The Mosque Essay Example

The Mosque Essay The mosque is the Muslim place of worship, which in Arabic is refered to as the Masjid this means place of prostration because Muslims bow low to God when praying. Mosques can be set up anywhere you place a prayer mat and kneel down to prostrate yourself and pray to Allah. It does not necessarily need to be a building but it is necessary to go to a mosque during festival times as it helps the Muslim community to join together and become closer. Another distinctive feature of a mosque is the Islamic symbol of the moon and star. This represents how the light of the moon and stars guide men through the desert, which links in with the idea that, the moon and stars guide Muslims through life. Male Muslims will prayer five times a day in the mosque, female Muslims do not need to attend the mosque to prayer as much as it is seen as their duty to hold and keep the house together so they often pray at home. The Friday prayer in the mosque, called the jumah is the most important. ALL MALE Muslims in the area will try and join together for that prayer. It shows Muslims uniting themselves throughout the world. We will write a custom essay sample on The Mosque specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Mosque specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Mosque specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Most mosques have one or more slender towers called minarets. In Arab villages, a man would stand on the balcony at the top facing Mecca and call to the other Muslims to prayer. He is called a Muezzin but nowadays in Arab villages, a recording or a loudspeaker will be used instead. Most mosques have a dome on the outside which is important in hotter countries because it allows the air to flow around the building more easily. But its main purpose in this country is to make the voice louder when someone is speaking and it also becomes a distinctive feature of the mosque. To Muslims the shape of the dome represents God and the eternity of life. It also shows the significance of Allah compared to the size of us as it represents Allah creator of the universe looking down on us. In the mosque that we visited there was no dome or minaret because it was a converted hotel this also means that the call to prayer (adhan) was made within the mosque and was loud enough to be heard no matter where you were in the mosque. Every Mosque must have somewhere for Muslims to wash themselves before going to pray. Big mosques perhaps in other countries may have a large open-air pool or water fountain. But in this country and in the smaller mosques there tends to be small bathroom facilities and sometimes there is a cloakroom. Muslims must always have somewhere to put their shoes because they have to take them off before entering the mosque to stop dirt and dust entering the holy building. On our visit to Bournemouth mosque we noticed that there was a small room to put your shoes and coat pegs to put any belongings on before entering the mosque. In the mosque there were two separate wudu areas, one for the woman and one for the men. Each Muslim must perform the ritual washings before praying so that they are clean when they are praying to Allah. The significance of them being clean on the outside symbolises them being clean on the inside as they have the right intent or niyyah to pray to Allah Below are some of the ritual washings all Muslims must perform: Inside the mosque it is very bare, there are no seats (except for medical reasons when the person will sit on a small stool and perform the prayer movements mentally rather than physically) and people either pray on their own mats or on the carpet provided. It does not necessarily matter if all the prayer movements are perfect because it is the intention (niyyah) to prayer that counts. Muslims will devote their time and focus completely on Allah, which is the intention of prayer. Muslims have nothing to distract them from their prayer but at Bournemouth Mosque there were two Medallions which helped Muslims to focus on their prayer. The medallions remind them that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah . As well as ritual communal prayer Muslims also perform a personal prayer which is called the dua and can be recited before or after the ritual communal prayer. Muhammad had stopped people praying to idols because he was afraid that people may go back to worship them. This is called idolatry or Shirk in Islam and is the greatest sin to all Muslims as they believe that Allah can forgive all sins except shirk. This is why there are no paintings or statues in the mosque. Muslims are not allowed to draw animals or people because they believe that only God can create them. Mosque walls may be decorated with patterns some are mosacis others are words written in calligraphy, which are usually passages taken from the Quran. This applied to Bournemouth Mosque, as there was an embroided calligraphy pattern that was made from real gold thread(probably to represent the significance and value of the writing) and was taken from the doorway of the Kabah. This specific piece of tapestry is called Kiswah and is very sacred to Muslims it also contained the first few passages from the Quran and it contained some of the 99 names of Allah. It is also situated in the holy city of Mecca where no non-Muslims are allowed especially in Ramadan. As well as this there were many pictures of the holy mosque in Median which is Known as the Prophets Mosque and has a great value to Muslims as it was where the seal of the prophets Muhammad (pbuh) was born, lived and died (in Medina). In some Mosques there are geometric paintings or designs on the walls they are significant to Muslims as the patterns within them have significant meanings. The patterns are based on a circle which represents the eternity of Allah because the patterns nd circles will go on forever and ever. The prayer hall is the most important part of the mosque and there is not usually much to see apart from a lot of space that is essential for large numbers of Muslims to come and perform their prayers with all the movements. The prayer hall can also be used for many other different purposes like funeral services and a coumintey centre but it is never used for weddings even at the rear occasions when the wedding takes place in the mosque. When Muslims lay down their mats to prayer they lay them down so that they point towards Kaba in Mecca. Each of the prayer movement has a significant meaning and all are a very important part of the routine. Below are the sequence of the movements and the meaning which Muslims must perform when the pray. The direction in which they face is called the qiblah and they always know where to face as there is an alcove on the wall which is called the Mihrab. The Mirhab doesnt just point to Mecca but it also helps to make the imams voice who leads the prayer louder. He will usually face it with his back towards the rest of the Muslims who are worshipping Allah Also in the mosque there is the mimbar which is a set of three stairs to raise the person who is preaching at that point which is usually the imam. The mimbar is only used when the imam is preaching at the jumah. In addition to the main features of the mosque there is also a charity box in which Muslims can donate any amount of money to the mosque. They do not have to donate money all the time but at least once a year, as giving 2. 5% of your annual wage to charity is one of the 5 pillars of Islam that all Muslims must try to complete. The Islamic word for the charity box is Zakah and it means exactly what it says. Overall the prayer hall is probably the most important part of the mosque. In addition to this there is the community room which is used for socialising and getting to know each other and a classroom to educate the young Muslims so that they can teach them the right what to follow there religion etc. In the community room there is also a copy of the Quran which is the direct word of Allah and the hadith which contains the teachings and examples of Muhammad these are the two Islamic holy books. many mosques these books will be kept on the highest shelf but it is not essential. However it is essential to wash yourself before picking up the book and it must be treated with a lot of respect so nothing should ever be placed on top of it. The Mosque is usually set out something like the following: On the right there is the mimbar it has three steps and the Iman will stand on the second. The main reason for thi s is that it is a tradition which Muslims like to follow In this picture there are two microphones at different heights, one for standing prayer positions and one for the e very low prayer positions which in Islam are called Salah. Finally in the Mosque there is a prayer clock to indicate what times the prayers are done as it they change throughout the year according to the sightings of the moon and the times of dawn and dusk. Most mosques will have a board but in Bournemouth mosque they had brought a digital clock in order to make it easier and more understandable when reading and changing the times.

