The Economic Stimulus Act Of 2008 - 2374 Words

Phase One Introduction The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 was intentionally supposed to re-energize the economy from a recession that occurred from 2001-2004. This paper will dive in further to explain the economic policies core provisions and the market failure it was intended to correct. 2008 Recession At the end of the recession from 2001-2004, a period that no economic growth, the Federal Reserve recommend that interest rates stay as low as possible. The idea behind this thought was that lower interest rates would attract people to investment in housing, business loans and other areas of economic growth. The idea worked, as more and more potential homeowners entered the market, brought in by the perception that they could afford to pay monthly mortgage rates. However, in 2004, the price of oil started to rise, and the Fed responded by gradually increasing interest rates (Beese, 2008). Home owners were caught off guard by the change in interest rates. Many people were already in debt from the previous recession by taking out home equity loans to keep them afloat. Many of which had now taken out subprime loans (which are loans offered to people with poor credit) from eager lenders and backed by the government. Financial institutions did little stop subprime lending, the popularity of these types of loans kept growing, and lending companies took quantity of loans over quality which added to the so called â€Å"housing bubble† (Burry, 2010). Financial institutions didn’tShow MoreRelatedImpact Of The Sub Prime Crisis1687 Words   |  7 Pagesof US housings and non-profit organizations fell, rise in the national debt percentage, decline in manufacturing and trade. †¢ The Real gross domestic product (GDP) began shrinking in the third quarter of 2008 and did not return to growth until Q1 2010. †¢ The unemployment rate rose from 5% in 2008 pre-crisis to 10% by late 2009, then steadily declined to 7.6% by March 2013 †¢ Residential private investment (mainly housing) fell from its 2006 pre-crisis peak of $800 billion, to $400 billion by mid-2009Read MoreEssay on Reagan’s Economic Policy1121 Words   |  5 Pagesdisaster. Perhaps the most significant event was the economic downturn. He came to office (much like President Obama) in the midst of an economic crisis; however, President Reagan was able to turn the economy around. How did he do this? In order to answer this question, you must first ask what the economy was like when he was sworn into office, how his policy changed from the prior administration’s policy, and how it contrasts our present economic policy. Prior to Reagan’s inauguration the countryRead MoreWhat Is The Three Fiscal Stimulus?800 Words   |  4 Pagesstimuli. The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, pushed for a â‚ ¬23 billion over a four year stimulus in October 2008. This was agreed to in November 2008.The stimulus represented 2% of German GDP and included a variety of measures to boost demand. One of these measures was tax reduction on new cars in return for scrapping the old ones, loans to small and medium enterprises and various public works. This stimulus was faced with much criticism as there was concern that the amount offered was not sufficientRead MoreThe Great Recession Lasted From December Of 2007 Until1229 Words   |  5 PagesSchorfheide, 2014, para. 1); this was the only metric that wasn’t drastically impaired due to the recession. The last metric, interest rates, was cut to a range of between zero and .25 percent in order to attempt to stimulate the economy (Isidore, 2008, para. 1). With l ower interest rates, consumers can borrow and spend more rather than saving money, and this puts money back into the economy. Seeing that the recession took a toll on the economy, the biggest concern for many is seeing how the economyRead MoreHow Government Economic Policies Caused the Financial Crisis of 20081553 Words   |  7 Pagesfinancial crisis in 2008 that led to a crisis in the banking sector, and which nearly led to a complete collapse of the economy globally, was not only caused by changes in the regulatory, regulation and legislation oversight, but also fiscal and monetary policies. Many believe that, expansion of excesses monetary and irresponsibility of some of the government agencies led to the crisis. According to reports by Taylor (2009), excesses monetary policies were the main cause of the 2008 financial crisisRead MoreDemand Side Policies And The Great Recession1191 Words   |  5 Pages DEMAND-SIDE POLICIES AND THE GREAT RECESSION OF 2008 TIMOTHY W. AUSTIN AMU/APUS ECON102 MACROECONOMICS DR. FREDERIC BOUCHET MARCH 25, 2016 INTRODUCTION According to Investopedia, â€Å"a recession is a significant decline in activity across the economy, lasting longer than a few months.† Technically a recession is viewed and measured by evaluating and verifying negative growth in a nations’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for two successive quarters. A recession can be seen when there is a declineRead MoreTax Implications Of Bailout And Elections Essay1425 Words   |  6 PagesTax Consequences of Economic Failures June 13, 2007 is the day that Richard C. Cook claims in his article, â€Å"It’s Official: The Crash of the U.S. Economy Has Begun.† In the past couple of years, months, and weeks, the United States economy and stock market showed significant failures and inefficiencies to the world. Perhaps the greatest evidence signaling the recent economic meltdown is the subprime mortgage problems that started a little over a year ago. The burst of the U.S. housing marketRead MoreThe Limitations of Monetary Policy Essay1184 Words   |  5 Pagesthe current economic climate, the Obama administration’s course of action has been to pursue aggressive countercyclical fiscal policies designed to prevent further economic deterioration. Critics of these policies argue that: 1. The current fiscal stimulus is ineffective and has done little to create new jobs at a significant cost. 2. Monetary policy is a more effective lever to reduce unemployment and smooth the business cycle, due to its shorter implementation lag and ability to act in small multiplesRead MoreU.s. Economic Stimulus Package843 Words   |  4 Pages U.S. Economic Stimulus Package Jason Leitch-Williams St. Gregory’s University U.S. Economic Stimulus The Great Recession has been one of the largest fiscal crises of the current generation and the economic downturn that resulted has been recorded as the longest and most severe since the Great Depression (The Impact of the Recovery Act on Economic Growth). Although the economy has reached a stage of recovery, the effects of the recession to real GDP can be seen in business cycleRead MoreRunning Head: Great Recession 1. Great Recession5. . .884 Words   |  4 PagesRunning head: GREAT RECESSION 1 GREAT RECESSION 5 Great Recession Name Institution Great Recession There are times when a nation undergoes economic hardship for a long or short period of time. The recession is the term used by economists to define this period, it is a time when the nation?s economic GDP is low for more than two quarters consecutively (Beckworth, 2012). Recession often results in plunges in the stock market, unemployment, housing market, and a decrease in the quality

