Modifications to the National School Lunch Program Essay Example for Free

Modifications to the National School Lunch Program Essay Introduction Recent modifications made to the National School Lunch Program menu have caused controversy all across the nation. In last year The National School Lunch program have been under scrutiny and major changes have been made to the ingredients and preparation of school lunches. The USDA reports that the all the modifications to the school lunches are focus towards improving the health of all school age children, contributing to the fight against childhood obesity and succinctly to improve the health of all children across the nation. This research would explore the history of the different federal agencies involve in the national nutritional services, the most comprehensive changes in the school nutritional environment , the old and new menus choices and how changes are impacting students (National School Lunch Program,[NSLP] 2012). Research Statement According to the Unites States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service the recent changes to the National School Lunch program have been an important aid in the fight against childhood obesity and to help change student eating habits towards a healthier approach. In the last 4 years the Senate of the United Stated has proposed different legislature changes to the National School Lunch menu allowing millions of dollars to contribute towards a healthier approach modifying what student age children are consuming during school hours. The most comprehensive changes have been oriented towards reducing fat, sugar and sodium, and including more vegetable as part of the daily school cafeteria menu (United States Department of Agriculture, [USDA] 2012). Initial Research Question How the recent changes to the national school lunch program can improve the student’s health? By analyzing the recent changes to the national school lunch program we will be able to compare some of the differences between some the new and improve school lunch menu and how these changes are impacting students across the nation. Review of literature The National School Lunch Act was a law established under the administration of President Harry Truman in 1946. The original purpose of the act was to help local farmers with surplus produce and using these foods to feed school age children. After reviewing the principles of the act, members of the senate requested the establishment of a national program that under the guidelines of the National School Lunch Act, would oversee all operations associated with school lunch meals, reason for the creation of the National School Lunch program. The National School lunch program manages one of the largest federally assisted meal programs that provides nutritionally balanced meals free or at low cost to school age children. The national school lunch program takes cash subsides and foods provided by the U.S Department of Agriculture, in return the national school lunch program must meet nutritional federal requirements and most important must offer meals free or at low cost to all student age children. According to reported statistics from the U.S Department of Agriculture the National School Lunch feeds over 30 million students each day (NSLP, 2012) There is no doubt that the student nutrition subject has been an important topic of national concern in the history of our country. In 1966, The Child Nutrition Act was a law signed by President Lyndon B Johnson, encouraged by a national concern over nutrition in school age children. The Child Nutrition Act became to be an instrument to facilitate the process of meeting nutritional needs of children under the guidelines of the National School Lunch Program. The act also helped established the school based breakfast program providing free breakfast for children in public and nonprofit schools, during the signing of this act president Johnson use a famous phrase that would change forever the futures of national school lunches â€Å"Good food is essential to good learning† (USDA, 2012) U.S Department of Agriculture is a federal funded division who is responsible to all operations in the nation pertaining to farming agriculture and food. Better known as the USDA the department not only promotes and helps farming and agriculture issues but ensures food safety across the nation. The USDA is one of the oldest federally department created by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862. The USDA oversees a vast amount of operative units in the united states including the USDA Food and Nutritional Services who major goal is to provide healthy food to families in need, the department also collaborate closely with the National School Lunch program providing foods that are of nutritional value (USDA, 2012) On December 13th, 2010 President Obama sign into a law the Healthy, Hunger –Free Act of 2010. This act was creating to combat the alarming rates of childhood obesity cases in the U.S. The now law came to update the school meals standards who reflected very little changes in nutrition in the last 15 years, the HHFK Act also had an impact on the USDA, changing the foods providing to the National School lunch program and succinctly reflecting changes in meal nutritional standards in schools across the nation. In the 2009 a review from the Institute of Medicine recommended several updates to the National School lunch menus, the review found that the school cafeteria menus were not meeting the dietary guidelines for school age children stated by the U.S Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services (Healthy Hunger-Free Act, [HHFA] 2012) In 2011 the USDA proposed new regulations based on the finding of the Institute of Medicine of the United States. The process of modification of the school cafeteria menus begin slowly but steady on schools across the nation, the changes included whole grain servings on all meals; reduce saturated fat sugar and sodium, and more fresh fruit and vegetables. Elizabeth Ippel, executive director of The Academy of Global Citizenship in Chicago, talks about the important of nutrition’s â€Å"good nutrition is essential and a very integral component to effective learning†. The changes are significant and according to Mrs. Ippel the students are responding positive to the modifications (Leamy, 2012) Here’s an example of a before and after lunch menu: BeforeAfter Breaded beef patty on a white roll Baked Fish Nuggets Fruit popsicleWhole wheat roll Low fat milkMashed potatoes Broccoli Peaches Skim Milk Discussion On December 13, 2010 president Obama signed into law 111-296 the Healthy Hunger –Free Act of 2010. The act is one of the most comprehensive proposals in the school nutritional environment in over 15 years; the main goal of this law is to update school meals nutritional standards to help combat childhood obesity and help students achieve healthy eating habits. Beginning in July 2012 the new lunch meal pattern will be in effect changing what students will be consuming during lunch in the school year 2012-2013.The new proposed meal components includes key changes for children K and above, these changes requires that school lunches offer a daily variety of whole grains, fruit and vegetables. In the fruit category, each meal provided by school cafeterias must include  ½ cup of fresh, frozen or canned fruits, prepared or compound with water and not syrup.  ½ of vegetables on each meal is another requirement in the daily school lunch menus; the new regulations required a variety of vegetable groups including: dark green, red/orange, legumes, starchy and other vegetables. On the area of whole grains, breads and cereals are required on each meal as long as the food item includes more than 8 grams of grains. The act has also limit the amount of flavored milks opting for only low fat milk during meals. Calories are also under a scope view limiting the calorie ranges according to age groups. Trans-fat is banned completely from school cafeteria menus and the act has also a plan to limit sodium gradually over the next decade, to reach the goal of keeping sodium at a no more than 600 mg per meal, equal to a diet frozen meal (HHFKA, 2012). The changes in the cafeteria school menu are impacting students and teachers equally, besides of more nutritional value, the new menus now offered more quantity amounts of healthier foods, satisfying the hunger of millions of students and reflecting healthier attitudes in the classrooms. LuAnn Coenen from Appleton Central High School in Wisconsin cheers the new regulations in the cafeteria menus and states† Since the introductions of the new food program, I have noticed and enormous difference in the behavior of my students in the classroom,†Ã¢â‚¬ I can say without hesitation that it’s changed my job as principal†. It seems that less sugary foods and drinks are impacting student’s behavior. An associate professor of education at the Lehigh university conducted a study of over 2000 lunchrooms across the nations, the conclusions indicated that healthier and less sugary meals carries a calmer atmosphere in the classroom this calmer demeanor is reflects when students go back to the classrooms creating a trickling effect. Taylor a student from Appleton High commented about the changes she felt since the cafeteria menus changed â€Å"I’d say being able to concentrate better†. Susan Graham principal from Melrose Elementary in Tampa Florida confirms that her discipline referrals have decreased 50 % â€Å"We get a lot more done, I think it’s a lot more efficient work environment for all of us,† Grahams said (abcnews,2012). Berger (2005) wrote about the importance of a well balanced meal for the proper development of children’s brain development, and how school meal programs played an important rolled in children’s brain development, by providing a well balanced meal while in school children can achieve proper brain development a subsequently their ability to learn will be maximized (Berger, 2005). The changes happening in schools cafeterias might seem insignificant, but replacing extra-cheese pizza, deep fried chicken for whole wheat pizza and baked fish nuggets, represent a huge step towards making students healthy. Some modifications to the school lunch menu have happened slowly and some hidden from students, like replacing full fat cheese with a low fat mozzarella cheese in the pizzas, as well as using whole wheat bread on grill cheese sandwiches. Dr. Saira Jan a Rutgers University Professor (2006) comments on children obesity and diabetes rising numbers â€Å"Kids choose from what they are offered. They are hungry, they will eat. You can offer carrots or French fries. We have a big health-care problem. We can’t just talk about it† (Weekly Reader, 2006). Conclusion In conclusion the overall national concern over childhood obesity and the rising rate of diseases in children related to overweight issues is currently being addressed by different entities in charge of school nutrition. The National School lunch program has and will make modification on the students’ lunch menu to feed students healthier foods in the effort to fight childhood obesity. Even though there has been mixed opinions about the effectiveness of the lunch menu modifications, the HHFKA guidelines demonstrate how References About USDA. (2012). United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service. Retrieved from http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=ABOUT_USDA Berger, Kathleen. (2005).The Developing Person Throughout the Lifespan. 6th ed.Worth. 140-142 Child Nutritional Act.(2012). United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service. Retrieved from http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-01-26/pdf/2012-1010.pdf Food Fight! Should School Lunches be healthier? Current Events, a Weekly Reader publication,17 Feb.(2006) Retrieved from Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. (2012).United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service. Retrieved from http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/governance/legislation/cnr_2010.htm Questions Answers on the Final Rule, â€Å"Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs†(2012).United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service. Retrieved from http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Policy-Memos/2012/SP10-2012osr2.pdf Lazor, K., Chapman, N., Levine, E. (2010).No.80. Vol.4. 200-206 Soy Goes to School: Acceptance of Healthful, Vegetarian Options in Maryland Middle School Lunches. Journal Of School Health. Leamy, Elizabeth.(2011). Exclusive: USDA to Announce Healthier New School Lunch Guidelines. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Health/ConsumerNews/usda-announce-school-lunch-guidelines/story?id=12603193 Mary Bruce. (2010). Coming Soon? Healthier School Lunches. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/healthier-school-lunches-senate-approves-45-billion-bill/story?id=11345256 Mcginn, D., Popescu, R. (2007).No 150. Vol.17. Unlucky Charms At Lunch. Newsweek. Retrieved from http://mediacast.usw.edu:8045/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA169875850v=2.1u=nm _a_elinit=rp=ITOFsw=w National School Lunch Program.(2012).United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service. Retrieved from http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Lunch/ Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, No 17, Vol.77. (2012). United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service. Retrieved from http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-01-26/pdf/2012-1010.pdf Students behave better with healthy lunches. (2012). Abc. go. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/AmericanFamily/story?id=125404page=1

