EQUITY AND TRUSTS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

EQUITY AND TRUSTS - Essay Example The courts, therefore, assigns the property to someone in a resulting trust to avoid vacuum. Megarry VC in Re Sick and Funeral Society of St Johns Sunday school,1 Golcar defined a resulting trust as a property concept which follows that any property that an individual does not properly dispose of remains his. A completely constituted trust implies that the trust property is conferred to the trustees and the trust is binding on the donor who cannot revoke the trust. When the trust property is not properly vested the trust is considered incompletely constituted and it is void as equity will not force the donor to complete the trust. 2 The principles of constitution of trusts are derived from the case of Milroy v Lord3 where Turner L.J. set out three modes of making a gift, which are the actual transfer of property from the person making the gift to the beneficiary, a transfer of the intended gift to the trustees to be held in trust for the beneficiaries or the self-declaration of a trust. The principle in this case is that a gift can only be enforced in equity if it satisfies one of the three modes set out in Milroy. The rationale in this case is that trusts should not be used to protect gifts from being defeated and follows the maxim that equity will not complete an imperfect gift.4 The common rule with regard to imperfect gifts is that equity cannot perfect an imperfect gift and this was demonstrated in Milroy v Lord, where the court held that equity will not assist a volunteer, and as such, equity will not perfect an imperfect gift. In this case Mr. Medley made a deed purporting to transfer shares into Ds title to be held in trust. However the transfer was never made and when Medley died it was held that no valid trust existed and the shares we to go to Medleys estate and not the trust. Where there is lack of

Positive and Negative Associations Essay Example for Free

Positive and Negative Associations Essay Cognitive social psychology describes the â€Å"self† as a dynamic, flexible, and complex set of self-conceptions, emotions, images and memories that are stored in the long-term memory. Some of the self-related material in working memory is associated with the transient conditions of the present time frame. These self-conceptions serve the important function of guiding behavior, affection, and perception. Core self-conceptions are enduring and stable self-conceptions tend to endure over time, and are activated across situations which mean they influence a person in giving meaning to circumstances and choice on how to behave. The perspective about the self in the memory has been referred to as the self-structure where it is proposed that the self-related memory representations are not neutral, but rather carry with them an emotional quality or evaluation tone known as valence (Zephyr 91). Because self-evaluation is based on the prevailing norms and expectations of the cultural milieu, the meaning of the valence component of the core-descriptions is likely to show cultural specificity in which the positive and negative associations are mutually based. Positive and negative associations Cultures have been described in terms of interpersonal values they socialize in their members. Culture is the patterns of social institutions, relationships, and expectations that guide the development of culturally competent individuals. The social values and practices are the major basics in the cultural construction of the positive and negative social associations in a society’s culture. The Haitian culture has been overtly portrayed on racial terms by many white writers something that African American writers have been deconstructing to dispel these negative associations. On the positive associations, anybody who is Haitian upholds highly about his/her self-conceptions will regard everything with self-esteem and more so respect his/her culture; trying to paint a positive image of it. Zephyr (118) points out that Haitians are to some extent positive about their culture and that is the reason why they would like very much to change the negative perceptions the world has. Their music has transcended class boundaries expressing the greatness of the people’s culture and their nation at large. People who talk well of themselves usually have that attitude that keeps their cultural boundaries open to constructive criticism for the better. Superstitions which have for a long time dwarfed development and people’s association are being negated for a society that embraces change. Haitians have changed the African American negativism by whites which has brought new light on the racial issues as a people with equal dignity and who are supposed to be respected. Haiti had remained in the dark and students and other groups have drummed up support in peeling away the darkness and letting people learn more about the place and its people. The United States initially viewed Haiti as a threat to its existence but now that