Argument Essay : Fast Food Essay

Directions: Turn off the Track Changes feature. Copy your edited draft (from above). Paste it below and highlight it. Then in the Review tab, find the Changes group and select Accept All Changes from the Accept drop-down menu (if you are using Microsoft 2003, on the Reviewing toolbar click Accept Change). Sign the honor statement below. Then, open your Argument Essay Rubric and copy and paste it after the honor statement . Save the changes to this document. Use the link provided in Blackboard to submit this document to your instructor. The instructor should then be able to see the entire process you took to create your final draft. â€Å"Over the last three decades, fast food has infiltrated every nook and cranny of American society,† writes Eric Schlosser in Fast Food Nation. In the beginning, the fast food restaurant started with a cafeteria-style restaurant known as the â€Å"Automat† in New York on July 7, 1912. Then, in 1921, White Castle restaurants were started in Wichita, Kansas, selling hamburgers for five cents. By 1948, McDonalds was opened by two brothers from Nashua, New Hampshire, who developed the concept of selling hamburgers, French fries, shakes, coffee, and coca cola in disposable wrappings. So from its humble beginnings, the fast food industry has become an undeniable factor in our society. Certainly, with our ever increasing and busy society, eating at fast food restaurants has become the norm. Families that have busy schedules, such as taking their kids to various activities, attending church functions, and late meetings rely heavily on fast food as a meal choice. For example, about one-quarter of adults and a third of children eat at fast food restaurants on any given day. According to the American Journal of Public Health, consumers have spent $16. 1 billion in 1975 to $153. 1 billion in 2004 on fast food. Consequently, the nutritional value of fast food has been limited due to the usage of pre-processed foods. Commonly, pre-processed foods are delivered to restaurants frozen, canned, dehydrated, or freeze-dried. Unfortunately, the higher calorie, fat, and sugar content these pre-processed foods contain, could potentially lead to a high levels of obesity in adults and children. However, in comparing one fast food meal with 1,680 calories to one home cooked meal with 546 calories, which choice would be better? Most of all, each individual must understand that making the appropriate nutritional choice, is his or her responsibility. Particularly, parents need to monitor portion sizes that are given to their children, and in the same manner, adults also need to monitor their portion sizes. Monitoring portion sizes can help eliminate the onset of obesity in children and adults. Eric Schlosser, Fast Food Nation states, â€Å"the typical American now consumes approximately three hamburgers and four orders of French fries every week. † Clearly, it is evident that the fast food industry has been an undeniable factor in our society since its humble beginnings. Principally, it is up to us, individually, to eliminate unhealthy habits that will affect us and our families in an adverse manner. Most important, the Bible gives us a foundational key to follow to be healthy. That foundational key is â€Å"My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life; it will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones†. (Proverbs 3:1-2, 8 (NKJV)) Works Cited Austin, Bryn. â€Å"Clustering of Fast-Food Restaurants Around Schools: A Novel Application of Spatial Statistics to the Study of Food Environments† American Journal of Public Health Volume 95, number 9. September (2005): 1575 – 1581 â€Å"Fast Food Restaurant†. Wikipedia. 11 March 2011, 19 March 2011http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Fast_food_restaurant Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation. Massachusetts. Houghton Mifflin, 2001.

Christopher Columbus; Hero or Villain Essay

In 1492, Christopher Columbus, discovered America. More than 500 years later Columbus Day is a national holiday. Statues are up, even in Pueblo, and thanks are given for what he has done for us. We learn about him in grade school and we are told of his brave adventures. However twenty years later in my first history class another picture is being painted of Columbus; not from my History book, but from my teacher. I thought it was interesting to be learning these conflicting views of him and researched the facts. Apparently a lot of people feel the same way†¦Christopher Columbus was a villain. Nearly 500 years ago Christopher Columbus carved a new path for Spaniards, which opened up a world of terror and death for the natives of this land, America. We now know that Christopher Columbus did not discover America this is indisputable. What is disputable is what he truly did when he came over to America. To get a better understanding of what was going on with Columbus in late 1400s I will give some back story. During those times, commercial ventures were being offered and Columbus had previous experience being on ships so he saw the opportunity to exploit his beliefs. Christopher believed that the world was round and if he sailed east he could make it to the Indies. What he did not know was how long it would take him to get there. He was alone with his first son, Diego, and set out to get funding for his voyages. He went to Queen Isabella and King Fernando and asked if they would fund him. They said they would need to look into it further. Priests and scholars studied and researched his idea for six years while Columbus and his son followed them to wherever they may travel. Columbus was finally told no his idea was foolish and the earth was too big to sail that way. He continued with his beliefs and tried to change their mind. He presented his idea two more times to no avail. As Carol Gallagher describes  in her Biography of Columbus â€Å"he became a joke at court†. (Gallagher) At last, after the third attempt and being rejected, Columbus rode away on his mule. Only to be caught up with by a messenger of Queen Isabella, he was told that they had changed their mind and would accept the proposal. They granted him three ships with 90 men. Finally Christopher could right his name and prove that he was not a joke. With years of being mocked, and laughed at Columbus had a lot to live up to. Christopher was now feeling righteous in his quest and asked that he be named ‘Admiral of the Ocean Sea’ and a tenth of all riches found to be his. The Queen and King agreed. The voyage had taken thirty-three days to reach land on America. Which Christopher believed it to be the Indies. Christopher writes in his journals his first impression of the natives; he writes that they are naked and young with shapely bodies. The Admiral said that they would be good servants and could learn their language quickly. Columbus named every piece of land they came upon and put up big flags. He claimed it all for Spain; never mind the thousands of people already living there, it was now Spain’s. They took six of the native’s captive to bring home to the Queen. Christopher had seen some men wearing gold rings on their legs and arms and took them to show him where the rest of the gold was. However the natives could not show them directly and Columbus believed they were lying. Columbus wrote to the King and Queen and told them â€Å"There are many spices and great mines of gold and of other metals.†(Gallagher), this was in fact a lie. Columbus did not find mines of gold, he did receive a gold belt and felt the Natives where lying to him about the rest of the gold. He decided to return home and get more supplies and men. When he returned to Spain the King and Queen where pleased and wanted more of the riches of the land. I think that the rest of Columbus endeavors to the New World are fueled by greed and an ignorant notion that God gave him this right. When he returned to America, which he thought was the Indies, he returned with 1,200 men and seventeen ships. Gallagher writes in her Biography â€Å"He was given authority to rule. The ships carried soldiers to conquer the Indians, priests to convert them to Christianity, farmers, guard dogs, and farm  animals†(Gallagher), he meaning Columbus. So he now intends to go back to America and take what he wants. However he could not find gold mines or riches. He built a fort in a mosquito infested area and hundreds of his men got sick and died from Malaria. The Natives met them with great resistance and also died by the hundreds from small pox and cruel captors. In 1502, which is ten years after Columbus’s first discovery of America, Spain adopted and made official a policy that Columbus had created, encomienda. What this system meant was an Indian village, all people of 14 years or older could be safe for a period of 3 months with a token. At the end of the 3 months they had to pay with enough gold to satisfy the tribute. If they did not pay them, the natives would get their hands cut off or worse be murdered. The Wikipedia describes this as follows; â€Å"Encomienda was a legal system that was employed mainly by the Spanish crown during the Spanish colonization of the Americas to regulate Native American labor and autonomy†. (Wikipedia) The encomienda system was horrible. It was created by Columbus, in order to get gold. However the system was kept by other conquistadors all over America in the early 1500’s. This is a quote from Van Serima â€Å"They are not, as most of us would like to believe, voyages of discovery. But they are of great significance since they changed the character of the whole world, both the old world and the new.† (Serima 75) What Serima is saying is that Columbus did not discover a New World but a new way of getting what you want when you have more power. There is a big issue of race and differences being ignored by the conquistadors and Spain. So much life and tradition tossed away for selfish purpose, and was done in the name of God. The Encomienda system was not the worst of it; they sold girls as young as 9 to 10 for sex slaves. Here is a piece he wrote in his journal on the subject â€Å"A hundred castellanoes are as easily obtained for a woman as for a farm, and it is very general and there are plenty of dealers who go about looking for girls; those from nine to ten are now in demand†.(Kasum) Columbus had set out to discover the Indies, which was fueled by his love for Marco Polo and his stories of adventures. Instead he discovered an old world and made it his own while killing off everything in his wake. Whether or not Columbus was holding a smoking gun, he definitely had un-locked the gate for others to follow in his self fulfilling prophecy. Armitage, D states that â€Å"Columbus himself was not always asked to carry the  can for the ill-effects of the encounter between the Old World and the New, but there have always been those who have used reflections upon 1492 for their own ends.†(Armitage) this is true everyday in America, and even more so now. Even in our school system, if you are one sixteenth Native American you get some special grant. This is kind of Bizarre to me, Native Americans have not been enslaved for at least a century and have every right we do in America, if not more. This proves that when Columbus and the Conquistadors came things where so bad for the Natives they still need special treatment. Whether or not Columbus is to blame for the way things are for Natives today I do not know, however I do know that the way things where in the early 1500’s Columbus could be blamed for. It was a new world for Columbus and he treated his ‘discovery’ with such disdain, that other follo wers took his lead. Great leaders are people like Edwin Hubble or Martin Luther King. People who have ideas that make us a greater nation, not people who find a new land and kill everyone in it in order to impress the Queen and King. An article I read that was written by two non-ethusastic followers of Columbus believe that Columbus day should not be a day we celebrate at all â€Å"That infamous day should certainly not be celebrated by anyone, especially by local, state, and national governments. Let us not fall into the trap of letting the discussions around this travesty of a holiday revolve around the specific number of people killed.†(Tinker) When I reflect back on everything I have learned in history and even Christopher Columbus, it points to war or some major oppression for every turning point. In my opinion Christopher Columbus was a man of his times who often got things wrong; his morals went sour in the face of the King and the Queen but he led the way for his people into a new world. In his own mind he died a failure, and is later dying a failure in the hearts of America. Works Cited Armitage, D. â€Å"Christopher Columbus And The Uses Of History.† History Today 42.5 (1992): 50. Academic Search Premier. Web. 24 Sept. 2013. Gallagher, Carole. â€Å"Christopher Columbus And The Discovery Of The New World.† Christopher Columbus & The Discovery Of The New World (2000): 6-13. History Reference Center. Web. 24 Sept. 2013. Kasum Eric http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-kasum/columbus-day-a-bad-idea_b_742708.htm l October 10, 2010 Tinker, Tink, and Mark Freeland. â€Å"Thief, Slave Trader, Murderer: Christopher Columbus And Caribbean Population Decline.† Wicazo Sa Review 1 (2008): 25. JSTOR Arts & Sciences VII. Web. 24 Sept. 2013. Van Sertima, Ivan1. â€Å"Amendments To Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Jubilee Act: Hearing Before The Subcommittee On Census And Population Of The Committee On Post Office And Civil Service, House Of Representatives, One Hundredth Congress, First Session On H.R. 2309,..† Journal Of Pan African Studies 5.8 (2012): 74-84. OmniFile Full Text Select (H.W. Wilson). Web. 24 Sept. 2013. Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encomienda, 19 September 2013 at 21:23.

