Building successful parent-teacher partnerships Essay Example for Free

Building successful parent-teacher partnerships Essay The problems in the school life can be solved if teachers and parents work together as a team. â€Å"The traditional concept of involving parents in the process of educating their children has typically been restricted to one-way communication approaches. Either the parent is talking at the teacher or the teacher is talking to the parent. Yet the real purpose of parental involvement in the educational process is to foster an improved learning climate and support system for the child. Parent-teacher confrontation models do little to foster the development of their environments conducive to effective interaction and learning for the child† (Swick, 7). â€Å"parents and teachers must come to realize that their behaviors are much more important than their words in affecting the child’s self-concept. When parents and teachers work in complementary, supportive type roles as partners in the development of learning climates and support systems for young children, not only are they learning, but they are a vital part of the educational process† (Swick, 7). â€Å"†¦ the parent is the first and most important influence in the child’s development. It holds that the parent, like all other teachers,must first be a growing, compassionate person in order to be an effective parent† (Swick, 7). â€Å"Parents and teachers become stronger, more insightful individuals when they participate in joint determination of the educational program in which their children have optimal conditions necessary for growth toward becoming functional and developing persons† (Swick, 8). Parents provide personal information about children’s behaviors, characteristics, talents, interests, etc. Teachers give another view about the social development of the children for example with friends and other people, progresses in school, skills, achievements, etc. Involved parents: The hidden resource in their childrens education by Anita Gurian, Ph.D. Gurian, Anita. â€Å"Involved Parents: The Hidden Resource in Their Children’s Education† NYU Child Study Center. Available: 01 May 2012. Web Page. â€Å"In adolescence, children become more independent and usually don’t want their parents in school. In middle and high school, students have to deal with more courses and more teachers in a more impersonal way, so parent involvement, although less direct, is still critical. Parents can participate in events at school, monitor homework, provide experiences and materials that supplement course work, and help children with organizational strategies. Parents can influence their children’s academic progress by encouragement, reinforcement, and modeling. Children learn from their parents’ own learning styles and activities, such as discussions, newspapers and other reading materials, television habits and quests for information and knowledge.† When parents want to be in charge and spent their time for their children, they can have the opportunity to know their child’s life better. The parents can know the social life of their children at school and all the other activities that their children have. United States. Office of Educational Research and Improvement. National Center for Education Statistics. Parent Involvement in Children’s Education: Efforts by Public Elementary Schools. Washington, DC, 1998. Internet. â€Å"Parent attendance at school-sponsored events was related to the concentration of poverty in the school, as defined by the percent of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. In general, as the concentration of poverty in the school increased, reports of high parent attendance decreased. For example, while 72 percent of schools with a low concentration of poverty reported that most or all parents attended the school open house, 48 percent of schools with a moderate poverty concentration, and 28 percent of schools with a high poverty concentration reported that most or all parents attended the open house† (Carey, 14). Davis, Jonathan. â€Å"Facilitator Helps Parents Get Involved in Their Children’s Education.† NBC 26 News. (25 April 2012). Available: 1 May 2012. Web Page. In order for a school to run efficiently you need to have the parents involved. I try my best to communicate that to the community and let them know that we have things that they can do, Like being a room mom and are able to give back to the school. In order to do that you have to have the parents to get involved because we want lifelong learners, said Inga Coleman.

A Rose For Emily by William Faulkner Essay Example for Free

A Rose For Emily by William Faulkner Essay There are popular sayings that goes â€Å"love moves in mysterious ways† and â€Å"love makes people crazy. † The amalgam of those sayings would somehow serve as a rough description of William Faulkner’s story â€Å"A Rose for Emily. † Since its publication, the story still captures the imagination of many present-day readers—although, in a disturbing way. The title is deceptively, and ingeniously for that matter, designed to make the story seem as a love story. It is important to note that a rose is a generally accepted symbolism for love. However, the story begins with the death of the protagonist. Actually, there are many points in the story that would lead the readers to the conclusion that Faulkner’s story is far from a love story. This reading will be standing beside the argument that â€Å"A Rose for Emily† is a love story that presents to the readers love in an unfamiliar form. Faulkner exquisitely described how Emily is madly in love with Homer. She even dreams of being married to him someday. Faulkner’s details resemble a layout of a typical love story. However, all of those beautiful renditions of Emily’s love are just diversions to the author’s twists. When Emily mentioned that she wants to be married to Homer, he replied that â€Å"he was not a marrying man† (366). The reader could almost picture Emily as a rose whose petals are torn by the sharp gust of wind of Homer’s subtle rejection. This particular event of her life had significantly contributed to her impending insanity. And because Emily loves Homer so much, Emily had devised a plan to keep him beside her. She had poisoned Homer, paralyzing him for a moment, and then for eternity. She then set Homer’s lifeless body in her bed, then slept with him—in every context of the word slept. Emily’s version of love could be described as unconventional. The story begins describing how the townspeople of Jefferson (Faulkner’s fictional city) treated her â€Å"†¦a sort of fallen monument† (Faulkner 5). Even though the townspeople treat Emily in a revered manner, it would be arguable that they have love for her. In the first part, Emily is already dead and her pitiful yet gruesome background would be unfolded as the plot progresses. A safer claim to make about the townspeople treatment to Emily is that they pity her at the same time disgusted by