Different ways to compete in the soft drink business Case Study

Different ways to compete in the soft drink business - Case Study Example Through the sales of internet routers, the company managed to raise high revenue of approximately ten billion dollars. However, this was brought to an end in the year 2008 when the demand of products from the company such as internet hardware dropped. At this point, the best action to be taken by any manager who wants to save the company from collapsing is to make adjustment on the business plan and strategies so as to fix the problem. John Chambers was very wise and keen on the issue; after realizing that the market of internet router could not raise the great profits that were required to match the standards of the company, he embarked on another business plan. The plan was to shift in to very new markets and industries. One of the strategies was to expand in a rapid way from the software business and the core internet hardware to the consumer electronic industry. His first step to implement the plan was to associate with companies that were already producing products related to th e internet. The CEO sought to get hold of the companies that dealt with internet bandwidth products so as to increase the consumer demand since this would result in to a high demand for the Cisco`s products. Through John Chambers, Cisco made an announcement in the year 2009 that it would make a payment of $590 for purchasing pure digital for making video camcorders that are more colorful and are pocket sized. This further increased the financial status of Cisco due to the fact that over two million people could access and share the video through the web (Jones & George, 263-264). If I were the manager of Cisco system, I could have done the same things he did or come up with a plan with strategy for implementation that would end up in high performance. It is always believed that better plans always reflects on a bright future for the business and that lack of a business plan results in to hesitations , mistaken business decisions and false steps. Having this in mind, I would make a p lan for a good number of reasons. It`s importance is to give the company proper direction for the right purpose since the plan contains the objectives that the organization has to achieve and the strategies to be used. I believe this would have a great impact on the company so that as soon as the demand of the Internet s products provided by the Cisco Company goes down, then the strategies of the plan would help save the company from collapsing. This could be done by linking the company to other industries that produce items that are the same as the ones produced by Cisco to come up with a better opinion to help increase the consumer demand (Covey, 162). The challenge of proper planning and formulating a proper strategy to implement it was well overcomed by the CEO of Samsung electronics, Lee Kun. In the year 2000, the company which was mainly based in Korea emerged to be in the second position in terms of profit among the companies in global technology coming just after the Microso ft. There were strategies and steps that were followed by the organization which enabled them to attain their targeted goal. Under the guidance of Lee Kun, Samsung electronics developed and built competencies as the first step in the manufacturing of low-priced products. The second step was to put all the efforts in the manufacture of R&D. At the end, the organization used those

Applications Of The Pigeonhole Principle Mathematics Essay

Applications Of The Pigeonhole Principle Mathematics Essay We begin our discussion with a common daily embarrassing moment. Suppose that in ones dresser drawer, he has socks of three different colours (all placed in messy order). Having to get up early in the morning while it is still dark, how does he ensure that he gets a matching pair of same coloured socks in the most convenient way without disturbing his partner? While, the answer is simple! He just has to take 4 socks from the drawer! The answer behind this is of course, the Pigeonhole Principle which we will be exploring in this Maths Project. What is the Pigeonhole Principle then? Let me give you an example to illustrate this principle. For instance, there are 3 pigeonholes around. A pigeon is delivering 4 mails and has to place all its mails into the available pigeonholes. With only 3 pigeonholes around, there bound to be 1 pigeonhole with at least 2 mails!. Thus, the general rule states when there are k pigeonholes and there are k+1 mails, then they will be 1 pigeonhole with at least 2 mails. A more advanced version of the principle will be the following: If mn + 1 pigeons are placed in n pigeonholes, then there will be at least one pigeonhole with m + 1 or more pigeons in it. The Pigeonhole Principle sounds trivial but its uses are deceiving astonishing! Thus, in our project, we aim to learn and explore more about the Pigeonhole Principle and illustrate its numerous interesting applications in our daily life. We begin with the following simple example: 2. Pigeonhole Principle and the Birthday problem We have always heard of people saying that in a large group of people, it is not difficult to find two persons with their birthday on the same month. For instance, 13 people are involved in a survey to determine the month of their birthday. As we all know, there are 12 months in a year, thus, even if the first 12 people have their birthday from the month of January to the month of December, the 13th person has to have his birthday in any of the month of January to December as well. Thus, we are right to say that there are at least 2 people who have their birthday falling in the same month. In fact, we can view the problem as there are 12 pigeonholes (months of the year) with 13 pigeons (the 13 persons). Of course, by the Pigeonhole Principle, there will be at least one pigeonhole with 2 or more pigeons! Heres another example of the application of Pigeonhole Principle with peoples relationship: 3. Pigeonhole Principle and problems on relations Assume that the relation `to be acquainted with is symmetric: if Peter is acquainted with Paul, then Paul is acquainted with Peter. Suppose that there are 50 people in the room. Some of them are acquainted with each other, while some not. Then we can show that there are two persons in the room who have equal numbers of acquaintances. Lets assume that there is one person in the room that has no acquaintance at all, then the others in the room will have either 1, 2, 3, 4, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦, 48 acquaintance, or do not have acquaintance at all. Therefore we have 49 pigeonholes numbered 0, 1, 2, 3, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦, 48 and we have to distribute between them 50 pigeons. So, there are at least two persons that have the same number of acquaintance with the others. Next, if everyone in the room has at least one acquaintance, we will still have 49 pigeonholes numbered 1, 2, 3, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦, 48, 49 and we have to be distribute between them 50 pigeons! Also, we can apply the Pigeonhole Principle in the proving of numerical properties. The following are two of such examples: 4. Pigeonhole Principle and divisibility Consider the following random list of 12 numbers say, 2, 4, 6, 8, 11, 15, 23, 34, 55, 67, 78 and 83. Is it possible to choose two of them such that their difference is divisible by 11? Can we provide an answer to the problem by applying the Pigeonhole Principle? There are 11 possible remainders when a number is divided by 11: 0, 1, 2, 3, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.., 9, 10. But we have 12 numbers. If we take the remainders for pigeonholes and the numbers for pigeons, then by the Pigeon-Hole Principle, there are at least two pigeons sharing the same hole, ie two numbers with the same remainder. The difference of these two numbers is thus divisible by 11! In fact, in our example, there are several answers as the two numbers whose difference is divisible by 11 could be 4 15; 34 67 or 6 83. 5. Pigeonhole Principle and numerical property We can also apply the Pigeonhole Principle in determining useful numerical properties. Consider a sequence of any 7 distinct real numbers. Is it possible to select two of them say x and y, which satisfy the inequality that 0 The problem sounds difficult as we may need to consider more advanced calculus and trigonometrical methods in the determination of the result. Well, to answer the above problem, one will be surprised to know that we just need a simple trigonometrical identity and apply the Pigeonhole Principle! Before proceeding to answer the problem, we first note that given any real number x, we can always find a real number a where n1 = tan a1, n2 = tan a2, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.., n7 = tan a7 Now, if we were to divide the interval (-p, p) into 6 equal intervals, we obtain the following sub-intervals: ( -p, -p ), [ -p, -p ), [ -p, 0 ) , [ 0, p ), [p,p ) and [p, p ). For the 7 distinct numbers a1, a2, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.a7, by the Pigeonhole Principle, there should be two values say, ai and aj such that aI > aj and ai aj are in the same interval! For these two values ai and aj, we should have 0 We may recall an important trigonometrical identity: B ) = . Thus, if ni = ai and nj = aj , then = = tan ( ai aj ) As 0 0 and so, 0 which is the result we are seeking! We may also apply the Pigeonhole Principle in the proving of useful daily geometrical results.. The following examples illustrate such usages: 6. Pigeonhole Principle and Geometry a. Dartboard applications Another common type of problem requiring the pigeonhole principle to solve are those which involve the dartboard. In such questions, a given number of darts are thrown onto a dartboard, the general shape and size of which are known. Possible maximum distance between two certain darts is then to be determined. As with most questions involving the pigeonhole principle, the hardest part is to identify the pigeons and pigeonholes. Example 1: Seven darts are thrown onto a circular dartboard of radius 10 units. Can we show that there will always be two darts which are at most 10 units apart? To prove that the final statement is always true, we first divide the circle into six equal sectors as shown; Allowing each sector to be a pigeonhole and each dart to be a pigeon, we have seven pigeons to go into six pigeonholes. By pigeonhole principle, there is at least one sector containing a minimum of two darts. Since the greatest distance between two points lying in a sector is 10 units, the statement is proven to be true in any case. In fact, it is also possible to prove the scenario with only six darts. In such a case, the circle is this time divided into five sectors and all else follows. However, take note that this is not always true anymore with only five darts or less. Example 2: Nineteen darts are thrown onto a dartboard which is shaped as a regular hexagon with side length of 1 unit. Can we prove that there are two darts within units of each other ? Again, we identify our pigeonholes by dividing the hexagon into six equilateral triangles as shown below. With the six triangles as our pigeonholes and the 19 darts as pigeons, we find that there must be at least one triangle with a minimum of 4 darts in it. Now, considering the best case scenario, we will have to try an equilateral triangle of side 1 unit with 4 points inside. If we try to put the points as far apart from each other as possible, we will end up assigning each of the first three points to the vertices of the triangle. The last point will then be at the exact centre of the triangle. As we know that the distance from the centre of the triangle to each vertex is two-third of the altitude of this triangle, that is, units, we can see that it is definitely possible to find two darts which are units apart within the equilateral triangle! b. Encompassing problems Consider the following problem: 51 points are placed, in a random way, into a square of side 1 unit. Can we prove that 3 of these points can be covered by a circle of radius units ? To prove the result, we may divide the square into 25 equal smaller squares of side units each. Then by the Pigeonhole Principle, at least one of these small squares (so call pigeonholes) should contain at least 3 points (ie the pigeons). Otherwise, each of the small squares will contain 2 or less points which will then mean that the total number of points will be less than 50 , which is a contradiction to the fact that we have 51 points in the first case ! Now the circle circumvented around the particular square with the three points inside should have radius = = = It will be worthwhile to note the above technique can be useful in analyzing accuracy of weapons in shooting practices and tests. Next, we will like to proceed to a more creative aspect of the application of Pigeonhole Principle by showing how it can be used to design interesting games: 7. Application of pigeonhole principle in card games We like to introduce the application of pigeonhole principle in two exciting card tricks: a. Combinatorial Card Trick : Heres the trick: A magician asks an unsuspecting observer to randomly choose five cards from a standard deck of playing cards. The participant does not show these cards to the magician, but does show them to the magicians accomplice. The accomplice looks at the five cards, chooses four of them, and shows these four to the magician in a certain ordered manner. The magician immediately identifies the fifth hidden card. How does the trick work? The following is an explanation of our working strategy: (1) First of all, notice that in any hand of five cards there must be two cards of the same suit (an application of Pigeonhole Principle). The first card that the accomplice shows to the magician is one of these two cards. The other card of the same suit is never shown it is the mystery card, the card which the magician must discover. Thus, the accomplice can easily communicate the suit of the hidden card: the hidden card has same suit as the first card shown to the magician. Specifying the rank of the mystery card (ie its value) is a little trickier but can be accomplished with a little circular counting manner which we will explained below Number the cards in a suit circularly from 1(ace) to 11 (jack), 12 (queen) and 13 (king) so that 1 follows 13 i.e. the list is ordered in a clockwise direction. Now, given any two cards A and B, define distance (A,B) as the clockwise distance from A to B. It is easy to see that for any two cards A and B either distance(A,B) or distance(B,A) must always be less than or equal to 6. Again as an application of the Pigeonhole Principle, we note that if they are both 7 or more, then there will be at least 2 x 7 = 14 cards in a standard suit of cards!! Example Cards: 3 and Jack (11) distance(Jack, 3) = 5; distance (3, Jack) = 8 Cards: Ace(1) and 7 distance (Ace, 7) = 6; distance (7,Ace) = 7 (2) Our working strategy thus proceeds as follows.: From those two cards of the same suit, A and B, the accomplice shows the magician card A such that distance(A, B) is 6 or less. For example, given the choice between the three of clubs and the Jack of clubs, the accomplice reveals the Jack (since distance (Jack ,3) = 5 and distance(3, Jack)= 8). The three of clubs remains hidden. If the two same-suit cards are the five of hearts and the six of hearts, the accomplice chooses the five (since distance (5,6) = 1 but distance (6,5) = 12) leaving the six of hearts as the mystery card. (3) Finally, the accomplice arranges the last three cards to encode a number from 1 to 6 the distance from the value of first card to that of the hidden card. A quick calculation allows the magician to discover the value of the mystery card. Notice that although the magician must decode only one of 6 possibilities, it should not present a problem, even to the slowest of magicians. To facilitate the explanation for the last step involved, we may assign each card a number from 1 to 52 for ranking purpose. For example, the ace of spade can be numbered 1 (the highest ranking card), ace of heart numbered 2, ace of club numbered 3, ace of diamond numbered 4, king of spade numbered 5, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.., queen of spade numbered 9, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦., jack of spade numbered 13, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦., 10 of spade numbered 17, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. , à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. , 2 of diamond numbered 52 (the lowest ranking card). We will now proceed to explain the last step using the following example: Example: Suppose the five cards chosen are the following: 3 of Hearts (numbered 46) 5 of Spades (numbered 37) 6 of Clubs (numbered 35) 7 of Hearts (numbered 30) 2 of Diamonds (numbered 52) The accomplice notices that the 3 and the 7 have the same suit hearts. Since the distance( 3 ,7) = 4 and distance(7, 3) = 9, the accomplice chooses the 3 as the first card to show the magician, leaving the 7 of hearts as the hidden card. The magician now knows that the suit of the mystery card is hearts. The accomplices next task is thus to let the magician know that he must add the value 4 to the number 3 to obtain the final value of 7 for the hidden card! How can he achieve this? Basically, he can arrange the other three cards in 3! = 6 ways. Based on the numbering method explained earlier, the 3 remaining cards can be ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd . In our example, the 6 of Clubs will be ranked 1, the 5 of Spades will be ranked 2 and the 2 of Diamonds will be ranked 3. The accomplice may agree with the magician earlier that the arrangement of these 3 cards represent specific numbers as shown below: Order in which 3 remaining cards are shown Number represented by the arrangement 1, 2, 3 1 1, 3, 2 2 2, 1, 3 3 2, 3, 1 4 3, 1, 2 5 3, 2, 1 6 Thus in our example, the accomplice should display the cards in the following manner: firstly, the 5 of Spades, then the 2 of Diamonds and lastly, the 6 of Clubs ! b. Permutation Card Trick: Heres the trick: A magician asks an unsuspecting observer to randomly arrange 10 cards which are labelled 1 to 10 in a hidden face down manner. The participant does not show the arrangement of these cards to the magician, but does show them to the magicians accomplice. The accomplice looks at the ten cards and flips over six of the cards in a certain ordered manner to reveal their values to the magician. The magician immediately identifies the values of the four remaining unknown cards. How does the trick work? We first note that by applying the Pigeonhole Principle, we can show that in any permutation of 10 distinct numbers there exists an increasing subsequence of at least 4 numbers or a decreasing subsequence of at least 4 numbers. (refer next section of our discussion). These are the numbers that remain hidden in our trick. The magician will know that the sequence is increasing if the accomplice flips over the other six cards from the left to right and it is decreasing if the other six cards are flipped over from the right to the left. We will now proceed to explain the trick behind the game: The trick behind the game: Given any sequence of mn+1 real numbers, some subsequence of (m+1) numbers is increasing or some subsequence of (n+1) numbers is decreasing. We shall prove the result by Contradiction method. Assume that the result is false. For each number x in the sequence, we have the ordered pair (i,  j), where i is the length of the longest increasing subsequence beginning with x, and j is the length of the longest decreasing subsequence ending with x. Then, since the result is false, 1  £ i  £ m and 1  £ j  £ n. Thus we have mn+1 ordered pairs, of which at most mn are distinct. Hence by the Pigeonhole Principle, two members of the sequence, say a and b, are associated with the same ordered pair (s,  t). Without loss of generality, we may assume that a precedes b in the sequence. If a Thus, in our trick, we should have an increasing subsequence of at least (3+1) numbers or a decreasing subsequence of at least ( 3+ 1) numbers in a permutation of (33+ 1) distinct numbers! Here is an example of how the trick can be performed: Example Suppose the participant arranges the 10 cards in the following manner (value faced down from left to right): 3, 5, 8, 10, 1, 7, 4, 2, 6, 9. Upon careful inspection, the accomplice notices that an increasing subsequence can be 3, 5, 8, 10 while a decreasing subsequence can be 10, 7, 4, 2. If he decides to use the increasing subsequence, he should leave the first four cards untouched and flips the other six cards over in a leftward manner as shown: 1 7 4 2 6 9 Direction of flip The magician on realising that the four missing numbers are 3, 5, 8 and 10 and the leftward direction of flip, will thus proclaim the 4 hidden numbers to be 3, 5, 8, and 10 respectively! If the accomplice decides to use the decreasing subsequence, he should leave the cards bearing the numbers 10, 7, 4, 2 untouched and flips the other six cards over in a rightward manner as shown: 3 5 8 1 6 9 Direction of flip The magician on realising that the four missing numbers are 2, 4, 7 and 10 and the rightward direction of flip, will thus proclaim the 4 hidden numbers (from left to right) to be 10, 7, 4, 2 respectively! 8. Conclusion Although the Pigeonhole Principle seems simple and trivial, it is extremely useful in helping one to formulate and facilitate calculation and proving steps for numerous important Mathematical results and applications. We have included just a substantial amount of its applications in our project discussion. More importantly, we will like to show that a simple Mathematical concept like the Pigeonhole Principle does have numerous interesting and beneficial application in our daily life! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ End of Report ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sexual Expression of Women in Thomas Hardys Writing Essay

