Lars and the Real Girls Essay

In the film Lars and the real girl by Craig Gillespie, an important character developed is Lars. Lars lives in a tight knit community based in a small American town. Lars has a fear of human contact which results in him suffering form a delusional disorder where he falls I love with, Bianca, a life sized ‘real’ doll. Through his relationship with Bianca he is provided with unconditional love and lack of criticism he desires. This inurn helps him gain confidence he requires to engage in his community and begin to relate to those around him. Gillespie shows the development Lars undergoes through the techniques setting, costume and dialogue. In the opening-establishing scene we are introduced to images of barren landscapes, harsh white lighting and a thick layer of snow that covers anything vibrant. The ‘cold’, ‘still’ environment provokes a disconsolate mood, which parallels to our first introduction of Lars. We are introduced to Lars through a frosted girded window. The window is symbolic to Lars’s initial mental state, as he appears emotionally frozen. The squares grids on the window enforce a restriction between him and the audience. The dark lighting behind him contrast with the white painted grids on the window, making him look imprisoned this reinforces the literal barriers he puts up from the rest of the community. His facial expression is monotonous which harmonizes with the setting. The barriers put between the audience and Lars is a way Gillespie. Costume is another technique Gillespie uses to establish Lars personality.in the opening scene Lars is introduced wearing excessive layers of winter jumpers, long trousers, and chunky scarfs. This reinforces the visual barriers Lars puts up due to his fear of literal and emotional human contact. The clothing is all natural tones, the absence of color adds to the ominous feeling Gillespie uses minimal dialogue to portray Lars’s character as socially recluse. Limited dialogue helps the viewer to understand Lars is introverted because he is afraid to socially interact with other people. The lack of dialogue also helps us appreciate the dialogue he does say, â€Å"I thought the snow was over. Knowing that it has been carefully selected by the director to contribute or develop and important idea. Often Lars character substitutes words by awkwardly squinting his eyes shut. This happens when Lars is uncomfortable in the social situation. The audience is manipulated to feel sympathetic towards him. Its important that this sympathetic connection is made early on, so the audience is engaged in his development. Upon the arrival of Bianca, we see a false thaw in the weather. As Lars introduce Bianca to Karin (Lars’s sister in law) and Gus(Lars’s brother) the false thaw signifies Lars begging to open himself up to Karin and Gus through the arrival of Bianca. The deceptive thaw, a few patches grass and a glimmer of sunlight, symbolizes Lars emotional retrieval. Through the unconditional love and lack of criticism he desires Bianca provides him, Lars begins to interact with the community having Bianca close by as a protective armor. However it is only false thaw, as Bianca is only plastic and will never be able to provide him with true fulfillment. However the way the community plays along with Bianca gives lars the chance to find his own identity in his own time and in his own way. As an audience we see the immense healing power a community can have if the come together to support an individual. Costume further shows Lars development, as Lars shows love interest for Margo (Lars colleague). This shows a huge transition in his character as it shows he has gained the confidence to obtain a mature healthy relationship with a real person. Costume enhances this conversion, as he isn’t wearing as many layers, showing he is more comfortable around her. By eliminating the armor like clothing, we see he is emotionally ready to let people close to him. Lars is also starting to wear colors, pink in particular, which is the color we associate Margo with because she always dresses in it. This shows the positive influence Margo has on Lars. Wearing warm colors like pink purposely triggers positive connotations to the viewer, which makes his development more obvious and contrasts with the ominous mood at the beginning. Through therapy session Lars confesses finally ready to let Bianca go because he has developed into a mature man who has a place in society and no longer needs Bianca to provide him with a armor like strong front when socially interacting. He realizes his love for Bianca will never be able to provide him with true fulfillment. He announces the death of Bianca to Karin and Gus and the community hold a funeral in respect of Bianca but also to morn the attachment the made with her through Lars. The compassion on love of the community at Bianca’s funeral shows Lars he is not alone, and has the support of those around him. Dialogue Shows us his full development when he says to Margo after the funeral, â€Å"do you want to go for a walk?† this is the first time Lars is initiating human interaction. In the film Lars and the real girl by Craig Gillespie, costume, setting and dialogue help to develop the protagonist Lars. We originally see Lars is introverted, withdrawn and a social recluse, but through the unconditional love and lack of criticism provided by Bianca, a life sized ‘real’ doll, we see him grow into a mature man who has found his place in society. The support the community shows, offers Lars the encouragement needed to develop healthier relationships with real people. Gillespie challenges the audience to accept those around us who may not fit in. He makes it our job to not give up on people, even when they have given up on themselves. As an audience we come to appreciate the healing power that one community can have.

‘I’m ceded †I’ve stopped being Theirs-‘(Emily Dickinson) Essay

The theme of Poem 508 Im ceded Ive stopped being Theirs- is the exploration of the narrators growth from childhood to adulthood, through the development of spiritual consciousness. The reader is immediately made aware that the narrator has undergone a dramatic change. With the use of the word ceded, there is the sense that something has been given away. It is usually territory that is the object of this verb and so its unusual application to a person captures the readers attention. Furthermore, it is punctuated by Dickinsons familiar dash which isolates and emphasises it as if it were followed by an exclamation mark. This expression appears to be an exclamation of relief to be freed from the obligations of the expectations of her parents and this interpretation is supported by her statement -Ive stopped being Theirs-. This is a strong, almost defiant statement, which seems to be a declaration of liberation and individual existence and identity. The forced caesura created by the use of dashes on either side of the statement indicates a rupture. The use of ceded makes it sound as if it is not a person who is being discussed and the sense of the impersonal is further developed in the way that Dickinson refers to The name. The narrator is not taking ownership of the name and emphasises this with is finished using now, implying it was temporarily borrowed. Similarly, the narrator does not take ownership of the spirituality of the Baptism They dropped upon my face. The narrator does not regard it as holy, thereby rejecting the sense of divinity. The narrators childhood is finished And They can put it with my Dolls,. In this phase of life she has no use for the toys. Equally she has no use for The name. It is noticeable that name is not capitalised illustrating its lack of importance for the narrator. In this first stanza, there is also the rejection of and moving on from the string of spools, and threading which are typically womanly pursuits. The narrator used to obediently follow such activities but she daringly declares her rejection of traditional, female roles. The dashes on either side of too give this declaration an anxious, breathless quality, further indicating the narrators audacity. In the second stanza, the reader is alerted to the narrators development and growth; it transcends beyond the physical development of the child to adult,  to the spiritual development culminating into her entering into a covenant with God. The narrator is aware that to have been Baptized, before, without the choice does not have significance. The Baptism before is the imposition of her parents beliefs and values. By rejecting their religious beliefs, the narrator is also rejecting their name and the imposition of feminine activities, thus asserting herself as a strong, adult woman who is free to make her own choices. As in Poem 324 Some keep the Sabbath going to Church-, Dickinson emphasises the importance of choice; in Poem 508, the narrator objects to her parents values and beliefs, together with the religious expression of the community. Similarly, in Poem 324, the narrator rejects the way in which the majority of people choose to observe the Sabbath, preferring to keep it, staying at Home-. The Poem ends with the narrator stating So instead of getting to Heaven, at last -/ Im going, all along. This seems to pre-empt the ending of Poem 508, in which the narrator concludes I choose, just a Crown-, showing that through the course of both poems, Dickinson grapples with the issue of religious belief and its expression, arriving at the conclusion that she will engage with religion in her own way, indicating that both Dickinson and the narrator have grown by the end of the poems. Paradoxically, in her sonnet Tears Elizabeth Barrett Browning, whose poetry influenced Dickinson, talks about an unconscious refusal to grow. She advocates that the reader look up! †¦ And leave the vision clear for stars, yet she seems to be refusing to do so herself preferring to keep hold of her grief for fear of again losing what she mourn s for. The narrators second Baptism contrasts dramatically with her first, this time, consciously, of Grace-; her spiritual growth is evident. Gods Grace allows the narrator salvation from Original Sin. By choosing freely to participate in a second Baptism, the narrator is embracing a religious and spiritual life and is Called to my Full. It appears that she is undergoing an epiphany. Through this transcendent experience, the narrator is completed, connecting with the spirituality of God. With the use of supremest, Dickinson is able to convey both God as the Supreme Being and the supreme name bestowed upon the narrator by Gods Grace. By referring to her small Diadem filling up Existences whole Arc, the narrator suggests that her  soul has expanded, thus demonstrating her spiritual growth. In the third and final stanza, Dickinson contrasts the life of her narrator pre-epiphany, with that post-epiphany. My second Rank too small the first- Dickinson makes the reader aware of the enormous impact that the epiphany has had on the narrator. In the previous stanza, Dickinson described how the narrator filled up, and now she allows the reader to see how it has influenced her life, through the direct comparison between the size of her existence before the epiphany and the size of it afterwards. With her words, she creates a picture of the repression of her childhood, symbolising this with the half unconscious Queen- on her Fathers breast. In holding the narrator to him, her father is simultaneously protecting her and repressing her. Dickinsons earlier denunciation of [Their] values, along with her final declaration of the right to choose illustrates a Romantic desire to be herself. Dickinson clearly believes that her first Baptism lacked significance, due to her unconscious state. This time however, the narrator is said to be Erect; literally she is no longer a baby who is unable to stand, and needs the support of her Fathers breast. Furthermore it is a strong visual image, symbolising her full adult status. The narrator has clearly grown through the course of Poem 508; physically she has grown from a baby to a strong, independent woman, yet more importantly, she has grown spiritually. The narrator has been selected by God to be saved from Original Sin and the magnitude and significance of this cannot be overstated. It is evident from many of her poems that Dickinson despises the way in which the Calvinist community placed a greater importance on religious ceremony than on the meaning behind it. The narrator therefore appears grateful that God has recognised her inner spirituality over the ostentatious actions of others which can lack sincerity. The narrators contemplation throughout the poem results in her coming to a conclusion at the end. This is reflected by the rhyme scheme of the poem; whilst the first and second stanzas lack an apparent rhyming sequence, Dickinson employs rhyme and off-rhyme in the third stanza, demonstrating a subtle movement towards a more harmonious existence, thus ending with the optimistic sense of growth. Bibliography McNeil, Helen ed., Emily Dickinson: Everymans Poetry, Orion Publishing Group, 1997http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvinismhttp://www.quotesandpoem.com/poems/poeticworks/Browning/Poems_of_1844/11