Smiths Group SWOT and PESTLE Analysis

Smiths Group SWOT and PESTLE Analysis Introduction: Smiths Group was first established as a family clock and watch business in 1851 by its founder Samuel Smith. Later in 1944 S. Smiths Sons (Motor Accessories) public limited company was formed with four divisions including motor accessories, aircraft instruments, industrial instruments and English clocks. In 1958 aircraft instruments combined with Kelvin Hughes, establish aviation and marine divisions. Company acquires Portland Plastics and Surgical Plastic in the same year (1958). Industrial division was established in 1960 which was concerned with the industrial instruments. In 1965 company changes its name to Smiths industries in 1965. (Detail history of company is listed out in appendices-1). (http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/results) In July 2008, Smiths Group announced the acquisition of Triasx, a Brisbane-based wireless communications components manufacturer. In the same month, Smiths Detection opened a high-tech production plant in Germany designed to meet the soaring global demand for its advanced x-ray scanning machines. In September 2008, Smiths Group announced the sale of an eight acre former operational site in Basingstoke, Hampshire for  £16 million (approximately $32 million). In the same month, Smiths Medical developed a unique wireless blood pressure monitor using Bluetooth technology which is set to transform the way medics treat critically ill patients in hospital. Later in the month, the group announced that its interconnect division won long-term design and supply contracts on US military communications programmes worth a potential  £225 million (approximately $450.1 million). In November 2008, Smiths Group announced the acquisition of Zhejiang Zheda Medical Instrument, the Hangzhou-based medi cal instruments manufacturer. In January 2009, John Crane announced that it won a new  £8 million (approximately $16 million) maintenance contract from upstream oil and gas exploration company Talisman Energy (UK). In the same year, the group opened its new headquarters in central London, completing a reorganization designed to increase customer focus and significantly cut costs. (http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/results) Review and analysis of companys sector and company standing in sector, identify its main competitors: Smiths group provide services and products for medical devices, contraband detection, energy and communication market in more than 50 countries worldwide. Group mainly operates in UK, North America and continental Europe. There are four main divisions of group which are detection, medical, john crane, medical and specialty other. Group is operates with four governments and their agencies, petrochemical companies, hospitals and equipment manufacturers and service provider in different sectors around the world. Smiths Detection is one of world best manufacturers and designers of sensors that detects and identify narcotics, explosives, weapons, chemical agents, contraband and biohazards. Detection division helps customers in the global transportation, borders and ports, critical infrastructure, emergency responder market and military. This division provides services to the customs authorities, emergency responders, security authorities and homeland securities. Division is providing different services to US Transport Security Administration (TSA), UK ministry defense and airport security to BAA in UK. John Carne is another main profits contributing business of Smiths group Plc. It provides products and services for major process industries, which includes chemical, oil and gas companies, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper and mining sector. This division provides services to oil and gas companies, pump, refineries and compressors manufacturers. Main customers include China petroleum, Chevron, BP, Qatar gas, Saudi Amraco, Shell, Total, Dresser, Flowserve, Elliot, ITT, Mitsubishi, Solar Turines and many more. (John Crane to cut 90 at seal factory, Dawson, Brad, Rubber Plastics News; 11/17/2003, Vol. 33 Issue 8, p1-22, 2p) Medical division is one of top specialist supplier of medical devices and equipments for worldwide market. Divisions products like medication delivery, safety devices and vital care are market focused and helping in the treatment of cancer, diabetes and many other illnesses. Division has direct sales in twenty countries and has distribution channels in many other countries. Flex-Tek is another division of Smiths group plc. This division provides engineered components that heat and move fluids for the medical, aerospace, industrial, construction and domestic markets. It is also providing fluids for commercial aircraft and for motor sports fuel and hydraulic applications. It has manufacturing facilities in UK, France, Malaysia, China, India and Mexico. Company customers include Boeing, Electrolux, Carrier, Whirlpool, Trane Part Whitiney GE Aerospace, Airbus, Hoover, Dyson and Panasonic. (MARKET FOCUS, Velocci, Jr., Anthony, Aviation Week Space Technology; 9/29/2003, Vol. 159 Issue 13, p10-11, 2p, 1 Chart, 1 Graph) Following are the few major compotators of Smiths Group Plc. Detail competitors information can be found in appendix. EADS Goodrich Corporation GE Healthcare Flowserve Corporation L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. 3M Company GE one of the big rival companies is trying to acquire Smiths Group Plc. for  £2.45 billion. If this acquisition is successful than group will lose one of its important division. Smiths Group competitors are making strategic move to take group out of business. For complete list of competitors see appendices-2) (Kanter Jake, Supply Management; 10/22/2009, Vol. 14 Issue 21, p7-7, 3/4p) Smiths Group is operating in highly competitive markets and in those markets competitors have more recourses than the group. Smiths Detection competes with L3 Security Detection Systems, GE Security, Nucteck and Rapiscan Systems. In the emergency responder and military market group main competitors are Bruker, Environics, General Dynamics and Canberra. John Crane is also operation in highly competitive environment. In Oil and Gas rotation technologies major competitors of John carne are Eagle Burgmann Industries, Flowserve, Ocborne Engineering Waukesha. In equipment in upstream energy division face competitors like Norris, Weatherford, Cameron, UPCO and Quinn. Medical division competes with well establish competitors like, Teleflex, Covidien, Becton Dickinson, Cardinal, Hospira, Vital signs, Medtronic and many more. Many small and medium size competitors are working are competing with Smiths Interconnect operations. Competitors of microwave sub system include Deutsch, Radiall, Amphenol and Souriau. Smiths group aerospace tubular systems competitors include Eaton and Parker- Hannifin. Heat solutions domestic appliance and specialty heating element competitors include Watlow, Emerson and Chromalux. In construction related operation group is facing competition from Hitachi, Omega-fex, Hart Cooley, Atco and Goodman. (MARKET FOCUS, Velocci, Jr., Anthony, Aviation Week Space Technology; 9/29/2003, Vol. 159 Issue 13, p10-11, 2p, 1 Chart, 1 Graph) PESTLE ANALYSIS: (P)OLITICAL: Smiths Group has good relationship with governments like, USA, UK, Europe, China, Russia and many others. Smiths group is involved directly in national security of UK and USA. Most of the group contracts are from governments and public sector. Smiths group products are used in detection, medical, oil gas, aviation and many other businesses as well. In order itself operation group has make sure that it deals with governments fairly otherwise it will be difficult for group to keep most of it business. Involvement in national security and defense should be carried out in such a manner that no confidentiality is breached. Change in political government may result in loss of contracts as new governments may not want to continue projects with the group. Change in government policies and tax rate changes will directly affect group profitability. (http://www.smiths.com/ar09/smiths_group.aspx) (E)CONOMICAL: According to IMF reports world economy will be in recession for 2009 and 2010. It is evidenced now that this economic recession was worse than expected. Economic recession will have negative effect on group revenues and group may have to redundant extra staff if this trend continues. (http://www.smiths.com/ar09/smiths_group.aspx) (S)OCIAL: Group is operating directly and indirectly in countries with different social and cultural backgrounds. Thus group has to make sure that it shouldnt work against the cultural and social values of that country. Group should develop such human resources strategies that it will result in motivation for their staff from different back grounds. (http://www.smiths.com/ar09/smiths_group.aspx) (T)ECHNOLOGICAL: Smiths group is operating in such a competitive environment that it has to change its procedures in such a manner it should remain market leader. Technology changes results in cost savings, time saving and resources saving thus eventually results in profits. Group has acquired many running business to have benefit of new market, products and technologies. (http://www.smiths.com/ar09/smiths_group.aspx) (L)EGAL: Group operations may result in law suits either from employee or from customers. Such losses can be big enough to have negative effects on profitability. Thus group should devise mitigation strategies like get insurance for losses etc. (http://www.smiths.com/ar09/smiths_group.aspx) (E)NVIRONMENTAL: Group should operate in such a manner that its operations should result in long term sustainable profits. Group operations are global and it operations will have massive impact on environment. Thus group must act to reduce negative impacts of its operations. Group must not consume all the available resources and must replace all consumed resources as it will bring sustainability to climate and help future generation to exist. (ACCA P3, 2010) SWOT ANALYSIS: Smiths Group one of the biggest technology group globally. Smiths group acquired many companies which brought synergies for the group. On the other hand acquisition also results in many inherent problems. (S)trengths Rapid inorganic growth: Group has acquired well established companies in different sectors which give them more capabilities to meet customer needs. Acquisition of Sartorius Bearing Technology (SBT) has improved group abilities to improve technological improvement and results in high performance rotating equipment for oil and gas industry. (Smiths Group buys six US companies in a year Professional Engineering; 5/25/2005, Vol. 18 Issue 10, p14-14, 1/5p) Strong geographical presences and good customer relations: Group is operating in more than fifty countries worldwide. Group has good relations with governments like US, UK and Europe. Group have