has changed with the view of Haiti as a nation that contributes to its well-being. The historical slave revolution of Haiti is very much part of its proud history. Haiti is considered as a beacon of hope for its model of self-emancipation. This much inspired Negroes in slave plantation to rise and strive for their liberties which were held at ransom by the slave masters. It also strikes positively that Haitians fought bravely against French troops which points to the strong urge among the people to resist oppression from the white masters. Their culture has been without intrusion for many years which has accounted for the people’s strong will of independence leading to self-conceptions that glorifies their lives. The positive self-descriptions of the Haitian people therefore fits within their cultural frame because of the image as a free people from the chains of colonization which are to blame in many African countries for denigrating indigenous cultures, leading to many Africans neglecting their butchered cultural values (Zephyr 89). The critique of the cultural practices of Haitians has provided culturally relevant psychiatric practice very important in the cultural mindset of the Haitians. However, the Haitian culture has not been without negative self-descriptions that are to account for the stereotypes which have influenced the society in a great way. Gender issues, like in every other patriarchal society in the world rears the ugly muzzle to the world view. Also, the Voodoo culture has had negative effects on the socio-economic and political advancement of Haitians. Zephyr (108) reminds us that the belief in cultural practices that hinder development due to inhibiting beliefs that changes will be a bad omen to the society are to blame for the situation of Haitians. The negative stereotypes are of bad influence on the self-conceptions and description which are normally based on the cultural milieu of the people. The voodoo belief has bad influence on the economic bearing in that some practices deny people the opportunity to enterprise in what can economically uplift their living standards. With this culture bearing impact on the mindset of people, ignorance and backwardness set in which make the associations with other people very difficult as these have moved from the perspective of stereotype to beliefs that oppress the people. Like any other society, oppression of women is evident on gender lines, with boy-girl privileges at stake, where education for the male child is done at the expense of the girl who might be a better achiever than the boy. But the Haiti society is changing to adapt to changes that have affected all societies in the world. Neglecting the oppressive beliefs has been a step towards building that global society that embraces change negating the ignorance of many indigenous societies of the past. With these changes, the perspective or the view of the world on Haiti has still remained negative with efforts made by the Haitian society not recognized (Zephyr 122). These degenerative views on Haiti need to change and the world to view the big picture of a changing society for there is no society without blemish. In conclusion, the positive and the negative associations in any society are embedded in the cultural frame of that society, and there is no way one can define such a society without meeting such associations. Whether positive or negative associations, they can be understood on the cognitive social psychology in terms of the self-conceptions defined by the larger cultural milieu. Societies due to globalization influence are changing and so should be our perceptions on particular societies like the Haitians. Works Cited Zephyr, Flore. The Haitian Americans. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 2004.

How Do Organisations Build Customer Relationships?

How Do Organisations Build Customer Relationships? Why do organisations seek to build relationships with customers and how do they successfully develop such relationships? Terms of Reference In the pursuit of my studies for a degree in â€Å"Business Studies and Marketing,† and to aid my chosen career development and progression in the future, I have selected a specific area of marketing as the topic for this dissertation, this relating to the concept of customer relationships development and, in particular, the determination of why this is so important to organisations and what comprises a successful marketing strategy to achieve these ends. There has been a considerable amount of literature related to the issue of customer relationships and its management, which covers areas including the use of branding and brand loyalty as part of the market strategy needed to create such relationships. In addition, although almost as a separate issue, other empirical researches have been undertaken into the study of the consumer practical and psychological buying determinants. However, as Jerry Zaltman (2003) states in introducing his consumer research â€Å"too many marketers don’t understand how their own and their customers minds interact.