How Congress Works And Why You Should Care - 1750 Words

Abstract This written report is appertaining to the book How Congress Works and Why You Should Care, written by Lee H. Hamilton. This book is published by Indiana University Press in Bloomington, IL, it was copyrighted in 2004 by the publisher. Summary The book How Congress Works, by Lee H. Hamilton, tells us a brief summary of the interworking’s of congress. The book begins to convey the role of congress in chapter one, the author begins with congresses important roles in our democracy. Which are passing budgets, manage conflicts that arise, debate issues facing the country and most importantly to act within the system of checks and balances. In our government neither congress nor president is supreme, most of the authority is with the citizens. The United States government is balanced into three branches of government: Congress, POTUS, SCOTUS, the House of Representatives and the Senate: also between the Federal Government and the States. The States are broken down into different regions with different issues facing them and different interests eventually boiling down to the bill of rights. Congress has the power of lawmaking, along with what the President’s agenda is, recommending bills to congress, and the power o f the President to veto bills. Congress contains the power of the purse in which Congress controls the power of taxation and spending. Congress legislations and policies control some aspects of our lives like taxation or when they regulate us. Our GovernmentShow MoreRelatedWhy Congress Should Have Term Limits1607 Words   |  7 PagesIf Congress should have term limits or not has been a long debated question that is suggested as an amendment to the qualifications division of the Constitution. There are outstanding arguments on both side of the issue 5; unconstitutionality versus limiting power and mixture versus seniority are just a few. Term limits are requirement to upload the founder’s objectives, to inhibit unfair advantages given to resident, and to permit an assembly of additional benefits. Opponents of term limits haveRead MoreAge Discrimination And The Work World Today With Age Diversification1630 Words   |  7 PagesAre businesses prepared for what is amounting in the work world today with age diversification? All humans in general are healthier thus living longer which means they are working longer periods in the business world. You are starting to hear more and more cases about age discrimination and big businesses are aware of this occurrence. Age discrimination can be the most harmful act to happen to a business. The Age Discrimination Act was passed in 1967; it states all workers who are 40 and olderRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence From England880 Words   |  4 Pagesissue to the vote. The main leaders wrote drafts of the declaration and each reviewed the others work to make sure that everything was ready to show congress the final draft on June 28, 1776. All though the CBS broadcast reenacted the singing of the Declaration of Independence very well, no one will ever know the actual history of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The CBS broadcast, â€Å"You Are There† reenacts the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but of course there are someRead MoreThe United States And National Government1621 Words   |  7 Pageswould exercise authority to the citizens benefit: If their the people s rights are invaded by either, they can make use of the other as the instrument of redress. James Madison and Alexander Hamilton had two different ideas about how the national government should work in practice. There are three general understandings of Federalism, they are state-sovereignty, states rights, and nationalism. State sovereignty means that the federal government is merely an agent of the states, while states retainRead MoreThe Affordable Care Act ( Obama Care )908 Words   |  4 Pagesor not I believe that the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care) should be repealed, replaced with something else, or stay in its current form. I believe that Obama Care should be fully repealed. However, I don’t believe that just repealing this legislation is enough. I believe that there should be a series of reforms ready for implementation that follow free market principles and that will restore economic freedom. There are far more cons than pros about Obama Care, which is all the more reason that itRead MoreEssay about Congress and the Law Making Process1376 Words   |  6 PagesBranch consists of Congress, which is made up of two parts; The House of Representatives and the Senate. These two parts of Congress was a result of the 1789 Compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. The Virginia Plan was about states wanted more representation in Congress because they were bigger states. From that plan the New Jersey Plan was brought forth. The New Jersey Plan basically said was smaller and bigger states should have equal power in Congress, so the bigger statesRead MoreThe Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Obama Has Gone Too Far1411 Words   |  6 Pages On March 23, 2010 President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. Since then, the bill has been one of the most debated issues in recent history. Is this Act good for busines s? Is this Act Constitutional? Jason Sweatt, a certified public accountant at Elliot Davis states, â€Å"The Act has tax impact, directly or indirectly, on every American. 