Cell phones how have they changed us socially Essay Example for Free (#3)

Cell phones how have they changed us socially Essay Some people might find it hard to believe that there was once a time when cell phones weren’t around. Having to recall a time when letters were used to get messages back and forth from one person to another. Then slowly we added the addition of phones. In the beginning phones were just a way to contact people if they happend to be home when called. Then we invented cell phones. With them we can make and receive calls in almost any location and we can send text messages . Cell phone use has increased in the past years because is really easy and economic to have one. Year into year cell phones become better and better. Today , except making and receiveing calls and also texting messages, we can do a lot of interesting things with them. For example we can listen to music, record voice notes, make video clips, play games, take pictures, access the internet and many other things. But there is also a bad side of cell phones. They affected the way we socialize these days; if you notice people are starting to text their friends and family instead if actually speaking verbally. Many adolescents and also older generations spend more time sending text messages or chatting on Facebook than speaking You go out to dinner and look around and see people out with family but there is no conversations going on at the table mostly just huh†¦ yeah†¦ mmhm.., because they are busy texting someone not there on their phones. I feel human communicant is slowly disappearing among friends and family. You even see parent’s texting their kids when in the same house to discuss something with them. Our communication between each other is depending on a little electronic device. People use cell phones in public places, and during church. I have even seen ten-year olds walking across the street texting their friends instead of paying attention to the cars. Cell phones how have they changed us socially. (2016, Apr 19).

Marketing Process Model by Robert J. Dolan Term Paper

Marketing Process Model by Robert J. Dolan - Term Paper Example In the context of the organisations overall business practices, 75% of total products and services are exported in more than 100 nations through its 33 international offices (EADS, n.d.). The inclusion of Airbus within its business is one of the major beneficial factors for EADS in its global aircraft manufacturing process. EADS is further recognised as the major European industrial flagship which combines the major capabilities of four main market leaders of the global aircraft industry such as Airbus, Cassidian, Astrium as well as Eurocopter [1] (EADS, 2013). From the perspective of identifying the major customer base, it can be stated that the governments as well as the private sectors across the globe which incorporate aircraft facilities for military as well as commercial purposes are its key customers. The government of the UK is one of the major customer segments for EADS in terms of acquiring aircraft services in the nation for different purposes including both in the militar y as well as in the commercial service sectors. Moreover, it has been also observed that the overseas countries such as North America, Australia, India, Russia, China, Brazil as well as Middle East Countries, apart from the UK are also the major markets for EADS to deliver its range of innovative commercial as well as military aircrafts [2] (EADS, 2013).Airbus SAS is one of the major subsidiary companies of EADS which offers several kinds of jet-liner products, including military communication aircrafts, commercial airline aircrafts.... t manufacturing as well as aerospace commercial service industry with regard to various competitive marketing tools such as Marketing Situation Analysis, STP model as well as marketing mix. 2. Major Customers around the World In relation to the business performance of the organisation, it can be witnessed that the European roots of EADS is quite stronger. However, the aerospace and defence industry based operations of EADS is one of the major considerations for the organisation which entails a range of products and services both for the European and the global markets as well. In the context of the organisations overall business practices, 75% of total products and services are exported in more than 100 nations through its 33 international offices (EADS, n.d.). The inclusion of Airbus within its business is one of the major beneficial factors for EADS in its global aircraft manufacturing process. EADS is further recognised as the major European industrial flagship which combines the major capabilities of four main market leaders of the global aircraft industry such as Airbus, Cassidian, Astrium as well as Eurocopter [1] (EADS, 2013). From the perspective of identifying the major customer base, it can be stated that the governments as well as the private sectors across the globe which incorporate aircraft facilities for military as well as commercial purposes are its key customers. The government of the UK is one of the major customer segments for EADS in terms of acquiring aircraft services in the nation for different purposes including both in the military as well as in the commercial service sectors. Moreover, it has been also observed that the overseas countries such as North America, Australia, India, Russia, China, Brazil as well as Middle East Countries, apart

Report on article Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Report on article - Case Study Example There are four basic management styles described in the management literature: Each of these styles has certain advantages and drawbacks, and there is no way to objectively compare their effectiveness: in some organizations directive democrats may be more successful than permissive democrats, in other organizations directive or permissive autocrats may exhibit high effectiveness, and visa versa. Effectiveness of the management style directly depends on the type of organization and nature of work performed. The style of permissive democrats seems to be the best solution for the Department of Justice filled with highly skilled professionals. The involvement in planning and decision making provides them with the sense of belongingness to work and they demonstrate more commitment in performing their duties. However, the style of permissive democrats has one essential limitation: active involvement of the subordinates in the process of decision making, coupled with lack of strict control often produces a deceptive impression that the manager adopts a laissez-faire attitude and simply does not perform his direct functions, namely controlling (Muczyk, 2004). Probably this confusion can be held responsible (at least partially) for the failure of Eileen to keep obey the rules. However, the fact that 8 other members of the team did not have similar problems with discipline suggests that Eileen's case is unique in this organizational setting. Therefore, as a new manager for strategic planning and design within the department of justice, my first step will be to closely analyze the system of relationships established and maintained by my predecessors within the team. The analysis will largely focus on defining the style of management keeping in mind that highly experienced, skilled and responsible employees do not require excessive supervision and control, unless in emergency cases. The next step will be to work individually with Eileen and her colleagues in order to find out the reasons for her misconduct. A series of individual interviews is likely to provide rich and very useful information necessary to find out whether Eileen is a victim of some subjective prejudice or stereotype or she does have some personal problems which prevent her from becoming a full member of the team. Probably, there is a person within the team that maintains negative view of Eileen and successfully promotes this view among other members of the team. At this point the manager should keep in mind that his position does not automatically make him a leader - the most influential persons within the team. The so-called 'workers of influence' theory is particularly important to understand the distinction between managers and leaders. The key

Cause and Effect Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Cause and Effect - Essay Example Competition in the automobile industry has increased significantly in recent years. As a result customers are demanding high quality products at lower prices, and this is one of the main causes of outsourcing manufacturing of materials to foreign countries. Many automobile manufacturers are producing their materials in Third World countries in hopes of cheap labor and, therefore, the company will have to respond to the industry trend (Duhigg & Bradsher, 2012). Competitors in the automobile industry are desperately trying to increase their market share at any cost. In such a competitive environment, it is not possible for our company not to outsource manufacturing to foreign manufacturers. Another important cause of taking the outsourcing decision is the inefficiencies in local production. The cost of production in the developed world is increasingly rapidly and, therefore, it is not possible for companies to achieve high level of efficiency. Local employees have to be provided with employee benefits and a range of other facilities. Local employees can also not work for longer shifts continuously. It has also become difficult to increase productivity in a short span of time without sacrificing money while working with local workforce. This is why local production has become inefficient and this is one of the most important causes of outsourcing to foreign manufacturers. Production is also not very flexible locally which is why it takes a lot of time to respond to market changes (Duhigg & Bradsher, 2012). Specialized manufacturing companies can do this in a lot less time than local companies. Changing production outcomes and redesigning the process is a time consuming process and, therefore, it reduces the flexibility of our company. In today’s competitive business environment, it is essential that firms respond to market changes and customer demand in a very short

JetBlue Using Porters Five Forces Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

JetBlue Using Porters Five Forces - Case Study Example As the paper highlights, unlike other industries, the airline industry is characterized by high start-up and high running costs, which acts as a barrier to entry. So much is the costs that airlines that make it in the industry either must have been started a bit earlier in order to make it up the competitor ladder in a gradual manner. In addition, so much is the cost that small airlines must be affiliated with large airlines in order to make it in the industry. In order to confirm that the threat of new entrants is minimal, a look at JetBlue shows that success within the industry was not obtained overnight. Instead, the company has gradually moved towards success. The case study also shows that some attempts by some airlines to make it in the same market with Jetblue were not simple. For example, US Airways was one of the five US Airlines that filed bankruptcy in 2006 owing to the drop in revenues and increased costs. The company does not have many suppliers. Only two of them are ide ntifiable. Essentially, this means that the supplier’s bargaining power is high as the company does not have many suppliers to choose from. Apart from airline suppliers, other suppliers include fuel suppliers and the current price of fuel in the industry is high. This again makes the bargaining power of suppliers to be high. Since the airline has prescheduled flights, fuel supply is quite important as it cannot afford to miss any airline. This still confirms that the suppliers’ bargaining power is high and any of their actions can lead to serious consequences on the industry’s part such as low efficiency, which is highly related to fuel supply and cost. Customers within the airline have several airline options to choose from.

