Industry analysis on ABS-CBN

Lopez  family-controlled ABS-CBN Corp. said it expects profitability throughout the year with the support of its airtime revenue after gaining in the first quarter of the year. In a briefing, Geronimo C. Estacio, ABS-CBN officer in charge for Finance, said profits for the full-year of 2006 may come from its airtime revenue, given the higher rating of the network’s primetime shows. Estacio said ABS-CBN posted a net income of P121 million in the first quarter of the year from P132-million losses in the same period in 2005. In the first three months of the year, ABS-CBN audience share averaged 32 percent compared with 43 percent of its rival GMA channel 7. On primetime, ABS posted 35 percent share from 36 percent compared with GMA’s 43 percent from 46 percent. The company attributed its profit turnaround to the lower cost base that resulted from last year’s manpower optimization and judicious production cost spending, as well as from license fees for the migration of North American DTH (direct-to-home) subscribers to DirectTVs platform. License fees from DTH amounting to P409 million were booked in the first quarter of the year. Total subscriber base of ABS-CBN Global grew by 22 percent year on year, which translates to 2. 1 million viewers worldwide by-end March. The Lopez-led company also said airtime revenues, which accounts for 60 percent of the total, grew 4 percent to P2. 26 billion in the first quarter of the year from P2. 18 billion in the same period in 2005 as it continued to strengthen its primetime programs. Gross revenue rose by 14 percent to P3. 95 billion, driven by license fees from DirectTV and higher airtime revenues. When Kris Aquino announced she and co-host Korina Sanchez might be in the United States late this year to tape some of their â€Å"Morning Girls† daily show, ABS-CBN International (NA) received lots of calls for the specific dates. â€Å"The response was amazing even if nothing has been firmed up,† said Rene Encarnacion, senior vice-president for international operations of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. and managing director of ABS-CBN Global Ltd. ABS-CBN International is one of four subsidiaries of Global, which is, in turn, a wholly owned subsidiary of ABS-CBN Broadcasting. With access to 25% of total Filipino-American households, ABS-CBN International accounts for 70% of gross revenues generated by Global. â€Å"The North American operations used to account for 85% of total revenues but that has happily dropped as we follow Filipinos abroad. There are Filipinos working in every country in the world except Bhutan,† said Encarnacion. Using a market yardstick of between 50,000 to 70,000 households, each household made up of five to six people, Global has presence in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe. In Asia, the company works with local partners. It services Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates through subsidiary, ABS-CBN Dubai; and England, Germany and Italy through another subsidiary, ABS-CBN Europe. â€Å"The Filipino-American market is so huge, there’s still a lot of penetration to do. Just maintaining our 25% market means we’re already growing. This is not a transient market; they are in the US for good and they have large disposable incomes,† said Encarnacion. Bundling Entertainment accounts for 65% of Global’s product mix. The company maintains four channels, which are either directly beamed to the homes of subscribers or by satellite. These channels are segmented by content, offering 24-hour news, the best of Channel 2 shows, and Philippine movies as well as sports and culture. Global pays royalties to ABS-CBN Broadcasting and its content-producing subsidiaries. It also sources other suppliers of content, such as the Philippine Basketball Association. Global holds the international broadcast rights for the PBA games. In a classic bundling strategy, the company has built on its existing relationship with customers to push non-entertainment products, all of which are billed through one cable statement. The nature of technology opens so many opportunities. We have become a distribution one-stop for everything from entertainment to courier services to retailing Philippine-made products to our customers. It’s a convenient pipeline that other Philippine media companies have not yet fully exploited,† said Encarnacion. Global also sells pre-paid US-to-the-Philippines cards which offer 60 minutes to 100 minutes of telephone use. The cards are offered to retailers for private labeling or sold in-house under the brand name, Sarimanok. Arm’s length Global was incorporated in the Cayman Islands last year, although its North American subsidiary has been in business for the past nine years. Consolidating ABS-CBN’s international operation is part of the strategy to sell Global shares through an initial public offering two or three years from now. Part of the proceeds will pay off the $25 million advanced by ABS-CBN Broadcasting, mainly to put up the transmission infrastructure. â€Å"We have an arm’s length relationship with our parent company. It’s important that we show we can and have been going it alone,† said Encarnacion. The company generated in excess of $40 million in gross revenues in 2002, accounting for close to 70% of total revenues generated by all ABS-CBN subsidiaries. On a consolidated basis, subsidiaries accounted for 20% of ABS-CBN’s total revenues in 2002. Money-makers This year, Global sees a 20% growth in gross revenues and a 30% growth in subscriber base through the three-pronged strategy of better programming, more non-entertainment products, and improved customer relationships. For one, programming for the American market will no longer be targeting solely first generation immigrants but their children and their grandchildren as well. The first generation of Filipino-Americans are nostalgic about the Philippines and they want to keep abreast with what is happening back home. The second and third generation understand and accept their Philippine heritage but they have their own distinct buyer preferences in terms of, say, what kind of music they want to listen to. We want to secure more programs developed by Fil-Ams for Fil-Ams,† said Encarnacion. For another, programs such as â€Å"Balita Middle East† developed for foreign audiences may soon be shown in the Philippines because of their relevance to Filipino viewers. Balita Middle East†, which has a segment where overseas Filipino workers can interact with their families in the Philippines, is the second highest rated show in the 24-hour cable news channel, ANC. From a wider perspective, Global intends to balance its revenue stream and be less dependent on the American market. It formally launches ABS-CBN Europe in Italy this month. It is also asking itself whether or not it makes sense to continue its partnerships in Japan or Australia, which have been delivering on their bottom line commitments.

