Heroes Essay

Basically, heroes have a vision for society and their principles function as a catalyst that motivates the society. In addition to having ideas, heroes are brave. Unlike other people they have tremendous energy and patience to struggle with the adversity. Most people settle for the status quo because in reality they don’t want to put themselves in danger or risk themselves for others. Heroes are brave enough to take risk for people and society and they never try to escape from hardship. In an article â€Å"Heroism Must Mean More Than Sympathy,† Nicholas Thompson (2002) writes,† Heroes could earn that title simply for incredible acts of ravery several steps above the call of duty. † He states that heroes do more than there is their duty. Most people simply perform their duty and focus on themselves for their own betterment. Heroes are remarkably brave in comparison to people in general. They genuinely make effort to protect right of society and people. For ex ample, Amar Singh Thapa, a General of army in Nepal during British colonization in India and many other countries of Asia proved his bravery. At the time of British colonization in Asia, British army attacked the territory of Nepalese land. General Amar Singh Thapa fought against powerful British troop. In spite of lack of food for few days he continued war. At last British Army could not fight in such a hardship and Amar Singh won war against British. General Thapa protected country from British colony and saved Nepalese sovereignty and land. All Nepalese are proud of his bravery and his bravery is an exemplary in Nepal. For his bravery Nepalese admire to call him national hero of bravery. In other words, heroes act bravely in order to protect society and people by taking undesirable risk in their life. Finally, heroes have special skill and talent. Their skill and talent is enables them change the society in forward direction. Their creation and innovation are noteworthy. A person becomes hero because of his or her potential skill and talent to work for society (Brown, 1990; Psychology Today, 1995). Heroes have extraordinary skill and talent, which attract society and helps the society a great deal. For an example, Bill Gate has special talent and skill in development of computer software. Before Bill Gate developed software, computers were barely in use in public. The application of his software in the operating system in computers brought a big change in today’s world. People admire such a skilled and talented person who brought a total change in this world. His outstanding talent and skill in software is praiseworthy. Mostly people emulate other’s work and learn from others. Since heroes posses special skill and talent, they are naturally creative and innovative. New inventions and creative thinking always attract a community if it can help society to move in right direction efficiently. For such promising work, they deserve to be called a hero. Heroes always help society and individuals to change and are a role model in society. Over all heroes have some characteristics in common that influence society and individuals. They live in heart and mind of people because of their extraordinary principles, bravery, skill and talent. References Browne, R. (1990). Heroes and Heroines. Detroit: Gale Research Inc. How to be great? What it takes to be a hero? (1995, November-December). Psychology Today,28, 46. Thompson, N. (2002, January 15). Heroism must mean more than sympathy. The Oregonian. Tollefson, T. (1993, May-June). Is a hero really nothing but a sandwich? Utne Reader.

There is a movement brewing in the United States

There is a movement brewing in the United States to make English the official language of the country, but the whole idea seems preposterous. After all, the English and others who speak Her Majesty’s tongue would be the first to explain that what Americans speak is not English. At best, the official language should be American.   But the debate continues regardless. That is why we must do whatever is necessary to prevent English from being declared the official language of the United States. The debate centers on the concept that a nation needs an official language to be homogenous and that declaring an official language will mean that the government no longer has to print documents in a dozen different languages. Those in favor of the proposal argue that it will also mean we no longer have to push one for English. Proponents claim it will save millions and that it will lead to the entirety of the country forming a single identity. Opponents to the proposal argue that we have operated for 230 years without an official languages and that there is simply no reason to start with one now. They argue that the concept of an official language is racist and attacks the non-Anglo citizens of the country. An official language is unnecessary and should not be enacted. There is absolutely nothing to be gained by declaring English the official language of the United States. Moreover, it is time to acknowledge that most of the countries of the world do not have one official language, they have multiple. Choosing English as the official language of the United States encourages the xenophobic an.d elitist attitude that Americans have long been accused of worldwide. Americans need to learn additional languages, not force others to learn theirs.   The concept that Americans are so arrogant as to assume that everyone else should have to learn their language is insulting to non-Anglo citizens and the rest of the world as well. Another reason that declaring English the official language of the Untied States is simply wrong is that a significant portion of the American populace does not speak English or at the very least does not speak it well. Recent estimates are that soon the Hispanic population in the United States will make up as much as 25 percent of the total population. Most of the immigrants do not speak English as their first language and so then requiring them to only speak English when dealing with official government documents or calling to conduct any sort of business, is insulting and racist. In addition, in other countries where the majority of the populace speaks multiple languages, the country has more than one official language.   If the proposal were to make English and Spanish the official languages of the country, it would make much more sense. Finally, the single best argument against making English the official language of the United States is that it is completely contradictory to the entire history of the nation. American history is based on the concept that America is as a melting pot, but that melting pot was never intended to make us all the same.   We are supposed to celebrate our differences and celebrate the variety of different cultures that make up our country, not try to smash them all into the same identical little box. The concept that a country made up entirely of immigrants could then try to decide that the language of one group of immigrants was more important than the language of the other immigrants is completely contradictory to the founding principles of the country. It negates the very theory of freedom of choice and freedom to pursue life, liberty and happiness. Proponents of English as the official language say that while some countries worldwide have two official languages, right now the United States has none. The lack of an official language means that government documents must be presented in many different languages, adding to the cost of doing business. Furthermore, may countries around the world are adding English to their list of official languages because English is the language of business around the world. If any language comes close to be the language of the world, it is English. Perhaps because of the extent of the British Empire and possibly because of the economic power of English-speaking languages, most business transactions around the world are conducted in English. Therefore, it makes sense that America would make English its official language. Simply because a portion of the populace has not taken the time to learn the language of commerce, does not mean that they should be used as an excuse to keep the rest of the country from making progress. The fact of the matter is that most of the country’s business is already conducted in English and the excuse that people have not yet learned the language is not a valid argument in favor of avoiding having an official language. Finally, yes, America has always been the melting pot and the land of opportunity where people can bring their culture and share it with others. But over the generations, those immigrants have always adopted the language of the land and the laws of the land in the process of assimilating into their new country. To say that because we are a nation of immigrants we cannot have a uniform language is to put our individual cultures above our collective culture. It is time for our culture to overcome and create an American identity. The decision to name an official language remains unnecessary when it forces some part of the American populace to feel that the it is a personal affront. While it may be time for the country to develop a national identity, it should not have to be done at the expense of the other members of the society. In short, American should still be the land of opportunity and those who do not speak English as their primary language should not be discriminated against simply because they have not yet learned the language of commerce. In addition, the reality is that anyone who has spoken extensively with people who speak the Queen’s English knows that Americans do not speak the same English as the remainder of the world. American and English truly are related languages, but not the same. It is perfectly legitimate to acknowledge English as the language of business and commerce, but there is no overriding reason to make it the official language of the nation. And, the main reason why it is unnecessary is that quite simply, we’ve done without it for 231 years. Why change things that work?

A Comparison of Dance through Two Different Time Periods Essay

A Comparison of Dance through Two Different Time Periods - Essay Example Dance and all of the ideas that go with it has evolved, just like any other art form has evolved. The way in which people danced in the 1930s and 1940s is very different than how they expressed themselves through dance in the 1960s and 1970s. Dancing in the 1930s and 1940s was still considered a partnered experience, men and women pairing off to explore structured dances in social situations. By the 1960s and 1970s, however, the nature of social dancing had changed as men and women parted and began to express their emotions through dances that were more primitive in nature. The nature of dance became a more solo experience, even though couple dancing still existed. As the nature of music changed, so too did the nature of dance. The dance that was most popular during the early 1930s was the fox trot. This dance was done through medium tempo steps made by a couple (although some fox trots can be quite fast paced). However, swing dance had begun in the 1920s and had been made popular at the Savoy Club in New York City (Kassing 262). The form of dance had begun as an accompaniment to jazz music, the nature of the dance more freely expressed than had formerly been experienced. The East Coast Swing was the overall phrase used to describe the various versions of swing that were defined by their fast pace and their connection to big band music. The next evolution of dance that occurred was the ‘jitterbug’. The term ‘jitterbug’ was coined from the jitters that alcoholics get when they are withdrawing from drinking. The term was used to describe dancers who were not performing well on the dance floor (there bodies flopping about and not keeping time with the music), but eventually was trans formed to describe a specific set of swing dances. The popular mainstream was introduced to the term through Cab Calloway’s song from 1934 â€Å"Call of the Jitter bug† (Young and Young 273). The dance was a wild and fast paced, but it was structured for swing music with specific moves and expressions. There were many versions of swing music that followed the basic concepts of jazz and fast paced movement. The Dean Collins Style was created by a Savoy dancer who moved to Hollywood. His influence created a â€Å"smoother, more contained† version of swing, and while he denied it, the West Coast Swing appears to be an evolution of his moves (Pener 66). The way in which clothing played a part in the dance innovations of swing was through the looser fitted pants that were worn by men to allow for freedom of movement, coupled with women in fitted blouses with puff sleeves and A-line skirts. The ‘Savoy’ style was defined by this type of look as the ‘ lindy hop’, a version of the swing dance, came into popularity. Parties were held that were devoted to the style and the ‘lindy hop’ (Steele 194). Pener describes the lindy hop as a very social form of dance, providing for the interactions of men and women in a specific social setting. Etiquette was an important aspect of taking part in the dance, creating a defined amount of space that did not intrude on other dancers having the primary importance in the social experience. Dancing in the 1960s and 1970s went full swing from free form movement to clearly defined steps that were associated to a specific dance type. The Twist, a dance created by Chubby Checker to go with his song release, was designed so that dancers could dance with a partner or all alone (Kassing 235). This changed the nature of social dance. Where swing required a partner, ‘the twist’ allowed for one person to have fun without having to have someone along for the ride (although a pa rtner made it more fun). This revolutionized social dance where people began to become free of prescribed dance steps and able to express their physical responses to the music. However, there were still ‘fad dances’ that came and went, including ‘the mashed potato’

