Friday, January 31, 2020

UK employee relations have seen significant changes over the last 30 Essay

UK employee relations have seen significant changes over the last 30 years. Evaluate the importance of these changes and how the - Essay Example One of the other changes that have occurred since 1980 is the growth of non-standard employment, which includes short fixed-term contract, temporary employment, freelance work, outwork, homework and part-time work (Millward et al., 2000, p. 44). As far as part-time employment is concerned, 25% of firms had part-time workers in 1980, while 44% of the firms had part-time workers in 1998 (Millward et al., 2000, p. 44). The ever-increasing use of part-time workers has implications for unions, as part-timers are much less likely to be a part of a union, and workplaces that employ a substantial number of part-time workers are less likely to recognize trade unions (Millward et al., 2000, p. 45). With regards to workers with short fixed-term contracts, this number rose from 19% of all firms answering they had at least one employee with a short fixed-term contract in 1980 to 35% answering this question in 1998 (Millward et al., 2000, p. 46). With regards to temporary employment, the percentag e increased from 20% of all firms answering in the affirmative whether they had at least one temporary worker in 1980 to 28% answering this same question in 1998 (Millward et al., 2000, p. 47). With regards to free-lance workers, the data is unclear as to whether this number has risen or fallen between the years 1980 and 1998 (Millward et al., 2000, p. 48). Employee relations have also undergone a big shift since 1980. One of the shifts is in regards to whom manages the employees – in 1980, employees were managed by a generalist; in 1998, the shift was towards management by a specialist in employee relations and line managers. In 1980, generalists accounted for 75% of all managers; in 1998, they accounted for only 46% (Millward et al., 2000, p. 52). One of the reasons for this shift is the increased prevalence of foreign firms, as they rely more upon employee relations specialists, such as human resource managers than domestic workplaces (Millward et al., 2000, p. 54). What t he shift towards employing ER specialists for employee relations shows is that firms increasingly see employee relations as a position that requires a professional with formal credentials (Millward et al., 2000, p. 81). Another major change is that more women are managing employee relations – just 12% of employee relations positions were held by women in 1980, while 39% of employee relations positions were held by women in 1998 (Millward et al., 2000, p. 59). Another of the broad changes has concerned unionism. In particular, unionism has fallen considerably since 1980. In 1980, 73% of workplaces had one or more union members; that number fell to 54% in 1998 (Millward et al., 2000, p. 84). Moreover, the density of union members fell from 47% in 1980 to 36% in 1998, with the fall most steep in the private sector, with the public sector showing much less of a decline (Millward et al.., 2000, p. 103). With the decline in numbers came an attendant decline in clout, with collectiv e bargaining coverage declining during the period between 1984-1998 (Millward et al., 2000, pp. 180-181). In 2004, around 34% of all employees were union members, and there were still roughly 36% of workplaces with a union, mainly in the public sector (Kersey et al., 2004). However, the decline of unions did not mean that employees lost their voice – there simply was a shift from union representatives being the voice of employees to the implementation of channels where employees can communicate directly with

