Hotels Resource Management

Hotels Resource Management Summary Proper management of resources of an organization both physical and human resources is one of the crucial initiatives imperative for the purpose of its survival. The success and performance of an organization is dependent upon the management of its available resources. However, the management of these resources differs from organization to organization depending on the industry a business entity is operating. The above provided case study provides an insight of a unique and peculiar industry, hotel industry where the management of resources is slightly different from other industries. It is unique in the sense that most of the assets in the industry have a very short lifespan and the high chances of theft and fraudulent activities involved in the industry (Branson Lennox, 1989).Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Hotel’s Resource Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There is nothing hard like managing the resources of a hotel and cont rolling the costing elements bearing in mind that most of the products in a hotel may not have standard costs and therefore some dishonest employees or managers may manipulate some prices for their own personal gains. The manager of a hotel must be very keen in ensuring high standards are maintained to achieve the most important goals, which are customer satisfaction and maximization of owners’ equity hence increasing the profitability in the hotel (Jones, 2002). The assets of the hotel must be used in a way that will guarantee desirable returns to its owners. The manager should be proactively involved in close monitoring of all the physical assets and prevent unexpected losses. For instance, there are fragile assets involved in the hotel industry that can bring about huge losses if not properly monitored (Jones Jawell, 1998). On the bar wing of the hotel there are always drinks that are contained in very fragile bottles that can e asily break not to mention the other side of the hotel where the foods might be handled using glass materials that are also highly fragile. If considerable care is not taken in these medium-term assets, they can impact negatively on the performance of a hotel (Kreek, 1978). There are always challenges involved in the management of hotel’s property to maximize the profitability.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This is because the industry itself is regulated by certain rules and regulations that have to be fully complied with. In some countries, there are laws that stipulate specific hours for alcohol consumption and any one found violating this law could face serious prosecution. Therefore, some assets in the hotel remain unproductive for quite some time and the.manager should implement a strategy that will ensure this time is compensated. The hotel man ager must also ensure there are set standards that will enable in determination of whether the intended goals are being adequately met (Lawson, 1995). The actual/achieved standards must be measured against the set standards and the resultant deviation that may be favorable or unfavorable will allow appropriate corrective measures to be taken. Another important section of the hotel that need constant check up is the purchasing/procurement department. There are two reasons for this. First, the purchasing of hotel consumables constitute huge amount of the hotel’s budget and secondly the hotel items are more vulnerable to theft. From an economic point of view, it is important that the input prices of various hotel items being thoroughly studied and the ones with the lowest possible prices be purchased when comparing more than one input items that will yield the same quality. This will reduce the ghost costs incurred in the hotel. However, all the goods must meet the expectations of the guests and other customers, in other words the customers must be fully satisfied. Cost-effective and customer satisfaction are the overriding goals (Loether, 2005).Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Hotel’s Resource Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More All the items purchased need to be properly recorded and accurate records concerning the same fully maintained. There must always be proper protocol of handling various assets and other things purchased and this can easily be achieved through specialization in asset handling. For example, goods ordering, reception and accountability should be handled by separate individuals and this will reduce chances of fraud (Powers, 1995). Health and safety are other aspects that provide uniqueness in the management of hotel resources. In the recent past, there have always been instances of terrorism attacks with hotels and restaurant facilities being the k ey targets (Rushmore, 1992). This has made the managers to be extra cautious to ensure there is adequate security in the hotel facility and its environs since this can drive away many customers hence bringing substantial losses to the business. Improved technology has enabled the installation of complex and sophisticated surveillance cameras in hotel rooms such that the guests can view all the relevant happenings while still in their own rooms. This can increase the number of guests since they are assured of their safety. There is also another important issue in the management of resources of a hotel. The hotel lifecycle has to be taken into account monitoring the nature of income and occupancy fluctuations over the years. Hotels seem to have high income and occupancy during their first years of operations and in most cases during their initial ten years (Schneider Tucker, 1989).Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More After that the bed occupancy and income declines and there is subsequent increase in maintenance and repair costs. Therefore, the manager needs to be keen in managing these crucial resources and come up with a strategy that will ensure there is constant income flow in the hotel. Maintenance planning and house keeping need to be given a priority while managing hotel resources. Though there is always a maintenance department responsible for that role, it should be a shared responsibility and every person must actively participate. A well-maintained property will attract large number of guests and hence improve the profitability of the business. House keeping department is one of the most important sections in the hotel. This is because it has to continuously communicate with all the other sections for it to operate effectively. This section maintains the required cleanliness and handling of guests’ belongings rests on their hands (Alexander, 1996). The manner in which some item s are handled including beds, tables will determine how such items will last since handling them carelessly can lead to their spoilage (Alexander, 1994). Identify and discuss five or six standards that could be established; include how variance from such standards could be measured Measurement standards can be used in hotel business to provide an analysis of the deviations realized from the achieved rather than anticipated results. Always the set standards are measured against the actual standards (Anderson McAdam, 2004). This is so obvious since in most cases the achieved results may not precisely match what was expected by the management. Some standards can be applied using variance analysis. Standard measurements cannot be established without incorporating variance analysis. Variance is the difference between a budgeted, anticipated outcome and the actual outcome realized from a process. Variance analysis is a budgetary tool control used to analyze the difference between the sta ndard and actual costs. Every manager sets what he wants to achieve and strictly put some structures in place to ensure the set goals are