Case Management Plan (Nursing) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Case Management Plan (Nursing) - Essay Example Case as an organizer of care delivery and research has been commonly used in practice settings, and this is often person centred. This is one systematic approach to the presently advocated holistic paradigm of nursing care. Before going to present the assessment, analysis, and care plan based on the case management approach, it is important to know why it is important. The idea is to improve the ability of the health care systems to respond efficiently to the demands or needs of the older people like Mrs. Chang. It has greater implications than are apparent. Studies have indicated that most elderly people despite considerable debility prefer to stay at home, while the models of cost-effective care are shortening the lengths of hospital stay. Care in the community has, thus, gained significant importance. Case management approach may be the first step towards successfully achieving this (Brown et al., 2005, 1-32). Mrs. Chang is an elderly woman with 82 years of age with late stage parkinsonism. She is thin and frail. On the baseline, she has late stage parkinsonism, although the exact clinical features are not highlighted in this case study. This condition is characterized by gradual slowing of voluntary movement, muscular rigidity, stooped posture, and distinctive rigid gait. Over and above that, she has evidence of rheumatoid arthritis of both hands. As indicated in the history, she tripped and fell in the bathroom; this impairment of mobility may get accentuated with her rheumatic disease. Although not highlighted in the case history, a thorough examination of all her joints is mandatory to indicate the status of age-related osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, which would further aggravate her problem of mobility. During this admission, she was admitted since she sustained a fall at home in the bathroom, and she has been admitted to the hospital for observation and further evaluation. Her cur rent medications have not been mentioned, but she has been on ibuprofen. This indicates her baseline chronic pain, which may further compromise her mobility. The impaired mobility is further accentuated by the fact that at home, she stays with her husband who is older than her by 4 years, who himself may be frail enough to be insufficient to help her out in these activities at home. The patient will express feelings of increased comfort, decreased pain and will be able to perform activities of daily living within the confines of the disease and will maintain joint mobility and range of motion while exhibiting adaptive coping behaviour. Improvement in muscle strength and endurance would be the goal (Burgess-Limerick, 2003, 143-148). An impaired nervous system can manifest in many ways, from subtle weakness to drastic loss of

Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 4

Assignment - Essay Example In reality however excellence has a dimension as limited as the companies itself. It means that the organization strives to find the best available practice rather than following market leaders or competitors. This finding the best practices and implementing them will result from an exhaustive self assessment and investigation by the organization itself. The level of excellence that an organization has achieved is generally measured by the results the organization has delivered and is very greatly dependent upon the performance management systems used. Organizational excellence is an overall way in which organizations work from balancing stakeholders interests to the management of profits and prioritizing ones needs without losing control with such operational efficiency that doesn’t lead to doubts about its performance and utilization of resources. The achievement of such excellence has since always been a dilemma with multiple theories based on it. But in a nutshell it should be understood that the means of achieving excellence were always and will always be an item of great interest and research and though unanimity will never be achieved, the best way is to strive hard to question how to achieve it and then implement those solutions with utmost efficiency. What should be remembered however is that in the race of excellence there is no finish line. The business excellence model largely determines how organizations all over the world handle their operations and how decision making takes place. Different parts of the world have different excellence models which are dependent upon the organizational structure in those regions as well as the preferences of customers and the mindset of the employees. Customer focus and logical decision-making, form the core of all models. One of the earliest excellence models is the Deming Excellence model which is based on

Do the questions below. ( every questions should be more than 200 Term Paper

Do the questions below. ( every questions should be more than 200 words) - Term Paper Example However, it does not mean that labor is the most valuable practice though some historical perspectives give labor such prominence. This occurs in social structures where development of productive forces is minimal so the labor activity completely occupies the individual’s life. This highlights the need to recognize labor as the centre of the ontology of culture (Stanley and Wise 1). This is because additional aspects of human activity entirely depend on the capability of individuals to provide labor within a stipulated time. Additionally, advancement of productive forces determines the capacity of individuals coupled with the extent of complication of social needs that require labor satisfaction. Marx’s expression â€Å"changes his own nature† draws mistranslation, particularly because the word â€Å"nature† can have two interpretations. The first meaning relates to human beings as the subjects of the action; a subject performing an activity needs to alter his or her own nature in a definite way to achieve the stipulated targets. The other meaning of â€Å"nature† relates to environment and emphasizes the alterations of the world because of intentional activity (Stanley and Wise 1). Additionally, humans alter the world to launch their own social objects to change the course of the society. Q: 66. â€Å"Give everyday examples illustrating the contradiction that in everyday practical activity exchange-value is sometimes considered immanent and sometimes considered relative†. Presently, in each practical activity, exchange value may be either immanent or relative. Products attain value because they are expressed in monetary terms. The value form of a product exists after different products have been compared with each other. The value of products is dynamic because it continuously develops based on trading processes (Lendvai 1). Presently, individuals objectify the worth of produced goods to enhance trade. By doing this, t he individuals are evaluating and contrasting the value of their efforts. Additionally, while individuals are comparing and justifying the products’ value before exchange, they are also comparing the intensity of their efforts. Therefore, the worth of a product largely depends on the worth of other products regardless of product evaluation (Lendvai). This depicts that exchange value is at times relative. It is imperative to say that immanence is a notion of relationship. Therefore, exchange value is at times transcendental and exceeds the physical features of objects, implying that values exist above the individual senses (Lendvai 1). An example to illustrate this is that the aesthetic worth of a painting is not similar with the textile of the canvas and the oils within it, though the painting cannot exist without these substances. Additionally, the exchange value of an object like diamond cannot subsist without its physical and chemical reality. Similarly, two portions of wo od fixed with the figure of a cross may enjoy sacramental value. Therefore, these examples clearly show that exchange value can be immanent or relative. Q: 98. â€Å"Take two very different kinds of labor, such as teaching and construction work, and discuss in what respect they are equal†. There exists a relationship between teaching and construction work. Teachers serve as architects of a better future of students because they nurture and monitor their progress, thereby ensuring that these

Union organizing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Union organizing - Essay Example In every establishment the employee and employer relationship and their performance are regulated by proper labor laws. Though most of these labor laws are intended to protect the interests of the employees, they are seen generally exploited by the employers. The act of the employers may provoke the employees so that they may organize themselves to safeguard their interests by bargaining their needs collectively, through strikes or by other means. In order to avoid such strikes that may thwart the progress of the establishment, the employers may seek settlements.These settlements may have pros and cons. Sometimes these will go in favor of the employees due to their power of collective demand. And at other times if there is conflict in their demands the settlement may favor the employers too.Success of any organizations largely depends upon the intensity of the employee-employer relationship. This relationship is based on the quantity and quality of safety and protection, care and val ue an employer gives to the employee, and the magnitude of service an employee provides to the employer. Different labor laws were enacted in the course of time to restrict the employers from exploiting the employees. If the employees suspect that the employer is exploiting them the employees will tend to organize to safeguard their interests. No democratic government can prohibit the rights of the employee to organize. However, to avoid wanton dealings untoward conflicts certain laws were formulated on to how this union organizing can be processed. As per the provisions contained in Section 8(a) (1) of the National Labor Relations Act no employer can restrict the employees from exercising their rights to collective organization, or unionization. Section 8(a) (3) prohibits employers from interfering labor union activities through company hiring and employment decisions. But mostly, these prohibitory orders are violated at workplaces. For instance, consider the case of Dynasteel Corp. v. NLRB, 181 LRRM 2201 (5th Cir. 2007). The Dynasteel Corp has two plants, one in Mississippi and the other in Tennessee. The employers at Mississippi plant put illegal threats and discipline on employees, while at Tennessee plant; they discriminated against the applicants for employment. Accusing unfair labor practice NLRB framed charges against Dynasteel. The Fifth Circuit was convinced of the illegal practices of the company and granted NLRB's request to enforce its order. Union Organizing 4 Now that discussion on 'The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) is in progress, it will bring in drastic changes in the matter of union organizing during the first leg of the presidency of Mr. Obama. It is likely that the provisions contained in NLRA may be revamped, taking a much lenient attitude towards the employees and at the same time adopting somewhat stringent steps against the employers. In nut shell, if The Employee Free Choice Act becomes federal law, the workers will get an edge over the employers with their right to form a union. This may torpedo the interests of the employers as it is considered that it will bring harm to their business. Union Organizing 5 Discussion Union organizing from the employee's perspective is to gain collective bargaining for better wages, good and safe working conditions, protection from exploitation, and increased job security. But the nature of employee relations and the roles of trade union may not be in conformity with legislation. Many argue that employee relations are not confined to unions and its collective bargaining, but cover all employment relationships. They are of the opinion that it is beyond pay and other benefits. However, it is quite certain that if the right to organize is jeopardized the safety of the