Redcoats, Patriots and Bunker Hill Essay

As the winter of 1783 drew near, the last of the British troops sailed from New York leaving behind an independent nation. A land destined to be the richest and most powerful state in the galaxy of nations. It is possible that some of the redcoats marching into the dreary ship that cold November day had attacked Bunker Hill eight years ago, and stared at astonishment at the hail of bullets coming their way from the muskets of the patriots. The British had gone on to win the battle but at enormous cost, losing more than half their men. It was supposed to have been an easy battle. Their superiors, the officers of the most powerful army on earth had thought that they would overwhelm the enemy and had opted for a frontal assault, only to see their men mowed down repeatedly by a thinking and able enemy. The Battle of Bunker Hill has been enveloped in hagiography by every American historian as a victory in defeat, an American Dunkirk and as one of the first military engagements of the war of independence. It is all this and much more. Its’ importance in shaping history also lies in the two crucial mental victories it gave to the American troops. First, it changed forever the stereotypical image of the Patriots being a rag tag bunch of homegrown militia who could function adequately only under the competent and trained officers of the British army. Second, it brought immense pride to the Patriots and served as a rallying cry, a force mobiliser for the many engagements that were to happen in the next eight years. The British were confident of their military prowess and with good reason. They had fought the French all over the world in The Seven Years war, which lasted from 1756 to 1763 and â€Å"lock(ed) horns (with them) on every continent where the two had outposts†. (Allan, T., P 100)   They had mobilized troops effectively over vast distances, achieved tremendous expertise in military logistics and training and won brilliant battles. The firepower and strength of their navy enabled them to blockade ports and intercept supplies. Canada and Florida had come to them from the French and the Spanish after the Treaty of Paris and British hegemony extended over huge tracts of the inhabited world. The world was theirs to rule and they were a truly awesome military power. The Patriots were in their eyes a motley group of undisciplined part time soldiers, made up of planters, traders and frontiersmen with very little knowledge of arms and the mechanics of warfare. In America, the colonists had fought alongside the redcoats against the French and the Spanish in The Seven Years War but always under the command of British officers. In fact, they had been badly mauled when the Indians of the Northwest went on the warpath in 1763, and had turned in desperation to the British for succor. â€Å"The colonial militia was unable to master them, and in the end it was British regulars who put down the uprising.† (Allan, T., P 101) Many of the militia had joined only for personal advancement. As Lieutenant Scott, a Bunker Hill veteran was to say later â€Å"I lived in a country town; †¦ I was very ambitious †¦ I was asked to enlist as a private soldier; †¦ I offered to enlist upon having a lieutenant’s commission, which was granted. I imagined myself now in a way of promotion if my captain was killed; I should rise in rank, and should still have a chance to rise higher. These, sir were the only motives of my entering into the service; for as to the dispute between Great Britain and the colonies, I know nothing of it† (Sommers, R.J.) Thus, notwithstanding the small setbacks on their way to Boston, a very confident British army looked ready to overrun Boston in the summer of 1775. As the British ships began to arrive with troops ready for battle, Major General John Burgoyne was to remark â€Å"What! Ten Thousand peasants keep 5000 king’s troops shut up! Well, let us get in and we’ll soon find elbow room.† (Allan, T., P 107) General Thomas Gage, the British Commander in Chief, shared this brashness. A few days before the battle, he had written to say, â€Å"They will undoubtedly be lions whilst we are lambs, but if we take the resolute path they will undoubtedly prove very meek.† (Allan, T., P 108) As day broke on June 17, 1775, about 1200 ill equipped and under trained American soldiers were readied on Breed’s Hill to face the advancing redcoats. As thousands of people watched from the top of churches and houses in nearby Boston, 2500 British troops, supported by heavy cannon fire from the ships attacked the American barricades at three in the afternoon.. The patriots, under the command of Colonel William Prescott let the British come right up the hill before opening fire, practically from where â€Å"they could see the whites of their enemy’s eyes† (Battle of Breed’s Hill/Bunker Hill) Casualties were heavy and the redcoats retreated in consternation. The battle lasted for nearly three hours before American ammunition ran out. The British had to make three charges before they could take the defenses on the hill. The last charge was at bayonet point with the heavily outnumbered Americans fighting with rifle butts and rocks until they were ordered to retreat. One of the last to leave the American lines was, General Joseph Warren. The hero lingered only to lose his life with a gunshot in the temple. The cost to the British was terrible. The hollow victory lost them a thousand men including many officers; nearly forty percent of their total force. The militia lost four hundred.   The British then went on to capture both the hills and Charleston was cannon balled until it burnt to the ground. After Bunker Hill, a chastened Thomas Gage wrote, â€Å"They showed a conduct and spirit against us they never showed against the French, and everybody has judged them from their former appearance and behavior.† (Allan, T., P 108) The British would never forget Bunker Hill. It was the pushover that never was, the small dune on the outskirts of Boston where the Americans proved they could fight. The fighting was to continue for six more years during which time redcoats and patriots were to engage in battle as north as Quebec and as south as South Carolina. Most of the fighting however continued in the broad vicinity of Bunker Hill, on the seaboard between Philadelphia and Boston. At last, on September 3, 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed and Britain recognized the independence of its American possessions. The war that had started at Bunker Hill, in the summer of 1775 finally ended. The infant nation stretched from Georgia in the south to the Great Sea in the north, from the Mississippi in the West to the Atlantic in the East. The Bunker Hill Monument stands on Breed’s Hill, in an overdeveloped area in Boston. There is no hint or sign of the redcoats or the patriots who volleyed and bayoneted here more than two hundred years ago. Works Cited Allan, T., ed., â€Å"Winds of Revolution†, History of the World 1700-1800, Time Life Books, (1990), ISBN 07954 0984 8 Battle of Breeds Hill/Bunker Hill, â€Å"Military Science†, WPI, (2004), 21 June 2006, Sommers, Richard J. â€Å"Ambition.† Parameters 30.4 (2000): 171. Questia. 21 June 2006 . Bibliography Allan, T., ed., â€Å"Winds of Revolution†, History of the World 1700-1800, Time Life Books, (1990), ISBN 07954 0984 8 Bailyn, B., â€Å"The Battle of Bunker Hill† The Massachusetts Historical Society, (2003), 21 June 2006, Battle of Breeds Hill/Bunker Hill, â€Å"Military Science†, WPI, (2004), 21 June 2006, Battle of Bunker Hill 1775, HistoryCentral.com. (2004), 21 June 2006, Beard, James Franklin. â€Å"Cooper and the Revolutionary Mythos.† Early American Literature 11.1 (1976): 84-104. Questia. 21 June 2006 . Sommers, Richard J. â€Å"Ambition.† Parameters 30.4 (2000): 171. Questia. 21 June 2006 . Webster, Daniel. Daniel Webster’s First Bunker Hill Oration. New York: American Book Company, 1910. Questia. 21 June 2006 .