contracts with the governments, big industries, hospitals and many other global companies. Smiths detections technology is used at nearly 80% of the worlds airports and 85% of its sales are influenced by the governments and their agencies. Capabilities: Group has strong abilities to develop new technologies. Investment in research and development is significant which is a indication of group commitment to the future organic growth of the business. Group has invested  £ 86 million in RD in financial year 2008, which was 8.9% more than the previous year. (W)eaknesses Poor cash management: As compare to 2007 group cash inflows in 2008 are declining. The net cash inflow from operating activities decreased by 19.5%, if this trend continues in future company will be struggling to pay its liabilities. Poor cash management indicates poor cost controls, inefficient management of resources and poor decision making by the management. High gearing: It is observed in the financial statements of the company that debt in 2008 have increased as compared to the 2007. There is 30.7% increase in debt which means company is relying more on debts than other cheap financing sources like equity and internally generated profits. High debts can result in less profits, compulsory interest payments, loss of investors trust and eventually loss of control because of collaterals. Competitors: Group is operating in highly competitive environment where it faces competition from global companies which have more resources than the group. Competitors like, EADS, Goodrich Corporation, GE Healthcare, Flowserve Corporation, L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc., 3M Company, Anaren, Inc., Amphenol Corporation and many more are well establish businesses. Thus in such an environment it is challenging for Smiths to survive and compete on prices. (O)pportunities Acquisitions: Group has acquired much well established business and it has given more opportunities to gain competitive advantages, access to, new technologies, and new markets, large number of customers and diversification to manage risks. Increasing product demands like, for detection and medical equipment: US medical market has an evidence of growth over the past few years and it is estimated that this trend will continue in future. Thus group has potential of growth in this market. Increased demand in tourism industry has resulted in much stronger rebound of air traffic in recent years than evidenced previously. Thus there is big potential for group to expend in this market and in all other product markets as well. (Smiths confident that growth will continue Massy-Beresford, Helen, Flight International; 3/22/2005, Vol. 167 Issue 4977, p26-26, 1/4p) (T)hreats Global economic recession: According to the IMF reports world economy will be in recession for next two years and this recession will have negative impact on global companies. Highly competitive industry: It will be difficult for company to increase profitability in such an intense competitive environment. (http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2009/res070809a.htm) Financial analysis: Profitability: Profitability ratios can be used by investors to evaluate company is generating enough profits or not. Management can use these ratios to evaluate whether controls are efficiently working and company achieving will be able to achieve long term sustainable profits or not. (ACCA F9, 2010) Return on capital employed (ROCE): ROCE is a profitability ratio which describes relationship between operating profits and capital employed. Capital employed includes debt and equity financing. ROCE of the company is increasing over the last three years. And company is generating more returns by using available sources of finance. ROCE in 2009 is 19.73% and for 2008 it is 17.98% which is 1.74% higher than the last year. There was 7.84% ROCE in Y/E 2006 but later on company has managed to increase return. ROCE can be further explained by calculating net profit margin and asset turnover. (ACCA F9, 2010) Net Profit Margin (NPM): Net profit margin shows the relationship between operating profits and sales. NPM of Y/E2009 is 15.94% which is 0.28 % higher than the last year 15.66% in Y/E 2008. Over the last five years NPM is increasing but increase is not significant. It may be because of poor controls on direct and indirect costs and high competitive environment. Company may be struggling to compete on price due to competitors actions. Asset Turnover (AT): Asset turnover shows relationship between sales and capital employed. AT shows how efficiently noncurrent assets of company has been utilized over the past years. Company AT in 2009 is 0.09 times higher than the last year and there is not much difference between AT over the last five years. Company noncurrent assets are losing their efficiency and they might need replacements in near future. Gross Profit Margin (GPM): GPM shows relation between gross profit and turnover. GPM is stable over the last five years. This shows that company have good control on direct costs (material, labor and production overheads). (ACCA F9, 2010) Liquidity Ratios: Liquidity ratios show the liquid (cash) resources condition of the business. These ratios explain the ability of company to pay its current liabilities and expenses. (ACCA F5, 2010) Current Ratio (CR): Current ratio explains relation between current assets and current liabilities. Group CR is below than standard CR of 2. Over the last five years company CR is consistent. Company has to fewer current assets as compared to the current liabilities. (ACCA F5, 2010) Quick Ratio (QR): Quick ratio shows the relation between liquid current assets and current liabilities. Group QR is less than standard 1 time. Company has less liquid assets available as compared to the current liabilities. If this trend continues company will be struggling to pay its current liabilities and eventually group can face cash flow problems. (ACCA F5, 2010) Working Capital Ratios: Working capital ratios explain the cash management of the business. It includes further three ratios. Inventory Days (ID): Inventory days of the group are gradually increasing which means group is losing its control over the inventory. Company is keeping inventory for longer period and this trend is increasing every year. Group has to incur extra cost like holding cost in holding inventory for long and if inventory take longer to sale it will result in loss of value. (ACCA F5, 2010) Accounts Payable Days (APD): APD of the group is reducing as comparison to the last five years. If company is paying to their suppliers earlier it will loss cash and eventually will be difficult for company to manage cash flows. If group delay its payments to the suppliers it can use same cash for other purposes and thus can have a benefit of interest free loan. (ACCA F5, 2010) Accounts Receivable Days (ARD): Accounts receivable days shows the time period taken by the receivables to pay organisation. TRD have increased over the last few years and thus group is struggling to get money back from their customers. (ACCA F5, 2010) Solvency Ratios: Financial Gearing: Group long term debts have increased over the last five years. In Y/E 2009 long term debts of the company were 752.2 million which is 31.5 million higher than the Y/E 2008. Group is relying more on debts as compared to the share capital thus group is exposed to high risks. Group is highly geared and investors will lose their interest in investing in to the organization. (ACCA F5, 2010) Interest Cover (IC): IC shows comparison between operating profits and interest charge. Company profits are increasing over the last five year. Company ability to pay interest is increasing over the last few years. Price Earnings Ratio (P/E ratio): P/E ratio can be used to explain the relation between share price and profits. This ratio helps investors to identify whether the company is achieving their aim of maximization of wealth and growth of their wealth. P/E ratio of the company is 4.352 times in Y/E 2009 and is 5.595times in Y/E 2008. If this trend continues investors will lose their interest in group and group will suffer to get equity financing. (ACCA F5, 2010) Earnings per Share (EPS): EPS is the measure of amount of dividend (portion of profit distributed among share holders) available to the share holders. As compared to 2008 company EPS has increased by 1 penny. On average group EPS remain at same level this indication that company is giving regular dividend to its share holders. (ACCA F5, 2010) Share Price: Share price is very sensitive information for shareholders and little variation in share price will change investors choice of investment. There are many factors which affect share price like speculations, company performance, forecasts, company future perspectives, market trends and many more. Group share price variations over the last five years can be seen in appendices. Share price trend shows company share price is coming back to peak as it was in 2008. Group share price fell to the lowest price in May 2009. Group has significant impact of economic recession on its share price. This shows lack of investors trust in stocks market as there was high risk in market due to recession. In 2010 group share price revive and reaches to its maximum, which shows investor still trust group and are willing to invest into company. (ACCA F9, 2010) Appendices: Appendix 1 Smiths Group History: (from 1983 till 2008) In 1983 company ceased production of direct supplies of original equipment to European motor industry. Company sold vehicle heater business to a subsidiary of Hanson Trust in same year (1983). Company also stops operations of mechanical clocks in 1984. At that time (1984) company was operating under three groups industrial; medical systems; and defense and aerospace. In 1987 company acquire US avionics business of Laer Siegler Holidings. Company acquire Graseby which was involved in defense related equipments for biological and chemical detection in 1997. Strategic Technology Systems, a supplier of health and usage monitor systems was acquired in 1999. In 2000 company acquired the BAE systems, Marconi actuation systems and an aerospace division of Invensys. In the same year (2000) company purchased Fairchild Dynamics from Orbital Sience and merged with TI Group and was named as Smiths Group. Group made acquisition of Barringer Technologies, Point- Lok Needle Protection Device from Griff Industries, Summitek Instruments and Bivona Medical Technologies. In late 2001 group sold its vacuum and pressure businesses to BOC Edeards. In mid 2002 group sold its Jhon Crane-Lips marine business to Wartsila of Finland. In 2002 company also acquire Heimann Systems in 2002. Group sold its air movement and cable management businesses by the end of 2002 to HSBC private equity. In mid 2003 group announced to form a new division including Smiths Heimann and Smiths Detection to supply services to detection market. Company streamlined its medical division to for Smiths Medical in same year (2003). Company sells Matzen Timm(international aeronautical industry) to Masterflex and also sell its polymer business to Trelleborg. Company made a contract with Boeing to supply wind pylons for 20 years in the end of 2003. Cyrano Sciences was acquired by Smiths Detection in 2004. Dynamic Gunver Technologies (aerospace business) was acquired by the group for $102 million, in 2004. SensIR Technologies, a manufacturers of infrared based analysers for $75 million. TRAK communications was later acquired in 2004 for $111.5 million and strengthened its interconnect business. A respiratory care device company was acquired in 2004 by Smiths Medical. John Crane acquired Tianjin Timing Seals in 2004 to strengthened its presence in China. The group acquired Farran Technology and strengthened its detection activities, in 2005. In the same year, it acquired Medex, a medical devices company for $925 million. Later in the year, the group acquired ETI Technology, a US bio-technology detection company. Also in 2005, Smiths Group announced that Flexible Technologies business of the specialty engineering division had purchased Hi-Tech Hose in Massachusetts for  £9 million and Farnam Custom Products in North Carolina for  £3.5 million. During the same year, the company acquired Millitech, a millimetre wave and antenna company in