Essay on Bless Me Ultima - Dreams - 1358 Words

Symbolism in Dreams #9;In Rudolfo Anayas Bless Me, Ultima, the author uses Tonys dreams as a way of displaying various symbols. Three symbols that are used often are weather, water, and the Golden Carp. Weather is used to represent conflict. Water represents cleansing, and rejuvenation. The Golden Carp symbolizes religion and Tonys beliefs. Because dreams are a not an exact mirror of reality, they become the perfect tool for introducing symbolism. The author uses the dream as a way to access the recurring themes of the book. #9; Weather affects the lives of everyone. When the weather turns foul, it makes life more difficult. Stormy weather in Tonys dreams represents the conflict in his life, and the lives of those†¦show more content†¦Weather, in the form of wind, thunder and lightning, and mist, provides powerful symbolism for the conflicts in Tonys life.#9; #9; Cleansing and rejuvenation are themes that are suggested by the author, and symbolized through the use of water. In one of his dreams, Tony refers to the waters of the river, quot; I must lift the muddy waters of the river in blessing to our new home!quot; (Anaya 26) The cleansing qualities of the river show Tonys desire to put the tragic happenings of his life behind him, and begin anew. His desire is to be washed clean from the haunting memories if Lupitos death. Another reference to water is the waters of baptism. In Tonys dream his parents argue about what water he was baptized in. quot;Oh please tell me which is the water that runs through my veins.quot; (Anaya120) The waters of baptism represent cleansing, but in the dream his parents argue over whether he was baptized with the holy water of the moon, or the salt water from the oceans. This represents his parents pulling him in two opposite directions. Later in this dream Ultima explains to both of Tonys parents that in reality both of their waters are the same. This shows that Tony is rejuvenated by the idea that he dose not have to choose between one parent or another, but can take the best of both of them. Because of the water Tony is able toShow MoreRelated Voice and Ambivalence in Bless Me Ultima and Baby of the Family1865 Words   |  8 PagesVoice and Ambivalence in Bless Me Ultima and Baby of the Family  Ã‚        Ã‚   Bless Me Ultima and Baby of the Family serve as the coming of age stories of two minority children. Rudolfo Anaya and Tina McElory Ansa skillfully reveal the richness, diversity, and conflicts that can exist within the Hispanic-American and African-American cultures primarily through the dream sequences in each novel. Dreams are the mechanism used in each work to magnify the individual experiences and conflicts Tony andRead MoreAntonios Dreams in Bless me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya Essay845 Words   |  4 Pagesnovel, Bless me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya, a boy goes through many more experiences than any child in the hot summer days in Santa Rosa, New Mexico. He witnesses the deaths of his close friends and family. This boy expresses his emotions and grief through his dreams, only to wake up with fear and confusion in his mind. Antonio’s life is filled with dreams that foreshadow future incidents, as well as influences Antonio’s beliefs of religion and ideas of inn ocence. Many of Antonio’s dreams foretellRead More Bless Me Ultima Book Report Essay1963 Words   |  8 Pages Book Report: Bless Me, Ultima Title of Work: Bless Me Ultima Author amp; Date Written: Rudolfo Anaya 1972 Country of Author: New Mexico, USA Characters: Ultima- An old Curandera who comes to spend her last days with Antonio and his family. She is Tony’s mentor and helps him to find the right path for his life. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Antonio Marez- A young boy who is torn between his parents: a Marez and a Luna. But with the help of Ultima, he discovers hisRead MoreComparing To Kill a Mockingbird and Bless Me, Ultima.1601 Words   |  7 Pagesinfluential person who guides a child through this stage is a family member. Family is one of the most important factors that help shape a persons life. In the critically lauded and moving tales of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya, the protagonists are all children, newly thrust into the world, faced with extreme obstacles and situations that test their character. Each one deals with these obstacles in different ways because of their different personalitiesRead MoreThe Controversy over Ultima1038 Words   |  4 PagesThe Controversy over Ultima There is some controversy over a character in the book Bless Me Ultima, by: Rudolfo Anaya. Ultima is a controversial character because some people think she is a witch or bruja. Other people think that she is a curandera or an herb doctor. She could be a bruja, a curandera, or she could be both. There are some credible events to explain how she is a witch. Ultima has some people accusing her of being a witch. There are quite a few people that believe she is a witch.Read MoreRights of Passage917 Words   |  4 PagesRights of Passage Antonio, from Bless Me, Ultima, lives stuck in a world of in-betweens, a world of borders. He is forced to navigate this world and find his place within it, all while trying to please his parents. Tony’s surroundings and cultural background lead to this in between world and force him to pick a side before he has even began to grow up. In Rudolfo Anaya’s Bless Me Ultima, Antonio is constantly searching for answers about his future and the world around him; he finds these answersRead More Bless Me Ultima Essay881 Words   |  4 Pageslake â€Å"cracked with laughter of madness† and the â€Å"ghosts stood and walked upon the shore†.(109) Who dares dream such gruesome images? Antonio Marez. He questions God, he communicates with the dead, the dead ask him for blessings. Just who is this Tony? Tony is only a seven year boy who lives in small town of El Puerto. But he is no ordinary boy, he is the hero of Rudolfo Anaya’s Bless Me Ultima. The novel guides you through Tony’s life. From childhood to adulthood. It tells you about the experiencesRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Bless Me Ultima855 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Bless Me Ultima, is a critically acclaimed novel of all time†(NEA); however, it is also one of the most banned books in American literature. People enjoy the book a lot, but there are also some people who want the book to be banned for good. For example, in 1992 Bless Me Ultima, was banned at Porterville high school for â€Å"many profane and obscene references, vulgar Spanish words, and glorifies witchcraft and death(banned library). Bless Me Ultima, is a story of a boy named Antonio who lives in aRead MoreBless Me, Ultima Literary Analysis714 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"Bless Me, Ultima† by Rudolfo Anaya Literary Analysis Throughout the context of â€Å"Bless Me Ultima,† it is evident that there are many motifs and examples of dichotomy. I believe that Anaya uses the previously mentioned elements of literature in order to provoke his readers’ thinking and help embody a struggle of understanding the world we live in. Motifs in this novel include: family, dreams, religion, education, and the list continues. For examples of dichotomy, the idea of good versus evil isRead MoreBless Me, Ultima Literary Analysis Essay714 Words   |  3 PagestSam Ennis Period #4 20 September 2012 â€Å"Bless Me, Ultima† by Rudolfo Anaya Literary Analysis Throughout the context of â€Å"Bless Me Ultima,† it is evident that there are many motifs and examples of dichotomy. I believe that Anaya uses the previously mentioned elements of literature in order to provoke his readers’ thinking and help embody a struggle of understanding the world we live in. Motifs in this novel include: family, dreams, religion, education, and the list continues. For examples

What Is Fraught with Internet Addiction in the Workplace Research Paper

Essays on What Is Fraught with Internet Addiction in the Workplace Research Paper ï » ¿Social media in the work place It's a slow day at work and Janet is bored out of her mind, she decides to access one of her favorite blog website "Mysociallife.com". As she updates her status the humorous material she posts easily consumes her attention, meanwhile a client has been trying to contact her about very important business that may propel her career and company. Several attempts are made to contact Janet; unfortunately the client has dealt with this issue before and decides "enough is enough". Few hours pass and Janet finally realizes her messages but by then it is too late and her boss is furious. Janet realizes her mistake could and likely end her career simply because of an internet blog. These situations are being depicted as this sentence is being written and it is getting out of hand in the work environment. While the internet is a positive tool for communication in the workplace, it can cause conflict and lack of productivity. These reasons have negative consequences for both employer and employe e. Privacy is fundamental for any company and its associates as individuals to function properly and maintain credible business relationships with the public. The internet has become a normal part of any business environment and since it is a format for communication, the workplace employee can use its resources to socialize on popular internet websites such as face book, twitter, YouTube etc. This behavior can cause a rupture of events such as security risk for a company if its employees use pirated softwares, download music files from the internet that are copyright protected, or watch porn on the company's computers. In addition to that, many employees tend to illegally use a network or upload illegal material to the web server of the company (Overly). An employee violates the principles of privacy of a company if in the capacity of a salesman, he/she tends to develop professional relations and social networks with the customers on behalf of the employer. Likewise, an employeeâ€⠄¢s act of copy-pasting an article regarding his/her employer’s success in his profile on some social media website raises many concerns of privacy as the employer has to face the risk of copyright infringement liability (Cox and Rethman 19). Irresponsible use of internet by the employees causes the employers to incur millions of dollars as corporate liability. The internet and its variety of web content create a lack of productivity for employees due to social media or fuel existing addictions like internet gambling. With its popularity on the rise, internet provides the employees with opportunities to gamble at the workplace. In many workplaces, employees are provided with unlimited supply to internet. Employees working in the corporate work culture own their own computers and use the internet without even raising any suspicion in the employers. This ignorance affects the workers' productivity and efficiency at work (Griffiths). In addition to this issue there are the very common websites that decrease productivity in the workplace which causes people to waste a lot of time using the social networking websites. Gradually, people develop a habit to check their profiles on these websites several times in a day so that they can update their own status and comment on those of their friends, thus shifting their attention from work to these w ebsites. According to the statistics of the Nucleus Research, 77 per cent of the total of 237 corporate employees browse Facebook while they are at work, which causes a decline in productivity by 1.5 per cent in the companies that provide their workers with full access to Facebook. Negative behaviors of workers include viewing porn and online shopping. In addition to causing a loss of productivity, internet use causes companies to incur a lot of money due to the corporate liability (Naughton). This abusive behavior of excess web surfing usually continues until appropriate action is taken to discourage others in the workplace from engaging in it. Although they are conscious of what their employer may do to discipline such behavior the pattern of irresponsibility continues. Some employees use internet to undermine others, which can have very bad implications on the work environment (Duffy et al.). Performance of an individual at the workplace is affected by the interaction and interpersonal relationship (Baron). Social undermining is understood as an attitude that with the passage of time, declines an individual's ability to develop and sustain good relationships with others, good reputation and success. Social undermining may be intentional or unintentional, with the latter being more likely to occur at the social networking sites than the former. Colleagues might be embarrassed from being tagged in photos while it may not be originally intended by the tagger. Unintentional social undermining can have a serious impact on an employee’s relations with the peers at the workplace. Sexual harassment is another factor of internet negligence which creates a cause for concern in the work environment because certain employees decide it is ok to view inappropriate material on the internet with no regards to their fellow coworker. It typically leaves a feeling of tension and hostility in the work environment and discrimination claims. Frustrated employees at the workplace tend to pass racial and discriminatory statements, and sometimes even sexually abuse the co-workers (â€Å"Jackson Lewis† 3). Particularly, at workplaces, where men and women work together, some employees might want to see porn on their computer as a signal of sexual invitation to the employee of the opposite gender. Movies based on sexual harassment commonly discuss a scene wherein a male employee is explaining some work-related matter with the female employee and suddenly, a pornographic website pops up as intended by the male employee. Concluding, the internet is a great tool for companies to build better relationships with the consumer. It provides feedback on how to better serve the customer which initiates good reputation and self-growth for the company. However the internet can also be misused by a company's employee to compromise company privacy, work productivity and undermine a coworker. Works Cited: Baron R. A. â€Å"Interpersonal relations in organizations,† Individual differences. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. 1996. pp. 334-370. Cox, Jeffrey T. and Rethman, Kelly M. â€Å"Setting expectations: social networking at work.† 2011. Web. 5 Apr. 2012. . Duffy, M.K., Ganster, D.C., and Pagon, M. â€Å"Social Undermining in the Workplace.† The Academy of Management Journal. Vol. 45, Apr. 2002, pp. 331-351. Griffiths, M. D. Internet gambling in the workplace. In M. Anandarajan C. Simmers (Eds.), Managing web usage in the workplace: A social, ethical and legal perspective (pp. 148-167). Hershey, PA: Idea Publishing. 2002. â€Å"Jackson Lewis: Serving the diverse needs of management.† 2010. Web. 5 Apr. 2012. . Naughten, K. â€Å"CyberSlacking in the workplace.† Newsweek. Vol. 1. pp. 62–65. 1999. Overly, M. E-policy: how to develop computer, email, and internet guidelines to protect your company and its assets. New York: American Management Association. 1999. Print.