Organic solar cells Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Organic solar cells - Literature review Example The development of the photovoltaic cell is important for the future alternative energy production in the global community (Mihailetchi, 2005; Williams, 2010). Due to the importance of harvesting solar energy, the continuous development of solar cells is one of the most important developments in the conversion of solar energy. Dendrimer is a significant technology in light-harvesting due to the efficiency (Andrews et al., 2009). Organic solar cells are photovoltaic cells with organic make-up used due to different advantages for the light absorption process and transfer of energy. Initially, the photovoltaic cells are made with crystal silicon photovoltaic are used. Due to the fixed bandgap energy and high cost of production, new materials for solar cells had been developed. The organic solar cells are referred to as second generation photovoltaics which had different advantages such as lower manufacturing costs and higher power conversion efficiency (Williams, 2010, p.2). Organic solar cells are solar cell consisting of organic materials. A solar cell is a composed of one or more light-absorbing layers between two electrodes. One of the layers is for passage of light. The active layer can release free carriers upon the absorption of light which then gather at the electrodes. In the organic solar cells, the main difference is the material for the active layers. It is composed of thin films of organic semiconductors formed through solution-based polymeric materials or through thermal evaporation for small-molecule materials (William, 2010, p.3). Photovoltaic behaviour of organic solar cells is the main basis of the function and the advantage of the said type of thin film solar cells. Organic semiconductors, such as lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), use plastic or glass substrates with

An Analysis of an Article in the Big Issue called Sun Vampires Essay Example for Free

An Analysis of an Article in the Big Issue called Sun Vampires Essay The Big Issue is published to aid the homeless, seeking to raise money for people who are in this situation. The Big Issue is only sold by vendors, homeless themselves, on the streets of all our major cities and towns. The target group for sales is seen to those who might be sympathetic to the dilemma of the homeless, to those who are fortunate themselves to have homes and jobs, who take an interest in society as a whole rather than just themselves as individuals, who are also aware of the current issues. The readers are to be relatively prosperous, also young rather than middle-aged. The young readers have most probably heard of the Bros (a teen pop duo of the late 80s) and also Peter Andre (popular at the time of publication, but hardly an enduring household name). The reader might be in the position of being able to spend 399 a year on a suntanning course. The reader is more likely to respond to the style of writing that uses current colloquial or jargon expressions And lets face it, one hell of a habit and fork out than a style that they regard as being posh and old-fashioned. The message is though a horrific one but by using the generally speaking, light-hearted tone. Then there is no worry in frightening the reader, but if the your to frighten the casual reader and the reader were to associate this emotion with The Big Issue. For then the reader might never but another a copy again, therefore defeating the whole purpose of what is published for. The writer exclaims to the reader that sunbeds are dangerous and those who uses them are stupid and vain. The suppliers of the habit are abusive. The message is serious but the tone is generally light-hearted. The mood does change though, the evidence supplied by Jane Horwood is unwelcoming, and that provided by a medical expert is inflexible. The purpose of a headline is to attract the attention of a casual browser. Here the writer uses paradox. The reader is attracted firstly by the use of the word vampires, because our enjoyment of horror stories. The idea of the vampires being associated with sun, which is means death to them. The reader becomes eye-catchingly incongruous; curiosity is aroused so the reader wants to read on. Desperate for a sun fix straight away makes us think of a drug addiction, the gravity which is reinforced by the sinister implications of coffins, both images are very different but are powerful images. Then by a newly-coined image, tanorexics, this is a pun. However a pun is usually used humorously, as a joke, which associates two images. In this case this pun might make the reader have mixed emotions. By using the really amusing though, to associate what is usually regarded as a pastime with the desperately psychological problem of anorexia. The illustration is made to seen very unprofessional, but it does catch the browsers attention. The simultaneous associations with the coffins and cooked meat work. The writer forces the readers to place themselves in the situation, by using the repletion of you and youre. The article seeks to mock the sunbed. The opening uses ridiculous pictures plastic cocoon, weird blue light. The idea of the users being profoundly stupid, by mad suggestions. Have you been abducted by aliens for experimental tests? In the second paragraph the tone is unbreakable by another equally ridiculous picture. Walking raisins implying that the sun has similar effects on human skin as it has on grapes. The writer soon does become rather serous, after making sure that our interests has been attracted by o ther means. Suddenly suntanning become dangerous. Most people are aware of the dangers of smoking, so the bluntness of Its like smoking hits hard. The scenario of losing an infant as a result of suntanning is distressing. There are no jokes in this section. Religiously and Confesses which underlines the importance of the issue for the writer. We all know the adverts on television in which scientists in white coats are used to impress upon us the wonderful properties of toothpastes or headache cures. We naturally believe what we are told by experts. So Doctor Bishop is brought into the argument and a consultant dermatologist. We do not comprehend the jargon doctors use, but we always impressed by their specific language. We may not know what a UVB or UVA rays are and what they do not us. However most of us are inclined to believe what those who do know tell us about them. It is interesting that the writer is afraid perhaps of loosing their audience by using too many expressions that the general public do not understand, but the writer does give us some laymans explanation, as in the case of collagen and of elastin. Industries are commercial enterprises by mean of which people make money. We tend to see them in a big scale like the music industry. Where the profit motive is of the smallest significance, arent referred to as industries. The obvious implication of describing sun-tanning as industry is that its practitioners are only interested in profiting from their clients gullibility. Earlier we asked to feel sympathetic towards Jane Horwood suffering and were asked to understand that for her taking that wise decision, to end her habit. On the other hand Victoria Williams seems childish and selfish I wanted that heat and warmth on my body. In the final paragraph the writer completely ridicules the ideas of suntanning. Who says tanning isnt trendy? is, perhaps, another dig aimed at the people of the media, especially those who are advertising the industry. Secretive implies that those who carry on suntanning are aware of the dangers. It seemed his rugged outdoor tan was indoor variety accusing the ex political leader of using sunbeds to give a false impression of his life to the public. It make you look wealthier, like you can afford regular holidays seems false and unfashionably materialistic set against own background. Essex Man is a term of abuse- it reminds us of sub-human species associated with a particular 1980s stereotype, the selfish individual concerned only with himself and what he can get his hands on. This is a very cleverly written piece, in which the writer has matched their tone to their readership without compromising the sincerity and, ultimately, the intensity of their feeling. This however cant be coincidence. Barking, Echoes the phrase, barking mad and leave s in doubt how the writer feels about tanorexics. It can refer back to the Essex Man There no attempt at fairness in this piece, there is no balance of opinions, so asking the reader to draw their conclusions. The writer does have a point to make and scarcely attempts that there might be together points of view. Counter argument, when they appear, tend to be ridiculed, We probably havent learned anything new about suntanning, perhaps little in those who indulger in it, but the pieces might be considered as being amusing.

Cause and Effect Essay Example for Free

Cause and Effect Essay The dedication and self-motivation required to balancing schoolwork and practice is the most difficult part of being a student-athlete. I find that being a student-athlete plays out to be much harder than most people think. It’s very difficult especially at the beginning of the year, when it finally hits you that you’re growing up and finally have to do your own laundry. You’re not only getting your-self situated as far as classes go, but also meeting new people. You have to balance all the new tasks in your life as well as starting new relationships. One obvious cause of wanting to become a student-athlete is the persona. Everyone wants to be the star athlete and everyone wants to be the cool kid on the sports team that gets all the chicks. This is something that we were raised around, all the professional athletes getting praised as kings while walking around with a supermodel around their arm. I mean who wouldn’t want that kind of life? Being a student-athlete is something that you can take pride in. You want to take pride in yourself by representing your team in athletics but also want to further your education by acquiring a degree witch causes you to be a student athlete. It also makes you stand out among the rest because not only are you a full time student but also a full time athlete. Which gives you life skills like motivation and determination that you take with you through out life. Above all it gives your parents something to brag about to their siblings because their twenty three year old son is still living in their house, while flipping burgers down the street. The major cause of being a student-athlete is that you want to have friends. Sure being a student-athlete teaches you how to balance a crazy life style and creates better time management but it also allows you to create great friendships. With schoolwork and practice you usually don’t have socializing time but you will always have your teammates. Knowing this could cause you to become a student-athlete. The cause of student-athletes is when a person wants to thrive to better them self, they want to push themselves to new heights, they want an edge on their competition, want to hopefully find new friendships and in some cases they just want the praise of being a student-athlete. It takes a special person to want to be a student athlete for the right causes, and might need to be revaluated if all you want is the praise of being a student-athlete. A plus is that most of the student-athletes either quickly realize its not for them because their grades become less of an importance and cheerleaders along with a thirty rack becomes a priority, or they end up seeing the importance of education and find themselves succeeding in life. The first effect of a student-athlete is that you will develop physical abilities. Your body will be in better shape, and you’ll be able to achieve things that physically you couldn’t accomplish before. You will push your self to levels you didn’t think wherever possible to reach. You my not have your photo in all the papers and the model on your arm is more likely to be a cute hometown girl that you met at a party, but you have still accomplished more than you would have if you where a normal college student that sits in front on his video games all day, only leaving the room to buy more chips because he destroyed his last bag of Doritos. The second effect has to do with your personal life. Practicing a sport requires some time, plus schoolwork and everything else going in your life you usually don’t have time to lie around and be lazy. Which teaches you not only to have an amazing work ethic but also how to manage the time that you have. It also keeps you busy enough to stay out of trouble, most of the time. When you are playing for a team the name on the front means a hell of a lot more important than the name on the back. When you go some place to play your not representing your self, you’re representing your team and your university. There is only a fortunate bunch of people that get to put on a uniform to represent something bigger than them, so as a student-athlete you take pride in what you do, and you take advantage in representing your school every time you touch the field. The most important effect of being a student athlete is your teammates and your everlasting friendships. You will meet a lot of people being a student-athlete but only a small group of individuals will become your friends to the point you can call them your second family. That is the meaning of a team. As an athlete you will develop a strong character and a competitive spirit. You’ll become more disciplined and responsible, which will certainly help you in your professional life. Above all you develop relationships that can be unbreakable. You go through hell with each other, or as some people like to call it conditioning. You step on the field and go to battle with one another trusting that the other guys in the game will give as much effort if not more to win. You’ll get on each other’s nervous and sometimes get into fights, but no matter what at the end of the day you’ll always have your second family. The effect of being a student-athlete shapes your body, your life, and your mind in good ways. Practicing a sport, going to classes, doing homework and trying to balance a social life keeps you entertained and far away from boredom. In addition you will have the chance to experience the amazing feeling of success after all the hard work you put in to being a student-athlete. It’s worth all the early morning practices, and tough love conditioning to be able to see defeat in your opponents face. It’s worth all the seven o’clock classes, and professors’ monotone lectures to be able to see the overwhelming sense of joy on your mothers face as you receive you diploma. It’s worth the long bus rides, and all the tough losses to be able to have a group of guys you can call you’re family. Even though its hard work being a student-athlete is a great experience that will stay with you forever.