Development Communication Free Essays

I. Introduction Development communication is the use of communication to promote social development. It involves a planned transformation of an average community into a dynamic one. We will write a custom essay sample on Development Communication or any similar topic only for you Order Now As such, a community plan is made to help people shape their cities, towns or villages. A community plan is essential because it encourages people to take a full and active role in advocating and implementing economic and social reform. In line with this, the author of this paper conducted a community research at Barangay 694, Malate, Manila City. Within the research is substantial information about the said community – such as ecological factors, historical development, life activities, complex of values, social groups, impact of the world outside, and local life. A proposal for a project plan was also made in order to help build a collective vision for the residents of Barangay 694 – specifically, a summer reading program. The summer reading program will benefit the less developed children of Barangay 693. In addition, it will also develop children’s potentials to be educated and literate adults. II. Community Identification Barangay 694 is located at Malate, Manila City. A part of District 6, it lies along Leon Guinto Street and is near places such as Taft Avenue, The Philippine Women’s University, Philippine Christian University, and the Pedro Gil and Quirino LRT stations. The aforementioned places also serve as primary landmarks of Barangay 694. Because of its strategic location near Taft Avenue, Barangay 694 can be aptly described as a middle-class area with several houses and apartment units for students enrolled at nearby universities. In addition, it is easily accessible by Roxas Boulevard, Quirino Avenue, and Taft Avenue. III. Ecological Frame 1. Geographical factors Barangay 694 is located at latitude 14. 573330 and longitude120. 990860. Its coordinates are 14 °34’24† North and 120 °59’26† East. It has a total land area of To its south is Pasay City; to its west, Manila Bay; to its north, Ermita; to its east, Paco and San Andres. 2. Climate and soil As part of Manila City, Barangay 694 features a tropical savanna climate that borders on tropical monsoon climate. Along with the rest of the Philippines, Barangay 694 lies within the tropics. The temperature range is very small, rarely going lower than 20 °C (100 °F) and going higher than 38 ° (100 °F). Humidity levels are usually very high which makes the place feel much warmer. It has a distinct dry season from late December to April and a relatively wet season that covers the remaining period. Typhoons can occur from June to September and can cause flooding in the area. 3. Service institutions Barangay 694 has several service institutions that responds to the residents’ needs. Its strategic location offers its residents convenience as they need no look further than the immediate vicinity to have access to hospitals, educational institutions, books, recreational areas, and government offices. Listed below are several establishments near Barangay 693: * HEALTH INSTITUTIONS * Ospital ng Maynila * RTM Satellite Clinic * Ruben C. Bartolome, M. D. Clinic * GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS * Department of Finance * Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas * RECREATIONAL AREAS * Rizal Memorial Sports Complex * Manila Zoological and Biological Gardens * Manila Baywalk Area 5. Government The current mayor for the 2010 – 2013 term is Alfredo Lim. Meanwhile, Isko Moreno is the city’s incumbent vice-mayor. Two more members of the Manila City Council are the Association of Barangay Captains and the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK). Barangay 694’s elected barangay officials have the responsibility of carrying out the following tasks: (1) formulating measures to eliminate the use of illegal drugs; (2) maintaining the cleanliness and beautification of the area; (3) promoting peace and order; (4) promoting the well-being of women in the community; (5) promoting youth rights; and (6) maintaining barangay-owned properties and infrastructures. Listed below are the currently elected Barangay 694 officials and brief descriptions of each office position: 1. PUNONG BARANGAY or BARANGAY CHAIRMAN Name: Is the executive head of Barangay 693 * Is in charge of development planning, basic services and facilities, compliance to directives, barangay legislation, and fiscal administration 2. BARANGAY SECRETARY Name: * Is liable for all of Barangay 694’s paper works * Takes down notes during all of the discussions and plans made in meetings * Reads and re-reads the reports he/she has made 3. BARANGAY TREASURER Name: * Is responsible for the funds of Barangay 694 – from properties budget, projects budgets, and salaries 4. SEVEN BARANGAY COUNCILORS: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. All have specific tasks assigned to them by the Barangay Chairman – Must be in the barangay hall once a week to accommodate people coming to their office every now and then SK CHAIRMAN: IV. Historical Development 1. Origin During the Spanish colonial period, Malate was an open area with a small fishing village. When the Americans came to the country after a 333-year Spanish reign, American urban planners envisioned the development of Malate as the most sophisticated area for American families. Despite extensive damage after World War II, many homes and buildings survived the onslaught of the battle fought in the area. Wealthy families who evacuated their homes during the war returned. Along with their return, they re-built their properties and kept the areas around it exclusively residential. Among these residential areas was Barangay 694. A local resident living in the area for almost fifty years related that Barangay 694 has been a residential area since the post-Japanese period. In fact, even before Japanese colonization, several of her forebears have lived there. This is proof that Barangay 694 has been around for many years. 2. First Inhabitants During interviews, local residents were asked to name some of the first inhabitants of Barangay 694. The general response was a â€Å"no†. This answer is easily justifiable since the barangay has had such a long history and no one could really be certain of the first people who first inhabited the area. However, several residents know of families who had been living in the barangay for a long time. These families are almost considered as pioneers. As such, they are held in high regard. Among the well-known families in the area are the families of Magalon, San Pedro, Sevilla, Martinez, Andres, and Reyna. Most members of the said families hold positions in local offices – specifically, the Barangay Committee. This is a testament to the high social status they have established along the years. 3. Development The once-exclusive residential areas on the Western portion of Malate began to transform into a commercial area in the 1970s. Real estate boomed with large houses and apartments being built. Businesses also flourished as small hotels, restaurants, and cafes were established. During the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos, visual and performing artists found a haven in Malate in the 1980s and it became a bohemian enclave. . Progress at present Barangay 694, along with the rest of Malate, is continuously transforming itself as the center of recreation and entertainment in Manila with more restaurants, boutiques, bars, discos, and novelty stores opening for business. V. Life Activities 1. Social Structure: Social status of the residents Barangay 694 is a quiet middle-class area with several houses and apartments for students enrolled at nearby universities. Consequentially, the area is fairly tight-knit. At several community visits, the local residents displayed evident familiarity with those who live among them. In fact, it can be said that everyone knows everyone at Barangay 694. 2. Favorite pastime and recreation Because of well-maintained social ties, local residents enjoy doing recreational activities with their families, friends or neighbors. When asked what special activities they did during their pastime, respondents from the area said that they liked going to parks, playing bingo, organizing outings, visiting nearby malls, and perhaps, going out of town. Moreover, a typical Saturday and Sunday night for residents of Barangay 694 would consist of going to the church and, afterwards, watching late-night TV shows. Younger residents, meanwhile, said that they’d rather surf the Web, open their Facebook or Twitter accounts or play video games. 3. Groups and organizations The community has only one major organization, which is the local barangay council. Barangay 694’s elected barangay officials have the responsibility of carrying out the following tasks: (1) formulating measures to eliminate the use of illegal drugs; (2) maintaining the cleanliness and beautification of the area; (3) promoting peace and order; (4) promoting the well-being of omen in the community; (5) promoting youth rights; and (6) maintaining barangay-owned properties and infrastructures. VI. Complex of Values 1. Core values of the community, that is, those that are generally accepted in society Barangay 694, being a tight-knit community, generally accepts these four core values: honesty, cooperation, a sense of responsibility, and righteousness. These values are considered to be the key to creating harmonious rel ationships. Honesty came in first in the list as most local residents consider it to be the most valuable trait one can possess. A dishonest man will know and bring nothing but trouble,† says Ronaldo Dela Cruz, 56, a lifelong Barangay 694 resident. Meanwhile, cooperation is also a cherished value in the community. Because of its small population, Barangay 694 expects its residents to participate in community development projects such as street cleaning, tree planting, etc. The spirit of bayanihan ensures that ties among residents are rekindled and reinforced. Accompanying cooperation is a sense of responsibility. Community members should be self-aware. They must be able to look after themselves and perform their obligations as citizens of the Republic. Last but not the least is righteousness. As observed, Barangay 694 holds quite high moral standards. A local resident must be morally upright. He or she must be able to hold and maintain a good reputation. Otherwise, he or she would not be warmly welcomed into the community. 2. Aim values of the community, that is, those options that society allows its members Barangay 694 gives its residents the full freedom to make decisions they thing will best suit their wants and needs – so long as these decisions will not harm or offend other people. While many local residents are still quite conservative in that distinct Filipino way, they are quite open to progressive ideas like the implementation of the RH Law, K-12 education (while prevalent in other countries, K-12 education is still quite new to Filipinos), and the passing of Freedom of Information Bill. 3. Attitudes and sense of values Overall, Barangay 694 residents are upbeat, friendly, and warm people. They are generally well-mannered and will go out of their way to help others. They uphold traditional Filipino values and strive to uphold them in their daily lives. All of which makes Barangay 694 a very nice place to live in. VII. Impact of the world outside 1. Inflow of ideas, goods, special forms, moral codes, new modus vivendi et operandi from the outside world to the community Barangay 694 keeps abreast of the current happenings through various mediums. Among these mediums are newspapers, television, radio, and the Internet (particularly, social media). Local residents are well-informed and are keen to follow both national and international events. They are also aware of recent popular culture trends. How to cite Development Communication, Essay examples Development Communication Free Essays Using different techniques in advertising is one of the most commonly used principles by companies which intend to capture a wider market base. Apparently, having an attractive advertisement module can provide greater prospects in achieving higher returns of profit margin acquisition. The article in references is the news about Nokia and Siemens mergence. We will write a custom essay sample on Development Communication or any similar topic only for you Order Now The two companies are practically well known in the industry of telecommunications and networking respectively. The article which was published by BBC was actually about the technical aspects of the integration. Basically, the mergence comprised of the equally established shares for both companies which agreed to have 50% each for the said integration structure. This will allow the two companies to have equal rights and profit acquisition for whatever transaction deals to be implemented in the future. Due to the partnership, experts were estimating for the companies to acquire at least 16 Billion Euros by the end of 2010. The basic reason for the merging of the Nokia and Siemens was extracted from the concept of increasing the Nokia’s capacity towards networking capabilities. Primarily, Nokia is a self sustaining company and in fact a leader in the telecommunication industry particularly in the division of mobile phones. However, this status is so demanding that it needed to invest more on networking facilities due to the increasing demands of mobile phone owners when it comes to portable and networked communication procedures. The reported deal was actually in terms of infrastructure and not about cell phone handsets (BBC 1). According to the article, one more offset for the mergence is to counter balance the possible influence of the merger of Alcatel and Lucent Technologies which primarily poses some levels of competition against Nokia. On a personal perspective, I have always positioned the company Nokia to be the pioneer in global mobile phone developments. Even though I am aware that emerging companies such as Motorola and Sony Ericsson are fast catching up in terms of innovation, I can still see Nokia to be at the forefront at least at the commercial segment of the race. According to Business Week, Nokia captured at least 40% of the overall global market share when it comes to mobile phone sales. This actual figure primarily makes the organization prominent and well performing when it comes to personal analysis. Given my impression of Nokia, the article somehow provided me another perspective towards the company’s actual development. Because of the mergence, I realized that it is not really independent when it comes to delegating success in the market. The story repositioned my thinking that there is no real company which can stand on its own and operate based solely on its traditional business principle. Nokia may seem to be a very good company in some aspects but actually it will still need some affiliations if it wants to diversify its market share, which is the case in partnering with Siemens for network development since Nokia can’t emerge in the IT market without a reliable network backbone. This prompted me to think that Nokia still needs to undergo large scale affiliations in order to sustain its development. Considering the article about the mergence of Nokia with Siemens, it seems that the news is more of a publication advertisement which promotes awareness. The people who are going to read the news will definitely acquire the fact that Nokia is actually undertaking plans to improve its services to the consumers. The article also intends to impart knowledge since it precisely informs the readers that the merger is not based on handset partnership but more on infrastructure. This is a good approach since Siemens also has its own line up of mobile phones and that the consumers my just expect to see what kinds of models the merger will offer to the market. How to cite Development Communication, Papers