The Sexual Expression of Women in Thomas Hardy's Writing The nineteenth-century woman was defined by her adherence to submission and resistance to sexuality. She was portrayed by most writers as a naive, accepting figure with strong concerns about living up to the prescribed societal ideals for a respectable woman. The women in Jane Austen's novels offer a clear representation of the nineteenth-century woman. Austen refuses these women any sexual expression and focuses more upon their concern with marriage and society. Thomas Hardy resists Austen's socially accepted depiction of the female with his radically independent heroines. Hardy redefines the role of women in his novels, focusing on sexuality. By emphasizing the physical aspect of femininity in his unorthodox representation of the sexual female, Hardy threatens the Victorian model of women. Sexuality is evident in Far From The Madding Crowd when Bathsheba unknowingly admits her passion to Sergeant Troy. "If you can only fight half as winningly as you can talk, you are able to make a pleasure of a bayonet wound!" Baths...

A V R Essay

Appearance vs. reality explores how the more persistent illusion will triumph over what the individual want to be true. While reality is persistent, appearance it is less convincing as it based upon the fragile network of an individual’s values, expectation and deepest desires. Pleasantville (1998) directed by Gary Ross examines this idea through the protagonist who escapes his troubles and unforgiving reality to Pleasantville; a fake world that reflects his utopic vision and 1950’s American society.Similarly Robert Frost’s poem â€Å"Birches† shows no matter how hard he tries to escape his reality to a better illusion he was made for himself, reality is persistent and will always bring him back. In Pleasantville the idea that reality will triumph over appearances is shown by David’s negative view of his family and yearning for the family he sees in Pleasantville.. The appearance that David sees in Pleasantville is peace, calm, relaxing and great bu t in his reality it is the opposite of Pleasantville as he has difficult problems with his family.This is shown by of contrast of the perfect family living the American Dream in Pleasantville compared to David’s own family. The montage of shots of all the members of Bud’s family in Pleasantville contrasts heavily to the empty and wide shot of David and just his mother, emphasising how his family is so different from his ideal family on Pleasantville. Although David wants to become part of Bud’s family, he realises this is just an illusion based on his desires.This is clear when he realises Bud’s family isn’t as perfect as it seems through the uncomfortableness he feels with the repetition of the word â€Å"swell† to describe what he thinks is good and returns to his persistent illusion of his real family, his mother. Reality is shown to be the more persistent illusion through the corruption of values in Pleasantville. Jennifer instigates the corruption of Pleasantville by bringing in values and practices of her reality to the untainted illusion of Pleasantville.When Jennifer has sexual intercourse with skip on Lover’s Lane, there is a change in the scenery shown in the close up shot of the grey rose turning into a bright red. The previous monotone colours represent†¦. And the red represents†¦.. This shown that reality is more persistant than the illusion of appearance as†¦. FILL IT IN! Another example is shown through when Betty sees Mr. Johnson for the first time and she starts to feel different from seeing him. The technique that is used is contrast of colour and grey background. The wife changes as she ealise her true feelings, and it is this persistent emotion that overcomes her role as the faithful wife in the American Dream. This shows the wife is being seeing her true feeling and her true reality from Mr. Johnson, ultimately breaking the illusion of appearances . Similarly, in Frost’ s â€Å"Birches†, reality is illustrated as persistent reality that will triumph over any illusions of appearances but does this through the poet who reminisces about his childhood past with the birches tree. The poet feels a strong connection with the illusion he has made of the birches as a sentimental figure of his past time.He does this by portraying birches during the autumn time as †like girls on hands and knees who throw their hair before them†¦ to dry in the sun†. The personification combined with simile to reinforces the illusion the poet has created from his expectations and desires. However,. reality attempts to bring the poet back from his constructed illusion that has been â€Å"shattered and avalanched†¦. [reduced to] broken glass to sweep away†. This is emphasised by the â€Å"black† branches surrounding the â€Å"snow white trunk†.The black branches symbolise the persistent illusion of reality trying to bring him back to what is more real surrounding the white trunk that symbolises the dying purity and untainted illusion he has created of the birches, showing that reality is more persistent than appearances. Unlike Pleasantville, where David does not want to return to the persistent callings of his reality , the poet in â€Å"Birches† realises that although he can visit his â€Å"heaven† using his childhood memory of the birches, he would â€Å"then come back to it [earth] and begin all over†.The nostalgic tone emphasises that he cannot go back to his illusion of appearances as he recognises the reality is more persistent. Through the close study of the Ross’s â€Å"Pleasantville† and Frost’s â€Å"Birches† it is clear that reality is more persistent than appearances. Pleasantville shows the corruption of values and the perfect family based on the American dreams to shows how reality will triumph over appearances similarly â€Å"Birches† us es the poet reminisces that frost can visit his appearance but when he returns to his reality he understands that reality is the more persistent one.