Black Friday Stats on Shoppers, Spending, and Purchases

Black Friday Stats on Shoppers, Spending, and Purchases In 2016, more than 154 million people in the U.S. shopped in stores and online over  the Thanksgiving weekend, according to a survey commissioned by the National Retail Federation (NRF). Thats more than 60 percent of the nations total population of adults. The NRF data indicates that nearly 100 million people shopped in stores over the holiday weekend while 108 million shopped online, and some, of course, did both. The NRF survey results show that Black Friday shopping appeals more to Millennials- adults aged 18 to 34 years- than it does to others. They were more likely to shop over the holiday weekend, and they were more likely to shop for themselves (doing more of their shopping online than in person). And they say that baseball is the ultimate American pastime?  In a consumerist culture, its shopping. How Much We  Spent The average shopper spent about $290  dollars over the three-day period, according to NRF, down ten dollars from 2015. ShopperTrak estimates that this resulted in $12.1 billion dollars spent over Thursday and Friday, with the majority of it, $10 million, spent on Black Friday. According to Adobe Insights, $5.2 billion was spent online during this two-day period. According to Mindshare, online sales for the four-day period of November 24-27 broke records, with total spending of $9.36 billion, which represents more than a 16 percent increase over 2015. Shoppers spent more online than ever on  Black Friday, at more than $3 billion. Not to be outdone, Cyber Monday broke previous records as well, with consumers spending $3.4 billion in one day, according to Adobe Insights. This was not only a 12 percent increase over Cyber Monday 2015, it is also a figure that makes Cyber Monday 2016 the most lucrative online retail day in history. Who Spent the Most Contrary to the stereotypical image of women as shopaholics, it was actually men who spent the most on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Mindshare reported prior to the shopping events that men surveyed anticipated spending nearly 69% more than the average woman, or $417 compared to $247. Mindshares survey also showed that it was older adults, those aged 35-54 who intended to spend the most of any age group, at an average of $356 per person. Millennials, however, were right behind them at a projected $338. This level of spending among Millennials, considerably higher than the average for all shoppers, might strike some as curious, or even selfish, given that they were more likely to shop for themselves than other age groups.  Its worth noting that Millennials have struggled financially during early adulthood in ways that previous generations have not, thanks in part to the Great Recession and to the ever-soaring mountain of student debt. Due in large part to these and other economic factors, Millennial adults are more likely to live at home with their parents than any other previous generation of young adults since 1880.  For these reasons, its quite likely that many among this age group use the opportunity of Black Friday discounts to purchase necessities or minor luxuries that they cant otherwise afford. How  and When They Shopped Though many  likely think of Black Friday and the entire Thanksgiving weekend as a frenzy of shoppers battling for deals at big box stores across the country, NRF data show that more people actually shopped online than in-store this year. Over the holiday weekend, online shopping was at its peak on Black Friday, until, of course, Cyber Monday rolled around. The vast majority of in-store shopping took place on Black Friday too, but again, bucking the stereotypical image, most people did not line up early or camp out for Thanksgiving or Black Friday deals. Only a small fraction of shoppers did this, and it turns out that they are more likely to men and to be Millennials. Mindshare notes that both groups were looking for specific deals on these days, and that they expected the in-store deals to be better than those found online. Where They Shopped and What They Bought The NRF found that more than half who went out to shop over the holiday weekend visited a department store like Macys and Nordstrom, and more than a third shopped at discount stores like Walmart or Target. Slightly less than a third visited an electronics store, and about 28 percent shopped at a store for clothing or accessories. One in four holiday shoppers visited a grocery store or supermarket. The NRF reported  that clothing and accessories led as the most popular gift items among those surveyed, with toys in second place. Electronics, books, CDs, DVDs, videos and video games, and gift cards rounded out the most common items that shoppers intended to buy as gifts. Online shoppers flocked to electronics items, including Samsung 4K televisions, Apples iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini, Microsofts Xbox One, and Sonys Playstation 4, according to Adobe Insights. Likely an indication of why men planned to spend more than women during the holiday shopping extravaganza, Mindshare reported that men were more likely than women to buy big-ticket items, including cars and auto parts, electronics, and video games. Women, on the other hand, reported plans to buy clothing and other fashion items, electronics, and toys. Among the toys sold online during Cyber Monday, Adobe Insights reported that Lego sets were the most popular item,  followed by Shopkins, Nerf, Barbie, and Little Live Pets. Why They Went Unsurprisingly, the NRF-commissioned survey found that half of all in-store shoppers said they had gone out on Thanksgiving and the subsequent days because the deals were too good to pass up. And it was women, more so than men, who were motivated to shop by a desire to find the best deals and discounts, according to Mindshare. Men, on the other hand, were more likely to be out shopping for specific items. The vast majority of those polled by NRF- about 3-in-4- shopped in order to buy gifts for others. Interestingly, from a sociological standpoint, NRF found that a third of in-store shoppers reported that they shopped because it was tradition, and  a quarter said they did it because it gave them something to do over the holiday weekend. And that, folks, is the very definition of consumerism.