Eating Disorders is a Male Disease Too Essay Example For Students

Eating Disorders is a Male Disease Too Essay Clinical picture in comparison to womenThe incidence of anorexia nervosa in males is generally agreed upon to be between 5% to 10% of all anorexia nervosa cases. (Crisp Burns, 1983) Studies show that there tends to be a predominance of the upper social class in cases of eating disorders with almost two thirds of the group from social classes I and II (Sharp, Clark, Dunan, Blackwood, Shapiro, 1994). High risk subgroups include jockeys, wrestlers, dancers, and entertainers required to lose weight to be successful (Andersen, 1986). Andersen (1986) also suggests that the incidence in male medical students is several times greater than that of the general male population. The DSM-IV criteria for anorexia nervosa include an intense fear of gaining weight, a distorted self-perception of body image, refusal to maintain normal body weight (less than 85% of expected weight) and three consecutive months of amenorrhea (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). The criterion of amenorrhea has been subject to much criticism for the creation of a gender bias in diagnosis of the disorder.Several suggestions have been proposed to eliminate this gender bias. Russell (as cited in Crisp Burns, 1983) solves the problem by altering the amenorrhea criterion to an endocrine disorder which manifests itself clinical in amenorrhea, or in the case of male subjects, a loss of sexual interest and lack of potency. On the other hand, some suggest that the criterion be eliminated completely due to the fact that the illness is no less severe in patients who meet all the diagnostic criteria with the exception of amenorrhea (Andersen Holman, 1987). The clinical picture of anorexia nervosa in males has been extensively researched and detailed. (Crisp Burns, 1983; Sharp et al., 1994). Crisp and Burns (1983) gave a preliminary description of the clinical features found in 36 male patients being studied at St. Georges Hospital in London. They noted clinical data at two stages, the first at onset and the second at presentation. Sharp et al. (1994) followed up with a longitudinal study of 25 male anorexia nervosa patients at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital. They compared the clinical details at presentation of the male subjects to a group of 25 anorectic females. In Crisp and Burns study (1983), the mean age at onset of anorexia nervosa was found to be 17 years and 2 months while the mean age at presentation was 20 years and 7 months. Sharp et al. (1994) presented similar statistics with a mean age at onset of 18.6 years and a mean age at presentation of 20.2 years. The female comparison group resulted in a mean age at onset of 17.5 years and a mean age at presentation of 19.8 years. The difference between the male a female groups is not statistically significant and similarity in this aspect can be concluded. However, comparison of mean duration of illness, 3.6 years (Crisp Burns, 1983) versus 1.6 years (Sharp et al., 1994), suggests that the increase in awareness has led to earlier recognition and consequent treatment of the disorder. The mean weight, measured as a percentage of the Matched Population Mean Weight (MPMW), was 101.3% MPMW at onset and 73.4% MPMW at presentation (Crisp Burns, 1983). However, Sharp et al. (1994) showed a 114.7% MPMW at onset for males and 107.6% MPMW for females which agrees with Andersens (1986) suggestion that prior to dieting males are more likely to be clinically overweight. In addition, they reported 78.5% MPMW at presentation for their male group and 72.4% MPMW for their female group. The difference at presentation is statistically insignificant and it is more meaningful to examine the difference in mean weight loss between the studies. Crisp and Burns (1983) calculated a mean weight loss of 32.5% MPMW, a lower percentage than found in female clients, and attributed to men having lower levels of fat to lose. Sharp et al. (1994) contradicted this finding showing a mean weight loss of 42% MPMW in males and 42.9% in females and speculated that this discrepancy might be attributed to males being premorbidly obese. Sexual Deviance EssayAndersen (1986) argued that being teased and criticized for lack of control in terms of obesity often led to dieting amongst males. He went on to state that alteration of body size and shape thereby improving self esteem is the strongest motivational factor for dieting exhibited by males. Other motivational factors suggested include a desire to become more attractive to the opposite sex, requests by superiors to lose weight in return for career advancement, medical reasons, and effort to deter the aging process. Important issues regarding eating disordersAre women at higher risk for eating disorders, and if so, why? This has been a subject of much debate. Scott (1986) proposed that fewer males are at risk for anorexia nervosa because of their age at onset of puberty. Females develop physically before they develop emotionally and the stress on them puts them at high risk. He also suggested that males possess another safeguard that places them a lower risk, the lack of a sociocultural emphasis on thinness. Bardwick and Garner et al. (as cited in Scott, 1986) added the suggestion that males lack the modern female versus traditional women conflict which may lead to the females obsessive control over eating behavior and weight as a coping mechanism. Several scholars have pondered the question of why few males are diagnosed with eating disorder cases. Scott (1986) cited four reasons for such. First, he suggested that clinicians saw very few instances of this disorder in males and therefore did not possess enough knowledge to make an accurate diagnosis. He mentioned Kesslers (as cited in Scott, 1986) idea that several clinicians sought the requirement of a notion of fear of oral impregnation before confirming a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa thereby excluding the male populations. He also suggested the exclusion of males by the diagnostic criteria of amenorrhea and lastly made note of the suggestion by Selveni (as cited in Scott, 1986) that eating behavior is secondary to other psychiatric disorders in male patients. There has also been the suggestion that male anorectics were masked by their athletic involvement (Crisps, Burns, Bhat, 1986). Sexuality of male patients has undergone much scrutiny. Crisp and Burns (1983) emphasized the relief and indifference to a decreased sexual drive felt by the male patients in contrast to the ambivalence toward menstruation by females. Two of their patients feared their homosexuality and diminished sexual interest eased their fears. Andersen (1986) suggested that adolescent males are limited in their sexual experience and which presents a source of distress.

The Identification of Bipolar Disorders

Introduction It is only natural that people get distressed at one point or another. However, the nature of the distress and its experience differs and largely depends on a number of factors such as social and economic status, gender, sexuality, disability among others. The psychological discourses and practices change from place to place and from time to time hence shifting either positively or negatively.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Identification of Bipolar Disorders specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Mental illness was identified not so long ago as a mental disorder affecting the social behavior of an individual. Historically, bipolar disorder was seen as a somatic difficulty alongside other disorders such as borderline and schizophrenia. Through the process of creating psychiatry as a discipline, psychiatric discourses were introduced as mental health aimed at controlling social distresses. The difficul ties associated with identification of such mental illnesses are however increasing especially now that the economy, social and cultural lives are changing. Additionally, personality may also come in the way of identification of mental illness especially where the social priorities of an individual are important in maintaining a societal obligation or expectations (Voronlka 2010). On the other hand, the struggle to maintain one’s obligations to the society may as well be the leading cause to significant moral behaviors. A shift from a certain social obligation or structure may therefore lead to the speculation of social distress. It is this emphasis on maintaining social obligations that brought much focus on Britney’s change of behavior. In this case, Britney, who is an international pop star, was easily theorized with bipolar disorder in regard to the expectations of the society where she is expected to maintain her personality as well as her physical appearance. Thi s article looks at the conceptive idea of mental illness and particularly, to understand bipolar disorder. Psychiatric expertise The interpretation of behavior through psychological science has been changing ranging from badness to immorality and now to mental instability. All these changing concepts have emerged as the perception of citizenship is also constantly changing. The concept of social preference as well as that of citizenship paves way for the consideration of distress especially where the individual involved is has certain obligations to the society. In this context, mental illness can be illustrated differently according to psychiatric professionals. In this context, mental illness does not necessarily mean that the person in question is actually suffering from a mind related disease. In this perspective, mental illness is defined by the way that someone thinks.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper wit h 15% OFF Learn More The different ways that psychiatric discourses are exercised may determine the fate of the mentally unstable people. For instance, some mental related systems, either medical or social may hinder result to the exclusion of such individuals from the society. This occurs mostly when the mental ill people are identified by their negative identities which leaves them stigmatized and depressed (Voronlka 2010). However, this can be prevented by avoiding this identification where the affected individuals are made to make the best of their conditions so as to find power in themselves. This is the reason why the case of Britney is a very good strategy to use especially in educating the young either at school or by just reading the magazine articles. However, it all depends on how each on them takes the whole thing. While some will/have been more concerned on how madness and women have been related in the society, others will just ignore it. Psychiatric discourse s may be oppressive to women and other vulnerable members of the society such as heterosexists, albinos and other such groups of people. Such people may be implicated in social conditions and associated with distress despite the fact that their conceptualization may not be subject to scientific study. Much research has been done on the demeaning of women as psychotherapists. Women have, over the years, been viewed as inferiors of men in all aspects of life. Due to this factor, many women have been associated with distress related to their sex. As such, many women have been considered mentally ill or unstable due to the fact that they have grievances against their social status in regard to that of men. Treatments for such women are more likely to be related to internal causes such as mental instability rather than being viewed as a result of grievances for social order in the society. Women are getting oppressed through psychological disciplines. Women and children have been violate d sexually at the expense of psy-disciplines which have placed the blame on the women for their oppression and abuse (Voronlka 2010). As such women and female children as well as other vulnerable members of the society are being victimized as the psychiatric disciplines give biomedical explanations against them.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Identification of Bipolar Disorders specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This has been the major factor that has led to women resisting male psychiatrists. While certain reactions by women are considered to be psychological, similar reactions by men are considered as normal emotional reactions. This could explain the reason why many psychologically ill people seeking psychological help are not recovering as fast as those who are not seeking psychological assistance. Due to this social order by men, women are now turning down male psychiatrists and rather choosing to seek h elp from, not so professional, but experienced females who may have the knowledge on such experiences. However, psychological experts have acknowledged the impact of inequality in social and structural aspects of people’s lives on mental capabilities. Thus medications have been used on such people to help them cope with those different situations much better, according to the psychological practitioners. However, evaluation is the very most important initial step towards recovery so that the appropriate type of medication and therapy can be identified. Self responsibility and compliance is equally important during recovery of mental illnesses. Researchers have associated the loss of mental illness stigma to the publicity of more and more significant personalities who have had mental problems. Many teenager behaviors that were viewed as normal as referred to as a stage that they had to go through, are now being treated as mental problems and psychological advice is being sough t. Conclusion Mental illnesses have existed amongst many society members over the years. However, many people have been negligent about the matter partly because they are not aware of the existence of such conditions and on the other part because they are not aware of psychiatric help (Voronlka 2010). Despite the fact that some people have been oppressed by psychological disciplines in relation to their social status and other structural factors, they have been used as tools to enlighten the marginalized members of the society about the reality of mental disorders and the existence of treatment methods for such illnesses. Through such people as politicians and public personalities, the media with the help of psychiatrists, has been able to bring this very important discipline into lime light. As a result, many people especially the youth are now turning to psychiatric practitioners for help and this means more and more affected people are recovering.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Works Cited Voronlka, Jijian. â€Å"Making bipolar Britney: proliferating psychiatric diagnosis through  tabloid media†. 2010 – July 19. Web. This essay on The Identification of Bipolar Disorders was written and submitted by user Frederick R. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Change a Column Name in MySQL

Change a Column Name in MySQL If you already created your MySQL database, and you decide after the fact that one of the columns is named incorrectly, you dont need to remove it and add a replacement; you can simply rename it. Renaming a Database Column You rename a column in MySQL using the  ALTER TABLE and CHANGE  commands together to change an existing column. For example, say the  column is currently named Soda, but you decide that Beverage is  a more appropriate title. The column is located on the table entitled Menu. Here is an example of how to change it: ALTER TABLE menu CHANGE soda beverage varchar(10) ; In a generic  form, where you substitute your terms, this is: ALTER TABLE tablename CHANGE oldname newname varchar(10) ; About VARCHAR The VARCHAR(10) in the examples can change to be appropriate for your column. VARCHAR is a character string of variable length. The maximum length- in this example  it is 10- indicates the maximum number of characters you want to store in the column. VARCHAR(25) could store up to 25 characters. Other Uses for ALTER TABLE The ALTER TABLE  command can also be used to add a new column to a table or to remove an entire column and all its data from a table. For example, to add a column use: ALTER TABLE table_nameADD column_name datatype To delete a column, use: ALTER TABLE table_nameDROP COLUMN column_name   You can also make changes to a columns size and type in MySQL.