Business Plan Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Business Plan - Coursework Example Contextually, this business plan provides an overview of ownership and structure of the proposed business along with the team formation that is to be followed in the operational department of the business. The plan also depicts the marketing strategy of the business to penetrate and get established in the market of Liverpool. Contextually, an analysis of the competitors and their strengths and weaknesses has also been depicted in the plan in order to get a comprehensive understanding about the competitive nature of the overall market. The business proposal also incorporates an effective and relevant estimation of investment needs along with the required budget for the first three years from the start-up of the venture. 2. The Business Idea In relation to the present unconventional scenario of the global restaurant industry, a dramatic growth of the buffet restaurant business can be observed as obtaining greater interests of the modern entrepreneurs. The emerging trend of the changing food habits along with growing performance of the world-cuisine business concept have been rapidly demonstrating a greater opportunity for the marketers to achieve a stable business position in the fiercely competitive restaurant industry. ... ost preferred and reliable restaurant company in terms of delivering customers with exceptional and quality based multi-cuisine food items, exhibiting a wide range of global cultures and thereby, taking a plunge towards generating awareness regarding the ethnic richness of the corresponding global nations. Moreover, the other core objectives of the venture would be focused on achieving a minimum growth of 10% in its profitability each month after the start up. In addition, attaining the desired sales target of ?80,000 in the first year and augmenting its annual sales around 15% in the 2nd year of the venture can also be considered as the other primary objectives of the organisation. With regard to the changing trends of the global customers along with increasing demand of world-cuisine restaurants, the primary aim of this report is to prepare an effective and relevant business plan for establishing a multi-cuisine buffet store in the growing UK buffet restaurant industry. The propose d business plan would be included relevant information and idea with respect to the management body, operational functions along with financial projections to be a successful entrepreneur in the growing buffet industry of the UK. In order to increase the efficiency of the proposed plan, the proposal would also focus on accumulating relevant information about the ownership structure and the relevant legal frameworks in order to protect the organisation from different external threats and issues that might be witnessed in its initial phase of development. 3. Background of the UK Buffet Restaurant Industry In relation to the present trend of the global restaurant industry, it is obvious to recognize dramatic changes in the food habits or preferred food items of the global customers. Moreover,

Ontological Arguments and Belief in God Assignment

Ontological Arguments and Belief in God - Assignment Example His argument, however, was wholly rejected by Thomas Aquinas. Aquinas’s suggestion was that there is no way that mere mortals can conceive what God’s nature is, and thus we surely cannot conceive God like Anselm has said we can (Oppy 122-3). Therefore, this argument can be used only by the ones who can understand the true essence of God and that cannot be anyone but God Himself. David Hume was another philosopher who went against Anselm’s argument. His criticism was that it has no evidential reasoning. His argument was that the existence of a being cannot be proved simply through a priori reasoning. Cleanthes has proposed this argument in the following words: ...there is an evident absurdity in pretending to demonstrate a matter of fact, or to prove it by any arguments a priori. Nothing is demonstrable, unless the contrary implies a contradiction. Nothing, that is distinctly conceivable, implies a contradiction. Whatever we conceive as existent, we can also conce ive as non-existent. There is no being, therefore, whose non-existence implies a contradiction. Consequently there is no being, whose existence is demonstrable (Fieser 232). Yet another proposal was made by Pascal regarding the existence of God; he stated that His existence cannot be decided upon by means of reason and that a logical person should consider that God does exist since there has to be one being who can only gain and not lose anything. However, Pascal’s suggestion was solely for the Christian God and he said there is a possibility of certain people not believing in God in spite of receiving enormous benefits after acknowledging God’s presence, even if for a bet. William Paley was a Christian apologist, utilitarian and philosopher and had his own belief in God. His book Natural Theology presents the proof regarding God’s existence. Paley, like Aquinas, felt that we cannot know about the qualities of God, even if He exists. The fact he argued for was t hat there are much more evidences for the statement that God exists than objections against it. Paul Davies, a theoretical physicist, cosmologist, astrobiologist and author, has written a book regarding the existence of God. His latest book deals with natural theology which suggests that proof for the existence and nature of God is possible to be derived from the reflection we make of the natural world. Davies has used the latest discoveries and scientific facts from physics and cosmology to come to a conclusion regarding the classical theological queries. Answer 2: Anselm has provided certain reasoning in favour of the existence of God. His proposal was that God is the greatest being. And He is perfect. His perfections themselves prove that He exists because perfection requires existence. If He is perfect he definitely exists, no arguments about that for sure. Pascal said that even if one does not have any proof of God’s existence it is better to believe in one rather than r isk his afterlife and lose everything later, while having the time of his life in the world. Pascal talked about the super-dominance argument which states that in case it is true that God really exists the theists would be able to have eternal paradise and atheists, on the other hand, would go through eternal damnation. However, if there is no God the theists would have complete but finite happiness before dying. Atheists would be the same except that they would not have the comforts of religion. Thus, whether God exists or doesn’t, it is the theists who are better off than the atheists. Another argument in favour of the existence of God was by Aquinas, and it was cosmology based. According to his argument the objects that we find to be moving are

Life of the silk road ( Tang Dynasty) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Life of the silk road ( Tang Dynasty) - Essay Example Consequently, prompting some women start having male concubines, which during then were acceptable and even right. Since, this trend was evident from the empress to the simple in the society, though the latter due to their husbands’ dominion complied with their unions’ precepts. Political arena also included the female gender where in most cases men exhibited approval besides other numerous fields, which even to date men deem they are not womanly (Ya-chen 77). Gender issue in the Tang Dynasty had a liberal stand due to women’s freedom, which this study seeks to expound (Ya-chen 75). The entire society besides accepting the idea of divorce, it also allowed the widows to continue with their sexual life (Ya-chen 75). Hence, an implication that men’s control by then did not have strict rules (Ya-chen 75). This is because women had the courage to request for the termination of their marriages and even remarry, a factor, which the emperor supported. Hence, †Å"four daughters of the first emperor of the Tang Dynasty married twice, and six daughters of the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty married twice† (Ya-chen 75). This exhibited a liberated society whereby both genders despite having their distinct roles, love to them meant a quest for happiness and satisfaction. This is because of the women’s decline to be recipients of exploitative actions especially from their spouses thus; they had the freedom to define themselves besides deciding whom to cohabit (Ya-chen 75). In addition, the two genders in the kingdom where able to assume similar roles especially in the political arena (Ya-chen 77). This was contrary to the bordering dynasties, whereby they devalued the status of a female gender to extend of not having any say regarding the running of their states. Conversely, Tang Dynasty exercised equality especially in the political arena whereby women who exhibited distinguished character became government officers (Ya-chen 77) . Besides, these women had the power to decide or even plan about their destinies and what they intended to attain without consulting their husbands, for instance, during Wu Zetian’s reign (Ya-chen 77). This is evident from the then period’s women scholars, for illustration, Song Ruochao who was a female xushi and Yu Xuanji (poet) (Ya-chen 77). Studies contend, â€Å"Tang Dynasty is often depicted as a golden age for Chinese women, a period of relative autonomy and power prior to their subjugation under the Neo-Confucianism of the Song Dynasty †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Lewis 179). Since, its trend entailed excessive interaction of both men and women where the latter who emanated from an affluent background some kept male concubines (Ya-chen 76). This was after women market had shifted from the streets to their households, a trend that was common with divorcees and widows (Lewis 179). However, this freedom yielded to the degrading of the female gender, which later the Buddhism r efuted sharply besides emphasizing on widows’ chastity. Because, the former dynasty’s liberty encompassed morals’ degradation coupled with women especially the courtesans sometimes silencing their men while arguing. This is because besides being arrogant, they were also proficient in martial arts; hence, their male counterparts did not dare to challenge them in the public (Ya-chen 77). However, some of the poor courtesans severely suffered especially those who sought

How Discovery of Oil Has Affected State Building of Saudi Arabia Essay

How Discovery of Oil Has Affected State Building of Saudi Arabia - Essay Example The post-World War II period of growing demand for cheap and reliable suppliers of oil for rebuilding Europe was a great boost to the unity of the Saudi Arabian regions, and to the developing oil industry in the state. The attractive revenues that were realized during the reign of Abd al Aziz Al ibn Abd (1932-1953), strengthened his position and gave him the power to exert a higher political and economic influence over his territories (Country Studies par 4). The Saudi state became the pervasive economic change agent, replacing the initially differentiated economy with one that relied entirely upon the state's expenditure. In the 1970s and early 1980s, the rapid increase in oil prices enabled the Saudi state to meet its long-term financial obligations (Country Studies par 9). The huge oil revenues, in addition to delays in expenditures and the Saudi economy's restricted absorptive capacity, brought about large financial surpluses in the economy. Majority of these surpluses were inves ted in reputable international financial institutions and securities. The state is one of the leaders in the oil market in the 1990s, found it hard to diversify its economy (Country Studies par 6). This government has however, raised the average living standards of Saudi citizens’ to among the best globally, and established excellent infrastructural facilities and social services for its people. Being the major source of revenue, the oil industry has been an area of keen interest to the government.

Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Reflection - Essay Example Studies conducted in the past have elucidated the fact that human behavior is learned. Therefore, to acquire a strong personality and as well acquire skills and knowledge that would help me in achieving my goal of managing a school as a principal requires a lot of practice. This paper is a personal reflection on my leadership development. Transformational leadership theory application To manage a school successfully and effectively, I will be required to have strong leadership skills. Therefore adopting a transformational leadership style will be necessary. As a principal in a school, adopting a transformational leadership style means that I will have the ability to effectively control state of affairs and various circumstances that avail themselves within the school. According to Marshall (2010): Transformational leadership is a style in which the leader identifies the needed change, creates a vision to guide the change through inspiration, and executes the change with the commitmen t of other. Transformational leadership taps into the emotional and spiritual resources of an organization. It is a process of developing the leadership capacity of an entire team. Transformational leaders inspire others to achieve what might be considered extraordinary results. (3) Leadership qualities may be acquired through learning. This is the reason why I chose a course that is associated with leadership development. ... In my trips, I have been able to associate myself face to face with principals in a number of schools and subsequently I have built a social network with them. Many of these principles act as my mentors. Through their mentoring and advice, I have been able to acquaint myself with practical knowledge and first hand experiences in managing a school. This is a clear indication that my course in human development and leadership has been offering a platform that I will use as a springboard to accomplish my goals in life. There are various hurdles faced my many principals in schools today. As an aspiring school principal, I will have to identify my outstanding qualities and attributes and direct them towards management and leadership practices as transformational leadership requires. How a school principle will manage a school will highly depend on his/her individual attributes. For instance, my ability to communicate clearly will ensure that both the learners and teachers grasp and compre hend any information and facts I will be relaying to them. This will necessitate me, as the principal of that particular school to adapt an appropriate leadership method or technique. A good and effective leadership technique such as a transformational leadership style puts into consideration the needs and requirements or each and every stakeholder involved in the learning process. In this case, it will be important for me to familiarize myself with each and every teacher within the school as this would be helpful in planning and implementing strategies. Through successfully and effectively completing this course, I will have gained the necessary skills and knowledge that will enable me to adapt a transformational leadership style.

Change Management Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Change Management Paper - Essay Example He came in as a tough and very aggressive manager, always demanding results from employees across all company outlets. This new approach to leadership faced initial resistance by some outlet managers who stuck to old style of business operations. His concerted efforts, together with his likeminded team, helped turn around company operations while at the same time maintaining its traditional appeal (Roush, 1999, p. 171)1. Images of Managing Change Capacity building and trainings are conducted across all management levels to keep its employees up to date with requisite skills. These are necessary in positioning the company as a leader in provision of consumer responsive business solutions. These forums changed employee attitude towards work by adopting performance based approach to management. The overall benefit associated with this culture change is increasing sales volumes. The company is introducing policy papers and action plans for instance; it implemented a Strategic, Operating and Resource Planning (SOAR) program that completely overhauled its internal environment. This improved its daily business practice and human resource management to become a store with efficient processes which improved accountability and transparency. Home Depot opened its doors for clients to engage productively in shaping organisation culture, and is now more responsive to consumer needs (Cummings & Worley, 2009, p. 14)2. Such programs give employees the much needed motivation, shifting their approach to target keeping in line with company vision, and ensuring set goals are actualised. The SOAR action plan determines resource allocation, and ensures expansion plans are done according to projected growth forecasts in individual outlets. The company appreciates sales as an important department, and this informs changes in human resource management planning to focus on capacity building and training. These initiatives improve employee performance to scale up sales in an increasingly competitive business environment. It holds an annual meeting which assesses human resource needs, and then relevant changes are made to come up with a cohesive workforce. Environmental Changes That Drove Culture Change at Home Depot Advances in technology provide management with tools that has significantly improved internal communications infrastructure. Nardelli introduced a two hour conference call every Monday where outlet managers update him on weekly activities and closing financial reports. This changed the hands off approach which restricted coordination of activities between the two managerial levels. In the meeting, they set weekly targets in their respective lines of duty, and make decisions that improve business environment in both short and long term. This Monday meeting is conducted via video conferencing and is a great contribution to improved synergy witnessed in the management (Marcus, Blank & Andelman, 1999, p.135)3. Employee empowerment strategy gave them power t o set their performance targets, and top management helped in giving the right environment to ensure the set goals are met. For instance, they channel funds for expansion strategies and product diversification to stores with realistic growth forecasts. Employee attitude towards work is completely overhauled, and this makes them be part of the change process. Signs and Reasons for Resistance to Change at the Depot Slightly

Meaning of meme an eipiphiny Essay Example for Free

Meaning of meme an eipiphiny Essay The word mehme means; m-meaning, e-emotional, h-humanistic, m- methodical e- experience. It is a rhyme of ‘meme’. On the other hand, that worked ‘Eipiphiny’ is corrupted from the word ‘epiphany’. Epiphany means (a) ‘a sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something’ (b) ‘an intuitive grasp of reality through an event usually simple and striking’,’ an illuminating discovery, realization or disclosure’ (c) ‘a revealing scene or moment’ Eipiphiny represents ‘stochastic / mathematical epiphany. ’ Its components are mathematical constants, ‘e’, ‘pi’, ‘phi’ and non- existent number ‘I’ which if not discovered the world today may be non-existant. ‘e’ and ‘I’, represent ‘emotional intelligence’, which is of importance when discussing our mission. (Richard, 1990) The kind of cultural value changes that would be necessary for this evolution of value memes to occur may be having nothing to do with meme. Cultural change is all about being dynamic to meet the changing demands of society. The ability to learn new tricks will enhance cultural change. It will assist us appreciate each others culture and be accommodative of new ideas technological advancement, change of styles and fashion, new economic trends as well. Meme may not be practical in the modern world. A good environment of acquire, ideas is where an individual is not tied down to unimportant procedures but where he is left to pursue what they are motivated to do. To fit in the changing world, it is mandatory to keep abreast with the latest in technology and set realistic and achievable goals or aims. KOZOL’S ‘SAVAGE INEQUALITIES’ The book ‘Savage Inequalities’ was written in 1991 by Kozol Jonathan. The book talks about education gaps between institutions or schools where different classes and races exist. His views are based on observations he made in the system of public schools of Washington D. C. , Camden, Chicago and New York City. These observations were taken in school, which have the lowest spending (per capital) on student and those which have highest spending. Kozol has given some factors, which have contributed to poor education system for instance lack of basic tools for teaching, understaffed environment, congestion and poor sanitation. The worst hit is the minorities who are usually allocated the lowest budgets annually. This is done without considering that the people who live in extreme poverty with school district are taxed highly. Cited in his book, are the cases, which are filed against such poor schools. The districts affected are Jersey City, Camden, Orange and Irvington. The judges no longer adhere to the law of state but instead they side with concerned locals and children. Kozol also compares the present conditions that minorities are supposed to learn in. There are other historical cases that he mentions whereby the results are not just system of funds in terms of taxation and distribution. Another serious problem mentioned in his book is racial segregation in the education system of America. This problem is heightened by the inequalities, which are obvious in the distribution of funds, which are collected via property taxes. Some historical cases are Plessy vs Fergusson and Board of Education vs Brown, Bradley vs. , Miliken and Rodriguez, vs. , San Antonio. The poor education system has been in America for too long and yet only the minorities are affected. The length of time within which these policies have been practiced has made it to become part of their education system,. To some extent, this form of system can be related to ‘meme’. The Oxford English dictionary describes it as a self-replicating element of culture, passed on by imitation’. Going by this definition we can conclude that the poor education system has replicated itself over time and has become part of their culture. JOHATHAH KOZOL Kozol, was born on 5th September 1936 in Massachusetts Boston. He is an educator, a non-fiction writer and activist. He is well known for books on public education in U. S. Kozol graduated in 1954 in Greenough and in 1958 at Harvard University with English Literature degree. Kozol received Rhodes scholarship to join Magdalon College. For some reasons, he could not complete the leadership since he traveled to Paris because he wanted to start writing a novel,. It took Kozol four years writing ‘The Fume of Poppies’, a fiction book. Jonathan has also held 2 Guggenheim Fellowship and has been a Rockefeller foundation Fellow. He has also been involved in social psychology field. Currently he is on the Editorial Board of Greater Good Magazine. Kozol has been very active in propagating for public education that is fully integrated in the U.S He has never ceased to condemn education inequalities and has spoken unrelentingly regarding segregation of Hispanic and black children from children by the white in public schools which are segregated. Jonathan’s argues form an ethical point of view and he makes heavy comparisons between poor schools and rich schools. Particularly, he makes an analysis of the money that is spent on each child. He discovers that per child spending annually is very high, that is, they pay a figure that is slightly above $20,000 every year for every child in a district. His question is whether it is fair that a person’s place of birth should be a determinant on a person’s quality of education. He has shown deep commitment towards improvement of American public schools and has therefore founded and is in charge of a non-profit Education Action. His group is devoted to organize teachers all over the country who may be interested to push back Supreme Court decisions against NCLB, and assist in making an excellent, single and unified system in all public schools in America. (Jonathan, 1992). Dawkins has used ‘meme’ to signify a cultural entity, for example an idea, a song or religion that can be considered as a replicator by an observer. In his hypothesis, he indicated that it was possible for people to look at numerous cultural entities as copiers or replicators. They generally make copies via exposure to human beings, who evolved efficiently though not perfectly in terms of behaviour and information. It is not common for memes to be perfectly copied. They might become combined, refined or modified with different ideas, which results to other new memes. The new memes may prove to be efficient in replicating than those that preceded them. This provides a framework for cultural evolution hypothesis, which is analogous to biological evolution of genes. CRITICISMS OF DAWKINS THEORY (SOCIOCULTURAL) The contemporarily sociocultural evolution has rejected a big part of ‘classical social evolution’. This is due to a number of theoretical setbacks. Firstly, the theory was believed to be ethnocentric (makes heavy judgments on various societies, and favours western civilization. Secondly it made a general assumption that all cultures must have same goals and must also progress the same way. Thirdly his theory-equated materials culture for example, cities and technologies with civilization. Fourthly, it also equated fitness/progress with evolution. This was based on gross misunderstanding of theory evolution. Lastly, the evidence produced contradicts the theory. Many primitive societies are believed to be more democratic, peaceful and equitable as compared to many contemporary societies. They are also regarded as healthier in terms of ecology and diet. The social evolution is classified as a science theory. It has been used to give support to unjust social practices believed to be racist especially slavery, colonialism and unbalanced conditions of economy which are present in the industrialized Europe. Darwinism social theory is very much criticized since it was responsible for some philosophies, which were used by Nazis. (Jonathan, 1992). EFFECTS OF EVOLUTIONARY THEORY The thought of evolution has brought about considerable social effects. With the development of scientific theories, most explanations have displaced some alternatives, which have been widely held. Since evolution theory includes explanations of origins of humanity, it has great impact on the societies of humans. (Jobson, 1998) Evolution of culture has punctuated equilibrium, which was developed by Gould and Eldredge for evolution that is biological. According to Bloomfield, most human societies have equilibrium, which is punctuated. This would first mean a society, which is stable and a transition, which results to a stable society that is more complex. The human society status is pegged on food production productivity. Deevey reported that food productivity does not change much of stable societies but it increases during transitions. CONCLUSION Some scholars have harshly criticized Dawkin’s theory of ‘selfish Genes’. His theory is being described as absurd and it is even more difficult for a person to know where to begin criticizing his concept. The idea that the idea of selfish gene is discredited however is foolish, since his concept has received a lot of acknowledgement on its anniversary 30 years after its publication. We might be hoping too much that a person has the ability to come up with an argument touching on our lives or say something that proves he has an understanding of the framework of the selfish gene. We can only take his explanation for it. Rmj, brought forward some arguments against The Selfish Gene. He argues that Dawkins lacks understanding of religion, philosophy of religion and theology. In his book, Dawkins does not refer to any religion philosopher. This generally shows his deliberate ignorance of his topic. Other people have strongly supported the ‘selfish gene theory’. An Indian Bay states that we basically are selfish. We would not survive if we were not selfish. It is selfishness that gives us the desire to survive. The truth is genes could be selfish but human beings have gradually evolved to become social. Currently, Darwinian’s view incorporates an understanding and states cooperation are part and parcel of the genetic heritage. REFERENCES Jonathan, K (1992) Savage Inequalities: Children in America’s schools, Harper Perennial Library, US. Jonathan, K (1982) Alternative schools: A guide for Educators and parents, Harper Perennial Library, U. S. Jobson, C (1998) Our Genes Excel Publishers, Canada. Richard, D(1990) The selfish Gene, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press. US.