achieved through the joint efforts of other employees. The following are some of the standards that can be applied. Labor Efficiency Variance (LEV): It is the difference between how many hours were worked for a given number of units actually produced and how many hours should have been worked valued at the standard rate per hour (Hronec, 1993). This can be applied with regard to how many guests have been attended over a particular period in time and compared to planned time in hours. In addition, the number of hours utilized in the kitchen to produce a given number of can be compared with actual planned hours. In the event that lesser time is taken than the anticipated one, then the variance is said to be favorable and the reverse is unfavorable. Material Price Variance (MPV): It occurs when there is a disparity between the actual cost of the mat erial and the budgeted cost. The hotel purchasing department may incur more costs than anticipated or lesser costs due to factors like quantity discounts or abrupt price cut of raw materials used in the hotel due to unforeseen factors. In the event that the actual costs are more than the budgeted costs, there is unfavorable variance and this calls for appropriate measures to be taken. Labor Rate Variance (LRV): This is the difference between what the actual number of hours worked did cost and what it should have cost. This in most cases is attributable to casual employees in the hotel. Sometimes a situation may arise where the costs incurred in production for a particular time period is less than what had been initially planned. This may be due to high efficiency machines in the hotel or costs may be high than expected due unexpected overtime hours worked. The variance will be unfavorable if the actual hours cost more than the planned. Material Quantity Variance (MQV): It occurs whe n there is disparity between the actual material that was used and the budgeted material quantity at standard cost. Sometimes the material used and in this context may refer to ingredients used by the kitchen department that may be less than what had already been budgeted. This again may bring about favorable or unfavorable variances depending on how much material was used. Variable production overhead total variances: This is the disparity between the actual cost of a given output and the budgeted cost in terms of variable costs /overheads. This variance or standard measure costs ignores the fixed aspect of the hotel and takes into consideration only the variable costs (Amaratunga Baldry, 2003). This may include wages and costs incurred in purchasing consumables to be used in the hotel. From the perspective of a hotel’s general Manager, evaluate techniques that can be used to control the cost of purchasing The profit maximization of any business entity is dependent upon th e cost control in an entity. It is the role of the manager to minimize costs as much as possible while at the same time maximizing the total revenue. This will ensure the difference between the overall costs and the total revenue is as wide as possible. The managers need to identify the need for the purchase as well as the person who is handling those services and goods (Massheder Finch, 1998). The manager must ensure that goods are purchased when they are required. This is aimed at reducing huge storage costs that may be attached to holding of goods. This is one strategy towards ensuring that minimal costs are incurred. Such a strategy not only reduces the costs in terms of storage costs but also in terms of avoidance of spoilage of some perishable materials used in the business. The manager must be able to compare the goods or rather materials that are likely to yield the same utility and ensure only those goods with the lowest cost are purchased. This is because there is no need of going for materials with high costs and there are other materials with relatively lower costs and at the same time, they are of the same quality. As noted earlier, the items purchased in a hotel are small and so numerous making them more vulnerable to theft and misappropriation. The only way a manager can minimize this is ensuring every single item that has been bought is accounted for and proper records are kept with utmost accuracy (Tidd, Bessant Pavitt, 2001). Several operations need to be specialized such that the employees in the hotel do not handle the entire or full system of a particular item. Regular transfers of some workers or inter-departmental transfers may also help reduce costs. This is because many unnecessary costs incurred in the hotel are as a result of theft cases amongst the employees. If employees are left in one department for along time, they become used to that department and the chances of perpetrating frauds are very high. Continuous stocktaking and s urprise checks of physical stock are other ways of minimizing purchasing costs. This will make those responsible for stock maintenance careful and aware such that the records are up to date and accurate at all times (Amaratunga, Baldry Sarshar, 2000). Finally, there should be optimal utilization of materials, very minimal wastes should be witnessed in the hotel, and this is the one area where kitchen department misuse the essential materials. In general, the manager should keep an eye on all the departments that are directly linked to handling of hotel goods and materials and in particular purchasing and kitchen departments. References Alexander, K. (1996). Facilities management theory practice. London: E FN Spon. Alexander, K. (1994). Facilities management. A journal of Facilities, 12(11), 33-40. Amaratunga, D. Baldry, D. (2003). A conceptual framework to measure facilities management performance. Journal of Property Management, 21(2), 171-189. Amaratunga, D., Baldry, D., Sars har, M. (2000). Assessment of facilities management performance- what next? A journal of Facilities, 18(1/2), 66-75. Anderson, K., McAdam, R. (2004). A critique of benchmarking and performance measurement lead or lag? Benchmarking an International Journal, 11(5), 465-483. Branson, J. C., Lennox, M. (1989). Hotel, hostel and hospital housekeeping. 5 Edn. London: Hodder Sloughton. Feldinan, D. S. (1995). Asset management: here to stay. Cornell hotel and restaurant administration quarterly, 36(5), 36-52. Hemmington, N., King, C. (2000). Key dimensions of outsourcing hotel food and beverage services. International journal of contemporary hospitality management,12(4), 256. Horner, S.M. (1993). Vital signs- Using quality, time and cost performance measurements to chart your company’s future, New York, NY: Amocon. Jagels, M. G., Coltman, M. M. (2004). Hospitality, management accounting. 8 Edn. Heboken. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons. Jones, C. (2002). Facilities management in med ium-sized UK hotels. International journal of contemporary management, 14(2), 78-80. Jones, C., Jawell, V. (1998). Managing facilities. Oxford: Butterworth Heineman. Kreek, I. A. (1978). Operational problem solving for the hotel and restaurant industry. Boston, MA: CBI Publishing Company. Lawson, F. (1995). Hotels and resorts. London: Architectural Press. Loether, J. (2005). Meeting technology in on the move: plan for future. Hotel and motel management, 220(4), 14-21. Massheder, K., Finch, E. (1998). Benchmarking methodologies applied to UK facilities Management. Facilities journal,16(3/4), 99-106. Powers, T. (1995). Introduction to management in the hospitality industry. New York, NY: John Wiley Sons. Rushmore, S. (1992). Hotel life expectancy. Lodging Hospitality journal. 48 (5), 16-19. Schneider, M., Tucker, G. (1989). The professional housekeeper. New York, NY: Van Nustrand Reinhold. Tidd, J., Bessant, J., Pavitt, K. (2001). Managing Innovation: Integrating technological, M arket and Organizational change, UK: Wiley, Chichester,