Black Tuesday and the Great Depression

As the American economy is presently dealing with a heavy recession, I deemed it appropriate to choose the Great Depression and the Stock Market Crash of 1929 as the topic for my research paper. The Great Depression was a 10 year period of suffering in the United States from 1929 to 1939, also majorly affecting the rest of North America, Europe and other industrialized areas across the globe, caused by many different events and choices. In early 1929, as the New Era neared its calamitous end, America was the richest nation in the world; the richest in all history.America’s 122 million people had more real wealth and real income, both per person and in total, than the people of any other country (Chandler, 1970). General observations of the stock market frequently discussed were of the high stock prices, and speculations were made about what would happen in the late 1920s. Were the stocks generally too high? Or was this a new level for the stock market? October 29, 1929, otherw ise known as Black Tuesday, gave a precise answer to these questions with the crash of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the start of the Great Depression in America, quickly to spread across the globe.The Great Depression is often said to demonstrate the instability of market economics and the need for government oversight and direction (Smiley, 2002). The stock prices were far too high, which quickly caused the bloated stock market to crash, resulting in dynamic losses for the entire American economy. Stocks had risen to uncommonly high levels which had not been explored before, but occurred regularly throughout the late 1920s. These high prices marked the peak for stocks in September of 1929 just before the market began to drop drastically.The Times estimated the loss for Black Tuesday at between $8 and $9 billion (Harold Bierman, 1998), with the overall loss at a much higher price than that. In reality, the major causes of the Stock Market Crash were because of actions take n and decisions made during the Roaring Twenties. However, the Great Depression did not occur simply because of one cause. It was a combination of easy credit, unequal distribution of wealth between the classes, the Stock Market Crash, and many more rising tribulations.The Roaring Twenties were a time of liberal and progressive ideas which included new technologies and goods resulting in an increase of the monetary prosperity within the economy. There was Henry Ford’s development of the moving assembly line, and new industries and inventions in chemicals, aviation, and electronics. By 1929, the United States were producing over 40% of the world’s manufactured goods (Foner, 2008). The automobile was the backbone of the prosperous economic growth.Henry Ford’s inexpensive Model T, with its ability to be mass produced was very significant, seeing that throughout the 1920s, automobile production tripled from 1. 5 to 4. 8 million. Charles Lindbergh flew the first solo transatlantic flight in 1927, and the nation’s total income rose from $74. 3 billion in 1923 to $89 billion in 1929, along with many other prosperous events (Gusmorino). Even though there were these numerous new expansions that increased the standard of living in the United States, there was a good portion of the economy that remained in poverty and was not able to prosper like the rest of the country.Farmers’ incomes continually declined, which forced many banks to foreclose tens of thousands of farms because owners were not able to pay the mortgage. Also, the majority of families had no savings because everything was bought on easy credit, which would drastically hurt them when the stock market collapsed in 1929. Many goods in the 1920s were commonly purchased on credit through a new type of payment plan, otherwise known as â€Å"buy now, pay later. An interesting fact is that while Calvin Coolidge was in the White House, Herbert Hoover had been warning since 1925 against the use of credit in the market. Coolidge, instead of speaking out against stock market speculation, insisted in March 1929 as he left office, that U. S. prosperity was absolutely sound and that stocks were cheap at current prices (White, 1996). It turns out Hoover had been correct, which most likely had an effect on Hoover getting elected as President after Coolidge. The stock market crash did not, by itself, cause the Depression.There had been signs of economic trouble throughout the decade, with the highly unequal distribution of income and the prolonged depression in farm regions, which resulted in reduced American purchasing power (Foner, 2008). Through the period of imbalance between the earnings and spending of the different classes of families, the only two things the United States could rely on to keep the economy at the same level was credit sales and luxury spending and investment from the wealthy (Gusmorino). The quick collapse of the worldwide economy was dreadf ul and to most, unpredictable. Around 26,000 businesses failed in 1930.Throughout the industrial world, millions of families lost their life savings; depositors immediately withdrew money from the banks because they were worried that they could no longer count on the promise to redeem paper money in gold (Foner, 2008). This was true because the global financial system in this time in history was based on the gold standard, and ill-equipped to deal with the downturn. Four-fifths of the Rockefeller family fortune disappeared; General Motors stock fell from $73 to $8 and U. S. Steel stock fell from $262 to $22, while U. S. Steel, who had 225,000 full-time workers in 1929 had none at the end of 1932 (Foner, 2008).By 1933, 11,000 of the United States’ 25,000 banks had failed (Nelson). Unemployment grew to five million people in 1930 and then up to 13 million by 1932. Hundreds of thousands of Americans roamed the country in search of food, shelter, and work; at least 13 million mem bers of the labor force who were able and willing to work were entirely unemployed, and millions more were only partially employed (Chandler, 1970). The future was masked in plain uncertainty. Over the course of the first few years of the Depression, President Herbert Hoover was thought by many Americans that his response to the Depression was uncaring and inadequate.Nevertheless, the federal government had never faced an economic crisis as severe as the Great Depression, so you can’t blame the political leaders for not knowing exactly what to do in that situation. Hoover remained strongly opposed to direct federal intervention in the economy, and constantly made public statements to aim for higher public confidence, but all it did was make him progressively more out of touch with what was really happening in the country (Foner, 2008). Hoover’s administration’s response was very ineffective, and forced American freedom to be redefined during the 1930s once he le ft office with Franklin D.Roosevelt’s election in 1932. Franklin D. Roosevelt came to be beloved as the symbolic representative of ordinary citizens, which was strongly needed in America at that time. I’m sure this was part the reason he was President for three straight terms and was able to lead the United States out of the Great Depression. One of the best things Roosevelt did when entering his Presidency was to include as many intellectuals and social workers in key positions in his administration with decisions about what should be done to deal with the Depression.He introduced a number of new changes in hopes that it would increase the structure of the American economy by using increased government regulation and massive public-works projects to hopefully promote a recovery (Nelson). Unfortunately, these changes did not help much at all, except for a key move by Roosevelt to take the United States off the gold standard. He also established the Federal Deposit Insu rance Corporation (FDIC), which insured the accounts of individual depositors.By severing the link between the country’s currency and its gold reserves, he made is possible to issue more money in the hope of stimulating business activity; these two measures rescued the financial system and greatly increased the government’s power over it. To show an example of how positive it was, not a single bank failed in the United States in 1936 (Foner, 2008). Franklin Roosevelt’s â€Å"New Deal† was created to help the American public believe that greater regulation would solve many of the country’s problems.The National Recovery Administration (NRA) was established in 1933 along with the National Industrial Recovery Act, which would work with groups of business leaders to establish industry codes to set standards for output, prices, and working conditions. FDR believed that the idea of liberty should be brought back in order to encourage economic activity an d ensure a fair distribution of wealth, and was welcomed immediately. In spite of this, the NRA was declared unconstitutional in 1935, and never produced economic recovery or peace between employers and workers (Nelson).In March 1933, Congress established the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which set unemployed young men to work on projects such as forest flood control and many other jobs outside in nature and the wildlife. The young men’s ages ranged from 18-25; by the time the program ended in 1942, over 3 million young men had participated in the projects where they received government wages of $30 a month (Foner, 2008). In 1935, Congress passed the National Labor Relations Act which gave workers the right to bargain through unions of their choice and gave clear labor practices (Nelson).A policy that took place during the first three months of Roosevelt’s administration, otherwise known as the â€Å"Hundred Days,† was the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) in 1933. Roosevelt moved to bring agriculture under the federal umbrella, and to have farm subsidies and production controls be protected under the AAA (Scaliger). The AAA made the federal government attempt to raise farm prices by setting production quotas for major crops and by paying farmers to plant less (Foner, 2008).This was very effective in providing economic relief for farmers; especially since farmers had been having serious problems for years before the Great Depression began in 1929. Even though not all farmers benefited from this act, it was able to raise farm prices and incomes for many, which opened up a way for farmers to begin receiving benefits once again. Unfortunately, the period of unusually dry weather, otherwise known as the Dust Bowl, in the Great Plains caused some serious problems for the AAA, farmers, and rural America.The Dust Bowl occurred mainly from 1935-1938 in the areas of Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, and Colorado. The region suffered a very severe droug ht, the most severe of the century. Wind and dust storms blew most of the soil away, which resulted in crops being destroyed, cars and machinery being ruined, and people and animals dying and being harmed in general. The drought and dust storms displaced more than 1 million farmers and American citizens, in addition to forcing them to leave the Great Plains and head west, or anywhere they could go where these high winds and droughts were not occurring.Even though the AAA was generally successful, it was deserted in 1936 when it was ruled an unconstitutional exercise of congressional power over local economic activities. The Depression also devastated the American housing industry, but the establishment of the Home Owners Loan Corporation and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) helped insure millions of long-term mortgages issued by private banks (Foner, 2008). Home ownership now became possible for tens of millions of American families, and more opportunities began to arise.Roo sevelt’s First New Deal came to a halt after having many both successful and non-successful experiments, along with being unable to pull the United States out of the Depression. Afterward in 1935, Franklin D. Roosevelt launched the Second New Deal for the reason that he was stimulated by the failure of his First New Deal to pull the country out of the Depression. The First New Deal had focused on economic recovery; the weight of the Second was on economic security, where Americans would be protected against unemployment and poverty (Foner, 2008).In 1935, Congress and Roosevelt attacked the problem of weak demand and economic inequality by levying a highly publicized tax on large fortunes and corporate profits which ended up creating the Rural Electrification Agency (REA). The purpose of the REA was to bring electric power to homes that lacked it, and proved to be one of the Second New Deal’s most successful programs. FDR then approved the establishment of the Works Pro gress Administration (WPA), which hired countless Americans every year until it ended in 1943.The attempt was to provide work instead of welfare; buildings, roads, schools, airports, bridges, stadiums, swimming pools, and sewage treatment plants were built across the United States. On top of all this, Congress created the National Youth Administration in 1935 which was set to provide much needed relief for teenagers and young adults who were unemployed. The centerpiece of the Second New Deal was the Social Security Act of 1935. This act created a system to provide unemployment insurance, old age pensions, and aid to the disabled, the elderly poor, and families with dependent children (Foner, 2008).Social Security, along with these many other actions taken by Congress during the Second New Deal showed a great deal of promise for the American people in hopes to soon rise out of the Depression. Roosevelt was the also first president to make effective use of the radio to promote his pol icies. He won a landslide victory against Alfred M. Landon in 1936 to become President for a second term in a row even though some critics believed the expansion of government functions would undermine the liberties of the people.President Roosevelt insisted to these critics that his measures to increase an economic well-being would strengthen liberty and democracy (Nelson). He reminded the American people on a radio address in 1938 that: Democracy has disappeared in several other great nations, not because the people of those nations disliked democracy, but because they had grown tired of unemployment and insecurity, of seeing their children hungry while they sat helpless in the face of government confusion and government weakness through lack of leadership†¦.Finally, in desperation, they chose to sacrifice liberty in the hope of getting something to eat. We in America know that our democratic institutions can be preserved and made to work. But in order to preserve them we nee d†¦ to prove that the practical operation of democratic government is equal to the task of protecting the security of the people†¦. The people of America are in agreement in defending their liberties at any cost, and the first line of the defense lies in the protection of economic security. (Nelson)Toward the end of the 1930s, tension began building between Japan and the United States while the war in Europe had started, and the United States had joined Canada in a Mutual Board of Defense. At this point, the American economy was still in distress, with Roosevelt getting elected once again in 1940. FDR was the president for the third term in a row for the first and only time in U. S. history. During 1941, the United States had become more and more closely allied with those fighting Germany and Japan. FDR declared that, â€Å"America would be the great arsenal of democracy† (Foner, 2008).Roosevelt froze Japanese assets in the U. S. , which halted virtually all trade b etween the countries. In retaliation, Japan involved the United States in World War II when Japanese planes bombed the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941. This resulted in the destruction of 19 ships (including five battleships), about 150 planes, and the deaths of more than 2,300 soldiers, sailors, and civilians. The following day the United States declared war with Japan; three days later Germany and Italy declared war on the United States.Less than a month later, President Roosevelt announced that the upcoming year would deliver 60,000 planes, 45,000 tanks, 20,000 antiaircraft guns and 18 million deadweight tons of merchant shipping to help fight the war (Nelson). The United States entry into WWII also brought many new jobs and opportunities for Americans, such as working in areas of mass production of weapons and manufacturing, along with joining the United States’ Army, which helped turn the economy around even though the country was at war.In the l ong run, freedom, not government, is the best cure for economic crises; the American Great Depression fostered from start to finish by our own federal government, with the help of wily bankers and financiers (Scaliger). A depression occurs when something disrupts the free market system so that resource owners and consumers cannot accurately identify and respond to change. The recovery during the Great Depression shook the faith of many people, took many changes in the role of the federal government, and in more ways than one, created the conditions that led to World War II (Smiley, 2002).In reality, there is no reason to believe that recessions will not continue to occur in the United States, just like the recession we are currently in as Americans. Luckily, we do have reason to believe that we now have the knowledge, instruments, and national will to prevent recessions from developing into deep and prolonged depressions (Chandler, 1970). The Great Depression of the 1930s was a worl dwide phenomenon composed of an infinte number of separate but related events. The Great Depression was a terrible time in America, lasting for more than ten years, and forced millions of people out of jobs, homes and life.I believe it may have been necessary to have a depression like the Great Depression at some point in history so we know what not to do if the time were unlucky enough to come; but since it did take place, we can today have more high hopes about the future. Some people question today in 2008 if this is a repeat of 1929 or 1930, but we are not even close to the terrific economic turmoil that took place back in the 1930s, and I am thankful for that. Nobody in their right mind should ever desire an event as tragic as the Great Depression to ever transpire again.Works Cited Anonymous. (n. d. ). Finance And Economics: 1929 and all that; Echoes of the Depression. Retrieved October 19, 2008, from ProQuest: http://proquest. umi. com/pqdweb? did=1566742201&sid=8&Fmt=3&clien tId=5046&RQT=309&VName=PQD Chandler, L. V. (1970). America's Greatest Depression 1929-1941. New York: Harper ; Row. Foner, E. (2008). Give Me Liberty! An American History. New York: W. W. Norton ; Company, Inc. Garraty, J. A. (1987). The Great Depression. New York: Anchor Books. Harold Bierman, J. (1998). The Causes of the 1929 Stock Market Crash. Westport: Greenwood Press. (Gusmorino), P. A. (n. d. ). Main Causes of the Great Depression. Retrieved October 18, 2008, from (Gusmorino) World: http://www. (Gusmorino). com/pag3/greatdepression/ Nelson, C. (n. d. ). The Depression in the United States- An Overview. Retrieved October 19, 2008, from Modern American Poetry: http://www. english. uiuc. edu/maps/depression/overview. htm Scaliger, C. (n. d. ). The Great Depression. Retrieved October 19, 2008, from ProQuest: http://proquest. umi. com/pqdweb? did=1504859451;sid=8;Fmt=3;clientId=5046;RQT=309;VName=PQD Smiley, G. (2002). Rethinking The Great Depression. Chicago: Ivan R. Dee. Wigmore , B. A. (1985). The Crash and Its Aftermath. Westport: Greenwood Press.