Academic Degree and Financial Aid Essay Example for Free

Academic Degree and Financial Aid Essay ? Thank you in advance for taking the time to review my letter of appeal for financial aid reinstatement. First, let me say, I wholeheartedly appreciate your granting me this award in order to make my educational dreams a blissful reality. It would be a great honor for me to continue on the path which I started before I suffered this temporary setback. I take full responsibility for why my grades slipped and because unsatisfactory. There is no one else to blame but myself for not being able to control my emotional state during a time of terrible crisis to the point where I could maintain an acceptable G. For that I am sincerely sorry because I feel that I have let many people down, including myself. I put a lot of effort to pass most of my classes, yet I still failed my English course due to some negligence on my part as concerns my work which was to determine my grade in the course; I did everything possible to do great in the course despite my mistakes but I guess it was not good enough during the semester Fall 2013. I promise not to make such mistakes anymore, and be more responsible. I am asking this committee to give me a second chance to prove that I am worthy of this award so I can continue in my studies this Fall 2014 Semester. I do realize that I neglected my studies and I would like another chance to do better in them. I have compiled a list of steps I need to take in order to be successful in school and my studies. 1. I would obtain a tutor for my most difficult classes by becoming familiar with the tutoring center on campus 2. I would manage my time wisely so that I can balance my life and studies together. 3. Meet with each of my instructors and talk with them, about what they believe will make me be a better student in their class. 4. Go to the scheduled office hours of each of my instructors, when facing any difficulties. 5. Talk with my advisor who is assisting me with my Academic Degree plan. She advises me on the classes and hours that would be suitable for me. 6. Go to class on time as scheduled to take advantage of what they have to offer. My goal is to earn a degree in business so I can make a difference in the lives of people and young students. This is very important to me because I’ve always been interested on being a business lady in the future during my days as a kid. I can only be able to achieve my goal if my financial aid is being appealed, because as an individual my family face a lot of financial difficulties and I’m not able to pay my tuition or even get my books. I am a hard working student and very determined, and I would like the chance to prove to you that this 2014 Fall Semester would not be a disappointment. I would try hard to be a good role model to my family, friends and other students. My education is of paramount importance to me. Thank you for your time Yours Sincerely, Ruth Taku. Academic Degree and Financial Aid. (2016, Sep 24).