Barclays Plc and Abn Amro Case Study Free Essays

string(59) " their financial accounts globally \(Barclays PLC, 2004\)\." [pic] London School of Commerce MBA E BARCLAYS PLC AND ABN AMRO CASE STUDY ASSIGNMENT London UK As one of the world’s leading banks, with 135,000 employees in more than 50 countries, Barclays plays a significant role, from working with governments on major infrastructure projects to bringing banking to customers in emerging markets. Barclays is made up of two major businesses: Global Retail and Commercial Banking (GRCB) and Investment Banking and Investment Management (IBIM). There strategy is to achieve growth through time by diversifying their profit base making their growth relevant to their customers at all times. We will write a custom essay sample on Barclays Plc and Abn Amro Case Study or any similar topic only for you Order Now This case study will seek to examine the bid and intended acquisition of ABN AMRO, and the early acquisition of Banco Zaragozano by Barclays, the differences in performance of these two banks based upon the strategic a economic motives, focusing on the merger acquisition, and strategy implemented to effect improvements to reflect the results from 2002- 2006. 1. Evaluate Barclays strategy over the period of the case and prior to the ABN bid, paying particular attention to the global industry drivers and the group? s performance from 2002-2006. In order to understand the context that helps to formulate the strategic performance changes at Barclays PLC over and prior bid for ABN AMOR. Barclay? s’ origins can be found back in 1690 to John Freame and Thomas Gould. The named changed to its present form when James Barclay became a partner in 1736. Presently, Barclays is the third largest bank in the United Kingdom. The institution’s primary focus is in retail banking, investment banking as well as investment management. Barclays operates in 60 countries with major point of interest in Europe, the United States, Asia, and Africa. Barclays is one of the ten largest banks global when measured by market capitalization (Barclays PLC, 2004). The institution’s core business revolves around retail and investment banking, and it is the later that is being impacted by forces acting upon liberal market economies in varied European Union member states as a result of the aforementioned introduction of the Euro as well as globalization. As a result of the preceding, Barclays services the United Kingdom market as well as providing services to multinational companies located in differing market models. Barclays strategy. The bank’s strategy is to offer a full portfolio of services worldwide, providing a wide range of cross-selling opportunities, in order to achieve good growth through time by diversifying its business base and increasing its presence in markets and segments that are growing rapidly. This is driven by the Group’s ambition to become one of a handful of universal banks leading the global financial services industry, helping customers and clients throughout the world achieve their goals. Moreover, the strategy of the bank is based on the principles of earn, invest and grow. Aligning business drivers with strategic options. The strategic options examined by Barclays were further direct investment or outsourcing to a ‘partner’ bank and these were considered in the context of the bank’s key business drivers. These were:improving their operating model for trade processing; reducing the costs of their trade business in relation to people, infrastructure and services; improving their trade service capabilities and establishing a workable, non-competing, long-term ‘partnership’. After considering all of the options, including a Joint Venture partnership, Barclays decided to outsource the processing aspect of its trade services offering to ABN AMRO and to focus on delivering enhanced client service. Performance Nowadays, the proliferation of banking consolidation within the industry is and has created a new era of international banking conglomerates in the global industry. The preceding is causing European based banks to appear small in terms of relative comparison. Barclays? peration in a liberal market economy means it competes with equity financing for corporations and as such, this does not represent a strength concerning its overall performance base. According to group? s performance from 2002-2006 identifies that Barclays? performance underpinnings are represented by its strategy of acquiring other banking (such as ABN Amro and Banco Zaragozano) concerns to expand its retail as well as other banking services through representation in international marke ts as represented by the bank’s presence in 60 countries. This provides Barclays with the means to sell its highly profitable investment banking services as well as be positioned to service the cadre of multinational companies that utilize its diverse banking financial service packages. On the other hand, ABN AMRO bank has a presence in 76 countries and territories. Using its worldwide network the bank provides universal banking services consisting of commercial and investment banking products to corporate nationally and internationally operating clients as well as personal and private banking customers. In 2007, Barclays announced the proposed acquisition of ABN AMRO bank, in order to expanded their distribution base. The deal was valued at â‚ ¬67 billion. On October, the RFS consortium led by Royal Bank of Scotland, bidding for control of ABN AMRO, formally declared victory after shareholders, representing 86 percent of the Dutch bank’s shares, accepted the RFS group’s â‚ ¬70bn offer. Barclays is known a consistent performer delivering steady profitability results, 20% increase in profit before taxes in 2003, and again in 2004, and one of the lowest cost to income ratios with regard to banks in the UK. The preceding indicates that Barclays is well managed. Barclays? focus on internal administrative consolidation as well as the acquisition of banking concerns represents its recognition in order to maintain growth in revenues, return on equity, dividends and profits in response to maintaining a high market capitalization that tends to make it a relatively unattractive takeover target as a result of the high premium required to acquire it Barclays? retail banking arm is clearly supported by the huge success of its Barclaycard division that has set industry standards in terms of innovations in customer utility. Barclays? resence in 60 countries further strengthens the utility of this card providing business and retail customers with access to their financial accounts globally (Barclays PLC, 2004). You read "Barclays Plc and Abn Amro Case Study" in category "Essay examples" The aforementioned diversity in operations is a result of the economic strength of global industry market based ec onomies that have fully recovered from the global recession events of 2002. Barclays? banking acquisition strategy is a direct outgrowth of the foregoing in keeping with the consolidation mania initiated by U. S. based banks. According to ABN AMRO bank performance, financial results in 2006 added to concerns about the bank’s future. Operating expenses increased at a greater rate than operating revenue, and the efficiency ratio deteriorated further to 69. 9%. Non-performing loans increased considerably year on year by 192%. Net profits were only boosted by sustained asset sales. From 2002 to 2006, the further progress being made as a result of understanding the corrective measures that were and are needed to be taken. Barclays ? performance throughout this period has remained consistent and steady as the bank has not lost sight of the competencies that helped it achieve acceptable historical performance. . Compare and contrast the intended acquisition of ABN with that of the earlier acquisition of Banco Zaragozano, paying particular attention to the merger rationale and the motives in each case and the likely synergy gains resulting from the integration of ABN. According to the drivers of the bidding war that preceded the intended acquisition of ABN AMRO bank and the acquisition of Banco Zaragozano by Barclays in 2003, it is important to understand why merger and acquisition (M) take place and the potential gains of doing so. But first some definitions. Mergers and acquisitions. Mergers and acquisitions (M) are considered as consolidation strategies where a change of control takes place through a transfer of ownership. A merger is the combining of two or more companies into a single corporation. This is achieved when one company or business purchases the property or some other form of assets from another company. The result of this action is the formation of one corporate structure. This new corporate structure retains it is original identity. An acquisition is a little different from a merger n that it involves many problems being dissolved, and an entirely new company being formed. The main theory of merger and acquisition is synergy, that is, one and one makes three. Through synergy, managers create greater value with the integration of two companies, rather than that of their individual parts. Strategic and economic motives. The strategic of Barclays with the intended acquisition of ABN AMRO bank was to created a big opportunity with the purpose to deliver a new period of faster growth for shareholders in general. Moreover the intended investment would be implemented at a reasonable price slightly below the recent market trading price. The merger for Barclays was focused in a strong financial performance provides clear strategic advantages as well as stature on the world business state. The proposed merger with ABN AMRO, offered a unique opportunity to become a leading force in global retail and commercial banking with an stimate 47 millions customers, in order to increase financial returns to their owners beyond the rate of the stand-alone entities. And the fact that this merger, combining the strengths and values of both businesses, gives them confidence in delivery, both in terms of synergies, and determined in considerable detail by ABN AMRO bank and Barclays, in terms of a clearly defined and transparent management structure that we are putting in place. In terms of growth for shareholders, the combined entity would offers a diversified portfolio, both by geography and by business. Exposure to high-growth developing markets represents about a quarter of the enlarged pro forma profit base. Business segments such as investment banking and investment management, which have as we know strong growth opportunities driven by demographic trendS represent about half of profits For Global Retail and Commercial Banking, the merger would create the fourth largest retail and commercial bank worldwide by market share, and in a world where the needs and buying behaviours of retail and commercial customers are growing more similar, this will create economies of scale. Furthermore, the benefits generate by the merger between both banks would be: complementary networks, a strong presence in attractive European markets; significantly enhanced positions in high-growth developing markets; a much larger distribution network; and the opportunity to deliver considerable economies of scale. The main reason behind Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), has trumped Barclays? offer for ABN Amro. The for each ABN AMRO share, 79 per cent of which will be in cash, with the remainder in RBS shares. The cash element was higher than expected and the bid, valuing ABN at E71bn (? 8bn), beats Barclays? agreed all-share offer, worth E64. 5bn. The deal offers better value for ABN AMRO bank shareholders. And price is not the only factor, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) also combined cost savings would reach E4. 23bn by the end of 2010, easily beating Barclays? estimated savings of around E2. 8bn. In essence the driving force behind the success of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) bid over Barclays was in fact the higher share price expectations offering the perfect icing. That partly reflects the radically difierent strategic visions of the two banks. Barclays is looking to build a huge universal bank where cross-border synergies could be limited. But the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) consortium wants to generate a type of â€Å"in-market synergies†, by breaking-up ABN AMRO. On the other hand, in 2003, Barclays announces the completion of its acquisition of Banco Zaragozano, at a cost of ? 