The Many Faces of Criminal Justice What Concerns Students Face Most Often

The Many Faces of Criminal Justice What Concerns Students Face Most Often Criminal justice is one of those fields that seem to be the easiest ones to master, yet demand the greatest efforts to handle. On the one hand, there is a set of laws and regulations that technically any problem can be handled with. On the other hand, the analysis of a certain case and the choice of the appropriate regulation to deal with the case in point often becomes a major stumbling block.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Many Faces of Criminal Justice: What Concerns Students Face Most Often specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Being the field in which the theoretical issues and the practical ones often happen to be on the opposite sides of the argument, criminal justice remains one of the most complex areas to cover; however, by analyzing its challenges and major obstacles, one can possibly pick a strategy that will help approach the given discipline successfully. The first and the most reasonable step to be mad e when analyzing the pros and cons of a choice of a particular field of study is considering the publications about the careers in the given field. With that in mind, analyzing such sources as the According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook seems the most appropriate way to start learning about criminal justice studies and the opportunities that they offer. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook (n.p.), there are two basic career options to choose from for those who have started studying the basics of criminal justice. These are criminal justice professors and criminal justice social workers; the former provide students instructions on criminal justice teaching, while the latter offer the crime victims the necessary support and psychological assistance. However, it can be argued that criminal justice field allows for more career opportunities, such as â€Å"employment in law enforcement, corrections, and private or criminal investigations† (A Criminal Justice Degre e Provides Many Career Opportunities para.3). However, when deciding on whether I am going to pick one of these or try something more challenging, I will have to evaluate my skills and abilities adequately: â€Å"This is self-understanding that will help you decide which occupations in criminal justice are best for you† (Doyle and DeLucia 6). Another important stage of the investigation of the basic issues in studying criminal justice was the actual observation of the environment in which students learn the given subject (Carpenter and Fulton 179). After being allowed to observe a lesson in criminal justice, the author of the given paper noticed a certain pattern in the interactions between a teacher and the students.Advertising Looking for essay on criminal law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Perhaps, since it was the second time that the students had criminal justice classes, they were rather passive, prefe rring that the teacher should provide them with the answers to the questions that he posed and being clearly afraid of making a mistake. The latter could probably explain why the students responded to the teacher’s questions rather shyly and preferred to listen rather than speak. After the lecture was over, the teacher was kind enough to answer a few questions concerning criminal justice and how it was being taught to students. The results of the interview were rather inspiring, though; according to the lecturer, it was expected that the students should not simply learn the basics of criminal justice by heart, but also to develop skills of critical and, more importantly, analytical thinking. As Mr. Sanders, the lecturer, explained, students must learn to â€Å"think outside the box† (Sanders, para. 2). Sanders made it clear that the key challenge of the criminal justice studies is not to make the students memorize every single paragraph in the penal code, but to prepar e them for applying their skills of critical thinking to particular cases and be objective, logical and fast in their decisions. Learning about the courses that students specializing in criminal justice must undertake in order to become professionals is another major step in defining the future course of my education and training. According to the existing sources, it will be required to take a basic course that will allow acquiring the necessary background knowledge, such as the principles of successful learning, the introduction to academic writing and research, finite mathematics classes, and the introduction to criminology in general and criminal justice in particular. Later on, it will be necessary to advance in such subjects as biology and application information technologies; finally, statistics, physical science and other related courses must be taken in order to get the basics for studying criminal justice in depth. The major course, i.e., the issues in criminal justice, sh ould be mentioned among the most essential elements of the course (Major in Criminal Justice para.5–7). On par with the issues in criminal justice, technology in modern society, ethical behavior in criminal justice, criminal investigation, crime scene investigation, and correctional administration must be named. Therefore, it goes without saying that, to become a professional in criminal justice, one will have to face the challenge of extremely hard studying.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Many Faces of Criminal Justice: What Concerns Students Face Most Often specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The fact that criminal justice remains one of the most challenging fields to study is undeniable. However, the fact that a number of strategies to approach the complex issues have been developed recently cannot be denied, either. By using one of the techniques specified above, one can master the basics of criminal ju stice efficiently and get ready for taking care of real-life cases. A Criminal Justice Degree Provides Many Career Opportunities, 2013. Web. Carpenter, Michael J. and Roger Fulton. A Practical Guide for Criminal Justice  Professionals. Flushing, N: Looseleaf, 2007. Print. Doyle, Thomas J. and Robert C. DeLucia. Career Planning in Criminal Justice. Cincinnati, OH: Elsevier, 1998. Print. Major in Criminal Justice, 2013. Web. Occupational Outlook Handbook. A-Z Index. 2013. Web. Sanders, John. Criminal Justice. Interview (MP3).Advertising Looking for essay on criminal law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More

Free Essays on Stress Fractures

Diagnosing Stress Fractures Stress fractures are one of the most common sports related injuries that are usually managed by family practitioners. It is a result of repetitive use of a muscle group that exceeds the natural ability of the bone to repair itself. The lower extremities are frequently affected by sports involving running and jumping. Activities such as baseball and tennis involve repetitive usage of the arms and can cause stress fractures of the upper extremities. Lower extremity stress fractures present as localized, dull pain with no evidence of trauma that worsens during exercise or weight bearing. The tibia is the most common site of injury and accounts for 50% of stress fractures. Localized edema and thickening of the periosteum can occur and is prevalent to the middle and distal third of the tibia. Point tenderness to palpation to the injury site is hallmark for stress fractures. Metatarsal fractures make up 25% of stress fractures and are usually located to the distal second and third metatarsal. These injuries are common among military recruits and those who are not physically conditioned for the workout routine they are participating in. Many presumed diagnosis are made by clinical exam. Radiological studies will help the clinician to make a definitive diagnosis. Plain radiographs should be obtained, but evidence of a fracture may never appear or may not appear for two to ten weeks after symptom onset. Repeat radiographs will reveal a fracture during the recovery phase 50% of the time. Bone scans and magnetic resonance imaging scans are more expensive than plain radiographs but are much more accurate in identifying stress fractures. Although stress fractures are very common among young athletes, clinicians are imprecise at making the correct diagnosis. Proper diagnosis are important to prevent further injury and possible nonunion of the affected bone. My patient care populations are ... Free Essays on Stress Fractures Free Essays on Stress Fractures Diagnosing Stress Fractures Stress fractures are one of the most common sports related injuries that are usually managed by family practitioners. It is a result of repetitive use of a muscle group that exceeds the natural ability of the bone to repair itself. The lower extremities are frequently affected by sports involving running and jumping. Activities such as baseball and tennis involve repetitive usage of the arms and can cause stress fractures of the upper extremities. Lower extremity stress fractures present as localized, dull pain with no evidence of trauma that worsens during exercise or weight bearing. The tibia is the most common site of injury and accounts for 50% of stress fractures. Localized edema and thickening of the periosteum can occur and is prevalent to the middle and distal third of the tibia. Point tenderness to palpation to the injury site is hallmark for stress fractures. Metatarsal fractures make up 25% of stress fractures and are usually located to the distal second and third metatarsal. These injuries are common among military recruits and those who are not physically conditioned for the workout routine they are participating in. Many presumed diagnosis are made by clinical exam. Radiological studies will help the clinician to make a definitive diagnosis. Plain radiographs should be obtained, but evidence of a fracture may never appear or may not appear for two to ten weeks after symptom onset. Repeat radiographs will reveal a fracture during the recovery phase 50% of the time. Bone scans and magnetic resonance imaging scans are more expensive than plain radiographs but are much more accurate in identifying stress fractures. Although stress fractures are very common among young athletes, clinicians are imprecise at making the correct diagnosis. Proper diagnosis are important to prevent further injury and possible nonunion of the affected bone. My patient care populations are ...