Research: Computer and Video Games

Chapter Two Abstract This research paper explores published articles that report on results from research conducted on how portable electronic communication gadgets affect a student’s study habit. The articles, however, may vary in their own point of view regarding the effects on the students. According to A. Saez (2011), it was pointed out that technology is an integral part of our day-to-day lives. Other articles included in this paper elaborated positive and negative effects of gadgets. According to Admin (2011), electronic gadget devices can have positive and negative effects on youth.Also, According to Jessy Norman (2009), computers and other related technologies have become an enormous part of our daily lives. They have altered our sense of people, space, and time. shadow66 (2006) has pointed it out that the main problem is the proper use of this gadgets or the knowledge that are easy to be accessed. Introduction Electronic Communication gadgets are essential to society and to people’s everyday lives. These gadgets have benefits but as well as drawbacks. Take modern technology as an example to elaborate.According to shadow66 (2006) Advantages and Disadvantages of Modern Technology; Technology can be defined as science applied to practical purposes. Nowadays, when the rapidness of development and research is so impressive, it is easy to think about the advantages of modern technology. On the minus side, there is weaponry which is the inseparable issue of the new technologies. Hence, the main problem is the proper use of this knowledge. Nevertheless, weapon engineering propels and provides a huge advance also the industry despite highly developed machinery pollutes the globe.According to Admin (2011) What is the Effect of Electronic Gadgets on Youth? ; Electronic gadget devices can have positive and negative effects on youth. According to the National Institute on Media and the Family, video games can help children practice following direction s and problem solving, and refine motor and spatial skills. Negative effects include social isolation, aggressive behavior, violence, confusing reality and fantasy, and poor grades. Signs of possible psychological addiction to computer or video game use among youth an include worsening school grades; choosing the computer or video games over family, friends or social activities; or restlessness and irritability when not playing a video game or on the computer. Signs of possible psychological addiction to computer or video game use among youth can include worsening school grades; choosing the computer or video games over family, friends or social activities; or restlessness and irritability when not playing a video game or on the computer. According to Australia's media network ABC, Monash University's research shows that children who sent text messages were faster on some tests, but also less accurate.In a NetWorkWorld article, Text Message Language Won't Affect Kids Spelling, Canad a's University of Alberta said that boys who used emphasized â€Å"text speak† were on average worse spellers, while girls who largely abbreviated were better spellers. A 2007 Pew Internet & American Life Project study revealed that strangers contacted 43 percent of social-networking teens online; 31 percent of social-networking teenagers have online â€Å"friends† they have never personally met. According to Jessy Norman (2009) Bad Effects of Technology; Computers and other related technologies have become an enormous part of our daily lives.They have altered our sense of people, space, and time. From our living rooms, we can now talk to people, and watch events unfold in far-off places. Shopping, banking, and game playing are just a few of the other daily activities that have also changed. So many aspects of the ways we communicate and handle information have been altered by technological development. Cellular phones, answering machines, voice mail, fax machines, cab le televisions, computer networks, satellite communications and e-mail are only some recent changes.Other manifestations of this change would be the location of where it is happening. Yes, it is everywhere, including the classrooms for the use of educating children. Technology is now becoming more popular in the presence of classrooms all around the world. Tomorrow's future is in the hands of today's students. According to Angel Lucifer (2009) What Are The Negative And Positive Effects Of Advance Technologies, Like The Internet, To Student's Performance? ; One of the most compelling arguments made against the use of omputers by children is the risk of repetitive motion injury such as carpal tunnel syndrome. This problem may be greater for children than for adults because their musculature and skeletal systems are not fully formed and may be at greater risk for injury. Children's risk of suffering repetitive motion injuries may be further increased because they tend to use computers that are sized for adults, placed on adult-sized furniture, and positioned for an adult user. Another possible risk of using computers is eye-strain, which may include dryness due to not blinking enough, headaches, and blurry vision.To reduce this risk, it is important to limit the time spent staring at the screen; take frequent breaks, making sure to focus the eyes on distant objects; and blink frequently. It is also important to position the monitor sixteen to twenty-seven inches away and in a way that ensures that the user views it at a slightly downward angle. Following some highly publicized events in Japan, it has been suggested that there may be a risk of seizure for children playing video games containing bright flashing lights. Many video games include an elementary school student uses a computer in the school library while another students looks on.The ease and facility with which children use computers comes from the ability children have for assimilating tools in their e nvironment for their personal use. (O'Brien Productions/Corbis) a warning to this effect in their documentation. Fortunately, very few children are susceptible to this condition. For those who are, however, this is potentially a very serious situation. According to Alex Saez (2011) Bad Effects of Electronic Gadgets; Technology is an integral part of our day-to-day lives. People all over the world rely on it for things like communication, organization and employment.Not a day goes by when you don't encounter someone talking on his cell phone, tapping away on a laptop or listening to an MP3 player. While this technology is impressive, there are certain drawbacks in areas like health, public safety and education that should be addressed. Being aware of these dangers can help diminish or reverse these drawbacks. According to the website Healthy Hearing, one-third of teenagers own an MP3 player, such as an iPod. Dr. Craig Kasper, Director of Audiology at the New York Otolaryngology Group , warns that these devices can cause ear damage if used improperly.If the volume is too high or if the individual listens for a long time, hearing damage can happen. Also, ear buds are more dangerous than regular headphones. Healthy Hearing recommends that listeners keep the volume below 70 percent and limit listening time to between 60 and 90 minutes. If you want to listen indefinitely, turn the volume down to 50 percent. Text slang, such as â€Å"ur† instead of â€Å"you're† is commonly used through cell phone texting. However, a recent study shows that kids and teens are actually letting these obscure abbreviations seep into their normal writing.A recent study by Pew Internet in 2008 revealed that 50 percent of students use informal slang in their assignments. Furthermore, 38 percent admit they have used abbreviations in their schoolwork like â€Å"LOL†, which stands for â€Å"laugh out loud†. Additionally, 25 percent say that they use emoticons such a s â€Å"smiley faces† in formal writing. The problem has become so apparent that some U. S. politicians are concerned that the English language and sentence structure is being twisted, negatively affecting students' learning. Electronic gadgets are now very essential to our society today.We need electronic gadgets to do business, to have some recreation and help us get through our daily lives. For better or worse, technology has a significant influence on the study habits of students. In many ways, such as with computers, researching and fact gathering is made easier. However, whether you are a student, a teacher or a parent, you have probably found that the vice is often wrapped in the virtue, and that the same things that are beneficial can also prove to be distracting. References Admin, (2011). Electronic gadget devices result to positive and negative effects on youth. What is the Effect of Electronic Gadgets on Youth?Lucifer, A. (2009). Use of computers by children is the risk of repetitive motion injury. What Are The Negative and Positive Effects of Advance Technologies to Student’s Performance? Norman, J. (2009). Computers and other related technologies have become an enormous part of our daily lives. Bad Effects of Technology. Saez, A. (2011). People all over the world rely on it for things like communication, organization and employment. Bad Effects of Electronic Gadgets. Shadow66, (2006). Technology can be defined as science applied to practical purposes. Advantages and Disadvantages of Modern Technology.