788 million which fit nicely into Barclays’ strategy to grow its business in Europe. Barclays has been present in the Spanish market for 25 years and it the most profitable foreign-owned bank in the country. The acquisition of Banco Zaragozano to its arsenal makes Barclays the sixth largest private bank in Spain (much of the market is dominated by publicly-owned banks) and triples Barclays customer base and branch network. Barclays aimed to be one of the top five banks in the world and for that it would consider acquisition to achieve the goal. Further, Barclays believes that a physical retail and commercial banking presence is a significant enabler of investment banking growth. The acquisition of Banco Zaragozano, shows that strong retail presence generates ood new business opportunities for global businesses such as investment banking and credit cards. The success or failure of a deal also depends on the time horizon over which evaluation is done. Normally, in the short term, stock reactions to merger announcements tend to raise the target’s stock price, while the stock of the acquirer stays about the same. This is normally attributable to the expectation that there will be a bi d that is successful and involves a premium above the current market price of the stock. Acquirer prices stay the same, in general, as the market reacts conservatively, depending on the specifics of the deal. 3. Identify what you believe to the key success factors necessary to sustain competitive adavantage in the global financial services industry and briefly discuss the implications for the firm? s competencies, structure, and ehical/corporate governance. Critical success factors (CSFs) have been used significantly to present or identify a few key factors that organisations should focus on to be successful. As a definition, Critical success factors refer to â€Å"the limited number of areas in which satisfactory results will ensure successful competitive performance for the individual, department, or organisation† (Rockart and Bullen, 1981). Identifying CSFs is important as it allows firms to focus their efforts on building their capabilities to meet the CSFs, or even allow firms to decide if they have the capability to build the requirements necessary to meet Critical success factors (CSFs). The main keys success factors for Barclays in the case study are, with over three hundred years of history and expertise in banking Barclays has seen and has gained a reputation for being a trustworthy and a reliable institution to bank and invest with. This reputation has seen it grow into over 50 countries and become truly universal bank providing loans, investments and protecting the money of over 42 million customers and client worldwide. Another reason for the success of Barclays would be that it follows a simple strategic premise; ‘anticipates the needs of customers and clients and serve them by helping them achieve their goals. Part of Barclays recent success has been their ability to target and identify upcoming emerging markets for example: India, parts of Asia and Africa, namely South Africa, expanding its retail network and cash machine availability. Despite being a truly global corporation from a basic bank account to funding Governmental projects, Barclays focus ha s always been to meet the needs of the individual customer. Furthermore, competitive advantages are difficult to create. It is even more difficult to sustain. Community banks usually can not achieve a cost advantages, especially in head-to-head competition with larger, high-volume institutions. That leaves differentiation as their primary method for creating Competitive advantages. But that approach is also problematic. It is clear that technology is playing a bigger and bigger role in banking. But today most banks are using functionally identical systems to develop and deliver products and services. This uniformity of technology has resulted in commoditized banking – the antithesis of differentiation. So while emerging technology can create a temporary advantage, sustainable differentiation based solely on technology is virtually impossible. To make matters worse, technology has actually eliminated some of the historical advantages enjoyed by community banks. Thanks to CRM, personalized service – once the sole province of community banks – is now possible for even the largest institutions. Sustainable Competitive advantages is created by leveraging organization’s unique blend of attributes – brand equity, reputation, geographic footprint, specialized knowledge – and articulating it clearly and consistently to your market. Barclays is an excellent example of a bank that has achieved Competitive advantages through specialized knowledge. On the other hand, on the global financial services industry corporate governance is essential to the wellbeing of an individual company and its stakeholders, particularly its shareholders and creditors. But sound corporate governance is not just a vital factor at the level of the individual corporation. It is also a critical ingredient in maintaining a sound financial system and a robust economy. And that is why governments have taken such an interest in recent examples of corporate governance failures. It is also why banking supervisors are placing greater emphasis on the role that corporate governance can play in promoting financial stability. In the financial system, corporate governance is one of the key factors that determine the health of the system and its ability to survive economic shocks. The health of the financial system much depends on the underlying soundness of its individual components and the connections between them – such as the banks, the non-bank financial institutions and the payment systems. In turn, their soundness largely depends on their capacity to identify, measure, monitor and control their risks. Barclays have designed good corporate governance policies and practices in order to ensure that they are focused on their responsibilities to shareholders and on creating long term shareholder value, and ensuring that behaviour is ethical, legal and transparent. In firms, structure is basically the best way to organize it, in order to accomplish it is objectives. It acts as the medium that facilitates the accomplishments of the organizational goals. It also helps to identify the key activities of the organizational processes and how they are coordinated. Moreover, successful strategy implementation depends to a large extent on the firm’s primary organizational structure. A primary organizational structure comprises the firm’s major elements, components, or differentiated units. Other means of getting organized are through reward systems, coordination terms, planning procedures, alliances, information, and budgetary systems. Geographical structure It is common in firms that have grown by expanding the sale of their products of services to new geographical areas. In these areas, they frequently encounter differences that necessitate different approaches in producing, providing or selling services or products. The key strategic advantage of this structure is responsiveness to local market conditions, a clear example of that is the intended acquisition of ABN AMRO and the early acquisition of Banco Zaragozano. To conclude, after being satisfied with its progress in the United Kingdom, Barclays decided to make its name international by going abroad which was another great move. In the United Kingdom, Barclays had acquired many other small banks, such a Banco Zaragozano, gained large market and profits with each acquisition. As a result of this growth, this company had reached its maturity stage within UK itself; it has reached its peak of growth. Further, Barclays, performance throughout 2002-2006 has remained consistent and steady as the bank has not lost sight of the competencies that helped it achieve acceptable historical performance. Bibliography †¢ Barclays PLC. 2004. Annual Report. Barclays PLC, London, United Kingdom. †¢ Calmfors, Lars, Driffil, John. 1988. Centralisation of Wage Bargaining. Vol. 6. Economic Policy Dammann, N. 2008. The Bidder Competition for ABN AMRO: A Strategic Analysis and Implications †¦Bachelor tesis. †¢ Esping-Anderrsen, Gosta. 1990. Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, United States. †¢ Foster, S. Reed A. , Nesvold P. 1999. The art of M A: a merger, acquisition, buyout guide. Fourth edition. †¢ Friedman, Thomas. 1999. The Lexus and the Olive Tree. P 105. Anchor Books, New York, New York, United States †¢ Hall, Peter, Soskice, David. 2001. Varieties of Capitalism: The Insitutional Foundations of Comparative Advantage. Oxford University Press, Oxford, United Kingdom. Ireland, D. , Hoskisson, R. , Hitt, M. 2008 Understanding Business Strategy: Concepts and Cases. Second edition †¢ Monks, R. , Minow N. 2008. Corporate Governance. Fourth edition †¢ Rockart, J. Bullen, C. , 1981. A primer on critical success factors. Center for Information Systems Research Working Paper No 69. Sloan School of Management, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts. †¢ Tibergien, M. Pomering. 2005. R. Practice made perfect: the discipline of business management for financial. Bloomberg. 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Question: How can self-schemata help prepare you for the rigors and high expectations of being a doctoral learner? Explain. Answer: A need for improved rigor within the learning circumstances and consequences is considered as an important statement. Educators aim to give confidence towards deeper understanding and thoughts among the students with a bigger emphasis on analysis and persuasion. Complete participation in discussion is said to be an important element of doctoral learning. It augments group interaction and increases doctoral learning background. High standard expectations are considered as popular aim in education (DEY NEOGI, 2012). A clear association is present between engagement and motivation and learners respond more confidently to high standard anticipations when they give importance to their ongoing performances. The initial stage should include clear definition of rigor and illustrate the way the rigor elements affect learner in high standard learning culture (Rutherford, 2012). The subsequent step should include development of ways to apply rigor to distinguish instruction by bringing out responses and widening learners autonomy and accountability for constant learning. As it is already mentioned that high standard expectations are considered as popular aim in education, it is suggested that the educators should recognize that the expectations are relevant and realistic (Tanner, 2013). Relevant education is considered as transdisciplinary and unites the interests of the students and real world understandings, through current issues, authentic problems, service learning, simulations and educating others (Paige, Sizemore Neace, 2013). Rigor with no relevance can give rise to students who academically perform well but look as if dysfunctional within the real world. Ultimately students must determine the exact thing that is appropriate to them and teachers should facilitate learners making the associations to precise skills or content. References DEY, A., NEOGI, D. (2012). A Study on Organizational Characteristics of Self Help Groups in India: How do they contribute in Social Support Psychological Well-being of Rural Poor.Global Journal For Research Analysis,3(7), 259-263. doi:10.15373/22778160/july2014/93 Paige, D., Sizemore, J., Neace, W. (2013). Working Inside the Box: Exploring the Relationship Between Student Engagement and Cognitive Rigor.NASSP Bulletin,97(2), 105-123. doi:10.1177/0192636512473505 Rutherford, P. (2012).Active learning and engagement strategies. Alexandria, VA: Just ASK Publications. Tanner, K. (2013). Structure Matters: Twenty-One Teaching Strategies to Promote Student Engagement and Cultivate Classroom Equity.Cell Biology Education,12(3), 322-331. doi:10.1187/cbe.13-06-0115

