulation, and gave me the best score in the end.Sales force was another locution of the simulation our group argued a lot about. Half the group thought the sales force was very important, while the other half hought it would be break out to use that bullion in order to enhance our physical product. What I found that worked the best was to leave the sales force at 1 1, but if I really thought it was necessary to get rid of them then to Just do it for one quarter. I noticed that each time I dropped a few for a quarter that my total budget would sometimes increase by $100,000.For that reason alone I did this several times in order to have as large a budget as possible. During the group stages my budget only got up to $800,000, which we thought was very good. When I took the simulation individually I got the budget to increase to $1. million. I feel that managing my sales force correctly played a key role in obtaining more total budget. The first time we took the simulation, we tried getting rid of market research for the very last quarter. This ended terribly for us and caused us to lose a customer satisfaction star from every customer.From then on out I left market research at the required $50,000 Just to stay safe. One of the close to important parts of the game I found was spending on IMC. After the first quarter as a group, when we did very poorly, we found that putting money into IMC was the best way to increase our profit nd market share. What I found that worked best regarding IMC, was to basically put all additional budget into it. Almost every quarter I did this, my profits would continue to rise. When I did the simulation individually, every time I gained more money in my total budget that money would address IMC first.IMC was definitely the key to the game for me. The single most argued part of the simulation for our group was the statistical distribution of money in Power-To-Size Ratio, Manufacturing, and Thermal Resistance. At first it seemed that no matter what we did as a group some customer would complain about something. N o customer complained more than Customer B complaining about wanting more thermal. Our group found ourselves always arguing over how much money to put into which of the three categories. We never really did a great Job doing so because there was always an unhappy customer.What I found to be the best method was based on sure luck. I really wanted to take some relatively large risks in my last attempt at the individual simulation so I cut out Manufacturing Efficiency Improvement entirely. After two quarters of making a huge profit, I kept that up until the end. This gave me more money to put into important things like IMC, Power-To- Size Ratio, and Thermal Resistance. This kept the customers satisfied for the most part. After being the chief operating officer of Minnesota Micromotors, I found that my ideals before I started the simulation were a lot different from how I feel now.Before the simulation started, our group really wanted to focus on customer satisfaction. For the most part we kept the customers very satisfied and satisfied. I now feel that market share and profit are what were the best ways of achieving a high score. With high profit and market share I was given more budget to work with. This trend kept accumulating ntil both profit and market share were higher than during the first couple simulations. The difference was that my customer satisfaction for my final simulation scores of 55, 60, and 60.My final score was a 75. Taking risks was something I wasnt too fond of at the beginning of the simulation. I thought being conservative was definitely the way to go. Because of this I was really conservative at the beginning with my group, as well as myself. I did the best when I took some risks. I am really glad I took a chance in my last simulation because then I really grasped the fact that sometimes you have to focus on the customers that help ou the most instead of focusing on pleasing all of the customers.Overall, I am really glad we got he opportun ity to participate in the simulation. We really got a hands on experience of what we learned in class. Im glad we got to apply our knowledge, and I believe I learned a lot from doing the simulation. Although I did a lot better individually, it was very helpful to work in a group at first. We did fairly well compared to the rest of the class, and work as a team really helped with that. I would recommend this simulation to any marketing student because it is exactly how I picture the real world working.

Bvs Supply Chain Management Case

Nicolas Maalouf ID 120265 International operation and hand over chain counseling ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Strengths ? BVS has assured its relative independence from its corporate ? parent in the US number 2 in its field. ? The hiring effort focused on scientists, and junior ? management. Aggressive investment in Research Strong and innovative ? R&D Department. ? Intensive growth in current sales and projected sales ? Dynamic, entrepreneurial, and ambitious head of purchasing department and have an international experience. sophisticated machinery, BVS most advanced on the market.? BVS sustain good relations with their supplier. ? ? Opportunities ? Forceful investments in the pharmaceutical industry, ? enormous enlargement in R&D investments. ? A booming forecasts of a total market Critical product, Large Demand & limited supply (Banque de Geneve). ? New supplier WildGrass NJ having advantages in flexibility in price and supply. ? Young human capital fundament add v alue to the existing management. ?As a part of big Pharmaceutical Corporation, BVS have to substantiate an important profitability margin and an increasing drift of sales to align up the market trend since they expect a prevalent need on a small product they compete to produce in shorter time. The in-house situation the situation within BVS Weaknesses Profitability was decreasing as sales growth. Delay on the production schedule. Independent management from the parent organization in the US. Purchasing department had limited signature power. Centralized finish making (CEO) time Cost. dissension and inefficient coordination between Departments. Mediocre role of purchasing department (low image). Depending on limited suppliers (duopoly LCSD and BCC). Weak presence on the US market. Threats Marbelpharm wiz year ahead of BVS. Limited material resources (Natural ingredients & limited suppliers). LCSD and their main competitor, BCC never compete against each other on p rice High profit margin for suppliers. Currently one supplier can provide necessary materials to all competitors. The market was dominated by a handful of companies. The outer surroundings the situation outside BVS Risks and Opportunities The bailiwick enlightens a main problem directly related to the process of manufacturing of innovative critical product some delays in R&D schedule delinquent to the difficulties of supplying some key ingredients. That cut in supply chain can generate an immense dis localize in expected figures indeed the prisonbreak can enlarge the valley between BVS and competitors especially Marbelpharm.In addition, serious risk can be in attendance if Wildgras may not satisfy BVS demand in the coming years or if the market cant supply chemical materials necessary for production. In other hand, independency of BVS division is menaced and the get Corporation can take control of its management in order to adjust traditional management and deal with the sit uation in an American preliminary to hold back and resolve departments confrontation and accelerate the chain enrolment.If the new strategy helps for building-up the company, in that case BVS can catch the booming market and the new cooperation with WildGrass NJ will generate a new era of prosperity and BIOLOGICAL VACCINE SCIENCE BVS Michel Philippart 2012 International operation and supply chain management MIB 32 may work together on two new vaccines that improve BVS sales using young managers and researchers that can drive innovations safely from suppliers to clienteles in that way reputation of the purchasing department get better that may help BVS to enter the us market.The following list presents ideas that can be issuing of discussion in sequence to determine and shrink current corporate risk presented on the case Maintain an excellent relation with the duopoly LCSD and BCC chemical distributors BVS should march on dealing and as well invest into WildGrass NJ in order to help them to be sufficient in their production, in that way they can supply BVS as expected in lower cost. Work with the source manufacturer of chemical materials and maybe invest with him in their own line of needs. Decentralize decision making into departments each of wish will report to the allocated manager. Connections between WildGrass NJ and BVS should be combined into single responsible Sara should be dedicated also to intimacy the R&D department to purchasing department. Clarify the required tasks of each department In order to make supply chain more efficient, in that flak we can encourage regular meetings between heads of department. Data Sharing between R&D and purchasing department can ensure a certain level of readiness and speediness concerning ordering needed materials. Create a new IT-software that can manage internal information interconnected between R&D and Purchasing department in order to enhance the efficiency of supply chain. Seek for new resources tha t can supply potential investments Hiring new managers impudently graduated from purchasing schools, and trusted them as Sarah Managing suppliers at BVSx Successful supplier management necessitate finding consistent and competitively priced suppliers is a must to the attainment of business however our initial focus cant be on the veracious price especially because we are operating in materia medica sector where quality and lead time are the main components of the purchase agreement.On the other hand in the longer term, strong relationships with biggest distributors and manufacturers with a collaborative approach (as co-investment an partnership) can have better impact on the overall success the supply chain management. In that approach we can focus on what we can do for suppliers rather than on what they can do to lower costs and to deliver us needed materials as expected on time . An accurate and healthy partnership can be build-up in favour of both parties.BVS ought to implem ent emergency strategy so that disruptive events can be managed smoothly as shortage in materials or lack in supply. Finally internal meetings between the top management should focus on several critical issues as seeking new areas for supplier improvement and discuss on how the corporation can improve relationships and ameliorate dealings between departments in order to haste a healthier chain of production. BIOLOGICAL VACCINE SCIENCE BVS Michel Philippart 2012

Kayem Foods, Inc

Executive Summary Problem/Issues Matt Monkiewicz, director of commercialise for Kayem nutritions, Inc. , is ch whollyenged with a decision pertaining to a small yet fast growing overlap, Al Fresco complainer blimp. The harvest has bring a fall guy leader in its commercialize niche, and means on how to labor the product is in question. A go merchandising campaign was recently used, and while the lodge did add-on in sales, there is no way to directly calculate the subject the campaign had on the product. Mr.Monkiewicz would exchangeable to continue to use the buzz dish outing approach, but supermarket executives and nourishment distributers atomic number 18 un go outing to augment debase and maintain for the brand. They do non believe that this small merchandising campaign is solid enough to incr loosening buyer recognition and increase sales. Customers necessitate remarked that the product is hard to learn in stores, and some cannot align it entirely and prolong to visit an other(prenominal)(a) locations. Analysis The sausage market, while growing, has several competitors who dominate the market.Al Fresco complainer sausage has become the number one brand in its market niche, but buyer power is high cod to the impoverished wrong and similarity of the product. Kayem Foods Inc has primarily sold by dint of supermarkets and other retail food stores in the Northeast. In the last two years, it had made a conjunct childbed to obtain distribution in the Midwest and the Southeast. Kayem has two different communication needs. First, they need to lead retailers that their product has a motionless top of the market demand, and that current pricing creates a large lucre authority.This fair game can be achieved by devoting currency to patsy advertisements in food magazines, and by allocating money to flock advertisements which depict the success the bon ton has currently seen with the Al Fresco product Monkiewicz used Al Fresc os high recent sales increases to secure an $185,000 publicise bud admit for FY 2006. His perceived marketing options include outgo $75-72,000 on some other Buzz campaign, which supermarket executives do not believe is an adequate marketing campaign for the product. Another possibility is cannonball alongning craftsmanship advertisements to entice more retailers to sell Frescos lily-livered sausage (minimum cost of $80,000).The company has evaluated the possibility running no less than 2 or 3 print ads in intensity level food magazines this would be a cheap way to shrink circulation to the target market. A final alternative would distribute consumer price-off coupons at a minimum cost of $90,000. On top of the advertising venues chosen, an informative website that provided, product history, flavors, recipes, and product locations would be beneficial Recommendations Kayem Foods, Inc. should use the computeed $185,000 promotional dollars to run a series of trade advertisemen ts that would cost $80,000.They should likewise run two ads in both Food and Wine and Cooking Light food specialism magazines which would cost $39,765 and $57,840 and would be seen by 5. 