Thursday, January 23, 2020

The Role of the Watch in William Faulkners A Rose for Emily Essay

The Role of the Watch in William Faulkner's A Rose for Emily Even the casual reader of William Faulkner will recognize the element of time as a crucial one in much of the writer's work, and the critical attention given to the subject of time in Faulkner most certainly fills many pages of criticism. A goodly number of those pages of criticism deal with the well-known short story, "A Rose for Emily." Several scholars, most notably Paul McGlynn, have worked to untangle the confusing chronology of this work (461-62). Others have given a variety of symbolic and psychological reasons for Emily Grierson's inability (or refusal) to acknowledge the passage of time. Yet in all of this careful literary analysis, no one has discussed one troubling and therefore highly significant detail. When we first meet Miss Emily, she carries in a pocket somewhere within her clothing an "invisible watch ticking at the end of [a] gold chain" (Faulkner 121). What would a woman like Emily Grierson, who seems to us fixed in the past and oblivious to any passing of time, n eed with a watch? An awareness of the significance of this watch, however, is crucial for a clear understanding of Miss Emily herself. The watch's placement in her pocket, its unusually loud ticking, and the chain to which it is attached illustrate both her attempts to control the passage of the years and the consequences of such an ultimately futile effort. The idiom of having something or someone "in one's pocket," that is, under one's personal control, is important here, for by wearing the watch in her pocket rather than, say, pinned to her bodice, Emily demonstrates her effort to subjugat e the clock to her own will. In staring down the aldermen who have come about the taxes, ... ...for what is new to us, we soon learn, is not new to Miss Emily. Repeatedly, she has attempted to control time, to fix people and events in the past, and the stru cture of the story mirrors this. Also, since the story begins and ends, more or less, with Emily's funeral (the events of her life being presented to us in a series of flashbacks), very little actual time passes in the course of the narrativ e. By telling her story after her death, Faulkner shows that, in the only way possible, time now stands still for her. Thus this one small detail, the hidden yet constantly ticking watch, becomes a symbol for the horror and futility that are Emily Grierson. WORKS CITED Faulkner, William. "A Rose for Emily." Collected Stories. New York: Vintage, 1977. 119-30. McGlynn, Paul. "The Chronology of `A Rose for Emily.'" Studies in Short Fiction, 6 (1969): 461-62.

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Baseball Versus Lacrosse

Baseball Versus Lacrosse Baseball is a sport that is known around the world. Lacrosse is not as popular, but it is still a fun game to play. Although baseball and lacrosse are very different they have some similarities. Baseball is a very fun game to play. While playing the sport the idea is to hit the ball and score a run the more runs you score the better. Baseball is a nine inning game, one inning is when a team hits and plays in the field. When playing baseball try to hit the baseball on offense and on defense try to catch the ball or tag the person out. I know this sounds hard but after a while it gets easier and more fun to play. Baseball and lacrosse have many similarities. Baseball and Lacrosse both involve catching and throwing. These two sports both use a round ball that is thrown to a teammate. These two sports are very fun to play. Lacrosse is a very fun game to play. When playing this sport the idea of this game is to try to score points by throwing the ball into the net. Lacrosse is a sixty minute game, two fifteen minute half’s. While playing this game use the stick and try to throw the ball to a teammate to score or shoot the ball into the net. This game is very dangerous but fun. Baseball and lacrosse have many similarities. Baseball and Lacrosse both involve catching and throwing. These two sports both use a round ball that is thrown to a teammate. These two sports are very fun to play. Baseball and lacrosse are very similar and different. They both involve catching and throwing, but they are played very different. I like baseball more than lacrosse because I have been playing baseball since I was a kid. These two sports are very similar and different