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Is it something that can be solved outside of the government s help, or is it a problem that will plague the world for its entirety? When you get down to it, it becomes a simple question: Socialism or Capitalism? I’ll let the facts speak for themselvesRead MoreHow Conversation Was Topical Cohesion Essay1641 Words   |  7 PagesThe other element Tannen found important to conversation was topical cohesion, being â€Å"how speakers introduce and develop topics in relation to their own and others prior and projected talk,† (â€Å"Gender Differences in Conversational Coherence† 168). In this, the women were quick to find topics to talk about. Their conversations were personal, even at a young age. They talked about few topics, but expanded on them all. Men were, again, completely different. They talked about m any topics and had a hard

Essay Technological Determinism - 1184 Words

Technological determinism is a term developed by Marshal McLuhan, a theorist in the study of new media. By technological determinism, McLuhan refers to technology having the power to change societies and influence our cultures. In this essay I will argue that technology does have the power to change society and influence a civilization, using ideas put forward by Marshal McLuhan. I will also discuss the debate around technological determinism recognizing the claims made by Raymond Williams that society shapes technology as we look back at its emergence and their subsequent control. Both theorists have an interest in new media but it is the argument between weather technologies can shape society or is society shaping technology (LM†¦show more content†¦From experience, I for one believe that technology has had a major impact on my culture , In Fiji if a man wished to be with a woman by our culture he has to go and let the woman’s family know about his intentions of being with the woman and ask them for permission before taking her out on a date. Nowadays this important part of our culture is history, a man just has to call the woman on her cell phone and ask her out on a date without her parents knowing. Now that I look at the changes that have happened in my culture, I think that it is a shame to watch our culture and traditions being influenced by technology. McLuhan with his writing’s makes us think about the power of technology and its abilities to rearrange society. Raymond Williams on the other hand claims that technology does not shape society as he studies the emergence of technology and comes to the conclusion that is society that has control over technology and determines its uses and ability. Williams argues that technology should not be looked at as a totally different sphere that was separate form human life. Williams argued that technology is a social need in which it was invented. William’s argues against McLuhan’s claims that the forms of technologies are predetermined and says that technologyShow MoreRelatedSocial Shaping of Technology and Technological Determinism1417 Words   |  6 Pagest Social Context of Society Social Context of Technology – Essay â€Å"Technology is an independent factor impacting on society from outside society† Discuss with reference to both the Technological Determinist and the Social Shaping of Technology perspectives. The power technology obtains is incredible. In recent years it’s advanced greatly and I believe its limits is only our imagination. It is evolving at a quicker rate than ever and its Read MoreSocial Shaping of Technology and Technological Determinism1431 Words   |  6 Pagest Social Context of Society Social Context of Technology – Essay â€Å"Technology is an independent factor impacting on society from outside society† Discuss with reference to both the Technological Determinist and the Social Shaping of Technology perspectives. The power technology obtains is incredible. In recent years it’s advanced greatly and I believe its limits is only our imagination. It is evolving at a quicker rate than ever and its happeningRead MoreThe Focus Of This Essay Will Be An Argument By Peter Van1902 Words   |  8 PagesThe focus of this essay will be an argument by Peter Van Inwagen known as the â€Å"Consequence Argument.† The argument’s main goal is to refute compatibilism, or the idea that free will and determinism are reconcilable. Van Inwagen’s argument can be expressed as follows: 1. Assume determinism, the idea that the laws of nature and the state of the past are consistent with exactly one future outcome, is true. 2. A person p has no choice about what happened in the past. 3. P also has no choice about whatRead MoreWhat Are Technological Determinism, Scot, Feminism, Semiotic Approach, Cultural / Media Studies Approach?1175 Words   |  5 PagesWhat are: technological determinism, SCOT, feminism, semiotic approach, cultural/media studies approach? Technological determinism is a reductionist theory that presumes that a society s technology drives the development of its social structure and cultural values. Social construction of technology (also referred to as SCOT) is a theory within the field of Science and Technology Studies. 