her life, or more particularly, her love life. The shocking ending, considered a classic, reveals to the readers that Emily had murdered the one she truly loves, Homer Barron. It is just understandable that the townspeople of Jefferson and the readers (of the real world) would raise the question: could this be considered love? If we would set aside the conventional notions of love (like couples promising to each other eternity, sincerely caring for one another, a mutual understanding, etc. ), Emily’s version of love would certainly be dismissed. However, we could still interpret Emily’s actions as out of love, but to put it more succinctly, it should be categorized as unrequited love. It should not be disputed anymore that anyone is capable love, even those with hints of insanity. Moreover, it is a general notion that a person who loves someone needs some kind of returned love. And if love is unrequited, the most likely effect on the unrequited lover would be a seemingly incurable misery. Emily’s murder of Homer is oftentimes interpreted as an act of desperation. On the other hand, it could also regarded as an reaction to the subliminal messages of her love and passion for Homer. As we know of love, through literature and real life, it could paint in our minds illusions of being easily loved back. Emily may have been genuinely convinced that she would someday marry Homer and that they would spend eternity in each other’s arms. The living Homer had rejected her proposal, she may have immediately though that the dead Homer may compromise. Moreover, she had set the dead body in a bed, a symbolism for marriage. In addition, it is implied that she had slept with the dead body of Homer. It is important to consider that the context of the story is a time period where the people are mostly conservatives, especially the aristocrats like Emily’s family. It could be interpreted that she did not slept with the body out of mere lust, it could be something close to being love itself. Emily’s life could be considered lacking love. The title, â€Å"A Rose for Emily†, suggests that she desperately needs to be loved. She loved her aristocratic lifestyle and her father who provides it for her. But when her father had passed away, she may have felt that all she loved had gone to grave with her father, â€Å"†¦being left alone and a pauper, she had become humanized† (366). Considering her mental state, she had found love in Homer, he does not want to be with her, it is just understandable that she would do anything to be with the one she loves. After all, the topic at hand is love, a term and a concept with no satisfying definition. Even science admits that love is more than just chemical reactions. If we would delve further in this attempt to understand love, we might just end up mad like Emily. Works Cited Faulkner, William. A Rose for Emily. An Introduction to Literature. Ed. Joseph Terry. New York: Longman, 2001

Recommendations for Client Care in Salons

Recommendations for Client Care in Salons METHODOLOGY Market research data has been reviewed from two main sources: Secondary Data- i.e. Journals, publications and internet sources. Primary Research- data for this research were obtained from the surveys that have been undertaken in a Barnfield College Hairdressing and Beauty Salons as well as in the Reception Area in November and December 2009 and were handed out to the clients before and after the treatments. Three groups were formed to prepare the questionnaires on the following three subjects: Reception. After treatment. New Product Development in Male Grooming and Anti-Ageing Treatments and Products. FINDINGS RECEPTION Front desk operation can make or break the salon business (Barham, 1991, p.21). The role of salon receptionist is crucial as the receptionist embodies the entire salon, its personnel and their professional skills. The main mission of the receptionist is a smooth running of the beauty salon (Barham, 1999). The reception area of any enterprise such as a hotel, a hairdressing salon, a beauty therapy salon, a suite of offices, even a hospital can be considered as the first personal point of contact with the organization. One dictionary definition of reception is the receiving or welcoming of persons as visitors formally or ceremoniously. In the context of business, however, reception needs to be somewhat more than just being courteous to clients, answering enquiries or booking appointments. Ideally, reception regulates and controls access to the next stage in a procedure. The hairdressing or beauty therapy operative will carry out the practical work but the service begins and ends in the reception (Masters, 1988). Almost all women appreciate the luxury of personal attention in a pleasant atmosphere. And the first point of contact either personally or by telephone will be receptionist thus the response to an initial enquiry and the image presented at the time must be of the highest level or the appointment may not be booked. The answer to the enquiry must convince the potential client that she can reasonably expect to get the service she wants, and the image presented must be one of efficiency and enthusiasm. If the enquiry is by telephone, then the whole image will be an aural one. Therefore, tone of voice, manner of speaking and clarity of information are paramount. The conclusion of the conversation is also important and should indicate that the enquiry and the subsequent booking are welcome and appreciated. Enquiry and/or reservation in person at reception also involves tone of voice, manner of speaking and clarity of information, but because it is also visual it poses other problems which include the appearance and deportment of the receptionist and the image presented by other members of staff who may be in reception at that time, together with dà ©cor, tidiness and comfort of the reception room and finally that indefinable thing known as social atmosphere. When any client or potential client enters reception she should receive immediate attention or at least recognition of her presence. A client should never wait in reception for her appointment a moment longer than is utterly necessary and when this is inevitable she should be made as comfortable as possible and kept informed of the position. A clients progress through the various processes in the salon should be comfortable and supported by an evident desire on the member of staff for her well-being and satisfaction. Each client should feel that her personal custom is valued and that she is a significant part of the salon business life. The client does not just buy a beauty treatment but a complete service which must be fully satisfying to that client. And even when the service is satisfactorily completed and the client is delighted with the result, all is not yet over because she still has to pass once more through reception and departure must be just as carefully managed as arrival . Service must continue until the moment the client makes her