An Analysis Of The Company Virgin Marketing Essay

An Analysis Of The Company Virgin Marketing Essay Virgin Atlantic, the UKs second largest long haul airline, operates a fleet of 38 aircraft to 30 destinations in Africa, Asia, Middle East, Indian Ocean, North America, the Caribbean and Australia. In a deal which was finalized in 2000, Branson sold 49% stake of Virgin Atlantic to Singapore Airlines for  £600.25 million to form a unique global partnership. Richard Branson is still the controlling authority as he retains 51% stake in the airline. This essay analyses the chief internal and external factors that contribute to the success of the organisation as well as provide a critical assessment on the effectiveness of the strategies employed. It further discusses a couple of strategic options that are available to the Virgin group for the next five years with reference to appropriate academic models and concepts.   (Source: http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/tridion/images/studentinformationkitmarch2009_tcm4-622791.pdf)   Internal Analysis Of Virgin Atlantic In order to understand the strategies, it is important to analyse the internal environment of the organisation. Internal analysis is done by means of the value chain of the Virgin Atlantic. Value Chain Analysis Porters (1990) Value chain framework is an interdependent model that helps to analyse specific activities through which an organisation can create value and gain competitive advantage. (Pathania-Jain, 2001). To conduct the value chain analysis, the company is split into primary activities (those that are related with production) and support activities (those that provide the background necessary for effectiveness and efficiency of the firm like human resources management) (Porter, 1985). These activates are discussed below: Primary activities 1. Inbound and Outbound logistics: In Inbound logistics, the key activities are those associated receiving the raw materials from suppliers and managing them within the firm. These activities includes Stock Control (storing and managing fuel, snacks, food and drinks.), passenger service system, facilities planning etc (Fig. 1.1). It provides ample of facilities to its customers, it gives choice of three entrees with main meal, free drinks, an amenity kit for outbound journey, complimentary newspaper of passengers choice. The facilities keeps on increasing if you move from economy to upper class. The upper-class passenger gets limo service to travel to airport where check in formalities are already completed before they check in hotel style lobby area and through a dedicated security area exclusively for virgin airline customers. The upper-class UK passengers gets a complimentary airport transfer in chauffeur driven Volvo or Virgin Limo Bike which makes there outbound logistics quiet impressing to customers. (Source: http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/tridion/images/studentinformationkitmarch2009_tcm4-622791.pdf; http://www.virginatlantic.com/en/gb/allaboutus/ourstory/forstudents.jsp#operation) Operations: Virgin Atlantic is the second largest long haul airline in the UK and the third largest European carrier over the North Atlantic. It operates to many of the top destinations around the world including destinations in the Caribbean, US, India, Far east and Africa. It has won many awards almost in most categories that travel industry offers. 3. Marketing and Sales: Virgin Atlantic uses a wide range of marketing techniques. Advertising activity includes magazines, TV, taxi sides press, outdoor posters and direct mail. Also promotional schemes plays vital role during traditionally low seasons. To encourage loyalty, Virgin Atlantic offers flying club membership where in members gets free miles that can be exchanged for free flights and other rewards. In addition, Virgin Atlantic also advertises through travel agents and runs wide range of promotional schemes, offers trade incentive, organises trips and social/educational events. The website (www.virgin.com/atlantic) also plays vital role as it offers full electronic booking, give information on destination, informs mileage balance to members and different promotional schemes. (Source: http://www.virginatlantic.com/en/gb/allaboutus/ourstory/forstudents.jsp#operation) 3.Service: Virgin Atlantic has won numerous awards for its service and claims to set up new standards of service by pioneering range of innovations. For example, with respect to comfort during journey, its upper-class suite has longest and most comfortable flat bed and seat in airline industry for which alone it won twelve awards. For travelling from airport, virgin Atlantic offers limousine service and Bike service to its customers. Support activities: Firm Infrastructure: It includes planning and control systems, such as corporate strategy, accounting and finance. (Lynch, 2003). Virgin Atlantic expends heavily on technological solutions and infrastructure. The Finance department analyse the expenses due and financial condition of the group and accordingly plans the expenses necessary for growth of organisation. 2. Human Resource Management: Virgin Atlantic recruit people by means of newspaper advertisements and through its website. Existing staff can also recommend and earn incentive through the same. Virgin Atlantic gives world-class training to its employees and develops their employees from time to time by organising educational events. Also they recruit and train people with sign language skill to facilitate to disable passengers 3.Technology Development: Virgin Atlantic not only considers technological developments as vital for growth but also spends a lot on it. It has award winning in-flight entertainment system, travel seats and beds designed to give extra comfort. Also it is continuously working on innovative aircraft design and technological solution to reduce carbon emission 4. Procurement: Virgin Atlantic has an efficient procurement department, which obtains quality goods and services at lowest price so that the passengers can avail these world-class facilities at competitive prices. The department takes benefit of large operations of and thus achieve economies of scale. The department also interacts with a number of organisations that provide handling services at airports, Including baggage handling, refuelling, maintenance, cleaner services and security. These services are offered by a number of companies and can help in reducing costs. (Source: http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/tridion/images/studentinformationkitmarch2009_tcm4-622791.pdf; http://www.virginatlantic.com/en/gb/allaboutus/ourstory/forstudents.jsp#operation) External analysis of Virgin Atlantic To have a grasp of the existing market as well as consumer and stakeholder perception, an awareness of external factors is essential. This section will highlight the position that Virgin Atlantic holds with respect to competitors, social perception, etc. PESTEL Analysis An organisations business environment is invariably governed by external factors which can be broadly analysed as Political, Economical, Social and Technological factors. To gain an advantage in the present and future market the organisation needs to reduce inefficiency and retain cost effectiveness (Grant, 2005). As Virgin Atlantic operates within Europe, North America, Africa, Asia and Oceania, these factors differ to a certain degree and the manner in which competitors, political bodies and social groups react and respond to the brand has to be anticipated with some care. Political and Legal factors As Virgin Atlantic operates across the globe, it has to adapt its practices to suite national and international laws as well as domestic aviation rules and regulations. The manner in which competitors react to new market shares may also involve political influences. When the United Kingdom opened Heathrow Airport to Virgin, thereby abolishing the London Air Traffic Distribution Rules, angered the chairman of British Airways and lead to BAA donations to the Conservative Party being halted. Virgin also incurred the wrath of Lord King when two unused slots held by BAA at Tokyo Narita International Airport were awarded to the airlines (BAA, 2009). Economic factors It must be stated that the brief financial crisis of the early 1990s forced the then Conservative British government to open Heathrow to Virgin despite opposition from BAA. This shows how external economic conditions can sometimes be favourable to a rising organisation in grabbing a hitherto inaccessible monopolised market. One of the main economic factors that affect the airline industry in general is the fuel hike. Conrady (2009) notes that the low cost fuel prices provided to the UK airline industry has greatly assisted in it escaping the fate of many of its European counterparts. Social factors The social perception and acceptance of a brand is of vital importance to any organisation and Virgin Atlantic has managed to do that in a relatively short period. Virgin Atlantic has been vying for the position to instil in the British public the brand image of a national and international organisation. When British Airways announced in 1997 that it will remove the Union Flag from its tailfins in favour of more international images, Virgin was quick to introduce the Union flag prominently in its winglets and noses with the tagline Britains Flag Carrier thereby challenging BAs traditional role as UKs Flag Carrier. The training of its staff is also a major issue and is vital in gaining stakeholders and achieving stakeholder targets (Nadal, 2009). The service staff need to have proper training to meet the high standards of service which is expected of it by the consumers as a hallmark of the airline industry. Technological factors As an industry that heavily relies on technology, the technological factor is the most essential factor in improving efficiency in the longer term. Virgin has managed to introduce more than 700 next generation aeroplanes, which provides a marking contrast to most of its competitors. According to Briggs and Burke (2009) this also minimises maintenance and training costs in the long run. Virgins initiative to focus on providing online service will also have a marked benefit as more and more consumers are being introduced into the World Wide Web on a daily basis. Consumers are thereby allowed to get up-to-date information regarding flight schedules and compare airline prices. Environmental factors Environmental concerns have also been a frequent issue as the airline industry is notorious as a major polluter. Many campaigns have tried to befriend or at least calm the environmental lobbies but more effort must be put into projecting the image of an organisation that is doing its bit for the environment. Virgin has focused on informing consumers about the CO2 pollution before each flight. The duty free bags are now composed of a significant proportion of recyclable material in compliance with the Ministry of Agriculture (Wheeler and Elkington, 2001). Critical assessment of the virgin Atlantics strategies The above-defined analysis conforms the strategy of Virgin Atlantic as being excellent service provider, it makes its path by providing distinct service. The corporate strategy of the organisation is to provide world-class service at a competitive price. The companys strategy is well supported by statement of Porter (1996), which says that executing the same activities in a different way than that of traditional competitors helps in achieving better position in sustainable manner. The company enters oligopoly market where customer usually receives poor deal and there is a scope of acquiring market by giving better services. To raise awareness of their products and services and new routes, Virgin Atlantic advertises through TV, press, magazines etc. Another strategy that organisation use is to make customers loyal by making them member of there flying club . The flying club offers numerous world-class facilities which will not only help in satisfying the customer but also gaining customer loyalty. The more customers travel through them, the more miles they get which can be exchanged with free flight and other rewards. They also get special support service and clubhouse access. Also during traditional low seasons, tactical promotions and price advertising are done to a large extent to maximize the aircraft capacity. In addition to all these, Virgin Atlantic also market through travel agents by offering them familiarisation trips, trade incentives. (Source: https://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/frequentflyer/index.jsp; http://www.virginatlantic.com/en/gb/allaboutus/ourstory/forstudents.jsp) Effectiveness of strategies chosen SWOT Analysis According to Johnson (2005) SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) is a useful tool to examine financial accounts and developing healthy