Religious diversity in the US public agencies Term Paper

Religious diversity in the US public agencies - Term Paper Example It is because of such situations that the American government has worked towards ensuring that the various instances of religious discrimination are identified and dealt with appropriately so that all people in the workplace can be able to conduct their activities in an environment where there is no fear of being treated differently because of their religion (Marsden 1990, p.45). Moreover, individuals such as Dalia Mogahed have worked tirelessly to ensure that there is an understanding of the Muslim faith in the western world, especially in the United States so that there can be more interaction between people of other religions and Muslims instead of isolation based on stereotypes. Dalia Mogahed, through her organization Mogahed Consulting has worked to ensure that there is a better understanding of Muslims, their culture, and their aspirations so that a more positive light of Muslims can be developed on the global arena (Schultz & Harvey, 2010).. Mogahed Consulting realizes that many individuals in the western world believe that it is Muslims who are largely responsible for many of the problems in the world such as the rise in terrorism. This perception became even more prevalent after the 9/11 attacks when the stereotype of Muslims as potential terrorists became hardened. This perception was even transferred to the workplace, where Muslims were treated differently and at times with fear because some believed that they were all potential terrorists (Paulson, 2008). Moreover, there were and continue to be instances where Muslims become victims of discrimination in a manner where it is hard for them to gain employment that they apply for because of their religi ous beliefs. Mogahed Consulting helps in the dispersal of these stereotypes so that a better perception of Muslims all over the world can be seen where Muslims are not considered to be the cause of

In-N-Out Burger Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

In-N-Out Burger - Research Paper Example Over the years, the company has remained in the hands of the Synder family. The main reason behind In-N-Out Burger’s success is that it has a simple menu and maintains a customer-friendly attitude (Funding Universe, n.d.). Simplicity was what Synder had in mind when he opened the first In-N-Out Burger store. As its name suggests, everything about the company is quick and fast. Customers can go through the drive-thru and order via a two-way speaker unit; the menu is very limited; and prices remain competitive (Funding Universe, n.d.). Slow and steady was the philosophy that made this company so great. In recent times, the company has expanded into other states such as Arizona, Utah, and Texas (In-N-Out Burger, 2012). Many experts would say that the company has failed to become a national brand because it limits itself in terms of growth. However, when Harry and his wife founded In-N-Out Burger, their desire was to â€Å"serve customers high-quality, fresh food with efficient, friendly service in a clean and tidy environment† (Funding Universe, n.d.). Synder had no aspirations for turning In-N-Out Burger into a corporate brand; this is why the company has remained family-owned to this very day. Even though Harry Synder has passed away, his legacy lives on through his children and their children. Justification for International Expansion With the struggling economy these days, In-N-Out Burger needs to consider alternatives to the current markets in which it is involved in. There is potential growth in other states around America, but with the economy so fragile, it may not be the best move. In-N-Out Burger should look further afield and try to capture some of the huge global demand for fast food. In many developing countries, people are starting to turn to fast food as their incomes grow. Of course, In-N-Out Burger would have to adopt its strategy that was so successful in California. Prices would have to be lowered so that local consumers could affo rd it. Also, cultural considerations would have to be made so that the In-N-Out Burger brand does not get a bad reputation for offending religious and/or cultural values. In-N-Out Burger has already proven that it can expand to other states within the United States, albeit at a very slow pace. However, so long as In-N-Out Burger could retain control over its foreign operations, then there is no reason to say that the company could not still hold true to its philosophy. The problem is that when most other fast food restaurants expand overseas, they do so through franchising. This would not be suitable for In-N-Out Burger because it goes against the company’s core values. If the company was going to go down the franchise route, then they should make sure that American expats are put in charge because they would understand the company’s organizational values. Country Overview The three proposed countries that In-N-Out Burger should consider expanding to are Canada, France , and Japan. Each of these countries will be evaluated in terms of the fast food industry and In-N-Out Burger’s likelihood of success. Canada In terms of culture and food preferences, Canada is very similar to the United States. This makes Canada an ideal first step towards expanding overseas. As of 2010, the Canadian fast food industry was estimated to be worth C$ 20 billion (Euromonitor International, 2011). This shows that the fast food industry in alive and well in Canada. This probably means that there are limited growth opportunities because the market is already saturated with fast food chains. Tim Horton’s, with a 26 percent market share, and McDonald’s, with a 15 percent market share, are currently the two market leaders in the fast food industry. However, because Canadian consumers already frequent