exit through the door which has been thoughtfully opened for her by the receptionist. The receptionist should know exactly what has been done for the client and should provide a suitable remark of approval with the result. After all, if the client has just spent quite a bit of money on a service intended to improve her appearance she will appreciate the effects being noticed (Masters, 1988). Thus, to summarise the above, an ideal beauty salon reception should make the clients presence in the waiting area as comfortable and enjoyable as possible because the salon will never get a second chance to make a first impression. This includes having enough up-to-date beauty and fashion related magazines for both women and men, playing a comforting and light music and if the client is to spend a bit of a time in a waiting room then offering a refreshment or a cup of herbal tea to make the clients stay there as pleasant as possible. Or alternatively, if the lounge is pleasant and relaxing, clients may stay to relax after treatment or arrive early and enjoy flicking through a glossy magazine with some refreshment. Another extremely important point is clients confidentiality which must be maintained at all times and receptionist is responsible for any information not to be copied or passed on in any form to anyone, in person or over the phone (Barham, 1992). When the data were analysed according to 27 questionnaires taken in Barnfield College Hairdressing Salon and Spa Reception area, it was found that the majority of clients who have visited the college salon were overall satisfied with the waiting area and reception in general: 26 people were welcomed and the same amount of people found receptionist friendly and informative. The majority of clients found the telephone booking service excellent and said that the telephone was answered promptly (17 and 14 respectively). Although 13 people did not answer the question if they had to wait for their appointment, 9 people confirmed that they did not wait at all and only small group said that they had to wait from 1-2 minutes up to 5 minutes (2 and 1 people respectively). There are no hot drinks and/or refreshments offered in the Barnfield salon waiting sector therefore we decided to find out whether clients were prepared to pay for their drinks and would use a tea and coffee pay machine if there was one and discovered that 9 clients responded positively, 1 person said maybe and another client suggested having herbal alternatives. However, 14 clients said that they would not pay for their drinks and 2 people ignored the question. Despite the fact that 21 people described the environment in the reception area as excellent and only 6 people found it average, 8 people thought that there is a room for improvement in the reception service (1 client) and the waiting area (7 clients) and suggested that there could be some high chairs available, as well as booking facilities could be improved and 2 people complained about the warmth in the reception and said that it is way too cold in the waiting area at this time of the year. Furthermore, 14 of Barnfield clients confirmed that there was some reading material of their liking but 9 clients disagreed with that and said that there was not anything to read or they did not like the offered reading matter. When asked about the payment options 12 people would prefer paying by cash, 10 would be more comfortable with paying by card and only 3 clients were happy with both options. Further analysis of clients comments revealed that people do love coming to Barnfield for treatments and complement on prices and professionalism, friendliness and helpfulness of the receptionists, although a few clients suggested that there could be some subtle music playing in the reception area, some more reading material like up-to-date hairstyles magazines and mentioned the appointments booking options, i.e. chance to book a few sessions at once when buying a set of treatments or booking at the reception desk in general, because it feels rushed as queue forms very quickly when only one receptionist is present. In addition to this several people complained about the reception and waiting area being particularly cold. AFTER TREATMENT After treatment precautions are equally important as the treatment itself. The client must take care of his or her body after the treatment and follow any aftercare advice given by the therapist at all times in order to get the most from their investment There is specific aftercare advice for each beauty treatment. Some of them aim at prolonging the effect of the treatment as in some cases, i.e. massage, client is advised to rest to let the blood circulation to return to normal. It is also recommended for the client to rest for a few hours when she gets home, and avoid heavy meals. As the clients circulation continues to return to normal, it is necessary to drink plenty of still mineral water to replace the fluids lost. The therapist can also discuss with the client suitable home care to complement the massage. This might include advice on healthy eating and exercise, including specific exercises that might be necessary to alleviate any postural problems. Furthermore, therapist might offer advice on bath and/or skin products or massage techniques that could be used at home and further benefit the client. As with the electro-epilation treatment, the skin will be predisposed to infection because of the heat and tissue destruction hence it is extremely important to keep the area clean to avoid infection and to prevent scarring. Clients are advised to use the recommended soothing lotion, avoid picking or rubbing the skin, do not expose the area to ultraviolet light and shield it with sun-protecting factor, do not pluck or wax the area in-between treatments and keep the area clean and fresh. Majority of electrical facial treatments will require clients to refrain from applying any make-up or facial creams immediately after treatment for the period of up to 48 hours because the skin needs to be able to breathe. The negative effects on the skin of alcohol, smoking and ultraviolet radiation should be discussed with the client. The drinking of natural noncarbonated water should be encouraged following treatment to help remove toxins, and the benefits of a healthy diet should also be discussed. Also simple facial exercises should be recommended to the client. These will continue to firm the facial muscles and intensify the firming effects of the treatments. Clients should be offered retail cosmetic skin-care preparations to maintain and enhance the effects achieved. The similar aftercare programme is advised for clients after the lymphatic drainage treatments: to increase fluid intake to help the lymphatic cleansing effect. Also recommend the client an effective treatment plan combining diet and exercise appropriate to clients needs. Retail products support the effectiveness of the treatment (Nordmann, Appleyard and Linforth, 