The Woman in Black Review Essay Example For Students

The Woman in Black Review Essay On the 14th of September the Sexey’s School drama students went to The Fortune Theatre, London and saw the performance of ‘The Woman in Black’. The play was riveting to watch and made the audience scream on more than one occasion; it developed a great sense of tension and created a high level of anxiety in the audience. The plot of the play explored the horror of drama to its bitter ends and combined the power and intensity of live theatre with some of the best effects from cinematic horror shows. Although it was performed by the majority of only two men, Michael Mears and Orlando Wells, it was easy to follow character changes and the swapping between different roles. We will write a custom essay on The Woman in Black Review specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The props and the general atmosphere that was created gave the stage and set a character of its own as the story reached its climax. The colours of the stage were dismal and gloomy and really helped to ‘set the scene’ and added to the atmosphere. Although there were not many stage props and they were quite basic, they were extremely effective; such as the wicker basket which was used to store paper files and a blanket. Props and how the characters used space made it easy to recognise the character’s emotions and see which character had what status; such as the use of a hat could give a higher status. Space on stage was used to a good advantage considering there wasn’t much of it and the actors awareness of that space really showed. The actors used the stage with familiarity and confidence and this enhanced the production greatly because it gave the audience great security. An example of this would be right at the beginning when Mr. Kipps trips over some metal buckets when he is walking backwards. The actors wore authentic late Victorian dress and costumes changed to suit changing characters with an open use of clothes rail. The Actor wore a slim brown tie, a pinstriped suit, a white shirt with a waistcoat and the colours of these garments were in dark colours. The older man, Mr Kipps, became different characters by changing his costumes such as wearing different coats and hats, change from black suit, adding a scarf, wearing a brown trench coat and swapping a black hat from a brown hat. The costumes gave a good effect because they were all in dull, dismal colors and really complemented the sets period; they also added a sense of maturity to the characters. The stage was split into two by a gauze which stretched from one side to the other when it was lit from front it became opaque and when it was lit from behind it became transparent. This meant that the gauze concealed the bedroom/nursery behind unopenable/locked door. The gauze also allowed the opportunity for backstage crew to change the set for example the nursery tidy to untidy in matter of minutes. The gauze added scare to the audience because it could flash between visible/concealment in moments. The gauze had a ghostly effect and was a spooky grey. It blended into the rest of the stage really well and was a good idea because it looked effective as a back drop but also hid the ‘second room’. Behind the gauze there were steps, which were made to look like stairs on a house. This was an imaginative feature because there was no top floor but gave the effect that there was. The stage and props were very realistic and believable, which increased the horror and fear. On the CSL there was a door which was used to create suspense because you did not know what was behind it or what would come through it; the actors were really able to use it effectively. For instance when Mr. Kipps hears noises behind the door, he decides to go and see what it is and slowly creeps up to the door and suddenly it quickly swings open and causes the audience to jump. .ubba1b0f6fb0c40acd1a1ff0261d93f15 , .ubba1b0f6fb0c40acd1a1ff0261d93f15 .postImageUrl , .ubba1b0f6fb0c40acd1a1ff0261d93f15 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ubba1b0f6fb0c40acd1a1ff0261d93f15 , .ubba1b0f6fb0c40acd1a1ff0261d93f15:hover , .ubba1b0f6fb0c40acd1a1ff0261d93f15:visited , .ubba1b0f6fb0c40acd1a1ff0261d93f15:active { border:0!important; } .ubba1b0f6fb0c40acd1a1ff0261d93f15 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ubba1b0f6fb0c40acd1a1ff0261d93f15 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ubba1b0f6fb0c40acd1a1ff0261d93f15:active , .ubba1b0f6fb0c40acd1a1ff0261d93f15:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ubba1b0f6fb0c40acd1a1ff0261d93f15 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ubba1b0f6fb0c40acd1a1ff0261d93f15 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ubba1b0f6fb0c40acd1a1ff0261d93f15 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ubba1b0f6fb0c40acd1a1ff0261d93f15 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ubba1b0f6fb0c40acd1a1ff0261d93f15:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ubba1b0f6fb0c40acd1a1ff0261d93f15 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ubba1b0f6fb0c40acd1a1ff0261d93f15 .ubba1b0f6fb0c40acd1a1ff0261d93f15-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ubba1b0f6fb0c40acd1a1ff0261d93f15:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Provisional Voting EssayThe cast showed a range of acting skills such as body language, facial epression and use of voice. The acting was believeable which made a clever story that was full of surprises and suspense, become real. The acting was very naturalistic. The majority of the play was acted by only two men and this meant they had to multi-role. This required experienced dramatic technique. Use of voice was played with and each character had a significantly different accent or way in which they spoke. The actors managed to define and exaggerate these differences so that characters each had their own identity in voice as well as how they looked. An example would be wh en Mr. Kipps does not understand how his acting is not very interesting, but when he gets given some reading glasses he really gets into his character and the acting of being a different person. Facial expressions helped back up the lines and acting. The Actors voice is fast, nervous, panicky, high pitched which influences audience to be scared. His facial gestures show fear through wide eyes and mouth open an example of this would be when looking into the mist with confused eyes. His facial expressions also make the audience feel sorry for him when he is in the house through his silent nerves as his face stretches and frowns. The acting is naturalistic but also uses a sense of imagination an example of this would be when he pretended there was a dog in the marsh scene; he did this by bending down with his arms open.

buy custom The Rise of China essay

buy custom The Rise of China essay The economy of China has been growing at an extraordinary speed, since the Chinese government launched its market reforms three decades ago. Since 2010, the People republic of China positions as the second largest economy in the world, after the United States. It, also, is the fastest growing economy over the past thirty years, grown consistently at a rate of about thirty percent. This paper discusses why the China rise is a bad thing for the U.S. The rise of China fosters unemployment in the United States. The U.S manufacturing firms are declining due to the influx of cheaply-priced goods from China, such as clothes, machinery and electronics (Haddad and Shepherd 2011). China, being a free market and affording cheap labor; is more conducive to set up a business than the U.S. The U.S manufacturers opt for outsourced labor, which is cheaper for them, hence increasing their profits. Therefore, Americans end up losing on the jobs which increases the rate of unemployment. Secondly, the standard of living among the Americans is low. Since the more highly skilled jobs are now taken away by Chinese, they have to take service industry jobs of lower quality and poorer pay, for instance, fast food work. According to Price (2003), The American job market is fragmented; there exists a growing separation between higher and lower skilled jobs since many middle-skilled jobs are already shipped overseas. Therefore, even if the products coming in the country are cheap, people do not have money to purchase them. Lastly, it has created a trade deficit between China and the U.S due to the difference between the dollar and the Yuan and the fact that China exports more to the U.S than it imports from her (Price, 2003). In conclusion, from the above information, the cons of Chinas rise on the U.S are clear. Therefore, we can only conclude that it is a bad thing for the United States. Buy custom The Rise of China essay

The Coca-Cola Company Financial Results Analysis Essay

The Coca-Cola Company Financial Results Analysis - Essay Example The first one being sales volume growth, structural changes, positive price/mix approximated at 3 percent and most important acquisition of the Great Plains Coca-Cola Bottling Company (â€Å"The Coca-Cola Company†, 2012). North American segment is a very sensitive market taking into consideration that the consumers have become highly health conscious owing to the escalating cases of obesity and other lifestyle diseases associated with high sugar and calories diet and beverages. This claim can be justified that â€Å"still beverages† recorded a 7 percent volume gain in North America segment while traditional sodas volume was flat as from the previous year (Choi Ap, 2012). This means that most Americans have found a new and better taste in less sugary beverages such as Powerade sports drinks and Fuze teas. North America is an important growth segment for Coca Cola Company and this explain the reasons why the company has become more innovative to find better ratio and alte rnatives to consumers who are health conscious (â€Å"Emerging markets†, 2012). For instance, Coca Cola Company came up with a mini-cans targeting consumers watching their diet. Coke Zero is another example of an initiative by the company to tap into the highly health sensitive north America segment as the drink stands out to the best alternative to traditional soda brands provided by the company. It is noteworthy that Coke Zero recorded a 9 percent volume gain in the North America segment. 2. The drivers of profitability Notable drivers for profitability during the third quarter were the global volume gain in developed and emerging market. According to Ziobro (2012), the coca cola company recorded volume boom in almost all its segments with significant volume growth in emerging markets such as India and Thailand. The company recorded a global volume gain of 4 percent in its third quarter earnings(Zacks Equity Research, 2012). Similar characteristics marked by growth in sales volume was evident in geographical operating segments considering that the developed and the emerging markets recorded a 2 percent and 7 percent growth respectively. Data from each geographical operating segment were as follows; Eurasia and Africa Group +11%, Europe Group +1, Latin America Group +5, North America Group +2, and finally Pacific Group +3 (â€Å"The Coca-Cola Company†, 2012). It is believed that the strong volume growth in different markets segments will play an important role in boosting coca cola company earnings in future despite the growing competition from key competitors such as PepsiCo. 3. Earnings per Share results Coca Cola Company reported $0.50 Earnings Per Share (EPS) in its third quarter report while the Earnings Per Share (EPS) of the previous financial year was $0.48 which demonstrates a growth in EPS though the company claims that it met the analyst expectation of$0.51 (Zacks Equity Research, 2012). The comparable EPS for the current third quarte r was $0.51 meaning that it fell short by $0.01. The increase in EPS in the current financial year (third quarter) is attributable to increase