Using the French Prepositions En and Dans

Using the French Prepositions 'En' and 'Dans' In French, the prepositions en and dans both mean in, and they both express time and location. They are not, however, interchangeable.  Their usage depends on both meaning and grammar. How French Prepositions Work In French, prepositions  are generally words that  link two related parts of a sentence. They are usually placed in front of nouns or pronouns  to indicate a relationship between that  noun or pronoun and a verb, adjective  or noun that precedes it. Im talking to Jean.Je parle  Ã‚  Jean.She is from Paris.Elle est  de  Paris.The book is for you.  Le livre est  pour  toi. These small but powerful  words not only show relationships between words, they also refine the meanings of place (cities, countries, islands, regions, and U.S. states) and time (as with  pendant  and  durant); can follow adjectives and link them to the remainder of a sentence; can  never  end a sentence (as they can in English); can be difficult to translate into English and idiomatic; and can exist as a prepositional phrase, such as  au-dessus de  (above),  au-dessous de (below),  and  au milieu de (in the middle of). Some prepositions are also used after certain verbs to complete their meaning, such as  croire en  (to believe in),  parler   (to talk to) and  parler de  (to talk about).  Plus, prepositional phrases can be replaced by the adverbial pronouns  y  and  en. The following guidelines and examples delineate how and when to use two of the trickier French prepositions:  en and dans. Notice how they link two related parts of each sentence.   Examples of When  to Use En in French En expresses the length of time an action happens. As a result, the verb is usually in the present or past tense, as in Je peux faire le lit en cinq minutes.I can make the bed in five minutes.Il a lu le livre en une heure.  He read the book in an hour.Jai appris danser en un an.  I learned how to dance in a year. En  expresses when an action happens as it relates to the calendar: month, season, or year. Exception: au printemps. Nous voyageons en Avril. We travel in April.Il arrivera en hiver.  He will arrive in the winter. En  can mean in or to when followed directly by a noun that doesnt need an article: Vous allez en prison!  Youre going to prison!  Il est en classe.  Hes in school. En  can also mean  in or to when used with some  states, provinces, and countries, such as Jhabite en Californie.I live in California.Je vais en France. Im going to France. Examples of When to Use Dans Dans  indicates the amount of time before action will occur. Note that the verb is usually in the present or future, as in Nous partons dans dix minutes.Were leaving in 10 minutes.  Il reviendra dans une heure.Hell be back in an hour.  Elle va commencer dans une semaine. Shes going to start in a week. Dans  refers to something that occurs within or during a decade, as in Dans les annà ©es soixantes...In the sixties...Dans les annà ©es quatre-vingts...During the eighties... Dans  means in a location when followed by an article plus noun, such as Il est dans la maison.Hes in the house.  Quest-ce qui est dans la boà ®te? Whats in the box? Dans  also means in or to with some  states and provinces: Jhabite dans le Maine.I live in Maine.Je vais dans lOntario. ï » ¿Im going to Ontario.

French Sayings and Proverbs

French Sayings and Proverbs A proverb is a phrase or a saying that states a general truth based on common sense, often used to make a suggestion or to offer a piece of advice. In English, proverbs make their way into conversation masked as conventional wisdom when people say that two wrongs dont make a right, or that great great minds think alike. Every language has its own idioms, proverbs, riddles, and sayings. In French, much like in English, proverbs are used liberally in conversations. Here is a list of some French proverbs to help you brush up on your language skills. The French proverbs below are written  in bold  and followed by their English equivalents. The literal English translations of the proverbs are in quotation marks below. cÅ“ur vaillant rien dimpossible.  - Nothing is impossible for a willing heart.(To a valient heart nothing impossible.) limpossible nul nest tenu. - No one is bound to do the impossible. (To the impossible no one is bound) quelque chose malheur est bon. - Every cloud has a silver lining. (Unhappiness is good for something.)Aprà ¨s la pluie le beau temps. - Every cloud has a silver lining. (After the rain, the nice weather.)Larbre cache souvent la forà ªt. - Cant see the forest for the trees. (The tree often hides the forest.)Aussità ´t dit, aussità ´t fait. - No sooner said than done. (Immediately said, immediately done.)Autres temps, autres mÅ“urs. - Times change. (Other times, other customs.)Aux grands maux les grands remà ¨des. - Desperate times call for desperate measures. (To the great evils great remedies.)Avec des si (et des mais), on mettrait Paris en bouteille. - If ifs and ands were pots and pans thered be no work for tinkers hands. (With ifs (and buts ), one would put Paris in a bottle.) Battre le fer pendant quil est chaud. - To strike while the iron is hot. (To hit the iron while its hot.)Bien mal acquis ne profite jamais. - Ill gotten ill spent. (Goods poorly gotten never profit.)Bonne renommà ©e vaut mieux que ceinture dorà ©e. - A good name is better than riches. (Well named is more is worth more than golden belt.)Bon sang ne saurait mentir. - Whats bred in the bone will come out in the flesh. (Good blood doesnt know how to lie.)Ce sont les tonneaux vides qui font le plus de bruit. - Empty vessels make the most noise. (Its the empty barrels that make the most noise.)Chacun voit midi sa porte. - To each his own. (Everyone sees noon at his door.)Un clou chasse lautre. - Life goes on. (One nail chases the other.)En avril, ne te dà ©couvre pas dun fil. - Warm weather in April isnt to be trusted. (In April, dont remove a thread (of your clothing).)En tout pays, il y a une lieue de mauvais chemin. - There will be bumps in the smoothest roads. (In every co untry there is a league of bad road.) Entre larbre et là ©corce il ne faut pas mettre le doigt. - Caught between a rock and a hard place. (Between the tree and the bark one shouldnt put a finger.)Heureux au jeu, malheureux en amour. - Lucky at cards, unlucky in love. (Happy in the game, unhappy in love.)Une hirondelle ne fait pas le printemps. - One swallow doesnt make a summer. (One swallow doesnt make spring.)Il faut casser le noyau pour avoir lamande. - No pain no gain. (You need to break the shell to have the almond.)Il faut quune porte soit ouverte ou fermà ©e. - There can be no middle course. (A door must be open or closed.)Il faut rà ©flà ©chir avant dagir. - Look before you leap. (You have to think before acting.)Il ne faut jamais dire  «Ã‚  Fontaine, je ne boirai pas de ton eau  !  