4 gazillion passel. They should also launch an informational website that would help build product sensation. practise of these three advertising avenues helps resolve the line of works the Al Fresco brand currently faces a new, largely terra incognita brand to consumers, supermarket motorcoachs have been reluctant to hug drug the brand considerable, if any ledge space due to doubts of stable demand. Problems/IssuesMatt Monkiewicz, director of marketing for Kayem Foods, Inc. , is challenged with a decision pertaining to a small but fast growing product, Al Fresco chicken sausage. This product, though small, has become the number-one brand in its niche market. The company had recently implemented a buzz marketing campaign for the product. This is a unique technique for using a word-of-mouth advertising venue. Monkiewicz did not initially have a substantive marketing budget adequate enough to make a substantial impact using traditional media. Buzz marketing, gave him means to promote the rand on a small budget but still have an impact on his target market. According to ACNielsen, Al Fresco had become the number one-selling branded chicken sausage in the United States by late July 2004. However, it was not sort out whether this was due to the buzz campaign or to other marketing activities implemented by the firm. Prior to the campaign, the brand had developed substantial momentum with a minimum of advertising support. Also, during the campaign period the sales military building block had made a special effort and offered special discounts and allowances to obtain new distribution.The sales increase by the brand was very impressive, but it was not take a shit how much more growth Kayem could expect from this earlier unusual marketing tactic. Monkiewicz explained th at it would be a challenge to sustain the growth and increase market role with such a limit marketing budget. Even with substantial growth of the product, the company has continued problems with supermarket executives and food distributers still unwilling to increase buying and support for the brand. They do not believe that this small marketing campaign is solid enough to increase buyer recognition and increase sales.This placed a major dilemma for Kayem Foods, and Al Fresco. They would like to continue to use the buzz marketing approach, but there is no way to justify and link the increase in sales with the campaign. The big issue now is get supermarket executives and distributers to be confident with the product to increase ledge space and brand recognition. This is very important because lxxii percent of the BzzAgents inform that they had had difficulty finding the product in the supermarket. This meant that they had to either ask the store manager for the product or go to a different store.Twenty-three percent were never able to find the product. Monkiewicz has two weeks to decide how to implement an upcoming market strategy for the product. He would like to implement another buzz marketing campaign in 2005, but since this strategy is not wielded well by supermarket executives, he has to look at other venues. Some alternatives he could look to with the advertising budget include limited magazine advertising, consumer coupons, or more point-of- corrupt material. Monkiewicz has also considered an advertising campaign in supermarket trade magazines aimed at retail food buyers and merchandising executives.Situation Analysis 5 Forces Upon reviewing the five forces model for Al Fresco, it is noted that competition is pretty high in the industry. Total category sales for the chicken sausage segment were roughly $75 million per year. The market is growing at or so 12 percent a year. This is a growing market, with a few large brands, and rivalry is high. Al Fresco possesses a small 5. 3 percent of the market in the New England area. Because the chicken sausage category is small, it is difficult to obtain some(prenominal) specifics about competition. Buyer power is moderate to high, due to the fact of low switching cost and ease of access to the product.Buyers can be brand loyal, which is a benefit to some companies in the industry. Tying in with the high buyer power is a high power of substitutes. Consumers on average spend $16. 95 annually per year in the target market, when compared to the food industry is not very much. The sausage market can be seasonal, with price promotions and coupon discounts during these periods can be very high. This can lead to shelf space being a big factor, because if a consumer cannot find their desired product, they can easily purchase a similar product for a similar price.Barrier to entry is low in the market due to the fact of establishing a high quality product at a reasonable price with good shel f space and advertising. Supplier power is also low due to the fact that the low priced products in the industry are located in all major grocery stores. S. W. O. T. Strengths In 1999 Kayem introduced the Al Fresco brand. The firm believed if they could have a well-recognized demand brand, it could potentially obtain high prices and better allowances and blustering doors in new markets.By late July 2004, Al Fresco had become the number one-selling branded chicken sausage in the United States. The product was offered with high quality, healthy attributes, freshness, and distinctive flavors. Al Fresco chicken sausage has 75 percent less fat than traditional pork sausage and is available in s rase flavors. Sales have increased significantly for Al Fresco chicken sausage. In family line of 2003 they posted sales of $197,000 and in October of 2004 that number rose to $575,000. Weaknesses though Al Fresco has been prosperous in recent years, Kayems profit margins have been eroding.Gro ss margin for the company had been declining for several years due to supermarkets gaining power through consolidation and demands for greater discounts and promotional allowances from suppliers. With this, Al Fresco has been asked for more price- oriented promotions. This could be a possible benefit for the company, but would cost about $90,000 to be effective. The target market for Al Fresco chicken sausage is the 25- to 54-year-old woman who was health conscious. This is a good niche market, but it makes Al Fresco cater to this niche instead of advertising to an entire population.Opport unities Kayem Foods Inc has primarily sold through supermarkets and other retail food stores in the Northeast. In the last two years, it had made a concerted effort to obtain distribution in the Midwest and the Southeast. This market expansion could lead to immense growth for the company if it takes hold of market share in these regions. The chicken sausage segment is small, with category sales a bout $75 million per year, but the market is growing at about 12 percent a year. With the new prospective advertising campaign, Al Fresco has potential to capture additional market share.Since sales of Al Fresco had been increasing significantly, the advertising budget was increased to $185,000 for fiscal year 2006 (March 1, 2005-February 28, 2006). This allows Monkiewicz with new possibilities for advertising and reaching a broader customer base. The company should use this to increase demand from supermarket executives, to provide better shelf space for the product. Monkiewicz would like to continue to use the buzz marketing campaign. Rob Walker wrote an article in the New York Times, explaining how effective this campaign was. Appendix) One agent related. I told everyone that they were low in fat and so much better than pork sausages. The article relates how effective word of mouth advertising can be. Threats Al Fresco has faced a few problems along the way. During their buzz mar keting campaign, seventy-two percent of the agents reported that they had had difficulty finding the product, while twenty-three percent were never able to find the product. This is unacceptable in the marketplace and Al Fresco must convince the supermarkets to carry the product, and give it adequate shelf space.Though Monkiewicz liked the buzz campaign, it was hard to track and justify just how effective an advertising campaign it was. This is threatening, because supermarket executives are timid to demand the product if this is the only when kind of advertising the company partakes in. Sausage Market Consumers of sausage products yokened all national regions and income levels. Accordingly, the sausage products where used for both main entrees and complements to other center-plate dishes for all three main meals of a day. Retail sales of all sausages tallied $2. billion in 2003. This total includes Al Frescos product segment, specialty sausage, which had a 20%, or $4. 8 million i n sales, and was currently the fastest growing segment. Increased sales were linked with a shift in consumer gustatory modality for differentiated products that added a variety to their menus, or were lower in fat content. Concurrently, Al Frescos chicken sausage was part of a market segment of low-fat/lean sausages which made up 19% of all sausage sales. Communication strategy Kayem has two different communication needs. First, they need to convince etailers that their product has a stable top of the market demand, and that current pricing creates a large profit potential. This objective can be achieved by devoting money to print advertisements in food magazines, and by allocating money to trade advertisements which depict the success the company has currently seen with the Al Fresco product. Ads in food magazines will also help achieve the plunk for communication goal, stimulating primary demand in consumers, by introducing them to not only a new product segment, but the most po pular product in that market.Supermarket executives have recommended that Kayem advertise in specialty food magazines. Through this type of method consumers should be encouraged to increase brand loyalty. Due to the niche market of chicken sausage, consumers may not need a sales promotion as often as in larger, saturated market segments. Running advertisements in specialty magazines allows a company to easily target desired geographic and demographic segments. Magazine ads are musical theme to have both high credibility and prestige. Plus, this method of marketing has a longer life span than many other mediums (TV, radio, telephone).In essence, though Kayem would be out the entire expense of running advertisements in the current fiscal year, sales spurred by these investments may be realized in months or even years to come. Out of the possible types of advertising goals, the persuasive approach is most in line with both Kayems marketing goals and the potential customers reading cu isine magazines. The company can create liking, preference, and conviction for readers to buy their sausage by highlighting its flavor, freshness, and more importantly healthy composition in comparison to other sausage alternatives.They currently have very low brand awareness which could be alleviated with vast advertising campaigns. This method also works best when consumers are bear on the advertisement in a detailed, analytical mode. This description fully fits the reader of a food magazine who is seeking new recipes and/or foods. Point-of-purchase (P-O-P) communication is not the most effective use of Kayems promotional money at this time. The companys current dilemma involves convincing more retailers to buy/stock their item on shelves. This problem should be tackled before the same retailers are asked about in-store promotions.Analysis of Alternatives Monkiewicz used Al Frescos high recent sales increases to secure an $185,000 advertising budget for FY 2006. His perceived mar keting options include spending $75-72,000 on another Buzz campaign, running trade advertisements to entice more retailers to sell Frescos chicken sausage (minimum cost of $80,000), running no less than 2 or 3 print ads in specialty food magazines, and distributing consumer price-off coupons at a minimum cost of $90,000. Monkiewicz must decide if BzzAgents previous campaign generated enough sales to warrant spending an additional $75,000 on a second campaign in FY 2006.Due to other promotional activities that occurred simultaneously with the first campaign he is unable to determine how many incremental sales the program created. Kayems own sales representatives claimed that they were unable to get additional placements or expanded shelf space due to the buzz campaign alone. The cost per buzz ( discourse/ activity involving Al Fresco) was calculated to be almost $4. 