How to Use the French Adverb dAbord (First)

How to Use the French Adverb dAbord (First) The  adverb dabord,  pronounced da bor, means first, at first, to begin with, in the first place, at the outset, anyway. It is a versatile, frequently used adverb that can fill many a role. Keep in mind that, as an adverb, the job of  dabord  is to modify the action, in other words, the verb. The Many Meanings of dAbord Here are some examples of each meaning: First: Nous irons dabord   Rome.   Well go to Rome first.At first, initially, to begin with: Jai cru (tout) dabord quil sagissait dune blague.   At first, I thought it was a joke.To begin with:  Dabord, tu nes mà ªme pas prà ªt  !   To begin with, youre not even ready !Anyway:  Et puis dabord,  Il a fallu le terminer. And anyway, he had to finish it. Expressions and Usage Tout dabord First of all, first and foremost, first off, to begin withAu premier abord At first sight, initiallyDà ¨s labord From the outsetVoie dabord Surgical approachManià ¨re daborder Method of approachToi dabord.   You first.Pensez dabord a soi. Think of yourself first. / Look out for, look after number one.La sà ©curità © dabord ! Safety first!Je vais rentrer dabord chez moi. Ill go home first.à ªtre dun abord facile To be approachable, accessible, easy to reachà ªtre dun abord difficile Hard to approach, difficult to come to grips with, hard to reach, difficult to get toLes raisons en sont diverses: dabord... There are various reasons: first...Dabord, je dois trouver mon livre, et puis nous pourrons commencer. First I need to find my book, and then we can start.Il semblait dabord sympathique, puis il a commencà © crier. He seemed nice at first, then he started shouting.Tout dabord, le Conseil europà ©en de dà ©cembre se prononcera sur son approbation. First of all, the December European Council will need to approve it. Il y a dabord la rà ©fà ©rence la perspective financià ¨re aprà ¨s 2006. Firstly, there is the reference to the financial prospects after 2006.Je tiens tout dabord prà ©senter les autres invità ©s dhonneur. To begin with, I would like to acknowledge my fellow honorees.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic - Assignment Example According to Birkett (2005), response parameters measures in an organism involve aspects like blood pressure, concentration of hormones produced by the drug or severity of side effects. The first point when the curve diverts from the zero scale represents the threshold drug dosage. At this concentration, the drug starts exhibiting desired response from the organism. As concentration increases, the graph gets steeper. This means the levels of response increases together with severity of a drug’s side effects. At extremely high dosage, the curve grows almost flat again meaning adverse biological response and even fatality. Technically, drug response time may delay, causing a wrong response to be measured and plotted in a exposure-response graph. Delay in response is caused by the effect of drug distribution and re-distribution around the body system. When data from such unconventional measurements are plotted, they give either clockwise or anticlockwise hysteresis loops. In pharmacokinetics, hysteresis loops signifies presence of delayed response with changing drug concentration. At times, the hysteresis loop can assume a clockwise direction. An anticlockwise hysteresis loop usually results from the differing responses associated with distribution and re-distribution of the drug’s active components to site of action. On the contrary, a clockwise hysteresis loop occurs when there is rapid tolerance whereby after the first administration, tolerance develops which makes similar drug concentrations to cause different responses. After tolerance is developed, a succeeding dosage of similar concentration causes a greater effect than the first level of concentration. As acknowledged earlier, hysteresis in food or drug compounds results from differing responses associated with similar level of substance concentration. Hysteresis occurs when there is either tolerance of the substance or as an effect of substance distribution properties. Numerous

Human Resource Management - Management Approach to HRM Essay

Human Resource Management - Management Approach to HRM - Essay Example (Baird & Meshoulam, 1988). Historically there is a shift in the concepts and development of the field of human resource management over the period of time. What started as personnel management has now gradually transformed itself into the new realm of human resource management. The ideas of personnel management mainly seems to be contrasting with those of human resource management. The traditional view about the personnel management was of the view that the humans are only responsible for production and profits and personnel management largely envisioned the use of machines as manpower. Historically what is now considered as human resource management was something else. Over the period of time, related concepts and theories were known with different names and gradually transformed into HRM. HRM initially started with the name of Industrial Welfare. (Kaizelong, 2006). This was the first form of human resource management which was basically started with the advent of the labor unions. The initial focus was on the welfare of the factory labors. However it gradually evolved and culminated into the bigger concept of Personnel Management. The real focus on the personnel management started with the advent of industrial revolution where the need for qualified staff was badly felt especially due to the factor of division of labor. There exists a very subtle and minute element of distinction between human resources and personnel management. Both are considered as â€Å"process of getting things done through people†. (ACCEL TEAM, 2007). HRM now is considered as an inte grative approach in which a two-way linkage is assumed between the organizational strategy and individual needs of the employees on the other hand. The essence of HRM now is that the separate personnel actions are now consistently linked and integrated with the overall

Coldplay Essay Example for Free

Coldplay Essay British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. [3] After forming Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. [4] Will Champion joined as a drummer, backing vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist, completing the line-up. Manager Phil Harvey is often considered an unofficial fifth member. [5] The band renamed themselves Coldplay in 1998,[6] before recording and releasing three EPs; Safety in 1998, Brothers Sisters as a single in 1999 and The Blue Room in the same year. The latter was their first release on a major label, after signing to Parlophone. [7] They achieved worldwide fame with the release of the single Yellow in 2000, followed by their debut album released in the same year, Parachutes, which was nominated for the Mercury Prize. The bands second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), was released to favourable reviews and won multiple awards, including NMEs Album of the Year, and has been widely considered the best of the Nelson-produced Coldplay albums. Their next release, XY, the best-selling album worldwide in 2005, was initially met with mixed reviews upon its release. However, the bands fourth studio album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008), was produced by Brian Eno and released again to largely favourable reviews, earning several Grammy nominations and wins at the 51st Grammy Awards. [8] In August 2011, they announced that a fifth studio album, titled Mylo Xyloto, would be released on October 24, 2011. The band has won a number of music awards throughout their career, including six Brit Awards — winning Best British Group three times, four MTV Video Music Awards, and seven Grammy Awards from twenty nominations.

Dostoevsky and Freud: Exploring the Relationship Between Psyche and Civ

Dostoevsky and Freud: Exploring the Relationship Between Psyche and Civilization Few novels delve as deeply into the twists and turns of the human psyche as Fyodor Dostoevsky?s Crime and Punishment. The novel explicitly describes the protagonist Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov?s fluctuating mental state as he commits a brutal crime, becomes tortured by guilt, and finally turns himself in. This detailed description of Raskolnikov?s psyche gives readers a clear picture of his character within the context of the events that take place in the novel. Yet we know little of Raskolnikov outside of this context. How, for instance, does Raskolnikov come to develop those beliefs and characteristics that impel him to commit his crime? We know only that he embodies these beliefs and characteristics from the outset of the novel. In order to fully comprehend the whys and hows of Raskolnikov as a character, then, we must examine him outside the framework of this novel. But how, we might ask, are we to move beyond the narrative context in which Raskolnikov exists? The answer is simple: we must place Raskolnikov within a different context and analyze him in light of this new context. How do we know which context to choose? It depends on what we hope to discover by such an analysis. In this case, we want to expand our knowledge of Raskolnikov?s characteristics and psyche. From Dostoevsky?s explicit narration, we already know Raskolnikov is a neurotic character who exhibits a number of neurotic tendencies throughout the novel. We must therefore locate a context that will help us discover the meaning behind these neurotic tendencies. The logical backdrop to choose is a Freudian context, since Freud deals extensively with human psychology and ne... ...tween civilization and the human psyche?connections which are impossible to completely sever. The presence of these connections make it impossible for us to try to oppose the structure of civilization without ending up in the same plight as Raskolnikov. Thus, both Freud and Dostoevsky seem to suggest that it is necessary for us to adapt ourselves as best we can to the pre-existing constructs of civilization and learn to accept its less pleasant aspects. Works Cited Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Crime and Punishment. Trans. Constance Garnett. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 1994. Freud, Sigmund. "Civilizations and Its Discontents." The Freud Reader. Ed. Peter Gay. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1989. Freud, Sigmund. "Some Character-Types Met with in Psycho-analytic Work." Writings On Art and Literature. Ed. James Strachey. Stanford: Stanford UP, 1997.