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

The Third Article Is By Murali ( 2004 ) Essay - 1674 Words

The third article is by Murali (2004). This article looks into poverty at a deeper level and explores how it directly and indirectly affects mental health. It looks at it in the context of the growing inequality between the classes. This article mainly focuses on the children and how their social class shapes their mental health. It is important to look at how it affects children, because the children as they grow can either accept it or work hard to change it. It is hard to see upward mobility from the parents class. It is possible but usually there is only a one-class change. Focusing on how class affect children can help create treatments to help the child better coup with life as an adult. It also looks into how they plan to reduce inequality both nationally and internationally (Murali, 2004). This is important to look at because it can help explain the differences in mental health between the social classes. The fourth article I found is by Artazcoz, Benach, Borrell, Cortà ¨s (2004). This article looks at the interactions among genders, family roles, and social class. This article helps explain the common findings of how the lower class has more mental health problems. It explains how unemployment affects the families’ mental health. It also explains why which is needed for comparison to the upper classes’ stresses (Artazcoz, Benach, Borrell, Cortà ¨s, 2004). This article is important because it explains how unemployment changes your family dynamic and can change yourShow MoreRelatedVeteran Mental Illness and System Justification Theory1461 Words   |  6 Pagesopportunity for many who do not have other options. According to a 2007 AP report, over half of the troops killed in Iraq came from towns where the percentage of people living in poverty was above the national average (Mariscal, 2007). In 2004, nearly two-thirds of all Army recruits where from counties in which median household income fell below the national median (Tyson, 2005). The military relies on economically disadvantaged citizens to fill its ranks, deploys them to combat zones repeatedly andRead MoreA Career as a Flight Attendant1182 Words   |  5 Pagesattendants was $37,240 in May 2012. Moreover, Wallner (2000) explained flight attendant’s duties. First, flight attendants make sure that passengers should follow safety regulation. Second, flight attendants should provide safety and comport to passengers. Third, flight attendants should show their good service performance to passengers. This research paper purports to help people interested in a job of a flight attendant to finalize their career choice and dispel the myth that being a flight attendantRead MorePolitical Participation During The Panchayati Raj Institutions : A Selected Case Study Of Burdwan District Of West Bengal5146 Words   |  21 Pagesare participation of people in democracy, self- realization of an individual and expansion and developing forms of democratic governance(Introducing the Human Development and Capability Approach).Describing the changes of twentieth century, Siddiqui (2004), pointed out two interdependent variables that has changed the scenario considerably. First one is the development of natural science and technology and remaining one is the ideological shift. The science and technology offer immense material resourcesRead MoreResearch Methodology16940 Words   |  68 Pagesundertake research without any aim possibly because of not being able to think of anything else to do. Suc h students can also become good researchers by motivating themselves toward a respectable goal. In the words of Prof.P.Balaram [Current Science, 87(2004)1319] Ph.D. degree is a passport to a research career. The Ph.D. period often inï ¬â€šuence a research scholar to make or to break in a scientiï ¬ c career. (9) Social research helps ï ¬ nd answers to social problems. They explain social phenomena and seek solutionRead MoreAccounting 1-4 Chapter100452 Words   |  402 Pagesformalize your duties and contributions in a written partnership agreement. Retail and service-type businesses, including professional practices (lawyers, doctors, architects, and certified public accountants), often organize as partnerships. As a third alternative, you might organize as a corporation. A business organized as a separate legal entity owned by stockholders is a corporation. Investors in a corporation receive shares of stock to indicate their ownership claim. Buying stock in a corporation