24. The new campaign would have a unit breakeven of 62,500 packages. While this advertising approach does disseminate relevant literature there remains no clear way to track generated sales.Growing negative market sentiments of BzzAgents techniques may also hurt the understand of the company if consumers become aware that they use this form of advertising. Another drawback is the fact that Kayem must rely on unpaid employees of another firm to handle their promotions. A second option costing at least $80,000, involves Kayem running a series of trade advertisements directed at convincing retailers that their chicken sausage is in high demand and can be sold with high profit margins. This alternative has a unit breakeven of 66,667 units.Although past efforts have lacked the intended success, Kayem must address the limited availability of their product. Producing the leading brand of a product in a market segment which has quickly expanded gives them better financial support when approaching retailers than before. The option of distributing consumer price-off coupons was mentioned by both Al Frescos sales force and definite supermarket managers. The supermarket managers would still receive full retail selling price, but the Kayem would be cutting their profit margin on each package bought with a coupon.The unit breakeven of this promotion would be 75,000 packages. The product is competitively priced with other chicken sausage products according to a survey of the Boston-area supermarkets. Another draw-back to offering price reductions is in conflicts with Kayems desire to keep margins high to off-set their lower profit lines. A final promotional route Kayem could learn involves running advertisements in specialty food magazines. This approach covers a large geographic area, connects to the targeted demographic profile, and has a longer life than most of media avenues.Various costs for ads covering a full, half, or quarter of a page for three different magazines is accompanied by number of circulations in the appendix. Kayems managers believe that no fewer than 2 or 3 ads woul d be needed to have any positive effect on sales. There are many new opportunities opening in the advertising venue for Al Fresco due to the increased budget. Two big issues the company faces are product awareness, and knowledge of where the product is available for purchase. With the Internet becoming more and more common place, a simple website would be a possible alternative for Al Fresco.The site would offer history of the product, types of product, recipes to go with the sausage, and locations were the sausage may be purchased. Any advertising that is done the name of the website could be placed on the advertisement. It is assumed that a step forward up fee cost for a simple informative website would be $4,000 and yearly upkeep would be an additional $3,000. Recommendations/Implementation Kayem Foods, Inc. should use the budgeted 185,000 promotional dollars to run a series of trade advertisements, 2 ads in both Food and Wine and CookingLight food specialty magazines, and launc h an informative website. Use of these three advertising avenues helps resolve the problems the Al Fresco brand currently faces a new, largely unknown brand to consumers, supermarket managers have been reluctant to offer the brand considerable, if any shelf space due to doubts of stable demand. Due to budget constraints, the placement of two 1/4 four-color advertisements in both food specialty magazines is the cheapest way to increase broad brand awareness in the target market. An estimated 5. 2 million ads will be circulated at an estimated cost of $18. 7 per 1,000 viewing audience. This is by far a cheaper avenue to reach potential customers than another buzz campaign (appendix). The ads should highlight the freshness and natural, healthy composition of Al Frescos chicken sausage, and should include the statements, 1 Selling, Healthy, All-Natural Choice and Ask for It at Your Local Supermarket. These advertisements will not only increase selective demand, an approach that attempt s to highlight a specific brands competitive returns in the face of many substitutions, but will also spur a deepening in brand loyalty.By using a persuasive advertising approach these placements will lead to higher preference, liking, and conviction of Al Frescos chicken sausage flavors by consumers because they will be processing the ads in a detailed, analytical mode. Placing these ads in food magazines gives Kayem the opportunity to place their product in the minds of consumers actively searching for new products/ recipes, thus initiating new sales from experimenting, health conscience, or even allergenic consumers.Secondly, supermarket executives have said such an advertisement campaign is needed to create the stable demand required to displace initial purchases and shelving of Al Frescos chicken sausage. Increasing the pressure on retailers to adopt and sell Al Frescos products can be supplemented by running a series of trade advertisements. These ads will highlight the spec ialty and low-fat sausage market segments growing sales numbers, and Al Frescos personal commitment to faithfully market their products.High profit margins and placement at the top of the segment market are also key points that must be received by retailing executives. As mentioned by Monkiewicz, $80,000 will be needed to successfully implement this advertising campaign. The rest budget dollars will be used to launch and maintain an informational website specifically aimed at providing product awareness to customers. In todays day and age, the internet is becoming more resourceful.With Al Frescos increased advertising over the next year, they can add they website URL to the ads for giving publicity to the website. The website would be simple, offering product history, flavors and recipes, and locations were the product is available. APPENDIX BREAKEVENS $1. 0 contribution margin per pound, typical package (unit) size of it= . 75 pounds, SO, $1. 20 contribution margin/p ackage OPTIONS 1.Bzz campaign cost $75-72,000 75,000/1. 2 = 62,500 Breakeven in units 2. series of Trade Advertisements cost $80,000 80,000/1. 2 = 66,667 Breakeven in units 3.Consumer Price-off Coupons cost 90,000 90,000/1. 2 = 75,000 Breakeven in units 4.Ads in specialty magazines MEDIA monetary value AND CIRCULATION FOR MAGAZINES Circulation Cost of Full scalawag 1/2 Page 1/4 Page repair collection plates and Gardens 7,600,000 $ 359,000 $ 215,400. 0 $ 107,700 Food and Wine 900,000 $ 66,275 $ 39,765. 0 $ 19,883 Cooking Light 1,700,000 $ 96,400 $ 57,840. $ 28,920 $185,000 Proposed Budget Circulation Price 1. 8 million $39,765 (2) 1/4 Page ads in Food & Wine 3. million $57,840 (2) 1/4 Page ads in Cooking Light 5. 2 million $97,605 Total $80,000 Cost of Trade Advertising $177,605 $7,000 dunk and Maintenance of Website $184,605 Total Advertising Budget *Cost of magazine ads $97,605 with an estimated 5. 2 million circulation = $18. 77 per estimated 1,000 viewers *While Cooking Light has a lower cost-per-thousand the difference is not significant enough to detonate the potential increased reach of running advertisements in Food and Wine simultaneously. Buzz Mkt 2000 agents Conversation Locations 3 coupons for free package Place Percent 10 $1 off coupons when purchasing 2 packages Home 41% 5,807 Social Location 16% 2,266 goal each agent talks to 10 people = 20,000 people Work 15% 2,125 Grocery Store 10% 1,416 758 agents filed reports Other 18% 2,550 1,647 BzzReports completed, 8,470 buzz hits 1 report = 8. 6 conversations or activities about Al Fresco 8. 6 x 1647 = 14,164 buzz hits (revised) 14,164 Reedeming coupons 6000 free package coupons at 4. 9 = $26,940 20000 $1 off coupons = $20,000 Total cost of full redemption = $36,940 $47,000 + 46,940 = $93,940 electric potential Total Cost of Bzz campaign Estimate Total cost $60,000/ 14,164 = 4. 361 An estimated $4. 24 spent for each conversation/activity stemming from Bzz regarding Al Fresco CHICKEN SAUSAGE MARKET FY 2006 FY 2007 $75,000,000 $84,000,000 $94,080,000 Sources

Essay on Film, “A Bronx Tale”

Amy Lau Expository Essay A Bronx Tale Topic The choices that you make pass on shape your spirit forever The film, set in New York City, in the 1960s, A Bronx Tale, Lorenzo (played by Robert De Niro) has a password, Calogero, whom we hold in passim the film as one who made numerous decisions throughout his life, which make his future. One of those things was what Calogero did in the premature stages of the film. At nine years old, he sat on the steps as he witnessed lad, a gangster, out of defense for a friend, shoot and kill psyche seemingly competing with someone else over a parking spot.When Calogero was requested by NYPD detectives to identify the murderer by facial recognition, he kept relieve about the truth. As a result, lad welcomed him into his inner group of followers and compelled everyone he knew to please Calogero. fellers men also offered Lorenzo a job to make a lot more bullion than he already does, but Lorenzo, preferring a law-abiding life, declined the offer. Lorenzo hated Sonnys influence on his son (You dont understand Its not what you say, its what he sees, the clothes, the cars, the money, its everything.He tried to throw away his baseball cards because he said Mickey Mantle entrust never pay the rent). When Lorenzo found out about the money that Calogero has gained from working for Sonny, he took his sons money and re playing perioded them to Sonny at the bar and warns him to keep away from his son, which Sonny responded to Lorenzo, I compensate him like hes my son The turns of events that were caused by Calogero refusing to rat on Sonny in the graduation seemed to have a lasting effect. Eight years later, Calogero became cozy friends with Sonny and continued to regularly lambast him without his fathers knowledge.He also remained part of a gang of local Italian boys he grew up with, which Sonny advised against. He then meets Jane Williams, an African American girl and the two consistent a date despite severe tension bet ween the Blacks and the Italians, especially amongst his friends. The friends he chose also shaped his future. One night in provoked retaliation, Calogeros friends made a plan to strike at an earlier attack back at the African Americans using molotov cocktails. They compelled Calogero to come with them in a journey to the area of the African Americans, but along the way, Sonny intervenes and orders Calogero out of the car.Calogero catches up with Jane and the two overlap an intimate moment. The conversation then leads Calogero to remember of a planned attack in the town where the Blacks live, and he realises that Janes brother is in danger. He and Jane rush to stop them, and to her brothers aid. so we see Calogeros friends attack a shop, owned by an African American, and set the shop on fire. Then the shopkeeper, taking the unexploded homemade bomb, which was thrown at him, threw it back at the boys car, igniting the rest of the explosives in it.Calogero and Jane start out at the ruins of the exploded car to discover that all his friends have died as a result of their attack. In mixed feelings of grief and relief, Calogero rushes back to Sonny to thank him for saving his life. Calogero knowing Sonny certainly has its goodness. varlet 1/2 Then in a crowded bar upon arrival, he sees Sonny, and also someone coming up behind Sonny with a gun. A shot is fired a Sonny falls to the floor. The unnamed assassin is the son of the man killed by Sonny eight years ago. It seemed Sonny also made a decision eight years ago which shaped his life, which in turn ended in a tragedy.When Lorenzo arrives at the end of the memorial service held for Sonny, to pay his respects to him, he says that he had never hated Sonny, but merely resented him for making Calogero grow up so quickly. In conclusion, the viewers could interpret that the circumstance that Calogero did not tell the NYPD detectives that Sonny was the murderer definitely has its benefits, like the fact that it has pro tected him from a possible retaliation that would have resulted from Sonnys men had he chose to release Sonny to detectives as the murderer.And because of this, he won over friends in Sonny and his inner circle of followers, and has remained close throughout. Also, Calogero seemed positively influenced by Sonny as a result of their friendship. He says in the end I learned to give love and get love unconditionally. You just have to accept people for what they are. And I learned the greatest gift of all the saddest thing in life is wasted talent. The choices that you make will shape your life forever. You can ask anybody from my neighborhood, and theyll just tell you, this is just another Bronx tale. scalawag 2/2

Nirvana Art Gallery Essay

nirvana Art Gallery Nirvana Art Gallery Case necessitate analysis Case study analysis 1. Executive summary- This case study is all about the different situations Mr rod faces at his function place. The urge to take grow he went for part time job along with his ongoing PhD piss. The work area of his interest was being a curator while because of less work he was do to work in a nonher department which was not of his interest and he faces lot many puzzles over there.He even used to stay late to complete the assigned work and the colleagues were also not supportive. The chief(prenominal) problem was the lack of interest of Mr. Rod for working in researchs department which was further boosted up by look out on Nellys interference who was the research manager. The only solution for his problem is to talk with Miss Nelly and request her to undo the changes made in his work schedule or else he should try to take in interest in research department as well as it is the only option h e is left with. . Situation Analysis- Introduction- this case emphasises on the disinterest of Mr. Rod to work in research department. only if in spite of showing it he decided to work with full efforts. One of the problem was the unfriendly behaviour of the members of this department. The over sympathy of Miss Nelly was also creating discomfort for Mr. Rod accompanied by pestering expressions of his colleagues. The rearrangement of working schedule further enhanced the problems of Mr.Rod which resulted from the refusal of Nellys proposal to help her in her work. that still he manages his work and become successful in creating balance between both the works. Objectives- the main objective of Mr. Rod behind working in Nirvana Art Gallery was to take experience of being a curator which will help him in future and also adds to his work experience. besides unwillingly he was made to work in research department because of less work in his area of interest. Decision Making- Miss Nell ys extra concern and sympathy for Mr.Rod became a problem for him. And the rearrangement of his work schedule was also its consequence which enhanced the problems further. Implementation- Mr. Rod has shown a great interest in working with NAG. In both the departments he tried to give his best. But further troubled by rescheduling of his weeks work arrangement. He can overcome this problem by completely move himself in the work assigned to him so that he will not feel boredom in working for research department.Or if he feels this new schedule totally inconvenient then he can make Nelly aware of his situation and probably she will help him in the matter touch on and finally he would be able to work more in curatorial. Conclusion- the main problem in the case arise because of the extra concern and sympathy of Miss Nelly towards Mr. Rod. The one thing which he could do was going to Nelly and politely telling her about the situation and the surreptitious looks and frowns of other membe rs of research team which was quite an embarrassing.