Crash Review

Crash (2004) Paragraph 1: Crash tells the story of people from wildly disparate walks of life as they collide and intersect with one another. Each life is in some way personally affected, changed, damaged, or victimized by racism. They’re also all in some way guilty of racism themselves. via interlocking stories, the cultural, racial, and spiritual isolation of Los Angelinos. Due to the sprawling city's decentralized, car-reliant layout, Haggis's characters have become sheltered from those not in their own socio-economic sphere, and this seclusion has led to virulent narrow-mindedness. Rick Cabot (Brendan Fraser) is the white District Attorney of Los Angeles who participates in racial politics in order to further his career. Rick and his wife Jean are carjacked by Anthony and Peter, both of whom are black. To preserve his support in the black community as the election approaches, Rick arranges for his assistant to blackmail Detective Graham Waters, who is black, into testifying against a white cop whom Graham thinks is innocent in order to create a press event that will reassure voters of Cabot's racial sensitivity. The film alludes to the possibility Rick might be having an affair with his black assistant. Jean Cabot (Sandra Bullock) is Rick's wife, whose racial prejudices escalate after she and her husband experience a carjacking. When a tattooed, Mexican-American locksmith changes the locks to her house, she insists that the locks be changed again in fear that he is keeping an extra copy of their house key. Following an accident in her home, she comes to the realization that the person who is her only true friend is Maria, her Hispanic maid who she has belittled and treated sub-human up until this point. Anthony (Ludacris) is a black, inner-city car thief who steals cars to sell to a chop shop. Anthony brings awareness to many racial and stereotypical views others hold to blacks even though some of his actions at the same time reinforce them. He provides a good example of the term ‘double consciousness. ’ Anthony steals a van which was full of trafficked people from South East Asia. Even though he is aware of racism suffered by black people, he refers to the immigrants as Chinamen, a stereotype in itself. After refusing to sell the trafficked people to the chop shop owner, he instead shows compassion for them and lets them out onto the Asian district of Los Angeles and gives them money to eat. Peter Waters (Larenz Tate) is Anthony's friend and partner in crime. He is also Detective Waters' younger brother. Like Anthony, he is black. Peter is shot to death by Officer Hansen, who picks him up in the Valley, hours after their failed carjacking of Cameron's Lincoln Navigator and mistakenly shoots him after assuming he is drawing a gun during an escalating argument. In reality he was reaching into his pocket to show the cop a figure of Saint Christopher, identical to the one Officer Hansen had stuck to his dashboard. As he is dying, he has an expression of shock/surprise and holds out his hand to reveal he had no weapon. Detective Graham Waters (Don Cheadle) is an African-American detective in the Los Angeles Police Department. He is disconnected from his poor family, which consists of his drug-addicted mother and criminal younger brother. He promises his mother that he will find his younger brother, but he is preoccupied with a case concerning a suspected racist white cop who shot a corrupt black cop. Flanagan (William Fichtner), an assistant to the district attorney, offers Graham the chance to further his career in exchange for withholding evidence that could possibly have helped the white cop's case. Flanagan also tries to convince Graham that the black community needs to see the black cop as a hero, and not as a drug dealer, as Graham suspects that he may have been. Graham is both offended and opposed, and is ready to storm out, when Flanagan mentions that there is a warrant out for Graham's brother's arrest, and that this is his third felony, which carries a life sentence in the state of California. Graham makes a very difficult personal decision to withhold evidence and possibly corrupt a case in order to have the District Attorney forget about his brother. That brother is eventually revealed to be Peter, the hitchhiker who is killed by Officer Hansen. Graham's detachment from his mother culminates when his mother, having learned of Pete's death, blames Graham as the reason behind his brother's murder. It is shown that she has always favored the younger brother. This fact exasperates Graham at the end when his mother claims Pete came home and brought groceries for her, when in reality, it was Graham that took the time to restock her previously desolate food supply. Ria (Jennifer Esposito) is a Latina detective, as well as Graham's partner and girlfriend. When a phone call from Graham's mother interrupts his sexual romp with Ria, she becomes upset with Graham for being disrespectful to his mother and his subsequently racially insensitive remark towards Hispanics after implying she was a Mexican, which she was in fact Puerto Rican and Salvadorean. She is shown to be racist toward Asians, as she criticizes an Asian woman's driving. Officer Tommy Hansen (Ryan Phillippe) is a Los Angeles police officer who, after observing his partner Officer John Ryan pull over Cameron Thayer and Christine Thayer and sexually molest Christine, requests a change of partner because of feelings of guilt over the incident. His supervisor, Lieutenant Dixon, tells him he will transfer him if he claims his â€Å"uncontrollable flatulence† requires him to drive a one-man car. The next day, after he presumably files the request, he is reassigned to a single-man patrol car. While on patrol he joins a police chase of Cameron Thayer, who was being car-jacked, but fought off his carjackers and is fleeing the scene with one carjacker still in the car. After driving into a dead-end, Cameron, now resentful of the LAPD, confronts the police officers. Tommy jumps in front of Cameron and tries to convince him to stand down to avoid a confrontation which could possibly result in Cameron's death. He then vouches for Cameron, stating that he is a friend of his, and lets him off with a â€Å"harsh warning. Tommy is later seen driving in his car when he picks up Peter Waters, who is hitch-hiking. He ultimately reveals his own insecurities with other races (African-Americans in particular) through his treatment of Peter Waters and how he quickly dismisses Waters' attempts to compare similarities between them. He pulls over when he assumes that Peter is laughing at him, and tells him to get out of the car. As Peter reaches into his pocket, Tommy wrongly assumes that P eter is reaching for a hidden gun, and shoots him dead. He removes Peter from the car to cover up the incident. We later see Peter, who is the brother of Graham Waters, dead in the grass near where Tommy pulled over. Finally, we see Tommy walking away from his burning car wearing a pair of latex gloves, thus concealing his involvement in the shooting. Officer John Ryan (Matt Dillon) is a bigoted white police officer who sexually molests Cameron's wife, Christine, under the pretense of searching for a weapon after pulling over their vehicle and accusing them of endangerment due to Christine performing fellatio on Cameron while he was driving. Meanwhile, Ryan is trying to get help for his father, who possibly suffers from prostate cancer but has been diagnosed with a bladder infection, despite the ineffectiveness of treatment. His anger manifests in prejudice, as is evident when he exhibits a racist attitude towards an HMO employee preventing his father from seeing an out of network, non-HMO physician. His racial prejudices seem to stem from the destructive impact that local affirmative action policies had on his father's business. After Hansen requests solo patrol, Ryan is partnered with a Hispanic-American with whom he seems to get along. Ryan later puts his own life on the line to save Christine, the woman he molested earlier, from certain death in a fiery car wreck. Lieutenant Dixon (Keith David) is Officers Ryan and Hansen's shift Lieutenant. An African American, Dixon believes that the LAPD is a racist organization that he personally had to work extra hard in to earn a ranking position. When Hansen requests to change partners, Dixon refuses stating that doing so because of Officer Ryan's racism will reflect poorly on their unit. He claims that going on record about supervising racist officers such as Ryan can be a move that will cost both Hansen and Dixon their jobs. In order to get away from Officer Ryan, he then suggests that Officer Hansen ride in a solo car claiming to have a condition of â€Å"uncontrollable flatulence. † Cameron Thayer (Terrence Howard) is a black television director. He witnesses Officer Ryan molesting his wife and later realises that the producers of his television show propagate racist stereotypes about black people. In an emotional moment, he fights off Anthony and Peter when they try to steal his car, takes away Anthony's gun, and argues fiercely with armed white police officers. Just when it is very likely that he will be shot to death, Hansen intervenes on his behalf and prevents any outbreak of violence. After being let off with a warning, Cameron then proceeds to let Anthony go and even gives him his gun back. At the scene of Hansen's burning car (to eliminate evidence of a murder), he is able to find contentment and reconnnects with his wife. Christine Thayer (Thandie Newton) is Cameron's wife. She is molested by Ryan after she and Cameron are pulled over for her giving oral sex to her husband while he was driving them home. She becomes furious with her husband because he didn't defend her. The two insult each other over their upbringings – as both Cameron and Christine have grown up in more privileged environments than many other African Americans. The next day she is trapped in an overturned car due to a car accident and, by a twist of fate, Officer Ryan is the man who willingly endangers himself to save her life. Daniel Ruiz (Michael Pena) is a Mexican-American locksmith who faces discrimination from Jean and others because he looks like a gangbanger to them, when he is actually a devoted family man. After Anthony and Peter steal Jean and Rick's car, Daniel comes over and changes the locks on their home. Daniel seeks a safe environment for his young daughter, Elizabeth, who had a bullet go through her window in their previous home. That is why he moved to a safer neighborhood and enrolled her in a private school. Near the beginning he gives Elizabeth an invisible â€Å"cloak† that he says will protect her should someone try to shoot at her. Farhad shoots at Elizabeth and Daniel but they escape unhurt, because the gun contains blanks chosen by Dorri earlier in the film. However, Elizabeth believes that this is due to the protective powers of the â€Å"cloak. † Farhad (Shaun Toub) is a Persian store owner who is afraid for his safety. He is depicted as frustrated by the racial harassment he experiences in the United States (despite being an American citizen), as well as deterred by difficulties with speaking English. To protect his store – the only thing his family has – he goes to a gun shop and attempts to buy a gun. The gun store owner quickly becomes frustrated with Farhad's conversation with his daughter Dorri in Persian, leading to harassment from the owner, who believes that Persians are Arabs and therefore, terrorists, one of these comments being â€Å"Yo, Osama, plan the jihad on your own time. † The owner refuses to sell Farhad a gun, but finally sells the gun to Farhad's daughter after being cryptic and lecherous about which bullets she needs. The store run by Farhad and his wife Shereen (Marina Sirtis) has a door which will not close properly, so they call a locksmith, Daniel. Farhad's suspicion of others is compounded by his difficulty understanding English; he does not heed Daniel's warning that his shop door needs replacing, believing Daniel intends to cheat him, and as a result suffers a break-in. Shereen reacts to the slurs written on the walls of the store: â€Å"They think we're Arab. When did Persian become Arab? † Blaming Daniel for the invasion and racially-motivated destruction of his store, and angered by the insurance company rejecting his claim on the grounds of negligence, he confronts Daniel at his house, wielding his gun. Farhad fires at Daniel but accidentally shoots Daniel's daughter Lara, to the horror of both Daniel and Farhad. Fortunately, unknowingly to Farhad, the gun contains blanks. Farhad leaves without further incident, later telling his daughter that his â€Å"farishta,† his guardian angel, protected him and his family. Dorri (Bahar Soomekh) is Farhad's daughter, and is more acclimated than her father to American culture. She purposefully purchases blanks after her father has upset the man at the counter in the gun store. She is constantly trying to calm her father down during his emotional outbursts. She is also an employee at the hospital; she escorts Graham and his mother to Peter's body after it is discovered in a field. Paragraph 2: Thirty-six hours in the life of a disparate group of Los Angelinos linked together by a car crash. The debut film from Million Dollar Baby screenwriter Paul Haggis as succession of characters become involved in heated exchanges that either bring to the surface long-buried prejudices or fan the flames of hatred already out in the open. The film is about racial and social tensions in Los Angeles. Reminiscent of Magnolia and Short Cuts, Crash comprises a number of separate stories that are loosely connected. Set over a period of 24 hours, each vignette offers a different perspective of the multi-ethnic melting pot that is life in Los Angeles. The film uses its characters not so much to tell a story, but to express an opinion, from the racial cop (Matt Dillon), to the campaigning District Attorney (Brendan Fraser) anxious to capture the black vote, to the black television director (Terence Howard) toning down his ethnicity in a predominantly white industry. All fit into well-defined stereotypes and engage in the kind of dialogue reserved more for an impassioned polemic than everyday conversation. Paragraph 3: Conclusion: It's a bold effort that initially attempts to tackle the issue of racial conflict in a refreshingly unstinting way for a mainstream film. Crash taps into the underlying tension of city where the haves and have nots might pull up next to each other in traffic, but are still a world apart. Haggis ventures beyond the more commonly explored white black issue to encompass a gamut of ethnic vantage points including Hispanic, Korean and Iranian.