† The purpose of this dissertation is to take a closer look at the level of interaction that should exist between the two areas of research and endeavour to determine how a greater level of research and understanding of the consumer buying determinants can be used to enhance the successful creation of the consumer relationship management strategy objectives of the firm. In order to provide a greater understanding of this subject, the dissertation will focus on the following objectives: Provide an understanding of customer buying determinates Define the term â€Å"customer relationship† and the benefits that building such relationships provide for the corporation Identify how an understanding can assist in the development of a firm’s customer relationship strategy and management. Literature Review As Zaltman (2003) and Evans et al (2006) suggest, understanding consumer psychology and buying determinates should be a pre-requisite for building successful brand strategies that lead to the building and managing of successful customer relationships, although this is not always deemed to be the case. Therefore, the literature review for this dissertation will concentrate upon three main aspects of this subject, this being consumer behavioural determinates, branding and consumer loyalty and retention, and customer relationship management and the tools used Consumer behaviour determinates Consumer behaviour is driven, consciously or sub-consciously, by a combinations of emotional, physical and psychological elements. This includes experience created memories, both past and present, which are used to judge the quality and appropriateness of a purchase to the consumers needs and satisfaction, as Bagozzi et al (2002), Zaltman et al (2002) and Evans et al (2006) explain at length in their studies. As this research further stresses, the memory element is an important element of the study as it creates the perception that consumers associate with the product or service. The involvement of habit, peer pressure and demographics are other important consumer determinants that organisations need to consider. For example, being subjected to family influences, following the pack, a peer pressure that is particularly relevant to the younger age group, are all parts of the consumer decision-making process. As Zaltman (2003) and Evans et al (2006) discovered, evidence of the successful integration of these determinates to entice consumers to products can be found in the adoption of nostalgic advertising and â€Å"fad† promotion using celebrity endorsement. These also help to retain the consumer’s custom in the case of new products (Arnold 1992). Demographics, in the form of targeting, determines which customer segment or group of segments is most likely to need or desire the product (Arnold 1992 and Stroud 2005), for example, dividing the consumer into age groups of appropriate value to the product being marketed. However, it has also been sugge sted that there is, within the consumer determinant, the need to consider the impact that emotional attachment to the product can have upon the consumer decision-making process and loyalty (Durgee 1999, Shrimp and Madden 198 and Thomson et al 2005). The study and researching of all these determinants, together with the issues of trust and confidence, are important if an organisation wants to create a successful relationship strategy with the consumer because, as (Kelly 2005) states, the purchase is only confirming that these have been met in the mind of the consumer. Branding and loyalty Commercial organisations attract consumers to their products by the method known as Branding, endeavouring to create an automatic and lasting consumer reaction in terms of perception and association, as found with McDonalds equating to burgers, (Haig 2004). The art and purpose of branding can therefore be seen to have two main purposes. The first of these relates to quality, standard and reputation (Kolter 2002), which is important to repeat purchase (Kolter 2002 and Kracklauer et al 2003), and the second is to achieve a dominant market position (Buttle 2004 and Bruhn 2006). Experts are of the opinion that there are two important aspect to focus upon when developing a branding strategy within CRM, the first of which is its usage in the process of targeting and forming a connection with the consumer, which is need to create a foundation for a relationship that can be nurtured over time. An essential part of the targeting process is research into demographics and segmentation, a task by which the marketer is able to closely identify which customer segment or group of segments is most likely to be attracted to the product because of need, desire, emotional attachment or financial capability. Arnold (1992 and Stoud (2005) have suggested that, with many marketers, some segments, such as the older age groups are overlooked, irrespective of the recorded increase in their disposable incomes. The second aspect when developing branding strategy is related to longevity. As the downfall of Marks and Spencer PLC in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s evidenced, brands have a short life and need undated to retain their relevance, both in terms of physical appearance and connection with the changes in consumer needs and perceptions (Floor 2006 and Haig 2004). Loyalty and retention Floor’s (2006) research states, â€Å"as long as the†¦ experience matches the brand identity, the consumer will come back.