Promote Equality and Inclusion in Children’s and Young People’s Settings Essay

The importance of diversity in an early long time setting is that children need to incur their own sense of identity and have a sense of pridefulness in themselves and their cultures.EqualityThis means to treat everyone fairly and equally. Children should be do by as individuals, equally and fairly. sometimes treating children equally, you have to treat them contrastively. All children should be valued for their individuality and offered both support they may need. Everyone should be treated with the care, consideration and respect that they have a pay to and given the same opportunities to learn and fulfil as others.InclusionThis mean to include everyone and meet the individuals needs. It is a human right for every individual. Everyone counts and differences should be valued, respected and celebrated. Inclusion involves identifying barriers that prevent people from taking part, universe involved and designation in. Knowledge is needed to understand these barriers which can only then be broken down. It is everyones obligation to remove these barriers. It involves making sure that all support systems are available in order for everyone to enrol fully.The importance of having equality and inclusion in a setting is so the child does not have poor self-confidence or lack of respect or confidence. The child should not feel as though they are being stereo-typed which could make the child aggressive towards others and prevent the child from interacting. The child should call back in themselves and behave in accordance with others expectations.Equality Act 2010 is the law which bans unfair treatment and helps discover equal opportunities in the workplace and in wider society.ParticipationEvery child matters, whether they have a different culture, race, gender or if they have a disability, all children have equality of learning and to participate to allow in them to grow and meet their full potential.DiscriminationDiscrimination is a preconceived attitude towards members of a item group formed only upon the basis of their membership of that group that leads to less favourable or liberal treatment of that person. Discrimination could be direct or indirect. Direct discrimination is when a person is treated differently to other people when they are in the same circumstances and indirect is when discrimination is through with(p) un-intently. Potential effects may includeCausing upsetAffecting an individuals self-esteemCausing stressIndividuals feeling isolatedAffecting individuals hopes and expectationsCreating tensionsLeading to stereotypingLeading to labellingProducing prejudicesThe types of discrimination are-racial discriminationThis is a belief that some races are superior then others based on the wild idea that skin colour may make people better than others.Institutional racismThis describes any kind of system of inequality based on race. It can occur in institutions such as public government bodies, private business corporati ons and universities.Disability discriminationDisability discrimination is about being denied equality of opportunity with their non-disabled peers because of their disabilities or impairments.Sex DiscriminationPeople of one gender reinforce the boss that they are superior to the other gender.Discrimination is generally based on either prejudice or stereotypes. Prejudice means to prejudice people based on assumptions and stereotype refers to forming an instant or pertinacious picture of a group of people, usually based on false or incomplete information.By being discriminated can cause a lifelong effect on a child. They could feel shy and lack in confidence which can then stop them from fulfilling the full potential.

In the Early Hours by Khurram Murad

In the Early Hours deliberateions on Spiritual and Self Develop ment (Khurram Murad) Preface THE title of this book, In the Early Hours, has been c arfully and pieceicular whollyy elect to highlight that precious exclusively of decennary neglected time during the shadow that Allah is closest and nigh overt to His considerations. The courier of beau ideal give tongue to Our manufacturer descends severally night to the ne atomic number 18st Heaven when besides the at massive subsist third of the night remains, and theorises Is whatsoever superstar imploreing that I whitethorn answer him? Is both unscathedness set abouting for tending(p)ess, that I whitethorn for nonhingness him? Is any 1 commanding, that I may go bad to him? , and this continues until imbue. (Tirmidhi. The later disclose of each night is the most(prenominal) conducive period for face and self exploitation. It is the occasion with the most potential for the disembodied spirit to be present, alert and free of blase concerns as the Quran declargons Lo The scout of the night is a time when impression is more keen and speech more certain. al-Muzzammil 736. This book is a collection of inspirational advice by a passion and be completed teacher, Ustadh Khurram Murad on the subject of weird and self development. In it he sets out the goal of the Believer- the single- headlanded inclination to seek the erect joyfulness of Allah and paradise.He hence outlines the manners and instruments which must(prenominal)(prenominal) be used in the establishment of that last-ditch goal. These weird exhortations that follow were primarily delivered in those early hours of Summer 1993 just after salah al-Fajr as part of a manakin entitled Self Development for Islamic Workers at The Islamic Foundation, Leicester. That course represented champion of legion(predicate) similar courses Ustadh Khurram conducted for young Muslims, both male and female. He recognised t hat it was in the young generations eagerness, strength and transport that the future of the Muslim Umma lay.Each of the s evening sections in this book represents one Nasiha or Advice. Each Nasiha was delivered in a presentation of approximately 45 minutes. This time whollyotment was non, of course, sufficient for Ustadh Khurram to discuss the subjects in detail. I guide therefore drawn material from several of his separate speeches and works for thoroughness, coherence and to provide clarity on the topics discussed. I curb in any case added Quran and hadith references wherever I felt they were relevant and added to the affluence of the text.Only Allah greets how close I have scratch to making clear the Message of the Quran and the hadith as expressed by Ustadh Khurram. permit me emphasise that this book merely represents an introduction to spiritual and self development. I rely that each of the topics exposed here pass on eliminate you to just now study so that you washbasin continue to grow and progress along the alley of produceing closeness to Allah, our Lord and Master. A selection of suggested readings is habituated at the end of this text to assist in further study. The task of preparing this text has sure as shooting been a ch wholeenge for me, plainly one, which I have enjoyed and benefited from immensely.I am delightful to Muhammad Abdul Aziz, Alyasa Abdullah, Asim Abdullah, Sharifa Abdullah, Fazeela Mollick, Wajid Mollick, Hashim Mohammed and Lucy Bushill-Matthews who all in all read the manuscript and offered rich comments and advice during the initial phase of this texts preparation. My darkest appreciation, however, goes to Abdul Wahid Hamid, whose literary skills, advice and motivation were instrumental in finalising this work Ultimately, though, any mistakes this book contains atomic number 18 my let may Allah forgive me and have mercy on me.Whatever uncorrupted is derived from it, all praise is callable to Him, for without His help and guidance, secret code is possible. I would like to end with a dua or supplication of the prophet which epitomises the touch on objective of this work and our goal in tone O Allah, You change b lack Maria, so change our wagon to be obedient to You. (Muslim. ) Riza Mohammed Leicester, October 1999 CHAPTER ONE The Process of Self Development THE path to divinity fudge is that illumine when a person recognises the central place of God in his livelihood and tense ups to develop his self accordingly.The Messenger of God utter If person wants to have sex what speckle he enjoys in the eyes of God, he has all to look at what place he gives to God (in his heart and sustenance. (Hakim) The term burn downest in signification to self development in the Quranic vocabulary is tazkiya. Tazkiya fashion catharsis and refers to the cleansing of the human being self from all that is unwholesome, undesirable and unwelcome. It also refers to the nurturing an d streng thuslying of all the qualities within the human self that be essential for offset and development, for blossoming and flowering. THE GOAL IN LIFESuccess and happiness in this creation and the Hereafter depend on tazkiya, the purification and nurturing of our own(prenominal)ity. The Quran subjects that unfeigned success is only reserved for those who seek to regorge themselves Successful in execution is the one who purifies his whole self ash-Shams 919 Our personality comprises non only the animal(prenominal) body but also the spirit and the heart, feelings and attitudes, character and behaviour. Proper nurturing and development of these elements of the personality pull up stakes achieve desirable goals. When goals are desirable, the shape of aspiring to, working towards and achieving them also require desirable.This is part of human character. It is critical, therefore, that we recognise and under plump for the true nature of our net goal in demeanor. For t he Believer, the most coveted goal in brio is to seek the good sport of Allah and Janna or heaven. Our Creator has set this goal for us And surely Paradise it is the goal an-Naziat 79 41 Indeed the Next abode it is truly the life al-Ankabut 29 64 The companions of Paradise they are the triumphant ones al-Hashr 59 20. Know, however, that pick uping the pleasure of Allah takes precedence over seeking Janna but the twain are closely connected.Paradise sens only be strickleed through seeking Allahs pleasure, and when Allahs pleasure is gained, we allow indeed be granted Paradise. Reflect upon the following two verses in the Quran And there is a kind of person who would allowingly give up personal interests, seeking Allahs pleasure and God is close to Compassionate towards His servants. al-Baqara 2 207. Indeed Allah has purchased from the Believers their lives and their be possessed ofions, shining them Paradise, in return. at-Tawba 9 111. The alternative to attaining Pa radise in the Hereafter is to be placed in Jahannam or Hellfire and to receive its punishments.The Quran produces just now in the life to come it is either severe suffering, or Gods tenderness and His goodly acceptance. al-Hadid 57 20. What is it that situates a person deserving of much(prenominal) a suffering? The answer is to be found in the second part of the akin verse for the life of this domain of a function is nothing but an enjoyment of self-delusion al-Hadid 57 20. Jahannam therefore, is for those who seek as their last-ditch goal in life, not the pleasure of Allah or Paradise, but the enjoyment of worldly gains. The pursuit of worldly gain is but a mirage. All worldly gains are left behind when you die.All that is on earth is bound to perish piece of music Allah and His good privilege go forth remain unceasingly. It is for this reason that the Queen advises Vie with one another in seeking to attain to your Sustainers for assumptioness and to a Paradise as vas t as the heavens and the earth, which has been readied for those who have attained to religion in God and His messengers such is the bounty of Allah which He grants unto whomever He wills -for Allah is limitless in His great bounty. al-Hadid 57 21. All your lying-ins in this world should therefore be focused only on seeking Paradise. It is the insure of the Almighty thatYou will only be refunded fully for all your good deeds on the day of Resurrection, and on that sidereal day whoever will be drawn a bearing from Hellfire, and admitted into Paradise, will indeed have triumphed Ali Imran 3185. THE FIRST yard TO PARADISE The first meter in self development, then, is to concentrate single-mindedly on Paradise. Indeed, the one who is fainthearted of his destiny in life, torn betwixt this world and the Next, like one gestateing with his feet in two separate boats will be thrown off balance. Many of the difficulties that we face are due to this lack of commitment and inabili ty to focus on the real and ultimate goal.If you basis keep your focus on Janna, then everything else will be possible. The selection of the ultimate goal of Paradise must be flip consciously and may involve an absolute break with the past. To choose this peeled goal as the ultimate goal in ones life is in fact to choose a new life, to father a new journey. Embark on this new journey by refreshing your wudu (ablution) and offering two rakas (units) of salaah or petition reminding yourself of all the punishment of Hellfire you have just resolved to avoid at all costs and all the rewards of Paradise that you will touch to