David Carson Influences | Modern Graphic Design

David Carson Influences | Modern Graphic Design Considered to be one of the worlds most influential graphic designers (Layers Magazine, 2007) David Carson is a name synonymously associated with post-modern design. This essay investigates Carsons career from its beginning in the design industry by means of a full biography before venturing on into post-modern and sub-cultural influences on the designer, the emergence and development of key aspects of post-modernist design within the work of David Carson and the positive and negative impact and influence he has had on modern graphic design. Biography: Born in Texas on September 8th, 1955 David Carson dedicated his early career to being a professional surfer, David attained a standing of number 8 in the world rankings while being a high school teacher in California (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2012a).  A late starter to the graphic design industry, Carsons first real design experience came during a two-week commercial design course in Switzerland as part of his sociology degree. The class, taught by Swiss designer, Hans-Rudolf Lutz (Sacharoq, 1996: p.8), whose influence was so significant that Carson made a decision to pursue a career in graphic design and enrolled full time in a small art college upon his return home to the United States. In an interview with Marc Cameron, founder of fotorater.com; Carson explains the beginning of his design career: taking the advice of a friend who, at the time was the editor of Skateboarder magazine to contact the art director. I immediately started harassing this art director, sending him every little thing I was working on (Cameron, 2012a). This dogged persistence paid off and soon Carson was working in the studio voluntarily; pasting up advertisements and eventually composing an editorial spread for the magazine. Carsons first real job in the design profession was working as a designer at the surfer publication titled  Self and Musician as well as being an employed part-time designer for the magazine  Transworld Skateboarding (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2012b). This enabled him to experiment with design, developing his now characteristic style of chaotic spreads overlapping photos and mixed up, altered typefaces. In 1989 Carson changed occupations and became art director of Beach Culture magazine producing a total of six magazines before the journal folded, this earned him more than 150 design awards (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2012c) and a new position in a design role at its sister publication Surfer magazine, which catapulted him into the design spotlight. Carson then caught the attention of Marvin Jarret, publisher of Ray Gun an alternative music publication, who hired Carson as its art director in 1992. The monumental success of the publication between the years 1992 and 1995, with th e help of Carsons radical design vision, saw Ray Guns subscribers triple in numbers. This feat is most commonly attributed to the design strategy that seemed to be particularly appealing to the youth demographic (Kenyaferrand.com, n.d.) which led to several large corporations spotting an opportunity in Carsons design work to increase youth sales of their respective products. Commissions earned by Carson followed to design printed advertisements and direct television commercials. In 1995, Carson left Ray Gun and established his own design company David Carson Design. The business was an instant success, and Carson was able to secure a large and diverse corporate client base with companies such as Microsoft, Pepsi and Giorgio Armani. Carsons first book titled The End of Print: The Graphic Design of David Carson, released in 1995 and has since become the top selling graphic design book of all time with sales in excess of over 200,000 copies (David Carson Design, n.d.). Followed by the boldly experimental books  2nd Sight  (1997),  Fotografiks  (1999), and  Trek  (2003) (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2012d). Post-modernist design influences on David Carson: Post-modernist design, described in the art and popular culture encyclopaedia as: A cultural, intellectual or artistic state, which lacks a clear central hierarchy or organizing principle and which embodies extreme complexity, contradiction, ambiguity, diversity and interconnectedness (artandpopularculture.com, u.d.). This is evident in Carsons hallmark style of distorted type and his rejection of the conventional ideas of typographic syntax, visual hierarchy and imagery. The text in Carsons work often challenges the fundamental criteria for legibility by the exploration of reverse reading, extreme forced justification, columns jammed together with no gutter and the erratic letter spacing across images, arranged in expressive rather than normative sequences. In his book, A Century of Graphic Design, author Jeremy Aynsley (2001: p. 233a) states that: Carsons work is greatly indebted to the work of Wolfgang Weingart and the Cranbrook academy, belonging to the tradition of deconstructive typography. This statement holds an immense amount of strength as Carson has characterised his style by embracing what could be considered as vernacular design, upsetting the rules of modernist typography with inconsistent weights and spacing of letterforms and adopting a multi-layered approach to both word and image; questioning the original meaning of the text and interpreting it into his own unique message. Aynsley (2001: p. 233b) goes on to explain how: Carson counters the modernist position form follows function, instead opting to use layout to explore the meaning. The typographic form is expected to represent ideas actively, rather than present a transparent medium. Much of Carsons work has also been influenced by the surfing sub-culture; his early professional surfing career allowed him to identify with and relate to his target audience. In his interview with Marc Cameron, Carson states: growing up around that culture put me in a more experimental mindset (Cameron, 2012b). This experimental and somewhat chaotic approach to design appealed to the sub-culture that surrounded the surfing and skating communities, and in a sense gave them their own identity with the styling of publications related to their specific demographic. Aynsley (2001: p. 232) has claimed that advertisers soon noticed the potential benefits of someone who could embody the interests of young consumers. Post-modernist theories in David Carsons work: David Carsons work holds true to many key aspects of post-modernism, especially with his philosophies countering of modernist theories such as form follows function. This is evident in the visually driven arrangement of type, by allowing letterforms or flow from spread to spread, by the extreme or unnatural cropping of single images or his highly expressive use of typography to express his own interpretation of the message to the viewer. The latter is most famously noted in his spread for an interview with Brian Ferry in Ray Gun magazine, an article which Carson states in his conference on design and discovery, published on Ted.com I found the interview boring, so I set the whole article in dingbat (Carson, 2009) During Carsons employment with Ray Gun, there were further embracements of post-modernist theories encompassed by audience participation within the magazines content. In his book, A History of Graphic Design, Phillip Meggs (1998: p.463a) has noted how Carson turned over half a dozen pages to the readers to display their illustrations for song lyrics. The encouragement of audience participation and engagement also acted as an enhancement of the sub-cultural identity to the already burgeoning audience generated by the publication. The impact of David Carson on modern graphic design: David Carson is arguably the most innovative and influential graphic designer of the 1990s (Blackwell, 1995: p. 1) and without doubt the most talked about, gaining an army of both admirers and detractors throughout his career. Blackwell (1995: p.10) has noted how Carson has progressed from being an unknown designer of a short-lived specialist magazine to being one of the most decorated designers in the world. This statement that holds weight in the sense that Carsons work has made a breakthrough from sub-culture to the mainstream of mass communication his work now considered being the cutting edge of the leading communications culture (Blackwell, 1995: p. 18). Carsons continual reinvention of the relationship between design and type, has changed the course of graphic design and crystalized the look and attitude of an entire generation, making him a powerful catalyst for design change (Aynsley, 2001: p. 233c). Running several workshops for graphic design students worldwide has provided Carson with a cult following of inspired young designers while at the same time angering some communications professionals who believed he had crossed the line between order and chaos (Meggs, 1998: p.463b). The lack of a prominent theory or a defined set of rules within Carsons work does not necessarily mean that the work is chaotic; instead it challenges conventional design practices with Carsons belief that as Blackwell (1995: p 27) claims that you cannot not communicate and Dont mistake legibility for communication. The benefits on studio work as a result of topics covered in this module: The topics covered in this module have dramatically benefitted my studio work; they have given me an insight into historical design practices and an understanding of key movements that I previously would not have considered in both my research and in producing potential design solutions. Post-modernism and David Carson in particular has been a monumental inspiration and my work in both the learning activities and the summative assessment covering the subject of his design work and processes; inspiring me to take a more expressive outlook on my design and not limiting myself to conventional solutions to design briefs. I now take into account how more expressionist designs can attract and engage the intended audience, more than traditional messages that offer little visual appeal. Designing pieces that have direct links to Carsons design philosophies; considering the emotion conveyed by a piece of work has added an extra dimension to previous practices and has reignited my passion for design.