† This is known as the loyalty factor. Customer loyalty can be achieved in a number of ways. This includes the traditional methods of special offers, saver and store cards (Kracklauer 2003: 5; Buttle 2004: 10 and Bruhn 2006: 15). The concept here is that, whilst the customer derives benefit the store itself benefits from constant contact with the customer, as a result of these services, it acquires a considerable amount of research data about the customer. This is essential if a business wants to improve and better manage the customer relationship management system. Customer Relationship Management The potential conclusion from the above is that the marketer has to incorporate consumer determinants, branding and loyalty into a customer relationship designed to achieve the business objectives of increased product sales (Zaltman 2003). The crux of customer relationship management is the importance of every customer, recognising that a lost customer costs (Kracklauer et al 2003 and Buttle 2004). Therefore it is important to build a relationship and bond with each consumer (Kelly 2005 and Bruhn 2006). However, to ensure that this relationship building is approached in the correct manner, it is important to ensure that the firm and its marketers are fully cognisant of the factors that need to form the foundation of their research. As can be observed from the explanations given earlier this includes consumer behaviour and loyalty, but also the effect that â€Å"brand love† has upon this element of the relationship. CRM Tools There are a number of Branding and Loyalty tools that the CRM process can use to continue developing the relationship between organisations and customers. Loyalty cards are one possibility for data collection, which is essential in CRM (Buttle 2004). This data can be used to aid understanding of changing consumer needs and desires, directing them to purchase other products and as a basis for designing future promotional and marketing campaigns (Bruhn 2006 and Kracklauer 2006). If the relationship is close, the customer will also recommend the business, thus helping increase market share. Data Sources It was decided that the data sources being used for this dissertations will be a combination of a qualitative and quantitative nature. The reason for this is that the secondary data can be used as a means of comparison and evaluation of the primary data. Primary Data The intention is to collect primary data using a process of structured questionnaires. The questions will be designed around a combination of the â€Å"closed† and â€Å"open† format with the intention of these being directed to the areas that require an affirmative or negative response in terms of the former and a multiple choice option for the latter. It is also intended to provide additional spacing within which the interviewees can add personal comments if considered appropriate. The intention, time and resources permitting, is to distribute around 150 questionnaires and interviews, of which 25 will be directed to employees at all levels within the retailing industry and the remainder to consumers across a wide range of age and lifestyle segmentations. This mode of distribution has been chosen for two purposes. The first is to test the comment about lack of connection of minds between consumers and marketers mention by Zaltman (2003) and the second is to provide practical evidence of the consumer buying determinates used within the decision-making process. Clear definition of the reason for the questionnaire and the purposes for which it will be used will be included in explanatory notes. Space will also be provided with each answer to allow for comments that the respondents may wish to add. In addition, and in order to comply with data and identity protection, there will be no identifying questions included apart from age, occupation and other non-personally descriptive issues. Secondary data From a practical viewpoint, and in particular to be utilised for comparative purposes in respect of the authors own qualitative research, data from newspapers and periodicals, as well as the results of previously relevant surveys will be researched and included. The benefit of the gathering of extensive secondary data is that it can be useful for the purpose of cross referencing and evaluation of accuracy and compatibility. Methodology The methodology being used for this research can be summarised as follows. The initial period of time allocated to the research will be utilised in the gathering of data from external sources and analysing the relevance to the subject matter. This will additionally