work environment of a company. It is a major step towards any strategic planning in a business. It is considered to be very important source of information for judging and understanding any sort of situations in the organisation. Given below is the SWOT analysis for Virgin Atlantic. Strengths Virgin Atlantic is headquartered in country where competition is enhanced and tolerated due to deregulation The virgin Atlantic has the head office in the country where the contest is heightened and tolerated due to the deregulation, which means the business is managed without the aid of following government restriction. The important feature of the Virgin Atlantic is the collaboration with Singapore airlines that made them one of the best airlines in the world. This has proven to be advantageous for virgin in many ways like huge market access, restructuring, converging technology to develop new one, gaining knowledge and extending supply etc. The strength of the Virgin group perhaps, is its importance to best customer service and innovation combined with brand name gives a big advantage to Virgin Atlantic. Virgin believes in creativity, adding its importance to customer service and innovation with the brand name virgin proves out to be the biggest strength of Virgin Atlantic. Its has introduced many firsts in the business like first to launch entertainment systems, onboard bars which increased social activities in-flight, providing complimentary limousines services, beauty treatments in-flight. It further introduced business economy cabin. It also has a website that dedicated to what a customer can expect from the airline and all other conclusive details of interest. Virgin has a powerful e-business structure that makes communications simpler and easier with the customers. They continually measure the performance delivered by each crewmember on flights. An additional feather to their cap is the exceptional service tin providing assistance to disabled/visually-impaired passengers. It not only helped in earning good reputation but also winning EASE award consecutive four years. (Source:http://www.virgin-Atlantic.com/en/gb/whatsonboard/index.jsp;http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/allaboutus/ourstory/history.jsp) Weaknesses The major drawback Virgin Atlantic faces is limited market reach as unlike other major international airlines. It operates in limited countries only like UK, Caribbean, South Africa, India, Australia, and US The companies reach in code sharing is limited hence it is not able to enjoy the benefits of code sharing which the members of leading Global alliance are able to do such as lack of transferable priority status, lack of seamless travel, lack of enhanced frequent-flier program benefits, limited extended lounge access and lack of greater network access. This is because Virgin Atlantic is not part of any leading global alliances. (Source: http://www.virginatlantic.com/en/gb/allaboutus/ourstory/forstudents.jsp)   Opportunities Virgin Atlantic is one of the few airline companies operating successfully in African countries, gradual liberalisation in UK/south African market leading to 53% rise in flights and 62% increase in passengers. The business has increased incredibly. There are few more cities, which can be considered for hospitality service based on the smooth record of the airline. Some of the very well known and large airlines have experienced bankruptcy in recent times providing them a great opportunity. Also the European Union is on their side providing to a be great support. Going forward, Virgin still have a great scope to grow in African market as only the British and African airways in dominating the continent and virgin comes at third position. It should focus on increasing the market share in Africa. Another opportunity available with Virgin Atlantic is attracting customers by aggressively promoting the clubhouse facilities and introduction of its latest Heathrow clubhouse. The number of tourist coming to UK is increasing day by day which is an opportunities available to them but in competitive environment, its quiet tough but strategic and aggressive marketing can make it possible.      Threats The current situation all over the world has lead to increase in competition so there is high possibility of threat due to competitiveness in the market which in turn creates pressure to maintain continuous profit. This would in turn lead to forceful alliances, mergers and acquisitions which might not be in the interest of the company. Other issue of concern is accommodation of passengers on the aircraft. Other threat may be the legislations i.e. changing policies and rules by government in the country where Virgin Atlantic operates. This may slowdown the operations and business of the company. Another major threat is emergence of new airlines, which can increase competition. Also if new airlines or existing competitors adopt Virgin Atlantics concept and structure, it will be a major threat to the company Strategic options for Virgin media: Ansoff Matrix: The Ansoff matrix (Ansoff, 1957) invented by Igor Ansoff who is also known as father of Strategic Management and was first published in Harvard business review in 1957. It presents the product and market choices available to an organization. In this markets may be defined as customers and products as items sold to customers (Lynch, 2003). Main aspects of Ansoff Analysis The Ansoff matrix provides the basis for an organizations objective setting process and sets the foundation of directional policy for its future (Bennett, 1994). The four strategies entailed in the matrix are elaborated below. Ansoff Product-Market Growth Matrix: (Ansoff, 1957) Market Penetration: It occurs when an organisation accesses a market with its recent services products. The market penetration strategy begins with the existing customers of the organization. This strategy is often use by companies in order to increase sales without wandering from the original strategy of product-market. (Ansoff, 1957). Product Development: Firm develops new products catering to the same market. This strategy refers to the significant new development of products not just minor changes to the existing products (Lynch, 2003). Market development In this particular strategy, a company moves beyond its existing customer base in search of new customers for its existing products and services. This strategy involves searching of new segment of a market, searching of new area to attract new customers, different/new use of products and services. (Lynch, 2003). Another good strategy that comes under market development is selling existing products in new international markets. (for example British firms can consider of selling there products in complete European markets). Diversification Levitt (1983) rightly whispered that world these days is becoming common market and people no matter where they live are demanding similar product and lifestyle. There has been a massive raise in international trade because of globalisation and liberalization. Diversification strategy essentially involves movement of current products and services in new markets (Lynch, 2003; Macmillan et al, 2000). All four strategic options defined above in the Ansoffs model bears risk element with them. Although Market penetration is often considered as a low risk strategy but diversification is considered as a high-risk growth strategy as it involves huge investment that increases due to simultaneously movement into new products and new markets. When applied to Virgin Atlantic, this model results in to two vital strategic options available. Product development strategy and the Market development strategy, to become the most successful organization Virgin Atlantic should follow both of them. The product development strategy suggested through Ansoffs matrix can be a very good strategy for Virgin Atlantic because of the type of customer base, the company possess. The company has good customer base of upper class families and corporate tycoons. If the company introduce new products or sub products, they can market it to these existing customers. The company should focus on strengthening the relationship with existing clients often known as Relationship marketing. One of the ways to achieve it is being in contact with them, giving them special offers, and at times offering them concession. If they are given special facilities and excellent services then it will develop brand loyalty in them. Another option available with Virgin Atlantic is market development strategy which involves search of additional geographical regions and additional market segment. If we compare the flights/services offered by Virgin Atlantic with British airlines, there is a large gap. Although Virgin Atlantic is UKs second largest airline but it operates flights to only 26 major destinations whereas against BA has flights to more than 150 odd destinations. Virgin Atlantic should increase the number of destinations, which can be done after carefully analysing the facts and figures about the population, operations, flights of competitors etc. Also Virgin Atlantic group should focus on developing country (Asia Pacific Region) as the growth prospects ate higher than developed countries. China and India are two developing countries with highest population and expected compounded growth rate in this region in 2007-2012 will be 5.2%. The manufacturing cost is comparatively low in these countries making them attractive destination for business. Also it will be a sound decision to outsource operational work to these countries. Virgin Atlantic is famous for luxurious flights as it offers world-class facilities to their passengers but in this competitive environment they are not offering anything price conscious economy class passengers. They should introduce no frills flight with the objective of earning profits on economy of scales. With this strategy they will not only diversify their risk but can potentially capture a new segment using their brand name and service. Conclusion: To conclude, after analysing internal and external factors of the Virgin Atlantic, it has been observed that Virgin group has grown massively and became world-class brand following the path of virgin group but it is still in path as there is a massive scope of growth which can be realised by combination of two strategies. They are product development and market development and market development. If used appropriately, they can help Virgin Atlantic to

how i got cultured :: essays research papers

In the book How I Got Cultured, Phyllis Barber tells the story of her childhood in a western Mormon household. Through stories and episodes of her early life she descriptively explains the difficulties she faces between her Mormon values and her desire to become a successful star. She wants to be noticed, and be the center of everything, and the Mormon Faith allows very little tolerance for this behavior in that they are a very conservative group. She uses her talents and abilities to assist her in her search of her â€Å"culture†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I can definitely relate to Phyllis Barber in this dilemma, though she comes from a totally different faith and also era. Growing up in a strict Christian household gives me a sense of what Barber is trying to tell us in her memoir. When I was younger I played football and was crushed when the season in my seventh grade year came to an end when my mother wouldn’t let me play because it interrupted my Christian life, in that I wasn’t attending youth group during the week anymore.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In contrast to Barber, my childhood environment was extremely rich with culture and the battle between right and wrong was a very difficult one in that perception of right and wrong differentiated between faith and the real world. Barber struggled to find her â€Å"culture.† She frequently speaks of the Hoover Dam, I think she refers to the Hoover Dam as a symbol that represents the separation that I talked about. She is stuck between two worlds: Mormonism and a place where talent could forge it’s own path. She describes that the Dam separates Arizona and Nevada. In my opinion, this is a direct reflection of her life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Not only is Barber constricted by her Mormon faith to live the life she dreams of, but she is faced with the moral value of a woman perceived in the fifties. She isn’t â€Å"supposed† to want the things that she does, or dream the dreams she dreams at night. She is â€Å"supposed† to be quiet and stand to the side and not â€Å"shine.† She continues to tell not only of her love for attention through music, but also through dance. She is introduced to ballet, which, to say the least, begins to satisfy her quench for culture. Throughout the book she is exposed t many amazing people, and learns much from them.