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What are the implications of your analysis for our understanding of technological innovations? You are advised to choose technologies we have been discussing in the lectures and seminars. There is no denying that technology has been an ever-apparent part of the human society. Today, technology is used in a variety of ways andRead MoreSocial Construction of Technology3292 Words   |  14 Pagesfinally agrees to the fact that the technology transformed his life. Technology is considered as a driving force for human evolution, today technology is considered to have an independent existence rather being considered as a human creation. Technological determinists are of the opinion that technology follows a path which is self-predicted and does not have a social or political influence over it. This ideology defeats the belief that humans are the creators of the so called technology. 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Through the character of Mae Holland, The Circle reflects the misconstrued value of modern day technological determinism. Throughout the novel, Eggers presents the CircleRead MoreTechnology Is A Force For Social Change1257 Words   |  6 PagesFacebook has been a one of the biggest phenomenons for the past decade and has had a huge affect mostly on the younger population. Technological determinism is that technology is a force for social change and Facebook does have some of the aspects of this. It is factor of â€Å"The Global Village† because we rely on it to connect with other people from all over the world. Facebook has fortified behaviors such as narcissism and shyness. In the younger generations Facebook has problems with dependency and

Ensure Safety in Workplace Small Firms

Question: Discuss about the Ensure Safety in Workplace for Small Firms. Answer: Introduction A safe and healthy working environment is crucial for the success of business in terms of retaining staff members and maximizes the productivity. Although the process of implementation of safe practices is a bit expensive, the effect of not implementing the practices can be severe. Workplace health and safety is essential for the public, customers and employees and knowing the WHS laws can be beneficial in this regard. The WHS obligations state that the employees should be provided safe premises, safe materials and machinery, safe working systems, suitable facilities and working environment and workers compensation and insurance for the employees. Complying with these obligations can help to retain the skilled staff members and prevent prosecutions and fines. This is an audit report of the Bolt and Catch Pty Ltd and consists of the observations and recommendations of a WHS audit conducted at the working premises by the production manager. Compliance with legislation Under Section 17 of the WHS Act, the persons, upon whom duties have been imposed by this Act, are required to ensure health and safety in the workplace by eliminating or minimizing the risks to health and safety of the persons at the workplace. (Work Health and Safety Act, 2011 2016). Duties will be imposed upon persons under this Act who conduct a business or an undertaking if: Workers are engaged by them or if the work carried out by the workers are directed or influenced by them. The other persons are put at risk by their business conduct. The workplace is managed or controlled by them. Plant, structures or substances, which are to be used in the workplace, are manufactured, designed or imported by them. On Inspection, it was found that some of the employees were not wearing protective equipments and some of the new machines did not have guarding around the stamping press. Hence, we may conclude that their employers exposed the workers to risks and that they have breached section 17 of the WHS Act. As per the Act, if employers fail to take proper care of their workers while they are at work then they may have to pay penalties and fines. In this case, since the employer has failed to comply with the requirements of the Act involving the highest level of seriousness and culpability he may be held liable for category 1 offence paying a fine of 3 million dollars. Section 18 of this Act lays down the meaning of reasonably practicable. To decide what is reasonably practicable the following matters need to be weighed and considered: The possibility of the occurrence of a risk or a hazard. The degree of injury or harm which may occur due to such hazard or risk Knowledge about such hazard or risk and ways to minimize or eliminate it. Suitability of ways for the elimination of such risk. Assessment of cost required to minimize or eliminate such risk (Stavropoulos 2014). Meaning of key terms Hazard: The term hazard is referred to a situation or a thing which has the potential to cause harm to a person. The following may be included within hazard at workplace: Machinery which produces noise A moving forklift Repetitive job Electricity Chemicals Working at heights Violence at workplace Bullying Risk: The term risk' is referred to the possibility that harm, such as injury, illness or death, might occur when a person is exposed to a hazard. Risk control: The term risk control refers to the taking action of eliminating risks related to health and safety and, if eradication of such risks is not possible, to the minimisation of such risk. The elimination of a hazard includes the elimination of any risk which is associated with the hazard. Section 47 of this Act imposes a duty upon the persons who conduct business or an undertaking to consult with the workers who may be directly affected matter relating to health and safety. If some procedures have been agreed upon between the workers and the persons conducting the business, then, those procedures are to be followed in consultation. The penalty imposed for non-compliance with this duty is $100 000 (if a body corporate disobeys such duty) and $20 000 (if an individual disobeys such duty) Section 48 provides for the sharing of all relevant information about the health and safety matter with the workers. The workers are required to be given a reasonable opportunity for raising issues, expressing their views relating to the matter and for contributing to the process of decision making with respect to the matter. The workers views are required to be considered and taken into account by the persons who are responsible for conducting the undertaking or business. The workers, with whom the consultation process has been carried on, are also required to be advised of the consultations outcome on time. If there is a representative of the workers relating to their health and safety matters, then such representative is required to be involved in the consultation. Section 46 requires coordination and cooperation of activities between all the duty holders who have a duty relating to health and safety on the same matter. The penalty imposed for non-compliance with this duty is $100 000 (if a body corporate disobeys such duty) and $20 000 (if an individual disobeys such duty). In the instant case, the persons conducting the business have failed to ensure health and safety of the workers, Firstly; in the Press Room some employees were not wearing any safety equipment. The pressroom was extremely noisy and the employees operating the Chinese presses were devoid of any protective equipment and the new machines did not have any guarding, which clearly indicates that the persons conducting the business have not taken adequate steps to protect the employees from risk. Secondly, the persons conducting the business also failed to protect the employees from risk caused by the forklift drivers. Thus, a violation of Section 17 has been caused by the duty holders under this Act and they are liable under Sections 46, 47 and 48. Risk Management Identification of hazards To identify hazards in the workplace, things and situations should be found which are harmful. The following aspects of work are prone to causing hazard in the workplace: Materials, substances and equipment used Environment of work Kinds of tasks allocated to the workers and the way of their performance The design and management of work In the instant case, the way of performance of the workers of Bolt and Catch Pty Ltd, and the rash acts of the forklift drivers could be identified of causing hazards. Additionally, work environment of this organization was not good and comfortable, due to the noise that prevailed in the Press Room; workers had to shout at each other for ensuring that they are able to hear each other. Assessing the hazards The potential hazards can be assessed by inspecting the workplace, by consulting the workers and availing information from the technical specialists, industry associations, regulators and safety consultants. Inspection of the workplace at a regular basis would help to assess the hazards. The following things should be considered carefully: Whether the present conditions of work ensure safety and health of the workers? Whether the equipments and tools used are safe or not? Have any changes taken place in the workplace which has the potential to cause harm to the workers? As per the facts stated in the case study, on inspection, it may be concluded that the employer did not ensure safety and health of the workers at the workplace. Though, the workers were given protective equipments to wear however, none of the measures were taken to ensure that they were wearing the safety equipments regularly. Additionally, new machines do not have any guarding around the stamping press. Hence, Bolt and Catch Pty Ltd, has not taken any measures to assess the hazards that exist in the organization. Controlling the risks The most important step to be taken for controlling the risk is to eradicate the risks so far as is reasonably practicable, and if eradication of the risks is not possible, then the risks should be minimized so far as is reasonable practicable. Consulting with the workers and their representatives would also help in controlling the risk (Barrett et al. 2014) Hierarchy of risk control There are three levels of controlling risks under the WHS Regulations which are required to be followed by the duty holders to ensure safety and health of the workers (Georg 2014). The following chart represents these three levels: Recommendations for control of hazards and risks It is evident that every company in Australia has to comply with certain work health and safety (WHS) laws