2001). Thus to put it all in a nutshell, it is necessary to provide clients with aftercare advice and explain that it is extremely essential that they become fully aware and understand what should be done by themselves both before and after treatment in the interest of their personal health, safety and well-being. There were 7 clients questioned at Barnfield salon and spa between the age of 25 and 60+ about their treatments and aftercare, and it was found that all seven clients were escorted in and back out by their therapists. Also majority of clients rated their consultation, privacy, hygiene, environment, therapist knowledge, treatment and aftercare experience as excellent. More than half of respondents left their comments and expressed their satisfaction with treatments being highly effective, enjoyable, efficient, quick, lovely and relaxing, and appreciated the therapists professionalism. And only one client complained about the music and found it not very relaxing. NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT IN MALE GROOMING AND ANTI-AGEING TREATMENTS AND PRODUCTS Male Grooming Modern men are just as (or at least almost) as concerned with their appearance as women. And healthy skin is a crucial part of looking great. For men, skin care is a mere afterthought. Beyond the world of shaving their faces, it is rare for a man to devote time to his skin. But these days, skin care is no longer just a womans concern. We are in the 21st century, and the pressure is on for man to take care of himself. Men are increasingly aware and concerned about the health of their skin. More men than ever are interested in taking care of their skin, and ensuring that they sustain their youthful looks for as long as possible. Mans flourishing desire for beautiful skin is an 8 billion dollar industry. So why are men beginning to catch up with womens interest in beauty products? Most importantly, everyone wants to preserve youthful skin for as long as possible. Along with drinking plenty of water and eating a healthy diet, moisturizing and nurturing the skin is the best way to grow old gracefully. As we grow older, the elastin and collagen, which are the connective tissues that give skin its firmness and elasticity, begin to disappear. Appropriate skin care is indispensable to keep this process at bay for as long as possible. More and more men are reacting to the synthetic chemicals used by many high street brands of male grooming products. Therefore they are turning to natural formulations free from unnecessary synthetic ingredients, which will be absorbed by the body. Switching to organic food in order to avoid consuming toxins is a popular choice. People are also becoming aware that what is put on the skin will always make its way into the blood stream. That means that if skin care products are full of chemicals, they will eventually be flowing through the body. Since the skin can be a reflection of what is going on in the body, the chemicals may once again show up on the skin. It also means that the liver has to work harder to process them. Organic, chemical free moisturiser means no toxins for the body to deal with, and ultimately, healthier skin. Nearly 80 percent of men say shaving irritates their skin. Razor burn is actually often product burn. Many of the products that are designed for men are po orly formulated and contain far too many irritating ingredients. Shaving with a razor abrades the skin enough to cause havoc, but then men typically splash an aftershave lotion with irritating ingredients over that broken skin. Think of splashing chemicals on a cut or abrasion on your body. Most natural products are gentle and will not aggravate the skin, even if there is abrasion. Other natural products that men are choosing to use are soaps and shower gels. Aluminium and parabens have been linked to cancer and other health complaints (Walters, 2008). Even in what is often touted as the best mens skin care formula available you will find ingredients that have the potential to cause serious harm to you. As the years have progressed, the scientific world has discovered that many of the most commonly used ingredients in skin care products are toxic to the human body. The question is why these companies are still allowed to use these ingredients. Steps have been taken by both the European Union and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban these ingredients from use in cosmetics products. The European Union has so far been the only regulating body to achieve this goal. The U.S. FDA is still tied up in an ongoing court battle with the cosmetics industry, and currently it appears that the cosmetics industry is winning. There are companies within the industry that are focused on providing their customers with a safe and efficient product, and that are not just out to increase their profits by using low cost chemical ingredients. The b est mens skin care products will comprise of all natural ingredients. These include plant-based oils, proteins, enzymes, and extracts that are carefully chosen for their effectiveness (Rosenbaum, 2009). Those days are gone when a man entering a beauty salon was unacceptable or considered being lethal to his masculinity. These days the average male can easily wander inside a good salon to get himself some serious enhancement in looks. History shows that in ancient days, men would make use of kohl to line their eyes. Now again, it is pretty much in the style, perfectly acceptable and quite common if a man goes to a beauty salon or parlour and gets his chest waxed and eyebrows done. Otherwise, the primary thing that people nowadays notice is the face, and the image is all that matters. So in the present world, making the best of your looks and looking neat has become highly important for men (Conway, 2009). An examination of the data collected in the Barnfield College Salon and Spa revealed that despite the fact that more than a half of respondents aged 16-60 are aware of Male Grooming products (9 out of 12 questioned) they still do not feel very comfortable visiting the beauty salons and would be better off with more men around. Further analysis of the study revealed that most men would spend in average  £10 on male grooming products or treatments (6 respondents would spend  £0-10, and 5 are prepared to spend  £10-20), and would come to a beauty salon for sauna / steam treatments (10 clients), Swedish massage (4 clients), facials (3 clients) and various spa treatments (3 clients). None of the male respondents showed interest in coming to the beauty parlour for waxing or manicure / pedicure treatments. Anti-ageing Ageing is a process that starts when we are born we get older every day! Ageing is a process; it has a beginning, middle and an end. And the main focus is that vast middle part of life when we begin to see and feel some of the inevitable declines that occur with agebut where we can still make choices about how well we will live in our own futures. We can not stop