Red Light Camera Speech or Presentation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Red Light Camera - Speech or Presentation Example They can give you humble time on the roads, or they make your journey appear long. People affected by road accident can be your friends, relatives, acquaintances and even you. Road safety is paramount to each society in regards to the high number of road carnage that results from violation of traffic rules (Phantom 96). To reduce the number of road accidents in our roads and to ensure that the traffic law breakers are identified and prosecuted, a device that gives evidence over the law breakers has been devised Do you know what they are? They are traffic gadgets that at one point or another you have to encounter them while you are driving- the Red Light Cameras. II. Orientation Phase: A. Point: Today, I want to give you some guidelines on the importance of the red light cameras and discuss the advantages of the red light camera in the traffic system. B. Adaptation: A good number of us drive or will drive over our roads at some point in time. Understanding the red light camera and its advantages in the traffic system is not only important for the those driving over the roads but also for the safety of all other road users and a smooth traffic and order in our roads (Cobra 143). The red light camera can be an important component of traffic enhancement that would serve to guide us in observing the traffic. This is possible only if we get the right motive of the red light cameras and understanding how they work. C. Credibility: the red light camera can be a traffic device you come to love and enjoy their functionality as you drive over the roads or they can become your worst traffic devices as they can land you into several traffic offenses if you fail to understand them. The red light cameras are completely computerized devices that avail the necessary evidence to the concerned authorities for justice to be done on the traffic law violators (Phantom 96). When a road user for instance a motorist, speeds through the intersection of the red light,

Blog critique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Blog critique - Essay Example It concentrated on collecting the marketing and advertising materials that reveal the interface between Coca- Cola drink and its consumers. Through the extensive photographic collections that catches local and international distribution, the archivist used those resources and created a blog focusing on modern culture and heritage. However, criticism has risen from various groups and individuals concerning a variety of issues. Primarily, they include environmental matters, business practices, and health effects. The company’s products and subsidiaries have sustained criticism by both watchdogs and consumers particularly from the onset of 2000s. The health aspect of the Coca-Cola drink has been in the spotlight severally with questions being raised on its disadvantages. Critics have often suggested that the drink leads to obesity and should be considered to be unhealthy. Unbottled is a blog created by the company to be a platform where people could share ideologies about the history of Coca- Cola, advertising, collectibles and the role of the brand in the pop culture. This blog provides unique opportunities for individuals to voice their opinions hence influencing the decision makers directly in a company. The basal purpose of this blog was to introduce the business to social marketing platforms and create a community whereby opinions can be reviewed. The blog creates a sense of community through interactive posting of comments and questions for discussion giving us an opportunity for creating interactions. Through the blog, I have felt more connected to the company in various ways. This has primarily been enhanced by the integrity portrayed by the response team. Not only does the blog educate on the company’s welfare but portrays strong, inspiring leadership skills that can be employed by the clients. Consistent social interactions demonstrate clear objectives that have been established and the relationship between