Marketing Assignment Sample

Marketing Assignment Sample Marketing Assignment Sample A marketing assignment is an exercise which is widely used in the various educational programs. Simulating a marketing plan of an imaginary company gives students the opportunity to test their skills in practice with no real risk of loss. The marketing assignment sample provides an example of a marketing plan of an imaginary logistic company: it fully describes the structure of the enterprise and the basic principles of its functioning. Goals Creating freight forwarding company with the formation of the regional offices (branches, separate subdivisions) of the cargo delivery; Organization of the complex service for the small-lot shipments of the potential customers, including freight forwarding, insurance, warehousing, and door-to-door delivery; Increasing the market share of freight forwarding and warehousing services. Departments The sales department is responsible for customer service, acceptance of applications and documents on transportation, registration of waybills, the regional carriers, and attraction of the new customers. The legal department is working on the claims, interaction with the regional representatives on legal issues as well as the preparation and management of contracts both with the clients and the transport companies. Regional development department works with the opening of the new branches, the search for warehouses, offices and regional carriers, the regional cargo marketing research, and the advertising campaigns. Freight forwarding department is responsible for rolling stock and ensuring the implementation of applications for the delivery of cargo. The maintenance of its own vehicle park, including the passage of inspection and obtaining permits, also belongs to its expertise. The provision of the additional services for the carriage of goods by other types of transport (railways, planes, container transportation) as well as the organization and control of the international expedition of goods are also common here. Planning Budget The beginning of the procedure of formation of the budget is the notification sent by email to all heads of the financial responsibility centers for 5 days prior to the deadline for the submission of the budget requests. After that, the responsibility center managers present their budget requests within the monthly budget not later than on the 10th day of the month preceding the beginning of the budget period. For the effective control over the expenditure of cash, it is needed to introduce the additional operational planning, which should be complementary to the budget. Operational financial planning includes the preparation and execution of the payment schedule, the cash plan, and the credit plan. Setting the Price The value of services in the eyes of the customers can significantly vary. Hence, the lack of the account in the pricing leads to the fact that a considerable amount of money remains in someone else’s pocket. It is not always easy to adapt to the scale of price fluctuations in the value of the buyer but it is the only way to prevent the failure of missing the major opportunities for profit. It is also necessary to consider the interests of the loyal customers. For it, it is proposed to introduce a discount card system. The essence of the introduction of a discount card is supposed to ensure that clients are provided with continuous constant or cumulative discount rates in all areas of the company, which is expressed in the percentage of the fare or the specific numerical terms. Start When choosing a freight forwarding company, which is engaged in cargo transporting, the customer is always focused on the urgency of the delivery as well as the price-quality ratio. This is one of the most important criteria by which the client makes his or her choice. Even if the company offers the low price to the customer but does not comply with the stated schedule for shipping, the customer goes to the company with the higher prices but with a regular frequency of shipments projected in the terms of delivery. Many new companies make this mistake that leads to their bankruptcy at the only beginning of the working period. Therefore, to avoid such mistakes, it is important to show the projected shipments frequency to the client that will be available to view online at any time of a day. Likewise, to reach the proper speed of delivery and quality at the opening of the company, it is necessary to use the services of the other logistic companies. Based on this scheme, the initial operations would give no profit or even give some loss. In any case, such step is inevitable, as without it, the development of freight forwarding activity would be impossible. At you can get a high-quality custom assignment on any Marketing topic you need.

Constitutional & Judicial Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Constitutional & Judicial Review - Essay Example Al is a US citizen and cannot claim entry to another country as a matter of right, unless that country is willing to grant entry to him. Under the circumstances, the Home Secretary to UK is of the opinion that violent speeches and statements of Al against the ongoing war in Europe may create violent eruptions in UK society. His meeting in Washington DC has already resulted in unpleasant violence and arrests, and this incident combined with his earlier writings and statements led the Home Secretary to presume that his presence in United Kingdom might result in violence and clashes. Home Secretary is within his right to reject permission to enter UK1. Home Secretary need not give explanations to entry denial actions. A judicial Review action against the United Kingdom Home Secretary might not be very successful, even though Al's speeches in United States could not be termed as violence provoking. This charismatic leader belongs to an anti-war pressure group and it is not an offence to oppose a war. There is a lot of difference between an anti-war pressure group and a terrorism-provoking group. Anti Government sentiments are not exactly terrorist acts. Violence broke out because of pro-war protesters and it was a mere clash between the two groups that could happen anywhere. There was no bloodshed and the event did not leash out any anti government euphoria. Al can fight the decision by saying that condemning the war in Iraq is not exactly fomenting terrorism and he has a right to express his opinion2. But his rights to go to the European Human Rights commission are limited as he is neither a citizen of European Union, nor of one of its Member States. In the second case, Shoab, a Muslim clerk from Libya was given permission to stay in UK as postgraduate student till August 2003. He applied for indefinite leave to remain in United Kingdom. As Shoab is on student visa, it is difficult for him to get indefinite leave to remain even under normal circumstances. Usually student visas are extendable only during the period of study and it is never indefinite and Shoab's visa did not get extended. Home Secretary informed him that 'on account of your connections with Islamic terrorists groups, your deportation from the United Kingdom would be conducive to the public good'. Home Secretary believes that Shoab has connections with MAWI (Muslims against Western Imperialism), a group implicated in recent terrorist incidents in the West and had adopted a policy of seeking to deport all foreign nationals with links to MAWI. Home Secretary is also accused of gaining mileage and electoral support for government in the approaching election. At a hear ing of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), the deportation order was confirmed. Shoab's barrister was however prevented from cross-examining witnesses and from knowing full details of the case against him. As Shoab is living in United Kingdom as a student he can approach European Union Human Rights Court against his deportation. He can go to the court and to Human Right Activists.

Project management (coca-cola) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Project management (coca-cola) - Essay Example We have considerable experience in the area and we have organized for international organizations in the coast. In this proposal, we outline our capability and how we will offer the best service if we get the chance to work with you. We intend to bring all the experience we have accumulated for years in areas such as risk management and project management to make sure that he event will be successful and will run smoothly. We have outlined the lineup of mangers who will be mandated with each areas of the project as a way to deter any mishap. This proposal provides the budget for the event and the various costs that will have to be incurred. As a tradition in PrudentEvent, we always ask the client to provide with at least one in-house employees to act as the project collaborate in order to give our staff an eye into the operations of the fir, we understand that there are numerous things which can go wrong with an international event. ... Our catering experts will make sure that the delegates in the conference will get the food they need, regardless of their culture or religious constraints it diet. We also have a well established travel and transport managers who will be able to manage the arrival of the delegates and their transport fro reach of the day they will stay in London. This team will not rest until the delegates have been sent back to their flights on their way back home. Being an events planner, we understand the importance of entertainment and understand that such an event can never go well without some form of entertainment. In this regard, we have specified a number of ways in which the guests will be entertained. More importantly, we understand the need for communication equipment especially with regard to the fact that an international event like this will need communication equipment which will take care of language translation. We have an already existing team to manage any transport needs with reg ard to the event. PrudentEvent is a world renowned event organizer that has achieved a number of world-class vents. Our main clients are international NGOs, and we have successfully organized meetings for their officials in a number of cities. Our greatest strength is that we have offices across the global and that makes global coordination easier. We have organized for meetings for large organizations around the world and we intend to use the experience we have achieved to make sure that the event is the success. We deliver success and quality for all our clients. 2 Conditions of the contract 1 Description of the nature of contract Planning the event with regard to the coordination of how the attendees will arrive and leave at the scene of the conference. †¢ This