Team SuccessTeam Building Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Team SuccessTeam Building - Essay Example The Colts's leadership has stressed that the players are role models for youth and for the community. They participate in events to benefit children such as 'Coats for Kids' and toy drives during the holidays ("Coats" 2007). This aspect of leadership brings the team together in a common bond that transcends being simply teammates. Along with the players' role as leaders, Coach Tony Dungy uniquely makes his demands on the field. He does not scream, swear, or throw things to show his disappointment. He is quietly demanding and his demand is for excellence. These two aspects of the team are seen on the field in what Weaver (2004) calls, "...loyalty, charity and diligence". The team's strong Christian ethics have also contributed to their winning. They are humble in their success. This is illustrated in their holding back on premature celebrations, taunting, or personal fouls. The pragmatic result is fewer penalties. Along with this character comes the trait of humility. This may be the Colt's biggest intangible asset. When they win, they win as a team. And when they lose, they all lose. Peyton Manning has never taken the credit for a win. When they lose, he takes his blame and responsibility for it. All the players share in this attitude. There are no stars, only a team. This makes winning not only the most important thing, but also the only thing. The

Choose at least 4 classic political theorists to discuss in depth. Are Essay

Choose at least 4 classic political theorists to discuss in depth. Are their theories still influential today - Essay Example Aristotle’s views on politics were based upon the politician as the main player in a political system. In this sense, the biggest role for the politician is the creation and putting in place of laws. The laws collectively make up the constitution that governs the people of any given state. The constitution contains the laws, institutions, and customs of the people and shall determine the courses of action that shall be taken in the cases of conflict. The politician’s role after the constitution is in place is to maintain it, introduce reforms when necessary, and to prevent any developments meant to subvert the political system in general. Aristotle calls this the province of legislative science and holds it in higher regard than politics as it is exercised in the normal sense with the passing of mere decrees. Aristotle’s political theory is very influential and still has influence on today’s political landscape. It is evident that today’s politician s craft laws besides defending the course of the constitution. Any efforts that may subvert the political system in place are usually dealt with by the politician through bills and debates which involve voting just as Aristotle theorized. Plato was Aristotles teacher and their political theories are similar in many ways. His major political work was â€Å"The Republic† and it contained his ideas on an effective and efficient political system. His political system was majorly concerned with justice and defined every state in terms of its levels of justice. An efficient Platonian political system comprised of a merchant class that dealt with the economic structure, a military class that handled security and a political structure in the hands of philosopher-kings. People’s classes should be determined by the educational process in place and available to the specific individual. Those who would have completed the educational process in whole would become philosopher kings and they

Pope Benedict XVI and Enviromental Concerns Term Paper

Pope Benedict XVI and Enviromental Concerns - Term Paper Example of mankind. Admittedly, the only irony is that still, the leader thinks only about the welfare of the mankind; not about the wellbeing of other species. The spiritual leader thinks that the methods of development adopted by the nations are erroneous and are the reasons behind the present day environmental crises. So, it is claimed by the Pope that there is the need to have a long term review of our ‘models of development’. The situation is warranted due to a number of reasons. Firstly, ‘the ecological health of the planet’ is declining, and secondly, there is severe cultural and moral crisis everywhere in the world2. Another important aspect of the environmental view held by Pope Benedict XVI is the realization of the need to unite irrespective of region and religion. In other words, Pope is calling for the unity of all people, all nations, and all cultures to bring about effective changes in the way we deal with environment. Thus, the spiritual leader claim s that only ‘solidarity’ with new rules and forms of engagement can bring about the desired results. Moral decline is linked to environment Being the spiritual leader, Pope considers the present day crisis as the result of moral crises. In other words, the leader claims that all the issues faced by the present-day world are interconnected. To illustrate, the economic, food-related, environmental, and social issues are all the result of moral crises. That means it is high time for the people to adopt a life of ‘sobriety and solidarity’, to adopt such strategies that are useful and to reject the ones that do not work. According to the pope, the present environmental issues arose because humans understood the meaning of god’s command and exploit God’s creation as he wanted to enjoy absolute command over other things in the world. In order to correct this misunderstanding, the pope interpret God’s original command as seen in Genesis, and sa ys that the command does not mean a ‘conferral of authority’. Instead, the pope points out that the command meant a ‘summons to responsibility’. In order to support this position, Pope gives the example of the wisdom of ancients which had recognized the fact that nature is not a ‘heap of scattered refusal which is at our disposal’. Thus, the point the pope wants to put forward is that as Genesis puts it, nature is a gift given by God to man, and he is allowed to ‘till it and keep it’3. Thus, the entire nature belongs to God, and it has its own inbuilt nature. So, the duty of man is to become co-worker of God, not to become tyrants who provoke rebellion in nature. However, as the speech progresses, one can see pope criticizing the unequal distribution of wealth and resources among nations and peoples. Quoting the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, it is pointed out that ‘God has destined the earth and everything it contains fo r all peoples and nations’4. That means the fruits of the creation are not the property of a few people or nations, but all

The death penalty Essay Example for Free

The death penalty Essay During act1 the play starts were a group of people in Salem go dancing in the woods with a slave woman called Tituba, Reverrand Parris sees this but is spotted doing so, the girls run away.  The next day reverrand Parris is beside Betty who is ill, the doctor suspects the girl has been taken over by supernatural forces. Parris questions Abigail, who was with her, he asks her about witchcraft and Tituba, he then sends for reverrand Hale, an authority on witchcraft. Mr Mrs Putnam see how Betty is and says that she sent her daughter Ruth to raise spirits of her dead babies to see who murdered them so that is another reason for the happenings in the woods that night. Later the girls who were dancing in the woods joined Betty beside her bedside, theyre all woried that they may be tried for witchraft. Abigail has them on their own, she slaps Betty to try to sustain her, she also worns the other girls not to breath a word of when she drank blood in the woods, she uses scare tactics. Abigail and Proctor starts talking about their affair and their affections for each other, while Betty is next to them in bed hearing every word they say, Betty then screams to stop them. Parris, Rebbecca, and Giles come to see whats happened with Betty, Rebbecca manages to restrain her. Parris wants to have a witch hunt, but proctor doesnt believe in witches, they start to argue. The Putnams continue to disagree with the rest of the towns people of Salem about land rights, which creates a lot of tension.  Reverrand Hale tries to wake Betty but doesnt succeed, he then turns to Abigail questions her about the witchery, in hesitation shes quick to accuse Tituba. She accuses two others, realises Titubas escape by naming others, she chants the names of the other girls in the villiage that she believes has seen the devil, Hale is pleased shes confessed and tells her to continue talking. Crucible: A melting pot where basic elements are mixed together to give an explosive force.  This is the title of the play, I think this title is very fitting with the contents of the play, it seems to be like when the characters (basic elements) are put together, they produce arguments, action, tension, fear(explosive force).  Arthur Millers background He was born in New York, 17th October 1915, he was brought up in the brooklyn area. His father owned a clothing factor which collapsed, following this lead Arthur Miller to produce the play Death of a salesman and A view from a bridge set in Brooklyn. During his college years he managed to write plays although he had college and other jobs at the same time.  His first success was All my sons which was about a father forced to realise dangerous moral comprimises changing the American dream of wealth. His biggest hit was Death of a salesman in 1949 which won the Pulitzer Prize. The crucible won an award in 1953, but wasnt an immediate commercial success, this was the time of Mc Carthyism. Mc Carthyism is an issue in which to consider in the play, with Salem being a very theocratic society. In the arrly 1950s Joseph McCarthy, a senator, managed to create a national campaign against communists, ex-communists and anyone who assoiated with them. He made many unfounded statements about the numbers of secret communists in important positions, as chairman of a senate commitee he interrogated many witnesses and tried to make them inform on friends and colleagues. As the anti-communist hysteria increased many people were hounded from their jobs or were prevented from working. McCarthys unproven accusations and aggresive interrogations gradually brought him into disrepute. Witchcraft is an important scene in which act 1 is dramatic, witchcraft was a serious matter in those days, and even more in a religious community. Witchery led to deaths, fall outs, false accusations, murders, tortures, exectutions, being burnt etc which if used in the play, which it was, it can be used to build extreme dramatic situations which can have a powerful effect on the audience. Witches were thaught to be in league with the devil, who was their master, the devil/satan is believed to roam the world for human souls to tempt into hell. He is a supreme enemy of everything thats good and holy. The Christian churches persued and persicuted supposed witches. A common test for a person accused for being a witch was pricking with a needle. All witches were supposed to have somewhere on their bodies, a mark made by the devil himself which was insensitive to pain. Any who were found guilty suffered the death penalty. Whichcraft trials in Salem were common, I think Arthur Miller used it in his play to worry the audience into thinking death was appartant and inevitable, when witchery was present. Whenever death is present in a play, the dramatic tension is bound to rise because death is a most serious matter to anyone. If ever witchery or satanic happenings occured in Salem, it would most probably be taken to court until someone was proven guilty and hanged, maybe Arthur Miller knew this and thaught that the audience would know it too? therefore rising the dramatic tension in the play.

Beauty Pageants May Not Be Safe Essay Example for Free

Beauty Pageants May Not Be Safe Essay While pageants are said to present a sense of self-esteem and value for the participants, these competitions often cause damaging emotional issues for an already trying adolescent life. One young participant anonymously said, I used to think I was pretty, but once I got on stage and didnt hear my name called the world came to an end and from then on, Ive called myself ugly everyday (Anonymous, 2010). When a girl feels as if she is being valued solely on her looks, she may change her personality and dietary habits to an unsafe level to continuously garner attention. The beauty pageant process is far from the safe harmonious competition it attempts to promote. As the rest of this essay suggest, damaging emotional scars often remain after the competitions are long gone, and pageants themselves harbor predatory dangers to young naive girls. The first kind of emotional damage young girls face is an overemphasis on physical appearance and a willingness to maintain beauty at any cost. When a female participates in a beauty pageant, she is taught to win by looking attractive. These young girls are conditioned to believe that the only way to look pretty is to starve themselves so that they can achieve a ‘perfect figure’. Although there are many different types of eating disorders in the world, the biggest one of all for beauty pageants is anorexia. Anorexia is the third most common chronic illness among adolescents (Mirasol). Outside of eating disorders, anxiety and stress are common for participants. In a 2009 interview on Good Morning America, Brooke Breedwell, a pageant queen at the age of five, now twenty, explained there was a price to pay, Pageants have put a lot of stress and anxiety on my life I feel the need to be perfect at everything, and I know thats not realistic. You cant be perfect at everything. Brooke Breedwell also claimed her mother â€Å"pushed her too hard. † When a mother enters her daughter in a pageant she expects her to win. Most girls receive the ‘no other girl is your friend here’ speech, which cause them to be untruthful by offering fake smiles and false hugs around other participants. It also creates a distant form of interaction causing the females to be shallow, hyper-competitive adults who are never satisfied. The second kind of emotional damage young girls face is an uncharacteristically elevated ego for a teenage or even pre-teenage girl. When a female wins a pageant, she may conclude that she is better than everyone all of her peers. While some might believe it to be healthy to compete in pageants because it creates confidence and it builds character, it’s not. Pageants teach young girls that self worth is in physical beauty only. Parents encourage their daughters to compete in these competitions and do whatever it takes to win. In some cases, mothers try to live vicariously through their daughter, by entering their daughter in such competitions. This confuses many girls because they don’t know if their mother is their coach or their parent. With young girls participating in televised beauty it is hard to keep pedophiles away. Some pedophiles are driven out to live their fantasies and with young girls on air exploiting themselves it’s easy too. When girls participate they put on clothing that is meant to look ‘sexy’ and ‘inviting’. Girls prance along a stage in alluring clothing welcoming anyone to watch. Girls in pageants have yet to develop their own sense of self and are conditioned to be more pleasing to adults for attention and rewards. An entire television show is dedicated to young girl’s beauty pageants. Each week, viewers are able to watch little girls dress up in bikinis, mini dresses, and other revealing clothing that their mothers choose for them to wear. In conclusion, beauty pageants cause self-hatred and uncertainty of a female’s own body, which could create shallow adults who are never satisfied. Carleton Kendrick, a family therapist says, â€Å"†¦the hard fact remains they are called beauty pageants and they have been and always will be based on using arbitrary standards of ‘beauty’ to make one contestant better than all the rest† (Kendrick). Beauty pageants can cause eating disorders and unrealistic expectations of a female’s own body. Beauty pageants can also cause a female to self-hate if she doesn’t win, or enlarge an ego to an unhealthy level. Unfortunately, if a child participates in beauty pageants that may air on television, anyone can watch including pedophiles. Females should love their own bodies and not care how others judge them upon their appearance.