Ã‚ » - Never say never. (You should never say, Fountain, I will never drink your water!)Il ne faut jamais jeter le manche aprà ¨s la cognà ©e. - Never say die. (One should never throw the handle after the felling a xe.)Il ne faut rien laisser au hasard. - Leave nothing to chance. (Nothing should be left to chance.) Il ny a pas de fumà ©e sans feu. - Where theres smoke, theres fire. (Theres no smoke without fire.)Il ny a que les montagnes qui ne se rencontrent jamais. - There are none so distant that fate cannot bring together. (There are only mountains that never meet.)Il vaut mieux à ªtre marteau quenclume. - Its better to be a hammer than a nail. (Its better to be a hammer than an anvil.)Impossible nest pas franà §ais. - There is no such word as cant. (Impossible isnt French.)Les jours se suivent et ne se ressemblent pas. - Theres no telling what tomorrow will bring. (The days follow each other and dont look alike.)Un malheur ne vient jamais seul. - When it rains, it pours! (Misfortune never comes alone.)Le mieux est lennemi de bien. - Let well enough alone. (Best is goods enemy.)Mieux vaut plier que rompre. - Adapt and survive. (Better to bend than to break.)Mieux vaut prà ©venir que guà ©rir. - Prevention is better than cure. (Better to prevent than to cure.) Mieux vaut tard que jamais. - Better late than never. (Late is worth more than never.)Les murs ont des oreilles. - Walls have ears.Noà «l au balcon, Pà ¢ques au tison. - A warm Christmas means a cold Easter. (Christmas on the balcony, Easter at the embers.)On ne fait pas domelette sans casser des Å“ufs. - You cant make an omelette without breaking eggs.On ne peut pas avoir le beurre et largent du beurre. - You cant have your cake and eat it too. (You cant have the butter and the money from [selling] the butter.)Paris ne sest pas fait en un jour. - Rome wasnt built in a day. (Paris wasnt made in a day.)Les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivià ¨res. - Tall oaks from little acorns grow. (The little streams make the big rivers.)Quand le vin est tirà ©, il faut le boire. - Once the first step is taken theres no going back. (When the wine is drawn, one must drink it.)La raison du plus fort est toujours la meilleure. - Might makes right. (The strongest reason is always th e best.) Rien ne sert de courir, il faut partir point. - Slow and steady wins the race. (Theres no point in running, you have to leave on time.)Si jeunesse savait, si vieillesse pouvait. - Youth is wasted on the young.(If youth knew, if old age could.)Un sou est un sou. - Every penny counts. (A cent is a cent.)Tant va la cruche leau qu la fin elle se casse. - Enough is enough. (So often the pitcher goes to the water that in the end it breaks.)Tel est pris qui croyait prendre. - Its the biter bit. (He is taken who thought he could take.)Tel qui rit vendredi dimanche pleurera. - Laugh on Friday, cry on Sunday. (He who laughs on Friday will cry on Sunday.)Le temps, cest de largent. - Time is money. (Time, thats money.)Tourner sept fois sa langue dans sa bouche. - to think long and hard before speaking. (To turn ones tongue in ones mouth seven times.)Tous les goà »ts sont dans la nature. - It takes all kinds (to make a world). (All tastes are in nature.)Tout ce qui brille nest pas or. - All that glitters isnt gold. Tout est bien qui finit bien. - Alls well that ends well.Toute peine mà ©rite salaire. - The laborer is worthy of his hire. (All trouble taken deserves pay.)Un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu lauras. - A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. (One that you hold is better than two that you will have.)Vouloir, cest pouvoir. - Where theres a will, theres a way. (To want, that is to be able.) French Sayings About Types of People   bon  entendeur, salut. - A word to the wise is enough. (To a good listener, safety.) mauvais ouvrier point de bons outils. - A bad workman blames his tools. (To a bad worker no good tools.) lÅ“uvre on reconnaà ®t lartisan. - You can tell an artist by his handiwork. (By his work one recognizes the workman.) pà ¨re avare fils prodigue. - The misers son is a spendthrift. (To a stingy father prodigal son.) tout seigneur tout  honneur. - Honor to whom honor is due.Aide-toi, le ciel taidera. - Heaven helps those who help themselves. (Help yourself, heaven will help you.)Au royaume des aveugles les borgnes sont rois. - In the kingdom of the blind the one-eyed man is king.Autant de tà ªtes,  autant  davis. - Too many cooks spoil the broth. (So many heads, so many opinions.)Aux innocents  les  mains  pleines. - Beginners luck. (Full hands for the innocents.)Bien  faire  et  laisser  dire. - Do your work well and never mind the critics. (Do well and le t (them) speak.)Cest au pied du mur quon voit le maà §on. - The tree is known by its fruit. (Its at the foot of the wall that you see the mason.) Cest en forgeant quon devient forgeron. - Practice makes perfect. (Its by forging that one becomes a blacksmith.)Charbonnier  est  maà ®tre chez  lui. - A mans home is his castle. (A coalman is master at home.)Comme  on connaà ®t  ses  saints, on  les  honore. - To know a friend is to respect him. (As one knows his saints, one honors them.)Comme  on  fait  son lit, on  se  couche. - Youve made your bed, now you must lie on it.Les conseilleurs ne sont pas les payeurs. - Givers of advice dont pay the price. (Dispensers of advice are not the payers.)Les cordonniers sont toujours les plus mal chaussà ©s. - The shoemakers son always goes barefoot. (Shoemakers are always the worst shod.)Deux patrons font  chavirer  la  barque. - Too many cooks spoil the broth. (Two bosses capsize the boat.)Lerreur  est  humaine. - To err is human. (The error is human.)Lexactitude est la politesse des  rois. - Punctuality is the politeness of kings.Lhabit  ne  fait  pas le  moine. - Clothes dont make the person. (The habit doesnt make the monk.) Il ne faut pas juger les gens sur la mine. - Dont judge a book by its cover. (One shouldnt judge people on their appearance.)Il ne sert rien de dà ©shabiller Pierre pour habiller Paul. - Robbing Peter to pay Paul. (It serves no purpose to undress Peter to dress Paul.)Il nest si mà ©chant pot qui ne trouve son couvercle. - Every Jack has his Jill. (Theres no jar so mean that it cant find its lid.)Il vaut mieux aller au moulin quau mà ©decin. - An apple a day keeps the doctor away. (Its better to go to the mill than to the doctor.)Nà ©cessità ©Ã‚  fait  loi. - Beggars cant be choosers. (Necessity makes law.)Nul  nest  prophà ¨te en son pays. - No man is a prophet in his own country.Loccasion  fait  le  larron. - Opportunity makes a thief.On ne peut pas à ªtre la fois au four et au moulin. - You cant be in two places at once. (One cant be at the oven and the mill at the same time.)On  ne  prà ªte  quaux  riches. - Only the rich get richer. (One onl y lends to the rich.)Quand le diable devient vieux, il se fait ermite. - New converts are the most pious. (When the devil gets old, he turns into a hermit.) Quand on  veut, on  peut. - Where theres a will, theres a way. (When one wants, one can.)Qui  aime  bien  chà ¢tie  bien. - Spare the rod and spoil the child. (He who loves well punishes well.)Qui  casse  les  verres  les  paie. - You pay for your mistakes. (He who breaks the glasses pays for them.)Qui craint le danger ne doit pas aller en mer. - If you cant stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. (He who fears dangers shouldnt go to sea.)Qui  donne  aux  pauvres  prà ªte Dieu. - Charity will be rewarded in heaven. (He who gives to the poor loans to God.)Qui dort dà ®ne. - He who sleeps forgets his hunger. (He who sleeps eats.)Qui  maime  me  suive. - Come all ye faithful. (He who loves me, follow me.)Qui nentend quune cloche nentend quun son. - Hear the other side and believe little. (He who hears only one bell hears only one sound.)Qui  ne  dit mot consent. - Silence implies consent. (He who says nothing consents.)Qui  ne  ri sque  rien  na  rien. - Nothing ventured, nothing gained. (He who risks nothing has nothing.) Qui  paie  ses  dettes  senrichit. - The rich man is the one who pays his debts. (He who pays his debts gets richer.)Qui  peut  le plus  peut  le  moins. - He who can do more can do less.Qui  sexcuse,  saccuse. - A guilty conscience needs no accuser. (He who excuses himself accuses himself.)Qui se marie la hà ¢te se repent loisir. - Marry in haste, repent later. (He who marries in haste repents in leisure.)Qui  se  sent  morveux,  quil  se  mouche. - If the shoe fits, wear it. (He who feels stuffy should blow his nose.)Qui sà ¨me le vent rà ©colte la tempà ªte. - As you sow, so shall you reap. (He who sows the wind reaps the storm.)Qui  sy  frotte  sy  pique. - Watch out - you might get burned. (He who rubs against it gets stung.)Qui  terre  a,  guerre  a. - He who has land has quarrels. (Who has land, has war.)Qui  trop  embrasse  mal  Ãƒ ©treint. - He who grasps at too much loses everything. (He who hugs too m uch holds badly.)Qui  va   la chasse  perd  sa  place. - He who leaves his place loses it. / Step out of line and youll lose your place. (He who goes hunting loses his place.) Qui  va  lentement  va  sà »rement. - Slowly but surely. (He who goes slowly goes surely.)Qui  veut  la fin  veut  les  moyens. - The end justifies the means. (He who wants the end wants the means.)Qui veut voyager loin mà ©nage sa monture. - He who takes it slow and steady travels a long way. (He who wants to travel far spares his mount.)Qui  vivra  verra. - What will be will be/Time will tell/God only knows. (He who lives will see.)Rira  bien  qui  rira  le dernier. - Whoever laughs last laughs best. (Will laugh well he who laughs last.)Tel pà ¨re, tel fils. - Like father like son.Tout soldat a dans son sac son batà ´n de marà ©chal. - The sky is the limit. (Every soldier has his marshalls baton in his bag.)Tout  vient   point   qui  sait  attendre. - All things come to those who wait. (All comes on time to the one who knows how to wait.)La và ©rità © sort de la bouche des enfants. - Out of the mouths of babes. (The truth come s out of the mouths of children.) French Sayings With Animal Analogies   bon  chat  bon  rat. - Tit for tat. (To good cat good rat.)Bon  chien  chasse de race. - Like breeds like. (Good dog hunts [thanks to] its ancestry.)La  caque  sent  toujours  le  hareng. - Whats bred in the bone will come out in the flesh. (The herring barrel always smells like herring.)Ce nest pas un vieux singe quon apprend faire la grimace. - Theres no substitute for experience. (Its not an old monkey that one teaches to make faces.)Ce nest pas la vache qui crie le plus fort qui fait le plus de lait. - Talkers are not doers.(Its not the cow that moos the loudest who gives the most milk.)Cest la poule qui chante qui a fait lÅ“uf. - The guilty dog barks the loudest. (Its the chicken that sings who laid the egg.)Chat à ©chaudà ©Ã‚  craint  leau  froide. - Once bitten, twice shy. (Scalded cat fears cold water.)Le chat  parti,  les  souris  dansent. - When the cats away, the mice will play. (The cat gone, the mice dance.)Chien  quià ‚  aboie  ne  mord  pas. - A barking dog does not bite. Un  chien  regarde  bien  un  Ãƒ ©và ªque. - A cat may look at a king. (A dog looks well at a bishop.)Un chien vivant vaut mieux quun lion mort. - A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. (A live dog is worth more than a dead lion.)Les chiens aboient, la caravane passe. - To each his own. (The dogs bark, the caravan goes by.)Les  chiens  ne  font pas des chats. - The apple doesnt fall far from the tree. (Dogs dont make cats.)Donne au chien los pour quil ne convoite pas ta viande. - Give some and keep the rest. (Give the dog the bone so that he doesnt go after your meat.)Faire  dune  pierre  deux  coups. - To kill two birds with one stone. (To strike twice with one stone.)Faute de  grives, on mange des merles. - Beggars cant be choosers. (Lack of thrushes, one eats blackbirds.)Les  gros  poissons  mangent  les  petits. - Big fish eat little fish.Il faut savoir donner un Å“uf pour avoir un bÅ“uf. - Give a little to get a lot. (You have to know how to give an egg to get an ox.) Il ne faut jamais courir deux lià ¨vres la fois. - Dont try to do two things at once. (One should never run after two hares at the same time.)Il ne faut jamais mettre la charrue avant les bÅ“ufs. - Dont put the cart before the horse. (One should never put the plow before the oxen.)Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de lours avant de lavoir tuà ©. - Dont count your chickens before theyre hatched. (You shouldnt sell the bearskin before killing the bear.)Il vaut mieux sadresser Dieu qu ses saints. - Its better to talk to the organ-grinder than the monkey. (Its better to address God than his saints.)Il y a plus dun à ¢ne la foire qui sappelle Martin. - Dont jump to conclusions. (Theres more than one donkey named Martin at the fair.)Le loup  retourne  toujours  au  bois. - One always goes back to ones roots. (The wolf always goes back to the woods.)Ne rà ©veillez pas le chat  qui  dort. - Let sleeping dogs lie. (Dont wake the sleeping cat.)La  nuit,  tous  le s  chats  sont  gris. - All cats are grey in the dark. (At night, all the cats are grey.) On ne marie pas les poules avec les renards. - Different strokes for different folks. (One does not wed hens with foxes.)Petit petit,  loiseau  fait  son nid. - Every little bit helps. (Little by little, the bird builds its nest.)Quand le chat nest pas l, les souris dansent. - When the cats away, the mice will play. (When the cat isnt there, the mice dance.)Quand on parle du loup (on en voit la queue). - Speak of the devil (and he appears). (When you talk about the wolf (you see its tail).)Qui a  bu  boira. - A leopard cant change his spots. (He who has drunk will drink.)Qui  maime  aime  mon  chien. - Love me love my dog. (He who loves me loves my dog.)Qui naà ®t  poule  aime  Ã‚  caqueter. - A leopard cant change his spots. (He who was born a hen likes to cackle.)Qui se couche avec les chiens se là ¨ve avec des puces. - If you lie down with dogs you get up with fleas.Qui  se  fait  brebis  le loup le mange. - Nice guys finish last. (He wh o makes himself a ewe the wolf eats.) Qui  se  ressemble  sassemble. - Birds of a feather flock together. (Those who resemble assemble.)Qui vole un Å“uf vole un bÅ“uf. - Give an inch and hell take a mile. (He who steals an egg will steal an ox.)Souris qui na quun trou est bientà ´t prise. - Better safe than sorry. (A mouse that has only one hole is soon caught.)