Grand Valley State University GPA, SAT and ACT Data

Grand Valley State University GPA, SAT and ACT Data Grand Valley State University GPA, SAT and ACT Graph Grand Valley State University GPA, SAT Scores and ACT Scores for Admission. Data courtesy of Cappex. How Do You Measure Up at Grand Valley State University? Calculate Your Chances of Getting In  with this free tool from Cappex. Discussion of Grand Valleys Admissions Standards: Grand Valley State University admissions arent overly selective, but you will need solid grades and standardized test scores to get in. In the graph above, green and blue represent accepted students. As you can see, the majority of admitted students had a GPA of B or higher, a combined SAT score (RWM) above 950, and an ACT composite score of 18 or higher. Your chance of getting accepted improves if you are a little above these lower ranges. You will also notice, however, that there are a few red dots (rejected students) and yellow dots (waitlisted students) mixed in with the green and the blue of the graph. Some students who were on target for admission to Grand Valley State did not get in. On the flip side, a number of students were accepted with test scores and grades a bit below the norm. This is because Grand Valley State has holistic admissions, so the admissions officers are considering qualitative as well as quantitative information. The GVSU application asks about extracurricular activities, work experiences and awards you have received. The application also allows you to write about circumstances in high school that may have caused you to perform below you ability level. To learn more about the Grand Valley State University, high school GPAs, SAT scores and ACT scores, these articles can help: Grand Valley State University Admissions ProfileWhats a Good SAT Score?Whats a Good ACT Score?Whats Considered a Good Academic Record?What is a Weighted GPA? Articles Featuring the Grand Valley State University: Top Michigan CollegesACT Score Comparison for Top Michigan CollegesSAT Score Comparison for Top Michigan Colleges If You Like GVSU, You May Also Like These Schools Oakland University:  Profile  Hope College:  Profile  Central Michigan University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphAlma College:  Profile  Bowling Green State University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphCalvin College:  Profile  Albion College:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphFerris State University:  Profile  Eastern Michigan University:  Profile  Wayne State University:  Profile  Michigan State University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT Graph

Developmental state(East Asia) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Developmental state(East Asia) - Essay Example After World Banks noted acceptance of a certain role of government intervention, it can be said that ‘Developmental state’ theory is the centre of the debate (Johnson 1982; Amsden 1989; Wade 1990; Chan 1993; MacIntyre 1994; Evans 1995). For instance, Korea was cited as being one of the nations that had highly Confucian values and was characterized by significant state-led export oriented industrialization, authoritarianism and political development which was followed by economic development. Korea is ranked among the most developed third world countries which further raised the need for the study of the reasons why East Asian countries have been able to record such a magnitude of economic growth within a very short time. As a matter of fact, East Asian countries development has been far much more than other developing countries particularly those in Latin America such as Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay etc. The question under investigation in this work is what is the implication of East Asian Economic Development? The importance of this question is that it will shed light into the reasons why East Asian countries have been able to record high economic growth rate within a short time and could reveal possible routes that other developing economies could adopt and move on to a trajectory of higher growth. The present study will attempt to present an analytical overview of the factors that caused the phenomenon. As shall be shown, none of the arguments that try to explain the event are comprehensively convincing nor are totally discardable thereby reflecting partial truth to all of them. The Liberalist views tend to stress on increased market orientation while Mercantilist views emphasize on efficient regulation. The present study will explore both sides of the argument using a level analysis framework to pursue the truth. In the following section, a survey

World War II Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

World War II - Essay Example The Second World War was fought between 1939 and 1945 in Europe, in Russia, North Africa and in Asia. Indeed, the Second World War was lasted longer, was more volatile than the First World War. Moreover, the effects of the World War 1 contributed to the emergence of the World War 11. Children, women, men, military either participated in the war or was adversely affected by the war. Indeed, World War II was a global war that was under way by 1939 and ended in 1945 and largely involved all great powers and their armies in a show of might and dominance. The reference world powers later grouped themselves into two alliances, the Allies and the Axis. The war was fought using high technological weapons of unpredictable destructiveness in unsurpassed numbers with the ultimate use of the atomic bomb. It remains the most widespread and destructive war in history. Indeed about, 100 million people participated in the war where there was use of nuclear weapons. So significant was the war that th e participants sacrificed all their scientific capabilities and economic positions to succeed in the war. This paper will give the background, the causes, the participants, and the sequence of the war, the results, and the impact of the World War 11. ... The treaty equally set out the size and capability of the country's armed forces. Moreover, Benito Mussolini led the Fascist movement in seizing power in Italy between 1921 and 1925. As such, he replaced representative democracy and repressed socialist to force Italy to become a world power. At the same time, there were developments in Germany where  Adolf Hitler led  in establishing a fascist government in Germany. These developments worried UK and France where they consequently formed the Stresa Front with an aim of containing Germany. However, Italy invaded Ethiopia with Germany being the only major European nation to support the invasion with a trade in that allowed Italy to support Germany in absorbing Austria. Adolf Hitler on the other hand defied the Treaty of Versailles and  Locarno by reinstating his military  in March 1936. Indeed, Hitler and Mussolini supported the fascists while the soviet supported the Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil war in 1936 where both parties tested their new weapons and methods of warfare in readiness for war. Subsequent attacks followed later with Japan capturing Beijing, China in 1937 as Germany annexed Austria in 1938 (Marshall Cavendish Corporation 12). Additionally, Germany and Slovakia attacked Poland in 1939. As a result of this countries of common wealth were mobilized by France and Britain to declared war on Germany. As such, by 3 September, Britain and France were at war with Germany where Australia, South Africa, Canada, and New Zealand joined them in a weeks’ time. This marked the beginning of the Second World War. The Home front of the war was Britain because the Britons felt that

Conditional Fee or Contingent Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Conditional Fee or Contingent - Essay Example The essay "Conditional Fee or Contingent" talks about the conditional fee which is in the United States or in other words, a contingent fee in the United Kingdom is a fee system which provides services where the fee is only to be paid if a constructive result is shown. This system is also known as ‘no win no fee’ system. No win no fee system, in general, is an English legal system which refers to a conditional fee contract amid a customer and a law. The process of this agreement is that a lawyer will take the authority of this law or case, by knowing the fact that if lost than he or she will not be rewarded or paid. But if the case is won by the solicitor, he or she will be paid on hourly basis. As a contrast with the US, the triumph fee is much greater than the normal fee in the UK. Conditional fee system is usually found in countries such as in England, Canada, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, France, Greece, Japan, the Dominican Republic, B razil and in the US. Conditional fees permitted for a limited series of cases such as personal injury, insolvency etc. cases in 1999. But in 2000, legal aid was not obtainable for injuries, fatal accidents, business matters or law for partnerships. Legal aid got banned due to the more appropriate proceedings because of conditional fees. There are many advantages of conditional fee agreement as it provides admittance to the courts for the people who do not have enough money to pay the fees of lawyers and the overheads of civil court cases.

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Marketing - Essay Example Some customers are price sensitive whereby, an increase in price may cause the customers to buy from competitors. On the contrary product/service involves taking into consideration the needs and wants of a customer. Finally, promotion entails creating awareness about the product or service being offered by the company. This may involve taking into consideration the methods that the company will use to promote their product as well as determining the methods used by their competitors (Hoffmann, 2008). Therefore, this study aims to provide an insight of how the company achieves advantage of delivering value to the consumers and to what extent. 1. â€Å"A company achieves advantage by delivering superior value to its consumers in the marketplace†. To what extent do you agree with this statement and why? A company achieves advantage by delivering superior value to its consumers through utilization of value chain approach/model as proposed by Porters. Different companies tend to ha ve numerous activities that are being involved in the conversion of raw materials to finished goods so as to deliver superior value to their customers. Those activities may be broadly classified into two categories namely; primary activities and secondary activities /support activities within the value chain model. Primary activities comprises of five major activities/ operations namely; inbound logistics, outbound logistics, operations, marketing and sales, and services. On the contrary, support activities include; procurement, human resource management, technological development and infrastructure (Saha, 2011). The value chain creation model may be presented in the diagram below. Primary Activities The value Chain Support/secondary activities Source: The five primary activities involve all operations that are aimed at delivering superior value to the customers. Under this section there are activities such as; inbound logistics. Those are operation that is attributed to handling of goods and services within the company. Additionally, inbound logistics involves activities such as material inputs and acquisition, warehousing activities as well as inventory control. Material input and acquisition are those operations that are carried out to ensure that there is proper flow of all the necessary materials and equipments that might be required in order to come up with a finished product that can deliver superior value to the customers. Material input and acquisition further involves determining the most appropriate vendors to supply the company with the necessary raw material in a cost efficient manner. Therefore, procurement managers, operation managers and finance managers should carry out a prior assessment of the most appropriate vendor who can supply raw materials at a minimal cost. This may help to minimize the cost of material acquisition while at the same time ensures that materials obtain deliver superior value to the customers and further enables the comp any to make profits. Both procurement manager and finance manager should collaborate to ensure that materials available in the warehouse are in proper condition. Moreover, they should carry out inventory valuation to determine when to order new material (re-order point) and when to dispose the available stock. This may help to ensure there is efficiency in the flow of raw materials and finished goods within and outside the company

Midwifery Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Midwifery - Essay Example The NHS Modernization Agency, which was just recently superseded by NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement, was established to facilitate the modernization of health services and the improvement of the patients' experiences and outcomes of health care. With the establishment of the Agency was of course the establishment of specific themes, which in turn, were targeted towards NHS' goals (NHS, 2006). The establishment of such themes is expected to make an impact in everything which are affiliated with health care, most specifically the patients and the workers. The midwives, being medical practitioners themselves are affected by these themes both in positive and negative ways (NHS, 2006). One of the themes emphasized in by the NHS Modernisation Agency was that about the Workforce. Based on this theme, the attempt to modernize the Health Care system would entail the effective use of staff, the attraction of staff and the retention and development of staff. Under the effective use of staff, it is important for the Health Care system to meet the changing demands imposed by the erratic nature of the field by achieving a balance between the workers' skills and service demands (NHS, 2006). According to NHS (2006), to achieve the balance, flexibility and skills are necessary in their workforce. These requirements put the status of midwives in both the advantaged and disadvantaged. As the role of midwives is concentrated on child delivery concerns, this puts them in the advantageous position as well as gives them specialization in which aspect of health care, they are supposedly the only ones sought after. If "balance," is more a function of skill than flexibility, then the power to handle delivery becomes exclusive only to physicians, midwives, and no one else's'. However, the opposite is true otherwise. Flexibility entails the knowledge, experience, trust and ability to perform and be responsible to do more than a single duty. It is not enough that a person has the knowledge and ability to perform duties. It is necessary that the person has the experience and has the legal responsibility for possible miscalculations. This is what is lacking in the midwife profession. If only "balance" is a matter of specialization, knowledge and ability, midwives could be having the advantage over other health care professionals. But since "balance" is also a matter of flexibility, then other health care professionals, specifically, the nurses are gaining the upper hand. Nurses, as it is known, can do assessment, prescription, as well as handling of child delivery, all within the scope of their licenses. Midwives cannot prescribe. They could only handle child delivery, the women's and children's health after birth. In other words, nurses can always act as midwives while midwives cannot act as nurses. The Workforce theme of the NHS modernization promotes independence, competition and thus, improved service given by the health care workers. This is a result of the development of appraisal and performance structure in hospitals based on standards. The results of such appraisals could then be used as basis for matching competencies with specific roles within the framework of the institution. This brings back the subject on specialization. The matching of competencies would be useless without any