The Disadvantages of Using Facebook Among Students Essay Example for Free

The Disadvantages of Using Facebook Among Students Essay A very good morning to Miss Shirly and my fellow friends. Today, I, Shaatmi Batumalai, will be delivering a speech titled ‘The disadvantages of using the Facebook among students’. As we all know, today’s world is full of modern technologies, especially in the field of communication. No one can deny the efficiency of these tools, such as Twitter, Skype, Friendster, and so many more. Unfortunately, if wrongly used, these brilliant inventions can also bring disadvantages for its young users. Hence, let me bring your attention again towards the title of my speech, ‘The disadvantages of using the Facebook among students’. First and foremost I would like to enlighten on the issue of Facebook’s bad influences on students results. Students who are addicted to Facebook tend to lose their concentration on their studies. This is mainly caused by the students’ uncontrolled time spent being on-line. They become too wrapped up with their activities, and fail to complete their school tasks, and finally fail to cope up with their studies. Next, students are unaware of the company they keep through their accounts. They are fascinated by the activity of chatting with strangers who might appear attractive or interesting. They don’t even realize that, sometimes this may even cause serious problems such as arguments or even gang fights which can damage a student’s peaceful life. Last but not least, students may also face health problems with excessive Facebook usage. This makes them to not to have enough sleep. So when they go to school the next morning, they just sleep on their desks and make their teachers to be angry with them. Besides, students may also experience short-sightedness with too much of Facebook. Based on my opinion, the Facebook is like an addictive drug for its users. It is quite challenging to stay away from the exciting life but as matured students we must try to concentrate on our studies. As a conclusion, it is up to the individual to choose the right ways of using these technologies for their own benefits. With this, I end my speech. Thank you for listening.

The History of Advertising :: Advertisements Media Advertising Essays

The History of Advertising Advertising is dated back to the Christian Era. One of the first known methods of advertising was outdoor signs, they would be painted on the wall of a building and were usually very eye catching. Archaeologists have found signs in the ruins of ancient Rome and Pompeii which advertised travelers to go to a tavern situated in another town. In about the 1440's there was an invention of a movable-type of advertising which was a printing press. In the 16th century some companies had a trade mark which was a two or three dimensional picture or sign. In both volume and technique, advertising has made its greatest advances in the U.S. In the early stages of U.S. advertising it was hard and expensive to advertise nationally because the U.S. was still undeveloped and there was little of no means of transport, distribution or communication. Eventually certain type of manufactures thought of the idea of bypassing wholesalers, retailers and using catalogs. Mail orders and pamphlets appeared around the 1870's. Late in the 19th century many American firms began to market packaged goods under brand names. Previously consumers had not been aware of or influenced by brand names. The first product that had brand names were soap products. In the 1880's a few brands came out and they were Ivory, Pears, Sapolio, Colgate, Kirks American Family and Packer's. Not long after brands such as Royal baking powder, Quaker oats, Bakers chocolate, Hire's root beer, Regal shoes and Waterman's pens were nationally advertised. In the early 1900's America began to become aware of such brand names like Bon Ami, Wrigley and Coca-Cola. After World War 1 advertising developed into a business so big that it was almost a trademark of America itself through the eyes of the rest of the world. This was expanded by technical improvements which made transportation, communication and graphics work easier, cheaper and better. The invention of electricity led to the illuminated outdoor poster, photoengraving and other modern printing inventions helped both editorial and advertising departments of printed journals. In the 1920's the radio was invented and this developed a whole new technique of selling, by voice. During World War 2 the American advertising industry founded the war advertising council this used modern advertising to strengthen the American war effort. The organization still continued after the war was over as ‘The Advertising Council' this was used to function for the publics interest. Printed and broadcasted

My Super Hero

My Superhero If I were a superhero, I would want to be like super woman. She can do almost anything she wants. I could fly, shoot laser beams through my eyes, have super strength, invisibility, and have super speed. My name would be The Bullet. [ (Your Super Hero Name) ] If I were a superhero, my powers would be flying, strength, laser eyes, invisibility, super strength, and super speed because then I could get places faster, be stronger, melt things with my eyes, and secretly be places without anyone else knowing. [ (Superpowers) ] If I were a superhero, I would be able to do almost anything I wanted without anybody having a say in it.I could cook my own meals with my laser beam eyes. I could save loads of money on gas by flying or running everywhere. I would also be super fit due to running or flying everywhere. Along with having super strength I would be able to also be a hero to anyone that needed help lifting things, or getting their kittens out of the tree, or any need anyone n eeded I could help them. If I was a superhero and my name was The Bullet, my outfit would be jeans and a t-shirt, because they are super comfortable and are casual. [ (Glamour Magazine) ] My t-shirt would be pink because my favorite color is pink.And my shoes would be running tennis shoes because they are my favorite to wear and most comfortable. If I was a superhero and my name was The Bullet, I would look casual to not stand out so badly in a crowd. My superpowers would include flying, strength, laser eye beams, invisibility, super speed, and super strength. Works Cited â€Å"Glamour Magazine. † August 2012. Superpowers. 22 August 2012 . Your Super Hero Name. 22 August 2012