World War I - Middle East and Africa Campaigns

World War I - Middle East and Africa Campaigns As World War I descended across Europe in August 1914, it also saw fighting erupt across the colonial empires of the belligerents. These conflicts typically involved smaller forces and with one exception resulted in the defeat and capture of Germanys colonies. Also, as the fighting on the Western Front stagnated in to trench warfare, the Allies sought secondary theaters for striking at the Central Powers. Many of these targeted the weakened Ottoman Empire and saw the spread of fighting to Egypt and the Middle East. In the Balkans, Serbia, who had played a key role in starting of the conflict, was ultimately overwhelmed leading to a new front in Greece. War Comes to the Colonies Formed in early 1871, Germany was a later comer to the competition for empire. As a result, the new nation was forced to direct its colonial efforts towards the less preferred parts of Africa and the islands of the Pacific. While German merchants began operations in Togo, Kamerun (Cameroon), South-West Africa (Namibia), and East Africa (Tanzania), others were planting colonies in Papua, Samoa, as well as the Caroline, Marshall, Solomon, Mariana, and Bismarck Islands. In addition, the port of Tsingtao was taken from the Chinese in 1897. With the outbreak of war in Europe, Japan elected to declare war on Germany citing its obligations under the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of 1911. Moving quickly, Japanese troops seized the Marianas, Marshalls, and Carolines. Transferred to Japan after the war, these islands became a key part of its defensive ring during World War II. While the islands were being captured, a 50,000-man force was dispatched to Tsingtao. Here they conducted a classic siege with the aid of British forces and took the port on November 7, 1914. Far to the south, Australian and New Zealand forces captured Papua and Samoa. Battling for Africa While the German position in the Pacific was quickly swept away, their forces in Africa mounted a more vigorous defense. Though Togo was swiftly taken on August 27, British and French forces encountered difficulties in Kamerun. Though possessing greater numbers, the Allies were hampered by distance, topography, and climate. While initial efforts to capture the colony failed, a second campaign took the capital at Douala on September 27. Delayed by weather and enemy resistance, the final German outpost at Mora was not taken until February 1916. In South-West Africa, British efforts were slowed by the need to put down a Boer revolt before crossing the border from South Africa. Attacking in January 1915, South African forces advanced in four columns on the German capital at Windhoek. Taking the town on May 12, 1915, they compelled the colonys unconditional surrender two months later. The Last Holdout Only in German East Africa was the war to last the duration. Though the governors of East Africa and British Kenya wished to observe a pre-war understanding exempting Africa from hostilities, those within their borders clamored for war. Leading the German Schutztruppe (colonial defense force) was Colonel Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck. A veteran imperial campaigner, Lettow-Vorbeck embarked on a remarkable campaign which saw him repeatedly defeat larger Allied forces. Utilizing African soldiers known as askiris, his command lived off the land and conducted an ongoing guerilla campaign. Tying down increasingly large numbers of British troops, Lettow-Vorbeck suffered several reverses in 1917 and 1918, but was never captured. The remnants of his command finally surrendered after the armistice on November 23, 1918, and Lettow-Vorbeck returned to Germany a hero. The Sick Man at War On August 2, 1914, the Ottoman Empire, long known as the Sick Man of Europe for its declining power, concluded an alliance with Germany against Russia. Long courted by Germany, the Ottomans had worked to re-equip their army with German weapons and used the Kaisers military advisors. Utilizing the German battlecruiser Goeben and light cruiser Breslau, both of which had been transferred to Ottoman control after escaping British pursuers in the Mediterranean, Minister of War Enver Pasha ordered naval attacks against Russian ports on October 29. As a result, Russia declared war on November 1, followed by Britain and France four days later. With the beginning of hostilities, General Otto Liman von Sanders, Ever Pashas chief German advisor, expected the Ottomans to attack north into the Ukrainian plains. Instead, Ever Pasha elected to assault Russia through the mountains of the Caucasus. In this area the Russians advanced first gaining ground as the Ottoman commanders did not wish to attack in the severe winter weather. Angered, Ever Pasha took direct control and was badly defeated in the Battle of Sarikamis in December 1914/January 1915. To the south, the British, concerned about ensuring the Royal Navys access to Persian oil, landed the 6th Indian Division at Basra on November 7. Taking the city, it advanced to secure Qurna. The Gallipoli Campaign Contemplating the Ottoman entry into the war, First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill developed a plan for attacking the Dardanelles. Using the ships of the Royal Navy, Churchill believed, partially due to faulty intelligence, that the straits could be forced, opening the way for a direct assault on Constantinople. Approved, the Royal Navy had three attacks on the straits turned back in February and early March 1915. A massive assault on March 18 also failed with the loss of three older battleships. Unable to penetrate the Dardanelles due to Turkish mines and artillery, the decision was made to land troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula to remove the threat (Map). Entrusted to General Sir Ian Hamilton, the operation called for landings at Helles and farther north at Gaba Tepe. While the troops at Helles were to push north, the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps was to push east and prevent the retreat of the Turkish defenders. Going ashore on April 25, Allied forces took heavy losses and failed to achieve their objectives. Battling on Gallipolis mountainous terrain, Turkish forces under Mustafa Kemal held the line and fighting stalemated into trench warfare. On August 6, a third landing at Sulva Bay was also contained by the Turks. After a failed offensive in August, fighting quieted as the British debated strategy (Map). Seeing no other recourse, the decision was made to evacuate Gallipoli and the last Allied troops departed on January 9, 1916. Mesopotamia Campaign In Mesopotamia, British forces successfully repelled an Ottoman attack at Shaiba on April 12, 1915. Having been reinforced, the British commander, General Sir John Nixon, ordered Major General Charles Townshend to advance up the Tigris River to Kut and, if possible, Baghdad. Reaching Ctesiphon, Townshend encountered an Ottoman force under Nureddin Pasha on November 22. After five days of inconclusive fighting, both sides withdrew. Retreating to Kut-al-Amara, Townshend was followed by Nureddin Pasha who laid siege to the British force on December 7. Several attempts were made to lift the siege in early 1916 with no success and Townshend surrendered on April 29 (Map). Unwilling to accept defeat, the