Global Trends in Economic Justice

Global Trends in Economic Justice Introduction Throughout this course, I continually questioned my understanding of economic justice. With all that is changing throughout our world, the spectrum of economic justice will continually evolve, as interests, laws, human interactions, and politics change. It was especially interesting to see that the majority of the country falls in the top one percent of global wages, making and annual personal income of thirty four thousand. Which brings me to the issue of poverty, and how the global economy operates in a fundamentally unfair manner. Although our economy itself is improving and our nation is becoming stronger, this doesn’t mean much when a significant percentage of the population is struggling to survive. We have discussed the theories and concepts of what is fair through three different views: Libertarian Capitalism, Socialism and Welfare State. I will discuss my interpretation and personal reflections on economic justice in the world, and what I determine, based off of our class discussions and readings, to be fair and just. My Personal Reflection When discussions of poverty consumed the class, I decided to examine the way the world focuses on what needs to be changed to better the economy and end poverty, mostly within the media, versus what is actually being done about this situation. There have been a lot of positive changes made throughout the world, first with Social Security after the Great Depression, to the now popular food stamps, unemployment insurance, workers compensation, earned income tax credits, and on and on. But there are not enough jobs available to most Americans that pay above the minimum wage. There is also not enough investment in education or skill development trainings. Although the minimum wage was never intended to support an entire family, due to the lack of education and skills, a large percentage of Americans are only able to work where the pay is minimum. I feel that basic human rights and freedoms are being compromised by allowing the poverty level to continually increase. I support a welfare state and its ability to help those stricken with poverty, however I feel that there needs to be major changes before the government ends up bankrupt, from the inability to control how much is going out versus what is coming in. Throwing money at the problem has not assisted in lowering poverty or making those who are in poverty, self-sufficient. Instead of making people in poverty more comfortable, we need to create more prosperity, to provide a way for these people to get out of poverty. The more money that the United States spends on means assisting programs, it seems the poverty level increases, and according to president Barak Obama this budget for these programs will only increase over time. The best way to increase wealth in this situation is through the power of a free market. Protecting capital investments, giving people opportunities to start new businesses, encourage the failed government school system by encouraging competition and choice, and finally encouraging and educating the poor on how to save and invest. Poverty in the World vs three Approaches to Economic Justice â€Å"Since the beginning of the War on Poverty, government has spent nineteen point eight trillion (in inflation-adjusted 2011 dollars) on means-tested welfare. In comparison, the cost of all military wars in U.S. history from the Revolutionary War through the current war in Afghanistan has been six point nine eight trillion (in inflation-adjusted 2011 dollars). The War on Poverty has cost three times as much as all other wars combined.† (Rector, 2012) So what do we do? How do we make this fair and just? According to Stephen Nathanson, in the book Economic Justice, there are three approaches: Libertarian Capitalism – rewards people for their efforts and contributions, you can work hard and make more contributions but you don’t always earn more than people who work less and contribute less. Supports private ownership, a market system, supply and demand, inheritance, and charity. Socialism – believes an equal distribution would prevent despair, everyone has a share by virtue of their humanity, â€Å"from each according to his ability, from each according to his need.† (Nathanson, 1997) Supports public ownership, a planned economy, with a centralized publicly controlled system, and allocation based on need or the egalitarian principle. Welfare State – Allows people to get ahead by virtue of their efforts and contributions, while not judging them based on their success in the market, but that they have a legitimate claim to some resources. Supports primarily private ownership, a market system with some government intervention, and allocation based on some share of resources, market values and gifts. Libertarian Capitalism on Poverty â€Å"Despite the fact that states have long been globalized in terms of their economic relations, it is only in recent years that scholars have begun to pursue the problem of distributive or economic justice on the wider stage provided by world politics.† (Kapstein, 2006) The past 25 years have witnessed the greatest reduction in global poverty in the history of the world. â€Å"The credit goes to the spread of capitalism.† â€Å"Over the past few decades, developing countries have embraced economic-policy reforms that have cleared the way for private enterprise.† (Irwin, 2014) Even philosopher Adam Smith described the economy as a â€Å"commercial society.† Capitalism tends to cause some issues with regards to the poverty level because it encourages companies to shut down their factories and invest their money elsewhere, leaving people without a job. It basically is all about accumulation of wealth. Charles Murray suggests that people are in poverty beca use something in them is missing, and he believes that liquidating the welfare and government programs would leave those in poverty using these â€Å"crutches,† only the resources of the job market, friends, family, or private or locally funded services, encouraging use their merit and earn. Socialism on Poverty Individualism is promoted and views on capitalism from a socialist point of view is that of tyranny. They also tend to demand what the rich save and encourage wealth distribution through social entitlement programs, and because fair is never defined it cannot be measured. This view also likes to focus on production for need, not profit. They approve of increased and expanded government welfare assistance, as well as free quality education in a safe and secure environment. â€Å"Socialism will establish a new social and economic order in which workers and community members will take responsibility for and control of their interpersonal relationships, their neighborhoods, their local government, and the production and distribution of all goods and services.† (Socialist Party USA: 2013-2015 National Platform , 2014) Socialist believe that poverty is caused by the natural workings of a capitalist marketplace that has always excluded a significant part of the population from decent jobs and, thus, from the ability to purchase on the private market goods necessary for a decent life for themselves and their children. Welfare State on Poverty It is a theory that affords for the total security of its residents and is similar to socialism. It provides entitlement programs and some social insurance to its residents, and provides for persons in need, through an unnumbered amount of programs known as welfare. Welfare incorporates government programs that provide benefits and economic assistance to Americans with little or no income. One of the main goals of welfare in the United States, is to improve the quality of living standards and life, for the underprivileged. Welfare help is usually extended to people other than just the poor and underprivileged and includes students, unpaid workers, caregivers, mothers and the elderly. One of the foundations of this country is personal liberty, and dependency on a government agency for financial assistance can detract from this feeling, and way of life and move into more of a welfare state condition. Below is a 1940’s cartoon of William Beverage the founder of the Welfare State waiving a wand over big giant â€Å"wants.† People got used to living the easy life with all the benefits and they became dependent. Social policy has come to be driven by the very policies that the welfare state was supposed to replace. Poverty in the welfare state, even with all the additional benefits provided, to those with lower or no income, is still increasingly high. One reason is because there are some things that the welfare state cannot control, for example: Being disadvantaged in the labor market Can’t end inequality Cannot guarantee full employment Cannot provide stable marriages We have to remember that welfare was not created for the poor, it was created to prevent people from becoming poor. Conclusion The many issues and opinions with Capitalism, Socialism and the Welfare State, and the effects of each on poverty are almost one sided. Everywhere you research you will find that each is to its own. So I came to the conclusion that what is â€Å"fair† in economic justice with regards to poverty is that the government should continue with the welfare state, fund those in need, and continue to fight discrimination, to the best of its ability. With that said, I don’t believe in our lifetime we will see a major change in the poverty level, as our country continually accumulates debt to protect the underprivileged. So what is â€Å"fair† in this case is just making sure that everyone has an equal chance and opportunity to make a better life for themselves. This includes state and government funded programs that can provide people with the opportunity to better themselves. There needs to be better regulations and a limit to the amount of help one person or family can r eceive, so that each person isn’t just living off the government and increasing taxes for those that work. We as a country, especially with the new Obama Care laws are working to find a suitable solution to decreasing poverty, however, sharing the worlds wealth has never been an easy issue to address and correct. It will take a lot of time and effort, and newer more suitable laws that protect the working class as well as the underprivileged in an equal manner before I believe that there can be a major change in poverty. References Irwin, D. (2014, November 02). The Ultimate Global Antipoverty Program. Retrieved from The Wall Street Journal : http://www.wsj.com/articles/douglas-irwin-the-ultimate-global-antipoverty-program-1414972491 Kapstein, E. (2006). Economic Justice in an Unfair World:Toward a Level Playing Field. New Jersey: Princeton University Press. Nathanson, S. (1997). Economic Justice. Pearson. Rector, R. (2012, May 03). Examining the Means-tested Welfare State: 79 Programs and $927 Billion in Annual Spending. Retrieved from The Heritage Foundation : http://www.heritage.org/research/testimony/2012/05/examining-the-means-tested-welfare-state Socialist Party USA: 2013-2015 National Platform . (2014, December 10). Retrieved from socialistparty-usa.net: http://socialistparty-usa.net/platform.html Yates, M. (2004). Poverty and Inequality in the Global Economy. Monthly Review, 55(9).