Monday, December 30, 2019

Analytical Review Apollo Shoes Essay example - 951 Words

Apollo Shoes, Inc. Potential Problem Areas December 31, 2011 The following refers to the Comparative Trial Balances, GA-7.1 through GA-7.5: Accounts Receivable, Other Receivables, Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, Bad Debt ExpenseInventories and Reserve for Inventory Obsolescence Prepaid Insurance and Insurance Expense Machinery, Equipment, and Office Furniture Accounts Payable Taxes Payable Line of Credit Sales, Sales Returns, Net Sales – Relationship to Inventory Research amp; Development Administrative Wage Expense Miscellaneous Income The following refers to GA-7.5 – Selected Ratio Comparison: Days Sales in Inventory Days Sales in Accounts Receivable Other points of interest: 7GA-7.1 Apollo Shoes, Inc. Analytic†¦show more content†¦Account W/P Common Common # Title Ref. Balance Size Balance Size Amount Percentage REVENUE 40000 Sales 246,172,918.44 102.33% 245,213,452.88 106.40% -959,465.56 -0.39% 41000 Sales Returns 4,497,583.20 1.87% 13,600,220.89 5.90% 9,102,637.69 202.39% 42000 Warranty Exp 1,100,281.48 0.46% 1,158,128.47 0.50% 57,846.99 5.26% Net Sales 240,575,053.76 100.00% 230,455,103.52 100.00% (10,119,950.24) -4.21% EXPENSES 50000 COGS 141,569,221.61 58.85% 130,246,645.26 56.52% (11,322,576.35) -8.00% Gross Margin 99,005,832.15 41.15% 100,208,458.26 43.48% 1,202,626.11 1.21% GA-7.4 OPERATING EXPENSES 57500 Freight 4,302,951.46 1.79% 4,236,263.09 1.84% (66,688.37) -1.55% 60000 Advertising Expense 897,140.01 0.37% 986,854.01 0.43% 89,714.00 10.00% 61000 Auto Expenses 208,974.39 0.09% 214,502.80 0.09% 5,528.41 2.65% 62000 Research amp; Development 31,212,334.17 12.97% 543,870.44 0.09% (30,668,463.73) -98.26% 64000 Depreciation Expense 133,000.00 0.06% 446,000.00 0.19% 313,000.00 235.34% 64500 Warehouse SalariesShow MoreRelatedBeginning the Audit Report Essay1934 Words   |  8 PagesTo: Senior Partner From: Kim Cummings Re: Apollo Shoes Audit Dear Senior Partner: As you know, our firm has been selected to perform the Apollo Shoes audit. The planning process has been the most delicate stage as we want to ensure we have a solid audit approach. The team I select will be dedicated in meeting the objectives and strategies for completing the audit. I will briefly explain to you how I plan to begin the audit process. Now that Apollo Shoes has selected our firm, the initial planningRead MoreSubstantive Procedures for Cash Outflow Irregularities Essay1123 Words   |  5 Pagesdifferent accounting departments at Apollo Shoes. An audit program will be designed according to the three cycles that will be outlined below. The first cycle that will be discussed is cash, then accounts payable and finally the payroll function. These cycles will be evaluated for substantive procedures for Apollo Shoes and detect irregularities for each section and an appropriate audit program will be designed for each department. Cash At Apollo Shoes irregularities or cash schemes, whichRead MoreAudit Report And Internal Control Evaluation943 Words   |  4 PagesANDERSON, OLDS WATERSHED Certified Public Accountants Independent Auditor’s Report To the Board of Directors of Apollo Shoes, Inc. We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Apollo Shoes, Inc. as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and the related statements of income, shareholder’s equity and cash flow for the two years in the period ended December 31, 2007. Apollo Shoes’ management is responsible for the financial statements presented, for maintaining effective internal control over financialRead MoreAudit Introduction Letter1178 Words   |  5 PagesAudit Introduction Letter Elizabeth Grieco ACC 546 