the process except when we die nor can we change the process and go backwards. What we can do is slow down the process by making rational decisions about what we do and do not do- and those choices can also help us look better. Ultimately, the life we live is always about the choices we make! Intelligent people can choose to be well informed, read information and labels and then make informed choices. With facts in hand, one can ask: Is it an intelligent choice for me to use this product or service? That is very different than just assuming or hoping this will reverse or stop my aging process. But finding the right information is not always easy. Cosmetic companies, pharmaceutical companies and exercise equipment makers outspend and out-advertise any formats where you might find intelligent information (Dorman, 2009). Paradoxically, it is usually the most expensive skin care products that are the least effective. Obviously, there are some quality products out there that will make your skin smoother, more radiant and younger looking. The difficultly is in knowing beforehand which skin care products truly work. It is possible to come across a good skin care product that can do all of the things that it should, like whiten age spots and even out pigmentation, all at a reasonable price. There are literally 1000s of products to choose from, but without the right information, it can be difficult to find one that really produces results, allowing years of aging and wrinkles to disappear from your face and body. We will spend enormous amounts of our hard earned money if we believe that we can look more youthful and beautiful. The cosmetic companies know. The plastic surgeons know. People are suckers for products that are supposed to improve our appearance. That is why there are so many different skin care products on the market today. The current skin care market is a multi-billion dollar industry. There is so much demand for effectual anti-aging skin care products, that manufacturers are constantly flooding the marketplace with new products to capitalize on this demand. Many of these products are produced randomly and carelessly, put into fancy high-end bottles and pushed onto the market. Instead of investing time and money to produce a quality, proven skin care product, most manufacturers will prefer to spend their money on marketing and product appearance. They can paint a compelling picture with the right bottle, a few full page magazine advertisements and a high-profile celebrity endorsement who more than likely has never tried the products they are endorsing. And we all know that marketing is VERY EXPENSIVE! So that is actually why a tiny tube can cost hundreds of dollars or more. Not because whats inside is expensive, but because of all the other things the company decided to spend money on are expensive. There will never be a shortage of people willing to pay top dollar for the latest skin care product in a fancy bottle, whether it works or not. The truth is that most people will not take the time to study specific products and ingredients to help them understand which ingredients work and which ingredients can actually harm their skin! Ingredients that can damage the skin are: Mineral oil (may be listed as liquid paraffin, paraffin wax or petrolatum on the label of the product) Dioxane Fragrances Parabens (may be listed on the label as propyl, butyl, methyl or ethyl paraben) Alcohols (can be listed as ethyl alcohol, methanol, ethanol, SD alcohol, benzyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol) There are new, well researched compounds that can reverse and prevent the damage caused by sun, air pollution and other factors. Nutrients for the skin that destroy free radicals. There are unique products that your pores will absorb and use to produce new collagen and elastin. When you use skin care products that contain these ingredients, your skin will start to look younger, healthier and more radiant. When you are choosing a skin care product, it is vital that you do not buy one that is purely cosmetic in nature. There are plenty of skin creams that will fill in the lines while they are on, temporarily giving the appearance of nicer skin, but as soon as you wash them off, reality returns. In order for a skin care product to be truly effective, it must contain ingredients that nourish, nurture and activate your bodys ability to heal itself. If you want to prevent or reduce wrinkles, you want something that increases production of collagen, elastin and new skin cells. If you do this, you will actually reverse the aging of your skin. But some manufacturers of expensive products try to mislead the public by including some genuinely good active ingredients. The problem is that they do not contain enough of the active ingredients to be effective. They contain just a small amount so that they can legally list the ingredient on their label. The best ingredients are expensive, and as mentioned before, most manufacturers spend the majority of their money on marketing. So, it is not enough to look for the ingredients mentioned below, they must be high up on the list of ingredients. Therefore we must look for the highest concentration that we can find. The ingredients to look out for: Synergy TK Phytessence Wakame CoQ10 Nano-Lipobelle H-EQ10 In conclusion, there must be a common-sense approach in our life to stopping and reversing the aging process: stay out of the sun and, when you can not, use a sunscreen product with a high SPF rating. Eat right and augment your diet with daily vitamins. Use high quality skin care products that both moisturize and reverse the symptoms associated with getting old. Implementing these key suggestions will lead to better feeling and looking you, so you can stop aging and start living (Daniels, 2009). On the basis of the survey that has been conducted in Barnfield College it can be concluded that the majority of respondents (15 people) admitted not using the ant-aging products and only 4 people said that they use it regularly. But in spite of that 8 respondents said that they spend up to  £15 on anti-ageing products and 2 clients spend between  £15 and  £30. When asked about the favourite brands of cosmetics and/or skincare there was no winning brand and clients mentioned various makes such as Olay, LOreal (3 people each), Nivea (2 people), Revlon and No7 (1 client each). Then we asked our clients whether they would be interested in a top range anti-aging skincare brand like Dermalogica if we were to introduce one, and the majority replied no (18 people) and only 4 people said yes. To sum up, clients said that they do not use anti-ageing products because they do not work or because they simply do not have time for it. CONCLUSION The findings based on surveys taken at Barnfield College Spa and Hairdressing Salon indicate that people visiting Barnfield are overall satisfied with the way it is functioning. Clients in general are tremendously pleased with receptionists and