the US, for $33.5 million. Later in 2005, it acquired LiveWave for $17.6 million and extended its detection technology range. In 2006, Smiths Group expanded its interconnect business by acquiring the business and assets of Lorch Microwave for $25 million.The group entered into a contract with Shanghai Pudong International Airport to supply x-ray systems, in the same year. Later in the year, the group established engine components facility in North Carolina. Also, the detection division established a new production facility, Smiths Heimann Rus, in St Petersburg, Russia. Also in 2006, the group partnered with Boeing for GoldCare service solution for Boeing 787 dreamliner operators. During the same year, the group launched Tadar, a new people screening system. During 2006, the aerospace division of the group teamed up with BAE Systems to develop an Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) technology demonstrator project called Taranis. During the same month, Smiths group entered into $60 million agreement with General Electric on F404 engine. Later in 2006, Dowty Propellers, a business of the aerospace division, entered into a long term propeller support agreement with Flybe Airlines for the Dash 8 Q400 passenger aircraft fleet. Smiths Group announced the acquisition of CDI Energy Services (CDI) in 2007. In the same year, the group sold its aerospace businesses to General Electric. Later in the year, Smiths Detection secured ten year BAA deal to revolutionise UK passenger checkpoints. Deal includes deployment of aTiX, the checkpoint X-ray machine that can automatically detect explosives and liquids. Also, in Russia and Dubai, Smiths Detection gained significant orders worth over $150 million in the transportation and ports border markets. During 2007, Smiths interconnect, part of Smiths Group, announced that four of its businesses, Hypertac, TRAK Microwave Systems, PolyPhaser and Millitech were awarded contracts with a total potential value of over $90 million. In the same year, Smiths Group acquired Sartorius Bearing Technology (SBT), part of Sartorius. SBT is a leading provider of high performance rotating equipment for the oil and gas industry based in Gottingen, Germany. Later in 2007, Smiths Group sold its Marine In March 2008, Smiths Group received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a new portable medication delivery system that would make pain management simpler and safer for patients and clinicians. After one month, Smiths Group announced the acquisition of Indufil BV, a Dutch-based specialist in filters for the petrochemical and process industries. Smiths Medical announced it would promote and distribute Abbotts FreeStyle Navigator Continuous Glucose Monitoring System in April 2008. In May 2008, Smiths Group announced the purchase of Allrizon Tongguang, a Shanghai-based communications equipment firm. In the same month, the group announced completion of its acquisition of Fiber Composite (Fiberod), a Texas-based company, specialist in oil and gas lifting equipment. (http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/results) Appendix 2 Smiths Group Competitors List: Anaren, Inc. Amphenol Corporation American Technology Corporation B. Braun Medical Inc Becton, Dickinson and Co. Cobham plc Covidien Ltd. Cardinal Health, Inc. Cameron International Corporation Emerson Electric Co. General Electric Company GE Security, Inc. Hitachi, Ltd. Hart Cooley, Inc. Hospira, Inc. Moog Inc. Medtronic, Inc. Nutech Inc. NORRIS MEDIC Omega Flex, Inc. Pall Corporation Quinn Group, Inc. Radiall SA Rapiscan Systems, Inc. Siemens AG Teleflex Incorporated Tyco International Ltd. United Technologies Corporation Universal Potash Corp Vital Signs, Inc. Weatherford International Ltd. Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company (http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/results) Appendix 3: Ratios Analysis: Y/E 07/31/09 Y/E 07/31/08 Y/E 07/31/07 Y/E 07/31/06 Y/E 07/31/05 Profitability ROCE=PBIT/CE*100 424.80/(3011.3)*100=19.727% 17.98 17.015 7.848 14.783 NPM 424.8/2664.6*100=15.942% 15.66 14.545 5.447 11.86 AT 2664.6/(1541.5-858)=1.24 times 1.15 1.17 1.37 1.25 GPM 1217.1/2664.6*100=45.68% 45.48 46.36 40.07 38.37 Liquidity Current Ratio 1099.6/858=1.28 Times 1.33 1.21 1.28 1.32 Quick Ratio (1099.6-413.6)/858=0.799 Times 0.86 0.824 0.781 0.77 Working Capital Inventory Days 413.6/1330.1*365=113 days 117 107 102 120 Accounts Payable days 130.7/1330.1*365=35 days 48 55 46 45 Receivables Days 514.4/2664.6*365=70 days 83 75 69 82 Solvency Ratios Financial gearing 752.2/859*100=87.57% 78.68 62.78 63.27 77.83 Interest Cover 424.8/54.4=7.81 8.41 5.43 3.29 7.45 Dividend Cover 30.03 26.6 22.12 2.88 28.63 P/E Ratio 4.352 5.595 4.434 3.772 3.873 EPS 0.054 0.042 0.053 0.057 0.051 Appendix 4 Share price Movement (Adopted from http://ir1.euroinvestor.com/asp/IR/PrinterFriendly/PFOD2.aspx)

Relationship Between Building, Dwelling and Notion of Home

Relationship Between Building, Dwelling and Notion of Home Discuss the relationship between building, dwelling and the notion of home, drawing on ethnographic examples, Understanding building as a process enables architecture to be considered as a form of material culture. Processes of building and dwelling are interconnected according to Ingold (2000), who also calls for a more sensory appreciation of dwelling, as provided by Bloomer and Moore (1977) and Pallasmaa (1996) who suggest architecture is a fundamentally haptic experience. A true dwelt perspective is therefore established in appreciating the relationship between dwelling, the notion of home and how this is enframed by architecture. We must think of dwelling as an essentially social experience as demonstrated by Helliwell (1996) through analysis of the Dyak Longhouse, Borneo, to enable us to harbour a true appreciation of space devoid of western visual bias. This bias is found within traditional accounts of living space (Bourdieu (2003) and Humphrey (1974)), which do however demonstrate that notions of home and subsequently space are socially specific. Life activities associated with dwell ing; sociality and the process of homemaking as demonstrated by Miller (1987) allow a notion of home to be established in relation to the self and haptic architectural experience. Oliver (2000) and Humphrey (2005) show how these relationships are evident in the failures of built architecture in Turkey and the Soviet Union. When discussing the concept of building, the process is twofold; The word building contains the double reality. It means both the action of the verb build and that which is builtboth the action and the result (Bran (1994:2)). With regards to building as a process, and treating that which is built; architecture, as a form of material culture, it can be likened to the process of making. Building as a process is not merely imposing form onto substance but a relationship between creator, their materials and the environment. For Pallasmaa (1996), the artist and craftsmen engage in the building process directly with their bodies and existential experiences rather than just focusing on the external problem; A wise architect works with his/her entire body and sense of selfIn creative workthe entire bodily and mental constitution of the maker becomes the site of work. (1996:12). Buildings are constructed according to specific ideas about the universe; embodiments of an understanding of the wo rld, such as geometrical comprehension or an appreciation of gravity (Lecture). The process of bringing structures into being is therefore linked to local cultural needs and practices.[1] Thinking about the building process in this way identifies architecture as a form of material culture and enables consideration of the need to construct buildings and the possible relationships between building and dwelling. Ingold (2000) highlights an established view he terms the building perspective; an assumption that human beings must construct the world, in consciousness, before they  can act within it. (2000:153). This involves an imagined separation between the perceiver and the world, upon a separation between the real environment (existing independently of the senses) and the perceived environment, which is constructed in the mind according to data from the senses and cognitive schemata (2000:178). This assumption that human beings re-create the world in the mind before interacting with it implies that acts of dwelling are preceded by acts of world-making (2000:179). This is what Ingold identifies as the architects perspective, buildings being constructed before life commences inside; the architects perspective: first plan and build, the houses, then import the people to occupy them. (2000:180). Instead, Ingold suggests the dwelling perspective, whereby human beings are in an inescapable cond ition of existence within the environment, the world continuously coming into being around them, and other human beings becoming significant through patterns of life activity (2000:153). This exists as a pre-requisite to any building process taking place as part of the natural human condition.; it is because human beings already hold ideas about the world that they are capable to dwelling and do dwell; we do not dwell because we have built, but we build and have built because we dwell, that is because we are dwellersTo build is in itself already to dwellonly if we are capable of dwelling, only then can we build. (Heidegger 1971:148:146, 16) (2000:186)). Drawing on Heidegger (1971), Ingold (2000) defines dwelling as to occupy a house, a dwelling place (2000:185). Dwelling does not have to take place in a building, the forms people build, are based on their involved activity; in the specific relational context of their practical engagement with their surroundings. (2000:186). A cave or mud-hut can therefore be a dwelling.[2] The built becomes a container for life activities (2000:185). Building and dwelling emerge as processes that are inevitably interconnected, existing within a dynamic relationship; Building then, is a process that is continuously going on, for as long as people dwell in an environment. It does not begin here, with a pre-formed plan and end there with a finished artefact. The final form is but a fleeting moment in the life of any feature when it is matched to a human purposewe may indeed describe the forms in our environment as instances of architecture, but for the most part we are not architects. For it is in the very process of dwelling that we build. (2000:188). Ingold recognises that the assumptive building perspective exists because of the occularcentristic nature of the dominance of the visual in western thought; with the supposition that building has occurred concomitantly with the architects written and drawn plan. He questions whether it is necessary to rebalance the sensorium in considering other senses to outweigh the hegemony of vision to gain a better appreciation of human dwelling in the world. (2000:155). Understanding dwelling as existing before building and as processes that are inevitably interconnected undermines the concept of the architects plan. The dominance of visual bias in western thought calls for an appreciation of dwelling that involves additional senses. Like the building process, a phenomenological approach to dwelling involves the idea that we engage in the world through sensory experiences that constitute the body and the human mode of being, as our bodies are continuously engaged in our environment; the world and the self inform each other constantly (Pallasmaa (1996:40)). Ingold (2000) recommends that; one can, in short, dwell just as fully in the world of visual as in that of aural experience (2000:156). This is something also recognised Bloomer and Moore (1977), who appreciate that a consideration of all senses is necessary for understanding the experience of architecture and therefore dwelling. Pallasmaa (1996) argues that the experience of architecture is multi -sensory; Every touching experience of architecture is multi-sensory; qualities of space, matter and scale are measured equally by the eye, ear, nose, skin, tongue, skeleton and muscleArchitecture strengthens the existential experience, ones sense of being in the world and this is essentially a strengthened experience of the self. (1996:41). For Pallasmaa, architecture is experienced not as a set of visual images, but in its fully embodied material and spiritual presence, with good architecture offering pleasurable shapes and surfaces for the eye, giving rise to images of memory, imagination and dream. (1996:44-45). For Bloomer and Moore (1977), it is architecture that provides us with satisfaction through desiring it and dwelling in it (1977:36). We experience architecture haptically; through all senses, involving the entire body. (1977:34). The entire body is at the centre of our experience, therefore the feeling of buildings and our sense of dwelling within them arefundamental to our architectural experience (1977:36).