Experiences of Child Poverty Essay Example for Free

Experiences of Child Poverty Essay London is the capital of the United Kingdom. The administrative structure in Greater London consists of 32 counties (boroughs) and the City of London, extending over 1584 kilometers  ². The population of London is around 7.5 million however throughout Greater London about 13 million people live. The GDP per capita for The UK is $36,500. London is the richest part of Britain and yet it has the highest rates of poverty in the UK. Lagos is the largest city in Nigeria. With an estimated population of 8.8 million inhabitants in the city, or rather 10. 7 million in the metropolitan area, Lagos is the second largest city in Africa. The UN estimates that at its present growth rate, Lagos state will be third largest mega city in the world by 2015 after Tokyo in Japan and Mumbai in India. Lagos is the main city of the south-western part of Nigeria, Africa. The GDP per capita in Lagos is $3,649. Over 10,000 people arrive at Lagos every week in search of jobs and most end up in the citys mega slum do to the lack of job opportunity. Children living in poverty are those who experience deprivation of the material, spiritual and emotional resources needed to survive, develop and thrive, leaving them unable to enjoy their lives, achieve their full potential or participate as full members of society. The easiest way to quantify child poverty is by setting an absolute or relative monetary threshold. If a family does not earn above that threshold, the children of that family will be considered to live below the poverty line. Absolute poverty thresholds are fixed, whereas relative poverty thresholds are developed with reference to the actual income of the population and reflect changes in consumption. This is not always accurate, as it is only an average and there are people earning millions who affect that average GDP per capita. In poor areas of London there are many problems that face children. The poor areas tend to be in places that lack jobs and job opportunities e.g. Hackney, Such poor areas can really affect the child’s life due to their living conditions. These children are living in relative poverty as they do have access to clean water, food and shelter which is provided by the state, but are considered poor to the rest of society as they can’t afford luxuries and normally depend upon benefits to get though life. These areas that lack job opportunities have high unemployment rates and so people have low incomes and often relate to crime as it is the culture of the area and people feel they do not get enough support from the government and feel let down and ignored. These poor areas are prime spots for drug dealers and drug addicts. This is significantly bad as they have a low income and so can’t afford the drugs and so they use the money which would have been spent on the children E.g. quality food. Rather than spending the money on better quality food they spend it on the drugs they are dependent on as they are addicted and so the child looses out as they tend to be mall nourished. Being mall nourished can increase the chances of becoming ill which then in turn means the child is less likely to spend time in school as they are off ill. This then affects their learning and they under achieve which means they have a less chance of ever getting a job and so they are trapped in the poverty cycle. It is then rely difficult for the children to break out of the poverty cycle due to many factors that affect them. Whereas Children living in the slums of Lagos also suffer from poverty, however the majority live in absolute poverty as they do not always have access to clean water, food and shelter, for example these children don’t have access to clean water and so most of the water is contaminated with diseases like cholera. Allot of children catch cholera from drinking dirty water which makes them ill and as most of the children have no access to health care due to their parents being born they can remain ill for a long time and it can be fatal. Being ill means they cannot help to provide for the family and the money being spent on their health cannot be spent on other vital things like basic food stuffs. It is hard to get out of both cases of poverty; however the children in the slums of Lagos are worse off and have a lower standard of living than the children living in Hackney. The majority of children living in poverty in Lagos are born to poor parents. Because of things like adult poverty, lack of education, unemployment, disabilities and discrimination significantly affect the causes of child poverty. Lack of parental economic resources such as disposable income restricts children’s opportunities and therefore the children are unable to go to school and allot of these children are forced to work. The problem is that allot of these jobs where children are forced to work are very dangerous and can cause injuries, health problems and even death. E.g. the recycling of old oil drums that contain harmful toxins. The main reason why the children in Hackney are trapped in the poverty cycle is because of the parents/Careers as well. The cycle of poverty is when a family remains in poverty over many successive generations. Family issues can play a big part in the reason for the child being submitted to a life of poverty. If the parents get in debt then this can be the cause of allot of stress, this can also cause the child to have stress which can affect their learning ability and health. Stress can also cause breakups between couples; this can lead to single mothers who are left on their own to support the child and themselves, which can also lead to father stress. Most single parents are unemployed because they haft to look after the children and so they rely on benefits. Teen pregnancies in both MEDCs and LEDCs are big causes of child poverty. Children resulting from unwanted pregnancies are more likely to live in poverty; raising a child requires allot of resources, so each additional child increases demands on parental resources. Families raised by a single parent are generally poorer than those raised by couples. This can be a big issue in LEDC countries such as Lagos. Many teens abandon their children as they simply do not have the resources available to support their child as they cannot claim benefits as they do not exist. Where as in MEDCs, teen moms are supported by the government and family. The problem in Lagos is that children generally suffer from absolute poverty; however there is also relative poverty. With absolute poverty children generally do not have what they need. They are short of basic food, water, shelter, clothing and adequate or sufficient health care. Where as in Hackney people do not suffer from absolute poverty and so are better off, however they live in relative poverty that is poverty under relative terms is viewed as being what some people lack in relation to other people. In my opinion the worst experience of child poverty in Lagos would be the lack of Clean water which causes a significant amount of deaths and illnesses and affects the family as a whole as the money used to pay for the child’s healthcare comes from the money normally spent on other necessities like food or education. The government of Nigeria could provide communities with wells however it would cost a phenomenal amount of money , and the majority of the people don’t live on legal grounds as they have just moved there and have not actually paid to live there and so the government would not be allowed to build wells as most of the people don’t have permition to live there in the first place. The worst experiences for children living in Hackney would be the culture of the area and so children grow up with crime related experiences, this then means that most of the children get brought up with crime and this can keep them in the poverty cycle. The government of Britain could increase prison sentences and increase policing in these areas. This policy would be expensive however it would increase the standards of living for these people and help them get out of relative poverty. Both cases of poverty affect the childs opportunities in life. This means they are limited jobs available to them or unemployment if there is a lack of job opportunities. There future generations will probably also live in poverty, whether absolute or relative. They will rarely experience if at all the luxuries and experiences we take for granted. Their only hope getting out of poverty is if the government adopts a poverty reduction strategy paper (PRSP) and use schemes like the growth of the cities and urban development, employment opportunities and poverty reduction and housing schemes. Also the best way to reduce child poverty would be to reduce child labour and increase accessibility to education by building more schools and improving the quality of education. This is a key point that governments need to adopt in order to reduce child poverty and help break the poverty cycle.