which are established by the Australian Parliament. Thus, here is the list of recommendations which companies can follow to ensure that they comply with Workplace health and safety (WHS) laws in Australia. Thus, with appropriate management skills on behalf of the employers of any organisation in Australia, compliance with the rules and regulations of Workplace health and safety (WHS) laws can be achieved successfully. Thus, in the present case, a strict management rule that it is mandatory for all employees to wear protection equipments when they enter a Room which requires the same or engage in any operational activity which is unsafe, thus, in the present case, the Chinese workers should have been controlled by management to not work without protection equipments. Therefore, appropriate management which is strict in nature can prevent various accidents and injuries at workplace. Additionally consultation sessions are to be arranged by employers which are an integral part of managing risk and hazards. Consultation session provide better knowledge, awareness, healthy and positive work relations which in returns helps to improve the health and safety of employees in Australia. Like in this case, it was noted that the employees were not wearing protective equipments and they had a very casual and lenient attitude towards the safety rules of the organisation. Making the employees aware of their safety and encouraging them to wear protective equipments will not only help the employees but also the employers from saving them from the fines that will be imposed. Lastly, employers should strictly prohibit alcohol and drug consumption by employees at workplace. Thus, Alcohol and drugs management policies and procedures are very important and controlling the same affects the health and safety of the entire organisation. An employee who is drunk or addicted to drugs is dangerous in nature and can harm other employees or even the employer, thus controlling the consumption of alcohol and drugs is very important in maintaining health and safety at work place. Conclusion From the WHS audit, it can be said that there were several violations of the WHS obligations in Bolt and Catch Pty Ltd. The production manager found a severe violation of the WHS legal requirements on several instances and has included the appropriate penalties and recommendations in the report. The found hazards have been entered in the BC risk register and have been reported in the appendix as the code of practice. A procedure has been drafted for identification of the hazards with their assessment and controlling the risks. Finally, recommendations have been made to ensure compliance with the relevant WHS legislations and sections of the act. The goal of the workplace health and safety is to foster a healthy and safe workplace for the employees as well as the customers, employers, family members and the co-workers. It is the responsibility of the employers to take care of the safety of the employees and the responsibility of the employees to abide by the laws of the WHS legal requ irements. Bibliography Barrett, R., Mayson, S. Bahn, S. 2014, "Small firms and health and safety harmonization: Potential regulatory effects of a dominant narrative",Journal of Industrial Relations,vol. 56, no. 1, pp. 62-80. Georg, D., 2014. Safety case guideline: Clarifying the safety case concept to engineer due diligence under the provisions of the model Workplace Health Safety Act 2011.Safety case guideline: Clarifying the safety case concept to engineer due diligence under the provisions of the model Workplace Health Safety Act 2011, p.24. Grasso, M., 2016. Work health and safety resources and advice. Helping you manage your WHS obligations: Directory Better Business2013, , Fairfax Digital, Wollongong, N.S.W. Knight, T. and Winter, B., 2012. Update on directors' duties under new WHS laws: Remoteness not a defence against personal liability.Keeping Good Companies,64(5), p.295. ONeill, S. and Wolfe, K., 2014. Officers' Due Diligence: Is Work Health and Safety an Accounting Problem.Journal of Health Safety Research Practice,6(1), pp.15-21. Pagura, I. 2013, "Work Health and Safety Act 2011: Do you know what this means for your workplace?",Journal of the Australian Traditional-Medicine Society,vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 117-121. Robinson, R. and Francis, G., 2014. SFAIRP vs ALARP.CORE 2014: Rail Transport For A Vital Economy, p.661. Schofield, T., Reeve, B. McCallum, R. 2014, "Australian workplace health and safety regulatory approaches to prosecution: Hegemonising compliance",Journal of Industrial Relations,vol. 56, no. 5, pp. 709-729. Stavropoulos, S., 2014. Management of workplace health safety risks in new disability care arrangements.International Journal of Disability Management,9, p.e34. WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT 2011, (2016).New South Wales Consolidated Acts. www.austlii.edu.au. Available at: https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/whasa2011218/ Work Health and Safety Act, 2011, (2016).Work Health and Safety Act 2011 No 10. www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/. Available at: https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/inforce/f8df8095-a335-66a0-8828-f33d06042cb9/2011-10.pdf.