[3] Our haptic experience of the world and the experience of dwelling are inevitably connected; The interplay between the world of our bodies and the world of our dwelling is always in fluxour bodies and our movements are in constant dialogue with our buildings. (1977:57). The dynamic relationship of building and dwelling deepens then, whereby the sensory experience of architecture cannot be overlooked. It is the experience of dwelling that enables us to build, and drawing and Pallasmaa (1996) and Bloomer and Moore (1977) it is buildings that enable us to hold a particular exper ience of that dwelling, magnifying a sense of self and being in the world. Through Pallasmaa (1996) and Bloomer and Moore (1977) we are guided towards understanding a building not in terms of its outside and the visual, but from the inside; how a building makes us feel.[4]Taking this dwelt perspective enables us to understand what it means to exist in a building and aspects of this that contribute to establishing a notion of home. Early anthropological approaches exploring the inside of a dwelling gave rise to the recognition of particular notions of space that were socially specific. Humphrey (1974) explores the internal space of a Mongolian tent, a family dwelling, in terms of four spatial divisions and social status; The area away from the door, which faced south, to the fireplace in the centre, was the junior or low status halfthe lower halfThe area at the back of the tent behind the fire was the honorific upper partThis division was intersected by that of the male or ritually pure half, which was to the left of the door as you enteredwithin these four areas, the tent was further divided along its inner perimeter into named sections. Each of these was the designated sleeping place of the people in different social roles. (1974:273). Similarly, Bourdieu (2003) analyses the Berber House, Algeria, in terms of spatial divisions and two sets of oppositions; male (light) and female (dark), and the internal organ isation of space as an inversion of the outside world. (2003:136-137).[5] Further to this, Bourdieu concentrates on geometric properties of Berber architecture in defining its internal as inverse of the external space; the wall of the stable and the wall of the fireplace, take on two opposed meanings depending on which of their sides is being considered: to the external north corresponds the south (and the summer) of the insideto the external south corresponds the inside north (and the winter). (2003:138). Spatial divisions within the Berber house are linked to gender categorisation and patterns of movement are explained as such; the fireplace, which is the navel of the house (itself identified with the womb of the mother)is the domain of the woman who is invested with total authority in all matters concerning the kitchen and the management of food-stores; she takes her meals at the fireside whilst the man, turned towards the outside, eats in the middle of the room or in the courtya rd. (2003:136). Patterns of movement are also attributed to additional geometric properties of the house, such as the direction in which it faces (2003:137). Similarly, Humphrey (1974) argues that individuals had to sit, eat and sleep in their designated places within the Mongolian tent, in order to mark the rank of social category to which that person belonged,; spatial separation due to Mongolian societal division of labour. (1974:273). Both accounts, although highlighting particular notions of space, adhere to what Helliwell (1996) recognises as typical structuralist perspectives of dwelling; organising peoples in terms of groups to order interactions and activities between them. (1996:128). Helliwell argues that the merging ideas of social structure and the structure or form of architecture ignores the importance of social process and overlook an existing type of fluid, unstructured sociality (1996:129) This is due to the occularcentristic nature of western thought; the bias of visualism which gives prominence to visible, spatial elements of dwelling. (1996:137). Helliwell argues in accordance with Bloomer and Moore (1977) who suggest that architecture functions as a stage for movement and interaction (1977:59). Through analysis of Dyak peoples lawang (longhouse community) social space in Borneo, without a focus on geometric aspects of longhouse architecture, Helliwell (1996) highlights how dwelling space is lived and used day to day. (1996:137). A more accurate analysis of the use of space within dwelling can be used to better understand the process, particularly with regard to the meanings that it generates in relation to the notion of home. The Dyak longhouse is a large structure built at up to three and a half metres above ground with a thatched roof stretching up to eight metres in height. Within the longhouse are a number of apartments side by side. These are seven names spaces running the length of the longhouse which are described as the inner area of the longhouse; the cooking, eating and sleeping area. An outer gallery are can be used by anyone, freely at anytime. (1996:131-133). Previous structuralist categorisation of these inner and outer areas as public and private domains have led to misrepresentation of relations between individual households and the wider longhouse community (1996:133). Spatial separation lies between us the longhouse community (lawang) and those outside of the longhouse community them. (1996:135). Helliwells recognition of the lack of spatial division within the longhouse community is the primary indicator of a more fluid type of sociality for the Dyak people. She highlights that previous structural approaches denoting each apartment as private has left little awareness of social relationships that operate between apartments, and considers the longhouse as a single structural entity, regardless of the single apartments that it is composed of; relationships are clearly marked: neither the seven spaces, nor the wall between swah (the world out there) and lawang, stop at the edges of any one apartment. Rather, they continue in identical form, into those on either side and so on down the entire length of the longhouse. (1996:137).The partition between apartments in the longhouse marks the edge of one apartment from another which visually appears to separate. However, Helliwell points out that they are composed of weak bark and materials stacked against one another, leaving gaps of all sizes in the partitions. Subsequently, animals pass through, people hand things back and forth and neighbours stand and talk to one another (1996:137-138). She describes the partitions as a highly permeable boundary: a variety of resources moves through it in both directions. (1996:138). It is the permeable partition that is therefore the core of longhouse sociability; its properties stimulate sharing in accordance with a flow of light and sound from one end of the longhouse to the other. (1996:138). A community of voices exists within a longhouse, flowing up and down its length as invisible speakers appear in monologue. The Dyak people, although invisible to one another, speak to their neighbours through these permeable boundaries in continual dialogue; they are profoundly present in one anothers lives. Through the sounds of their voices, neighbours two three, four or five apartments apart are tied into each others worlds and each others company as intimately as if they were in the same room. (1996:138). These voices create what Helliwell describes as a tapestry of sound, containing descriptions of a days events, feelings of individual women shared whilst they are alone in her apartment, subsequently affirming and recreating social connections across each apartment and reaffirming their part within the longhouse community. (1996:138-139). In addition, Helliwell highlights that their voices were not raised; (their) very mutedness reinforced, the sense of membership in an intimate, privileged worldgentle and generous in their reminder of a companionship constantly at hand. (1996:139). Here we begin to see Helliwells notion of fluid sociality and the experience of dwelling as a whole a social one. In addition to sound, the social fluidity of dwelling in a Dyak longhouse is reinforced by light from individual apartments and their hearths flowing up and down the longhouse at night. Each person is aware of their neighbours presence, with the absence of light from an apartment provoking concern. (1996:139). In essence, Helliwell stresses the sociality of dwelling, aside from spatial appreciations of the architecture in which it takes place. Although partitions mark the space of a Dyak household, they concomitantly incorporate a household into the wider longhouse community; It is this dual flow (sound and light) which constitutes each independent household as coterminous with all others and with the longhouse community as a whole. (1996:138). This creation of community brings to light the ways in which people use architecture, not just to mark divisions of space, but to implement and enable sociality. This is highly relevant for a true anthropological appreciation of dwelling and in particular its relationship with the notion of home. Dwelling is inevitably connected to the process of homemaking through its aspects of sociality as a physical and bodily experience within the built (Brand 1994:2) and as a fundamentally social experience. Architecture as a physical form of shelter that enfr ames the process of homemaking; what Ingold (2000) terms life activities (2000:185) and the coming together of people. Through acknowledgement of the social aspects of dwelling we can establish notions of home, which are primarily constructed on the dynamic relationship of building and dwelling and the aspects of sociality that occur through the dwelling process; life activities (Ingold (2000:185) and home-making, involving, kinship, memory, play, eating, ritual, and birth among other anthropological themes. A relationship emerges then, between dwelling and the notion of home, a dynamic relationship facilitated by the built, (Brand (1994:2)) taking place within architecture. Houses are defined by Carsten and Hugh-Jones (1995) as places in which the to and fro of life unfolds, built, modified, moved or abandoned in accord with the changing circumstances of their inhabitants. (1995:1). Home emerges as an architectural space which enframes the processes and characteristics associated with dwelling. Ingold (2000) suggests that a house is made, not constructed (2000:175). More specifically, Miller (1987) draws attention to the process of home-making through which the built becomes a home by a process of consumption and appropriation by tenants on a London council estate in England. He argues that through consumption and appropriation of their domestic space, tenants are able to develop and establish a sense of self (1987:354). This is in response to feeling like passive recipients of housing, alienated from society by being perceived as a particular class and at a level of poverty. (1987:357). Miller argues; on the wholethere was considerable evidence to suggest that the white population felt a deep unease about their household consumption status as tenants, reflected in resentment and feelings of being stigmatised. Furthermore they clearly associated the fitments provided in the kitchen with the council, as objects embodying in their materiality the intrusive signification of their status. (1987:365-366). In response, tenants transformed and changed their kitchens in different ways after having been given the same basic facilities by the council. (1987:356). This included alterations and renovations to fitted cupboards, standard plumbing and energy supplies and original black lino floors in addition to decorations, curtains and new white goods (1987:357). For Miller, kitchens became canvases (1987:360) for the tenants; The largest cluster comprised kitchens where substantial changes had been made to the decorative orderthese kitchens retained the original plain white surfaces. Instead, a large number of additional objects had been brought in and used, as it were, to cover the cupboards up.teatowels, breadboards, teacosies and trays were very common and often associated with a particular aesthetic of large bold flowers, cats, dogs and bright patterns. As well as being placed on surfaces, breadboards and trays were typically placed vertically against the walls with their face forward to emphasise their decorative nature. Post-cards, souvenirs, cuttings from magazines and pictorial calendars might be hung or stuck on the wallsthere was also the biographical patterneach piece appeared to be a momento of family or holidays, as in the commercial nostalgia style in which the relation between objects was maintained in the memories of the occupants but not expressed visually. (1987:361-362). Tenants properties subsequently became personalised, replacing and diverting attention from aspects of their kitchens they saw as indicators of their negative housing status (1987:362).