government-controlled investment :: essays research papers

Some argue that personal retirement accounts would be a mistake and that the government instead should set up its own investment fund to help finance future benefit payments. The good news is that this indicates a growing awareness that  ¡Ã‚ °pre-funding ¡Ã‚ ± (i.e., accumulating assets) is a necessary component of Social Security reform. The bad news, however, is that government-controlled investment is the wrong answer to the wrong question. It assumes that policymakers should focus solely on balancing the program ¡Ã‚ ¯s revenues and expenditures. This ignores the other Social Security crisis ¡Ã‚ ªthe fact that the tax burden on today ¡Ã‚ ¯s workers is extraordinarily high compared to the benefits received (often referred to as the rate-of-return crisis). But even if balancing Social Security ¡Ã‚ ¯s long-term finances were the only goal, government-controlled investment would be the wrong answer. This is because a government-controlled pension fund would not face the competitive pressure and legal obligation to make investments solely for the economic benefit of future retirees. As one expert has explained: Giving the federal government that power and control would create large risks for the economy and for the retirement security of today ¡Ã‚ ¯s workers. The Congressional Budget Office, for instance, has warned: For example, evidence at the state and local levels with public employee pension funds ¡Ã‚ ªas well as evidence from similar arrangements in other nations ¡Ã‚ ªdemonstrates that politicians and their appointees often are tempted to steer the government-controlled pot of money toward special interests, political allies, or corporate contributors. In addition, even well-intentioned policymakers are not qualified to invest funds and manage money. Simply stated, they do not face the bottom-line pressures that force private businesses and investors to allocate resources wisely. Yet poor investment decisions have serious consequences. Most important, workers would earn lower returns on their money, and even small differences in rates of return translate into less retirement income.

Grief Counselling Essay

Attachment, loss and the experience of grief. Attachment Theory founded by John Bowlby (1977) it explains how we as humans obtain affectionate bonds with others and how when they are threatened how we as humans tend to react. He suggests that these attachments come from a need for security and safety. (P7) when it comes to loss of a loved one it then explains how we as humans are very much the same as the animal world in the way that we grieve a loved one. Grief is the term used to describe the loss that someone has experienced , morning is the process that the person goes through in adapting to the loss bereavement defines the loss to which the person is adapting to. Grief affects people in very different ways it can effect them physically, emotionally and cognitively, all of this can effect the way in which people function and go about there everyday life, this is all very normal and everyone who is grieving will go though this process in one way or another. Chapter 2 25-47 understanding the mourning process. Since mourning is a process, it has been viewed in various ways, primarily as stages, phases, and tasks of mourning. The tasks of mourning are: to accept reality; to experience the pain; to adjust to environment without loved one including external, internal and spiritual adjustments; to relocate and memorialize loved one. The second task in this chapter is that of the counsellor who is helping the client through the grieving process. The counsellor needs to look at the following things; the person who died, nature of attachment, circumstances of death, personality mediators, historical mediators, social mediators, concurrent changes. Chapter 3 51-80 Grief counseling Facilitating uncomplicated grief Grief counselling is not for everyone who has had a loss, most people are able to work though the mourning process on their own without any outside help. Some may just need time to process their loss and time to try and rebuild their lives after the loss this can be done on their own or some ay need the help of a counsellor to walk alongside them. The counsellor then needs to identify weather or not the bereaved fits into the at risk Category, at risk meaning at risk of falling into the category on complicated grief. Some medications can be helpful when going through the grief process, but are mainly helpful in dealing with anxiety issues or insomnia issues. Grief counselling can also be effective in counselling the be reaved as it gives them more support than just the counsellor. Chapter 4 83- 98 Abnormal Grief reactions: Complicated Mourning. This is looking at why people fail to grieve. Many factors can stand in the way as to why people fail to grieve. These are; relational factors, these are what type of relationship did the person have with the deceased. Circumstantial Factor; this relates to the circumstances of the loss they can be a hindrance if there is uncertainty as to how the deceased died. Historical factor; if the person has had trouble grieving in the past they may have trouble grieving in the future. Personality Factors; some are unable to cope with distress and this makes it hard for them to grieve appropriately.

Complexometric Determination of Water Hardness

Complexometric Determination of Water Hardness Abstract: Create a standardized EDTA solution for use as a titration solution to determine the hardness of water from a single random sample. Introduction: Using a calibrated EDTA solution to determine water hardness from a random sample. Essentially the Na2EDTA solution reacts one to one with the mineral content of a sample of tap water and by use of a standardized solution a ppm estimation can be obtained for the hardness of water.Current knowledge in this area is well understood and procedures used follow generally accepted guidelines. Method: First the calibration was completed using an approximately . 7340g Na2EDTA/500mL solution. A 1. 000g/L calcium ion solution was used as the primary standard with approximately 3mL of ammonium chloride as a buffer and Erichrome Black T as the indicator solution. Three titrations were performed to ensure accuracy of the molarity of the Na2EDTA solution. The 1. 000g/L calcium ion solution had to be converted to M so 1g/L/100. g=. 009990M calcium ion solution. Titration 1: 10. 00mL CaCO3; . 00999MCaCO3X. 0100L= . 0000999mol CaCO3 . 0000999mol EDTA/. 002507L = . 00398M Na2EDTA Titration 2: 10. 00mL CaCO3; . 00999MCaCO3X. 0100L= . 0000999mol CaCO3 . 0000999mol EDTA/. 02339L = . 004271M Na2EDTA Titration 3: 9. 95mL CaCO3; . 00999MCaCO3X. 0100L= . 0000994mol CaCO3 . 0000994mol EDTA/. 02367L = . 004196M Na2EDTA Since the first titration is so far out from the other two it was thrown out giving an average result of . 04233M Na2EDTA Sample B was used in this experiment with at 25mL and three titrations were performed to ensure accuracy with the same buffer solution (appx 3mL ammonium chloride @ pH10). A magnetic stirrer and standard burette were used in the procedure with a read accuracy to . 01mL. Eriochrome Black T was the indicator solution. Results: Titration 1: 12. 52mL Na2EDTA; . 00423M Na2EDTA x . 01252L = . 0000530 mol . 0000530mol/. 02496L = . 00212M hardness Titration 2: 12 . 19mL Na2EDTA; . 00423M Na2EDTA x . 01219L = . 0000516 mol . 0000516mol/. 2499L = . 00206M hardness Titration 1: 12. 23mL Na2EDTA; . 00423M Na2EDTA x . 01223L = . 0000517 mol .0000517mol/. 02505L = . 00206M hardness (. 00212M+. 00206M+. 00206M)/3 = . 00208M Discussion: The results are very consistent however the website for checking the data is no longer valid. Provided that the titration solution was calibrated properly the results from the experiment to determine the hardness of water should be accurate with a margin of consistency between samples vs. average hardness @ 1. 89% at most for any of the three samples.

Out of School Youths Essay

Out of school youth means having a vulnerable people who have needs. Nobody can deny the hard fact that education is an extremely important factor for bringing change in the lives of individuals. It has universally been recognized as the most powerful instrument and pre-requisite for gearing up the socio-economic development of a nation. In fact, it can be said that it is a pre-condition for the overall up-lift and welfare of a nation. This is why investment in education is considered to be so vital for human resource development and the enhancement of the quality of manpower. The history of humankind, in general, and that of developed nations of the worked, in particular, is replete with the precedents, which establish the fact that a certain level of literacy in population is an essential pre-requisite for precipitating the process of development in a country. The segment of society that plays the most active part in the socio-economic development of any country/region consists of the adolescents. It is clear that the composition and characteristics of this most crucial part of population goes a long way in expediting the process of national development and influencing the policy makers and planners in their planning and decision making for the future. In this way, the adolescents act as a sort of a â€Å"pressure group† that exerts a far-reaching impact on the process of educational planning as well as on the other developmental activities of the country.