Essay --

1. Introduction Globalization has incurred dramatic transformation to commerce practices around the globe. Corporations like Intel, Apple, and IBM have begun to outsource experts from different parts of the globe, reasoning variation in firm’s structures and work shifts (Bernstein, Kripalani and Engardio, 2004). Consolidation between airlines (e.g., sky alliances, on world members and star alliances) is further instances of variations caused due to this phenomenon. According to Jean de la Croix (2011), like many other industries, hospitality and tourism sector has also been affected by the globalization. Hence, this dissertation peruses the impacts of globalization on 5 star luxury hotels in Geneva city, Switzerland with a specific concern on how it impacts the hotels marketing strategy. In this etude, â€Å"globalization† reflects on the procedure of augmenting cultural and social relationship, economic, and political interdependence, market and financial accretion that are due to th e advancements in transportation technologies, communication, and business liberation (Lenway and Eden, 2002) This dissertation contains of 2 relevant etudes. The first study is designed to investigate the impacts of globalization in the marketing strategy of 5 star hotels in Geneva and the second study investigates the link between the impacts of globalization and the scale of corporate marketing and international marketing implementation of the 5 star hotels. As international business and trade expand, there is no doubt that international connections will become more and more significant for the hotel industry. According to Zhang Zhen (2005), in the late decades, many hotels have received foreign customers one day or another. Then, as the sector evolve... ...n indicator was lately developed by collaboration between EDS Corporation and Foreign Policy Magazine (Foreign Policy, 2004). In this dissertation, the impacts of globalization are divided into two broad groups: 1) global market threats, and 2) worldwide market opportunities. These two important impacts are chosen in order to be perused as they are often mentioned in the past literature as one of the most certain and evident impacts of globalization (e.g., Molle & Jones, 2003; Smith & Calantone, 1999; Closs, 1992). Many believe that global market results in increases in market, business and enterprise potential and availability to the resources (Srivatava & Rukert, 1990; Smith & Calantone, 1999). However, some other like Heenan, 1989 and Jones, 2002; believe that global market results in an increase in the number and level of competition, and the degree of doubt.

About Nyc

Living in America is a fantasy for a lot of people, but living in New York City is something even better, and more magical than any fantasy. Although regarded as the `most populated city ‘ in the United States, the whole city has something interesting to offer everyone. It is sub divided into five boroughs , being Queens , The Bronx , Brooklyn , Manhattan , and Staten Island respectively . The landmarks in New York city are known all over the world . There is the famous Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Wall Street, the sky scrapers, and the World Trade Center, now called ground zero.One of Manhattan’s famous landmarks is Times Square. Different kinds of lights illuminate the area, where people are seen partying, having fun, and enjoying life. People from all over the world go to Times Square to have a glimpse of such a beautiful sight. A New York trip will never be complete without a visit to Times Square. The skyscrapers are so astonishingly tall and eye-catching. Th ese buildings posses the most beautiful architecture I have ever seen in my lifetime. I think to myself, there are so many buildings here; I find it hard to believe that man is capable of putting them up.The buildings look like they have plunged from GOD’s hand and landed at one spot. New York City is basically a crowded and small city. With a population of almost eight million residents, it is actually a mystery how such a big population would fit in one city. During the day, the streets and the subways are filled with busy people, with the roads filled with cars and the continuous honking of vehicles. By night, stars are accompanied by the millions of lights that illuminate the busy streets. They call New York the city that never sleeps.Let me tell you something, this big city called â€Å"The Big Apple† is the capital of all the new fashions and trends. Shops on the â€Å"Fifth Avenue† will make you really feel like a Million Dollar person, while in Chinatown you can get the cheapest unbranded stuff that looks almost the same. You can go see the â€Å"The New York Mets† at Shea Stadium in Flushings, Queens, and â€Å"The New York Yankees† at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. You can buy anything at anytime during the day or night because the shops never close.Walking down the Manhattan streets, it’s almost customary to smell the smoke of exhaust from thousands of cars. The smoke coming from Subway stations underneath the roads can get to your nostrils quicker than it can be seen. It almost makes you feel like if you are a big giant walking along houses under your feet that have smoke coming out of their chimneys. At the same time the smell of hotdogs stands, salted pretzel stands make you aware of their presence as your smell sensors go crazy, and start telling your brain to get some.You can try your best but the smell from Italian pizzerias will sure pull you in for a slice or two even if you are not a pizza lover. Then you have the fresh smell of different fruits coming from the fruit stands on the streets, reminding you that New York City even has choices for everyone even for healthy conscious ones. I lived and liked Brooklyn borough of New York City because it has so many Pakistani people, that it’s called â€Å"Little Pakistan. † There you will find tasty Indo-Pakistani food.Your taste buds will thank you for the spicy aroma, and tenderness of chicken or beef kabobs perfectly done on clay oven called â€Å"tandoor†. Chicken curry, beef curry with freshly clay oven baked Naans, Bryani, or tandoori chicken will give you the perfect combination of spices, aroma, tenderness, and fill you right up for a very reasonable price. In Manhattan, during the winter time, you have the roasted sweet almonds, and roasted salted peanuts that make your whole body warm. After eating a few of those, you might not like hot cocoa again.Sounds of honking of cars are a part of life in this city. Living in the apartments, it’s normal for you to wake up at least 2 to 3 times a night because of the sirens of Police or Fire trucks. Although you do not get to see any big planes over Manhattan anymore, but you hear the big planes roaring almost everywhere else reminding you of the fact that New York City is home to not only Westchester, Newark, but to big airports like JFK, and LaGuardia also. In winter, snowflakes are my favorite. Touching the snow, falling generously, makes you feel like you are touching the clouds.On Brooklyn and Brighton beaches, you can touch the cold water, and hot sand, making you feel as if you were in Caribbean’s. New York City never sleeps, so you can see, smell, feel, taste and touch so many things that you can go on and on about this great city, it’s beauty, and its wonder. Here you can see so many different cultures, different worlds living in one small world. I know that experiences that I had in that city are so magical and ex traordinarily special, they will always be with me where ever I go.