February 11, 2013 Hillary D. Edmondson Audit Introduction Letter TO: Apollo Shoes, Inc. FROM: Elizabeth Grieco, Auditor-In-Charge Anderson, Olds, and Watershed (AOW) DATE: February 11, 2013 SUBJECT: Auditing and Other Assurance Services Available SUMMARY: This memo includes information regarding the services that Anderson, Olds, and Watershed (AOW) is able to provide to clients as well as the standards that auditors must followRead MoreEvidence Law and Audit Program Essay879 Words   |  4 PagesAs corporate controller for Apollo Shoes, you are tasked to find and explain any irregularities in the Apollo Shoes Case. Resource: Apollo Shoes Casebook Define the process you will use and address the following assessed classroom discussion questions: What procedures will be used to collect accounting evidence? What sampling tools and techniques will be used for the examination? How will you use analytical and inferential tools to evaluate accounting evidence? Submit your assignmentRead MoreBeginning The Audit Report A Essay2026 Words   |  9 PagesBeginning the Audit Report October 25, 2007 Mr. Joe Bootwell Executive Senior Vice-President CFO Apollo Shoes, Inc 100 Shoe Plaza Shoetown, Maine 00001 Dear Mr. Bootwell, Thank you for choosing Team D Auditing for your audit needs. This letter is to inform you on how we plan to begin the audit process for your company. We will be performing an audit on the financial statements for Apollo Shoes for the year ended December 31, 2007 in order to provide reasonable assurance that the statements areRead MoreAudit Program Design Part Ii - Acc546 Essay example1797 Words   |  8 Pages2011 Audit Program Design Part II The audit of Apollo Shoes, Inc. requires a design of steps to develop audit objectives to plan the audit. The financial statements are divided into cycles to better manage the audit and disperse to staff within the firm. The following cycle’s sales and collection, payroll and personnel and acquisition and payment were developed to design test of controls, substantive tests of transactions and analytical procedures. Anderson, Olds, and Watershed, LLP willRead MoreAudit Program Design Part 21844 Words   |  8 PagesKendrick Cross, Teresita Gunn, Geri Franco, Heather Swayze ACC/546 July 08, 2013 Joseph Oloyede Sales and Collection Cycle When engaged in auditing a public firm, such as Apollo Shoe Inc., an auditor must determine when to trust in the company’s internal controls and when to ascertain auxiliary testing methods are obligatory to analyze control risks. The sales and collection cycle is rather a substantial fraction of the auditRead MoreAudit Program Design Part Iii for Apollo Shoes Essay1294 Words   |  6 PagesAudit Program Design Part III for Apollo Shoes Crystal Spencer ACC/546 September 24, 2012 Deborah Fitzgerald Thomas Sloan and Spencer Auditing Firm during phase III of Apollo Shoes audit plan, we will focus in two key cycles, which are the following: inventory and warehouse cycle and cash cycle. It is important to understand that are six types of transactions in the inventory and warehouse cycles which are: receive raw materials, store rawRead MoreAcc 5561986 Words   |  8 Pagesand forensic accounting (4th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley Sons. Wells, J. (2011). Principles of fraud examination (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. All electronic materials are available on the student website. Supplemental Resources Apollo Shoes Casebook Web-Based Version http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0078136644/student_view0/apollo_shoes_case.html Week One: Overview of Fraud and Abuse Details Due Points Objectives 1.1 Identify the impact of occupational fraud and