Conceptions of women and the foreigner Essay

In the ancient Greek life, women’s role was always considered to be quite insignificant as compared to the role of the Greek men. However, in most tragedies women were the major and integral characters who revealed some insights on the way the women happened to be treated and also thought in the entire society. Medea is maybe the most complex and fascinating character when we look closely to the Greek’s drama. She is an immense and an ultimate mixture of villain, heroine as well as the victim as displayed in the play. She was married to Jason who was a Greek man who she had decided to follow from the foreign land. Her love was deep and when Jason decided to leave her in order to marry Creon’s daughter she was extremely furious (Euripides1907, lines. 1-24). From there we see her getting involved in some acts of revenge. Her acts of murder are the ultimate start of revenge towards her children and her ex-husband. Despite all this catastrophes, Medea is a character to sympathize with. She decided to give up all that she had because of her love for Jason. She betrayed her family and murdered her brother, she left her home because of the love she had for Jason to a foreign land and she became a mother to please his husband yet she had no any desire to have children (Euripides, 1907,line,248). Even after Jason had known of all the sacrifices that Medea had had for him, he still had to leave her for a Greek princess. Medea’s love was quite immense and Jason’s betrayal ended up damaging her mind completely and revenge became the only comfort that she had in her power. She ended up killing the Greek princess using the cleverest chess that was available and her children. Though Medea is portrayed as one of the most frightening characters, it is crucial to compare her ethical concerns and the scheming shallow hollows of her ex husband. Medea accompanies her Antigone as the most defining heroines in the ancient Greek drama. She ended up defying her main role as the helpless and happy housewife and refutes to accept betrayal without revenging. Medea decided to abandon all the gender roles in the ancient society of Greek. She defied some perceptions of gender through portraying both female and male tendencies. She decided to detach herself from all the womanly emotions and acted in a way that the society did not see appropriate for women. In the ancient Greek, murder was an issue that was never associated with the women though Medea in the play committed a series of murder including her own children (Euripides, 1907, 207-213). It is therefore imperative to analyze at length the concepts of women and the foreigners in the Greek tragedies basing the rationale as portrayed by Medea. In the play, Medea is portrayed as a foreign witch. She is treated irrationally throughout the play by various people at divergent times. She then changes her whole character and finally triumphs over Jason. She is feasibly seen as the mortal woman and Aristotle’s hero figure as well as the goddess. Women’s rights have been neglected throughout the play and women have no voice. Medea changes all that in her revenge against Jason and her own children. Foreigners and women were loathed and had no any place in the society and were not supposed to have any powerful position. It is a play portraying chauvinism, women treated unfairly and their work portrayed as only meant to bear children. Though to an extent we see the evil deeds of Medea, we also have a glimpse on the reasons behind her deeds. She is a foreigner and to the Greeks she will always be a Barbarian. Her acts make it even hard for her as she gets hated more. Even other women treat her suspiciously. Medea is portrayed as a foreigner in her land and in her own home who has no any common feature with the Corinth women. All she had was Jason and the children. Before she got married she was viewed as a princess and later became an outcast. Women and foreigners in the Greek tragedy were portrayed as disenfranchised, slaves and were unrepresented. The acts of Medea have contradicted the view of the society that the women are the main givers of life and that the men end up taking it away. It is quite unacceptable because of the fact she is the mother to the children. Killing a member of the family was usually frowned upon in the ancient Greece like it is done today. Medea has portrayed extreme pride which is usually stereotyped as one of the characteristic of the male species. She decided to sacrifice all that she had even her reputation in order to restore her own reputation (Sophocles, Euripides & Aeschylus, 2004). It has always been a common belief that the major weakness in a woman is the children but in this case this is not so. Her pride has prevailed other maternal instincts. Medea aims to seek vengeance in the same intense force to rectify a situation just like a man would. A woman who is seeking for revenge usually challenges the societal views of women as passive and weak. Medea is dwelling on self pity until she contrives to a scheme that will avenge how much she has been hurt. Wallowing is usually a quality that is attributed to the women in the society. Medea was so sad with her life after her marriage to Jason ended that she only wanted to die. The common opinion in the society is that the women usually use trickery and deceit in order to achieve their main goals in life. Medea in this case is not an exception as she persuades Creon to permit her to stay at least one day in Corinth as she pretends that she is preparing for exile while in the actual sense she was just planning on how she will carry out the murder acts to her enemies as well as children (Euripides1907, pp. 198). Medea in the entire play has defied the stereotypes of both female and male characters. She has shown some immense emotions portrayed by both sexes. At times she acts as an ultimate man and others as a woman. The Greeks had an immense suspicion when it came to foreigners and always thought of all of them to be barbarians. With Medea, Euripides has confronted this prejudice issue by deciding to honor foreigners with some roles of a tragic heroine and making her one of the most intelligent character in the entire play. The playwright has also confirmed numerous Greek stereotypes of the foreigners through making Medea overly passionate, wild and vengeful. Medea is a very powerful and tragic heroine who gets to achieve successful vengeance and ends up escaping with impunity. In some scenarios, she is portrayed to be a submissive and weak who commits no any crime (Paul, 2006, pp. 1321-4853). Allan (2003, pp. 143) asserts that beneath Medea’s personality there lies a credible, coherent and an effective character who portrays an immense sense of justice and whose humiliation and revenge drive her to go for the revenge. He also notes that Medea’s actions and plans were affected by her main status as a foreigner and a woman and not as a mortal avenger. Euripides in his play is fascinated by the acts of women as well as the contradictions that do exist in the Greek understanding of the term gender. His treatment of the women is so sophisticated. Medea’s starting speech to the chorus is the most rational and eloquent statement on the injustices that befall the women species. He recognizes that the major position of the female and their style of subordination to men are coming from the social order that prevails in Greece. Medea is not really a role model as far as feminist is concerned. Euripides has portrayed the difficulties that women went through. He portrays an image of a real woman who has suffered and has been twisted by her suffering. It is not a story on women liberation but rather it is a war that exists between sexes. The other key is a major theme. Medea’s foreignness has been emphasized from the beginning. In the very first opening lines, the nurse reminds us that Medea is from an exotic and a distant land. The foreignness aspect is portrayed as barbaric, exotic, fearful and unknown. The issue of exile has also been portrayed in the play. Modern readers and audiences have a great difficulty when trying to conceive on the concept of exile and how much it was horrible for the Greeks. Homes and cities were considered as the major source of protection. Wandering with no friends and shelter was seen as a great fate which was much horrible than death itself. Medea just for the sake of husband made herself to be the exile. She goes away from home, have no friends or family who can offer protection to her. The theme of exile has been linked with women’s position. In emphasizing some of the circumstances in which women have to bear after marriage like leaving their homes and staying with strangers. Medea reminds us of the worst conditions in exile. Her position is a grave situation since she is already an exile in reality and portrays the fact that all women in reality are exiles. She is a foreigner thus to all the Greeks she will always remain a barbarian. In the play the issue of cleverness and cunning is also evident. These traits though they ought to be admired cause a lot of suffering to Medea. Her intellect, force and strength exceed her station of operation. Though the Greeks to an extent have some respect for her, they are seen treating her smugly just because she is a woman and a foreigner. She is surrounded by some people who are less resourceful and less intelligent than her. She is despised because of her own talents that ought to have won her praise. Since she is a foreigner she therefore behaves without morality and any restraint. In the chorus, we see how much Medea is pitied but also it reveals that women ought to endure. We see Medea entering and delivering a monologue on the sufferings that women go through. Though women are creatures that can feel and think, they have to endure some indignities in the society. Men are meant to bear arms but women are supposed to bear children (Medea 214-224, 2006, pp. 115). The theme of women and their position has been emphasized in the play. To just allege that Euripides was a great feminist can only be a major oversimplification and anachronism. What is factual is that Euripides is fascinated by the difficulties and women’s position. Through examining the treatment that women are accorded, Euripides has also revealed some of the injustices in the society. He is savvy of how art has been wrongly used in defaming the character of women and how smart it has been used in recognizing that most fables and myths of the Greeks male dominated orders through teaching women on how to accept as well as enjoy subjugation. Medea who is a woman and a foreigner has portrayed numerous specifics of the life of Greeks that are universal in today’s society. A woman when she gets married ought to leave her home in order to join her own family. Therefore she is portrayed as an outsider. Women are not meant to socialize freely as men, while men can roam wildly and indulge with other women. Medea has made herself as the main spokesman on the suffering of women thus has secured the secrecy and loyalty of the main chorus. Foreigners were people who were disliked in Greek. In the play we see how much King Aeetes’s hated the foreigners. â€Å"A great anger filled King Aeete’s heart as he listened. He did not like foreigners, any more than Greeks did, he wanted them to keep away from his country, and he himself said to himself, â€Å"if these strangers had not eaten at my table I would kill them† (Jimmison, 2009). The image of Medea and the barbarian king was irrational, magic, frightening and issues to do with some supernatural powers had no any place in the Greek mythology. As a foreigner, Medea only expected suffering since this myth was created in the Greek image of a Barbarian woman. Medea has shown numerous heroic qualities that were uncommon among the Greek women. She is even willing to kill her brother just to be with Jason. In Greek, women murdering acts were quite rare and this is something that was not supposed to happen at al. To some extent, Medea is reacting to the inferior status of injustice that women were accorded. Central to the entire plot, is Medea’s foreign origins and how they are really related to her main actions. Generally women in the play have been portrayed as creatures with very few rights. As far as men were concerned, women were only supposed to cook and clean, do some house chores and bear children. They had no imperative votes like the right to own property, vote or choose their own husbands and they had to be presented in any legal proceedings that were taking place. They were just like slaves. Though some of Medea’s actions were untypical of what a Greek woman was supposed to possess, to some extent she also had emotions and attitudes of a common woman. She speaks against some of the women’s rights and how they have no any choice to whom they decide to get married to and men can get rid of a woman in order to get whatever they wanted (Euripides, 1907,pp. 231-247). In the play we see Medea portraying some emotional attitudes of a woman and a mother. She says, â€Å"Poor heart, let them go, have pity upon the children (Euripides, 1907,pp, 1057). Also in the play women are portrayed as faithful. Medea talks of how she helped her ex husband during his quest of the Golden Fleece and even helped him to escape to an extent of killing his own brother for him (Euripides, 1907,pp. 476-483). The fact that she decided to betray her family just to be with Jason shows her sense of loyalty. Though women and foreigners were portrayed as minorities with no say, the play also shows that they were resourceful and clever. Instead of using physical force in accomplishing her plans of revenge, she went ahead to use her mind instead. She asserts, â€Å"it is best to †¦ make away with them with poison† (Euripides, 1907,pp384-385). She poisons Jason’s wife as well as the King of Corinth though she poisons them indirectly. Medea’s act of murder against her own children is because of her barbarian origins. The major reason why Jason decided to let go of Medea and marry a princess is in order for her to have a higher status and material wealth through getting married to the king’s daughter (Euripides, 1907,pp553-554). It is lucid hence to note that Jason had a belief that Medea’s foreign origins were a burden and a distracter to him since there was a stigma that was related to that. Medea’s foreign status is also a major burden to her. Once they got separated, she became an outsider and had no any place to go since barbarians were never highly thought in the Greek society. If Medea was not a foreigner, then it is possible that Jason would not have divorced her. Medea is a play that portrays the real ancient Greeks and their attitudes towards the foreigners and women. Women were supposed to be seen and not heard and thus Medea surprises the Greek society since she goes against the norms. Women were supposed to bear children and take care of their husbands. The women’s rights were less considered and there was no way women could equal men. The foreigners had no any right and were also treated unfairly. It is a play revealing some of the heroic acts of women and what they had to go to get noticed in the society. Works Cited Allan, William. Euripides: Medea. 2002. London: Duckworth, pp. 143 Euripides. Medea. 1907. USA: Oxford University Press. Euripides, Sophocles & Aeschlus. Five Great Greek tragedies. USA: Courier Dover publications. 2004. Jimmison. The idea of foreigner in Euripide’s and Seneca’s Medea. Retrieved 11, July, 2010