Progress report on internet abuse and employee productivity case study Essay

The internet has able to improve business by increasing productivity because of improved information dissemination and decision-making, however employers are concerned by employees who use it for their personal and social needs during working hours which occurs because the workplace give them a sense of privacy. The monitoring of employee internet use has created tensions between employers, who monitor employee use to protect data leakage and check employee productivity, and employees, who feel a breach of trust whenever monitored, who suggest that casual internet use is not detrimental, and who have felt emotional and physical problems because of monitoring. The internet has had significant impact in the 1995 economic boom despite studies which show that this is only felt in the microeconomic level. A UN report has shown that American employees are less productive than their European and Asian counterparts because they cannot improve side-by-side with the effects of Moore’s Law. Organizations which have put in investments in technology improvements have not felt the supposed exponential increase in revenue and increase in market share because they have not reduced input resources such as the number of employees and that their employees have not increased in knowledge or productivity. It was suggested that to reduce productivity losses non-internet tasks should increase, productivity benchmark methods revised and incentives given to productive employees. IT was also suggested that to avoid employee-employer conflicts, the employer must give ample time for internet use, enforce a written internet and e-mail use policy, forge a company website that will help employees to finish tasks, and keep a friendly working atmosphere. The employees in turn must not use the internet often for personal use and enhance their productivity in line with the company’s premier interests. I have completed the entire research project and found out that employee and employer relations can be resolved following my proposed guidelines which I have made after preceding research from articles in magazines and books. I have found that employees regard monitoring as a beach of trust and had felt emotional tolls during monitoring by their bosses. Employers on the other hand only move to monitor to ensure the security of company data. I have found out that employee productivity has decreased with the increase in IT investments among companies. I have proposed guidelines and suggestions basing on my readings to decrease worker productivity losses. Work Completed I found this survey conducted by Mercer Management Consulting and have gathered that companies though they have invested much on improving technology to increase their business’ efficiency, have not yet felt the projected increase in sales. I have gathered from an article on The Economist that according to the joint research venture between MIT and U Penn the paradox that is the decrease of worker productivity despite increase in IT investments can be attributed to the factors they have laid out. This information I have placed under Technology vs. Productivity. After connecting ideas, and finding the real root of this paradox, I have now searched for references to build a suitable to-do list for employers and employees to resolve the worker productivity losses. I read a New York Times copy dated February 9, 2000, with an article saying that employers who give incentives to productive employees contributed to the increase in US productivity in the 2nd quarter of 1999. I have gathered form a copy of PC week that filtering and monitoring policies increased productivity of employees, from this idea I suggested in my research paper that employers must impose strict e-mail and internet use policy. Conclusion After so much consideration of facts, I have come up with a research paper that will explain the problems of employee productivity and internet abuse and guide employees and employers while joining forces to reduce productivity losses. Reference Gupta, Jatinder, and Sushil Sharma. â€Å"Improving Worker’s Productivity and Reducing Internet Abuse. † The Journal of Computer Information Systems 44. 2 (2004): 75-78.

Repetitive Stress Injury RSI

Repetitive Stress Injury RSI Free Online Research Papers Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI) is a very serious injury. To fully understand it, you must know what it is. You must also know the symptoms are, and how you can get it. What occupations does RSI usually occur in? Are there any ways to prevent it? Are there exercises that you can do to prevent it? How can employers prevent this in their employees? In the following paper, you will understand all of these questions and hopefully learn a lot about RSI. Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI) is a disorder in which the muscles and tendons get overused. â€Å"Any activity with repetitive action brings with it the risk of RSI.† (Brown University 2008) This can happen even when you don’t recognize it. If you do the same thing over and over again, you tire the muscle and tendon. RSI injuries can be very painful and you can lose all function of the affected area if you do not get treatment. RSI can affect various parts of the body, not just the hands and wrists. It can involve the neck, shoulders, and even the legs and feet. (faqs.org 2009) When RSI affects the neck, you are probably using your neck a lot. RSI injuries that are neck related do not happen as much as other areas, but if it happens, it happens usually when a person plays sports. For example football players use their necks a lot so they are more likely to get a RSI injury to the neck. RSI that occurs in the arms, wrists, and hands happens when people use their arms, wr ists, and hands a lot. An example of this would be someone who uses the computer a lot, a sewer who uses his or her hands repeatedly over and over again, or a pottery worker who molds clay and uses their hands repeatedly. An example of a shoulder related RSI injury would be a baseball player using his shoulder muscle or tendon to pitch the ball. Each person who comes up to bat gets a pitch. That’s a lot of repetitive motion on the shoulders. The legs and feet RSI would be someone who has to move their legs and feet a lot. For example, someone who used the sewing machine that you need to push down repeatedly with their legs and feet would get a RSI injury to the legs and feet. RSI is not something you can catch. Some people who do repetitive things do not develop RSI, but others do. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), RSI has gotten worse over the years. â€Å"In 1972 23,800 people had RSI and in 1994 332,000 had it†. (bls.gov, 2009) With that figure, it suggests that RSI will increase every year. There are a lot of signs and symptoms of RSI. It is very important to not to ignore the first symptoms of RSI because it is very hard to treat once it is advanced. RSI injuries affecting the hands, wrists, and arms are the feeling of the body part going to sleep, numbness, and tingling. (beadwork.about.com 2009) A very prominent sign that you have RSI is if you wake up at night because of the pain in your arm, hand or wrists. The pain can either be dull or sharp. Your limb could feel rubbery as if it were not a part of your body. If it wakes you up at night, then it’s not something to be ignored because it could get worse. Another symptom you could experience is coldness in the affected body part. The limb can actually look a couple shades lighter than the other parts of the body. One more symptom is not being able to do the normal things you normally do. The loss of strength in the affected area makes the person unable to do the things they used to do.The last symptom that is a good sign that you have RSI is pain in the neck, or shoulder areas when you sit at the computer. You will find yourself trying to bend and twist to try to get the pain away but it doesn’t work because the strain has already occurred. People who use the computer a lot are a lot more susceptible to RSI. Bad posture, incorrect hand placement on the keyboard, and time spent on the computer are ways to get RSI too. Bad posture at the computer makes RSI inevitable. Bad posture puts a strain on the body. Another way to get RSI is being at the computer for long hours with not enough breaks in between. You are not only in the same position and doing the same thing, you can also get headaches from staring at the computer screen for a long period of time. The most common occupations to get RSI, are those on the computer a lot, and athletes. Occupations that use the computer a lot are computer programmers, network and security, medical secretaries, medical technologists including pharmacists, and business. The sport athletes that get RSI a lot are baseball players, golfers, and football players. Computer Programmers, network and security, medical secretaries and technologists, require you to be on the computer for most of the time that you are at work! If you think about this, this is a lot of time! If the average employee works forty hours, and usually works about twenty hours over time that’s sixty hours out of one hundred sixty eight spent doing a lot of repetitive motions. These occupations are vital to the United States of America. Without these occupations our country would plummet. If these occupations are vital, how can we reduce the number of injuries with RSI? A good way to reduce the number of injuries associated with RSI is to take breaks from the repetitive thing that you are doing. If you work in an office with computers, take short breaks. If this is not available for you or you can’t take short breaks you can still take miniature breaks. You can look away from the computer for a couple of minutes and close your eyes. Don’t close your eyes too long though, or your boss may think that you are cat napping! You can also do little exercises. You can take your hands and wrists and stretch them so that they can be relaxed. Stretch your back, your neck and if you can stretch your legs too! Also, make sure the temperature where you work is comfortable and not too cold and not too hot. If you cannot control this, as a lot of us can’t, accommodate the situation. If it is too cold where you work because of air conditioning then put a sweater on. If its too hot, buy a little fan to keep yourself cool. The reason this is imp ortant is because if your body gets too cold or hot you tend not to take yourself away from working. You also tend to slouch and your posture is bad. Another thing you can do to reduce your chance of having RSI is to get a comfortable chair to sit on. Make sure the chair is adjustable so that it can support your back. It is good to have a chair that has arms so you can rest your arms periodically on them. Also, you can position the keyboard in your lap so that your arms can have a rest. Try not to use the mouse. A track ball is better because it glides easier. When you are reading something at the computer, do not keep your hand on the mouse. This makes your arms tense. Whenever you can, try to relax your body. Another good way to get your body out of the bad posturing is to bring little snacks to boost yourself up. Nothing messy of course, but if you suck on a candy it will help you because you are not just working. The main way to prevent RSI is to practice ergonomics. This is the art of designing the job to fit the worker, not the other way around. Ergonomics is looking at your work environment and seeing what triggers your stresses and pains and what doesn’t. This includes the physical and environmental parts of your job. It is not possible to control everything about where you work, but if you can eliminate the stuff you can, you will be less likely to get an injury from RSI. If you already have RSI, you can treat it. Sometimes you may have to have surgery if you ignored the symptoms and let it progress to that stage. When you notice the symptoms of RSI, The first way you can treat it would be resting! If you rest the affected body part it will be easier for you to heal. Another way is to change your environment. As I stated above ergonomics will help you do this. It is very important to do those things because it will help. A lot of the times when someone has been diagnosed with RSI the doctors will prescribe an anti-inflammatory pill. This works because it helps the inflamed area to heal by taking away the inflamed part. One other way to treat RSI is a mixture of hot and cold compresses. The mixture of heat and cold compresses help soothe the inflamed area. If employers took the time to have a class before the employee started work with their job in computers, a lot of the injuries associated with RSI would go down. Both the employer and the employee would be informed on how to do the correct job and still be in good health down the line. Employees would stay at the job longer because they would feel cared about and would look forward to going to work. Most employers do not do this because of the time involved in doing so, and they are not mandated to do so. More and more people become victims of RSI because of the lack of knowledge about RSI. If there were more information about it and the serious complications that come with it, it would be looked at more closely. RSI is an increasing problem. People need to be aware of RSI, so that it has less of an effect on our world. Knowledge is power and together we can inform everyone about RSI. ? Drudi, D. (1997). Have Disorders Associated with Repeated Trauma Stopped Increasing. In Safety and Health. Retrieved on 4/28/2009, from bls.gov/opub/cwc/archive/summer1997brief4.pdf ?Take Great Care of Your Hands (2009). Retrieved on 4/28/2009, from http://beadwork.about.com/od/tipstricksandtems/ss/Hand_Care_2.htm ?What is RSI? (2009). Retrieved on April 28, 2009, from www.faqs.org/faqs/uk/health/rsi/section-2.html Research Papers on Repetitive Stress Injury RSIThe Hockey GamePersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationTwilight of the UAWIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductLifes What IfsResearch Process Part OneThree Concepts of PsychodynamicRelationship between Media Coverage and Social and