Fast food restaurant Essay

In 1921, after World War 1, vehicles became more popular and more affordable for the middle class; therefore, drive-in restaurants were introduced. Founded by Billy Ingram and Walter Anderson, the American Company White Castle, is generally credited with opening the second fast food outlet and first hamburger chain. Walter Anderson had built the first drive-in restaurant in Wichita in 1916, introducing a low cost and high speed hamburger restaurant. White Castle was tremendously successful from the beginning and produced numerous competitors. Then, franchising was introduced by A&W Root Beer, which franchised its distinctive syrup. Howard Johnson’s first franchised the restaurant concept in the mid-1930s, formally standardizing menus, signage and advertising. Moreover, in 2006, the global fast food market grew by 4. 8% and reached a value of 102. 4 billion dollars. Shockingly, in India alone, the fast food industry was growing by 41% a year. Today, the United States has the main fast food industry in the world, having roughly 2 million U. S. workers employed in the areas of food preparation and food servicing. Leader in the Fast Food Industry: A&W, McDonalds, Subway†¦? The fast-food industry or quick service restaurants are thriving. The food industry is let by fast food restaurants which are responsible for 72. 8% of the whole food industry revenues. In North America, McDonald’s is followed by Subway, Burger King, Wendy’s, Starbucks, Taco Bell, Dunkin’ Donuts, Pizza Hut, KFC. All in particular order to the amount of sales in North America in 2010. McDonald’s is the industry leader, with revenues that are 3 times to the next on the list. They are very much concentrated on low prices and getting the customer as quick as possible out the door, which appeals a lot to families that want a cheap, fun and safe place to eat. In today’s modern society, time is a very essential and limited factor; society is very preoccupied with everything else going on, their eating habits become irrelevant. This is where fast food restaurants such as McDonalds, have a great success preparing their food in record time, making more time for other and more important tasks. Fast Food Trends Over the last decade there has been increased focus on the quality of food served in fast food restaurants. â€Å"New† fast food versus old fast food, which essentially means that throughout the past years, many fast food businesses started to develop. And two â€Å"leagues† of fast food restaurants have emerged. â€Å"Old† fast foods and â€Å"new† fast foods, the old fast foods consist of companies like McDonald’s and smaller companies like Burger King and Yum! Brands (Taco Bell, KFC, Arby’s and Wendy’s). â€Å"New† fast foots are â€Å"Chipotle Mexican Grill†, â€Å"Panera Bread†, â€Å"Five Guys† and Oqdoba all owned by â€Å"Jack in the box† which is a member of the old fast food league. Both leagues have very similar attributes. They both serve inexpensive food in a casual matter while keeping a fast tempo. But the players in the â€Å"new† league have introduced higher-quality menu items, making the consumer’s experience more similar to a traditional restaurant dining casually at a table, rather than being in and out of the fast food restaurant with a greasy bag of food. Typically highly processed and industrial in preparation, much of the food is high in fat and has been shown to increase body mass index and cause weight gain. Popular books such as Fast Food Nation and documentaries like â€Å"Super Size Me† have amplified public awareness of the negative health consequences of fast food. These documentaries have had a huge impact on fast food restaurants who were indirectly obliged to respond to this trend if they wanted to keep most of their clientele. AMERICAN DIETARY TRENDS, BY DECADE | Historical Events| Food Trends of the Time| 1950–1959| – Mothers returning to the home after the war effort – Postwar baby boom – Construction of the national highway system| – Packaged meals available – First TV dinner (Swanson), 1953 – Rise of hamburger chains along highways; Oscar Mayer â€Å"Wiener-Mobile†| 1960–1969| – Growing middle class with money to spend. – Growing social unrest over the Vietnam War in late 1960s| – Introduction of Julia Child’s French cooking – â€Å"Hippies† bring back demand for unprocessed, made-from-scratch foods – Vegetarian trend starts| 1970–1979| – End of Vietnam War – Watergate scandal – Growing inflation – Major influx of Asians due to Immigration Act of 1965| – Continued demand for organic and fresh: â€Å"California Cuisine† – Elaborate dinner parties with ethnic dishes – Growing appetite for Asian cuisine| 1980–1989| – Stock market plummet of 1987| – â€Å"Nouvelle Cuisine† is the thing du jour–diners willing to pay more to eat less – Return to simplicity in late 1980s. – Exploration of different tastes (e. g. , TexMex, Ethiopian, Southwestern)| 1990–1999| – Introduction of the Internet puts foods at consumers fingertips| – Everything reduced-fat, low-fat, fat-free – Naturally healthy cuisines (Mediterranean) – New movement toward simplicity| Segments in Fast Food Industry When observing the fast food industry, it is obvious that restaurants specialize in certain fat foods. In fact, fast food restaurants can be divided in eight categories: Asian food, burgers, sea food, pizza/pasta, snacks, chicken, Mexican food and sandwiches. The different segments distinguishes the direct competitors such as McDonalds and Carl’s Jr. trying to sell/make the best burgers and the indirect competitors such as Quizno’s who specialize in sandwiches and Domino’s Pizza who focuses on promoting their delicious pizza but still tries to sell sandwiches. All fast food restaurants fiercely compete with each other to sell not only their speciality but have the most sales in general. In 2010, as being the leader of the fast food industry, McDonald’s was and is still at the top of the burger category, with more than $32 billion in system wide sales. The winners for the other categories were Taco Bell for the Mexican segment, KFC for the chicken category, Pizza Hut for the Pizza and Pasta brands, and Long John Silver’s winning the Seafood segment. The graph demonstrates the different segments of the fast food industry as well as the restaurants and their rankings. QSR 50 Rank| Company| Segment| 22| Panda Express| asian| 3| Burger King*2| burger| 23| Carl’s Jr. *| burger| 34| Checkers/Rally’s| burger| 33| Culver’s| burger| 16| Dairy Queen*| burger| 30| Five Guys Burgers & Fries| burger| 19| Hardee’s*| burger|. 