The Influence of Polish Cuisine and Traditions in American Society Essay Example

The Influence of Polish Cuisine and Traditions in American Society Essay Poland is situated in the very heart of Europe. The geometrical central point of the whole continent can be found in the town of Schowola in the east of the country. Poland is 1,042 years old. Officially founded in 966 when prince Mieszko I adopted Christianity as the official religion, which resulted in the new establishment of political bonds with the rest of the Europe. The population of Poland is around 38 million. The World War II toll on Poland was a staggering 6 million-including 3 million Jews slaughtered in the Nazi death camps. At present, more than 98 percent of the people are Poles, with small groups of Ukrainians, Belorussians, Germans, Slovaks and Lithuanians. Polish traditional food, a cuisine that was suppressed during Communist times, is now making a comeback. Polish Food is diverse and delicious. It is made with almost all of the four basic food groups in mind, with a little something from each in every dish (Veterano, 2008). Polish cuisine and dining table etiquette is a perfect reflection of the warmth in the Polish character. Having a meal with ones family is not just consumption of food it is celebration. Guests are always welcomed (Grocer, 2006). Breakfasts are generally heavy with vegetables and cold cuts of meat; dinners, even more so. Only suppers are a tad lighter, perhaps, keeping in touch with the universal proverb: After dinner rest a while, after supper walk a mile. The Poles are the original potato eaters and potatoes have been the darlings of the Polish kitchens through centuries. Meat is also a mainstay (cold cuts and sausages mainly) and is grilled more or less ceremoniously at the country home, in the garden, or on the front lawn (Zamojska-Hutchins, 1985). We will write a custom essay sample on The Influence of Polish Cuisine and Traditions in American Society specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Influence of Polish Cuisine and Traditions in American Society specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Influence of Polish Cuisine and Traditions in American Society specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Poland is a haven for food buffs. Polish cuisine ranges from the simple to the exotic, with a dish to suit the most eclectic and eccentric of taste buds. In Poland, you have staple foods, seasonal foods as well as territorial foods. Polish food ranges from kielbasa (Polish sausage), to Golabki (stuffed pigeon) and bigos (hunters stew) to stuffed eggs, and from dumpling soup to mushrooms in sour cream. Meat is an important feature of most Polish food, so the main meal in Poland nearly always consists of some type of meat. Pork is the national meat of Poland and many main course dishes will contain it. There are also many other dishes containing meat and other dishes containing fish. These fish dishes make use of: eel, pike, perch, carp, sturgeon, sea fish, catfish and many others. There are also many desserts like poppy seed cake, crullers, royal mazurek, a dish much like a cherry pie, saffron babas, and buckwheat and raisin pudding (Veterano, 2008). Dring the Late Middle Ages, the cuisine of Poland was very heavy and spicy. The two main ingredients were meat and cereal. As the territory of Poland was densely forested, use of mushrooms, forest fruits, nuts and honey was also widespread. Thanks to close trade relations with Asia, the price of spices was much lower than in the rest of Europe, and spicy sauces became popular. With the ascension of the Italian queen Bona Sforza, in 1518, countless cooks were brought to Poland from Italy and France. If in France one cannot count all the types of cheese, in Poland the same applies to sausages and cold cuts. Polish food is a mixture of Slavic culinary which is rich in chicken, pork, and different types of noodles (Grocer, 2006). The main meal is eaten about 2pm, and is usually composed of three courses, starting with a soup, followed an appetizer, then the main course which is usually meat (Zamojska-Hutchins, 1985). Until the Partitions, Poland was one of the largest countries in the world, encompassing