[6] The implementation of kitchen aesthetics and other modes of creativity is one way of home-making, establishing a notion of home in accordance with establishing a sense of self. Connected to this, is the sociality of home making; aspects of marriage and kinship also highlighted by Miller, with females directing and viewed as recipients of expenditure and males undertaking renovations; In two cases i t was particularly clear that the couples were seen as coming together to overcome their status as tenants, and affirming the power of kinship and marriage in this struggle. (1987:367).[7] The notion of home reaffirms the concept that space is socially specific; the process of homemaking as an aspect of dwelling, related to how we live within time and space. When professional architects and builders ignore the needs, obligations and beliefs of socially specific people, the notion of home becoming disrupted, the result is an unsuccessful dwelling place. Oliver (2000) underlines that when the Kutahya Province in Turkey suffered an earthquake in 1970, fifty thousand homeless people were accommodated in fifteen thousand newly built dwellings. (2000:121). He comments that the accommodation, designed by architects, was suitable for the British 2.2 nuclear family as three room, single storey houses, quite unsuited to the extended peasant families, who were used to living on the upper floors of large two storey houses, storage, crops and cattle underneath them.(2002:121). A maximum of eighteen people lived in a house at one time, parents occupying one room, sons, their wives a nd children in others. The sofa was a communal space for meals, and privacy was strictly guarded. (2002:121). The emergency housing was small and unsuitable for the large peasant families; large windows caused them to be on show, there was no sofa and the living room opened on to the bedrooms. The toilet was external and public even though the people were discrete about bodily functions. (2000:121-122). In providing unsuitable buildings inconsiderate towards socially specific ideas of space, earthquake victims had no choice but to accept the offered housing or receive no other help. (2000:122). Oliver (2000) shows the architects failure, who; may design responsibly, but the process fails when he ignores the values, morals, building skills, experience and wisdom of the cultures whose housing needs are to be met. (2000:125). Notions of home can be varied,[8] but home and dwelling are inevitably connected through experiences and particular conceptions of how to dwell in terms of appropriate space and related activities. Other state built homes have caused the notion of home and its relationship with dwelling and architecture to be affirmed. Soviet construction of communal dwellings during the 1920s onwards attempted to impose meaning on inhabitants; that of socialist infrastructure to produce socialist men and women devoid of individuality and a bourgeois way of life (Humphrey (2005:40)). The result was unsuccessful, inhabitants not adopting socialist ways of being, but the meanings the architecture was intended to impose being subverted in Russian fiction and memoirs; example s of Russian imagination.(2005:43).[9] This Soviet example illustrates that meaning cannot be made through architecture and emphasises Miller (1987) and the process of home making. It is the process of home-making; the activities associated with dwelling and the sociality that it generates that establishes a home, a building being merely a container in which this takes place. The relationship between building and home therefore involves how we live in time and space, the process of homemaking challenging the structures that we build. Ingold (2000) suggests that dwelling is something that enables building. The opposite standpoint would be that it is building that enables human beings to dwell within architecture. Whatever ones view, it is inevitable that dwelling takes place, and eventually continues to take place within architecture, whether this is in vernacular form; a cave, hut or a barn, or provided by the nation state. It is a social fact that human beings build and dwell. Building and dwelling are inevitably interconnected, existing in a dynamic relationship with one another. Understanding this from a standpoint lacking in western visual bias, it is the process of dwelling; life activities (2000:185), its sociality and inevitable connection with building that exists in relation to the notion of home. Meaning is not made in the structure of a building it is dwelling; activities and social relations that creates and enables a meaning of home to be established in accordance with the self through haptic archit ectural experience and the home-making process. Pallasmaa (1996) argues that the meaning of a building is beyond architecture; The ultimate meaning of any building is beyond architecture; it directs our consciousness back to the world and towards our own sense of self and being. (1996:42). The relationship is evident when socially specific conceptions of space and inevitably particular notions of home are ignored; the architecture being unsuitable for dwelling, or failing in its primary purpose of imposing meaning. It can be said that building, dwelling and notions of home are united in an overarching relationship between human beings and their lived environment; the search for meaning and establishment of the self, in this case through forms of architectural experience. Bibliography Bloomer, K. Moore, C. (1977) Body, Memory and Architecture, Yale University Press   Bourdieu, P. (2003) The Berber House, in Low, S. Lawrence-Zuniga, D. (eds.) The Anthropology of Space and Place Blackwell, Oxford Brand, S. (1994) How Buildings Learn: what happens after theyre built. Phoenix, London Carsten, J. Hugh-Jones, S. (1995) About the House, Cambridge University Press Heidegger, M. (1971) Building, Dwelling Thinking in Poetry, language thought, trans. A. Hofstadter. New York, Harper and Row in Ingold, T. (2000) The Perception of the Environment Routledge, London. Helliwell, C. (1996) Space and Sociality in a Dyak Longhouse in Jackson, M. (ed.) (1996) Things as they are Bloomington: Indiana University Press Humphrey, C. (1974) Inside a Mongolian Tent in New Society 235-275 Humphrey, C. (2005) Ideology in infrastructure: architecture and Soviet imagination, Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 11 (1) 39-58 Ingold, T. (2000) The Perception of the Environment, Routledge, London. Kahn, L. (1973) Shelter, Bolinas, Shelter Publications. Miller, D. (1987) Appropriating the State on the Council Estate, in Man (NS) 23, 353-372 Oliver, P. (2000) Ethics and Vernacular Architecture, in Fox, W. (ed.) (2000) Ethics and the Built Environment, Routledge, London. Pallasmaa (1996) The Eyes of the Skin, Academy Editions

The Psychological Journey of the Narrator in Atwood’s Surfacing Essay

The Psychological Journey of the Narrator in Atwood’s Surfacing  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   In Surfacing, a novel by Margaret Atwood, the narrator undertakes three basic journeys: a physical quest to search for her lost father, a biographical journey into her past, and most importantly a psychological journey. The psychological journey allows the narrator to reconcile her past and ultimately leads to the conclusion of the physical journey. In this psychological voyage into her innerself, the narrator, while travelling from cognizant rational reasoning to subconscious dissociated reality progresses through three stages. In the first stage, the narrator is in touch with reality; she lives and exists in a state of mind known in Freudian psychology as the Ego. The Ego is defined as "the element of being that consciously and continuously enables an individual to think, feel and act." (Barnhardt, 667). The ego is based on a reality principle, in which, a person reacts in "realistic ways that will bring long term pleasure rather than pain or destruction" (Meyers, 414). The narrator's inability to cope with disagreeable thoughts such as her father's possible death is evidenced early in the novel. The narrator states: "nothing is the same, I don't know the way anymore. I slide my tongue around the ice cream, trying to concentrate on it, they put seaweed in it now, but I'm starting to shake, why is the road different, he shouldn't have allowed them to do it, I want to turn around and go back to the city and never find out what happened to him. I'll start crying, that would be horrible, none of them would kno w what to do and neither would I. I bite down into the cone and I can't feel anything for a minute but the knife-hard pain up the side of my face... ...to reality: "The lake is quiet, the trees surround me, asking and giving nothing" (Atwood, 224). Thus, the narrator has completed a psychological journey from snaeness to madness and then again in a fullcircle, travelling through three distinct stages: the Ego, the Superego, and the Id. The narrator by completing the psychological journey into the subconscious is able to resolve the biographical and physical journeys. Therefore, with the past and present conflicts resolved, it can be most likely assumed that the narrator will assimilate herself back into reality. She may have a chance to become human again. Works Cited Atwood, Margaret. Surfacing. Simon and Schuster: New york, 1972 Barnhardt, Clarence L. Ed. The World Book Dictionary, Field Enterprises Publishing Co: Chicago, 1975. Meyers, David. Psychology. Worth Publishing:U.S.A., 1992   

Mondavi’s Strategy, Success, Threats, and Risks Essay -- Business Mana

Mondavi’s Strategy, Success, Threats, and Risks Bargaining Power of Supplier: Necessary products to make the wine e.g. grapes are easily available that allows Mondavi to have a considerable amount of choice to choose and keep their costs and expenses. Threat of Substitutes: There are a significant number of replacements for the Mondavi’s product that includes beer, wine coolers, spirits, and various other drinks. Threat of New Entrants: The wine industry is undergoing consolidation. Even several beer and spirits companies were moving toward the wine industry, which was growing more and more. Current Competitors: Mondavi wine has many different competitors from small size to large wine companies. There are lot different factors involves when considering a market segment. The quality of the wine, design of bottle, labeling can have a significant impact on consumer’s choice. And on the top of that cost will also play important role. Bargaining Power of Buyer: Mondavi usually distribute their product through distributors and wholesalers. There were few distributors who cover most of the markets. As there were just handful distributors, they hold a majority of bargaining power in the company. Why has Mondavi been successful to date? * Widely credited as America’s first premium commercial Winery. * Established as one of America’s most innovative and highest quality vintners. * First winery in the world to use refrigerated stainless steel fermentation to retain ...