be useful in the preparation of the questionnaire to be used for the collection of primary data. Once this data has been collected, the draft and final questionnaires will be prepared and distributed. During the time required for the return of completed questionnaires, work will be commenced on areas of the dissertation, such as the literature review. Once the questionnaires have been returned and analysed using the Excel programme, these will be introduced to the dissertation to enable the analysis of the responses and findings. It is anticipated that, during the preparation of the study, additional secondary data may be required. Where this is appropriate, it will be collected and added to the existing references indicated at the closure of this proposal. Project Framework Although during the course of the dissertations preparation the final project framework may be subject to change the current intention, in order to create a logical and sequential progression for the study, is to base the project around the following breakdown of chapters: Chapter 1. Introduction In order to provide the reader with a clear understanding of the purpose and direction of the dissertation, this chapter will serve as an introduction to the subject matter. It will therefore include a brief definition of the term customer buying determinants and how this theory fits within the wider concept of consumer relationship management. In addition, a brief overview of the aims and objectives of the research will be included. Within this chapter a clear hypothesis for the research will also be set. Chapter 2. Literature Review In research of this nature it is important that the findings be founded, set against, and compared with existing literature relating to the subject. Therefore, a critical review of literature will be conducted in this chapter, which is intended to cover the research into all aspects of consumer behavioural determinates, branding and consumer loyalty and retention and customer relationship management. Chapter 3. Methodology In a step-by-step process, chapter three will be used to explain the methods used for the preparation and execution of the dissertation. This will include my reasoning for the data collection methods, which relates to both primary and secondary sources, the origination of the data and the methods by which it was to be analysed and assimilated into the final study. Furthermore, the limitations of my research will also be included within this chapter. Chapter 4. Results and Findings In chapter four it is intended to analyse the results of my findings into the areas that have been studied, in a manner that will the reader with an understanding and explanation of the basis upon which the conclusions of the research has been derived. For ease of understanding and explanation statistical and graphical diagrams will be used where appropriate, particular in explaining the results of the primary research. Chapter 5. Analysis and discussion Using the findings form the primary and secondary sources outlined in chapter 4, this chapter will further analyse those results and discuss the affect that these have upon the interrelationship between consumer determinants, branding, brand loyalty and the commercial CRM strategy process in general. Furthermore, the discussion will outline the commercial benefits of combining these two disciplines for the purpose of marketing strategy. Chapter 6. Conclusion Chapter six brings the research to a conclusion. This section will convey to the reader whether the research conducted has proved or disproved the hypothesis presented in the introduction. In addition, recommendations in respect of further area of research required and actions that corporations should take as a result of the findings will also be outlined within this concluding chapter. Other comments The intention of this dissertation is to add value to the existing research that has been conducted into the fields of consumer determinants and customer relationship management (CRM), in particular in respect of identifying the beneficial impact that building relationships with customers has for the corporations, together with the practical ways that the result of consumer determinants research can be added to the practical elements of marketing research into branding, consumer relationship and loyalty can be used as a further tool to enhance the success of their promotional strategy in this area. References   Arnold D (1992). The Handbook of Brand Management. Century Business: The Economist Books. London, UK. Bagozzi, Richard P. Gurhan-Canli, Zeynep and Priester, Joseph R (2002). The Social Pyschology of Consumer Behaviour. Open University Press. Buckingham, UK. Bailey, Craig (2005). Unlocking the Value of Your Customer Satisfaction Surveys. CRM Today, May 2005. Bruhn, Manfred (2006). Service Marketing: Managing the Service Value Chain. Pearson Education. Harlow, UK. Buttle, Francis (2004). Customer Relationship Managements. Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann. Oxford, UK Durgee, J.F. (1999). Deep soulful satisfaction. Journal of Consumer Satisfaction, Dissatisfaction and Complaining Behaviour, 12, 53 – 63. Evans, Martin. Jamal, Ahmed and Foxall, Gordon (2006). Consumer Behaviour. John Wiley Sons Ltd. Chichester, UK. Floor, Ko (2006). Branding a Store: How to Build Successful Retail Brands in a Changing Marketplace. Kogan Page Ltd. London, UK. Fournier, S. (1998). Consumers and their brands: developing relationship theory in consumer research. Journal of Consumer Research. Vol. 24. pp.343 – 373. Haig, Matt (2004) Brand Failures: The Truth about the 100 Biggest Branding Mistakes of All Time. Kogan Page Ltd. London, UK. Kelly, Sean. (2005). Customer intelligence From Data to Dialogue. John Wiley Sons Ltd. Chichester, UK. Kolter, Phillip (2002). Marketing Management. 11th edition. FT Prentice Hall. London. UK. Kracklauer, Alexander H., Mills, Daniel, Q and Seifert (2003). Collaborative Customer Relationship Management: Taking CRM to the Next Level. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. New York, US Oliver, R.L. (1999). Whence consumer loyalty? Journal of Marketing, 63 (Special Issue), pp.33 – 44. Oliver, R.L., Rust, R.T., Varki, S. (1997). Customer delight: foundations, findings, and managerial insight. Journal of Retailing, 73, 311 – 36. Reichheld, F. and Sasser, W. (1990) Zero defects: quality comes to services. Harvard Business Review, Sept-Oct, 1990, pp 105-111 Shimp, T.A., Madden, T.J. (1988). Consumer-object relations: a conceptual framework based analogously on Stermberg’s triangular theory of love. In: Houston M.J. (ed), Advances in consumer research, Provo, UT: Association for Consumer Research, vol. 15 pp. 163 – 168. Stroud, Dick. (2005) The 50 Plus Market: Why the Future is Age-neutral when it comes to Marketing and Branding Strategies. Kogan Page Ltd. Chichester, UK Thomson, M., McGinnis, D.J., Park, C.W. (2005). The ties that bind: measuring the strength of consumer’s emotional attachment to brands. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 15, 77 – 91. Zaltman, Jerry (2003) How Customers Think. Essential Insights into the mind of the market. Harvard Business School Press. Massachusetts, US.

Origin Of Sony Essay -- Sony Corporation

Founded by Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita in 1958, the Sony Corporation has come a long way since its first transistor radios. Being innovative thinkers, the founders realized a need for a global brand with mass appeal. Hence, as the company grew, it was simply logical to establish production facilities in their respective regions. Since its inception, very few have been able to match Sony's track record for invention and innovation. These include the first Trinitron color television (1968), the color video-cassette (1971), the renowned Walkman (1979), the world's first CD player (1982), the 3.5-inch floppy disk (1989) and many others. THE GUIDING VISION The origin of Sony goes way back to May 1946. Back then, its original name was Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo K.K. (Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation). The founders, Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita, wanted a name that can be easily remembered by the world. This was essential to achieve success in the global market. Their vision was for Sony to become an endearing household name across the globe. With this in mind, Morita came up with the term 'global localization' in 1988. He said, "In this day and age, many companies are pursuing globalization, but instead, we should move ahead with a policy of global localization, meaning that we set down roots and truly become an integrated member of the local community." Sony's mission is to establish an 'ideal' factory that puts emphasis on the spirit of freedom and open-mindedness. A place where designers and engineers can work out their creative and technological skills to the highest potential. THE ESSENCE OF SONY Sony's assets are neither its buildings, nor its land. Sony's greatest asset is the image of the four letters: S-O-... ...sed MMU seems to be a custom effort by Sony and has no integrated memory. Both CPUs contain 16KiB of two-way set associative instruction cache and data cache respectively. There is additionally 16KiB of scratchpad RAM which, while faster than main RAM, is not nearly as fast as the integrated cache. The 166 MHz graphics chip has 2 MiB embedded memory and through its 512 bit interface provides hardware polygon and NURBS rendering, hardware directional lighting, clipping, environment projection and texture mapping, texture compression and tessellation , fogging, alpha blending, depth and stencil tests, vertex blending for morphing effects, and dithering, all in 16 or 24 bit color. The graphics chip also handles image output. Specifications state that the PSP is capable of rendering 33 million flat-shaded polygons per second, with a 664 million pixel per second fill rate

American Diet