Detrimental Factors Involved In Beauty Pageants English Language Essay

Detrimental Factors Involved In Beauty Pageants English Language Essay Beautiful girls with gorgeous gowns and perfect smiles are the first things that come to mind when thinking about beauty pageants. While all the glam and sparkling crowns may seem quite appealing at first glance, the dangerous reality of pageants creates a flaw in the once perfect image. By taking a closer look, one can find sexual predators watching young girls parade across the stage, or the pressure to be perfect by a childs own parents. Beauty pageants are not what they used to be. When asked about beauty pageants, older generations think of natural beauty and a just for fun atmosphere. Now, beauty pageants have been taken to the next level, called Glitz beauty pageants, creating a bad image for beauty pageants and what they represent. Children are increasingly becoming involved in this world of hair extensions, fake teeth, and spray on tans, while their parents sit back and watch an average childhood of games and toys go down the drain. The murder of Jon-Benet Ramsey, a pageant girl with everything going for her, unveiled a horrifying truth of pageants and the children who take part in them. While some believe pageants cannot possibly result in murder, they are wrong. When parents put their children up on stage with an immense amount of makeup and revealing costumes, they are setting them up for sexual predation. The exploitation of children in beauty pageants should be brought to attention by parents before another child like Jon-Benet Ramsey loses her life. Pageants are obviously not what they used to be. The 1950s pageants that the generations before us participated in concentrated on natural beauty, unlike pageants now. While natural beauty was healthy and helpful to the self-esteem, artificial beauty, the main factor in pageants today, is not healthy and is detrimental to the self-esteem of participants. Child beauty pageants are sending out the wrong message, with the exploitation of children, negative effects on the self-esteem, and outrageous expenses in order to participate. Parents believe pageants are a smart way to gain scholarships and other money prizes for their children. For example, the Universal Royalty pageant, one of the largest beauty pageants in the business, provides a one thousand dollar scholarship to the winner (Nussbaum, 2000). While this may seem like a great prize to win, parents do not take in to consideration the fees required to be successful in this beauty pageant. The registration fee for the Universal Royalty pageant is five hundred and forty-five dollars, with formal gowns costing up to twelve thousand dollars and other fees required to be successful in the pageant (Nussbaum, 2000). Though the prize is one thousand dollars, necessities for the pageant add up to much more than the cash money prize. Most pageants provide a five hundred dollar scholarship to the winner, but costs for the pageant add up to much more than the cash money prize as well (Dittrich, 2001). Nevertheless, parents are still proud of the multiple tiaras and crowns their child has won throughout her years of pageant experience. Figure 1, shown below, is an example of a showcase of tiaras. Figure1: Showcase of Tiaras: Note: Emily Crown Hall of Fame. Photograph. Florida. TVGasm. Web. 1 Apr. 2010. . Without knowing everything involved in the preparation of a beauty pageant, an onlooker would be shocked. To be successful in a professional Glitz beauty pageant, the money is a necessity. The registration fee for a pageant starts at $85 (Dittrich, 2001). With the entry to the pageant comes a glamour shot of the contestant. This usually runs about $700 for a single roll of film (Dittrich, 2001). Trainers cost $40 dollars an hour, and a Glitz dress is usually $1,000 and up (Dittrich, 2001). A flipper, or a device used for replacing missing teeth, cost about $500, and are used constantly in beauty pageants at the professional level (Dental, 1999). Overall, a family spends $30,000 to $40,000 a year to supply their child with the necessary accessories to win a Glitz professional pageant. While money seems to be a dominating issue in beauty pageants, this is not the only negative aspect of being involved in the pageant world. The artificial beauty push seems to be a well-discussed controversy involved in the beauty pageant world today because a child cant possibly be successful in a professional Glitz beauty pageant without the right training and knowledge. Winners of professional beauty pageants have the correct amount of makeup, a pageant coach, a designer dress, fake teeth, commonly known as a flipper, spray on tans, and the right hair pieces to create a fuller look. A newcomer into this kind of pageant would be overwhelmed at how much effort has to be put into one beauty pageant. Nicki Burton, a well-known pageant coach says, You cant be normal and win beauty pageants (Dittrich, 2001). Since so much emphasis is placed on the artificial appearance of a child, natural beauty doesnt seem as important. Many people think beauty pageants are healthy for a childs self image. However, the belief that appearance defines the value of a person is so destructive that many organizations concerned with finding heal thier ways of raising girls have developed criteria to give girls a sounder basis for measuring their worth than pasted-on prettiness (Mann, 1997). Studies show that 77% of girls view themselves as ugly, because of media portraying the perfect girl as skinny and beautiful (Offbeat, 2007). Since beauty pageants have winners only with the perfect image, beauty pageants are contributing to the percentage of girls who do not have a good self-image of themselves. Artificial beauty is not healthy, which creates a negative side of beauty pageants that many do not realize. Some parents believe that beauty pageants have a positive effect on children. This is not uncommon, which is why so many children are entered into beauty pageants on a daily basis. Whether these parents arent informed of the harmful effects of beauty pageants, or if parents choose to ignore these harmful effects, beauty pageants are still unsafe. Many parents say that pageants are a fun way for children to compete with other children their age, and have the potential to help pay for a college education with scholarships offered to the winner (Catwalk, 1997). But experts highly disagree. Though parents may think pageants create a healthy competitive side of a child and increase their social interactions with other contestants, pageants actually hinder the growth of social qualities in contestants (Eder, 1997). Children dont socialize with other contestants in pageants, due to the intense competition involved in beauty pageants. Marie Sprague, a former model and modeling instructor, be lieves that pageants develop poise, personality, and confidence (Harris, 1997). But what Sprague and many other people fail to consider is how all of these qualities are developed. Developing a personality from pageants may not be the healthiest way for children to grow, according to some psychologists. Psychologists do not like the idea of children focusing on their outer beauty so much (Catwalk, 1997). This creates an unhealthy environment for children to be around, therefore making beauty pageants unsafe for beauty pageant contestants. Experts seem to agree, including Dr. Miles Frank. In an interview with Dr. Miles Frank on January 26, 2010, a licensed physician for children, the negative aspects of pageants were highlighted. Dr. Frank believes that names such has Little Miss Perfect have a negative impact on children participating in these sort of pageants. He believes that If too much emphasis is placed on winning the pageant, the outcome will have more effect. And since most girls who are in pageants will lose, I think you are more likely to set your child up to have a poor self image (Dr. Miles Frank, personal communication). This makes sense. While many parents believe pageants are a good stepping-stone to a better self-esteem, they are wrong. If ten girls participated in a particular beauty pageant, one out of the ten girls may gain a positive self-esteem. What happens to the rest of the nine contestants? They are left to obsess over why they did not win the pageant, causing a poor self-image (Dr. Miles Frank, personal communication). In an interview with Stephanie Throckmorton, the negative effects of beauty pageants nearly doubled the positive effects of beauty pageants. After involving her daughter in a few local beauty pageants, she decided to try a Glitz pageant for fun. She refuses to be involved with professional pageants now, due to the dominance of artificial beauty and unrealistic fees. Stephanie said, going to a beauty pageant at that level made me feel uncomfortable, and forced me to realize my daughter could not compete with these girls at the level of income we are at (Stephanie Throckmorton, personal communication). This is seen not only in professional beauty pageants, but also at the local level. Going to any beauty pageant for entertainment purposes gives the individual the opportunity to see the negative effects beauty pageants have on their young contestants. After observing a local pageant, young contestants who did not win were seen telling their parents they werent good enough, or not pretty anymore (Beauty contestants, personal communication). The parents who believe beauty pageants build self-esteem in a positive way are the parents of the winner in the pageant, not the contestants who didnt receive recognition of their performance on stage. Girls are constantly being put down mentally by being involved in pageants. After talking to the girls who did not place, it was clear that they did not have fun with the pageant (Beauty contestants, personal communication). They wanted to know why they werent the winner. Telling a child they didnt win because someone was better than them is the message beauty pageants send to people without knowing it, causing the drastic shift f rom a positive self-image to a negative self-image in many young girls lives. Pageant girls are beautiful, plain and simple. But what goes on behind the stage to transform these girls into perfection? Children in beauty pageants literally turn into someone they normally arent, coming across as fake. According to Judy Mann, a writer for the Washington Post, children are constantly being pushed to perfection with unrealistic looks women could actually attain (Mann, 1997). Pageant children are always trying to reach a goal that is impossible to achieve. The idea of perfection eats away at a childs mind, causing them to do anything to reach this impractical goal. This explains why so many pageant girls are unnaturally thin and have a face painted with too much makeup. Over seven million women have suffered from an eating disorder (Eating Disorder, 2006). The projection of the perfect body image from beauty pageants is not helping this number go down. Nicki Burton, a well-known pageant coach for all ages, thinks a pageant girl has to look a certain way, act a certa in way, and eat a certain way (Dittrich, 2001). Usually, a pageant girl is not the person she appears to be. When she is on stage, she pretends to be someone she isnt, merely to impress a line of judges. Though it may seem like the child is the one striving so hard to be perfect, this is not the case. Parents push their children to the limit, and at any costs. Reporters for the St. Louis Post Dispatch say, parents who let their child compete in beauty pageants may be so focused on their own needs that they fail to see the negative effectsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ on their child (Eder, 1997). Because parents cannot be satisfied with children who are not perfect, parents are making the pageant world have a harmful effect on the children who participate. The combination of parents, and the desire to be perfect all have a lot to contribute to the detrimental aspects of pageantry. Some parents put their children in beauty pageants because they want to promote their child in a positive way. Contestants like to participate in pageants to showcase their talents, such as singing, dancing, or their wow-wear portion of the competition (Trujillo, 2007). Parents like to see their children on stage, no matter what they are doing, because they think pageants are fun for the child (Dittrich, 2001). By promoting their child in beauty pageants, parents arent realizing that they are exploiting their child on stage. The exploitation of children happens all the time in beauty pageants. Children are being exposed in a sexual manner, causing sexual predators to notice. Many seem to notice that when a child takes her top layer off, exposing a smaller outfit underneath, she receives a louder applause (Dittrich, 2001). Not only is the child sexually exposed, but she is also trained to take her clothes off to win. Pageant coaches train their pageant girls to project sexuality, because that is what wins (Eder, 1997). Parents constantly overlook the dangers of tiny outfits and a face covered in makeup when trying to win at any costs. Jon-Benet Ramsey was found in the basement of her parents house, strangled and sexually assaulted. She was an active participant in professional beauty pageants, with a bright future ahead of her. Her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, supplied her with all the necessities to win a pageant, including the makeup, spray on tan, hair extensions, and other items. Many wonder what this has to do with her murder. If she had not participated in pageants, and experienced the exploitation caused by her parents, many seem to think this murder would have never taken place, and Jon-Benet Ramsey would have lived a normal life (Reed, 2010). At first glance, Jon-Benet Ramsey looks as if shes twenty years old, shown below in Figure 2. Figure2: Glamour Shot of Jon-Benet Ramsey Note: Jonbenet1. 2009. Photograph. Brandy Lewis Forensics. Web. 1 Apr. 2010. . However, she was only six when she was choked to death (Verrengia, 1997). While the death of an innocent child is a tragedy, it should have been expected, due to the exploitation of Jon-Benet in the beauty pageant world. Many believe that parents push their children to participate in beauty pageants because it was something the parents, particularly the mother, have been interested in. Patsy Ramsey, Jon-Benet Ramseys mother, was a former beauty queen, and it is said that she put Jon-Benet in beauty pageants in order to relive her unfulfilled fantasies through her daughter (Reed, 2010). This explains why Patsy Ramsey has so often been accused of exploiting her child in the pageant world and eventually causing the death of her daughter. The smell of hairspray, the glitter of white smiles, and the desire to win fill the atmosphere of a regular pageant. But what people dont realize is that the feeling of defeat, the crushing of a childs self confidence, and the unbearable urge to be flawless also exist at a pageant. While a child prances across the stage with her white smile and sparkly gown, she is susceptible to sexual assault, hindered social interactions, and a belief that what she has to offer not relating to beauty means nothing. The death of Jon-Benet Ramsey was a tragedy. Jon-Benet was a girl just like every other pageant girl. But who knew her interest in beauty pageants would eventually lead to her death? Parents need to realize the dangers of beauty pageants, and what could happen to their precious child if being beautiful suddenly crosses the line.

Amish :: essays research papers

The Amish the â€Å"Plain People† My article is on the Amish Community and their vague and simplified way of life. Most of my essay will emphasize the culture and tradition of the Amish. According to the Pennsylvania, Dutch Country Welcome Center, â€Å" The Amish are a religious group who live in the settlements in 22 states and in Ontario Canada. The oldest groups of old order Amish, about 16- to 18,000 live in Landcaster County PA. These people stress humility, family and separation from the rest of the world. The Amish are best known for their cultural simplicity such as riding horses and buggies as opposed to forbidden automobiles. They also shun electricity, by using fire lit lanterns, radio and any other modern electronics that will jeopardize delicate lifestyle. In this effort, their lives are quiet, slower, and religious to the unseen and unspoken media and scenery to foreign culture. However, instead the Amish get their messages across by telegram, daily journals, by foot or bicycle as opposed to telephones. They have worship in their homes as well as church. Amish are trilingual, Pennsylvania Dutch, they pray in German and are taught Standard English in school. However, regarding the issue of school, The Amish do not believe in school past the eight grade. For, the parents of these children are fearful that a full education will give these youths a more modern insight and that will have some temptation to explore the unseen other world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The women and girls of this culture and religion will never have cut their hair, but wear it back in a bun. They wear plain fabric dresses reaching floor length, and wear a prayer in their hair indicating- white if married, black if single and no jewelry. As for the males and boys, dark colored suits, brim straw hats, long coats. They do not have mustaches and will grow beards after marriage.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For the Amish, religion, family, and community are empirical. The Amish start seeking out marital spouses by the age of 16 and most women are married by the age 20 or so. However, before a marriage can take its proper place, the couple must be joined in at a church, and must be baptized into the Amish faith at about age 17, having followed the written laws known as â€Å"ordnung.† When the couple has established marital plans, they must keep it a secret from their parents till the months of July or August.