many regions with their own, distinctive culinary traditions. Among the most influential in that period were Lithuanian, Jewish, German and Hungarian cuisine. With the subsequent decline of Poland, and the grain production crisis that followed The Deluge, potatoes began to replace the traditional use of cereal. Also, because of numerous wars with the Ottoman Empire, coffee became popular. Under the partitions, the cuisine of Poland became heavily influenced by cuisines of the surrounding empires. This included Russian and German cuisines, but also the culinary traditions of most nations of the Austro-Hungarian empire. In the Russian-occupied part of the country, tea displaced the then-popular coffee. Under German influence the tradition of making white sausages was adopted in Greater Poland. Perhaps the most influential was the culinary tradition of multi-national empire of Austria-Hungary, which led to development of a Central European cuisine in Galicia (Veterano, 2008). After the end of World War II, Poland fell under Communist occupation. Restaurants were at first nationalized and then mostly closed down by the authorities. Instead, the communists envisioned a net of lunch rooms for the workers at various companies, and milk bars. The very few restaurants that survived the 1940s and 1950s were state-owned and were mostly unavailable to common people due to high prices (Grocer 2006). The lunch rooms promoted mostly inexpensive meals, including in soups of all kinds and noodles such as pierogi. A typical second course consisted of some sort of a ground meat cutlet served with potatoes. With time, the shortage economy led to chronic shortages of meat, eggs, coffee, tea and other basic ingredients of daily use. Many products like chocolate, sugar, meat were rationed, with a specific limit depending on social class and health requirements. Physical workers and pregnant women were generally entitled to more food products. Imports were restricted, so much of food supply was domestic. Thus no tropical fruits (citrus, banana, pineapple etc. ) were available and fruits and vegetables vere mostly seasonal: occurring only in the summer. For most of the year the Poles had to live by with only domestic winter fruit and vegetables: apples, onions, potatoes, cabbage, root vegetables. This situation led in turn to gradual replacement of traditional Polish cuisine with food prepared of anything that was available at the moment (Kapowski, 1998). Among the popular dishes introduced by the public restaurants was an egg cutlet, a sort of a hamburger made of minced or instant egg and flour. The traditional recipes were mostly preserved during the Wigilia feast (Christmas Eve), for which most families tried to prepare 12 traditional courses. With the end of communism in Poland in 1989, restaurants started to be opened once again and basic foodstuffs were once again easily obtainable. This led to a gradual return of traditional Polish cuisine, both in everyday life and in restaurants. In addition, restaurants and supermarkets promote the usage of ingredients typical to other cuisines of the world. Among the most notable of ingredients that started to be commonly used in Poland were cucurbit, zucchini and all kinds of fish. During communist times, these were available mostly in the seaside regions. At the same time, fast food is growing more and more popular in Poland. Apart from McDonalds and KFC, Pizza Hut is very popular, as well as many Polish pizza chains. Pizza in Poland is characterized by the Polish habit of using ketchup on top of the pizza, rather than sauce. There are many small-scale, quick-service restaurants which usually serve items such as zapiekanka (baguette with cheese, sometimes meat and/or button mushroom and ketchup), kebap, hamburgers, hot dogs and kielbasa (Kapowski, 1998). Bruderszaft is a fraternal toast, a sealing of comradeship and declining it can be seen as an insult. Relationships become more cordial after this ceremony and people graduate to using first name of each other. Bruderszaft is two people raising toasts simultaneously with arms interlocked and downing their drinks together. The last part is an exchange of kisses and a â€Å"Call me Marek,† – â€Å"Call me