EasyJet Essay -- Business and Management Studies

EasyJet EasyJet has become the European leader in a no frills frenzy for low cost, cheap air travel. This market however has since the mid nineties gone from strength to strength and we have witnessed the arrival of a number of low cost airline companies which cater for the no frills approach. In Europe the top two competitors in this market are EasyJet and Ryan Air which serve their customers from London Luton and Dublin respectively. They offer a differentiated product compared with the major traditional airlines and the key to their success has been to offer the lowest cost/fare structure possible and the differentiated â€Å"no frills† product is purely a consequence of the implementation of this rigorous low cost strategy. Background information about the companies is listed below: Comparative Company statistics EasyJet Ryanair Date of commencement 1995 1985 Date of IPO 2000 1997 Passenger Numbers 20.3m 15.7m Number of Staff 3,453 1,897 Aircraft 73 67 Routes served 109 133 Source: http://www.easyJet.com, http://www.Ryanair.com Comparative Key Financial Data EasyJet ( £) Ryanair (Ââ‚ ¬) Share Capital 758,461,000 563,732,000 Earnings per share 8.24pence 31.71cents Operating revenue 931.8m 842.5m Retained profit 32. 4m 239.3m Source: Company Accounts 2004 Both airlines have adopted similar business models and strategies. Key common features of the business model of both companies are: - Point to point se...

Gauguin :: Essays Papers

Gauguin Gauguin was born in Paris on June 7, 1848, into a liberal middle-class family. After an adventurous early life, including a four-year stay in Peru with his family and a stint in the French merchant marine, he became a successful Parisian stockbroker, settling into a comfortable bourgeois existence with his wife and five children. In 1874, after meeting the artist Camille Pissarro and viewing the first Impressionist exhibition, he became a collector and amateur painter. He exhibited with the Impressionists in 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, and 1886. In 1883 he gave up his secure existence to devote himself to painting; his wife and children, without adequate subsistence, were forced to return to her family. From 1886 to 1891 Gauguin lived mainly in rural Brittany (except for a trip to Panama and Martinique from 1887 to 1888), where he was the centre of a small group of experimental painters known as the School of Pont-Aven. Under the influence of the painter Émile Bernard, Gauguin turned away from Impressionism and adopted a less naturalistic style, which he called Synthetism. He found his inspiration in the art of indigenous peoples, in medieval stained glass, and in Japanese prints; he was introduced to Japanese prints by Vincent van Gogh when they spent two months together in Arles, in the South of France, in 1888. Gauguin's new style was characterized by the use of large flat areas of non-naturalistic colour, as in The Yellow Christ (1889, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York State). In 1891, ruined and in debt, Gauguin sailed for the South Seas to escape European civilization and "everything that is artificial and conventional". Except for one visit to France from 1893 to 1895, he remained in the Tropics for the rest of his life, first in Tahiti and later in the Marquesas Islands. The essential characteristics of his style changed little in the South Seas; he retained the qualities of expressive colour, denial of perspective, and thick, flat forms. Under the influence of the tropical setting and culture of Polynesia, however, Gauguin's paintings became more powerful, while his subject-matter became more distinctive, the scale of his paintings larger, and his compositions more simplified. His subjects ranged from scenes of ordinary life, such as Tahitian Women, or On the Beach (1891, Musà ©e d'Orsay, Paris), to brooding scenes of superstitious dread, such as Spirit of the Dead Watching (1892, Albright-Knox Art Gallery).

Capital Punishment Essay -- social issues

Capital Punishment Capital punishment is the lawful infliction of the death penalty, and since ancient times, it has been used to punish a large variety of offenses. The penalty of death is reserved for the most serious and detested crimes. The legal system must sentence the death penalty to capital crime offenders. Criminals convicted of murder or rape need to be executed because they are dangerous to the world and the human race. However, America seems to to always want to put people in prison for life, but how is that fair to the criminals who did not commit such a horrible crime, but still gets the same punishment? The death penalty should be used more often, but is the death penalty the answer to crime? The death penalty is not the perfect answer to crime. Criminals should often be put to death; but this supposes a frequency of crimes, and from hence the punishment will cease to have its effect, so that it must be useful and useless at the same time (Black 74). So in other words, in all states whe re death is used as a punishment, every example supposes a new crime committed. To back these statements, facts show that since the reinstatement of capital punishment there has been over 255 executions with Texas at the top with 84 and Florida with 33 (Bender, Leone 103). Another statistic shows that more murders take place in states that use capital punishment. The common-sense argument that death is the best deterrent of crime rests on the belief that people fear death mo... Capital Punishment Essay -- social issues Capital Punishment Capital punishment is the lawful infliction of the death penalty, and since ancient times, it has been used to punish a large variety of offenses. The penalty of death is reserved for the most serious and detested crimes. The legal system must sentence the death penalty to capital crime offenders. Criminals convicted of murder or rape need to be executed because they are dangerous to the world and the human race. However, America seems to to always want to put people in prison for life, but how is that fair to the criminals who did not commit such a horrible crime, but still gets the same punishment? The death penalty should be used more often, but is the death penalty the answer to crime? The death penalty is not the perfect answer to crime. Criminals should often be put to death; but this supposes a frequency of crimes, and from hence the punishment will cease to have its effect, so that it must be useful and useless at the same time (Black 74). So in other words, in all states whe re death is used as a punishment, every example supposes a new crime committed. To back these statements, facts show that since the reinstatement of capital punishment there has been over 255 executions with Texas at the top with 84 and Florida with 33 (Bender, Leone 103). Another statistic shows that more murders take place in states that use capital punishment. The common-sense argument that death is the best deterrent of crime rests on the belief that people fear death mo...

Factors Which Affect Decision Implementation Essay

Correct decisions, the two previous papers elaborately developed, can be arrived at only if the requisite process of ponderously putting many influencing factors in perspective is observed. Since errors in decision-making can end up being costly both for the company and its stakeholders alike, it has been seen that the use of critical thinking has proven to be essential in guiding decision makers in choosing the best options that will generate best results. But if one were to think that arriving at a logical and well-thought out decision ends the entire process of decision-making, one definitely takes the dangerous path of frustrating the process all together. A correct decision, one may argue, only proves to be beneficial to a company or organization when its implementation would translate the rigors of critical analyses into tangible results. Langdon, if only to mention, argues along the same line of thought. He maintains, â€Å"Decision makers will never leave the point of the decision without thinking about the steps necessary to implement the decision successfully† (Langdon, 2001, p. 15). Ethical Implications and Other Factors Affecting Implementation of Decision The previous discussion was able to zero in on the viable options that may gleaned from the map drawn to help BAE Systems establish greater presence in the island of Kava. It may be wise to be reminded of the decisions that were suggested hitherto: first, the company needs not only to â€Å"sustain its existing accounts, but also to set up new client-accounts done through aggressive advertisement and in-shore sales campaign† so as to ensure that the â€Å"sale of its products is commensurate with its desired expansion rate†; second, it needs to see through the â€Å"creation of an efficient and result-generating human workforce†; and third, it also is imperative that it should â€Å"create a larger warehouse, if not an adjacent processing plant in the island, so as to meet the demands of the market† It is noteworthy to mention that there are certain risks attached to the cited options. The purpose why the last paper identified them is to further inform the decision maker of the resulting benefits and costs that must be anticipated in the event of making the decision. However, to outline the varying factors that may affect th e implementation of any decision – which, if only to mention, concerns greatly the company and its stakeholders – is another area that must also be carefully looked at. Surely, the three above-cited options will generate ebbs of impact for the company in general. Two major factors can determine the success of the implementation of the suggested paths: the internal coherence of the decision itself, and the external receptivity of the stakeholders involved. The first factor pertains to the logic from which any decision is drawn; and this has already constituted a large portion of the previous studies. Every decision, if only to repeat, is arrived at after a ponderous circumscription of the problems at hand, and the generous gathering of facilitative facts to throw light into one’s judgment. If the problems were well stated, chances are, the solutions are going to be suited. The next factor is however different. This time, one has to consider other areas that affect the success rate of the decision. Roozen, De Pelsmacker and Bostyn have identified some of them: â€Å"the influence of stakeholders, organizational commitment, personal values, goals of the organization and socio demographic characteristics of individuals†, among others (2001, p. 87). In the light of the three suggested decision paths for BAE Systems, what Roozen (and company) points are certainly of paramount importance. For instance, since the company’s goal to establish a greater presence in Kava is heavily dependent on the expansion of its new sales accounts, the decision to equally expand the workforce and to create newer intra-island processing plants must be leveled against the impact such will have on the stakeholders – e. g. , will the company owners allow for an increased budget allocation to defray the expansion cost? , will the company managers be willing to oversee difficult but potential market areas within the island? , will the commitment of the newly hired sales representative be aggressive enough to meet expectations? , or will the vision of the company itself be willing to risk so much for a return of investment which will come later on? It is very important to note that BAE Systems’ vision is intricately knitted with the amount of available resources the company has, or is willing to risk for investment purposes. One way or another, the welfare of both the company and its stakeholders is the friction force that shall determine how fast or slow the implementation of the decisions pertinent to BAE Systems’ expansion in Kava island would be. Key to the company’s success in Kava is also anchored on the ethical implications the decisions have on its stakeholders. In order to clarify the moral basis for sticking into a decision, Rodgers and Gago has sought to identify many differing ethical motives in a study they conducted. They suggest that there are at least six â€Å"pathways† that justify, and thus serve a basis for a particular decision to be pursued: â€Å"psychological egoism, deontology, relativist, utilitarian, virtue ethics, and ethics of care philosophy† (Rodgers & Gago, 2001, pp. 358-359). Without having to go through their respective details, it may be good to note that the suggested options for BAE Systems are largely motivated by the â€Å"utilitarian† pathway. What does this mean? This means that the company which seeks to expand a venture must be seen primarily in terms of its ability to survive the risk. Thus, in a utilitarian approach, the company is more defined by a ‘consequentialist’ attitude in decision-making policies, in that it tries to see to it that any decision would generate the â€Å"greatest good (for) the greatest number of people† (Rodgers & Gago, 2001, p. 359). Conclusion One may properly recall that, in the Business Scenario, Alex once quipped that economics is what drives the company to further expand its presence in an island of Kava. In many ways, what he said was correct, if not telling. The overarching reason why one needs to surmount the seemingly impossible difficulties, by identifying all the contributing factors relative to the company’s vision, is indeed driven by economics. But having economics alone as the moving force behind the desired expansion of a certain company may not capture the entire picture. Any decision driven by economics therefore, one must remember, must also be tempered by the opportunities it creates for the involved stakeholders, and the ethical implications it generates seen from their perspective. Critical thinking, as always, can always help ensure that these seemingly non-economic aspects of doing business are given their due importance.