45| In-N-Out Burger*| burger| 15| Jack in the Box| burger| 50| Krystal*| burger| 1| McDonald’s| burger| 10| Sonic| burger| 27| Steak N Shake*| burger| 4| Wendy’s*| burger| 25| Whataburger| burger| 40| White Castle*| burger| 31| Bojangles’| chicken| 41| Boston Market*| chicken| 11| Chick-fil-A| chicken| 26| Church’s Chicken| chicken| 38| El Pollo Loco| chicken| 9| KFC| chicken| 20| Popeyes*| chicken| 28| Zaxby’s| chicken| 18| Chipotle| mexican| 36| Del Taco| mexican| 44| Qdoba| mexican| 6| Taco Bell| mexican| 39| CiCi’s Pizza*| pizza/pasta| 12| Domino’s Pizza*| pizza/pasta|. 24| Little Caesars*| pizza/pasta| 35| Papa Murphy’s| pizza/pasta| 17| Papa John’s| pizza/pasta| 8| Pizza Hut| pizza/pasta| 43| Sbarro*| pizza/pasta| 14| Arby’s| sandwich| 48| Einstein Bros. Bagels*| sandwich| 42| Jason’s Deli| sandwich| 29| Jimmy John’s*| sandwich| 13| Panera Bread| sandwich| 21| Quiznos*| sandwich| 2| Subway*| sandwich| 47| Captain D’s| seafood| 32| Long John Silver’s*| seafood| 37| Baskin Robbins*| snack| 49| Cold Stone Creamery| snack| 7| Dunkin’ Donuts*| snack| 5| Starbucks*| snack| 46| Tim Hortons1| snack| Own A Fast Food Restaurant: a Bad or Good Idea? It is not a very good and viable industry for anyone to enter. The global economy shifts have been proven to highly affect certain fast food companies. Fast food companies were once thought to be immune to recessions, because of their low prices and fast service because logically in a recession, consumers have to cut spending. Many consumers â€Å"traded down†, from casual restaurants to fast food restaurants because of the cheap BigMacs, Whoppers and $1 value meals. As a result, fast-food chains have weathered the recession better than their pricier competitors. In 2009 sales at full-service restaurants in America fell by more than 6%, but total sales remained about the same at fast-food chains. In some markets, such as Japan, France and Britain, total spending on fast food increased. Same-store sales in America at McDonald’s, the world’s largest fast-food company, did not decline throughout the downturn. Panera Bread, an American fast-food chain known for its fresh ingredients, performed well, too: its boss, Ron Shaich, claims this is because it offers higher-quality food at lower prices than restaurants. Money can be a big problem in terms of starting a business in the fast food industry. Rising prices have also significantly affected many fast food franchises. With food and beverage inputs making up approximately 33% of costs, higher prices for livestock, corn, wheat and more have seriously shrunk margins over the past decade. In such a fiercely competitive space it is impossible to force a price increase on customers, so profit margins are often south of 10%. The recent economic recession did lower commodity prices, but the recession brought on its own complications, and now prices for commodity inputs are on the rise again. Direct and Indirect Competitors. Direct competitors in the fast food industry are the companies that produces and sells an almost identical product which they offer for sale within the same market as those produced by one or more other companies. McDonalds and Burger King compete directly with each other, Wendy’s and A&W also compete directly because they have a very similar product and service. If a customer really wants a burger and fries, he or she will not go at the other end of town just to get to their favorite burger place, they will settle for a very similar product within a closer proximity. Indirect competitors in the fast food industry are the companies or services that are not similar to each other and that share very different characteristics about their product or service. A good example of an indirect competition in the fast food industry could be restaurants such as Swiss Chalet or a sandwich shop and a Panda Express, both are fast food restaurants but they compete indirectly with each other because one customer may want to eat an Asian dish but not wanting to eat a sandwich, this leading to the customer going as far as it takes to go eat an Asian dish. All in all, fast food is not only about a fast service or eating fattening food , it requires a lot of knowledge and time to make these franchises work and make an ever growing profit. Over the past years and the years to come, McDonalds has and will obviously be the number one leader in the fast food industry because of their extraordinary service, delicious food and their 34,000 restaurants all over the world. However, as years go by, obesity is becoming a huge problem as thousands of kids and adults are attained of heart problems, therefore, decreasing the amount of clients who eat fast food yearly. Trends are changing and people are starting to eat a lot healthier realising how significant it is to take care of their body. In the next century, will fast food restaurants become a thing of the past or will they find a way to stay their clients number one’s solution when it comes to filling up their stomach? Only time will tell†¦