sibling rivalry :: essays research papers

Sibling rivalry is the jealousy, competition and fighting between brothers and sisters. It is a concern for almost all parents of two or more kids. Problems often start right after the birth of the second child. Sibling rivalry usually continues throughout childhood and can be very frustrating and stressful to parents. Sibling rivalry is one of humanity's oldest problems. One of the first stories in the Bible deals with the rivalry between two brothers, Cain and Abel. The older brother, Cain, was irritated at constantly having to help take care of his younger brother, Abel, and kept asking his parents "Am I my brother's keeper?" The story of these two brothers has a tragic ending; Cain becomes so angry that he kills Abel. The fact that this is one of the first stories written in the Bible shows the great importance given to the problem of sibling rivalry. What causes sibling rivalry? After doing my research and interviews I have found out that there are many factors that contribute to sibling rivalry. Listed below are some facts and some of my opinions on what causes sibling rivalry. †¢ Each sibling is competing to define who they are as an individual. As they discover who they are, they try to find their own talents, activities, and interests. They want to show that they are separate from their siblings. †¢ Siblings feel they are getting unequal amounts of the parent’s attention, discipline, and responsiveness. †¢ Siblings may feel their relationship with their parents is threatened by the arrival of a new baby. †¢ Sibling’s developmental stages affect how well they can share your attention and get along with one another. †¢ Siblings who are hungry, bored or tired are more likely to start fights. †¢ Siblings may not know positive ways to get attention from their brother or sister, so they pick fights. †¢ Family dynamics play a role. For example, one child may remind a parent of a relative who was particularly difficult, and this may subconsciously influence how the parent treats that child.

Are You There, Reader? Its Me Margaret Essays -- Literary Analysis

Joseph Michael Sommers, has written an article on one of Judy Blume’s most iconic coming of age story; Are You There, God? It’s Me Margaret. In this article he speaks about the nature of this novel and how it speaks to young adolescent females. He speaks about the connection the novel has between the protagonist and the reader. Sommer’s argument is that the protagonist breaks the fourth wall and seeks outside intervention to her troubles in her life. The author speaks about the boundaries Judy Blume has tested. One is â€Å"sororal dialogism† in the novel, and how he will show it as a recast of avuncularism. Also how sororal bond can be found and interpreted in the novel. Another issue is, how Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret, has been described as a problem novel. As well as what position the reader plays. One thing that stood out was that Sommers in the title of the essay puts â€Å"reader† in the spot where the word â€Å"God† should be. The author uses first person point of view in his article, to connect with his audience, but his connection is not a personal one he wants it to be one of logic. He puts emphasis on the fact that we as reader are somewhat put in a position, that if we are the same gender and have gone through the same adolescent troubles (puberty, menstruation, boys, etc), we are compelled to identify with the main character. Sommer’s states: The reader reads in order to feel sorrow for the protagonist in a manner the reader can assimilate. Yet, it seems that the nature of Margaret’s thoughts is inherently dialogic or, to work with Duke’s terms, empathic: neither Margaret nor the reader uses the text in order to solicit pity from the other. What function would a â€Å"pity party† serve a reader by herself? To the contra... ...oached. Such as: how the reader is seen as having so many roles, and to which one do they take. This article is well- written and he has some significant points about the novel. Sommer’s tactics of constructing his argument in a logical manner was the right thing to do. It helps the reader to separate their feelings that they may have had when reading the novel, and look at facts. In some parts of the article he used reader-response, which helped you to question what others have said about this novel. Although there were parts where his argument is not clear, it did consist of some valid points. Works Cited Joseph Michael Sommers. "Are You There, Reader? It’s Me, Margaret: A Reconsideration of Judy Blume’s Prose as Sororal Dialogism." Children's Literature Association Quarterly 33.3 (2008): 258-279. Project MUSE. Web. 31 Mar. 2012. .

Essay on the Characters in The Awakening -- Chopin Awakening Essays

Importance of the Characters in The Awakening  Ã‚   The Awakening was a very exciting and motivating story. It contains some of the key motivational themes that launched the women’s movement. It was incredible to see how women were not only oppressed, but how they had become so accustomed to it, that they were nearly oblivious to the oppression. The one woman, Edna Pontellier, who dared to have her own feelings was looked upon as being mentally ill. The pressure was so great, that in the end, the only way that she felt she could be truly free was to take her own life.   In this paper I am going to concentrate on the characters central in Edna’s life and her relationships with them. Leonce Pontellier, the character portraying Edna’s husband was a man very traditional in his thinking. He was self-absorbed and honestly did not see the fault in his own ways. He sincerely believed that Edna was the most important person in his life. However we notice throughout the story that his behavior was in direct contrast with that statement. Edna is only important to him, as in how she effects him and the effect her actions has on his life. If we look at chapter three, Leonce comes home in the middle of the night, awakening his wife whom is fast asleep. He immediately beings to give her the details of his day. When she is unable to fully reply, because she is half asleep, he becomes upset. He states that she is the sole object of his existence and he is upset that she takes so little interest in his concerns. If she was indeed the sole object of his existence, he would have been more considerate than to awaken her in the middle of the night, because he wanted to talk. Also look at chapter 32, when Leonce, learns that Edna is mov... ...e will never have a taste of life’s delirium. Could this mean that as long as you do not take risks, float on the edge and cease being content, you do not truly live or enjoy the â€Å"craziness† of life? More similar to Edna is Mademoiselle Reisz. Like Edna, Mademoiselle. Reisz was a free spirit who did not agree with oppression of women at that time. She was looked upon as being weird and mentally disturbed. Something was definitely wrong with a woman who did not care what others thought and whom chose her own path in life. Mademoiselle Reisz inspired Edna to be true to herself and defy the norms. It was very appropriate that the ending scene took place at the sea, for it was ion the sea when Edna experienced her first taste of freedom (see Chapter ten). Edna finally empowered herself by deciding her own fate, instead of allowing others to choose it for her.

Electronic Health Records Essay

Implementing a new electronic health records (EHR) system to replace manual records is an extremely complicated task. EHRs use complex algorithms to exchange patient data among different physicians and departments such as a pharmacy and laboratory. EHRs are becoming popular because employees and patients can access records anytime and anywhere. Patient drug alerts are also part of the system to warn emergency room and intensive care nurses about potential drug reactions. A needs assessment is a systematic procedure to determine what components are required for EHR implementation to prevent failure of the highly costly investment. Although EHR systems have been shown to dramatically reduce human error, proper assessment before undergoing the implementation process is critical or errors and costs could actually increase. An EHR assessment must be completed before the software packages can be selected to ensure it is conformed perfectly to the specialized needs of the hospital. According to the California Medical Association the assessment has two steps: 1.) Readiness Assessment; and 2.) Work Flow Analysis (Ginsberg et al., n.d.). The assessment should be done by a seasoned group of engineers, physicians, lab workers, billing staff, pharmacists, and nurses to collaborate so that each department increases patient safety and efficient care. The assessment should include a web-based demonstration that allows all stakeholders to identify gaps that would hinder their job responsibilities. Once the needs assessment has been done and vendors chosen as potential suppliers, the readiness assessment should begin. One of the most important data to collect is financial resources. Are more physicians going to be  hired that will increase training costs? Can the organization truly afford the upstart investment and ongoing computer support? Space considerations are also critical to evaluate because most closets are too small for the new EHR platforms that have huge servers. High-speed internet capabilities are a must for EHR data exchange between stakeholders. Moreover, are existing medical records planned to be thinned to put the data into the new system? If so, data needs to be destroyed according to HIPP protocol to protect patient confidentiality. The work flow analysis portion of the needs assessment looks at step-by-step procedures. Examples are scheduling, diagnostic tests, and reviewing tests, prescribing medication, clinical notes, and billing data (Ginsberg et al., n.d.). Other data to be analyzed for the EHR system should be medical history forms, lists of current medications vital signs, insurance, and referrals. The flow of steps in this planning process involves network upgrades, expanding server room space, a Medicare fraud plan, selection of three EHR vendors, visiting other hospitals using the systems, negotiating, and finally select the model that is best suited to all stakeholders. A 10-year study done by the Canada Health Info way about who should be consulted during adoption of an EHR system looked at 29 key stakeholders involved in establishing policy (Rozenblum et al., 2001). They found that stakeholders should be consulted from a bottom-up, clinical needs approach first because they will be the heaviest users of the system. This means physicians, nurses, certified nursing assistants, billers, lab workers, and pharmacy employees need to have significant input into selecting what aspects are most important. The number one reason for implementation failure is inadequate involvement of line-worker clinicians (Rozenblum et al., 2001). Therefore, the informatics team must work very closely with these stakeholders. Other critical stakeholders to consult are the finance department to ensure how much funding is available. Patients are also important stakeholders because no one wants their health information linked to a huge system that is insecure and prone to hacking confidential medical records. Policy makers at the executive organizational and governmental level also have powerful sway over which EHR is chosen. Lack of  collaboration among these diverse groups can delay implementation of the system for decades. Appropriate needs assessment provides relevant feedback to upper management. This helps these higher-ups make wise decisions based on financial resources, training needs for staff, vendor choice, and whether or not EHR is even necessary (Hartzler et al, 2013). Upper management is also provided with the ability to analyze which employees should have access to the system (or what parts of the system) to complete their designated tasks. Gaps between â€Å"wants† and â€Å"needs† can also be identified so that valuable resources are analyzed in cost-benefit analysis. Training needs or additional hiring of employees can also be anticipated to prevent glitches in the system due to human error. EHR systems can increase profit margins and protect patients from human error if assessed closely prior to purchase and implementation. References Ginsberg, D. (n.d.). Successful preparation and implementation of an electronic health records system. Best Practices: A guide for improving the efficiency and quality of your practice. Retrieved December 26, 2014 at https://www.cmanet.org/files/pdf/ehr/best-practices-7.pdf. Hartzler, A. et al. (2013). Stakeholder engagement: A key component of integrating genomic information into electronic health records. Genetics in Medicine, 15, 792-801. Rozenblum, R. (2001). A qualitative study of Canada’s experience with the implementation of electronic health information technology. CMAJ, 183(5), E281-E288.