Enhanced Pattern Discovery For Text Mining Using Effective Pattern Deploying and Pattern Evaluation Techniques

Enhanced Pattern Discovery For Text Mining Using Effective Pattern Deploying and Pattern Evaluation Techniques. Abstract-Text excavation has been an ineluctable information excavation technique. There are different methods for text excavation, One of the most successful will be mining utilizing the effectual patterns.Datamining has become an adaptative method for recovering utile information in big database. This paper gives the brief thought about the text excavation by find of effectual forms. As our system trades with form ( phrase ) based and which overcomes the term based method ( attack ) .The procedure of updating unambiguous can be referred as pattern rating. This attack can better the truth of measuring term weights because discovered forms are more specific than the whole paperss. In our proposed system effectual pattern find technique include the procedure of form deploying and form evolving, for happening the relevant information. Keywords: –Text excavation, Text Classification, Pattern Deploying, Pattern Evolving. I.INTRODUCTION Text Mining is the find by computing machine of new, antecedently unknown information, by automatically pull outing and associating information from different written resources, to uncover otherwise â€Å" concealed † meanings.Knowledge find can be viewed as the procedure of nontrivial extraction of information from big databases, information that is implicitly presented in the information, antecedently unknown and potentially utile for users. Data excavation is hence an indispensable measure in the procedure of cognition find in databases. In the past decennary, a important figure of informations mining techniques have been presented in order to execute different cognition undertakings. These techniques include association regulation excavation, frequent itemset excavation, consecutive form excavation, maximal form excavation, and closed form miningText excavation is the find of interesting cognition in text paperss. It is a ambitious issue to happen accurate cognition ( or c haracteristics ) in text paperss to assist users to happen what they want.With a big figure of forms generated by utilizing informations excavation attacks, how to efficaciously utilize and update these forms is still an unfastened research issue. In this paper, we focus on the development of a cognition find theoretical account to efficaciously utilize and update the discovered forms and use it to the field of text excavation. The advantages of term based methods include efficient computational public presentation every bit good as mature theories for term weighting, which have emerged over the last twosome of decennaries from the IR and machine acquisition communities. However, term based methods suffer from the jobs of lexical ambiguity and synonymity, where lexical ambiguity means a word has multiple significances, and synonymity is multiple words holding the same significance. The semantic significance of many discovered footings is unsure for replying what users want. Finding effectual and utile forms is remains a disputing task.Our proposed work presents an effectual form find technique, which foremost calculates ascertained specificities of forms and so evaluates term weights harmonizing to the distribution of footings in the ascertained forms instead than the distribution in paperss for work outing the misunderstanding job. It besides considers the influence of forms from the negative preparation illustrations to happen equivocal ( noisy ) forms and seek to cut down their influence for the low-frequency job. The procedure of updating equivocal forms can be referred as pattern development. The proposed attack can better the truth of measuring term weights because discovered forms are more specific than whole paperss. II. RELATED WORK Here we are suggesting a form taxonomy theoretical account. Other different form excavation methods are Sequential forms, Sequential closed forms, frequent itemsets, Frequent closed point sets. All these provide similar consequences but on depending on preciseness and remember our method stand manner apart. Recently, we have seen the ebullient visual aspect of really big heterogenous full-text papers aggregations, available for any terminal user. The assortment of users’ wants is wide. The user may necessitate an overall position of the papers aggregation: what subjects are covered, what sort of paperss exists, are the paperss someway related, and so on. On the other manus, the user may desire to i ¬?nd a specii ¬?c piece of information content. At the other extreme, some users may be interested in the linguistic communication itself. A common characteristic for all the undertakings mentioned is that the user does non cognize precisely what he/she is looking for. Hence, a information excavation attack should be appropriate, because by dei ¬?nition it is detecting interesting regularities or exclusions from the informations, perchance without a precise focal point. Surprisingly plenty, merely a few illustrations of informations excavation in text, or text excavation, are available. Their attack, nevertheless, requires a significant sum of background cognition, and is non applicable as such to text analysis in general. An attack more similar to ours has been used in the PatentMiner System for detecting tendencies among patents. In this paper, we show that general informations excavation methods are applicable to text analysis undertakings ; we besides present a general model for text excavation. The model follows the general cognition find ( KDD ) procedure. III. PROPOSED SYSTEMDocuments PreprocessingPattern Taxonomy Modeling2.1 Frequent and closed forms 2.2 Pattern Taxonomy 2.3 Closed Sequential PatternsPattern Deploying3.1 Representation of Closed Forms 3.2 D-Pattern MiningInner Pattern EvolutionSysten Architecture First choose the RCV1 dataset for Document Preprocessing.After preprocessing papers goes through pattern taxonomy mold and patterndeploying.pattern taxonomy patterning consist of Frequent and closed form, pattern taxonomy and closed consecutive pattern.after the completion of pattern taxonomy it goes through the form deploying procedure by utilizing D form excavation algorithmwe found the interior pattern rating. Finally we got the effectual forms for acquiring utile information from the papers. 1.Documents Preprocessing Documents preprocessing is required to happen existent footings contained in the papers. Preprocessing removes unwanted text from papers, which reduces the size of paperss. Preprocessing involves following stairss: 1 ) Stop-word remotion Stop-words are those words that occur often, but holding no conceptual significance. For illustration: â€Å"a† , â€Å"at† , †is† , †of† , †the† etc. There are 100s of halt words, which increase the size with no conceptual significance. 2 ) Non-word remotion Non-words are punctuation Markss, which have to be removed from papers. These words besides occurs often and holding no conceptual significance. 3 ) Steming Stemmingis the procedure for cut downing inflected ( or sometimes derived ) words to their root, base orrootform—generally a written word signifier. Steming is achieved utilizing Porter’s Algorithm. A preprocessed papers is so used for farther processing. 2. Pattern Taxonomy Modeling All paperss are split into paragraphs. So a given papersvitamin Doutputs a set of paragraphs PS (vitamin D) . Let D be a preparation set of paperss, which consists of a set of positive paperss, D+; and a set of negative paperss, D–. Let T = { T1, T2†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦tm} be a set of footings ( or keywords ) which can be extracted from the set of positive paperss, D+. 2.1 Frequent and Closed Forms Given a termset Ten in papers vitamin D,Tenis used to denote the covering set of Ten forvitamin D, which includes all paragraphs dpa?S PS (vitamin D) such thatTen?displaced person, i.e. ,Ten= { dp|dpa?S PS (vitamin D) } Its absolute support is the figure of happenings of X in PS (vitamin D) , that is supa( Ten ) =|Ten| . Its comparative support is the fraction of the paragraphs that contain the form, that is supR( Ten ) = |Ten| / PS (vitamin D) . A termset Ten is called frequent form if its swallowR( or supa) & A ; gt ; = min_sup, a minimal support. Given a termset X, its covering setTenis a subset of paragraphs. Similarly, given a set of paragraphs Y ?PS (vitamin D) , we can specify its termset, which satisfies termset Y= { t| ?displaced persona?SYttrium& A ; gt ; = t a?Sdisplaced person} The closing of X is defined as follows: Chlorine( Ten ) =termset (Ten) A form X ( atermset ) is called closed if and merely if X =Chlorine( Ten ) . Let X be a closed form. We can turn out that swallowa( Ten1) & A ; gt ; swallowa( Ten ) For all forms X1a?S X ; otherwise, if, swallowa( Ten1) = swallowa( Ten ) we have,X1=Ten. where, supa(X1) and swallowa(Ten) are the absolute support of formX1andTen, severally. 2.2Pattern Taxonomy Forms can be structured into a taxonomy by utilizing theis-a ( or subset ) relation. A term with a higher tf*idf value could be meaningless if it has non cited by some d-patterns ( of import parts in paperss ) . The rating of term weights ( supports ) is different to the normal term-based attacks. In the term-based attacks, the rating of term weights is based on the distribution of footings in paperss. In this research, footings are weighted harmonizing to their visual aspects in discovered closed forms. 2.3 Closed Sequential Patterns Given a form ( an ordered termset ) Ten in papers vitamin D,Tenis still used to denote the covering set of X, which includes all paragraphPSa?S PS (vitamin D) . such that X ?ps, i.e. ,Ten= { ps|psa?S PS ( vitamin D ) ; X ?ps } . Its absolute support is the figure of happenings of X in PS ( vitamin D ) , that is supa( Ten ) = |Ten| . Its comparative support is the fraction of the paragraphs that contain the form, that is, swallowR( Ten ) = |Ten| / PS (vitamin D) . A consecutive form X is called frequent form if its comparative support ( or absolute support ) & A ; gt ; =min_sup, a minimal support. The belongings of closed forms can be used to specify closed sequential forms. A frequent consecutive form X is called closed if non ? any ace form X1of X such that swallowa( X1 ) =supa( Ten ) . 2. Pattern Deploying In order to utilize the semantic information in the form taxonomy to better the public presentation of closed forms in text excavation, we need to construe discovered forms by sum uping them as d-pattern in order to accurately measure term weights ( supports ) . The rational behind this motive is that d-patterns include more semantic significance than footings that are selected based on a term-based technique ( e.g. , tf*idf ) . Asa consequence, a term with a higher tf*idf value could be meaningless if it has non cited by some d-patterns ( some of import parts in paperss ) . The rating of term weights ( supports ) is different to the normal term-based attacks. In the term-based attacks, the ratings of term weights are based on the distribution of footings in paperss. In this research, footings are weighted harmonizing to their visual aspects in discovered closed forms. 