Nile Crocodile Facts (Crocodylus niloticus)

Nile Crocodile Facts (Crocodylus niloticus) The Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) is a large freshwater African reptile. It is responsible for the most deaths from any animal as a predator preying on humans, yet crocodiles serve an important ecological function. The Nile crocodile eats carcasses that pollute water and controls predatory fish that could overeat smaller fish used as food by many other species. Fast Facts: Nile Crocodile Scientific Name: Crocodylus niloticusCommon Names: Nile crocodile, African crocodile, common crocodile, black crocodileBasic Animal Group: ReptileSize: 10-20 feetWeight: 300-1650 poundsLifespan: 50-60 yearsDiet: CarnivoreHabitat: Freshwater wetlands of sub-Saharan AfricaPopulation: 250,000Conservation Status: Least Concern Description The Nile crocodile is the second-largest reptile in the world after the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus). Nile crocodiles have thick, armored skin that is dark bronze with black stripes and spots on the back, greenish-yellow side stripes, and yellow scales on the belly. Crocodiles have four short legs, long tails, and elongated jaws with conical teeth. Their eyes, ears, and nostrils are on top of the head. Males are about 30% larger than females. Average size ranges between 10 and 20 feet in length and anywhere from 300 to 1,650 pounds in weight. A Nile crocodile may carry her young in her mouth or on her back. Gallo Images-Roger De La Harpe / Getty Images Habitat and Distribution The Nile crocodile is native to Africa. It lives in freshwater marshes, swamps, lakes, streams, and rivers of sub-Saharan Africa, the Nile basin, and Madagascar. It is an invasive species in Florida, but it is unknown whether the population is reproducing. Although it is a freshwater species, the Nile crocodile has salt glands and sometimes enters brackish and marine waters. Diet and Behavior Crocodiles are apex predators that hunt animals up to twice their size. Young crocodiles eat invertebrates and fish, while larger ones may take any animal. They also feed on carcasses, other crocodiles (including members of their own species), and sometimes fruit. Like other crocodilians, they ingest stones as gastroliths, which may help digest food or act as ballast. Crocodiles are ambush predators that wait for prey to come within range, lunge at the target, and sink their teeth into it to drag it into water to drown, die from sudden thrashing movements, or be torn apart with help from other crocodiles. At night, crocodiles may leave the water and ambush prey on land. The Nile crocodile spends most of the day partially exposed in shallow water or basking on land. Crocodiles may bask with open mouths to prevent overheating or as a threat display for other crocodiles. Reproduction and Offspring Nile crocodiles reach sexual maturity between 12 and 16 years of age, when males are about 10 feet 10 inches long and females are between 7 and 10 feet long. Mature males breed every year, while females only breed once every two to three years. Males attract females by making noises, slapping their snouts in water, and blowing water out through their noses. Males may battle other males for breeding rights. Females lay eggs a month or two after breeding. Nesting can occur at any time of year, but tends to coincide with the dry season. The female digs a nest in the sand or soil several feet from the water and deposits between 25 and 80 eggs. The heat of the soil incubates the eggs and determines the sex of the offspring, with males only resulting from temperatures between 89 Â °F and 94 Â °F. The female guards the nest until the eggs hatch, which takes about 90 days. Near the end of the incubation period, the young make high-pitched chirps to alert the female to dig out the eggs. She may use her mouth to help her offspring hatch. After they have hatched, she may carry them in her mouth to water. While she guards her offspring for up to two years, they hunt their own food immediately after hatching. Despite her care, only about 10% of the eggs survive to hatching and 1% of hatchlings reach maturity. Mortality is high because the eggs and young are food for many other species. In captivity, Nile crocodiles live 50 to 60 years. They may have a potential lifespan of 70 to 100 years in the wild. A Nile crocodile has an egg tooth that it uses to help hatch from an egg. hphimagelibrary / Getty Images Conservation Status The Nile crocodile faced extinction in the 1960s. Today, the IUCN classifies the species conservation status as least concern. However, Nile crocodile numbers are decreasing. CITES lists the Nile crocodile under Appendix I (threatened with extinction) throughout most of its range. Researchers estimate 250,000 to 500,000 individuals live in the wild. Crocodiles are protected in part of their range and are raised in captivity. Threats The species faces multiple threats to its survival, including habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting for meat and leather, poaching, pollution, entanglement in fishing nets, and persecution. Invasive plant species also pose a threat, as they alter the temperature of crocodile nests and prevent eggs from hatching. Nile Crocodiles and Humans Crocodiles are farmed for their leather. In the wild, they have a reputation as man-eaters. The Nile crocodile together with the saltwater crocodile kills hundreds or sometimes thousands of people each year. Females with nests are aggressive, plus large adults hunt humans. Field biologists attribute the high number of attacks to a general lack of caution around crocodile-occupied areas. Studies indicate planned land management and public education could reduce human-crocodile conflict. Sources Crocodile Specialist Group 1996. Crocodylus niloticus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 1996: e.T46590A11064465. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T46590A11064465.enDunham, K. M.; Ghiurghi, A.; Cumbi, R. Urbano, F. Human–wildlife conflict in Mozambique: a national perspective, with emphasis on wildlife attacks on humans. Oryx. 44 (2): 185, 2010. doi:10.1017/S003060530999086XThorbjarnarson, J. Crocodile tears and skins: international trade, economic constraints, and limits to the sustainable use of crocodilians. Conservation Biology. 13 (3): 465–470, 1999. doi:10.1046/j.1523-1739.1999.00011.xWallace, K. M. A. J. Leslie. Diet of the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Journal of Herpetology. 42 (2): 361, 2008. doi:10.1670/07-1071.1Wood, Gerald. The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats. Sterling Publishing Co Inc., 1983. ISBN 978-0-85112-235-9.