Current Market Condition Analysis

Current Market Conditions Competitive Analysis Karon Kanadjian ECO/365 April 10, 2013 Current Market Conditions Competitive Analysis Apple is probably one of the most recognized companies in the world when it comes the designing, development, and marketing of cutting edge technology with products that everyone wishes to own. Apple Inc. (Apple) was founded and incorporated in 1977 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniack, making headlines with the release of the apple I computer.According to â€Å"Reuters Edition U. S. † (2013), â€Å" The Company's products and services include iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod, Apple TV, a portfolio of consumer and professional software applications, the iOS and OS X operating systems, iCloud, and a variety of accessory, service and support offerings† (para. 1). With two decades of predominantly manufacturing personal computers, including the Apple II, Macintosh, and Power Mac Lines, the company began facing rocky sales and low market share.With a combi nation of low sales, high pressure demands on the staff, and continued struggles regarding the company’s direction between Jobs and Sculley his CEO, Jobs surprisingly was ousted from the company in 1985. Siegel (  2011), â€Å"A power struggle erupted between Sculley and Jobs. In the spring of 1985 Apple's board sided with the CEO, removing Jobs from his command of the Macintosh group† (para. 1).He however returned with the greatest comeback in 1996 after the procurement of NeXT by Apple. Steve Jobs shortly was appointed interim CEO where he inspired a new corporate philosophy of recognizable products and simple designs. Today Apple has established itself as a leader in the consumer electronic and media sales industries and has surpassed Google and Microsoft combined in sales with $156 billion in 2012 (Edstrom & Holt, 2012) .In an extremely competitive trade, companies are trying to invent continually ways to retain their current customers and continue to have an edg e to appeal to the new growing market of customers, especially in these very tough times economically, where people face even tougher decision making choices about the phone they purchase and the type of service they select. With the transition from 3G’s to 4G’s, companies are staging a bid to their existing customers as well as the new customers promising excellent service and plenty of extras bonuses to lure them into their clutches.They recognize customer loyalty is a thing of the past with the longevity of merely two years for an average customers contract before making a switch to another provider. This accelerating trend has become a main factor in companies raising the bar in quality while dropping their prices especially for smartphones. With the rise in blogging, a potential customer can obtain reviews of cell phones and the differences of the product features. They can determine the advantage or disadvantage of a particular phone offered as a bonus with a con tract commitment.Even You Tube has search sites that allow you to watch various video reviews (â€Å"Effects Of The Emerging Competition Of Cellular Phone Companies,†Ã‚  2012). As mobile phones become a vital, and integral part of most individuals everyday living, cellular phone companies have had to continue to target the demands of this implausible market. Many telecommunication companies give cell phones as a bonus to their packages, but the unrelenting predicament they face is, which phone do they offer that will beat out the competitors, take a larger share of the market, and still manage to be profitable.With this fierce competition among the cell phone providers, some companies have turned to consolidation with other providers. Merging together has offered their talents to pool and offer top-notch phones and services. For example, Google purchased Motorolla in 2011 enabling them to compete significantly with Apple in both the software and hardware division. The same go es for Microsoft, who partnered with Nokia in producing the Windows Smartphone (â€Å"Effects Of The Emerging Competition Of Cellular Phone Companies,†Ã‚  2012).If the predictions hold true, the next few years will see more mergers allowing companies to remain in the game. One issue affecting Apple is the competiveness from other cell phone companies such as Samsung having somewhat identical features on some of their products at a lower price. Apple simply faces a vastly improving competitive threat with game changing capability. The advantage of other companies is the ability to cover a whole variety of products – phones, smartphones, tablets, TVs, and domestic goods like fridges (Shaughnessy, 013). Through the years Apple has created expensive devices that customers are willing to pay over $600 for a phone, but they need to create a market in the lower price categories of smartphones to compete with some of their competitor’s like Samsung who has created a cla mor for quality products at a relatively inexpensive price range that fulfills customer requirements and requests, and thereby potentially overlook an expensive Apple device for a Samsung product (Shaughnessy, 2013).On the contrary, Louie Partners, and a former member of TiVo’s board, says â€Å"Apple is the one company in the world that’s powerful enough to take on monopolies and force them to change. † Apple products have created their own following of customers who will wait outside their stores in the rain to get the newest product and their items demand is considered relatively elastic. Either way it is examined, it could imply Apple shows a potential for both demand elasticity and demand inelasticity (s3hrlich, 2012) (Murray, 2012).The costs to stay in the game are staggering. Apple has variable costs such as raw material costs, packaging, and labor, which are directly involved in the company’s manufacturing process of phones. The â€Å"A Tale Of A pple, The IPhone, And Overseas Manufacturing†Ã‚  (2012) website  gives an unsettling look at Apple and offers an exhaustive report by Keith Bradsher and Charles Duhigg of the New York Times. The report based upon numerous interviews with current Apple employees as well as former employees concerns the iPhone production and the practice of abroad manufacturing.It also includes excessive, oppressive, and illegal overtime hours, hazardous conditions, inappropriate, and sometimes forced labor of 16-18 year-old student â€Å"interns† on night shifts with wages so low that 64 % of workers claim their pay does not cover their basic needs (Eisenbrey, 2012). American’s are quick to criticize Apple for its facility in China employing 230,000 people, six days a work week, 12- hour shifts, and many of the workers earn $17 per day or less. More than one fourth of the employees live in dormitories considered deplorable to American standards.Through the efforts of the manufac turing plant in China, Apple can stay ahead of the game. An example given was concerning the CEO Steve Jobs in 2007, shy of a month before the new scheduled iPhone was to show up in stores. Jobs was furious with the prototype he was carrying in his pocket a few weeks prior along with his keys, as the front glass screen was majorly marred. He gave them only one solution, to use glass that was unscratchable, and he wanted it perfect in six weeks!With an assembly line overhauled in a Chinese factory and new screens arriving shortly at the manufacturing facility, before midnight a supervisor woke up 8,000 workers at their company’s dormitories and within an hour they began a 12-hour shift fitting the new glass into the devices. According to  Ã¢â‚¬Å"A Tale Of Apple, The Iphone, And Overseas Manufacturing†Ã‚  (2012),  Ã¢â‚¬  Within 96 hours, the plant was producing more than 10,000 iPhones a day a 12-hour shift fitting glass screens into beveled frames. †Ã‚  (para. 1-3). If Apple needed 3,000 people overnight, it was accomplished in the factories of China.Could you see 3,000 people in a U. S. plant being hired overnight? With cheap labor and production speed as shown, it is a big incentive for Apple. According to  Ã¢â‚¬Å"A Tale Of Apple, The IPhone, And Overseas Manufacturing†Ã‚  (2012),  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The entire supply chain is in China now,† the article quotes a former high-ranking Apple executive as saying. â€Å"You need a thousand rubber gaskets? That's the factory next door. You need a million screws? That factory is a block away. You need that screw made a little bit different? It will take three hours† (para. 1-3). The U. S. ould not compete with the speed of a company in China taking 15 days to assemble 8,700 industrial engineers to oversee employees amassing the iPhone. The average U. S. company would take as long as nine months to be ready to commence work. This depicts a vibrant picture of how companies in China wo rk versus companies in the U. S. The cost structure for the iPhone is divided as 15 dollars to manufacturing cost, $207 to major components, $89 to other costs, making a profit of $319. Apple’s profit per phone is more than 20 times the labor cost, according to Ross Eisenbrey.Apple has changed the world with its technological innovations being responsible for nearly 50,000 American jobs, but it is not enough. It needs to rebuild American manufacturing of the past where employees worked reasonable hours and a decent wage was the standard. Most of the phone components are assembled in China or Asia however, on the bright side, the glass for the iPhone manufactured in Kentucky is reviving a Corning factory. It has grown to more than $700 million a year, employing close to 1,000 Americans supporting the emerging market.As the market has continued to expand so has the glass manufacturing plants extending to Japan, and Taiwan. Most of Corning’s customers are in Taiwan, Korea , Japan and China, making it profitable to build and produce their glass factories next door to the assembly factories overseas (London,  2012). A major factor affecting cellular phones in the current market conditions are fixed cost. Some major providers are offering consumers a flat monthly rate to ensure they sign their current mobile contract, but mid-way through the contract, the carriers are silently raising the prices customers are currently paying.Of the four major networks, three have reportedly either raised their rates or discontinued their current monthly deals. The planned hike in prices help the networks counterbalance the high costs of the mobile Web, the delivering of apps, and mobile video. The demand for faster networks and upgrades are estimated to cost the industry a whopping $50 billion a year (â€Å"Cnn Money†,   2011). During 2012, Apple fell short of being the top brand for cell phones although Samsung’s sales soared (Muller, 2012). However, Apple continues to improve their products as people tend to want the latest upgraded phone to have minimal problems. Apple will increase its U. S. smartphone share and possibly increase its profit margin per phone as well with its new iPhone 4S, according to multiple industry analysts† (Palenchar, 2011, para. 1). Possessing more shares available gives Apple more room to grow and make changes to their product. The Apple app store alone has 500,000 apps while the Android store carries 45,000 (Warren, 2011). A large amount of the profit comes from the app store. The Apple app store has thousands more apps than the Android market. Developers should continue creating apps for Apple to help increase profits.Apple is a very popular cell phone. To increase their profits they should decrease their price making their supply and the demand increase for their brand. With technology so advance, maybe the next big thing for Apple is a built in mind reader in out cellular device! References Muller, R. (2012). Mobile phone sales. My broad brand. Retrieved from: http://mybroadband. co. za/news/gadgets/64760-most-popular-cellphone-brands-in-the-world. html/attachment/mobile-phone-sales Palenchar, J. (20111). Apple Seen Raising Share, Maximizing Profits With iPhone 4S. Twice. Retrieved

A Look at the Theory of Evolution essays

A Look at the Theory of Evolution essays When choosing between which of the to types of beliefs I believe in, I chose the theory of evolution. I just can not imagine how humans could just pop up one day on earth. We must have evolved over the years to be here. I believe that evolution did occur, and we evolved from an earlier species. Whether it had been, fish or monkeys, we evolved from a species so we could live the every day life that we do now, And I think it is very interesting on how we can to learn how all this had happened. According to evolution, all life had to have come from one common uni-cellular organism by natural selection. Which is organisms with traits favorable for the environment are more likely to survive, reproduce, and pass on the favorable traits. Charles Darwin's theory of evolution states that organic life sprung from non-organic matter exclusively through a natural, mechanistic process on pre-living earth. That original life form involved through mutations and natural selection over a period. The definition of evolution is a process that results in heritable changes in a population spread over many generations. Now, of course, there are ways that evolution could not have occurred. Such as, natural selection (the supposed evolution mechanism, along with mutations) is incapable of advancing an organism to a "higher order." Now there are times that some changes that can cause many great variations between different species, and when that happens, interbreeding cannot occur. So then wh en this happens, a new species is created. And when Darwin's published his book "The Origin of Species," some 144 years ago, this led most people to believe that humans did evolve from a different species many years ago. Creationism is mainly a belief by most Christians that God created earth and everything on it. Most people are brought up to believe in creationism, and it is not something you just chose from. It has been nearly banished from the public school c...