International Financial Markets: Video Critique Essay

According to Niall Ferguson, the relationship between China and the United States is symbiotic or mutual. While China saves, the United States spends almost indefinitely. In 2003 alone, US-debt to China amounted to more than 700 billion dollars – representing 21% of US public debt (Lucarelli, 2007). Last year, US trade deficit to China amounted to 200 billion dollars. At face, this relationship seems to be true. But this is not entirely the case. The United States filed a complaint against China before the World Trade Organization. The US accused China of allowing the Chinese currency to depreciate indefinitely to increase the value of its exports. Now, because the United States imports huge quantities of imports from China, this represents an indefinite increase in spending. To say that the United States accepts the status quo is ‘a slap in the face. ’ The United States has requested China to allow the appreciation of the Chinese Yuan to reduce the country’s trade deficit. According to Ferguson, the state of stable disequilibrium exists between China and the United States. This is true. The US public debt increases with respect to increases in aggregate Chinese savings (private and public). An increase in US public debt spurs spending while an increase in aggregate Chinese savings increases domestic reserves. An increase in consumption results to an increase in potential investment while an increase in aggregate savings results to a decrease in public investment (Morrison and Labonte, 2008). In short, the economies of China and the United States are not in danger. One should note that the current relationship between China and the United States (in the state of disequilibrium) is beneficial for both countries. For one, China expects a rise in foreign direct investments. The United States also expects a rise in domestic investment. A multinational company may find it attractive to invest in China due to its high reserve and huge domestic market.

Automobiles: Symbol of Status Essay

As I roamed around the campus and interviewed people, asking questions with regard to automobiles, I realized that people from UP Baguio perceive things differently and diversely. Of all the answers that I gathered from different sectors of UP Baguio, from the students, faculties and even staffs this statement was the most strucking for me. One of our sanitary janitors told me † Alam mo, ang tao nahahati lang naman yan sa dalawa e. Yung mga taong meron at yung mga taong wala- yung mga taong may kotse at yung mga taong wala nito. At kung tatanungin mo ako kung importante ang pagkakaroon ng lugan (kotse), ang sagot ko ay oo, dahil kung may kotse ka ibig sabihin nun angat ka at nakalampas ka na sa pagiging mahirap.† Overview: Cars as status symbol before and now. From earliest times, people have felt a need to set themselves apart from others in the society in which they live. As Weber would put, it is status that sets as from others and thus it is through evaluation of other people where we can find our place in the society. By this, often this competitive desire takes the shape of acquiring material items to symbolize one’s uniqueness. These â€Å"status symbols† can come in many shapes and sizes. This paper primarily would talk about automobiles (particularly cars) as a mark of distinction and as a status symbol. Since cars have long been another common status symbol. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, the automobile has been one of the most powerful and pervasive status symbols (Brown, 1998). This paper aims to answer two things 1.) Can cars be considered as a status symbol in the UPB community? 2.) How does one define and associate cars into ones status? Randomly, I interviewed different people in the academe; it may be a student, teachers and staffs. I decided not to limit myself into just one sector of the university for this can result to hasty generalizations. I have interviewed them in a manner by which I can get their idea with regard to their view of considering cars as status symbol and how it is reflective with their classes in the society. En masse the students, teachers and staffs of UPB community considered cars as a status symbol. Surprisingly, the general idea behind cars as status symbol comes from varied point of views of all the individuals within the different academe of the UPB community. Generally, having an automobile is a symbol of one’s success in the UPB community. More definitively, it is a two way perception of owning a car. The intention of the consumer owning a car, to show a distinction and power, and the counteraction of the community involved of one individual owning a car. During the interview, there are different views and perspectives with regard on the association of a car into his/ her status. Generally, the data I gathered boils down into one answer. Their answer â€Å"it depends on what car.† In a nutshell the people I’ve talked to considerer the model of the car in defining their status. One would say that † e kung ang kotse ko e ung mga parang fx lang na mga taxi†¦instead na iangat nya ako, pinapababa niya ang status ko.† Through this statement instead of a car being a status symbol for those who have, it became a status symbol for the have-nots. In another statement, â€Å"ako kung bibili ako ng kotse, gusto ko yung magiging pogi ako pag nakasakay ako dun†¦kahit mahirap lang ako..igagapang kong magkaroon ng magarang sasakyan.† This assertion is a manifestation of spending of money for and the acquiring of luxury goods and services to publicly display economic power thus a conspicuous consumer for that matter. In today’s car market, the options of status cars are seemingly endless. The choices are vast, going from a foreign sports car to an American SUV. The SUV has been described as â€Å"the most ostentatious popular product of car culture† (Morewood,2007). The size of the SUV alone makes it a very visible status symbol. Through this, there are many ways to associate cars into ones status. It may depend on the car’, its brand, performance and its seating capacity too. The lesser the passenger, the more classy your car is. With regard to class, according to the simple interviews it came out the even those people who perceived themselves as lower class find it needy to have a car, not because they want it for display but rather for its function for transport. As to the middle class, as we can see there are different tact on how they view a car, some want it for public display, some find it as something that accentuates their physical aspect or â€Å"pampapogi.† As put forward by Sernau (2011: 103) citing Weber (n.d), we can speak of class when 1.) a number of people have in common a specific causal component of their life chances, insofar as, (2) this component is represented exclusively by economic interests in the possession of goods and opportunities for income and (3) is represented under the conditions of the commodity or labor markets. In conclusion, as seen in this simple study, there are many different ways on how a car can be presented by different people and this is not only through the economic aspect but also on the power play of the individuals of those who owns and at the same time the one who view it. Divisions based on these status may depend on his/ her opportunities and life chances and how it is depicted by the society. In this relation, using cars as something that marks distinction through its model, brand, effect on people, prestige etc can be reflective on how people will evaluate us in terms of set of ideals and values.

International Business Culture and Global Business

For an international business person, business traveller or expatriate, doing business in a foreign country poses some interesting cross cultural challenges. Getting to grips with a country's business culture, protocol and etiquette is important in maximising your potential and getting the best out of your visit. Greece is a High contect culture. In order to categorize it, we must first know what the difference between low and high context culture means.High vs. Low Context Cultures suggests the categorisation of cultures into high context versus low context cultures in order to understand their basic differences in communicationstyle and cultural issues. Communication style refers to ways of expressing oneself, to communication patterns that are understood to be ‘typical’. Cultural issues mean certain societal factors, such as the country’s status, history, religion and traditions. Cultural issues also include Hofstede’s individualism vs. collectivism dime nsion. Social nuances are important parts to consider when doing business in greece.To say ‘no' in Greece use an upward nod of the head. For ‘yes' tilt the head to either side. However, note that many Greeks now also use the European/North American gestures too so it can be confusing! The â€Å"OK† sign (circled thumb and forefinger) may be considered obscene. Never raise an open palm at face level as this is an insult. If you see a Greek make a puff of breath through the lips, they are warding off the ‘evil eye'. This is usually done after receiving a compliment. Try and avoid discussions involving sensitive issues such as with Turkey, the Cyprus issue, or the politics of the former-Yugoslavia.They are task-oriented, highly organised and prefer doing one thing at a time. They stick to facts and fi gures that they have obtained from reliable sources. They prefer straightforward, direct discussion, and they talk and listen in equal proportions. So it is impor tant to stand by your product with pride and transparancy in order to gain the trust of the consumers their, and also their business. The Greeks can be fairly laidback and as such meetings can be arranged at short notice. It is best to do so over the phone and to confirm in writing (fax or email).The handshake is the most common form of greeting in the business environment. Among friends or close acquaintances you may also see an embrace or kiss. Wait for the other party to initiate the move to this level if it ever comes. One other country I would relate to Greece is Iceland because there are rural lands, and busy cities as well. Iceland is also facing financial challenges as Greece is due to the EURO currency and has been severly hit by the european recession as well. The corrupt politics and regulations of the country's assets has led to some hard times inboth countries.However, there are still many opportunities to in doing business abroad to such countries, considereing the min imum wages are increasingly lower than that of America and there is a large percentage of educated individuals seeking employment in these hard times. Another factor is untapped resounrces, such as oil and precious metals of the earth. Lastly, I would say whenever doing business in any country we must remember to that we are guest, and work with ethics in mind and proper investment so that there may be a positive effect on the country's citizens view of international business ventures.

Arab Sprig Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Arab Sprig - Essay Example One scenario was a successful revolt to a more democratic government, made with less wasted resources. Tunisia perhaps, was the only example of ‘a success story’ from all countries involved in ‘Arab spring’ (Botelho). Historically, Tunisia was also a country where ‘Arab spring’ ideas have started spread from when a 26-year-old Tunisian, Mohamed Bouazizi, set himself on fire protesting against youth unemployment and generally, against a corrupt regime responsible for low level of life in Tunisia (BBC). A revolt succeeded in a form of ‘mostly nonviolent removal’ of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, bringing country to desirable elections in 2011. Totten says that despite the Islamist party Ennahda won this race, a majority of Tunisians were already voting in democratic way, demonstrating their preference to a variety of other parties (Totten 2). Thus, finally Tunisians overthrown a religious Ennahda too, and never again returning to a one party dictatorship, adopted a liberal constitution. Egyptian case when overthrowing President Hosni Mubarak’s nearly 30 years long dictatorship was similar to a Tunisian one. ‘Egyptian activists got their inspiration from Tunisia’, –believes Botelho (Botelho). The resistance was more brutal comparing to Tunisian civil protesting, but finally, Egypt was voting in free President Elections 2011. Similar to Tunisian scenario, firstly choosing the Islamists leader Mohamed Morsi, Egyptians overthrown Morsi in 2013 due to a military support of Egyptian General el-Sisi. However, Egyptian case outcome differs from Tunisian liberation. Totten is skeptical on Egyptian new governmental actions, and points on acts of repressions: ‘Sisi’s regime reeks of Stalinism these days’ (Totten 3). Conversely, ‘Arab spring’ has been a very dramatic and costly enterprise for Libya and Syria, countries drugged into a brutal civil war nowadays. Totten points that because