Spanish Loan Words

Spanish Loan Words Spanish Loan Words Spanish Loan Words By Sharon The English language is a thief. What we call English isnt really English at all. Instead, its a collection of borrowings from other languages. Latin is the main one, but theres also a good bit of French and a healthy serving of Spanish. There are thousands of Spanish loan words in English some claim as many as 10,000 and they all entered the language from three main sources. Trade in the Caribbean region brought a number of local Spanish words into the language: barbecue cannibal llama hammock hurricane potato tobacco yucca Many words were brought into English by cowboys working in the Southwest USA, such as: bronco buckaroo (from vaquero, Spanish for cowboy) desperado rodeo vigilante Then there are several words for food and drink that you just cant describe in English: avocado banana burrito chili dorado guacamole maize margarita paella papaya pimento tequila tortilla vanilla yam And then there are others, where we know the Spanish words, but were just not sure exactly how they got here. adobe albino alcove alfalfa algebra alligator (from the Spanish for lizard el lagarto) armadillo barracuda cafeteria canyon chihuahua cigar/cigarette cockroach embargo guerilla guitar iguana incommunicado jaguar macho mosquito renegade savvy siesta tornado This is just a selection of the Spanish loan words we use in English. Have you got any favorite ones to add to the list? Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Passed vs PastThe Writing ProcessTreatment of Words That Include â€Å"Self†

International Culture and Communication Assignment

International Culture and Communication - Assignment Example Be it a major MNC for small-scale business people use the Internet and communicate with various suppliers and customers across the globe to create a wider market for their business. It is evident that the work force in all officer is becoming multicultural and more diverse than ever. The HR department dealing directly with the manpower in every organization should have enough knowledge about the cross cultural factors that might affect the concerned businesses The organization should take enough measures to provide proper training regarding cross-cultural communication to their HR department. The HR department should in turn use their training to impart cultural tolerance among all the employees working in the organization. There is a very close relationship between the HR department and the culture prevalent in the organization. If the HR department adapts a culture friendly outlook, the whole organization will reflect the same mentality. Therefore it is important to encourage such a practice in all HR activities which deals directly with the employees of the organization (Jackson, 2002). The impacts of cross-cultural conflicts will usually be overcome easily or excluded if the organization encourages their workforce to get together on the basis of their personal interests and various other fun activities. The HR department should come up with such activities to promote cross-cultural communication and solve problems through a common understanding. Consider an HR department is selecting a group of people to send overseas for training or auditing. They need to ensure the people sent abroad are given enough briefing about the different culture prevalent in that particular country. Shaking hands or greeting a lady through a hug or a slight kiss is common in the Western countries. But such an act would create great misunderstanding and anger among the

Cover letter, resume and other assignments Essay

Cover letter, resume and other assignments - Essay Example 2. Practice Reflection Form Name: Jane Smith CNO Registration no: L4T 3P4 Area of practice: Occupational Health Position in nursing: Occupational Nurse Source Of Input My Areas of Strengths My Areas for Improvement Self I am competent with knowledge of needs of patients with long-term conditions. I have strong communication skills, both written and verbal. I am strong in clinical leadership skills. I have an ability to work long hours and under pressure. I am flexible, enthusiastic and strong team player. I have an ability to deliver consistently positive results. Improve confidence to deal with painful and stressful situations in practice. Lack of IT skills related to preparing patient's documents, charts. Peer My peers view is that I'm a strong team player when we are working as a team. They have mentioned that I have a special ability to resolve problems of patients when they are in serious situations. Further my peers mentioned that I can create good patient/nurse relationship with paying attention to each and every individual patient. I need more confidence in the job activities when I'm dealing with my subordinates and patients. I need to improve the techniques on patient care and reducing risk in healthcare delivery level. I need to develop collaborative ways and trustworthiness when dealing with patients. Resources I used to reflect on my practice I used 'changing patients' worlds through nursing practice expertise' online modules. National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery (National Council) Report. I referred Health Professions Act (HPA) & nursing practice standards online report....In this stage skills needed to be wide which is covering all the areas of nursing practice such as clinical skills, communication and consulting skills, IT skills and leadership skills (Donner, & Wheeler, 2000). 3. Thirdly PDP should get approved by the practice manager or an appraiser. In this scenario it is better to give awareness to the healthcare practice manager about the professional development needs. Thus it will support to the management to set the training and development needs as against the existing resources and employees.