Aristotle or a post-modern anti-hero?

In On the Road Jack Kerouac produces what has become known as the archetypal Beat hero, Dean Moriaty. An analysis of whether he is closer to a traditional Aristotelian hero or to the postmodern anti-hero will reveal much about the often contradictory forces at work within the â€Å"rhythms of fifties underground America, jazz, sex, generosity, chill dawns and drugs . . . â€Å" (Holmes, 1957). Before discussing which Moriaty is closer to it will be necessary to briefly define both the traditional and the postmodern hero, identifying what they hold in common and what divides them.The traditional Aristotelian hero is a high-born man, normally royal or at least from the aristocracy who appears to be on top of the world at the beginning of his story. He has many advantages, both natural and acquired. He is often successful, popular with others and apparently happy. The tragic hero normally has something that has been called â€Å"the fatal flaw† (Kaufmann, 1992). This flaw may b e something he has no blame for, such as the heel that makes Achilles physically vulnerable, the jealousy that makes Othello emotionally vulnerable or the introspection that makes Hamlet delay so long. This fatal flaw often leads, in one way or another, to the downfall of the tragic hero.So the traditional tragic hero falls from a high social position to disgrace and/or death through circumstance and through his supposed fatal flaw. Aristotle said that his fate should inspire â€Å"pity and fear† within the audience (Aristotle, 2001).   Pity for the fate of the individual tragic hero and fear that they might fall into a similar situation themselves.   By contrast, the anti-hero is, according to the American Heritage Dictionary, â€Å"a main character in a dramatic or narrative work who is characterized by a lack of traditional heroic qualities, such as idealism of courage† (America, 1992).Some clue to which definition of protagonist – hero or anti-hero †“ Dean Moriaty falls can be found within the fact that the very term â€Å"anti-hero† is in fact a Twentieth Century invention (Lawall, 1966).   The idea of the anti-hero is in many ways linked to early twentieth century philosophies such as Existentialism, which suggested that life has little meaning and that no absolute standards of morality are relevant. The anti-hero creates his own sense of values, often from moment to moment, according to the needs of the moment. The postmodern anti-hero takes on similar propensities, although he is even more extreme. The â€Å"Man-With-No-Name† character that Clint Eastwood played in the 1960’s spaghetti westerns is perhaps the classic postmodern anti-hero.The world of these westerns does not have â€Å"good† and â€Å"evil† as could be identified by the white/black horses, the white/black cowboy hats and the handsome/ugly actors of the traditional Western. There are merely shades of darkness in the spag hetti western, and the same can be said for most of the characters in On the Road, set as it is within a world of constant wandering throughout America that is in some ways very similar to a western.One of the most important facets of On the Road is the fact that there are two main characters. First, there is Sal Paradise, the titular narrator of the novel that has been more or less associated with Kerouac himself; and second, there is Dean Moriaty. The reader is rapidly and constantly drawn into views of Dean Moriaty. Sal describes him as â€Å"simply a youth tremendously excited with life† who possesses â€Å"a kind of holy lightning . .. flashing from his excitement and his visions† (Kerouac, 1957).   Later Dean is described as â€Å"the holy con-man with the shining mind† (Kerouac, 1957).So in the manner of both the hero and the anti-hero, Dean is a charismatic character who draws others to him through the sheer energy that he exudes and his apparent zest for everything life has to offer. But Dean is very low born. He is apparently the son of an alcoholic who was never really raised properly and who has had criminal propensities from a very young age. Dean has been in prison for stealing cars. While traditional tragic heroes may commit the most serious of crimes (often murder) they are not normally criminal in a conventional sense. There is something petty and hopeless about the kind of criminality that Dean Moriaty displays.But in the best tradition of the postmodern anti-hero, Dean has learned a lot about how to live from his incarceration. He states, with characteristic bluntness:Only a guy who’s spent five years in jail can go to such maniacal  helpless extremes . . . prison is where you promise yourself the  right to live.  (Kerouac, 1957)So the anti-hero discovers himself through falling from grace, even if he probably did not have far to fall in the first place. Rather than going to his death or languishing in the shame of his crimes he lives out the years of his imprisonment and then comes out to go â€Å"on the road†. In one sense the novel shows what might happen when the tragic hero has fallen, been transformed and emerged as a postmodern anti-hero.Dean does fall further however, especially as the novel continues and the novelty of being free to do as he wishes starts to wear thin. Thus his abandonment of his wife and child are brought to his attention, indeed he is confronted with it. Sal, ever the intelligent observer, states that â€Å"where once Dean would have talked his way out, now he fell silent . . . he was BEAT† (Kerouac, 1957).The protagonist of the novel goes through it performing decidedly un-heroic deeds such as this abandonment. He also expresses a constant and rather disturbing attraction for very young girls, often only 12 or 13, especially those who are prostitutes and thus totally vulnerable to his desires. Near the end of the novel he actually abandons S al as he lies sick in Mexico City. Ultimately Sal comes to see Dean in a very brutal light, oine that hardly meets any kind of definition other than a decidedly anti-hero:. . . when I got better I realized what a rat he was, but then I hadbto understand the impossible complexity of his life, how he had toleave me there, sick, to get on with his wives and woes.b(Kerouac, 1957) (emphasis added)Dean is thus essentially a coward, and a lack of courage is never part of the character of a tragic hero, whatever other faults he may possess. But Sal, in characteristically postmodern fashion, does not blame Dean for his cowardice and being a â€Å"rat†. The postmodern condition is one in which there are no absolute standards of ethics and thus everything is more or less forgiven.It is the â€Å"complexity† of his life that Sal feels makes Dean constantly abandon people. He is just another character who moves through an aimless world with little to concern him except an increasin gly futile search for a purely hedonistic lifestyle.The constant traveling in the book makes Dean an anti-hero rather than a hero. While many tragic heroes travel (Aeschylus, Odysseus) they nearly always have some kind of destination – whether it be ethical or geographical, in mind. The characters of On the Road travel constantly, but with, to quote a popular song of the period â€Å"no particular place to go†. They travel for the sake of traveling.   This aimless travel is a symbol for the lack of a higher ethical or religious structure within which to live. The characters of On the Road are sure of nothing, except that, as Sal says at the end of the book â€Å"nobody knows what’s going to happen to anybody besides the forlorn rags of growing old† (Kerouac, 1957).Dean moves from the West to the East to the West to the South . . .   and on with a sense of rather melancholy endlessness. At the end of the novel Dean returns to the West Coast on his own, and Sal ruminates upon the sad meaninglessness of life. While much has happened in the novel in some senses, in the classic, Aristotelian sense very little has occurred that will permanently change people. On the Road has no simple dramatic structure. There is no climax and denouement. Rather it is a formless kind of a quest story in which the search is an end in itself.This endless quest give On the Road   a post-modern structure. The characters are on an existential search for themselves that seems doomed to failure. Dean Moriaty is the archetypal post-modern anti-hero within this quest. He draws people to him, and they travel thousands of miles in order to be a part of his wandering life. But when he loses interest in them he drops them with what appears to be a callous disregard for the consequences. But there is something â€Å"heroic† in his actions as he is at least being honest. He is being true to himself. If that â€Å"self† much of the time is cowardly, c asually cruel, vaguely criminal and pedophilic in nature then he will still reveal it.To conclude, it seems clear that Dean Moriaty, the protagonist of On the Road is far nearer to a post-modern anti-hero than   to a traditional, classical hero. The world that he inhabits is one in which there is little meaning. It is an often dark, forbidding place in which the Cold War threatens nuclear missiles and in which a kind of despairing hedonism is the only course of action which seems relevant to most of the characters. They move around the country at an often dizzying rate, driving all night long for no apparent reason other than the fact they are moving. Romantic relationships are often little more than brief romantic liaisons and marriages are abandoned with the same disregard for consequences that the children that have come from them are thrown away. Dean Moriaty is a post-modern anti-hero, one that a myriad of similar figures have been more or less based upon in the fifty years s ince On the Road   was first publish.Works CitedAmerican Heritage Dictionary, Dell, New York: 1992.Aristotle, The Basic Works of Aristotle, Modern Library, New York: 2001.Holmes, Richard. â€Å"On the Road Review†. The Times, London: 1957.Kaufmann, Walter. Tragedy and Philosophy. Princeton UP, New York: 1992.Kerouac, Jack. On the Road. Penguin, New York: 1957.Lawall, Greg. â€Å"Apollonius Argonautica. Jason as Anti-Hero†. Yale Classical Studies. 19, 119-169.