Image representation of Women in Magazines (which are targeted to Dissertation

Image representation of Women in Magazines (which are targeted to University Students) - Dissertation Example 1 Afghan Girl 4.3 Fig. 2 She looks spoiled 4.4 Fig. 3 â€Å"Quite a Pear† 4.5 Fig. 4 Wad 4.6 Fig. 5 Keep on Dreaming of a Better World 4.7. Fig. 6 It’s nice to have a girl around the house 4.8 Fig. 7 Dove Advertising 4.9 Fig. 8 Twiggy 4.10 Fig. 9 Do Men Hate Fat Women? 4.11 Fig. 10. Dolce and Gabbana Advertisement 4.12 Summary 5.0 Chapter Five: Discussion List of Figures References Appendices Abstract The research that was conducted for this study concerns the images in the media and their influence over women of university level age. Images in the media have been shown to have a powerful influence over the body image of young women, affecting their self esteem and their development of identity (Cash, Cash, and Butters 1983: Catterall, Maclaran, and Stevens 2000). In a study that discussed the responses to ten different images in a group setting with twelve women, the phenomenon of the way in which women experience influences by media images gave a new dimension through responses, both expected and unexpected. Broken into five chapters, this qualitative study examines the nature of media images and the impact that they have on society. Chapter One Introduction The effect of the representation of women in media through both photojournalism and fashion photography acts as a catalyst to emotional responses which have helped to frame the way in which women see themselves as members of Western culture. The issues of body image, self, and identity are often manipulated by the media as women grow from childhood through adolescence. The influences that media imposes upon women can often lead to issues such as anorexia, bulimia, BED (binge eating disorder), and other medically dangerous conditions. Objectification of women has now begun to shift to subjectification, leading women into a world where they must now be the aggressive sexual being, rather than the passive object. Through research conducted using images and the discussion of twelve women who wer e put into a focus group the concepts of image and self is explored through the information gathered within the interview process. In a qualitative study of the emotional responses to women when a ‘story’ or suggested interpretation of images was interjected, the concept of trend is also explored as it relates to the interpretation of the responses to the images. This type of research helps in understanding the way in which images influence the direction of how women perceive beauty and how they are positioned within the discourse of attractiveness. The power of photo imagery in contemporary discourse has influenced culture, making changes in the concept of beauty and ’normalcy’. 1.1Background The objectification of women is not a new concept. However, the ways in which images of women have been formulated to specifically associate women as objects as an everyday occurrence is a part of the information age. As advertising has become a cycling of images thr ough television, the internet, and print media such as magazines, the concept of female is habitually stripped of its identity and reformulated into creatures of ’otherness’, usable objects of the imagination. An example of this can be seen in Fig. 3, women are morphed with objects, redefined as something consumable as indicated in Fig. 4, and objects of manipulation as seen in Fig. 4. The nature

Midwifery Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Midwifery - Essay Example The NHS Modernization Agency, which was just recently superseded by NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement, was established to facilitate the modernization of health services and the improvement of the patients' experiences and outcomes of health care. With the establishment of the Agency was of course the establishment of specific themes, which in turn, were targeted towards NHS' goals (NHS, 2006). The establishment of such themes is expected to make an impact in everything which are affiliated with health care, most specifically the patients and the workers. The midwives, being medical practitioners themselves are affected by these themes both in positive and negative ways (NHS, 2006). One of the themes emphasized in by the NHS Modernisation Agency was that about the Workforce. Based on this theme, the attempt to modernize the Health Care system would entail the effective use of staff, the attraction of staff and the retention and development of staff. Under the effective use of staff, it is important for the Health Care system to meet the changing demands imposed by the erratic nature of the field by achieving a balance between the workers' skills and service demands (NHS, 2006). According to NHS (2006), to achieve the balance, flexibility and skills are necessary in their workforce. These requirements put the status of midwives in both the advantaged and disadvantaged. As the role of midwives is concentrated on child delivery concerns, this puts them in the advantageous position as well as gives them specialization in which aspect of health care, they are supposedly the only ones sought after. If "balance," is more a function of skill than flexibility, then the power to handle delivery becomes exclusive only to physicians, midwives, and no one else's'. However, the opposite is true otherwise. Flexibility entails the knowledge, experience, trust and ability to perform and be responsible to do more than a single duty. It is not enough that a person has the knowledge and ability to perform duties. It is necessary that the person has the experience and has the legal responsibility for possible miscalculations. This is what is lacking in the midwife profession. If only "balance" is a matter of specialization, knowledge and ability, midwives could be having the advantage over other health care professionals. But since "balance" is also a matter of flexibility, then other health care professionals, specifically, the nurses are gaining the upper hand. Nurses, as it is known, can do assessment, prescription, as well as handling of child delivery, all within the scope of their licenses. Midwives cannot prescribe. They could only handle child delivery, the women's and children's health after birth. In other words, nurses can always act as midwives while midwives cannot act as nurses. The Workforce theme of the NHS modernization promotes independence, competition and thus, improved service given by the health care workers. This is a result of the development of appraisal and performance structure in hospitals based on standards. The results of such appraisals could then be used as basis for matching competencies with specific roles within the framework of the institution. This brings back the subject on specialization. The matching of competencies would be useless without any

How did the womens rights movement of the 19th century emerge out of Essay - 1

How did the womens rights movement of the 19th century emerge out of abolition activism - Essay Example These included the rights to vote, the right to vie for different offices and the right to be treated equal with the men irrespective of their gender. This led to the development of the women’s right movement, a movement that changed the political alignment and environment in the United States. The development of the women’s right movement began immediately after the abolition of the slave trade and most of the founding members were active freedom fighters in the abolitionist movement. In this paper, the impacts of the abolitionist movement and the manner in which it shaped the formation of the women’s right movement will be determined. The pioneer leaders of the Women’s right movement who previously served in the abolitionist movement will be discussed to show the connection between the two movements and how one inspired the other. The abolitionist movement played an essential role in inspiring the development of the women’s right and women suffrage movement of the 19th century. Women’s right movement was based on the principles and experience of the founding mothers who had witnessed the efforts of the abolitionist freedom fighters in their effort to achieve social justice (Maternal association 54). The need to improve human condition and remove the element of slavery within the society of the United States oiled the abolitionist freedom movement and this motivated the formation of other groups that agitated for the attainment of equal social justice for all irrespective of the color and race. The history of feminism in the United States can be better understood by investigating the connection between the women suffrage movement and the abolitionist movement. During the active years of the abolitionist movement before the end of the civil war, many women leaders participated as facilitators and spies for the men who were active in the movement

Unforgiven Directed By Clint Eastwood Film Studies Essay

Unforgiven Directed By Clint Eastwood Film Studies Essay Unforgiven is a dark and haunting film in what can be considered Clint Eastwoods finest hour. A revisionist western, set in the 1880s that serves as the final culmination of Eastwoods revisionist western trilogy, follows the journey of William Munny (Eastwood), a struggling pig farmer and widower with two young children with a dark past as a violent killer. After two cowboys scar a prostitute a reward is offered by her fellow whores for the death of the two men. Soon Munny is on the hunt and is later joined by Ned (Morgan Freeman) and the young, blind Schofield Kid (Jaimz Woolvett). The stage is set for what is perhaps the most gritty, realistic and best of Eastwoods westerns. The skilled acting performances by the cast of brilliant actors along with the directing, that only of man of Eastwoods caliber can provide, make Unforgiven stand out as the finest of Eastwood revisionist westerns (Pale Rider, The Outlaw Josey Wales). We are confronted with characters who are both capable of the kindest, and at the same time vilest, of deeds. The black hat, white hat distinction of the characters of western genres of old are thrown out the window in favor of gritty, violent, morally ambiguous characters that are much more in line with the realities of the human condition. Gene Hickman gives a superb performance as Sheriff Little Bill Dagert, both champion of law and order in his town as well as a violent sadist. William Munny provides the image of a changed man, a man who has redeemed himself. However as the film progresses the faà §ade of a changed man is lifted in a violent manner with the murder of one of the wanted men. The film carefully reveals the true nature of Munny in layers until we are confronted with the true nature of his past Ive killed woman, children and just about anything that moved at some point. He is perhaps the hardest protagonist, to warm to, and Eastwood does a great job at challenging our perspectives on film heroes. The supporting cast do a good job of adding extra weight to the film. There are no meaningless throw away characters that exist only as target practice. They all have a point and Eastwood fits them together in the story like a master watchmaker. Notable performances include Richard Harris as English Bob, a gun fighter and fierce monarchist who worked for the railroad shooting Chinamen. Bob travels with his biographer W.W Beauchamp (Saul Rubineck). Bob along with his biographer act as an amusing comment of the creation and permeation of the western myth. Morgan Freeman lends his heavyweight reputation as Williamss old gunfighter comrade Ned. Freeman does an admirable job as portraying Ned as a man past his prime and serves as an excellent reminder to William that they are not getting younger. James Woolvelt as the Schofield Kid holds up well, his character being both physically blind as well as blind to the realities of killing a man (Munny)You ever killed a man before? (Kid)Hell Ive killed at least 50 guys. He serves as a reminder of how receiving the Mark of Cain can change and destroy a man. Clint Eastwoods goal with Unforgiven was to expose the myth of the western genre; the westerns of John Wayne, Lee Marvin and even himself and to show how the west was really won. There are no fair quick draw stand offs (A man is killed while taking a crap) and killing is often a slow (and for the audience) harrowing experience. Perhaps one of the most amusing and memorable moments comes when Munny shoots the unarmed Pimp, much to Little Bills disgust Hell you just killed an unarmed man! Well he should have armed himself. Eastwood rams home the realities of killing further, a young cowboy dies slowly begging for water, he doesnt fly off his horse like so many a man in Eastwoods older westerns. Perhaps the most memorable quotes on killing come from Eastwoods character himself Its a helluva thing killing a manà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦You take away all hes had and all hes ever gonna have. In exposing the western myth Eastwood excels par excellence. The technical aspect of the film adds to the western experience in a way one would expect of an Eastwood film. The dark moody lighting contrast with the open sweeping landscapes under a brilliant blue sky. The sets and costumes are authentic and familiar to any western film buff which adds an interesting contrasts to the revisionist context of the film. All the technical brilliance comes together to suck the audience into a believable looking film. The lighting itself is well used, especially in the way that it darkens with the darkening of Eastwoods character. Music is kept to a minimal, no spaghetti style pieces blare at us during a stand off, the rain provides a much better musical score to the films finale. For the audience this film forces us to reflect on ourselves and the realities of the darkness of our souls. We are all naturally violent; the film just highlights this fact with a blow from a slug of a .44. Perhaps Eastwood is asking for forgiveness not as a character but as a director. Go ahead punk make my day has been replaced instead with a whimpering, bleeding young man begging for water. If I can think of one gripe about the film it is perhaps that it takes a little too long at making its point. Unforgiven is a brilliant film. It caters to Eastwoods core fans while at the same time attracting the more intelligent and reflective film goer. Those who enjoyed the Good the Bad and the Ugly will enjoy this film as much as the filmgoer who enjoys a serious crafted experience.