Free Essays on Ethics of Abortion

It is widely accepted that the fact of abortion has been a subject of conversation and controversy for many decades. Since the proportion of people who accept abortion as a ‘normal’ procedure is equal to the proportion of those who think of abortion as a ‘‘crime’’, through time a lot of measurements have been taken against abortion but concerning it’s defense as well. Although the fact of abortion has been examined through it’s scientific and religious side, in this assignment we will try and examine abortion from an ethical point of view. The best way for someone to refer to abortion on an ethical basis would probably be through the description and evaluation of the subject based on two of the most known theoretical approaches: those of Kant’s and of Utilitarianism (Act and Rule). Beginning with the approach of Utilitarianism, we must say that Utilitarianism, is concerned basically with pleasure and with pain. Therefore someone should be concerned with the amounts of pleasure and pain in situations where abortion is permitted as contrasted with the amounts of pleasure and pain where abortion is forbidden. It might be suggested that the main consideration would be the interests of the fetus: not only can its future life be expectedly happy (or at least having a balance of happiness over suffering) it might also be the case that the abortion itself is painful, particularly if it occurs later in the pregnancy. However this focus on the fetus is unwarranted since any suffering involved in the abortion itself can be avoided by simply aborting the pregnancy sooner (before the fetus has even developed the capability of suffering), or with painless techniques. The direct suffering of the fetus can therefore be no argument against abortion generally, only the bad practice of it. A more significant consideration exists if we hypothesize that the future life of the fetus involves a probable balance of happiness over suffer... Free Essays on Ethics of Abortion Free Essays on Ethics of Abortion It is widely accepted that the fact of abortion has been a subject of conversation and controversy for many decades. Since the proportion of people who accept abortion as a ‘normal’ procedure is equal to the proportion of those who think of abortion as a ‘‘crime’’, through time a lot of measurements have been taken against abortion but concerning it’s defense as well. Although the fact of abortion has been examined through it’s scientific and religious side, in this assignment we will try and examine abortion from an ethical point of view. The best way for someone to refer to abortion on an ethical basis would probably be through the description and evaluation of the subject based on two of the most known theoretical approaches: those of Kant’s and of Utilitarianism (Act and Rule). Beginning with the approach of Utilitarianism, we must say that Utilitarianism, is concerned basically with pleasure and with pain. Therefore someone should be concerned with the amounts of pleasure and pain in situations where abortion is permitted as contrasted with the amounts of pleasure and pain where abortion is forbidden. It might be suggested that the main consideration would be the interests of the fetus: not only can its future life be expectedly happy (or at least having a balance of happiness over suffering) it might also be the case that the abortion itself is painful, particularly if it occurs later in the pregnancy. However this focus on the fetus is unwarranted since any suffering involved in the abortion itself can be avoided by simply aborting the pregnancy sooner (before the fetus has even developed the capability of suffering), or with painless techniques. The direct suffering of the fetus can therefore be no argument against abortion generally, only the bad practice of it. A more significant consideration exists if we hypothesize that the future life of the fetus involves a probable balance of happiness over suffer...

Smoking and How to Quit Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Smoking and How to Quit - Assignment Example Gathering evidence can be time-consuming and hectic if the researcher is not well guided on how to do it. Different patients require different study designs and methods of gathering evidence. Finding research evidence can be undertaken by using the 7 levels study types for evidence-based research. They include; This study relies heavily on randomized control trial whereby smokers are randomized into different groups and each group receives a different treatment. At the end of the trial, the effects of the different treatments are measured. This helps to compare and decide on which treatment is the best. The evidence types found could be referred to other health professionals especially those pertaining to physical health and their professional opinions could be used in determining the best smoking cessation methods. Mostly the evidence found using systems research and summaries is usually very conclusive and could be used in determining the best nicotine usage cessation techniques. Extensive studies conducted could gather a lot of data concerning how many people have successfully managed to quit in a number of therapy clinics and which methods best worked for them. Some health team members that could be referred to with this evidence include; cardiologists, psychologists, pulmonologists, probation workers, dermatologist, opticians and nephrologists (Funnel, 2008). These health professionals once they access the clinic system and analyze the data that has been collected will be able to give their professional opinion about the best quitting technique. Patients need to consult with their family members so that they can help in deciding which is the best method for smoking cessation, based on the evidence type used in research (Boyle, 2010). Involving the patient’s family members is important because it will help the patient to get moral support from family members.

Summary of Transportation Research Record Assignment

Summary of Transportation Research Record - Assignment Example This explains why the last decade has seen the addition of only 7 runways. Nevertheless, quite a number of secondary airports have experienced tremendous growth, becoming the desired airports for specific destinations. This does not undermine the fact that they have been experiencing delays and congestion, especially in peak periods due to lack of places for the planes to land. The larger part of the funding for the airports in Denver, Colorado can be traced back to the federal government. However, decisions pertaining to the operation, building and expansion of the facilities are handled at local and state levels. It has been recognized that delays and congestion in airports can only be remedied by comprehensive remedies. This article examines air travel since it is always a pointer as to the direction taken by Gross Domestic Product of a particular state. In essence, there are concerns about the delays and congestion in many airports resulting from lack of space for expansion. Communities neighboring the airports are also against the expansion due to traffic as well as noise from the planes. This problem however would not be solved by simplistic remedies but a combination of solutions geared addressing the financial, technical and even social aspect of the airports, more so in relation with the

Forgiveness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Forgiveness - Essay Example After sometime in class, a colleague realized that two of his new textbooks were missing. Since everybody was at the laboratory during the practical session, one of my close friends gave the suggestion that I am the one who might be responsible for the theft. The case went before the principal and I had to appear before the disciplinary committee that imposed a punishment of two-week suspension from school on me. Besides the suspension, I was required to report back with three copies of each of the textbooks. I complied with the harsh punishment despite the fact that I was not responsible. Upon completion of the two weeks, I resumed my studies. After two weeks, a friend informed me that he had seen the books that I received punishment for at a mutual friends place. We hatched a plan to confirm the authenticity of the leakage. I planned an impromptu visit to the mutual friend’s and confirmed that indeed the books were there. He confessed and apologized. The above case represents a situation of an individual who is on the wrong side and ready to ask for forgiveness. Being falsely accused and receiving punishment for a crime that you never committed is unjust. The situation created a conflict between me and my colleague as it was hard for me to accept that a close friend can actually turn against you to the extent of betrayal. The whole experience elicited strong hatred towards the colleague. The readiness of the colleague to accept his mistake and submit an apology hastened my recovery from depression. Forgiveness has enormous effects on the relationship between the offender and the offended. Sometimes, the person on the wrong is not ready to bend low and ask for forgiveness. When such cases arise, it is in order for the offended to forgive irrespective of the other party’s attitude. Forgiveness and reconciliation have many benefits. Forgiving is a source of self-relief for the

Race and the Sociological Imagination Essay Example for Free

Race and the Sociological Imagination Essay For generations African Americans have been disadvantaged in America and effects of these injustices have made a lasting impression. Education is one of the leading problems in the black community. Though there have many reforms in education over the years, racial injustices still exist because no attention in placed on how legislature affects people of color. I was raised in a middle-class family of educators. My entire life I’ve been told to â€Å"stay in school, get an education, and work hard so that you can beat the system. † Recognizing the structural forces in my life has helped me understand my place in society. Being able to â€Å"understand everyday life, not through personal circumstances but through the broader historical forces that structure and direct it† (Desmond and Emirbayer 43) has really had an impact on me. My father was born in 1968, the year we consider then end of the civil rights movement. He went to Luscher Elementary during the 70s and at that time the school was integrated. He had mostly White teachers and schoolmates. He received a quality education because of the resources given to whites were now available to blacks. He chose to attend St. Augustine High school. The Archdiocese of New Orleans constructed St. Augustine High School with funds solicited from Catholics of the Archdiocese through the Youth Progress Program. The Archdiocese of New Orleans placed the school under the patronage of St. Augustine of Hippo, a preeminent Christian and scholar of Africa, and a Father of the Church. This was appropriate since from its inception the school was designated for the education of young men from Black Catholic families of New Orleans. St. Augustine High School led the way in battling segregation in New Orleans. The successful legal challenges mounted by the school resulted in the de-segregation of the high school athletics in the state of Louisiana. The famed Marching 100 was the first African-American high school band to march in the Rex parade on Mardi Gras Day. My grandfather and father attended St. Augustine High School and through the education they received along with athletic scholarships and financial aide they both went on to attend Loyola University. My position in society was shaped by my economic position, which was an effect of my grandfather and father’s educations. My grandfather was able to attend college but this was not true for his parents. Depending upon a persons situation social welfare programs can either enforce progression or plateau disadvantages. I was able to attend Isidore Newman School and I lived in an integrated neighborhood where resources such as schools, hospitals, parks and grocery stores were better than those in other parts of New Orleans. My integrated neighborhood provided me with a good education. Blacks in poor neighborhoods are inhibited from achieving the same education as whites because of zoning legislation, transportation and lack of funds. My family was able to establish themselves financially because of social welfare programs such as war bonds, Pell grants, and the integration of schools. My grandfather was able to own their own home and provide for our family. He had a career as a school administrator they paid well. He provided opportunities for his children to attend college and for his wife. Desmond and Emirbayer argue that , â€Å"If we hope to drive racial domination from the gates of our schools we must continue the work of confronting whiteness in the curriculum† (346). I understand that as finding ways to end institutional racism and raising awareness of ideologies that will end prejudices. Until I attended Loyola I had a naive impression of racial awareness. Personally, I believe education is the key to combating racism. We must education our peers on our cultures. We must explain that â€Å"colorblindness† in society is not what’s best. Only by embracing and recognizing each other differences we will be able to break the social bubbles we live in. I’ve gained a stronger sense of racial awareness through this course. I have the ability to challenge and change other people’s ideologies and understand my own. I know because of my social position have scholarships, financial aide and the values of hard work and education instilled in me by my parents and grandparents. I’m also aware that many people are not able to gain that same access. Because of my racial awareness there is so much more I want to find out about the contributing factors that led to my family’s social position in New Orleans. It is through my racial awareness I plan to beat the system.