John† (Nikkhah 2007). There are many different types of Polish food. First there are many different kinds of soups. Chlodnik is a cold soup made of soured milk, young beet leaves, beets, cucumbers and chopped fresh dill. Then there are many different kinds of main dishes. Bigos is a stew of sauerkraut and meat, similar to the French choucroute, but generally less acidic and including unfermented cabbage. Nalesniki is creps which are either folded in to triangles or rolled in to a tube typical servings include sweet white cheese with sugar and sour cream, various fruits topped with bita smietana (whipped cream) or with bite bialka (whipped egg whites). The most popular noodle dish is called Pierogi. Pierogis look like the Chinese dumpling and are usually fried. They can be stuffed with cheese, potato, sauerkraut, blueberries or other fruits. You can top them off with sour cream or sugar. Another widely known dish is Kielbasa. Kielbasa is a Polish sausage that is usually boiled. You can eat it with mustard, ketchup or bar-be-que sauce. Kielbasa also refers to a garlic flavored smoked sausage, made from pork or beef and pork. Kielbasa usually is sold precooked in medium rings about 18 inches long and an inch and a half thick. Polish cuisine also contains many sweet desserts. Paczek resembles a jelly donut. It is filled with rose marmalade or other fruit preservatives. Kutia is the typical Christmas dessert. It is small square pasta with poppy seeds, nuts, raisins, and honey. Zrazy is Polish traditional food that will stick to your ribs. A filling of bacon, breadcrumbs, mushrooms, and cucumber is rolled inside a seasoned slice of sirloin beef then fried or grilled to allow the flavors to mingle. With a side of mizeria, or cucumber salad, you’ll have a meal bursting with all the flavors of the best Polish traditional food. This chilled salad is composed of thinly sliced cucumbers, sprigs of dill, and chopped onion in a sour cream and lemon juice dressing (Nikkhah, 2007). In Poland bread is treated almost with religious reverence since the early days. Many people, until now, mark freshly backed bread with the sign of the cross, newly wed couple is welcomed at the entrance of their home with bread and salt, bread is blessed during Christmas and Easter. Religion is also a big part of the Polish customs. To the Polish families Christmas Eve is more important than Christmas Day. A bunch of hay is put under the tablecloth and it is supposed to bring good crops and remind everyone of the poverty in which Jesus was born. In some houses this is accompanied today by money, a fish scale or bone put into a wallet all to ensure affluence in the New Year. An extra set of plates and cutlery is laid on the table for an unexpected guest. Sometimes an empty plate is a reminder of those who have passed away. Traditionally, Christmas Eve dinner begins when the first star has appears in the sky. The family wishes one another all the best for the New Year and, as a sign of reconciliation, love, friendship and peace, and share oplatek (Christmas wafers) that symbolize holy bread. Fun Facts About Poland, 2008) The dinner consists only of meatless dishes. Traditionally, there should be twelve courses reflecting the number of months in the year or, in different interpretation, Christs apostles. Fun facts about Poland. (n. d. ). Retrieved November 16, 2008, from http://www. funfactsaboutpoland. com/polish-traditions. html. Grocer. Cuisine with a bit of extra Polish. (2006, Nov 18). Business Company Resource Center, p. 49. Kapowski, S. , Ruth, T. (1998). I Am Polish American (Our American Family). New York, NY: Powerkids Press. Nikkhah, R. Polish becomes fastest growing ethnic cuisine. (2007, April 15). Sunday Telegraph, p. 013. Polish Food. (n. d. ). Retrieved November 15, 2008, from http://www. anglik. net/polish_food. htm. Polish Traditional Foods. (n. d. ). Retrieved November 17, 2008, from http://goeasteurope. about. com/od/poland/a/polishfood. htm Veterano, Liz. Cuisine is authentic at Cheektowagas Polish Villa. (2008, May 16). Business First of Buffalo, p. 18. Zamojska-Hutchins, D (1985). Cooking the Polish Way (East Menu Ethnic Cookbooks). Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publishing Group.