Brian Piccolo A Short Story Essay Research

Brian Piccolo A Short Story Essay, Research Paper BRIAN PICCOLO: A SHORT SEASON The book, # 8220 ; Brian Piccolo: A Short Season # 8221 ; by Jeannie Morris, truly depicts how one # 8217 ; s true dream can go shattered by the monstrous disease that has come to be known as Cancer. One might believe that this book is a deadening, no-point book, but rather to the contrary. More books like this one demand to be out on the shelves today to truly exemplify to those healthy people out there that life is non ever merely a bowl of cherries. There are people out at that place enduring and malignant neoplastic disease has ruined, if non taken, there lives. Brian Piccolo was a running back for the Chicago Bears in the late 60 # 8217 ; s. One dark, during a game, # 8220 ; Pic # 8221 ; , as his refrends referred to him, had made two touchdowns on his ain. After his last touchdown, nevertheless ; Pic began to experience light headed and naseaus. Once to the touchdown zone, Brian fell to his articulatio genuss in torment and collapsed. The cause for this was due to a big tumour in his organic structure that turned out to be mallignent. Once the physicians tried to travel on and take the tumour, they were shocked to see that it was the size of a Citrus paradisi. His married woman, Joy Piccolo, stood at his side the full operation and everynight at that place after. Brian and Joy were what most people would name the # 8220 ; ideal # 8221 ; twosome. Brian was the All-American hardworking jock, while Joy was the loving supportive married woman that stood by his side no affair what his successes or failures might convey. Brian lived through the operation, but so the Piccolo’s got another piece of put offing piece of intelligence. What was this piece of intelligence, you might be inquiring yourself. The reply is in the book, â€Å"Brian Piccolo: A Short Season† by Jeannie Morris. This book traces the life and decease of a ace hwo had a dream. A dream to do his loving fans happy and to go a large name in the National Football League. With his friends and household, Brian will populate on. The writer of this book, Jeannie Morris, was a close friend of the Piccolos. Once the full quandary that the Piccolo # 8217 ; s were in was all said and done, Joy asked Jeannie if she would complete the book that Brian started. And the remainder is history. Jeannie completed the book and began a fund that helped in the research of malignant neoplastic disease and in the research to happening the remedy for the deathly disease that comes in so many signifiers. In shutting, one of Pic # 8217 ; s best friends, Gale # 8220 ; Magic # 8221 ; Sayers, went to an awards ceremonial for the George S. Halas award, an award given to jocks who show above mean character, public presentation, stature, and is viewed in the public oculus as a hero. This award was given to Sayers and was quoted as stating this: # 8220 ; I accept the George S. Halas award for Brian Piccolo, a beloved friend of mine. It is mine today, it is his tomorrow # 8230 ; I love Brian Piccolo and I # 8217 ; d like you to love him, excessively. Tonight, when you hit your articulatio genuss, delight inquire God to love him, excessively # 8230 ; # 8221 ; -Gale Sayers, 1970

Wildlife Photography for the Amateur Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Wildlife Photography for the Amateur - Essay Example This passion must have also been through vast experiences with nature, though trekking, mountain climbing, biological studies, or even habitual adventurism. Subject matter refers to the focus, the topic, or the object and image of the photographer's interest. In wildlife photography, subject matter refers to any living, non-living or moving object in the wildlife, but mostly, the animals. The subject matter like any topic of conversation can be tackled in various ways. For time specified, the subject matter may be shoot during night, at dawn, at noon, break of dawn, dusk, day time, all the time except when there is disruption of the natural existence of the subject and its environment, or there is much more danger than can be handled. For themes, subject matter may be viewed and shot when resting, sleeping, eating, basking in the sun, attacking a prey, gathering food, walking, or any interesting act the subject may be doing which the photographer may find novelty, or interest. Wildlife photography... The Elias and Katmai National Parks of Alaska (Donahue, 2003) provide for the best locations of sighting, and shooting Grizzly or brown bears. Both parks provide a wide range of landscapes that include wild Brooks River, snowy vastness, forest, hilly or mountainous as well as rocky terrain. The bears, either solo, in group, in family, and in action provide the perfect subjects as they eat berries, patiently wait for the catch, chase gulls, fish for salmon by the falls, climb hills or mountains, or tackle the cold, wild water. Sufficient knowledge about the terrain, as well as about bears must be born in mind by the amateur photographer prior to traveling and taking photos of this subject. It pays to be with a professional guide or another professional photographer to embark on a doubly dangerous a mission as taking photos of bears in Alaska. Frost-bite, the rugged terrain, as well as the possibility of being attacked by the subject must be of foremost consideration. With proper distance and the equipment support which necessitates long-range telephoto lenses, take the subject in their best forms or actions. The bears of Alaska provide for revealing photos of "family" among the beasts, diversity of their sustenance, as well as the skills and patience they exhibit in catching their fish meals. Bears are also surprising subjects as they already have learned how to dive in order to catch food --- the salmon. At times, they may also exhibit emotive acts as caring and playing with their cubs, as well as guiding them towards independence. B Lions or Cheetahs in Africa The Sub-Saharan Africa, the Kruger National Park, Tanzania, and the Shamwari Game Reserve of South Africa provide for a wide choice of subjects that include rhinoceros, zebras, giraffes,

Supply Chain Management (SCM) is a processes improvement Essay

Supply Chain Management (SCM) is a processes improvement - Essay Example Lean encompasses the various just-in-time approaches. (Bryan, 2002) These two methodologies are the best practice because they fit this framework: For many managers, lean manufacturing is something that looks great on paper and sounds wonderful in theory, but they want proof that it really works in their ever-changing manufacturing environment. ( Lau, 1996). Now two years into its lean journey, the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Cascade Engineering (www.cascadeng.com), is trying to avoid the common mistake of just implementing lean on the shop floor. The 1,200-employee plastic components provider in the automotive, home and office, and container industries is implementing lean throughout its enterprise. One thing that becomes clear after you tour Cascade's facilities is that the company is striving to adopt lean as a way of life for the whole company, rather than just in the manufacturing plants. The company's leaders recognize that to reduce waste and create customer value, everyone has to actively take part in the process. Cascade's founder, chairman and CEO Fred P. Keller, sent a message about how important lean was for the c ompany as a whole when he hired G.L. Brown as the company's director of lean manufacturing. Keller is making sure all of the necessary resources are available to make the gains of lean stick. "If this company wants to remain an active leader in the upcoming century, it is crucial that we eliminate waste and dedicate ourselves to becoming a lean enterprise," says Keller. (Klier, 1994, 18). To further demonstrate his dedication to the employees, Keller stressed that some job responsibilities may change but no employees will be laid off as a result of the company's lean initiatives. Their dedication to employees and their superior performance have not gone unnoticed. Cascade has been recognized nationwide for their commitment to people, most notably by recently winning a Ron Brown award and the Michigan Manufacturers Company of the year award. G. L. Brown knew that one of the hardest parts of lean was going to be creating the right environment for Cascade employees. (Lin, 1999) To ease the transition, Brown started a series of training and support sessions. With many years in operations management during his 34-year tenure at General Motors, Brown understood that the employees must have a firm grip on three crucial aspects before initiating the conversion to a lean enterprise: - everyone must understand why the company is dedicated to the lean philosophy and what's in it for them; - the employees must understand the system; - they must understand that there are a number of techniques in the toolbox to implement the system. Cascade's training consists of lean manufacturing orientation, eyes for waste and eyes for flow, takt time, standard worksheets, the 5-S processes, natural work groups, and value stream mapping as well as other aspects of the "lean enterprise system." Cascade also invites customers and suppliers to training events and kaizen events as they relate to their products. This