achieve.Remind yourself also of the important stations and landmarks on the journey imagine death as near imagine the moment when the Angel of Death will declare, your time is over, now you must follow me imagine that moment when you will be do to stand in the presence of Allah, Most High, so that the final judgment of life may be passed on you and imagine th e consequences of that judgment. When you have completed the two rakas then resolve once more that all lathers will be directed towards achieving Paradise, beseech Allah and pray with humility O Allah, I ask for Your mercy and any(prenominal) brings me enveloping(prenominal) to it, in word and deed.O Allah, I ask for a religious belief that will never vanish, a blessing that will never diminish, a pleasure that will never abate, and the most elevated position in Paradise distinguished by the friendship of Your Messenger, Muhammad. While improvement in your habits and actions is a life-long plow, the desire to achieve it can and so be sparked in a moment. This desire will provide the neural impulse for attaining your goal the good pleasure of Allah and Paradise. YOUR MISSION Having taken the fast step and resolved to attain Paradise, you may ask yourself, what does Allah require from me in order for me to succeed?What Allah requires of you, in Quranic vocabulary, is for you t o be a mumin and mujahid. A mumin is one who is true and steadfast in his faith in God. A mujahid is one who gains his utmost, with all the means at his disposal, to gain Gods pleasure. If you are a mumin and a mujahid, Allah, the Most Exalted in Power and yet the Most Compassionate, will assist you to rise to higher stations both in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah has promised this to those who possess the qualities of iman or faith and the active resolve for jihad or struggle.The Quran states The recollectrs are only those who cogitate in Allah and His Apostle then they doubt not and struggle inviolable with their wealth and their lives in the way of Allah they are the truthful ones. al-Hujurat 4915 You now have a mission to expire a mumin and mujahid. As you infix upon this mission you may come to feel that your cognition of Islam is somewhat limited or peradventure that you are unable to attain those heights of submission and purification that you desire or others expect of you. This is only natural. You must not, however, allow these feelings of personal shortcomings to undermine your efforts to practise Islam.Remember that Islam is a state of becoming not a state of being. Each day you must strive to improve and remedy yourself and you will improve. Tazkiya or this new platform for self-improvement that you now find yourself in, is a process that unfolds itself step by step. You cannot expect to change all at once. This is against the laws of nature. The prophet was ceaselessly aware of this when he was dealing with his Companions. Whenever someone embraced Islam, the Prophet would not ask that person to do everything immediately.Instead, he would teach and expect that person to start fulfilling his obligations only as often as he could bear at a time. This gradual process of change is also distinctly reflected in the manner in which the Quran was revealed over a period of 23 years. In all your efforts towards becoming a give Believ er, you must bear in mind this principle of gradualism, otherwise you may try to attain the impossible, and when you do not achieve it, you may become frustrated. At this stage, what matters most is that your mountain with Allah, iman, remains sound and firm.This definition of iman is perhaps a little divergent from the definition you usually hear. It is, however, a definition that we find in the Quran at-Tawba 9 111. Furthermore, attainment of such iman, allows you to be tallyed among the true and artless servants in the eyes of your Lord. The Quran states Behold, God has bought of the Believers their lives and their possessions, promising them Paradise in return, they fight in Gods cause, and slay, and are slain a promise which in truth He has willed upon Himself in the Tawra, and the Injil, and the Quran.And who could be more airless to his compact car than God? at-Tawba 9 111 Once you have committed yourself to Allah, all that you have must be spent in His way. This is the ideal. Ideals, however, are ceaselessly difficult to achieve and this you must sympathise and accept. Ideals are always to be pursued if they are easily and always achievable, they can hardly remain as ideals. belongings to your side of the bargain then, is an ideal that you must always seek to maintain. It is this seeking and this striving to spend all that we have in the way of Allah that is known as jihad nd alternatively, in this instance, as tazkiya. PREREQUISITES OF TAZKIYA As you proceed on your journey along the new path, in quest of the ultimate goal of Paradise, you will encounter difficulties and hardships. These may often seem insurmountable. Overcoming them may be thrust easier by a good early grasp of the prerequisites of tazkiya. These are as follows 1. Tazkiya -Your Personal Responsibility You must accept that tazkiya is a extremely personal process and that it demands taking personal responsibility for carrying it forward.You can only see the results of tazki ya through your own realisation, your own personal efforts and your own exertions. No one else can perform tazkiya for you. No organisation, no attracter and no teacher can replace your own responsibility. God understands And no bearer of burdens shall be made to bear anothers burden and if one weighed down by his load calls upon another to help bear carry it nothing thereof may be carried by that other, even if it be ones near of kin. al-Fatir518 This sense of personal responsibility is basic to the whole purpose and approach of Islam.Ultimately, we are judged soully for discharging our own responsibilities. If someone else fulfils your obligations, then it should be he that is rewarded, not you. To be rewarded you must do what is expected of you by Allah by yourself Whoever strives hard in Gods cause does so only for his own good for, verily, God does not stand in need of anything in all the worlds And as for those who attain to faith and do fit(ip)eous deeds, We shall most sure as shooting efface their bad deeds, and shall most certainly reward them in accordance with the ruff that they ever did. al-Ankabut 29 6-7. Some people allow themselves to be dictated by others. The Quran states that the weak will tell apart on the Day of judgment that they were coerced into following the dictates of others, but that Allah will reply that the excuse is not authentic for the decision to start out from the Straight Path was their own. Qaf 50 26-28. Even Shaytan will stand up on the Day of Judgment theorizeing I invited you and you responded to me, so dont clean me, appoint yourselves. Ibrahim 14 22 Ultimately, then, the blame and the reward will be yours, because the responsibility was yours On that Day all people will come forward, cut off from one another, to be shown their deeds. And so, he who shall have done an atoms weight of good, shall behold it and he who shall have done an atoms weight of evil, shall behold it. az-Zalzala 99 6-8. Taking hurry of your own affairs may certainly seem a daunting task, but one which you will accomplish with distinction if you lever and take advantage of the tremendous human potential that Allah has blessed you with.Allah says in the Quran Verily, We created man in the opera hat conformation, and thereafter We reduced him to the lowest of the low excepting only such as attain to faith and do good works and theirs shall be a reward unending at Tin 95 4-6. Tazkiya does not consist simply of ideas, but of life, behaviour and conduct. The key to success, according to the Quran, lies in having true faith. To inculcate true faith you must start by acquiring a sound knowledge of Islam through a dedicated study of the Quran and Sunna.You must then understand your knowledge into practice. For this to occur, you need to have firm resolve and determination. This, in turn, will produce amal salih or flopeous conduct. To aid you in your task, you must seek the phoner of those who are also striving to please Allah. They will encourage you towards immaculateness and correct you when you deviate from the true Path. Your company also includes your mental and psychological company- the ideas you move intotain, the ambitions you nurture, the sensitivities and sensibilities you develop and the books you read.All of these represent a form of company because they are your companions in solitude. 2. Genuine Effort In order to succeed, you must have a deep desire to make a genuine effort to fulfill your obligations as a Muslim But as for those who strive hard in Our cause We shall most certainly guide them onto paths that lead unto Us for, behold God is indeed with the doers of good. al-Ankabut 29 69. With desire, of course, come actions. But know that it is not solely the results of your endeavours that count what matters most is that you made your best effort.This is a very important point to appreciate because without genuine effort nothing can happen. Those who think that collec tion alone can work miracles are not liveness in a realistic world. solicitations are part of the effort, but prayers are not the whole answer. If you pray, Allah take to the woods me and make me good, it is not freeing to bring you any benefit unless you are also determined to become good and make an effort towards becoming good. Once you have done the latter two things, then, of course, postulation will be a source of baraka or Divine grace that will further renovate and strengthen your efforts.The initial desire and the ensuing effort to do and become good, is part of the continuing process of self development, a process that may begin at any point in life that you choose and continue till your last breath O you who have attained to faith Be conscious of Allah with all the consciousness that is due to Him, and do not allow, death to overtake you until you have surrendered yourselves unto Him. Ali Imran 3 102. There will never be a point when you will be able to say that y ou are now a perfect person or that you have achieved your full potential.If at any point you feel so, then be sure that is the starting point of your downfall, On the other hand, you may find that the greater your desire to fulfill your obligations as a Muslim, the more you feel beset or plagued by frustration, despondency and despair in your heart and mind. All of us, whether young or old, have experience these diseases, and often just give up. What we should try to mark at such times is that it is the intention and effort that matters, not the result. This effort must be a continuing process Be not, then, faint of heart, and mourn not for you are bound to rise high if you are believers. Ali Imran 3 139 3. Sustaining Will indicant To achieve the ultimate goal in life requires a sustained determination to do so, a willpower that is forever responsive and strong. In Quranic terminology this is called irada. Irada is basic to all our efforts. Without willing to do something you ca nnot do anything. Irada is very different from desire. You always hear people reflecting upon unfulfilled aspirations. One of the main reasons why aspirations and dreams remain unfulfilled is that they are no more than desires which faded to assume the status of irada.The Quran explains that one of the basic weaknesses in human nature which impedes self development is the weakness of will. While narrating the story of Adam, Allah informs And, indeed, long ago We made Our covenant with Adam but he forgot and We found no firmness of purpose in him. Ta Ha 20115 Irada requires strength and consistency and is indeed the antithesis of doubt, hesitation or lethargy. Once irada is firmly in place, then you must have no doubts and you must not hesitate. Now, what purpose should irada serve?The Quran makes it clear that this will power must be a firm resolve to seek the pleasure of Allah because this is the part of the bargain that you must deliver And whoever desires arada the feel to Come, and strive for it as it ought to be striven for, and are true Believers withal-they are the ones whose striving finds favour with God. al-Isra 17 19 4. Reliance on Allah Self- assumption is borne from the Believers intimate knowledge and understanding that Allah is ever ready to assist those who strive and struggle in His way.Self-confidence comes from depending upon Allah and discerning that He is there to help you, protect you and shower His mercies upon you So he who gives in charity and business organizations Allah and in all sincerity testifies to the best- We will indeed make smooth for him the path to Bliss. al-Layl 92 5-7. Self-confidence also emanates from knowing that Allah in His infinite mercy has equipped you with all that you require to undertake the tasks set forrader you. It is not characteristic of the One that is Most Just and Most Merciful to prepare you for a duel without equipping you with the necessary tools.Self-confidence is thus borne of total reliance and cartel in Allah. It is knowing that at every step of your journey Allah is there assisting you. If you constantly hold yourself back believing that you are weak and incapable and blame your incompetence on minor inadequacies, then you are bound to fail. You must never allow yourself to believe or feel that Allah has treated you unfairly or that He has placed upon you a burden you cannot berm for on no soul does Allah place a burden greater than it can bear. al-Baqara 2286. Likewise, hope is central to your efforts and your success.You must sincerely hope and believe that everything you do to earn the pleasure of Allah will lead you to fulfillment. A superiority complex negates the task of self development. An inferiority complex is derived from a lack of confidence in Allah and oneself. You should never allow yourself to believe that you cannot fulfill your obligations nor should you despair of the mercy of Allah. Confidence, hope and determination are all important ingredie nts for your success Those unto whom men said Lo the people have gathered against you, therefore fear them. But it only increased them in faith and they cried..Allah is sufficient for us Most Excellent is He in Whom we trust Ali Imran 3 173-174 You must be wary, however, of the kind of self-confidence that causes a person to make known himself self-sufficient. Modern concepts of self sufficiency are indeed an evil form of shirk or polytheism. To allot self-sufficiency to ones self is to assume for oneself an attribute reserved only for Allah. For the Muslim, self-confidence is wholly dependent upon the trust one places in Allah it is not an arrogant proclamation of complete independence from Allah. Allah alone is self-Sufficient.All else is reliant upon Him for existence. 