Nisei Daughter by Monica Sone Essay -- Nisei Daughter Monica Sone

Nisei Daughter, by Monica Sone 'Even with all the mental anguish and struggle, an elemental instinct bound us to this soil. Here we were born; here we wanted to live. We had tasted of its freedom and learned of its brave hopes for democracy. It was too late, much too late for us to turn back.' (Sone 124). This statement is key to understanding much of the novel, Nisei Daughter, written by Monica Sone. From one perspective, this novel is an autobiographical account of a Japanese American girl and the ways in which she constructed her own self-identity. On the other hand, the novel depicts the distinct differences and tension that formed between the Issei and Nisei generations. Moreover, it can be seen as an attempt to describe the confusion experienced by Japanese Americans torn between two cultures.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First, and most obvious, Monica Sone accounts for, in an autobiographical manner, the important events and situations in her life that helped create her self-identity. She recounts an event at the age of five, when she found out that she, ?had Japanese blood.? This recognition would spark the chain of many more realizations to come. Sone describes the relationships she had with her parents and siblings. She seems very pleased with and delighted by the differing, yet caring personalities of each person in her family. Sone describes herself as a typical American child: going to school, playing mischievously with friends on the block, reading, spending quality time with... Nisei Daughter by Monica Sone Essay -- Nisei Daughter Monica Sone Nisei Daughter, by Monica Sone 'Even with all the mental anguish and struggle, an elemental instinct bound us to this soil. Here we were born; here we wanted to live. We had tasted of its freedom and learned of its brave hopes for democracy. It was too late, much too late for us to turn back.' (Sone 124). This statement is key to understanding much of the novel, Nisei Daughter, written by Monica Sone. From one perspective, this novel is an autobiographical account of a Japanese American girl and the ways in which she constructed her own self-identity. On the other hand, the novel depicts the distinct differences and tension that formed between the Issei and Nisei generations. Moreover, it can be seen as an attempt to describe the confusion experienced by Japanese Americans torn between two cultures.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First, and most obvious, Monica Sone accounts for, in an autobiographical manner, the important events and situations in her life that helped create her self-identity. She recounts an event at the age of five, when she found out that she, ?had Japanese blood.? This recognition would spark the chain of many more realizations to come. Sone describes the relationships she had with her parents and siblings. She seems very pleased with and delighted by the differing, yet caring personalities of each person in her family. Sone describes herself as a typical American child: going to school, playing mischievously with friends on the block, reading, spending quality time with...

Bless Me Ultima - Character Analysis :: essays research papers

The Man-Child A child is much like a far-reaching scientific experiment. Both are expensive and in constant need of attention. Nevertheless, an experiment can be terminated at anytime. The experiment of child cannot be aborted, and sometimes the Experiment fails when he or she chooses the wrong path. However, for Rudolfo Anaya’s "Experiment Antonio" of Bless Me, Ultima, the results are promising. Antonio, as a child, already possesses traits that lead to a good and pure life. He is naturally a mature and wise man-child yearning for knowledge. Antonio shows a startling maturity. Psychologically, a typical six-year old will suffer serious mental agonies if he or she witnesses the death of four other people. Tony, however, "[runs] the words of the Act of Contrition" (23) through his mind, praying to God promising that "[he] will sin no more." (170) Furthermore, the typical six year old child will not possess the mentality to question the flaws of a religion nor question why God "forgives all" (173), even murderers. This is not the case for Tony, who is bothered by the fact that God will "forgive Narciso†¦" only "†¦if [Tony] also asks [God] to forgive Tenorio." (173) In addition, Tony’s maturity leads him to order someone to "go get the lifeguard" (239) during the drowning of Florence. At the same time, Tony notices a "red spot on [Florence’s] forehead where he must have hit the edge of the culvert." (240) Death, to a six year ol d, is a mystery while religion is accepted just like the letters of the alphabet. However, Tony’s questions of religion and reactions to death reflect a mindset of someone far beyond his age group. For someone of his age, Antonio has a strong yearning for knowledge. He is "driven by the desire to make [his] the magic of the letters and numbers" (64) and works hard, "eager to learn the secret of the magic." (76) At school, while others "cry†¦and wet [their] pants" (58), Antonio spends his time in the corner "writing [his] name over and over." (58) Even Ultima praises Tony’s willingness to study, saying, "[he] learns as much in one day as most do in a year." (81) However, Tony’s drive for knowledge is not restricted to books; he also "[seeks] more answers" (71) about God. He tries in vain to find the answers why people are made to "suffer [for] Old Eve’s sin," (196) why "†¦didn’t [God] make this earth [free] of evil things" (196), and of why "The Old Man†¦left [Florence] all alone" (195) with no family.

Importance of blood donation Essay

Begin with an interesting quotation related to your opinion about The American Red cross (You will need a transition here) – End the Intro paragraph with your thesis statement: Even though Not a lot of people donate blood even though they have time and energy to do so., Every person in this world should donate blood once. because It might be that one can need blood and sometimes hospitals run out of it. and Each time one gives a blood they can save three lives.. Body Paragraph or Section #1 Topic of the body thesis: Not a lot of people donate blood even though they have time and energy to do so. – Find evidence – like facts, examples, quotations, or statistics that back it up or support the topic sentence of this paragraph. – Explain how your evidence supports the topic sentence Another example that shows that Not a lot of people donate blood even though they have time and energy to do so. is†¦ – Find more evidence – facts, examples, quotations, or statistics that back it up or support the topic sentence of this paragraph. – Explain how this second piece of evidence supports the topic sentence. Body Paragraph or Section #2 Even though Not a lot of people donate blood even though they have time and energy to do so., Every person in this world should donate blood once. because It might be that one can need blood and sometimes hospitals run out of it.. – Find evidence – like facts, examples, quotations, or statistics that back it up or support the topic sentence of this paragraph. – Explain how your evidence supports the topic sentence Another example that shows that It might be that one can need blood and sometimes hospitals run out of it. is†¦ – Find more evidence – facts, examples, quotations, or statistics that back it up or support the topic sentence of this paragraph. – Explain how this second piece of evidence supports the topic sentence. Body Paragraph or Section #3 The most important reason Every person in this world should donate blood once. is because Each time one gives a blood they can save three lives.. – Find evidence – like facts, examples, quotations, or statistics that back it up or support the topic sentence of this paragraph. – Explain how your evidence supports the topic sentence Another example that shows that Each time one gives a blood they can save three lives. is†¦ – Find more evidence – facts, examples, quotations, or statistics that back it up or support the topic sentence of this paragraph. – Explain how this second piece of evidence supports the topic sentence. Conclusion So it is clear that although Not a lot of people donate blood even though they have time and energy to do so., Every person in this world should donate blood once. for two main reasons. First, It might be that one can need blood and sometimes hospitals run out of it.. But most importantly, Each time one gives a blood they can save three lives.. – Now you will return to your opening attention-getter from the introduction – Then end your essay with a powerful So What? statement.