British dispatched Lieutenant General Sir Fredrick Maude to retrieve the situation. Reorganizing and reinforcing his command, Maude began a methodical offensive up the Tigris on December 13, 1916. Repeatedly outmaneuvering the Ottomans, he retook Kut and pressed towards Baghdad. Defeating Ottoman forces along the Diyala River, Maude captured Baghdad on March 11, 1917. Maude then halted in the city to reorganize his supply lines and avoid the summer heat. Dying of cholera in November, he was replaced by General Sir William Marshall. With troops being diverted from his command to expand operations elsewhere, Marshall slowly pushed towards to the Ottoman base at Mosul. Advancing towards the city, it was finally occupied on November 14, 1918, two weeks after the Armistice of Mudros ended hostilities. Defense of the Suez Canal As Ottoman forces campaigned in the Caucasus and Mesopotamia, they also began moving to strike at the Suez Canal. Closed by the British to enemy traffic at the start of the war, the canal was a key line of strategic communication for the Allies. Though Egypt was still technically part of the Ottoman Empire, it had been under British administration since 1882 and was rapidly filling with British and Commonwealth troops. Moving through the desert wastes of the Sinai Peninsula, Turkish troops under General Ahmed Cemal and his German chief of staff Franz Kress von Kressenstein attacked the canal area on February 2, 1915. Alerted to their approach, British forces drove off the attackers after two days of fighting. Though a victory, the threat to the canal forced the British to leave a stronger garrison in Egypt than intended. Into the Sinai For over a year the Suez front remained quiet as fighting raged at Gallipoli and in Mesopotamia. In the summer of 1916, von Kressenstein made another attempt on the canal. Advancing across the Sinai, he met a well-prepared British defense led by General Sir Archibald Murray. In the resulting  Battle of Romani  on August 3-5, the British forced the Turks to retreat. Going over the offensive, the British pushed across Sinai, building a railroad and water pipeline as they went. Winning battles at  Magdhaba  and  Rafa, they were ultimately stopped by the Turks at the First Battle of Gaza in March 1917 (Map). When a second attempt to take the city failed in April, Murray was sacked in favor of General Sir Edmund Allenby. Palestine Reorganizing his command, Allenby commenced the  Third Battle of Gaza  on October 31. Flanking the Turkish line at Beersheba, he won decisive victory. On Allenbys flank were the Arab forces guided by  Major T.E. Lawrence  (Lawrence of Arabia) who had previously captured the port of Aqaba. Dispatched to Arabia in 1916, Lawrence successfully worked to foment unrest among the Arabs who then revolted against Ottoman rule. With the Ottomans in retreat, Allenby rapidly pushed north, taking Jerusalem on December 9 (Map). Thought the British wished to deliver a death blow to the Ottomans in early 1918, their plans were undone by the beginning of the German  Spring Offensives  on the Western Front. The bulk of Allenbys veteran troops were transferred west to aid in blunting the German assault. As a result, much of the spring and summer was consumed rebuilding his forces from newly recruited troops. Ordering the Arabs to harass the Ottoman rear, Allenby opened the  Battle of Megiddo  on September 19. Shattering an Ottoman army under von Sanders, Allenbys men rapidly advanced and captured Damascus on October 1. Though their southern forces had been destroyed, the government in Constantinople refused to surrender and continued the fight elsewhere. Fire in the Mountains In the wake of the victory at Sarikamis, command of Russian forces in the Caucasus was given to General Nikolai Yudenich. Pausing to reorganize his forces, he embarked on an offensive in May 1915. This was aided by an Armenian revolt at Van which had erupted the previous month. While one wing of the attack succeeded in relieving Van, the other was halted after advancing through the Tortum Valley towards Erzurum. Exploiting the success at Van and with Armenian guerillas striking the enemy rear, Russian troops secured Manzikert on May 11. Due to the Armenian activity, the Ottoman government passed the Tehcir Law calling for the forced relocation of Armenians from the area. Subsequent Russian efforts during the summer were fruitless and Yudenich took the fall to rest and reinforce. In January, Yudenich returned to the attack winning the Battle of Koprukoy and driving on Erzurum. Taking the city in March, Russian forces captured Trabzon the following month and began pushing south towards Bitlis. Pressing on, both Bitlis and Mush were taken. These gains were short-lived as Ottoman forces under Mustafa Kemal recaptured both later that summer. The lines stabilized through the fall as both sides recuperated from the campaigning. Though the Russian command wished to renew the assault in 1917, social and political unrest at home prevented this. With the outbreak of the Russian Revolution, Russian forces began withdrawing on the Caucasus front and eventually evaporated away. Peace was achieved through the  Treaty of Brest-Litovsk  in which Russia ceded territory to the Ottomans. The Fall of Serbia While fighting raged on the major fronts of the war in 1915, most of the year was relatively quiet in Serbia. Having successfully fended off an Austro-Hungarian invasion in late-1914, Serbia desperately worked to rebuild its battered army though it lacked the manpower to do so effectively. Serbias situation changed dramatically late in the year when following Allied defeats at Gallipoli and Gorlice-Tarnow, Bulgaria joined the Central Powers and mobilized for war on September 21. On October 7, German and Austro-Hungarian forces renewed the assault on Serbia with Bulgaria attacking four days later. Badly outnumbered and under pressure from two directions, the Serbian army was forced to retreat. Falling back to the southwest, the Serbian army conducted a long march to Albania but remained intact (Map). Having anticipated the invasion, the Serbs had begged for the Allies to send aid. Developments in Greece Due to variety of factors, this could only be routed through the neutral Greek port of Salonika. While proposals for opening a secondary front at Salonika had been discussed by the Allied high command earlier in the war, they had been dismissed as a waste of resources. This view changed on September 21 when Greek Prime Minister Eleutherios Venizelos advised the British and French that if they sent 150,000 men to Salonika, he could bring Greece into the war on the Allied side. Though quickly dismissed by the pro-German King Constantine, Venizelos plan led to the arrival of Allied troops at Salonika on October 5. Led by French General Maurice Sarrail, this force was able to provide little aid to the retreating Serbians The Macedonian Front As the Serbian army was evacuated to Corfu, Austrian forces occupied much of Italian-controlled Albania. Believing the war in the region lost, the British expressed a desire to withdraw their troops from Salonika. This met with protests from the French and the British unwillingly remained. Building a massive fortified camp around the port, the Allies were soon joined by the remnants of the Serbian army. In Albania, an Italian force was landed in the