Critically review the role of Operations Manager and assess the impact Essay

Critically review the role of Operations Manager and assess the impact on our business plan - Essay Example The operations manager envisions the lounge to hold a large size of customers at any given moment serving them adequately. The business is also structured to be an event-catering package that handles huge orders creating convenience to the customers. Compared to goods, the constraints of service superiority are more intricate and diverge. Therefore, a full- fledged comprehension of customers’ wishes and prospects is a dire subject on the today’s package construing plan. Being a bakery, the business will receive a general target market since most people of all ages enjoy delightful cakes, pastries and pies not overlooking the fact that the merchandises are low-priced items that are nearly reasonable to anyone even with their varying levels of revenue hence keeping the target market large (Hald, & Mouritsen, 2013). In relation to the several product preferences, convenient services, and an extensive target market, this bakery will be able to meet the requirements of a wid e range of consumers. The operations manager was able to foresee the possibility of a company’s website that will be opened on both Facebook and Twitter to create a platform for potential buyers. This paper reviews a business plan for the opening of a bakery known as Annex House in Cardiff, Welsh. A business strategy is the pivotal point of the corporate practices and competitive strategies in the operational management (DAVIS, 2011)) The operations manager in the bakery has used this to strike out a market position, conduct operations, appeal towards customers, enter and achieve organizational objective in the market as a whole. Thus, whether a company wins or loses in the marketplace, it is directly attributable to the calibres of a company’s strategy and the proficiency with which the strategy is implemented and executed. Annex House is a vision of a small entrepreneurial start-up bakery situated in Roath Cardiff in Wales. The business is pictured to make sure there

Leader ship Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Leader ship - Assignment Example Leadership is the backbone of the organization. Leaders of an organization are given the mandate of seeing into it that all the organizational operations run smoothly to ensure organizational success. Barnard (1938) defines leadership as the capability of the superior to influence the behaviour of subordinates and convince them to follow a particular strategy. Leaders should inspire confidence to their followers. Various theories have been associated with leadership and have been applied to solve difficult management issues arising in organizations. Individuals in leadership positions must posses’ vast knowledge of social behaviour of individuals or teams within the organization (Robins & Judge, 2010, p. 597). Leaders are innovators and change facilitators. Leaders are concerned with the planning, organizing, staffing, directing, coordinating, reporting and budgeting. Leadership Theories/Concepts There are several leadership theories that have been proposed. They include great man theory, trait theory, behavioural theories such as the managerial grid, theory x and y, contingency theory and many others. The various leadership styles include; participative leadership, transformational leadership, situational leadership and many others. Some leaders think more about their employees than themselves. Others are more committed to their work and have excellent communication skills. For every organization to be successful the leader should show commitment to his work, communicate effectively and motivate employees to perform their tasks (Hassan & Shaw, 2012). The trait theory assumes that individuals have natural traits that help them become leaders. They believe that these merits are inheritable. These traits include intelligence, conduct, sociability, commitment, devotion, determination and perseverance and other inherit abilities (Gorman, 2004). Situational theory argues that leaders arise from different situation in individuals’ face in life. The lead ers are expected to adjust and adapt to new circumstances to be able to deal with the new situation. The path goal theory deals employees motivations so as to enable them achieve the set goals and objectives (Gorman, 2004, p.82). According to this theory leaders have the ability to improve employees’ motivation by clarifying the goals and providing the resources necessary to ensure improved employee performance and achievement of the desired goals. The contingency theories are an expansion of the situational theories. They are based on categorizing various components which can be used to foretell of the best and effective management technique to be applied in a given situation (Hassan, 2009). The Fiedler contingency model proposes that for effective group performance the leaders’ approach must match with the situation, which gives leaders some control. Fiedler tried to establish whether a person is task-oriented or rapport oriented using the LPC scores. He further iden tified three dimensions, which could be used to determine effective leadership (Robins, & Judge, 2010, p. 522). These include leader-member relations, which involves individuals levels of confidence, trust and respect individuals had in their leaders, task structure, which involves the structured and the unstructured degree of job assignments position power which measures the degree of influence a leader has in relation to

Project Management - Teams, Leadership, & Negotiation [sap5] Essay

Project Management - Teams, Leadership, & Negotiation [sap5] - Essay Example Project teams develop plans required for scheduling activities, estimating costs and making decisions on resources of work to be accomplished. Project teams revise plans of every project phase in its life cycle. These constitute people and other resources needed in executing various plans. It provides services, products and the results of the project. For instance, implementing processes take into account development of project teams, managing and directing project team, carrying out quality assurance, selecting sellers and distributing information. Project progress is measured and monitored so that project teams meet the desired objectives. The staff and project manager determines progress against plans through taking corrective action. This phase includes performance reporting, where stakeholders identify significant changes keeping the project on track. The project is formally accepted and administrative activities such as project files archiving, contracts closure, documenting of lessons learned and receipt of formal acceptance of work delivered and

Block Buster Entertainment Case Study

Block Buster Entertainment Case Study Blockbuster is one of the world leading companies that provide video, DVD rental and games. It has grown more than 8500 stores franchised worldwide that bring Blockbuster as one of gigantic in rentable home entertainment. It also has more than 40,000 titles that can be choosing by consumers every day. In the year 2000, Blockbuster begins to explore the Pay-Per-View market and well establish in the 2001 [Cases in Crafting and Executing Strategy]. Leading market position- Blockbuster is the worlds largest video rent chain, with about 9,000 company-owned or franchised stores in 25 countries including US. In the United States and its territories Blockbuster has 5,194 stores operating under its name. Of the 5,194 stores, 939 were operated through its franchisees. One of the largest competitors of Blockbuster, the Movie Gallery, owns and operates approximately 4,575 stores in the US and Canada, which is less than what Blockbuster, owns only in the United States. Blockbuster has 2.2 million online subscribers, including 2.0 million paying subscribers in the fiscal year of 2006. The strong market presence enhances the brand name image of the company and helps in attracting new consumers and as a result increasing the market share. Strong merchandise sales division- Blockbuster has the strongest merchandise sales division. Beside the rental business Blockbuster is strong on the merchandise sales, which include sale of movies and games. In addition to sales of new movies and games blockbuster has positioned some small merchandise like popcorn candy etc. next to the check out counter so people waiting on line are more likely to purchase those merchandise. Total access program.- Blockbuster has generated an online subscription program that allows consumers to have easy access to their preference of movies. This is an Internet based subscription that allows customer to rent a DVD by mail and offers more varieties of titles than the store offers. Through the Total access program, Blockbuster enhanced and integrated its in-store and online rental business. Blockbuster continues to focus on offering programs that are an alternative to the programs offered by mass merchant retailers and other online subscription service providers. Strong brand equity-Blockbuster has 3,166 stores operating under the Blockbuster brand name internationally because of its strong local brand awareness (Finance.yahoo.com). The company operates under XTRA-Vision brand name in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Also they offer free-standing under the Game Rush brand name in Canada, Ital, Mexico and Denmark. The companys strong brand name gives it an advantage of successfully introducing newer services and increasing its market share. Blockbuster, has about 40% share of domestic rental market and a globally recognized brand, is the leading provider of rentable DVDs (Full report). Let us take a closer look at each components of marketing mix and various strategies that Blockbuster is currently using to achieve its vision. Product Blockbuster is known for its movie renting and also now has video games and products available. Blockbuster also has option for buying DVDs as well as video games. It is also trying to get extended movie rights for International and making deals to have high volume of movies available at any given time. Price- Blockbuster had different services offered for various prices. The price for in-store movie rental is about $4.32 for new and old movies for x amount of days. The online movie services are as follows The company uses different approaches to acquire new and retain existing customers. In response to Netflixs online rental program, Blockbuster deployed its own version of online rental program. Moreover, the company went one-step further by offering the exchange of the online movies against more at the local stores. Customers find it convenient and a quick method to swap, and Blockbuster acquires the much needed flow of customers in and out of the stores. Recently, the company also went through two different types of store remodeling tests. One of them is called Rock the Block, which is for the technology-savvy customers who are comfortable using kiosks and interactive displays. The other one is called White Tornado, which also includes new paint, carpet, fixtures, and lower-hanging shelves for a different look and appeal. The prototype test stores results reflected an increase of 7% to 12% in revenues (Gruenwedel). Another aspect of this business is high price-elasticity. Consumers can easily switch to another product (from a different source) without losing quality or some other attribute. They also have a choice of acquiring the same product from redbox for one-fourth the price. To overcome these challenges, the company employs different methods to add value for the economic profit. These include rewards programs and online marketing with coupons, and are created based on the psychology of consumer behavior. For example, the rewards program offers one free movie after every five rentals, and one free older movie with every paid rental on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (when the traffic tends to be slow). Finally, all employees are trained and expected to offer best possible customer service to the customers; this is critical in retaining the existing customers and earning new ones through word of mouth. Blockbuster is very active in building community relations. The companys community mission states: At Blockbuster, our community relations activities are designed to: Utilize corporate and employee resources and talents to benefit the communities we serve by supporting organizations which impact children/families, reflect a film/video focus or fulfill specific company operating objectives related to diversity and employment (Blockbuster Community, 2008). Similarly, the organization is committed to providing diversity through each phase of the business. The size of the organization and market share are also important social trends for both the company and the stockholders/shareholders. Although the value of Blockbuster decreased over the years, the value of a stock depends entirely on the economic profits that investors expect a company to produce in the future. Past profits matter only because they play a role in creating expectations about future performance (Boyes, 2004, 51). The financial results of the company reflect profits for the four consecutive quarters, after years of reported losses; therefore, the value of stocks is expected to increase. Perhaps the most important political trend for a company is to get involved in a merger or acquisition. Blockbuster had attempted to acquire Hollywood in 2005, but Hollywood entered into the merger agreement with Movie Gallery (Fran Finnegan Company, 2008). In April 2008, Blockbuster proposed a merger with Circuit City (Blockbuster merger, 2008). Facing legal actions in the business would be another aspect of political trends. Blockbuster has faced numerous lawsuits in the past including being sued over no late fees in 2005 by consumers, and over using the online rental model by Netflix in 2006. The legal department (of the company) works diligently to handle these and similar legal and political issues as they arise. In the online DVD rental channel, Blockbusters competitor Netflix has forced it to pursue a cross-channel strategy. Blockbuster has been able to successfully leverage its physical storefront presence with its Total Access program which allows customers to have DVDs sent to their house and exchange them at the actual store (Blockbuster.com). This synergy has allowed Blockbuster to actually earn a twenty cent profit in the first quarter. (Motley Fools Website Blockbuster Eats Brains) The current in-store strategy and requirement is to focus more on the retail items, and push the sale of impulse purchase products. There are rumors that the company would be pulling away from the rental, and would only be offering the new retail movies and games. This would certainly be an interesting change, and Blockbuster stores would become more like Game Rush stores.