America today is in the middle of a nutritional crisis. Throughout the country, the obesity epidemic has struck every population demographic. According to recent projections made by the United States Government, 63. 9 percent of Americans are either overweight or obese. That is over half of the population! What exactly is the culprit behind this crisis? How can someone fix this issue? The answers lie in the average American Diet. The diet consumed by Americans is one of, if not the worst diet in terms of saturated fat, trans fats, lack of carbohydrates, over consumption of protein, and overall malnutrition. Recommended Dietary Allowances adopted by nutritionists around the globe and countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia tell us that the American diet fails to come even close to proper nutritional consumption. However, the problem with the American diet is actually easily fixable if people start making smart, informed choices about their food. By properly educating the general public about nutrition and health, the obesity epidemic can be controlled and cured, leaving America with happier, healthier citizens. In order to understand why obesity is so prevalent in America today, the average diet of American citizens must be taken into account. According to data provided by The United States Department of Agriculture, Americans today consume too much red meat and sugar and too little vegetables and carbohydrates (grains). Because we consume so much red meat, which is high in saturated fat, calories and cholesterol, our diets are inherently riddled with fat and calories. Our sugar consumption also is a glaring issue. By consuming far more simple carbohydrates than we need from sugar, Americans are providing themselves with empty calories that spike blood glucose. This is compounded with the fact that the average American diet lacks proper consumption of complex carbohydrates, which come from whole grains and wheat products. That is a lot of information to digest (no pun intended), but what does it all mean. Well, according to the panel of nutrition specialists who set the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for the U. S. nd Canada, the over consumption of red meat and sweets along with the under consumption of complex carbohydrates and fruits and vegetables has cause an increase in numerous diseases for the average American. These diseases include: Coronary Heat Disease, Diabetes, Obesity, Heart Attack, Stroke, and numerous forms of cancer, among other things. The most obvious of these in the American public is obesity and diabetes. However, increases in the previously mentioned diseases have been connected with American’s poor dietary habits as well. So how does one correct their eating habits? Instead of consuming red meats and foods rich in sugar and simple carbohydrates, Americans should make alternative choices that will provide them with adequate nutrition and energy. For example, instead of having a burger for dinner, which judging by the average American diet is probably loaded with red meat, cheese, and other products high in saturated fat and cholesterol, a person should go instead with chicken breast or fish as their meat source for dinner. Chicken breast provides just as much protein, if not more than red meat, contains little to no saturated fat, and is a good source of other essential vitamins and minerals. Fish shares all the good qualities of chicken breast and contains many essential oils such as Omega-3 and Omega-6, which have been shown to reduce cholesterol and lower body fat content. Instead of choosing soda to go along with a meal, people should choose water or non-fat milk instead. And for goodness sake, people need to put their sandwiches on wheat bread. White bread has lower levels of protein, iron, fiber, and complex carbohydrates and has higher levels of sugar and simple carbohydrates than wheat bread. Another issue is our consumption of vegetables and fruits. The average American should obtain around 3 cups of vegetables and 2 cups of fruits every day. Most Americans don’t bother to take in half of this recommended amount, which is clearly an issue. Again, the solution to this is fairly simple and easily obtainable. Instead of having fries with a meal, a salad or a side of broccoli and carrots is a simple alternative. For dessert, cake can be replaced with a banana or an apple. These small differences in the diet really do make a large difference in the long run. Vegetables provide us vitamins, antioxidants, enzymes, minerals, and fiber. While fruits also provide the body with minerals, vitamins and antioxidants, they also provide the body fructose, which is later converted to glucose for energy. Changing the average American diet is not as difficult as it sounds. Providing the public with proper information about food and what is actually in it, along with making healthy food choices readily available to the average citizen will go a long way to curbing and preventing the obesity epidemic. The benefits of eating healthy are monumental. A longer, more active, healthier future is in store for those who change their eating habits.