the atmosphere in the reception and waiting area but suggested that there is room for few improvements in the waiting area and booking facilities. Despite the fact that more men are becoming big spenders in the skin care market and the demand for specific mens salon treatments and related care products is one of the fastest growing areas within the beauty industry (Hiscock, Stoddart and Connor, 2004, p.209), the study revealed that male clients are still hugely conservative about the treatments they come or would come for and the amount of money they are prepared to spend. Perhaps, men would be more experimental with other treatments designed for them and offered by salons and spas be there more information available, e.g. booklets, leaflets or brochures in receptions or waiting areas. The same could be said about the male grooming products, and although the majority of men respondents confirmed that they are familiar with the range of skincare products available for them, it looks like men need more explanation about the importance of men skincare routine. Men should be aware that products designed for them have been developed to reflect the fact that the skin is more resistant, but conversely may also be more vulnerable, through neglect, misuse or total lack of protective products such as moisturizes and sun blocks (Hiscock, Stoddart and Connor, 2004, p.209) On the basis of the results of anti-ageing questionnaires, it can be concluded that people are still not fully aware of anti-ageing products and not yet ready to spend on top branded skincare products simply claiming that they have no time for it or do not believe they work. Therefore, there should be more articles or other relevant information on anti-ageing aiming primarily at younger people with the main message: Prevention is better than cure! and encouraging clients to look after their skin as early as possible, rather than waiting until signs of ageing have begun to appear and explaining that anti-ageing treatments cannot turn back years of poor skin care and neglect, nor can it stop the aging process. Some treatments can significantly enhance the skins appearance, but not on a long-term basis or without continuous treatments (Hiscock, Stoddart and Connor, 2004). RECOMMENDATIONS In the light of the above conclusions it is recommended that the College could provide more up-to-date magazines related to beauty and hairstyles including informative and educating material on skincare products and treatments, especially the ones available in Barnfield. Also a number of other actions could be undertaken in order to try to make the clients waiting experience more pleasant and comfortable. First, there could be some soft music and high chairs in the waiting area and, in spite the fact that this has cost implications, both receptionists and clients would benefit from this. Second, cost implications will be incurred for fitting a refreshments and/or hot drinks vending machine, which may be immensely useful during both cold and hot seasons, especially having in mind that a few customers complained about the waiting area being too cold and, even more importantly some treatments cannot be performed if the client is too hot or too cold. Theoretically, the betterment of Barnfield College Salon and Spa performance can be assumed as a logical outcome if all the measures are taken by its managers. References Barham A. (1999) Beauty Therapists Guide to Professional Practice and Client Care. Harlow: Longman Conway N. (21/11/2009) Fantastic Beauty Tips for Men. [Online] Available at http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/fantastic_beauty_tips_for_men (Accessed: 30 December 2009). Daniels M. (12/11/2//9) Stop Aging and Start Living. [Online] Available at http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/stop_aging_and_start_living (Accessed: 30 November 2009). Dorman L. (25/10/2009) Anti-aging? Is it a real possibility? [Online] Available at http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/antiaging_is_it_a_real_possibility (Accessed: 30 December 2009). Hiscock J., Stoddart E. and Connor J. (2004) Beauty Therapy. Oxford: Heinemann Masters T.W. (1988) Salon Management for Hairdressers and Beauty Therapists, Aldershot: Gower Publishing Ltd Nordmann L., Appleyard L. and Linforth P. (2001) Professional Beauty Therapy The official guide to Level 3, London: Thomson Learning Rosenbaum V. (16/11/2009) Finding the Best Mens Skin Care Products Can Be Difficult. [Online] Available at http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/finding_the_best_mens_skin_care_products_can_be_difficult (Accessed: 30 December 2009). Rosenbaum V. (No date) Healthy and Beautiful Skin. [Online] Available at http://www.defendyourskin.com/ (Accessed: 30 December 2009). Walters S. (19/09/2008) Why Natural Organic Beauty Products Are Essential for Men. [Online] Available at http://www.naturalnews.com/024258_beauty_products_health_chemicals.html (Accessed: 30 November 2009).

Moral Complexity in the Making and Keeping of Promises Essay examples -

The making of a promise involves the voluntary giving of one's word that, if and when a particular circumstance or situation comes about, one will undertake to act in a manner defined by the terms of the promise one has given. The act of making the promise, in other words, implies a willingness to keep it. What is being agreed is that, on the basis of something said in the past, one's future actions will, insofar as the future is foreseeable, follow a particular course and no other. On the related, but rather different question of the motivation involved in keeping a promise, it may be that the promise-maker's acting or deciding in a particular way places him in a position identical to or in complete sympathy with the person to whom the promise has been made. Equally, it is, possible that events may turn out in such a way as to suggest that to keep the promise would be harmful to the interest of the person to whom it was made. Should this dilemma arise, whether or not the promise is kept must depend upon the particular circumstances of the case. Choosing not to keep a promise in such a situation would be not a demonstration of the promiser's inability to keep his word, but a clear indication of his quite proper awareness that, in deciding what course to take, the promiser has quite properly concluded that the interest of others must be placed before his own. This situation is philosophically interesting in two immediately apparent ways: firstly, because of the questions which it raises concerning the ways in which a present or future obligation might be argued to exist in relation to a promise given in the past; secondly, because it is possible to imagine a society in which the concept of keeping promises does not exist, s... ... that of being possible beneficiaries by my action. They do stand in this relation to me, and this relation is morally significant. But they may also stand to me in the relation