Microsoft Strategic Management Essay

Background It’s the 1970s. At work, we rely on typewriters. If we need to copy a document, we likely use a mimeograph or carbon paper. Few have heard of microcomputers, but two young computer enthusiasts, a nineteen year old kid and his twenty-two year old business partner (Bill Gates and Paul Allen) sold their first program to a little computer company in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The program was called BASIC, and it was the start of this company we call Microsoft. We see that personal computing is a path to the future. In 1975, Gates and Allen form a partnership called Microsoft. Like most start-ups, Microsoft begins small, but has a huge vision—a computer on every desktop and in every home. During the next years, Microsoft begins to change the ways we work. Starting in 1980, Microsoft formed an important partnership with IBM that allowed them to bundle Microsoft’s operating system with computers that they sold, paying Microsoft a royalty for every sale. In 1985, IBM requested that Microsoft write a new operating system for their computers called OS/2; Microsoft wrote the operating system, but also continued to sell their own alternative, which proved to be in direct competition with OS/2. Microsoft Windows eventually overshadowed OS/2 in terms of sales. When Microsoft launched several versions of Microsoft Windows in the 1990s, they had captured over 90% market share of the world’s personal computers. We can take a look of the road map of Microsoft products, how it becomes a giant in the personal computer market. In 1982 – 1985 (Windows 1.0) – Microsoft launched a first version of new operation system – Interface Manager is the code name and is considered as the final name, but Windows prevails because it best describes the boxes or computing â€Å"windows† that are fundamental to the new system. In 1987 – 1992 (Windows 2.0) – Microsoft releases Windows 2.0 with desktop icons and expanded memory. With improved graphics support, you can now overlap windows, control the screen layout, and use keyboard shortcuts to speed up your work. Some software developers write their first Windows–based programs for this release. In 1990 – 1994 (Windows 3.0 & Windows 3.1) – Microsoft announces Windows 3.0, followed shortly by Windows 3.1 in 1992. Taken together, they sell 10 million copies in their first 2 years, making this the most widely used Windows operating system. In 1995 – 2001 (Windows 95) – Microsoft releases Windows 95, selling a record-setting 7 million copies in the first five weeks. It’s the most publicized launch Microsoft has ever taken on. Television commercials feature the Rolling Stones singing â€Å"Start Me Up† over images of the new Start button. The press release simply begins: â€Å"It’s here.† In 1998 – 2000 (Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Me) – Windows 98 is the first version of Windows designed specifically for consumers. PCs are common at work and home, and Internet cafes where you can get online are popping up. Windows 98 is described as an operating system that â€Å"Works Better, Plays Better.† In 2001 – 2005 (Windows XP) – Windows XP is released with a redesigned look and feel that’s centered on usability and a unified Help and Support services center. It’s available in 25 languages. From the mid-1970s until the release of Windows XP, about 1 billion PCs have been shipped worldwide. In 2006 – 2008 (Windows Vista) – Windows Vista is released in 2006 with the strongest security system yet. User Account Control helps prevent potentially harmful software from making changes to your computer. In 2009 – today (Windows 7) – By the late 2000s, the wireless world has arrived. When Windows 7 is released in October 2009, laptops are outselling desktop PCs and it’s common to get online at public wireless hotspots like coffee shops. Wireless networks can be created at the office or at home. External Environment Microsoft gained a good result during the past thirty years. However, they still need to face the market change, which we called External Environment. Let us to take a look what External Environment that Microsoft is facing. Political factors – Microsoft is highly affected by the political scenario there in USA. Microsoft is becoming one of the giant companies globally. It has created huge monopoly across the globe. US government is now trying to break up Microsoft into several different companies so that to maintain equal competition throughout the market. One of the other reasons in splitting up Microsoft Corporation that it is becoming so much stronger that it could be a threat for even US government in near future. Economic factors – Being such a versatile company and the market share they have, Microsoft plays major role in bringing up the country economies they have set-upped their businesses. According to an independent studies that the economies of the country shoots up three times when Microsoft starts businesses in that country. Social factors – Microsoft has an edge on all of its competitors that socially more people are inclined towards Pentium platforms so naturally it helped a lot to have more market share rather than others. Market segment of Pentium users is considerably very huge but it would be threat for Microsoft that they are losing its share with an average pace, due to their unsatisfied customers. Technological factors – It was a decade earlier that Microsoft was the leader in producing high tech software and gadgets, but now they are getting tough competition from global phenomenon brand ‘Apple’. No doubt Microsoft adopts and market new technology. Environmental factors – Microsoft follows very strict policies to make sure that the company remains in full compliance with international environmental regulations and the specifically environmental requirements of each country/region where they are doing their business. Microsoft reduces waste disposal, where possible through source reduction and recycling at company facilities. All waste safely and responsibly handled and disposed of properly. Legal factors – Microsoft is playing vital role in legal aspect of their pirated products like Windows and other software. They are trying their level best to reduce the usage of their pirated software. They are introducing different security features which may reduce the usage of pirated products. Porter’s Five Forces Model Force 1: Potential Competitors The entry barriers of Microsoft’s business divisions are high. In the operating system business, it holds major market share in personal computing. There is over 90% of personal computer are using Microsoft Windows Platform (NETMARKETSHARE, 2012). The second is Mac OS by Apple Inc. which is only have 7.3% market share. Creating an operating system takes years and requires high skill set and knowledge. Besides the coding, it involves graphic design for better user experience, integration between various platform, and design of innovative features. Both Microsoft and Apple have been developed operating system for near thirty years. Microsoft has very strong user base from home users to enterprise and even government all over the world. To create a new operating system is very difficult that not only the financial problem but also experience developer and the market to promote this product. Force 2: Rivalry Among Incumbent Firms The threat of rivalry is relatively among Microsoft is low. There are just few rivals on operating systems market. The only distinction between operating systems is what software it can run. However, many famous application have release cross platform version. Force 3: Supplier Power F or supplier power, the threat for Microsoft is relatively low. All major resource are come from corporate internal. Most of them are human resources. For other business like their gamming console, Microsoft has several of suppliers available. The only down side of a supplier could hold is that the items needed by the console is a wide variety of electronics Force 4: Buyer Power Most of the PC Company sold their desktop, laptop, workstation with latest Microsoft Windows OS. This is become as expected by buyer. Even the direct competitor like Apple, their Mac PC and Mac Book can also support Windows OS. The cost of the OS is absorbed in the price of PC, and buyers tread it as bundle software. So it leads to low treat from buyers. Force 5: Substitute Products/Services Threat of substitute for Microsoft is low, even with the improvements of Mac OS X has made. To substitute by Mac OS, user need to purchase Apple PC. Apple PC usually more expensive compare with other brand in same hardware configuration. Many user consider the cost is not justify. SWOT Microsoft SWOT Analysis is in order to dissect the company situation in the market, consisting of 4 layers such as Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and threats. To date, the global business of Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft) mainly develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports software products for various computing devices. Its performance has been certainly in the science and technology circle, through its strong operating performance and financial stability to the company. It was expected to seek more growth avenues in the future. However, Microsoft’s margins and market share were partially hinged on the intensifying competition. Strengths * Windows is the dominate operating system in PC desktop of the world 92 percent of the market before Apple with 6 percent * Microsoft Internet Explorer is the second largest web browser behind Google Chrome * MSN was one of the favorite’s instant online chatting platforms * Bing is the second largest search engine behind Google * Software products have high name recognition, broad-based corporate and consumer acceptance, for instance Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Access, and numerous powerful features that are in use worldwide, thereby promoting standardization and competitive advantage through their ease of integration and cost-effectiveness Weaknesses * Dependency on hardware manufacturers to preinstall Microsoft’s PC operating system * Falling sales in the operating systems and server software sectors * Little or no significant presence in the wireless market. For example, Windows CE has been hazy and gave up. * Few products were occupying in an Internet applications * Perceived by many as a cutthroat competitor that uses its dominant market position to marginalize competition by stealing/destroying the competition’s products, stifling product innovation, and decreasing the availability of competitor products Opportunities * Lower global telecommunication costs create new markets as people connect to the Internet * Mobile phone applications and exploitation of personal digital assistants represent a growth industry so that strategic alliances could provide Microsoft with opportunity in a market Popularity among people for Internet access * The needs for personal computers in the global markets still keeps necessary for the aspect of document although the growth and increasing popularity of personal handheld devices Threats * Apple and Linux threaten Microsoft’s 88% market share of the desktop operating market * Currency exchange rates affect demand for application/operation software and hardware, and fluctuating currencies can negatively impact revenues in the global marketplace * Hardware manufacturers (Sun Microsystems, Oracle, and IBM) have collaborated on new platform technologies that replicate much of the value of Windows * Hardware manufacturers (Sun Microsystems, Oracle, IBM, AOL, and Apple) are preinstalled in their own prefunded programs with their own hardware * Personal computers, mobile phones, personal digit assistants, entertainment oriented handheld computers, and similar wireless products for Internet access do not need Window operating system products * Rapid development of mobile devices that will displace/replace personal computers * Software piracy of commercial and consumer applications software would be directly threaten the revenue streams * Cycle of Technology life is sh orter * UNIX is believed dominating in high-end mission as its customers do not believe Windows can handle these operations Capability and Resource In today’s information generation, the invisible is the essential. We no longer live in a world where physical assets are more valuable than invisible assets. Top levels of business performance are relying on invisible characteristics. Successful business could be achieved depending on the tangible and intangible issues. Intangible Leadership and managerial capabilities Slogan as follows quoted by Bill Gates of Microsoft: â€Å"Our basic assets, which are our software and our software development skills, do not show up on the Balance Sheet at all.† – Bill Gates advocates the company that Ability to innovate, Ability to change, Speed to Market, Develop and Retain the Best People and Create a One to One Customer Relationship. He clearly pointed out the Marketplace that a preference for invisible over visible when it goes to running a company. Therefore, businesses will have to recognize new drivers of value, such as customer led company processes, increased specialization, and an emphasis on knowledge employees. Brand name According to http://brandirectory.com/league_tables/table/global_500_2011 Microsoft jumped from fifth to second place in Brand Finance’s new list of the world’s most valuable brands as at 2011, but it’s still behind first-place Google. The Microsoft brand is worth $42.8 billion on 2011, up from a value of $33.6 billion in 2010, according to the list released today. Patent The Microsoft Intellectual Property Licensing group is responsible for licensing Microsoft patents and other forms of intellectual property (IP) such as research technology and know-how. The following items were the examples of patent of products. Several devices, from portable computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs) to mobile phones and video cameras, use liquid crystal display (LCD) technology to render images on a screen. Exchange ActiveSync is a communication protocol that enables mobile, over-the-air access to e-mail messages, schedules, contacts, task lists, and other Exchange Server mailbox data File systems patent The Extended File Allocation Table (exFAT) is the latest file system for personal storage devices. The file allocation table (FAT) File System makes it possible for an operating system to track the location and sequence of each piece of a file Microsoft also offers a flexible Intellectual Property (IP) licensing program upon increasing in the industry’s interest in licensing its growing hardware technology portfolio. Strategic Partnership Nokia and Microsoft gathered on 2011 to create market-leading mobile goods and services designed to provide consumers, operators and developers without rival choice and chances. As each company would concentrate on its important competencies, the partnership would create the chances for fast time to market execution. Besides, Nokia and Microsoft joined integrate important assets and create completely new service provides, while extending built up goods and services to handheld devices market. Tangible Researching Centre and facilities Microsoft Research Cambridge was set up in July 1997 with a few researchers. Today over 100 researchers, mostly from Europe, are joined in computer science research at the lab. The city of Cambridge, England, was the good choice for the station of the facility because of its world-renowned reputation and its rich history as a center of learning. Located in Mountain View, California, Microsoft Research Silicon Valley was founded in August 2001 and now employs about 75 researchers. Its research work concentrate on assigned computing and includes privacy, security, protocols, fault-tolerance, large-scale systems, concurrency, computer architecture, Internet search and services, and related theory. Microsoft Research Asia is founded in Beijing as Microsoft’s fundamental research facility in the Asia Pacific region and expands rapidly. By attracting the best talent from Asia and across the international, Microsoft Research Asia has grown into a world-class research laboratory with more than 240 researchers and developers and more than 260 visiting scientists and pupils. Nowadays, the lab conducts core research in natural user interfaces, next-generation multimedia, data-intensive computing, search and online advertising, and computer science fundamentals. Employee With 90,000 employees in over 190 cities planning and developing many products and services for all customers and partners, Microsoft is concentrate on ensuring a top level of satisfaction among its customers and partners. It is an important component of its business. Final mission is to provide experiences for the customers and partners, across all of their interactions with Microsoft, that they value and recognize, and enable them to realize their full potential. Strategies In order to discuss Microsoft’s strategies of business level, corporate level, and international level, it is necessary to define them beforehand. Business level strategy is a comprehensive mechanism a company chooses to gain competitive advantage or superiority in a particular business (Cutcher, 2006). Corporate level strategy refers to the decision a firms make to explore new strategic opportunities, which range from an extension of current product line to expanding current operations and further moving the firm to completely new lines of business, under such conditions to vendor uninterrupted growth or keep current sales and profits (Cutcher, 2006). International level strategy is a strategy through which the firm sells its goods or services outside its domestic market by a few entry modes, like exporting, licensing, Joint venture/Alliance, and Sole venture. Microsoft adopts differentiation as one of the business level strategy by: * Accessibility options that let user personalize the computer display, mouse, keyboard, sound, and speech options in Windows and other Microsoft products. * Assistive technology products, specialty software and hardware products (such as screen readers and specialty keyboards), that provide essential computer access to individuals with significant vision, hearing, dexterity, language, or learning needs, and, * Interoperability among assistive technology products, the operating system, and software programs, which is critical for assistive technology products to function properly. * Continuing our longstanding commitment and leadership in developing innovative accessibility solutions. * Making the computer easier to see, hear, and use by building accessibility into Microsoft products and services. * Promoting innovation of accessibility in the development community and working with industry organizations to encourage innovation. Microsoft also uses cost leadership as one of the business level strategy to be consistent with the aim of Microsoft’s original goal enabling PCs that run Microsoft software on every desktop making the use of software is possible for everybody (blogspot, 2011). It provides inexpensive upgrade offers for user to upgrade from existing operation system or software to brand new version. Also, OEM version of operation system comes with brand new PC devices are sold at considerable discount. Furthermore, special edition of operation system and software specified for colleges ‘use are also offered with much discount to penetrate the market of students and teenagers. To maintain growth of business, Microsoft goes for diversification and innovation as corporate level strategy (scribd, 2009). Example would be TV game console, Xbox 360, mobile phone operation system, and voice over IP service software, Skype. Such strategy enables Microsoft to benefit in terms of money, market share, and better use of resources by: 1. Exposure to new products and markets 2. Sustain innovation and use opportunities to integrate knowledge into operations 3. Spread risk by avoiding having all eggs in one basket and provide better risk control through not being reliant on a single market 4. Provide movement away from declining activities (scribd, 2012) As to international level strategy, Microsoft adopts licensing as an entry mode, in which Microsoft, the licensor, authorizes a foreign licensee to use its patented technology for making and marketing products in the licensee’s home country (Cutcher, 2006). Microsoft sells goods and services through forming partnership with local licensee all around the world. Their partners are often licensed resellers and authorized distributors that are selling Microsoft’s products to local customers and provide marketing operation (Microsoft, 2012). Besides, Microsoft adopts global strategy to compete globally. Except suiting the language for each country and region, their products, like OS and office suite, are standardized that they share the same functions and features. Recommendation Microsoft is the world’s largest software maker. It represent the top tier in the industry and playing the role of market leader. Actually there’s not much weakness on its dominate market like operating system and office application. On the other hand, due to the changes of user behavior on Internet, more and more user surfing Internet using mobile device. In 2011, only 3.79% using mobile or tablet for browsing Internet. At the end of 2012, it has been increased to 10.42% (NETMARKETSHARE, 2012). We can predict the numbers of mobile device will keep growing in the near future. Microsoft was once dominate the mobile device (or PDA during that era) market by its Windows Mobile / Pocket PC OS. But losing it when Apple release iOS and iPhone. Consumer market keep changing in an expeditious way. A market leader can falling in a blink. Microsoft take two years to release Windows Phone 8 after the release of Windows Phone 7. To regain the market share, Microsoft may speed up its R&D. Provide upgrade path for its product or even produce its own hardware like other direct competitors Apple Inc. and Google did. Bibliography Cutcher L., & Wailes N., (2006), Cases in Strategy and Management, North Ryde, McGraw-Hill,p.100. Chakidan, 2011. Microsoft Business Strategy Analysis. [online] Available at:< http://chakidan.blogspot.hk/2011/04/strategy-analysis-for-microsoft.html> [Accessed 26th Dec 2012] Microsoft, 2012. Microsoft partner program. [online] Available at:[Accessed 26th Dec 2012] NETMARKETSHARE, 2012, Browsing by Device Category, Net Applications.com, [online] Available at: NETMARKETSHARE, 2012, Desktop Operating System Market Share, Net Application.com, [online] Available at: http://www.netmarketshare.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=8&qpcustomd=0 scribd , 2009. Project Report: Impact Of Company’s International Strategy on