A Complete List of Oprahs Book Club Selections

A Complete List of Oprah's Book Club Selections Oprahs Book Club is a cultural force. Books that might otherwise be overlooked by the general public catapult onto the bestseller lists after being selected. The so-called Oprah Effect is estimated to have sold more than 60 million copies of the Book Clubs selections, and its made several authors into household names. It goes without saying that authors would cheerfully kill to have their books make the list, but dont bother submitting one for consideration. Oprah Winfrey is personally and solely in charge of selecting her Book Clubs books, and her decisions are reportedly based on what she likes and what has moved her. Her producers nonetheless receive literally hundreds upon hundreds of books and manuscripts every week as writers beg for consideration. Its said that she doesnt comb through them looking for one that strikes her fancy. Rather, she reads something and thinks, This is great and includes the work.   Oprahs Book Club has been credited with reviving a culture of literary discussion,  and it represents one of the most lasting legacies from the original Oprah Winfrey Show. The original book club took a hiatus for a period of time when The Oprah Winfrey Show went off the air, then it was revived as Oprahs Book Club 2.0 in 2012 and is now based on Winfreys OWN network. Oprahs Book Club Novels by Year of Selection 1996 The Book of Ruth by Jane HamiltonSong of Solomon by Toni MorrisonThe Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard 1997 The Meanest Thing to Say by Bill CosbyThe Treasure Hunt by Bill CosbyThe Best Way to Play by Bill CosbyEllen Foster by Kaye GibbonsA Virtuous Woman by Kaye GibbonsA Lesson Before Dying by Ernest GainesSongs in Ordinary Time by Mary McGarry MorrisThe Heart of a Woman by Maya AngelouThe Rapture of Canaan by Sheri ReynoldsStones from the River by Ursula HegiShes Come Undone by Wally Lamb 1998 Where the Heart Is by Billie LettsMidwives by Chris BohjalianWhat Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day by Pearl CleageI Know This Much is True by Wally LambBreath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge DanticatBlack and Blue by Anna QuindlenHere on Earth by Alice HoffmanParadise by Toni Morrison 1999 A Map of the World by Jane HamiltonVinegar Hill by A. Manette AnsayRiver, Cross My Heart by Breena ClarkeTara Road by Maeve BinchyMother of Pearl by Melinda HaynesWhite Oleander by Janet FitchThe Pilots Wife by Anita ShreveThe Reader by Bernhard SchlinkJewel by Bret Lott 2000 House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus IIIDrowning Ruth by Christina SchwarzOpen House by Elizabeth BergThe Poisonwood Bible by Barbara KingsolverWhile I Was Gone by Sue MillerThe Bluest Eyes by Toni MorrisonBack Roads by Tawni ODellDaughter of Fortune by Isabelle AllendeGap Creek by Robert Morgan 2001 A Fine Balance by Rohinton MistryThe Corrections by Jonathan FranzenCane River by Lalita TademyStolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail by Malika OufkirIcy Sparks by Gwyn Hyman RubioWe Were The Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates 2002 Sula by Toni MorrisonFall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald 2003 East of Eden by John SteinbeckCry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton 2004 One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcà ­a MrquezThe Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullersAnna Karenina by Leo TolstoyThe Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck 2005 A Million Little Pieces by James FreyAs I Lay Dying by William FaulknerThe Sound and the Fury by William FaulknerA Light in August by William Faulkner 2006 Night by Elie Wiesel 2007 The Measure of a Man by Sidney PoitierThe Road by Cormac McCarthyMiddlesex by Jeffrey EugenidesLove in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcà ­a MrquezThe Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett 2008 A New Earth by Eckhart TolleThe Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski 2009 Say Youre One of Them by Uwem Akpan 2010 Freedom by Jonathan FranzenA Tale of Two Cities by Charles DickensGreat Expectations by Charles Dickens 2012 (Oprahs Book Club 2.0) Wild by Cheryl StrayedThe Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis 2014 The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd (this selection was actually announced in 2013, but the book was not published until 2014). 2015 Ruby by Cynthia Bond 2016 The Underground Railroad by Colson WhiteheadLove Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton   2017 Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue 2018 An American Marriage by Tayari JonesThe Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray HintonBecoming by Michelle Obama