of promisee to promiser, of creditor to debtor, of wife to husband, of child to parent, of friend to friend, of fellow countryman to fellow countryman, and the like; and each of these relations is the foundation of a prima facie duty, which is more or less incumbent on me according to the circumstances of the case." Bibliography: Foot, Philippa (ed.) Theories of Ethics Oxford University Press, 1990 Honderich, Ted (ed.) The Oxford Companion to Philosophy Oxford University Press, 1995 Mackie, J. L. Ethics: Inventing Right and Wrong Penguin, 1977 Norman, Richard The Moral Philosophers Oxford University Press, 1983 Ross, W. D. The Right and the Good London, 1930. Moral Complexity in the Making and Keeping of Promises Essay examples - The making of a promise involves the voluntary giving of one's word that, if and when a particular circumstance or situation comes about, one will undertake to act in a manner defined by the terms of the promise one has given. The act of making the promise, in other words, implies a willingness to keep it. What is being agreed is that, on the basis of something said in the past, one's future actions will, insofar as the future is foreseeable, follow a particular course and no other. On the related, but rather different question of the motivation involved in keeping a promise, it may be that the promise-maker's acting or deciding in a particular way places him in a position identical to or in complete sympathy with the person to whom the promise has been made. Equally, it is, possible that events may turn out in such a way as to suggest that to keep the promise would be harmful to the interest of the person to whom it was made. Should this dilemma arise, whether or not the promise is kept must depend upon the particular circumstances of the case. Choosing not to keep a promise in such a situation would be not a demonstration of the promiser's inability to keep his word, but a clear indication of his quite proper awareness that, in deciding what course to take, the promiser has quite properly concluded that the interest of others must be placed before his own. This situation is philosophically interesting in two immediately apparent ways: firstly, because of the questions which it raises concerning the ways in which a present or future obligation might be argued to exist in relation to a promise given in the past; secondly, because it is possible to imagine a society in which the concept of keeping promises does not exist, s... ... that of being possible beneficiaries by my action. They do stand in this relation to me, and this relation is morally significant. But they may also stand to me in the relation of promisee to promiser, of creditor to debtor, of wife to husband, of child to parent, of friend to friend, of fellow countryman to fellow countryman, and the like; and each of these relations is the foundation of a prima facie duty, which is more or less incumbent on me according to the circumstances of the case." Bibliography: Foot, Philippa (ed.) Theories of Ethics Oxford University Press, 1990 Honderich, Ted (ed.) The Oxford Companion to Philosophy Oxford University Press, 1995 Mackie, J. L. Ethics: Inventing Right and Wrong Penguin, 1977 Norman, Richard The Moral Philosophers Oxford University Press, 1983 Ross, W. D. The Right and the Good London, 1930.

Billy Joel :: Free Essays

William Martin Joel, born May 9, 1949, in The Bronx, NY, grew up in a comfortable Long Island suburb, Levittown, during the years following World War II. His German-born father, Howard Joel, who was imprisoned by the Nazis at Dachau during the war, moved to America after his release, to begin a new life in New York. That new life included adopting a new faith for his son--although Joel Sr. was Jewish, young Billy was raised in a predominately Catholic neighborhood and frequently attended mass and confession. Joel's father secured work as an engineer with General Electric while his mother, Rosalind, set to work raising Billy and his sister Judy. Both of Joel's parents provided early musical influences: his father was a classically trained, self-disciplined pianist, and his mother had once sung in the chorus for Gilbert and Sullivan. Though he scored well on tests, his teachers refused to graduate him from high school due to his many absences from skipping school. It was also during these years that Joel discovered the power of music. In 1962, Joel saw a live performance for the first time when he went with friends to hear James Brown at Harlem's Apollo Theater. Other early influences included Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Elvis Presley, and the Beatles. Joel was deeply affected by the British invasion, so much so that he modeled his own budding style after the Beatles' Paul McCartney, "I idolized The Beatles, especially Paul - nobody could come up with the melodies he could". On February 21st, 1964, Joel joined his first band, the Echos (in 1965 known as the Lost Souls, in 1966 The Memerald Loard), on the organ and vocals and began composing simplistic songs. "The first gig I did was when I was 15, in 1964. I played in a band at Holy Family Church in Hicksville. Billy Joel :: Free Essays William Martin Joel, born May 9, 1949, in The Bronx, NY, grew up in a comfortable Long Island suburb, Levittown, during the years following World War II. His German-born father, Howard Joel, who was imprisoned by the Nazis at Dachau during the war, moved to America after his release, to begin a new life in New York. That new life included adopting a new faith for his son--although Joel Sr. was Jewish, young Billy was raised in a predominately Catholic neighborhood and frequently attended mass and confession. Joel's father secured work as an engineer with General Electric while his mother, Rosalind, set to work raising Billy and his sister Judy. Both of Joel's parents provided early musical influences: his father was a classically trained, self-disciplined pianist, and his mother had once sung in the chorus for Gilbert and Sullivan. Though he scored well on tests, his teachers refused to graduate him from high school due to his many absences from skipping school. It was also during these years that Joel discovered the power of music. In 1962, Joel saw a live performance for the first time when he went with friends to hear James Brown at Harlem's Apollo Theater. Other early influences included Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Elvis Presley, and the Beatles. Joel was deeply affected by the British invasion, so much so that he modeled his own budding style after the Beatles' Paul McCartney, "I idolized The Beatles, especially Paul - nobody could come up with the melodies he could". On February 21st, 1964, Joel joined his first band, the Echos (in 1965 known as the Lost Souls, in 1966 The Memerald Loard), on the organ and vocals and began composing simplistic songs. "The first gig I did was when I was 15, in 1964. I played in a band at Holy Family Church in Hicksville.