Free Essays on The Things They Carried By Tim Obrien

Tough Love in â€Å"The Things They Carried,† by Tim O’Brien In Tim O’Briens â€Å"The Things They Carried,† O’Brien describes the blind obsession of Lieutenant Jimmy Cross for a young girl named Martha, a junior at Mount Sebastian College in New Jersey. Burdened by the physical and psychological aspects of the Vietnam War, Cross often finds himself daydreaming and distracted by thoughts about her. Out one day on another one of their seemingly meaningless missions, Cross and his men are investigating tunnels near the Village of Than Khe. As a result of Cross’s negligence, Private Ted Lavender gets shot in the head. Consequently, Cross destroys all of Martha’s letters and photos because he is angry with his own carelessness, and he feels so burdened with the blame of Lavenders death. Cross realizes that he spends more time thinking about Martha than thinking about the well being of his men. Cross realizes that it is not his job to be loved. It is his job to lead. Cross makes the decision to become less emotional and to enforce discipline and respect among his soldiers. In many ways the death of Ted Lavender makes cross a better soldier; it helps him prioritize what his duties are, to keep himself and his men alive. He now distances himself from the other soldiers. â€Å"They would get their shit together and keep it together†(718). All the letters and pictures of Martha are gone, but not from his memory; he can still see her face, and he can still see her in her white gym shorts. Cross is not through with love, he just has to refocus his emotions from daydreams of Martha to the will to survive. Cross knows that if he doesn’t change that he and his men will will end up dead. He knows what he has to do as a commanding officer. He has to get rid of the daydreams and the fantasies of a love that he knows is fictional. The simple facts are that he has to s... Free Essays on The Things They Carried By Tim O'brien Free Essays on The Things They Carried By Tim O'brien Tough Love in â€Å"The Things They Carried,† by Tim O’Brien In Tim O’Briens â€Å"The Things They Carried,† O’Brien describes the blind obsession of Lieutenant Jimmy Cross for a young girl named Martha, a junior at Mount Sebastian College in New Jersey. Burdened by the physical and psychological aspects of the Vietnam War, Cross often finds himself daydreaming and distracted by thoughts about her. Out one day on another one of their seemingly meaningless missions, Cross and his men are investigating tunnels near the Village of Than Khe. As a result of Cross’s negligence, Private Ted Lavender gets shot in the head. Consequently, Cross destroys all of Martha’s letters and photos because he is angry with his own carelessness, and he feels so burdened with the blame of Lavenders death. Cross realizes that he spends more time thinking about Martha than thinking about the well being of his men. Cross realizes that it is not his job to be loved. It is his job to lead. Cross makes the decision to become less emotional and to enforce discipline and respect among his soldiers. In many ways the death of Ted Lavender makes cross a better soldier; it helps him prioritize what his duties are, to keep himself and his men alive. He now distances himself from the other soldiers. â€Å"They would get their shit together and keep it together†(718). All the letters and pictures of Martha are gone, but not from his memory; he can still see her face, and he can still see her in her white gym shorts. Cross is not through with love, he just has to refocus his emotions from daydreams of Martha to the will to survive. Cross knows that if he doesn’t change that he and his men will will end up dead. He knows what he has to do as a commanding officer. He has to get rid of the daydreams and the fantasies of a love that he knows is fictional. The simple facts are that he has to s...