Hipaa, How it may affect me in a doctor office Essay

Hipaa, How it may affect me in a doctor office - Essay Example In case of a job change I will be able to benefit from the act as I will be able to reduce the exclusion period in group health plan and health insurance coverage. This is a positive affect that the act will have on me. As an employee in a doctor’s office, HIPAA would affect me in numerous ways from the second part of the HIPAA. First and the foremost, there would be increased pressure in order to ensure the safety of the health care data. Personal responsibility needs to be taken in order to ensure that all the rules and regulations are followed in order to the safeguard the information. Failure to do so will attract serious penalties. There will be special training on the use and understanding of the new systems. As the patient information is accessed by many, the responsibility to protect that information becomes even greater. Hence, I will need to undergo training not just on how to use the new systems but also on the various aspects of the act itself. This will help to have a clear understanding of the act and hence act within the rules and regulations defined in the act. Also training is required in using the equipments that will be in place as a result of the HIPAA act (Iyer et al., 2006). It is also the responsibility of me and my colleagues to explain the provisions and the various aspects of the act to the patients. The complexities of the act must be clearly communicated to the patients so that they can make full use of it. Also a result of the act, there will be continuous monitoring and supervision of my work. I will be monitored to see if all the procedure laid out by the hospital is being followed or not. Also I must comply with the personnel and security management systems in the hospital. Osborne, H. (2002). In Other Words†¦How the New HIPAA Regulations Affect Healthcare Communication. Boston Globes On Call.[Online]. Available at:

Critical success factors for fashion market online retailing business Essay

Critical success factors for fashion market online retailing business - Essay Example 5.5.3 Scalability 80 5.6 Brand Management 80 Chapter 6: Discussion and Conclusion 83 6.1 Introduction 83 6.2 Summary of Findings 84 6.3 Study's Contribution 86 6.4 Directions for Further Research 87 6.5 Conclusion 88 Acknowledgements There are many people whom I would like to include in my Acknowledgement,' not least of which are all the professors who taught me at this university. Each and every one of them contributed to my intellectual development and gave me the tools I needed throughout the research and the writing of my dissertation. I know that if it were not for them, I would not have been able to research and write this study. In my opinion, however, few deserve the acknowledgement due to my supervisor, David Bromilow. He, more than any, knows how confused I was by the sheer size of this project and how, more often than not, I lost direction and, sometimes, confidence. His continued patience and invaluable guidance are what kept me on track. The support which David Bromilow gives all his students and, his constructive criticisms and advice, are responsible for my having finished this dissertation and my presenting of it. I am extremely grateful to him. Last but not least, I want to reserve a special acknowledgement to my parents in Hong Kong and both my aunt and uncle. Their continued and unfailing emotional and financial support have brought me where I am today and have, indeed, opened up a world of possibilities before me. Therefore, it is to them that I dedicate my dissertation. Abstract Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Introduction Over the last decade the user-friendly Internet has been developed such that E-commerce is now widely used as a main competing business mechanism. In fact the growth of E-commerce has... The paper tells that E-commerce has become more significant in recent years, though it has been developed in various forms for past 20 years. For example, ‘Electronic Data Interchange’ (EDI) provides a collection of standard message formats and an element dictionary for business to exchange data through an electronic messaging service’. Another example is ‘Electronic Funds Transfer’ (EFT) first introduced in the late 1970s, which transfers money between financial repositories such as banks or bank accounts’. The growth and acceptance of credit cards, Automated Teller Machines and telephone banking can also be regarded as alternative forms of E-commerce. Although many- of these electronic trading technologies have brought progressive effects to their own markets and increased recognition on these systems to their customers, it is very obvious that E-commerce has certainly purveyed its excellence and has brought huge impact on the economic transf ormation only in recent years. In simple terms, ‘E-Commerce’ or Electronic Commerce is defined as ‘the process of buying, selling or exchanging products, services and information via computer networks including the Internet’. It is also alternatively defined; ‘The entire set of processes that support commercial activities on a network and involve information analysis’. Recently, however, we have seen explosive development in E-commerce mainly thanks to the development of the Internet and the World Wide Web, which facilitate e-commerce much more accessible. E-commerce can be simply categorised into two major activities; ‘Business-to-Business (B2B)’ and ‘Business-to-Consumer (B2C)’ activities.

Language and heteronormativity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Language and heteronormativity - Essay Example What naturally can be derived from this is that the stereotyped images of women are simply the â€Å"approved typifications† of our society, which are even considered as appropriate and positive. While other information and communication channels like television news or films have within them a strong parallel stream of thought trying to break free from these stereotypical images, in advertising, they are rare. This could be a phenomenon that can be attributed to the fact that at any cost, an advertiser cannot afford to fail because he/she has a product to sell. Hence conforming to society's stereotypes becomes a necessity rather than chance. The advertisement that is being discussed in this essay is the television commercial of Era laundry detergent.( http://youtu.be/Leey5GZe-Ws ). This advertisement has many layers of gender stereotyping within it and the most evident one is the broad association of laundry washing with female gender (Era laundry detergent). This is an age o ld stereotype in itself. Human culture in different civilisations has been adamently sticking to the notion that it is the job of women to wash laundry and hence all detergent advertisements show women doing the laundry in a domestic ambience. The first frame of the advertisement, in which a woman is seen standing near a washing machine in the wash area of the house, has already made the suggestion that the place of a woman is in such an ambiance (Era laundry detergent). Goffman has called visuals (photographs and television videos, especially), the â€Å"a community's ritual idiom something like what a written text is for students of its spoken language† (27). When the woman starts talking, the viewer comes to know that she is not washing her clothes alone but her husband's shirt also (Era laundry detergent). What she says is that she is able to clean even the tough stains on her husband's shirt using this detergent (Era laundry detergent). The visuals that follow are expect ed by the makers of this film to be funny and meaningful, as the viewer sees the woman shown in the beginning of the advertisement, doing household chores like toasting bread and disposing kitchen waste, as if she is the heroine of an action movie (Era laundry detergent). Along with these visuals, the viewers listen to her telling that she is busy, and she is tough and the implied meaning here is also that she enjoys her domestic work, she is proud of the way she manages it and also she has no complaints about life (Era laundry detergent). The punchline of this advertisement in the end is â€Å"tough detergent for tough moms† (Era laundry detergent). This statement asserts that the woman the viewer sees in this commercial has only one single identity- the identity of a mom (Era laundry detergent). It is as if she is born to become a mom and nothing else. Yet, the mention about the husband's shirt in the beginning of the commercial also implies that she is also a wife and when she hands over a packet of lunch to her daughter who seems to be leaving for school, the mother image is reinforced (Era laundry detergent). In this manner, this commercial limits a woman's identity to just being a wife and a mother (Era laundry detergent). The clothes of the husband shown in the commercial are white. Everyone knows that keeping white clothes clean and spotless is the most difficult laundry task. Everybody also know that because of this, a

What is beauty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

What is beauty - Essay Example For some people beauty may depend on outward appearance. Aesthetics happens to be the opposite of beauty. In today’s world we tend to mix beauty and aesthetics together. Aesthetic happens to be your outer appearance that attracts people. This include your clothing and body. People may go on buying expensive clothes or make up just to make them look presentable or attractive to others. This happens to be a characteristic of the material world. Beauty can be said to be your personality rather than looks. It is something that makes you original and shine through all the odds. Simply by applying, make up, having cosmetic surgery, you may be able to cover up all you shortcomings but you can’t get hold of a decent personality. The most you may be able to do is end up as a commodity, a fashion icon but you looks will eventually fade away and you’ll be left empty handed. An example of a private school may be taken. All the children wear uniform to attend school. The shirt blouse pants all are of the same colour and material. All the students tend to look almost the same. In this case it shall be hard to determine who has a better appearance or outer look than others. Charisma attracts one another rather than looks in this case. The possibility of aesthetics coming in between is minimised as everyone is dressed simply and equally. Inner beauty as we call it, becomes a source of attraction rather than the outer appea rance. Beauty is looked upon is this world very differently. Any two people shall have different views and ideas regarding beauty. The spirit and values hardly shall match. In simple words, beauty is something that authenticates a person rather than giving a false impression. If beauty did not exist we would be living in a materialistic society where ones looks and appearance would matter more than their actions. Without personality and

Spatial Disorientation for Pilots Research Paper

Spatial Disorientation for Pilots - Research Paper Example Three types of spatial disorientation occur in the field of aviation. Type I disorientation relates to when the pilots do not sense any unusual occurrence. The pilots tend to be in a state that makes them believe in the normalcy of the aircraft’s response to the required inputs. This results from the pilot’s lack of concentration on the primary flight instruments. Lack of concentration can be due to distractions that make the pilot shift attention to another source for a considerable amount of time. Type II disorientation occurs when the pilot senses the existence of conflicting orientation cues. The pilot becomes unsure of what the flight instruments depict in relation to their personal interpretation, as well as what the out-the-window view signals. Such cases arise when the pilots shift their attention from the flight instruments for a substantial period, or when they break from a cloud in an unusual position. In most of these cases, the pilot gets to control the air craft or manages to access the help of another pilot. On the other hand, if the pilots fail to control type II spatial disorientation, the problem becomes more risky, leading to an incapacitating spatial disorientation, or type III spatial disorientation. This involves the awareness of the pilot of the conflicting cues. However, the state of the aircraft confuses the professionals, leading to incorrect adjustments. Making changes to the incorrect actions usually poses great difficulty, which makes recovery impossible in most cases. Research by the U.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center further illustrates the prevalence of accidents caused by these three types of disorientation. Type I disorientation poses the highest amount of risk, compared to the other two.This follows the fact that the pilots do not get to realize the potential danger, which means that no precautions take place to counter the hazard. Type III disorientation poses a minimal risk, which means that most pilots ga ther the courage to correct anomalies, while a small percentage fails to gather such confidence (Webb, Estrada & Kelley, 225).