Creating a Robot to Guard Property with Lego Mindstorm :: Robotics

The Protectobot Abstract My final project is to build a robot that will use non-violent techniques to keep animals out of yards. Using the Lego Mindstorm Kit I was able to complete this project. When certain animals walk by my robot, it throws gears towards the animal to scare it away. It can tell the difference between good animals and bad, and does not harm them in any way. Background For many years people have been trying to find non-violent ways to keep animals out of their yards and away from family pets. Various attempts have included motion detecting sprinklers, electric fences, fake smells, and ultrasonic sound bursts. These devices work in some cases but not in all. Motion sprinklers spray short bursts of water when they detect animals. Some animals however, like to get wet so the motion sprinklers will not necessarily work on all. Ultrasonic sound burst devices detect when an animal is near and sends out a two second ultrasonic sound burst. These bursts can be heard by animals but not by humans so they may have a hard time figuring out when the batteries run out or when it is broken. Electric fences can sometimes hurt animals, including pets that are allowed to be in our backyards. Fake smells of the animal’s enemy can also help scare the animal away. There are often unwanted animals in my family’s backyard. They eat our fruit from our trees, and tear up our grass. We have been trying to find more effective ways to keep them out for a long time. For my final project, I decided to make a robot that will detect when an animal walks by it. When it detects an animal, it will throw small objects at whatever it is that moved. I have not yet decided what it is that my robot will throw. It has to be harder than a sponge, but cannot be so hard that it will hurt something. As a warning to humans, it will make a beep noise before it throws the object. Procedures I built many small parts to put together to make my functioning robot. It is made up of the launching pad, gear/motor station, the RCX platform, and the head. I first built the launching platform. It is made up of black beams ranging in size from one to sixteen. They are put together in rows with reinforcements on the opposite sides running in the other direction. They came together to form a triangular shape with two gears at the end. I then attached gears and a motor to the platform so that the motor is able

Revolutionary Petunia Essay

In Alice Walker’s â€Å"Revolutionary Petunia† the author has portrayed Sammy Lou as a poor, black lady who revenged her husband’s murder. The writer describes Sammy Lou’s actions as a fight for freedom and change from the horrible manner in which she and others are treated. She is portrayed as a â€Å"militant† (line 9) that is strong and proud. Sammy Lou is a â€Å"cultivator† and has taken justice into her own hands. The use of the â€Å"cultivator hoe† represents her fight for justice and freedom from oppression. The murder that she committed has started a change for a better life. The author’s use of the petunias are symbols of Sammy Lou’s life, pride and her stand for change. First, the petunia is a good representation of Sammy Lou’s life. She has endured a harsh typical life for a southern black woman. She has cultivated the land to provide food and raise her children in circumstances not exactly ordinary. The nature of the flower is to live and thrive against all elements of nature. The poet compares the physical nature of the flower to Sammy Lou. In other words, she wants those around her not to â€Å"forgit to water [her] purple petunias† (line 26). The beauty of the flower will be strong and continue to thrive and will not give up. She wants her children and others that surround her to continue her fight even after she is gone. She reflects upon what is important to her as she is taken to the place she will die. The petunia will live on and so will her fight against those that try to hold her back. She is proud of the achievements she has accomplished. Secondly, Sammy Lou is a proud woman that holds the love of God and her children close to her heart. The purple petunia is strong and beautiful the same as her love for God and her family. She urges her children to â€Å"respect the word of God† (line 22). Her loss of trust for others has not robbed the pride she has in her Christian faith. Although Sammy Lou is a poor lady that has â€Å"funeral home calendars† (line 16) for wallpaper, nonetheless she is proud of her children and compares them to â€Å"George, Sammy Lou sees strengths in her children and has taught them in a way that they will carry on her fight for change when she is gone. Lastly, making changes for a better more acceptable world for her children is an important part of Sammy Lou’s goals. Equally important, she has sent the murderer of her husband to his reward (lines 2-3). The petunias if not watered will wilt and die and so will her achievements for change if they are not followed up. She has cultivated a path for her children to follow. She has tried to show them they do not have to be oppressed, but can stand up for themselves. Making the world a better place is an important achievement to Sammy Lou. The murder of a man that is portrayed as a â€Å"creature† (line 3) is an example of her stand for change in the lives of those she loves. In â€Å"Revolutionary Petunia†, the author shows that one person can make a difference. An oppressed southern lady takes matters into her own hands when she takes the life of someone, who’s cruelty only brings pain into other’s lives. Her strength brought change and has enabled her to make a difference for the world that she loves and respects. Writer’s Log At first I wrote ideas of the meaning of the poem that I feel were important. This helped me find a path that I wanted to take when I started writing my paper. I wrote down all the words that I needed to look up in the dictionary for better understanding. I found it easier to stay on the topic after I made a outline of the important parts of the poem I wanted to write about. The more I read the poem, it became easier to understand. I find that if I work on my paper in the morning I have an easier time coming up with ideas. I work lots of hours and sometimes when I am writing I get distracted by the phone or by someone needing my attention, so if I write in the early morning I usually will not get distracted. Writing about poetry is a very hard challenge for me, but I feel once I have written a few papers, hopefully I will become more comfortable with the writings.