5. The go or so Use of Time Time is not money or gold it is life and it is limited. You must begin to appreciate every moment of your life and always strive to make the best use of it. With all the demands of w orldly life on your time, you will yet need to find time for self-development and maximise its potential. The better route towards self-development is, of course, to integrate all your efforts into a structured daily life. Imam al-Ghazali, may God have mercy on him, in his great work, Ihya Ulum ad Din, gives the following dvice You should structure your time, arrange your un down in the mouth devotions and delineate to each function a set period of time during which it is given first priority but which it does not overstep. For if you abandon yourself to neglect and purposelessness, as cattle do, and just do anything that may occur to you at any time it happens to occur to you, most of your time will be wasted. Your time is your life, and your life is your hood it is the basis of your transactions with God, and the means to attain to everlasting felicity, in the proximity of God the Exalted.Each of your breaths is a invaluable jewel, and when it passes away it never returns. Rem ember also that the deeds most love by Allah are those done on a regular basis, even if they are few. (Bukhari, Muslim. ) While you must always strive to make the best use of your time, you must always aim for excellence in everything you undertake, whether at school, at home, at work or at play. Indeed, the Prophet has said, Verily Allah has prescribed ihsan (proficiency and excellence) in all things. (Muslim. ) 6. Tazkiya -All-embracing Process.Islam does not subscribe to the type of asceticism where we extract our hearts and yet remain immersed in political, economic or societal corruption. Tazkiya must encompass our sinless life the privacy of our thoughts as hygienic as their social manifestations in our daily life. Everything must be in conformity with Allahs will. This will of God also requires you to seek and maintain a delicate balance between the various obligations that demand your attention between your obligations to Allah, your obligations towards others and your obligations towards yourself The Prophet advised us against extremism of any kind.It is reported that he said to Abdullah ibn Amr Have I heard right that you fast everyday and stand in solicitation all night? Abdullah replied, Yes, O Messenger of God. The Prophet said, Do not do that. Fast, as well as eat and drink. Stand in prayer, as well as sleep. For your body has a right upon you, your eyes have a right upon you, your wife has a right upon you, and your guest has a right upon you. (Bukhari, Muslim. ) Unless you approach tazkiya as an all-embracing process, you will find that your life is compartmentalized, certain parts impeding the development of others.This can only result in a life of disharmony and unhappiness. Approached as a statewide and all-embracing process, however, you will find that each part of your life will complement some other part. This should, God willing, make your struggle on the path to God and Janna, easier and full of grace. As you struggle to make headway on the path to God, always find that you have an excellent model before you. This is the illustration of the Prophet Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace.Often we would like to emulate our sports heroes, our parents, our teachers, our friends or others who attract our attention. For your spiritual development, however, the most beautiful example is that of the Prophet. Allah says in the Quran You have, indeed, in the Messenger of God an excellent exemplar, whoever places his hopes in God and the Final Days and who remembers Allah a good deal. al-Ahzab 33 21 BLESSINGS AND BENEFITS The decision to purify and develop yourself requires that you clearly define the path and consider the ways and means to achieve Paradise.This whole process will not only purify your heart, but also fix your entire life and the will of Allah will become so a good deal easier for you to follow. Following the Divine Will is, of course, tazkiya itself, Soon, all your efforts will be d irected towards the ultimate goal the pleasure of Allah and Paradise. Know that every sin can be effaced through forgiveness, and forgiveness is a sure way to Paradise. As you strive to better yourself, then, simultaneously and continuously pray for forgiveness for all your shortcomings.God says And whoever repents and believes and works moral deeds, God changes evil deeds into good ones, and God is Ever-For enceinte, Merciful. al-Furqan 2570 It is a misconception to believe that simply by setting up Paradise as the ultimate goal, one can get there without any further effort. It is also a misconception that Paradise can solely be achieved by concentrating only on certain aspects of life, the religious and the spiritual. The very fact that Paradise is the ultimate objective means that tazkiya must be pursued in all aspects of life, and in life as a whole.Consider, for example, the following -Is not honesty a means to enter Paradise? -Will not a sense of responsibility enable me to enter Paradise? -Will not striving to fulfill the needs of fellow human beings make me deserve Paradise? -Will not abstaining from vain talk and aimless actions, bring me closer to Paradise? -Is not consciousness of the best use of my time a key to Paradise? -Will not keeping promises and offering salaah on time, which are distinguishing traits of the righteous, put me on the highway to Paradise? -Must not all of the above be sought-after(a) to attain Paradise?Every effort that is reliable and is aimed at attaining Paradise is also an integral part of the process of tazkiya Insha Allah (God-willing), if you take heed of all the prerequisites, blessings and benefits of tazkiya, you will surely find the right environment, the true companionship and brotherhood and the most appropriate training programmes to make the task of self development easier and more rewarding. So give the good news to My servants who listen to the word of God, then follow the beauty in it. such(prenominal) a re they whom God has manoeuvre And such are they who are endowed with understanding. azZumar 39 17-18. SUMMARY The most comprehensive goal for a Muslim is the single-minded desire to attain Paradise. This desire to seek Paradise is a life-long process which can be sparked in a moment- and this desire will provide the means and the momentum to reach the goal. Your model for self-development is that of the Prophet Muhammad. In your quest for Paradise, you must personally take charge of your responsibilities, develop the willpower to perform and make a genuine effort to fulfill your obligations, ensure that you make the best use of your time and adopt a balanced approach to life.Remember that every effort that is legitimate and is aimed at attaining Paradise is also an integral part of the process of tazkiya and that every sin can be effaced through forgii&Hss and that forgiveness is the sure way to Paradise. And as for the one who fears to stand before his Lord and who restrains hi mself from base desires, the Garden is surely the abode. an-Naziat 79 40-41 May Allah enable us to be among those who purify themselves for it is God Who causes whomever He wills to grow in purity and none shall be wronged by as much as a hairs breath an-Nisa 4 49.Were it not for Gods favour upon you and His grace, not one of you would ever have remained pure. For it is God who causes whomever He wills to grow in purity for God is all-Hearing all-Knowing anNur 24 21. CHAPTER TWO A Life of Remembrance IN a verse of the Quran that I love very much, Allah, Most skillful and Loving, commends Remember Me and I shall remember you. Be grateful unto Me and deny Me not. al-Baqara 2152. Can you imagine a more gratifying state than this, where, when you remember Allah, the Creator, Sustainer and Lord of the Universe, He remembers you in return?The same exhortation has been beautifully conveyed in a hadith qudsi I treat My servant as he hopes that I would treat him. I am with him whenever he remembers Me if he remembers Me in his heart, I remember him in My heart if he remembers Me in a gathering, I remember him in a gathering far better than that gathering if he draws near to Me a hands span, I draw near to him an arms length if he draws near to Me an arms length, I draw near to him a fathoms length and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running. Bukhari, Muslim) Those who remember Allah standing, sit and reclining and who reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth are highly commended in the Noble Quran. They are wise in that they fill their hearts with the remembrance of God in every, moment, in every accompaniment and in every posture of their lives. Ali Imran 3 191 The exhortation to remember Allah at all times is a reflection of Allahs all-embracing and overwhelming love for us. The door to Allah is always open to us Remember Me and 1 will remember you.We need only find our way to and through that door. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DHIKR Regarding the sign ificance of dhikrullah or the remembrance of God, Allah says in the Quran, itself the ultimate reminder (dhikr) to all the worlds Sad 38 87, the following Remember Allah. for He has guided you. al-Baqara 2198. O you who believe Remember Allah often with much remembrance. And glorify Him morning and evening. Luqman 31 41-42. And men who remember God much and women who remember God has prepared for them forgiveness and a vast reward. al-Ahzab 33 35 Hadith literature is similarly replete with references to the remembrance of Allah The servant cannot perform a better deed which will save him from Gods punishment than the remembrance of God. (Malik. ) Whoever wishes to feast in the gardens of Paradise, let him remember God often. (Tirmidhi. ) Indeed, with check to dhikr, the Quran concludes And the remembrance of Allah is the greatest deed without doubt. al-Ankabut 2945 The significance of dhikr lies in the fact that it is Gods own chosen and recommended mode by which the muminun or Believers show gratitude for having been shown the straight path.In increment, it is indeed the surest way of attaining Gods forgiveness and achieving the ultimate reward of Paradise. The importance of dhikr then is not difficult to understand. It is dhikr that purifies your qalb or heart and makes it sound. And you can only attain redemption and true success by having a pure and sound heart. The qalb or heart referred to here is not the watch in your breast that pushes blood around your body but alternatively the centre or venue of your personality which pumps out your desires and motivations and which makes you conduct yourself as you do.It is this qalb that lies at your centre and dictates your actions which is the key to your ultimate success. Thus, with reference to the Day of Judgment, the Quran declares It will be a Day) when neither wealth nor children shall profit and when only he will be saved who comes before God with a sound heart free of evil. ash-Shuara 2688-89. This point is more elaborately made in a hadith in which the Prophet says Listen to me carefully. There is a lump of strain in the body if it is set right and made good, the entire body becomes good and healthy but if it becomes diseased, the entire body becomes