Company Analysis: Sears Holding Corporation Essay

Company Analysis: Sears Holding Corporation Abstract Sears Holdings Corporation (SHC) is the nation’s fourth largest broadline retailer with approximately 3,900 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada. Formed in the later part of the 19th century it was the largest retail company in the country until the early nineties. SHC is currently the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, home electronics and automotive repair and maintenance. As a result of its merger with Kmart in 2005, SHC also has Martha Stewart Everyday products, which are offered exclusively in the U. S. by Kmart. SHC operates through its subsidiaries, including Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation. In recent years Sears has undergone major changes in order to maximize its profits and beat its competitors. In the past several decade Sears has been the place to go shop for home goods, clothing, and fitness equipment and auto repairs. As time progressed they became very comfortable with what they hard as other companies such as Wal-Mart, Target, Lowes, JC Penny crept in and reaped a chunk of its market. In a struggle to re-invent itself, it tries to maintain focus on its primary and secondary target markets. Introduction The Sears Holding Corporation is a multinational corporation with retailers purchasing products in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. It is the fourth largest retailer within the United States, with over 3900 locations and sells many different marketable goods for consumers. These goods include products such as tools, branded clothing, appliances, sporting goods, electronics, home maintenance and repair, and automotive from many different retailers (http:// www. searsholdings. com/). The Sears Holding Corporation is a result of the merger between Kmart Holding Corporation with the Sears Roebuck Co. which occurred in 005, and the headquarters is located in Hoffmann Estates, Illinois. The consolidated subsidiaries include Sears, Roebuck and Co. , Lands’ End Inc. , LRFG, LLC, Sears Brands, LLC, Sears Canada, Inc. , Sears Financial Holdings Corporation, Sears Reinsurance Company, Ltd. , Kmart Holding Corporation, Kmart Management Corporation, Kmart Cor poration, and the Sears Holdings Management Corporation(http:// www. secinfo. com/dVut2. v3ap. 5. htm#1stPage). Brief History The Sears Roebuck Corporation was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah C. Roebuck in 1893. Sears started as a Jeweler who made a profit by selling watches. The most innovative and quite possibly the most famous method of sales synonymous with Sears was the Sears Catalog. Providing pictures of the products, the prices, and a handy item that could be ordered on a regular basis for sales was by far an ingenious method of marketing. Consumers would be able to purchase items with no markup, have knowledge of their budgets required for purchases, and be somewhat assured of the quality of the product based upon the appearance, marketable ideas and mainly products which could be sold, thus expanding Sears’ enterprise. Mainly from the early 1900’s throughout the 1980’s, Sears maintained its tronghold in America’s consumer market, especially in the 40’s and 50’s with its tremendous expansion. However, towards the 90’s and 2000’s, as many other big businesses arrived, divestiture, as well as problems associated with employee wage issues, Sears’ marketability dropped off until its merger with Kmart in 2005 (http:// en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Sears). Kmart first opened in 1962 and was founded by Sebastian S. Kresge. It was a relatively successful corporation and utilized marketing ideas within the store, namely â€Å"Blue Light Specials† which would entice customers to urchase the â€Å"blue light† or discounted items while they were shopping for their products. Unfortunately, due to failed ideas regarding consumer marketing, failure to utilize the computer technologies for supply chain management, and other setbacks, Kmart had to declare bankruptcy in early 2002. (http://en. wikipedia. org/ wiki/Kmart). Merger The merger between Kmart and Sears clearly enhanced both of the companies’ mutual progressive goals. Sears invested many assets in the formation of Sears Grand stores, larger off store malls, and in the process bought many of the Kmart locations which were going out of business. Therefore the merger helped this process so that it would enable the further growth of Sears at a quicker pace as well as enhance the productivity and save the Kmart Corporation. This was clearly a strong decision made by the executives in combining forces so that the marketability of both companies would increase. Along with this, the shareholders could make a tremendous profit with this alliance. Prior to the merger, if the independent companies were not steadily increasing their revenue shareholders would lose money from their investments. The combination of both of the corporations would mprove shareholder investment returns and thus facilitate the growth of the Sears Holding Corporation. The more investors receive higher returns, the greater investments into the company thus fostering its overall growth. The proprietary brands, selling the aforementioned products, under both companies would be able to reach the target demographic groups with greater ease. The real estate holdings of individual Kmart or individual Sears stores, now under the umbrella of the Sears Holding Corporation, could be leveraged, thus enhancing the ability to sell more of their combined products to a vast variety of consumers. This was reported to increase revenue by nearly 200 million dollars per year. Along with the increased revenue, a decrease in overall cost for maintenance of both corporations due to the merger would save nearly 300 million dollars per year (http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/ Sears_Holdings_Corporation). A general projected net increase of 500 million dollars per year is a phenomenal growth rate. As mentioned previously, a global distribution of these stores in the North American continent (from Mexico to Canada) has enabled the Sears Holding Company to expand even further. Leadership Overall, this merger helped Sears Holdings Corporation be a force in the United States market. As the eighth largest company in the US, the profits and revenue have increased tremendously, but the lack of leadership and the constant changing of executive power has been a preventative factor in its further growth and means that a company cannot initiate new marketable strategies that will come to fruition. Employee stability and satisfaction in a large company is always an issue as well, because Job security is always in question when companies merge. Another downside to such mergers means that the people in executive positions can relocate o other positions at different companies, and strategies that were used to run a single company might not work due to multiple variables involved to create a Joint company. Initially, the decisions to run the Joint company might cause disagreements that might not necessarily increase the percentage of revenue on an annual basis. However, after testing market strategies over a period of time, implementing different methods to sell products, and keep investors happy by generating profits on a yearly basis, the company will eventually succeed through innovation and investment. SHC faces stiff competition from big box retailer such as Wal-Mart and Target. In the mid-tier its competitors include Macys,J. C. Penny and Kohl’s. Organizational Structure SHC recently implemented an organizational structure and operating model that aids in the management of its several business lines thus creating autonomy and focus for business unit management teams. This 5 unit structure enables each organization to focus on their core capabilities and categories which are: support, operating business, brands, online, operating business and real-estate. These support units provide administrative and operational support to the areas of arketing, store operations, customer strategy and finance. Each unit thus comes with a designated leader and an advisory group which is composed of Sears Holding executives. Giving autonomy to each unit futures the business by allowing them to focus on management and profitable of that Unit and the company as a whole (Reuters 2008). With these changes I believe SHC will be better placed to compete and maximize profits. Target market The primary target market for sears is arguably home owners between the ages of 25 to 55 with a moderate household income 25,000 to 60000 dollars. Homeowners make he majority of the population shopping at sears stores. This accounts for the sale in the hard lines department. Sears provides home improvement solutions to this group of people. This group is attracted by products such as home appliances, entertainment centers, home d? ©cor, and fitness equipments. The main appeal to these customers is home appliances and lawn and garden tools. This is so because Sears has a reputation for Secondary market targeted by SHC consists mainly the younger generation. In an effort to bring itself up to par with its competitors, they have been providing brands and clothing items in the soft lines department. This group consists of school age children (4-18). Sears offers products like the kids advantage program where parents can purchase shoes for their kids and be able to switch it for a new pair sometime down the road. Last year Sears teamed upped with LL Cool J and MTVto provide the LL Cool J brand appeal to the teenage population. This brand resonates better with young African American and Latino teenagers. Competitors In the hard lines division sears faces major competition from hardware retail giants such as Lowes and Home Depot. These two have managed to cut off some primary more variety home improvement products than sears. Their yearly sales post better profits than SHC. The soft lines department faces major completion from JC penny, Macy’s, Target and Wal-Mart. Macy’s and JC Penney have managed to chip away some of the market by providing better quality brand named apparel such as Liz Claiborne, Baby Phat, and Anne Kline to these customers. Both companies have managed to post better revenue than SHC the previous quarters. Retail Giants such as Wal-Mart currently (currently No. 1) and Target also provide stiff competition for SHC. These two also have managed to fair better than Sears during this harsh economic period ith Wal-Mart providing a variety of products at super low prices, while target provides more quality apparel at equivalent prices. Recent Performance The company recorded revenues of $46,700 million during the financial year (FY) ended January 2009, a decrease of 7. 8 % over 2008. The operating profit of the company during FY2009 was $251 million, a decrease of 83. 8% from 2008. The net profit was $53 million in FY2009, a decrease of 93. 6% over FY2008. The decline in operating and net profit was due to decrease in gross margin and higher impairment chargers. Stock Market Chart SHC http://www. reuters. om/finance/stocks/chart? symbol=SHLD. OQ The graph chart above illustrates how SHC has performed in the stock market since the merger in 2005. SHC has seen a constant struggle since the merger, the highest grossing year being 2007 when SHLD stock went for $ 190 and currently at $78 thanks to the current economic crisis. Of all the revenue grossed by SHC in recent and past years only 11% comes from Sears Canada meaning the most of SHC revenue is generated here at home: 55% form Sears domestic and 34% from Kmart as demonstrated by the Pie chart below. http://www. wikinvest. com/stock/Sears_Holdings_(SHLD) SWOT Analysts For decades the hard-lines department brought the highest revenue to the business and is considered one of the strengths of sears. Here we see the power of Sears’ owned brand named products such as Craftsman, Kenmore and the usual home improvement tools and equipments. Such are products that are nationally recognized as very reliable tools. In the soft-lines department sears brands such as Lands’ End and Diehard are also heavy sellers and nationally recognized. One other strength of sears is that it is dedicate to its community and customers. Sears has taken upon its self to provide excellence in customer services and for years has had a tring of dedicated customers. Sears is also involved in serving the community and helping the less fortunate. Programs like Heroes at Home and Extreme Makeover Home Edition has Sears written all over it. This dedication to the community has help exposed it to consumers The weakness of this corporation stands from what may have been one of its strengths. Though it has a large customer base, Sears has allowed its sales volume to plummet because they are not keeping up with the changing market environment. They have lost touched with the consumers and competitors when it comes to soft- ines (clothing) and some hard-lines divisions. Sears has undergone too much diversification and has thus lost focus on retail services (Prentice-Hall, 2003). Most of it retail stores today are not reflective of the needs of the consumer. Sears clothing line is old, outdated and out of touch with fashion trends. Currently retail stores are old worn out and do not attack customers. At present its current CEO has been interim so for 18 month indicative of managerial or leadership problems (Gorenstein 2009). Opportunity The merger of K-mart in 2005, was thought be the â€Å"silver bullet’ that would revamp he company, providing a variety of products and obtain an expanded customer base. So far SHC has post several quarterly losses with the most recent of 94 million dollar (SHC 2009). Sears has the opportunity to revamp or improve sales in the soft-lines department by buying and capitalizing on brands such as Liz Cleburne, Nine West that are appealing to customers. They currently have brands such as LL Cool J and Joe Boxers that are thriving in the male department. For the Hard-line department, while it is thriving sears can still provide affordable and durable products with the kind of guarantee that they have for Craftsman tools. In general a change to inventory that appeal to the consumers will bring in revenue and make Sears a better competitor. Threats Like any other company in business Sears faces a constant threat from its competitors. Sears current faces threats from retail giants such as Wal-Mart and Target. More over departmental stores such as Macys and JC Penny are also fighting for its customers. It is worth noting that all these business were babies compared to Sears in the past. More discount stores are opening further driving down sails in certain departments. Sears risk losing its customers if it doesn’t re-invent the stores o provide items that appeal to them. The economic down turn hasn’t been fair to SHC as they have posted record losses for the whole year and until the situation improves SHC has to take steps to reduce cost and increase profits or revenue. Supply Chain Management Sears’ main focus when supply chain management is concerned, is to replenish its inventory as quickly as possible. SHC has 3 basic products: seasonal products such a s lawn mowers and snow blowers, perennial best sellers and fast moving products that need to be replenished rapidly. Unlike many of its competitors, SHC provides 6 illion home appliances/home improvement deliveries directly to customers’ homes every year. To do this effectively SHC uses Cross-docking which is a type of distribution in which inbound products are unloaded at distribution centers, sorted by destination and then loaded onto delivery trucks. Thus the goods are not warehouse i. e. they are Just moved across ducts This reduces the days in inventory positioned its inventory in 4 regional warehouses so it can provide next-day delivery to it customers and quickly replenish store supply. Recommendations How can we stars fixing the problems faced by sears? Starting from the top, a permanent CEO, not another Interim should be put in place to take charge of long term decision making. An environmental analysis would help Sears see where it is and help guide it to where is should be in the market place. Showing them who their customers are, what the customers want and how they can out-beat the competition for more customers. It is no secret that the brands and styles in the soft-lines department have to be ever changing to appeal to customer in time. SHC needs to invest more money into remodeling each departmental store, making it easily accessible and more appealing to consumers. In light of the fact that SHC has lost touch with its customer base, decentralization should be considered. This will allow specialty stores that carter to consumers in each region thus increasing customer base and revenue. References About Sears Holding Corporation (2009) Retrieved September 4, 2009 from website: https://searsholdings.com/about https://searsholdings.com/about/kmart https://www.forbes.com/fdc/welcome_mjx.shtml http://wps.prenhall.com/bp_beekman_compconf_6/ http://ru.reuters.com/ http://www.searsarchives.com/history/history1886.htm http:// www. wikinvest. com/ https://searsholdings.com/ http://archives.chicagotribune.com/