Mantis Shrimp Facts (Stomatopoda)

Mantis Shrimp Facts (Stomatopoda) The mantis shrimp is not a shrimp, and except for the fact that its an arthropod, its not related to the praying mantis, either. Instead, mantis shrimps are 500 different species belonging to the order Stomatopoda. To distinguish them from true shrimp, mantis shrimps are sometimes called stomatopods. Mantis shrimps are known for their powerful claws, which they use to bludgeon or stab their prey. In addition to their fierce hunting method, mantis shrimps are also known for their extraordinary sense of sight. Fast Facts: Mantis Shrimp ï » ¿Scientific Name: Stomatopoda (e.g., Odontodactylus scyllarus)Other Names: Stomatopod, sea locust, thumb splitter, prawn killerDistinguishing Features: Eyes mounted on movable stalks that can move independently of one anotherAverage Size: 10 centimeters (3.9 in)Diet: CarnivorousLife Span: 20 yearsHabitat: Shallow tropical and subtropical marine environmentsConservation Status: Not evaluatedKingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ArthropodaSubphylum: CrustaceaClass: MalacostracaOrder: StomatopodaFun Fact: A strike from a mantis shrimp claw is so forceful it can shatter aquarium glass. Description There are over 500 species of mantis shrimps in a range of sizes and rainbow of colors. Like other crustaceans, the mantis shrimp has a carapace or shell. Its colors range from brown to vivid rainbow hues. The average mature mantis shrimp is around 10 centimeters (3.9 in) long, but some reach 38 centimeters (15 in). One was even documented at a length of 46 centimeters (18 in). The mantis shrimps claws are its most distinctive feature. Depending on the species, the second pair of appendage- known as raptorial claws- act as either clubs or spears. The mantis shrimp can use its claws to bludgeon or stab prey. Vision Stomatopods have the most complex vision in the animal kingdom, even exceeding that of butterflies. The mantis shrimp has compound eyes mounted on stalks, and can swivel them independently of one another to survey its surroundings. While humans have three types of photoreceptors, a mantis shrimps eyes have between 12 and 16 types of photoreceptor cells. Some species can even tune the sensitivity of their color vision. Peacock Mantis Shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) eyes. Sirachai Arunrugstichai / Getty Images The cluster of photoreceptors, called ommatidia, are arranged in parallel rows into three regions. This gives each eye depth perception and trinocular vision. Mantis shrimps can perceive wavelengths from deep ultraviolet through the visible spectrum and into far red. They can also see polarized light. Some species can perceive circularly polarized light- an ability not found in any other animal species. Their exceptional vision gives the mantis shrimp a survival advantage in an environment that can range from bright to murky and allows them to see and gauge distance to shimmering or translucent objects. Distribution The mantis shrimp lives in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. Most species live in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Some species live in temperate marine environments. Stomatopods build their burrows in shallow water, including reefs, canals, and marshes. Behavior Mantis shrimps are highly intelligent. They recognize and remember other individuals by sight and smell, and they demonstrate an ability to learn. The animals have a complex social behavior, which includes ritualized fighting and coordinated activities between members of a monogamous pair. They use fluorescent patterns to signal each other and possibly other species. Reproduction and Life Cycle On average, a mantis shrimp lives 20 years. During its lifetime, it may breed 20 to 30 times. In some species, the only interaction between males and females occurs during mating. The female either lays eggs in her burrow or carries them around with her. In other species, shrimp mate in monogamous, life-long relationships, with both sexes caring for the eggs. After hatching, offspring spend three months as zooplankton before molting into their adult form. A peacock mantis shrimp carrying its egg ribbon, Anilao, Philippines. Brook Peterson/Stocktrek Images / Getty Images Diet and Hunting For the most part, the mantis shrimp is a solitary, reclusive hunter. Some species actively stalk prey, while other wait within the lair. The animal kills by rapidly unfolding its raptorial claws with an astounding acceleration of 102,000Â  m/s2 and speed of 23 mps (51 mph). The strike is so quick it boils water between the shrimp and its prey, producing cavitation bubbles. When the bubbles collapse, the resulting shockwave hits prey with an instantaneous force of 1500 newtons. So, even if the shrimp misses its target, the shockwave can stun or kill it. The collapsing bubble also produces weak light, known as sonoluminescence. Typical prey includes fish, snail, crabs, oysters, and other mollusks. Mantis shrimps will also eat members of their own species. Predators As zooplankton, newly hatched and juvenile mantis shrimp are eaten by a variety of animals, including jellyfish, fish, and baleen whales. As adults, stomatopods have few predators. Several species of mantis shrimp are eaten as seafood. Their meat is closer in flavor to lobster than shrimp. In many places, eating them carries the usual risks associated with eating seafood from contaminated waters. Conservation Status Over 500 species of mantis shrimps have been described, but relatively little is known about the creatures because they spend most of their time in their burrows. Their population status is unknown and their conservation status has not been evaluated. Some species are kept in aquaria. Sometimes they are unwelcome aquarium denizens, as they eat other species and can break glass with their claws. Otherwise, they are valued for their bright colors, intelligence, and ability to craft new holes in living rock. Sources Chiou, Tsyr-Huei et al. (2008) Circular Polarization Vision in a Stomatopod Crustacean. Current Biology, Vol 18, Issue 6, pp. 429-434. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2008.02.066Corwin, Thomas W. (2001). Sensory adaptation: Tunable colour vision in a mantis shrimp. Nature. 411 (6837): 547–8. doi:10.1038/35079184Patek, S. N.; Korff, W. L.; Caldwell, RL. (2004). Deadly strike mechanism of a mantis shrimp. Nature. 428 (6985): 819–820. doi:10.1038/428819aPiper, Ross (2007). Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-33922-8.

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio - Essay Example He was born on September 29, 1571. By the time he was eleven, he became an orphan and he became an apprentice to Simone Petersano of Milan. When he was seventeen, he went to Rome to work for more artists. For five years, he jumped from one employment to the other, as an apprentice for other painters with less than impressive talents. In 1595, he sold a painting to Cardinal Francesco del Monte. Caravaggio was now under the wings of the church and enjoyed the protection of the cardinal, complete with board and lodging, plus pension in the house of the cardinal. He was now a commissioned artist and is quite famous. His works are very realistic and this appealed to the people in that era. His clients were mostly the religious but despite the spiritual deprivations Caravaggio had when he was growing up, he delivered his art quite well. He must have had at least forty works made for Del Monte. The realism and the play of light started showing in his paintings styles. One must take note that this happened in the Baroque period. Baroque art is heavily influenced by religion, specifically, the Roman Catholic religion. It also reflects the tensions between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. In the early fifteenth century, the Roman Catholic Church answered the Protestant Reformation movement with Counter Reformation and used art to influence its faithful followers. The light play in light and shadow, as well as the use of realism and portrayal of everyday life was the main schemes of this movement. This is why Caravaggio became successful in this era, as he was supported by the clergy. As there was emphasis on realism and the everyday life, Caravaggio employed laborers as models for his paintings of saints. This act was taken as an offense by the public but he never had a shortage of commissions (but this movement about representing religion in paintings faded, as Baroque as an art movement emphasized daily living and realism). He