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Gun Violence And Gun Control - 1406 Words

Gun violence in America is a huge topic of discussion. Many people have heard about this topic on the news or in the newspaper, but have very little knowledge on this ongoing topic. Those who have a lack of information on gun control tend to not feel strongly towards guns or people owning or carrying guns. People that have never been around guns are often scared of them, but the truth is a gun is nothing more than a hunk of metal. For a gun to go off the gun needs a shooter, so should the real topic of discussion be â€Å"Should there be stricter gun laws for the owner?† However, in the United States it isn’t very difficult to obtain or own a gun. Guns are very common in America and anybody could simply sell their firearm to another person with the ending result of now anybody can own a gun. (Degrazia 2) â€Å"The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act mandates background checks of gun buyers, but only if the seller is a licensed dealer; private sales, including those a t gun shows and those conducted online, are exempt.† Degrazia states that anyone can get a gun without having a background check, this including anyone over 18. Being able to purchase firearms easily in America can be a serious topic of discussion because many people are getting killed with firearms, school shootings are on a rise, however in zones where guns by law have to be in every household the crime rate is significantly lower than surrounding areas. Canada is in a similar situation that America is in as far asShow MoreRelatedGun Control And Gun Violence1054 Words   |  5 PagesGun control generally refers to policies that regulate the manufacture, sale, transfer, possession, modification, or use of firearms (Wikipedia). This is an important definition for citizens, lawmakers, and gun lobbyists to follow over the debate on gun control. As well as the Second Amendment in the constitution which states, â€Å"The right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed†. There has been a debate on whether that specifies within the home or outside of the home. For more thanRead MoreGun Control And Gun Violence1172 Words   |  5 Pagespeople depart from this earth due to gun violence in the US every day. From school children, to victims of domestic violence, to people going about their daily lives, this status quo is unacceptable. On Tuesday January 5th, 2016 President Obama announced that he would send proposals on reducing gun violence in America to Congress. His spokesman, Jay Carney, mentioned that this is â€Å"a complex problem that will require a complex solution.† The ability to own a gun is considered by some a birthright ofRead MoreGun Violence And Gun Control1007 Words   |  5 Pagesshootings and various other methods of gun violence, tens of thousands of people die every year. These gun-related deaths primarily originate from murder and children accidentally shooting themselves. Although those in favor of gun control tend to believe that guns should be terminated completely, the second amendment prevents lawmakers from being able to do so. Therefore, in order to combat these causes, alternative gun control solutions must be made for each one. Gun-related murders can be decreasedRead MoreGun Violence And Gun Control726 Words   |  3 PagesI have read were â€Å"Connecticut School Shooting ‘An Attack on America’† by Ted Anthony and â€Å"The Price of Gun Control by Dan Baum. All around I believe these articles were both very interesting and both took different perspectives on the issues of guns in America. Both Anthony and Baum illustrated the different problems that we have in America and our communities with gun control and gun violence. But, they both brought the text together to relate it on a personal level. I enjoyed reading both textsRead MoreGun Control And Gun Violence1226 Words   |  5 PagesViolence is everywhere in the world. In every country, city, town and village there is some form of violence. In my lifetime, there have been countless deaths and injuries due to gun violence. We happen to live in a country where gun violence is among the most prevalent in the world: The United States of America. Today, gun control and gun violence has become a controversial issue in America. The issue for gun control has been debated for a long time, probably ever since they were invented. It isRead MoreGun Violence And The Gun Control1253 Words   |  6 PagesGun Violence in America According to CDC, One person is killed by a firearms every 17 minutes, 87 people are killed during an average day, and 609 are killed every week†(CDC). That means gun violence is out of control, and you can be next. In fact, there s been an increase of mass murders occurring everywhere due to guns. Which has brought our attention to the gun violence in our nation. They say guns are for protection, but in reality there seems to be more murder associated with it. There sRead MoreGun Violence : Gun Control And The Violence Essay1241 Words   |  5 Pagesissue in American society would be gun control and the violence it brings. We live in a time where technology allows news to spread rapidly and every week gun violence crimes seem to be in the news. These crimes start to divide us as a society. â€Å"Each year for the last decade in America, more than 30,000 people have died due to firearms† (Swanson, 2015). From 1968 to 2015, we had about 1.6 million deaths due to firearm related deaths (Swanson, 2015). Gun violence only seems to be getting worse asRead MoreGun Violence And Gun Control Essay1301 Words   |  6 Pagescaused by gun violence this year. This is an alarming statistic, especially when you consider that 354 mass shootings have contributed to the body count. 1952 of these deaths have been labeled accidental, which is almost as startling as the death toll itself. (@GunDeaths) Gun violence is a problem that is not going to go away unless there is action taken to combat it. A lack of gun education, weak gun regulation, and government indifference towards gun violence in the country has allowed gun violenceRead MoreGun Violence And Gun Control1166 Words   |  5 Pagesmany people as the Land of the Free; a Land of Opportunities. There has always been a gun culture in America; however it has also been a gun-control culture. Whenever a devastating mass shooting occurs, such as the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, a deliberation about gun violence follows suit. Depending on whom you discuss this with, that case is not always true. There are those that are for gun control and those that are against. There are also conspiracy theories that claim that the eventsRead MoreGun Control : The Importance Of Gun Violence And Gun Control835 Words   |  4 Pagesmany political, economical, and cultural spheres, gun control politics are a prime exception. In present day America, the controversial topic of gun control necessitated by inhumane acts of gun violence rises to its peak of importance as an increasing number of mass shootings devastate thousands of lugubrious families. These atrocities are incessantly depicted on news channels and in newspapers, horrifying millions of Americans. Regrettably, gun violence has no straightforward solutions, generating two

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Philosophy and Critical Thinking Skills Free Essays