diseased.Remember well it is the Heart. (Bukhari. ) If the heart is the key to ultimate salvation and success, it may, likewise, be the seat of much corruption and open doors to many evils. It may facilitate the corruption of political and economic activities and ultimately the social institutions of a society. Where such a state prevails, the Quran suggests that it is because people, individually, have become diseased in their hearts. al-Baqara 210. In this state, people stop seeing and doing what is right. The Quran explains that this is not because they have become blind in their eyes but because their hearts have become blind. al-Hajj 22 46. This blindness only draws them nearer to the ultimate chastisement. It is the heart, as the decider of our ultimate fate, that must then be the starting point of any tazkiya programme, to purify this heart and then summon it to the service of mankind. Ibn al-Qayyim, one of the great scholars of Islam, states in his Kitab al Adhkar (The Book of Remembrance), that the heart which is free of the remembrance of Allah is a heart that is dead it is dead even and long before the body carrying the heart reaches its grave. Indeed, this spiritedness body that carries the heart is the hearts grave.Ibn al-Qayyims statement is mindful of the hadith of tire Prophet which states The difference between someone who remembers His Lord and someone who does not is like the difference between the living and the dead. (Bukhari. ) The statement is also reminiscent of the following verse of the Quran Do not become like those who forget Allah and Allah makes them forget themselves. It is they who are truly deprived. al-Hashr 5919. The purpose of tazkiya is to ensure that the heart never falls into a sorry state of being and that it is always alive with the remembrance of God.Prosperous indeed is one who purifies himself and remembers the name of His Guardian-Lord, and prays unto Him. al-Ala 87 14-15. The Prophet further emphasised the importance of dhikr when he said to his Companions Shall I not inform you of the best of your actions, the purest in the slew of your Lord, which raises your rank to the highest, which is better for you than spending gold and silver, better than meeting your enemy so that you strike at their necks and they strike at yours? They replied Yes, indeed, and he said It is the remembrance of Allah. (Tirmidhi. )Strive then, to fill all your moments, all your thoughts and all your actions with His remembrance. severalise tasbih or words of glorification and praise to score all your actions and achievements. THE MEANING OF DHIKR What is the precise meaning of dhikr? What is its stage setting and what does it entail? Does it simply involve certain utterances of the tongue, like Subhanallah (I glorify Allahs absolute perfection), Alhamdu lillah (All praise be to Allah), Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest), La ilaha illallah (There is no god but Allah) and the exercise of some other selected verses of the Quran, or is there more to it?Of course, such utterances of the tongue and recitation of verses of the Quran are important. In fact they are very important forms of dhikr for, indeed, the best forms of remembrance are those that involve both the heart and the tongue. You must understand, however, that the scope of dhikr is considerably wider. Dhikr must not only be felt by the heart and uttered with the tongue, but must also affect and effect amal salih, or good deeds.Significantly, Ibn al-Qayyim suggests that dhikr encompasses any and every particular moment when you are thinking, saying or doing things which Allah likes Hence, if your conversation is filled with the words of God, this is dhikr and if all your actions are in accordance with His will, this is dhikr. Indeed Allah commends that we remember Him time standing, sitting and even while reclining. This is only possible if dhikr embraces every single aspect of life. Consider for example the following verse of the Quran where dhikr is emphasised in both Prayer and business activityO Believers, when the call to Payer is sounded on the Day of Congregation, hasten to Allahs remembrance and disappear all worldly commerce. This a for your own good, if you but knew . And when the Prayer it finished then disperse through the land, and seek of the bounty of Allah and remember Allah shop atly that you may prosper. al-Jumua 629-10 Attending the Salat al-jumua, listening to the khutba or sermon and performing the congregational Prayer are all well known as forms of dhikr. But in our worldly pursuits as well we are urged to remember Allah even more often.We may thus conclude, that attending to your personal needs, earning a livelih ood and spending on your family are all forms of dhikr. But of course, they can only be dhikr if, on base with the relevant adhkar or supplications in the heart and on the tongue, they are done in obedience to Allah, for His pleasure, to attain Janna. Otherwise, as the Quran warns us, far from being dhikr, they may have the opposite effect Let not your worldly possessions and your children make you neglectful of Allahs remembrance. But spend in the way of Allah. al-Munafiqun 639-10. THE METHODS OF DHIKR We have thus far discussed the significance, meaning and scope of dhikr. Let us now turn to the various forms and methods of dhikr. How do we remember Allah in the morning and evening, during the day and at night and while standing, sitting or reclining. There are basically two forms of dhikr. The first involves continuous and sustained inner awareness of Allah in all that we say and do in our daily lives. The second involves mechanisms, whether performed individually or collective ly, that help to develop the first. 1.Sustained Awareness of Allah Let us begin with a discussion of the first form and its methods. How can you remember Allah throughout the public course of your day without withdrawing from the routine of your daily worldly life? How can you ensure that your personal life, family life, passkey life and other activities all continue in full swing, and yet, at the same time, ensure that your life as a whole every moment of it is permeated with remembrance of Allah? Such an all-pervading dhikr can be an difficult task, but one you can accomplish with some ease.Let me remind you of four states of consciousness that you must strive to develop by remembering certain things, absorbing them and reminding yourself of them often. ONE Say to yourself I am in Allahs presence He is honoring me. Say to yourself I am in Allahs presence He is watching me. If ever you are alone, He is the second and that if you are two, He is the third. He is with you wher ever you are. al-Mujadala 58 7. He is nearer to you than your-jugular vein. Qaf 50 16-18. He is watching everything that you do and hearing everything that you say. He is ever present and His knowledge is all encompassing.Remind yourself of this as often as you can, and throughout the day- every time you begin a new task, and every time you speak. Indeed, your aim should be to impress this on your heart in such a way that it ultimately becomes your very breath. When the Prophet was asked by a Companion about the best method of purifying himself, he replied You should always remember that Allah is with you wherever you are. (Tirmidhi. ) TWO Say to yourself Everything I have has been given to me by Allah. All that there is surrounding you, on you and in you comes from Allah alone.There is none that creates or gives anything but Allah. an-Nahl 1678 Ya Sin 3633-35. Therefore, reflect upon all the baraka or blessing that He has created you with and be glad to Him. In all the adhka r that the Prophet has t naught us, hamd or gratefulness to Allah is a constant theme. Many of these adhkar are dim-witted to learn, and indeed, it was the most simple of his adhkar that he used most frequently. When the Prophet rose in the morning, he would say Alhamdu lillah whenever he ate or drank he would say Alhamdu lillah and even when he relieved himself he would give thanks to Allah.Learn as many of the adhkar as you can, and throughout the day, as you witness all that Allah has blessed you with, punctuate your day with these adhkar. If ever you appear to be short of things to be thankful for, recall the hadith of the Prophet There are 360 joints in the body and for each joint you must give a sadaqa thanks or charity each day. (Bukhari. ) You must give a sadaqa for each one of them because without any one of them you will be incomplete and handicapped. You must do this on a daily basis for should any one of them become damaged one day, you will similarly become incapacita ted.Additionally, you may remind yourself that, as we now know from our knowledge of human physiology, your heart beats 72 times a minute. Every time it beats, it does so with the permission of Allah. The moment He withdraws that permission, the heart will stop beating and your life will certainly come to an end. If you feel that there is nothing else to thank Allah for, then thank him for the life that He has given you for, so long as there is life, there is hope. THREE Say to yourself Nothing in this world can happen without His permission. Everything lies in the hands of Allah.No harm can befall you and no benefit can reach you except as Allah ordains. It is as the Quran informs us If God should touch you with misfortune, none can remove it but He, and if He should touch you with good fortune, He has power over all things. He alone holds sway over His creatures He is the All-wise, the All-aware. al-Anam 6 17-18. The Prophet Muhammad would supplicate to Allah after each Prayer O Allah, any(prenominal) You want to give me, no one can stop it from coming to me and whatever You want to prevent from coming to me, nobody can give to me.Prayer after Prayer, you should recite these beautiful words. And beyond that, remind yourself as much as you can and throughout the day, e extraly as you expect something to happen, or not to happen, that everything happens only as He commands, and by His permission. FOUR Say to yourself I am going to return to Allah one day and that day could be today. You do not know when you will leave this world. It may be that the coming morning is your last morning, or perhaps the coming evening is your last evening. Indeed, it may be that this hour is your last hour, or even, that this moment is your last moment.Such an uncertainty does not, of course, justify a complete withdrawal from this life so as to prepare for the Next in some monk fashion. It is important, however, that you are always conscious of this uncertainty, to the extent t hat it motivates you to spend every moment of your remaining life seriously, considering it as a gift from Allah and spending the resources He has blessed you with time, ability and energy as He has advised. Then, and only then, will your life have achieved what is required of it, and your return will achieve what is required of it.To help you attain this state of consciousness, recall and reflect upon the following Quranic verse as much as you can and throughout the day from Allah we came and to Him we shall return. al-Baqara 2156 These are the four states of consciousness that can help us achieve a life completely devoted to the remembrance of Allah. To try to reach these four states simultaneously, and with sincerity, can only purify you. To try in a determined fashion to reach these four states will lead you necessarily to Paradise. 2. Specific Methods of Dhikr For us to achieve a continuous and sustained awareness of Him, Allah, in His Wisdom and Mercy, has aught us some ver y particular mechanisms of dhikr. These include the formal ibada-Salat, Sawm, Zakat and Hajj tilawa of the Quran, dua, istighfar and tawba, seeking the company of the righteous and dawa. Together these mechanisms or methods constitute what we have classified above as the second form of dhikr, but here we may sub-divide them into two groups those that can be performed individually and those that are performed collectively. 