3.1 Representations of Closed Forms It is complicated to deduce a method to use ascertained forms in text paperss for information filtrating systems. To simplify this procedure, we foremost review the composing operation a defined. Let P1and P2be sets of term-number braces. P1aP2is called the composing of P1and P2which satisfies: Where is the wild card that matches any figure. For the particular instance we have p a O= P ; and the operands of the composing operation are interchangeable. The consequence of the composing is still a set of term-number braces. Formally, for all positive paperss vitamin DIa?S D+, we foremost deploy its closed forms on a common set of footingsThyminein order to obtain the undermentioned d-patterns ( deployed forms, non-sequential leaden forms ) : Where Tijin brace ( Tij, Nij) denotes a individual term and Nijis its support in vitamin DIwhich is the entire absolute supports given by closed forms that contain Tsij; or nijis the entire figure of closed forms that contain Tsij 4. Inner Pattern Evolution In this Module, we discuss how to reshuffle supports of footings within normal signifiers of d-patterns based on negative paperss in the preparation set. The technique will be utile to cut down the side effects of noisy forms because of the low-frequency job. This technique is called interior form development here, because it merely changes a pattern’s term supports within the pattern.A threshold is normally used to sort paperss into relevant or irrelevant classs. Using the d-patterns, the threshold can be defined of course as follows: A noise negative papers neodymium in D–is a negative papers that the system falsely identified as a positive, that is weight (neodymium) & A ; gt ; = Threshold ( DP ) . In order to cut down the noise, we need to track which d-patterns have been used to give rise to such an mistake. We call these forms wrongdoers ofneodymium. An wrongdoer of neodymium is a d-pattern that has at least one term inneodymium. The set of wrongdoers of neodymium is defined by: The chief procedure of inner pattern development is implemented by the algorithm IP Evolving. The inputs of this algorithm are a set of d-patternsDisplaced person, a preparation set D = D+U D–. . IV. Decision Hence we conclude here that the proposed system trade with effectual form find utilizing pattern deployement and form germinating to polish the ascertained form in text papers. Previous informations excavation technique used the association regulation excavation, frequent itemset excavation, consecutive form excavation, maximal form excavation, and closed form mining.It have the job of low frequence and deficiency of power in support.Hence, misunderstandings of forms derived from informations mining techniques lead to the uneffective public presentation. In this proposed system, an effectual form find technique has been proposed to get the better of the low frequence and misunderstanding jobs for text excavation. The proposed technique uses two procedures, pattern deploying and form evolving, which helpful in happening the effectual form sequences for big text paperss. The experimental consequences show that the proposed theoretical account performs non merely other pure informations mining-based methods and the construct based theoretical account, but besides term-based theoretical accounts. . Mentions: – [ 1 ] Y. Huang and S. Lin, † Mining Sequential Patterns Using GraphSearch Techniques † , Proc. 27th Ann. Int’l Computer Software and Applications Conf. , pp. 4-9, 2003. [ 2 ] S.-T. Wu, Y. Li, Y. Xu, B. Pham and P. Chen, â€Å" Automatic Pattern-Taxonomy Extraction for Web Mining † , Proc. IEEE/WIC/ACM Int’l Conf. Web Intelligence 2004. [ 3 ] C. Zhai, A. Velivelli, and B. Yu, † A cross-collection mixture theoretical account for comparative text excavation † In Proceedings of the 2004 ACM SIGKDD international conference on Knowledge find and information excavation. [ 4 ] S.T.Wu, Y. Li, and Y. Xu, † An effectual deploying algorithm for utilizing pattern-taxonomy † , In iiWAS’05, pages 1013–1022,2005. [ 5 ] Qiaozhu Mei and ChengXiangZhai [ Department of Computer Science ] , † Detecting Evolutionary Theme Patterns from Text An Exploration of Temporal Text Mining † , 2006. [ 6 ] S.-T. Wu, Y. Li, and Y. Xu, † Deploying Approaches for Pattern Refinement in Text Mining, † Proc. IEEE Sixth Int’l Conf. Data Mining ( 2006. [ 7 ] N. Jindal and B. Liu. † Identifying Comparative Sentences in Text Documents, Proc. 29th Ann. Int’l ACM SIGIR Conf. Research and Development in Information Retrieval † , 2006. [ 8 ] Hiroki Arimura [ Department of Informatics, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812 { 8581, Japan PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Corporation ] , † Text Data Mining with Optimized Pattern Discovery † ,2006. [ 9 ] P. Tan, M. Steinbach, and V. Kumar. â€Å" Introduction to Data Mining, Pearson, Boston † , 2006. [ 10 ] † Deploying Approaches for Pattern Refinement in Text Mining † , Sheng-Tang Wu Yuefeng Li YueXu, ( 2006 ) . [ 11 ] † Knowledge find utilizing pattern taxonomy theoretical account in text excavation † , Sheng-Tang Wu,2007 [ 12 ] Andrew J. Torget, RadaMihalcea, Jon Christensen, Geoff McGhee, â€Å" Maping texts: uniting Text-mining and Geo-Visualiazation to unlock the research potency of historical newspapers † ,2010. [ 13 ] I. H. Witten, E. Frank, and M. A. Hall, â€Å" Data Mining, Morgan Kaufmann † , Burlington, MA, 2011. [ 14 ] D. K. Hong, S. H. Yook, M. Y. Kim, Y. J. Park, H. S. Oh, D. H. Nam, and Y. B. Park, â€Å" A Structural Analysis of Sanghanron by Network Model- Centered on Symptoms and Herbs of Taeyangbyung Compilation in Sanghanron, † Korean Oriental Med,2011. [ 15 ] JiHoon Kang, Dong Hoon Yang, Young Bae Park, and Seoung Bum Kim, † A Text Mining Approach to Find Patterns Associated with Diseases and Herbal Materials in Oriental Medicine † ,2012 16 ] Mrs.K. Mythili, Professor, Department of Computer Applications, Hindusthan College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore -6, Tamilnadu. India † , A Pattern Taxonomy Model with New Pattern Discovery Model for Text Mining † ,2012. [ 17 ] KavithaMurugeshan, Neeraj RK, â€Å" Detecting Forms to Produce Effective Output through Text Mining Using Naive Bayesian Algorithm † ,2012.

American Woman

American Woman The struggles America has dealt with have been expressed in the lyrics of popular songs, specifically issues pertaining to government, politics, the period of the Cold War and Vietnam War. Another American issue that has been expressed in popular music is the drug world and its complications, creating a strong and forceful depiction of America. The song titled â€Å"American Woman† has been expressed through many different medium of art. American Woman† has two versions; the first version was made by the Canadian rock band the â€Å"Guess Who†, the second version was made by the American singer and composer Lenny Kravitz. â€Å"American Woman† is a successful song that has caused many controversies over the years; for example, regarding the â€Å"Guess Who† version, it refers to attacks on U. S. politics and government, especially for the Cold War and Vietnam War, while Kravitz’s version expresses his personal take on drug use a nd his personal battle with drug addiction. â€Å"American Woman† is a product of the Vietnam War and its issues.When the vocalist of â€Å"The Guess Who† referred to American woman, he actually referred to The Unites States. Some lyrics of the song reflect the political and government issues of the U. S. For example, â€Å"Don’t come hangin’ around my door, I don’t wanna see your face no more, I got more important things to do, that spend my time growin’ old with you† (L. 18-21). This part of the song is basically saying that Canada has its own troubles that they have to deal with, and they don’t need to get into some wars over opinion with the U.S. The â€Å"Guess Who† version also refers to America’s imperialistic attitude at the time of the Vietnam War. For instance, â€Å"I don’t need your war machine; I don’t need your ghetto scenes† (L. 35-36). This phrase is referring to the nuclear we apons that the U. S. used in Vietnam and the after math of the explosives. During the time of the Cold War and the Vietnam War, America tried to get Canada to adopt nuclear missiles and join in the war. The â€Å"Guess Who† showed in the lyrics of â€Å"American Woman† the rejection of war activities.For example, â€Å"Colored lights can hypnotize, Sparkle someone else’s eyes, now woman, I said stay away, American woman, listen what I say† (L. 37-40). These lyrics basically refer to the explosions of the bombs that occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia from 1955 to 1975 (Vu Tung). The phrase implies that Canada does not like wars, and it tells the U. S. government to bother someone else. At the time of the Vietnam War, Canada had economic growth, political independence and regime survival in a post-Cold War environment.In the Kravitz’s version of the song â€Å"American Woman† the original political themes of the song were replaced by his p ersonal takes on drug use and his personal battles with drug addiction. When Kravitz mentions American woman as a white girl, he actually refers to the use of cocaine. For instance, â€Å"Huh, American Woman, stay away from me, American woman, mama let me be† (L. 1-2). In this phrase, he is refusing to use drugs, especially, cocaine. Furthermore, he is also saying that drugs don’t let him be the person that he wants to be.In America, the number of drug users increases every year. Drugs are everywhere, especially at parties and night clubs. Kravitz used the lyrics of â€Å"American Woman† to transmit the message of avoiding drugs. For example, â€Å"Colored lights can hypnotized, Sparkle someone else’s eyes† (L. 13-14). This phrase also reflects how the use of drugs can captivate people by making them feel good; however, Kravitz refuses to take drugs, and he wants to stay away from them. In the song â€Å"American Woman† Kravitz shows his per sonal experience using drugs and the negative effects of the illegal substances.For instance, â€Å"Don’t come knocking ‘round my door, I don’t wanna see your shadow no more† (L. 11-12). In these lyrics the singers is referring to his personal experience using drugs. When he mentions shadows, he refers to how painful and hard is the addition of these illegal substances. Kravits throughout the song shows how he fought to quit drugs. In the following lyrics expressed â€Å"I gotta go, I gotta get away, Baby, I gotta go, I wanna fly away† (L. 29-30). Although the drug world at first glance seems amusing, from Kravitz’s experience, he prefers to get away from temptations.In conclusion, â€Å"American Woman† is an extraordinary song that has caused many controversies over the years; for example, regarding the Guess Who’s version, it refers to attacks on U. S politics and government, especially for the Cold War and Vietnam War, while Kravitz’s version referrers to the rejection of the drug world and his personal experience with cocaine. The challenges that America has had over the years, have been subjects for songs, paintings, poetry, films and art in general, especially those themes that are related with the U.S. government, politics, wars and illegal drugs. America will always be the subject of inspiration for artists around the globe because it is a country with a variety of cultures and population issues. Work Cited * The Guess Who. â€Å"American Woman†. Elyrics. net. 200-20013. Web. March 20, 2013. * Kravitz, Lenny. â€Å"American Woman†. Elyrics. net. 200-20013. Web. March 20, 2013. * Vu Tung, Nguyen. â€Å"Vietnam’s Membership of ASEAN: A Constructivist Interpretation†. Military and Government Collection. Vol. 29, Dec 2007. Web. March 20, 2013.