What Is Your Philosophy Georgette Duropan PHL/215 April 11,2012 Ryan Shriver What Is Your Philosophy? According to â€Å"Merriam Webster† (2012), Epistemology is the study or a theory of the nature and grounds of knowledge, especially with reference to its limits and validity. In my essay I will give you a description about the approaches to philosophical questions for each of the major philosophical areas of inquiry, and explanation of how philosophy and culture interact in the development of thought. I will also give an explanation of why the selected philosophy best describes my identification of cultural factors that influenced my choice of philosophy. We will write a custom essay sample on Philosophy and Critical Thinking Skills or any similar topic only for you Order Now The Divisions of Philosophy falls into four areas, such as Metaphysics, Epistemology, Ethics (moral philosophy, social philosophy, political philosophy, and aesthetics), and Logic. Metaphysics has more to do with being or existence. Epistemology is the theory of knowledge and wants to know the truth. Ethics covers four different areas. Moral philosophy is the study of moral judgments. Social philosophy is the study of society and its institutions. Political philosophy focuses on the state and seeks to determine, proper organization. Aesthetics, study of art, and of value judgment. Making a statement to me will get me to use my critical thinking skills. I for one do one believe everything I am told until sold proof, facts, or reasoning have been proven. This falls into the same perspective on how philosophy and culture interact in the development of thought. How people choose to use their words when trying to explain something to me makes a big difference. Often times I can mistakenly misinterpret what the speaker is trying to say. In other words, something cannot be a true fact and a false fact in a sentence. I call this contradicting. However, two people coming from two different backgrounds or from two different cultures might say the same thing but mean the opposite. Using your critical thinking skills on how explanation of how philosophy and culture interact in the development of thought needs to be dug into and come out with solid proof, facts, or reasoning behind the statement. The major philosophical area of inquiry that best describes me is Epistemology. As I have mentioned above I am the kind of person where I need to have solid proof, facts, or reasoning before I believe something someone is trying to tell me. Because Epistemology is the theory of knowledge questions related to Epistemology are What is truth? and Is it possible to know anything with absolute certainty? The more you know, the more you are able to learn and grow. Knowledge is power. Epistemology has to do a lot on how one thinks. When I think I like to go deep into though, therefore; I rely on my own experiences as a reference. If I had none the only way to find out the truth is to experience it for my self. Some cultural factors that influenced my choice of philosophy specifically Epistemology is the Japanese cultural. For the New Year’s Japanese believes that consuming noodles will give you a long live because the noodles are longs. Although this is not a proven factor I do see a lot of older Japanese people consuming noodles. These people look healthy and strong therefore I just believed that noodles does give you along life. Another cultural factor that influenced my choice is the Filipino culture. My husband is pure Filipino and is originally from the Philippines. His mother, my mother in law told me that saving the first washing of the rice and use that first washing of the rice water to water the orchids will help sustain the life of the orchid plant. Because I am the kind of person that needs to have things proven to me I asked my mother in law to water one orchid with regular water and another orchid with the first washing of the rice water. Both orchids were of the same family of orchid types. After two months the orchid that was watered with the first washing of the rice produce two times as much more flowers then the regular watered orchid and the flowers from the first washing of the rice lasted about two times longer. Some may think that this is coincidence, however; after continuously watering the orchids with the first washing of the rice water versus regular results have spoken for itself. In conclusion, I discussed the definition of Epistemology, the approaches to philosophical questions for each of the major philosophical areas of inquiry, and explanation of how philosophy and culture interact in the development of thought. And I also gave an explanation of why the selected philosophy best describes my identification of cultural factors that influenced my choice of philosophy. Wanting to have solid proof, facts, or reasoning behind a question that is given is not a bad thing. This just shows that you obtaining answering behind a question will give you more knowledge. Knowledge is power! References Merriam webster. (2012). Retrieved from http://www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/epistemology How to cite Philosophy and Critical Thinking Skills, Papers