south and made gains in the country south of Lake Ostrovo. Expanding the front out from Salonika, the Allies held a small German-Bulgarian offensive in August and counterattacked on September 12. Achieving some gains, Kaymakchalan and Monastir were both taken (Map). As Bulgarian troops crossed the Greek border into Eastern Macedonia, Venizelos and officers from the Greek Army launched a coup against the king. This resulted in a royalist government in Athens and a Venizelist government at Salonika which controlled much of northern Greece. Offensives in Macedonia Idle through much of 1917, Sarrails  Armee d Orient  took control of all of Thessaly and occupied the Isthmus of Corinth. These actions led to the exile of the king on June 14 and united the country under Venizelos who mobilized the army to support the Allies. In May 18, General Adolphe Guillaumat, who had replaced Sarrail, attacked and captured Skra-di-Legen. Recalled to aid in stopping the German Spring Offensives, he was replaced with General Franchet dEsperey. Wishing to attack, dEsperey opened the Battle of Dobro Pole on September 14 (Map). Largely facing Bulgarian troops whose morale was low, the Allies made swift gains though the British took heavy losses at Doiran. By September 19, the Bulgarians were in full retreat. On September 30, the day after the fall of Skopje and under internal pressure, the Bulgarians were granted the Armistice of Solun which took them out of the war. While dEsperey pushed north and over the Danube, British forces turned east to attack an undefended Constantinople. With British troops approaching the city, the Ottomans signed the Armistice of Mudros on October 26. Poised to strike into the Hungarian heartland, dEsperey was approached by Count Krolyi, the head of the Hungarian government, about the terms for an armistice. Traveling to Belgrade, Krolyi signed an armistice on November 10.

As a person who has experienced both your own and American culture Essay

As a person who has experienced both your own and American culture - Essay Example On the other hand, other scholars disagree that American fast food brands are that good for China if they increase health problems and promote conformist and materialistic values (O’Connor 162; Zhang, der Lans, and Dagevos 88). The positive effects of the American fast food industry on Chinese society are the promotion of aspirations for success, freedom, equality, and humanity in general and a successful global business model for Chinese businesses in specific, although the American fast food industry also poses the negative effects of poor health and the spreading potentially harmful cultural practices of conformity and superficiality. One of the positive effects of American fast food brands on Chinese culture is the promotion of positive ideals of success. Many Chinese go to Western fast food outlets to experience the American lifestyle, which is largely connected to material success. Chinese consumers want the â€Å"slice of America† that Dan Roberts writes about (168). Lynn Guenette agrees with Roberts because of examples of Chinese consumers do not want to eat rice and congee in McDonald’s because they want to taste American brands and feel emotionally connected to the success of these brands (8). She cites China Daily, where Jeffrey Schwartz, McDonald’s China CEO explains that, in their focus group studies of Chinese consumers, many of them say that they come to McDonald’s â€Å"because [it is] a Western brand, if [they] want to eat rice or congee [they] can eat it at home†¦[they] want to sample the Western brand† (Guenette 8). Guenette says that the Chinese see America n brands and American success as one: â€Å"Being  Ã¢â‚¬Ëœwestern’  is  a  prerequisite  for  success† (4).   The Chinese want American brands because America stands for success and those who consume its brands access status symbols of success. Roberts notes that, though some groups are falling out of love of American brands because of U.S. foreign

Digital Age, Electronic Identity and Nature of Relationships Essay

Digital Age, Electronic Identity and Nature of Relationships - Essay Example Vie makes it clear that every time people upload their photos or participate in any form of communication in the social networking sites, they create an identity for themselves, which their friends at the site will identify them with when they analyze their information. It is not only social networking site that create an electronic identity, but any form of online transaction that requires people to enter their personal information like buying products online (Vie, 17). These transactions leave a trace of information that other internet users will use to identify people. Many of the electronic identities are created unconsciously, but they leave traces of people electronic identity and can be used to refer to them by others. She gives an example of the identities created in the Gmail account, where the system will bring adverts on the right side of the screen based on the information people view in the account. People’s electronic identity can portray information about people that others may use to judge them, which can lead to loss of identity and denial of a private life. However, the electronic identity will help in formation of relationships and connect with people known in the past lives. I agree with Vie’s assertion that the digital age has altered our understandings among social relationships and ourselves. In the digital age, social media have had the most crucial role in the understanding of the relationships people form since it has become part of everybody’s lives. Organizations have also joined in the social media to conduct their operations hence sites like Facebook and twitter just to name a few have become frequently used for communication. People are required to form profiles from which they will post information concerning themselves for others to use. Communication has been made easy since people can communicate globally and meet new people (Harris). From the profiles people create in the social networking sites, they pos t their thoughts on them, and people will communicate back by writing comments. The digital age has helped people to get new friends easily and connect with people they may have lost contacts within the past. For this reason, the digital age has formed an easy way for people to meet and share ideas on different issues in the society and their lives. Vie explains that people need to put a balance on the between the need to meet with people and their personal privacy. She explains that the electronic identity created in the social networking site can be of help and at the same time tamper with privacy of people’s information. This is because the information people post on the sites can be used in the later stages of life to deny people opportunities. Conversations with friends are open for people to see and may be disastrous if not used in the right manner. The American culture is one that people will judge others from the experiences, and it may happen that one can post some s ensitive information on the sites that may be used against them in the future. For example, in job seeking, there have been some reports that employers will look at the potential employees social media profiles, and if there is some compromising information, they may not be employed. For this reason,