Social Media Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Social Media Marketing - Essay Example Considering the wide range of social media sites covered, this marketing design will have a very wide range of audience across the globe. All the socio-economic classes of the human society are reached out to by this advert, providing a strong base of potential buyers (Safko 2013). In addition to the large social media coverage, this advert gives a detailed and all inclusive description of the Tecno smartphones. The description of the features is brought out in a colorful and eye-catching animations accompanied by step by step audio explanations. The audio explanations are of a wide variety of languages; English, French, German, Kiswahili, Arabic and even some local dialects. This gives first-hand information to the audience because one does not need a translation in order to understand the information being conveyed. Translations are sometimes biased since the translator may say what they think is important. As a result a potential buyer may fail to buy the product because what they were looking for in a phone was omitted by the translator. The advert is also accompanied by a step by step tutorial on the use of the smart phone. This is optional and can be viewed by anyone who has never used a smart phone before (Zimmerman 2013). This is an added advantage as compared to the inserts and user manuals that are usually inserted in the smartphone boxes. Some of the user manuals are typed in very tiny fonts making them stannous to read. An audio version would therefore be preferred by some customers. Currently the smartphone market is flooded by very many brands of smartphones. The major smartphones in the market are; Samsung, Apple, Sony, Alcatel, LG, Infinix and many others. All these smartphones ideally have the same features and applications. The hardware and the brand names are the only variables in this industry. The availability of many brands creates a cutthroat competition, with every company trying to have a bigger share of the market. In

Strategic Group Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Strategic Group - Essay Example Geographic coverage: They are primarily UK based retail chains eventually branching out to different parts of the world. The four companies enjoy the top four positions in the market with Tesco on the top followed by , Sainsbury's and Morrison. Commitment to quality and offering value for money: While , Tesco and Morrison have undertaken vertical integration to cut down expenses and increase reliability, Sainsbury believes in integrity of sourcing to ensure quality. Ans. An organization cannot be free of the macro environment that persists and has to be resolved each time. The strategic group in consideration faces threat from the environment. Some of it is high impact some is not. Nonetheless, there exists and environment that needs to be analyzed and lived with. One needs to be in the good books of the government. There are influences the management needs to create through indirect lobbying. Forms of sponsorships, grants, political donations, etc. are to be made to keep the balance. The retail chain has to be a member of various lobbies, for instance Freight transport association, British retail consortium, Institute of grocery retailers, confederation of British industry, labor groups, etc Changing economy is the bi... Political factors: One needs to be in the good books of the government. There are influences the management needs to create through indirect lobbying. Forms of sponsorships, grants, political donations, etc. are to be made to keep the balance. To get an easy access to the govt. former govt officials are hired by the retail chains. The retail chain has to be a member of various lobbies, for instance Freight transport association, British retail consortium, Institute of grocery retailers, confederation of British industry, labor groups, etc Environment issues need to be taken care of-proper recycling of waste, use of recyclable poly bags, and no harm to the ever depleting natural resources. Any changes in the govt/EU policies have to be addressed. Economic Environment Changing economy is the biggest affecting factor. Consider the present situation where there is a worldwide slump and the market is seeing trends of salary cuts, the purchase power of the buyer goes down and hence the revenues of the retail are getting affected. The changing exchange rates affect the imported product price. Needless to say the buyer looks for value for money in the retail chains and thus will not be pleased with an expensive product. Raise in global price for fuel affect transportation cost and in turn the cost price of the product. Increase in real estate increases the fixed cost thereby affecting the revenue model. Social Issues: Lifestyle changes will demand need for greater product categories. People will demand more of functional food rather than fad foods. The shifting demographics, the young buyer will have different demands from the ageing population of U.K. With increasing competition, the consumer wants the best

Osmosis Case Study Essay Example for Free

Osmosis Case Study Essay These two Case Studies come from a National Center on Case Studies. I think that a case study approach is very useful in applying knowledge and this is what makes you learn it better. They may be a little daunting when you read them but I will help you go through them. Please ask for help so this topic becomes more enjoyable for you. Part I—Too Much of a Good Thing Times were difficult in Habersham County. The skyrocketing prices of fuel and food were threatening to bankrupt the Johnson family’s small farm, which was no match for the multi-million-dollar mega-farms that had been popping up all over the southeast. Joseph, the family patriarch, was especially troubled by the farm’s financial circumstances. He knew that this year’s corn crop was his best chance to save the farm, and his distress was evident to his family as they sat around the dinner table. â€Å"Michael, I’m going to need your help tomorrow,† Joseph said to his eldest son. â€Å"I have to go into town to pick up a part for the combine so I can fix it before it’s time to harvest in a few months. I need you to spread the potash and phosphate on the corn because we’re expecting some rain by the end of the week. † Michael, his mouth full of fried chicken, nodded in agreement. He wasn’t all that interested in farming, which over the years had been a point of contention between him and his father. At the moment Michael was thinking more about the time he’d be missing with his friends, but he also realized how vital this chore was to his father and the farm. â€Å"I’ll do it right after school, Dad,† he replied. The following afternoon, Michael was loading heavy bags of fertilizer into the drop spreader on the farm tractor. His father’s cheerless demeanor the previous evening weighed heavily on him. Michael knew that 25 bags of the potassium and phosphorous-based fertilizer was the normal load to cover the 40 acres of corn the family had planted that spring. But as he was emptying the 25th bag into the spreader, an idea flashed through his mind: â€Å"If we need a good corn crop to make it, maybe I should add a little extra fertilizer. † Michael decided that some extra fertilizer couldn’t hurt, so he quickly loaded 15 extra bags. He was certain that adding the extra fertilizer would produce a massive crop when it came time to harvest in a few months. Michael hadn’t told his father about the extra fertilizer he’d added to the corn, wanting to see his father’s surprise over the size of the harvest in a few months. As expected, the rain started Friday afternoon; Michael was certain it would start an incredible growth spurt in the newly fertilized, young corn plants and that his family would hit pay dirt in a few months. He was out of bed early on Saturday morning, taking his four-wheeler down to the cornfields. He expected to see a vibrant green sea of young corn, extra healthy due to the fertilizer â€Å"boost† he had given them. His stomach dropped a bit as he stared out at a field of sickly looking corn plants, their leaves pale green and slightly wilting. â€Å"Maybe it rained too hard and that beat the plants up a little,† thought Michael, trying to be optimistic. â€Å"I’ll check on them again in a few days. I’m sure they’ll have perked up by then! † The next few days didn’t bring the results Michael was hoping for. The corn plants looked even worse! The leaves were beginning to yellow significantly and were continuing to wilt. Having watched his father grow corn for most of his 14 years, Michael knew this crop wasn’t going to make it. A lump was forming in his throat as he made his way back to the house, not sure how to tell his father about the corn. Questions 1. What sort of environment (hypotonic, hypertonic, isotonic) did the extra fertilizer create around the roots of the corn? 2. Keeping in mind your answer to the previous question, what do you believe caused the corn plants to wilt and eventually die? 3. If Michael’s mistake had been caught earlier, is there anything that could have been done to prevent the corn from dying? 4. Generally, people water their plants with 100% H2O—no solutes added. What sort of environment does this create around the roots of the plant? Part II—Too Little, Too Late Meanwhile, elsewhere in Habersham County, Tom was feeling slightly nervous as he exited the staff lounge and entered the hustle and bustle of County Hospital’s ER to begin his first shift as an RN. The first few hours of his shift passed slowly as Tom mostly checked vital signs and listened to patients complain about various aches, pains, coughs, and sniffles. He realized that the attending physician, Dr. Greene, who was rather â€Å"old  school† in general about how he interacted with nursing staff, wanted to start him out slowly. Tom knew, though, that the paramedics could bring in a trauma patient at any time. After his lunch break, Tom didn’t have long to wait before the paramedics burst in through the swinging double-doors of the ambulance bay wheeling in a young man on a gurney. Edward, a veteran EMT, recited the vital signs to Tom and Dr. Greene as they helped push the gurney into the trauma room, â€Å"18-year-old male, GSW to the right abdomen, heart rate 92, respiratory rate 22, blood pressure 95/65, no loss of consciousness. † A gunshot wound! Tom knew that gunshot wounds were sometimes the most difficult traumas to handle. Once inside the trauma room, Dr. Greene began his initial assessment of the patient while Tom got busy organizing the things he knew would be needed. He attached a pulse-ox monitor to the patient’s index finger so Dr. Greene could keep an eye on the O2 levels in the patient’s blood and he inserted a Foley catheter so the patient’s urine output could be monitored. After finishing his initial duties, Tom heard Dr. Greene saying, â€Å"It looks like the bullet missed the liver and kidney, but it may have severed an artery. That’s probably why his BP is a bit low. Tom, grab a liter of saline and start a fast IV drip †¦ we need to increase his blood volume. † Tom grabbed one of the fluid-filled bags from the nearby shelf, attached a 12-gauge IV needle to the plastic tubing, and gently slipped the needle into the patient’s antecubital vein. He then hung the plastic bag on the IV stand and let the fluid quickly start to flow down the tubing and into the patient’s vein. The reaction was quick and violent. The patient’s heart rate began to skyrocket and Tom heard Dr. Greene shouting, â€Å"His O2 saturation is falling! Pulse is quickening! What is going on with this guy?! † Tom stood frozen in place by the fear. He heard Dr. Greene continuing, â€Å"Flatline! We’ve lost a pulse †¦ Tom, get the crash cart, we need to shock this guy to get his heart going again! † Tom broke free from his initial shock and did as Dr. Greene had ordered. He then started CPR as Dr. Greene readied the cardiac defibrillator to shock the patient. They continued to alternate between CPR and defibrillation for almost an hour, but to no avail. As Dr. Greene announced the time of death, Tom felt a sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach. He couldn’t believe that he had lost his first trauma patient! Then Tom noticed that the fluid in the Foley catheter bag was bright red. â€Å"Dr. Greene, there’s hemoglobin in the Foley bag,† he said. â€Å"How could that be? † responded Dr. Greene. Tom began to trace back over his steps in the trauma, trying to think of anything that could have caused the hemoglobinuria. His mounting fear turned to outright terror as he looked at the now empty bag on the IV stand. Its label didn’t read â€Å"Saline,† but rather â€Å"Distilled Water. † He looked at Dr. Greene, his heart quickly sinking, and said, â€Å"I think I may have killed the patient. † Questions 1. What problem did the distilled water in the patient’s bloodstream create? 2. What happed to the patient’s blood cells as a result? 3. Considering the function of red blood cells, why did the patient’s oxygen levels fall? 4. After Tom made his error, is there anything that could have been done to save the patient’s life?