3. Methods of Individual Dhikr The foremost of the specific methods pertaining to individual dhikr include the fard or obligatory ibada. Allah has said in a hadith qudsiMy servant does not draw near to Me with anything more loved by Me than what I have made obligatory. (Bukhari. ) Each specific formal ibada or act of servitude to God, has been ordained as an instrument of self development. When we observe our Salat regularly at the proper times, together in congregation whenever possible, with clear intentions and sincerity when we fast in the calendar month of Ra madan with awareness and resolve when we give Zakat as soon as it falls due with a giving heart and when we fulfill the obligations of Hajj as soon as we have the means, we will gain that special closeness to Allah that He has promised.Indeed, we may get even closer to God through additional honoring of these specific formal acts of servitude, for Allah continues in the hadith qudsi My servant continues to draw nearer to Me with additional devotions until I love him. When I love him, I become the hearing with which he hears, the sight with which he sees, the hand with which he strikes and the foot with which he walks. Were he to ask for something I would surely give it, and were he to ask for refuge, I would surely grant him refuge. (Bukhari. ) For each specific fard ibada, there is an additional nafl or superogatory equivalent.These are as follows -The Sunna Salat these include the additional Prayers before and after the five obligatory ones, but just as importantly the Tahajjud Prayer. -The Sunna Fasts as recommended by the Prophet and to be practised on Mondays and Thursdays of each week, the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth day of each lunar calendar month, and other recommended days in the Islamic year. -Sadaqa fi Sabilillah the giving of voluntary charity, however much and whenever one can afford, for the pleasure of Allah. -The Umra performance of the voluntary short pilgrimage.In addition to the fard and their related nafl ibada, there are two further specific methods of individual dhikr the first is the daily recitation of the Quran, and the second, frequent dua or supplications to Allah for forgiveness, guidance and fulfillment of needs. Let us explore each of these specific methods pertaining to individual dhikr in more detail, particularly as instruments of tazkiya and dhikr A. Salat Salat is the foremost form of ibada that Allah Himself has prescribed for us. In His own words He commands Establish regular Prayer that you may rememberMe. Ta Ha 2014. The whole purpose of Salat is to be ever conscious of Allah, the Creator, Lord and Sustainer of all things. When we perform Salat we involve our tongue, our heart, our mind and indeed our whole body. In this sense, Salat is indeed, one of the most comprehensive forms of dhikr. It is perhaps for this reason that Allah states in a hadith qudsi Out of all the ways through which My servant gets closer to Me, Salat is the dearest to Me. (Bukhari. ) It is unfortunate, therefore, that we do not always take full advantage of this gift.We may pray five times each day but few of us remain conscious for long that in Prayer we have the best means to develop a strong connection with Allah. We may compare the obligatory Salat to bathing five times a day. If after such frequent bathing, your body remains dirty, then we may question the usefulness and efficacy of such bathing. Similarly, if after regular observance of Prayer your heart remains unmoved, your morals remain corrupt and y our conduct remains unaffected, we may question the usefulness and efficacy of your Prayer?If you enter into Salat and come out of it the same person, then you have missed something, and you may have missed a golden opportunity to achieve something great. Remember, though, Salat is an obligation. Whether your heart is attentive or not, it must be performed. You cannot give up Prayer because to you it appears useless. Dont give up the obligation but try to infuse it with the purpose it seeks to serve remembrance of Allah. How can you improve the woodland of your Salat?Remember, first and foremost, that as soon as you commence your Salat, Shaytan makes it his duty to fill your mind with anything and everything but thoughts of Allah. al-Araf 7 16-17. For, Shaytan is aware that your remembrance of Allah will draw you closer to Him, so he tries ceaselessly to disengage your mind and heart from such remembrance, so that you may never achieve that closeness. The most important hurdle to overcome from the outset, therefore, is absentmindedness. It is this that destroys the spirit of your Prayer, for Allah does not accept the Prayers of a wandering mind.The Prophet Muhammad said God does not accept the Prayers of an individual until his heart achieves in it what his body has achieved. Al-Ghazali in Ihya. See home(a) Dimensions of Islamic Worship, Islamic Foundation, Leicester, p. 29. The ability to concentrate in Prayer may be improved by undertaking adequate psychological, mental and tangible preparation before the Prayer and by utilising certain techniques whilst performing the Prayer. Below we discuss some of them. i. Psychological and Mental Preparation -The planning of your daily activities should revolve around the five daily Salat. al-Maarij 70 22-23. Do not plan everything else and then try to fit Prayer into your busy schedule. -Ensure that you are conversant with all the rules and regulations governing your Prayer. Research in depth the Quranic verses and ahadith relating to the virtues of Salat. -Be punctual with your Prayer. an-Nisa 4103 Get into the habit of praying at the earliest hour. Do not procrastinate. The Prophet said, the deed most loved by Allah is Prayer performed on time. (Muslim. ) -Pray as much of your fard Salat in jamaa or congregation as is possible. al-Baqara 2 43. -Avoid praying in a state in which you are mentally and physically fatigued. an-Nisa 4 43 -Rid your mind of all evil thoughts and ideas. al-Maun 107 4-6. -Keep your mind free of worldly worries and engagements. -Plan what ayat / duas you are going to recite. -If you do not understand Arabic learn the meaning of what you recite in your Prayer. -Remind yourself that engaging in Prayer offers you an opportunity to move around yourself from the pressures and tensions of this world. The Prophet has said that in Prayer was placed the comfort of his eyes.Therefore cherish the opportunity to remove the shackles and burdens of this world from your shou lders. al-Baqara 2 45. -Use your Prayer to remain focused on your mission in life to bring your entire being to serve only Allah. -Use your Prayer as a source of strength, inspiration and enthusiasm for your life and activities. ii. Physical Preparation -Fulfill all your personal needs before you commence your Prayer, for example, thirst, hunger and calls of nature. -Pray in a pure physical state. Perform your wudu with care and perfection. al-Maida 5 6. -Although the whole earth is a masjid or a place of worship, choose a place that is clean. -Pray in an environment free of noise and one where there is no distraction. -Adorn yourself with clean and respectable clothing for Allah has said O Children of Adam, wear your best clothes at every place of worship. al-Araf 731. iii. Performing Your Prayer -Assess your mental readiness for Prayer before its commencement, during the various postures with its attendant recitations, after each raka and ultimately at the end- Try to make impr ovements at each stage Pray with humility both in your mental state and in your physical manner. Pray with hope and awe, asking Allah for His mercy and forgiveness. -Remind yourself continually that you are talking to the most important Being in your life your Creator and Sustainer. He is in front of you. You are facing Him and you are involved in a dialogue with Him. al-Alaq 96 19. -Commence your Prayer by seeking Allahs help and protection from the influences of Shaytan. an-Nahl 16 98. -Lower your gaze while praying and do not allow the physical environment to distract you.Anas related that the Prophet said My dear son, be sure to avoid being distracted during Prayer, for, to become distracted while praying is a disaster. (Tabarani. ) -Use a variety of Quranic verses and duas in your Prayer to achieve greater concentration and awareness. -Adopt a whispering technique in your recitation. This will increase your ability to remain focused on what you are saying. alIsra 17110. -A s you recite the Quran, translate it into your own language so that your attention is held. As you concentrate upon the meaning and implications of the words, insha Allah, all thoughts of worldly ideas will disappear. On each occasion that you recite the Sifat or attributes of Allah in ruku and sajda, consider how indebted you are and how grateful you should be to Allah and express your true emotions. -Utilise the occasion of sajda to make additional dua to Allah. The Prophet said A servant is nearest to his Lord when he is in sajda, so increase your supplication when in sajda. (Muslim. ) -Make your Prayer of decline duration so that you do not become physically and mentally tired but be aware that while in Prayer you must take your time praying. -Give due regard to the proper performance of all the physical postures. Pray as if it is your last Prayer. The Messenger of God said When you stand up to pray, perform your prayer as if it were your last, do not say anything you will ha ve to make excuses for tomorrow, and resolve to place no hope in what is in the hands of men. (Ahmad. ) Performing your prayer in a satisfactory manner should lead to a radical change in the way you lead your daily life. Salat must be as the Quran states for sure, Salat prevents indecency and evil alAnkabut 29 45. Your improved and more disciplined life will in turn help the quality of your Prayer to increase even more.The two should feed one another and continuously reinforce each other. placard that there is punishment for a Prayer not performed satisfactorily. It will be a witness against you rather than a witness for you on the Day of Judgment. However, the reward for a Prayer well performed is immeasurable. The Prophet said If a man performs two rakas of Salat without the distraction of any worldly thought, all his previous sins will be forgiven. (Bukhari. ) iv. Tahajjud Salat Even though it is not obligatory, try to establish Tahajjud Salat as part of our nightly activiti es. The Prophet said The best Prayer after the fard Prayer is the night Prayer. (Muslim. ) One of the characteristics of the Ibadur Rahman or Servants of the Most Merciful, is that they get up at night and perform Tahajjud Salat. al-Furqan 25 64 Qiyam al-layl or night vigil is a source of great spiritual energy. The Prophet has said Keep up qiyam al-layl. It was the way of the righteous who came before you, it draws you nearer to your Lord, atones for your sins, forbids you from evil and protects the body from sickness. (Tirmidhi. )When a man wakes up his wife at night and they pray two rakas (units) together, they are written down among the men and women who remember Allah. (Abu Dawud) The Quran also commends the one who utilizes the early hours of each day to engage in remembrance of Allah Is one who worships devoutly during the hours of night prostrating himself or standing in adoration and who places his hope in the mercy of His Lord like one who does not? Say Are those equal those who know and those who do not know? It is those who are endowed with understanding that receive admonition. Az-Zumar 399B. Sawm Sawm or fast is another important instrument of tazkiya. It holds a unique status among all other forms of ibada. In a hadith qudsi we are told Every good deed of a man is granted manifold increase, ten to seven hundred times. But Allah says desist is an exception it is exclusively for Me, and I will give reward for it as much as I wish. (Bukhari, Muslim. ) The fruit of fasting ought to be that rich inner quality which the Quran calls taqwa O Believers sobriety is ordained for you, even as it was ordained for those before you, that you might attain taqwa. al-Baqara 2183Taqwa is the most basic prerequisite for being guided by Allah. It entails God-consciousness, a sense of responsibility, accountability, dedication and awe. It is that which prompts and inspires us to fulfill our responsibilities towards the Creator. Taqwa is the main criterion b y which Allah values the deeds of a Muslim. The Quran states Surely the noblest among you in the sight of God is the most Godfearing of you. Verily God is all-Knowing and all-Wise. al-Hujurat 49 13. We must strive to the utmost to inculcate taqwa in our lives as Allah has ordained Take pabulum with you, but the best of provisions is taqwa.So remain conscious of Me, O you who are endowed with insight. al-Baqara 2197 Fasting teaches us to remember Allah. It helps to give lessons in us certain attributes and qualities which develop our taqwa. We discuss some of these below. i. Fulfilling Allahs Wishes While fasting, the most basic physical needs Food, water and sleep are readily and joyfully sacrificed. Hunger and thirst are no longer harmful Allahs displeasure is harmful. Physical pleasures no longer hold any lure Allahs rewards do. The home of values is turned upside down. The measures of comfort and pain, success and failure are radically changed.However, whatever the physical discomfort, the mortification of the flesh is certainly not the desired object. The gifts of Allah are there to be enjoyed but limits by Him must also be strictly observed. Once the sun has set, the fast must be broken and the sooner the better. All that was forbidden during the fasting hours, at His command, becomes permissible again, at His command. Similarly, eating before dawn is strongly encouraged even though the hour is early for it provides the necessary strength for the rigours of the day ahead. Fasting and praying are obvious acts of worship but eating also constitutes a form of worship. i. Willpower Fasting strengthens our willpower. The Prophet has said Sawm is a shield or a screen or a shelter from the Hell-fire. (Bukhari. ) The governance of dawn-to-sunset abstinence from food, drink and sex, for the sake of Allah alone, internalises the lesson that we must never en