Themes in the Crucible

Jacob Fallin Mrs. James English III 22 November 2010 Themes in The Crucible In my essay I’m going to be talking about the themes in The Crucible. â€Å"Saving your image is not worth the lives of innocent people. † Danforth did not want to postpone the hanging because he doesn’t want to look weak in Salem. So to look powerful he showed no mercy, didn’t not postpone the hangings, and so people with respect him in all ways. â€Å"Lies may be truth, and truth may be lies. † Said by John Proctor, innocent persons knew the truth while Abigail said that they were working with the devil.So who is going to believe who? That is what happens danforth does not believe the innocent, but the liers. â€Å"It’s better to fail with honor than succeed as a fraud. † John Proctor died knowing the truth while Abigail ran away from the innocent lives that she took from good people and she did that with her life of lies, and gets away from everything that h appened to all the innocent people that died for telling the truth and not doing witchcraft but was accused for it and then was hanged if did not confess.Jacob2 â€Å"When good men do nothing, evil can triumph. † If people in Salem said that Abigail and the other girls were lying they could have had a chance for the innocent to live. But only one person stood up for himself and the innocent [John Proctor] and he was hanged for not confessing to witchcraft which he was innocent but since he said â€Å"I am not with god. † â€Å"A lie told often enough becomes the truth. †Abigail and all the other girls, which said the same thing over and over again that was â€Å"so and so used witchcraft† and Judge Danforth believed Abigail and all the other girls which caused several death of innocent people like Corey Giles who was pressed to death they did that cause, so it soon became the truth to the court. Whoever was accused was going to get hanged unless the confe ssed and there were a few that did confess, and will be remembered by being known for doing witchcraft but the ones that didn’t confess were hanged, the last two people that hanged and did not confess was Rebecca Nurse ,and John Proctor. One error can lead up to many errors. † It all started because of Abigail and John's relationship, that’s when the witch trials and hangings occurred. All of this could have not started if John had not had the affair with Abigail and gave her hope that they would one day be together and she still though that john and her would soon be together because his wife was accused.

Healthcare Difference Between Us and India

Health Care in the United States is described as the â€Å"cottage industry† it has been fragmented at the national, state, community and practice levels. There is not one single entity or set of policies guiding the health care system; Furthermore, this fragile primary care system is on the verge of collapse according to the Commonwealth Fund Commission. (A. Shih, 2008) The fragmentation of our delivery system is a fundamental contributor to the poor overall performance of the U. S. health care system.In our fragmented system: * patients and families navigate unassisted across different providers and care settings, fostering frustrating and dangerous patient experiences; * poor communication and lack of clear accountability for a patient among multiple providers lead to medical errors, waste, and duplication; * the absence of peer accountability, quality improvement infrastructure, and clinical information systems foster poor overall quality of care; and * high-cost, intensiv e medical intervention is rewarded over higher-value primary care, including preventive medicine and the management of chronic illness.No single policy will fix the fragmentation of our health care system. Rather, a comprehensive approach is required—one that might lead progressively to greater organization and better performance. The following strategies were recommended: (A. Shih, 2008) * Payment reform. Provider payment reform offers the opportunity to stimulate greater organization as well as higher performance. The predominant fee-for-service payment system fuels the fragmentation of our delivery system.We recommend that payers move away from fee-for-service toward bundled payment systems that reward coordinated, high-value care. In addition, we recommend expanding pay-for-performance programs to reward high-quality, patient-centered care. The more organization in delivery systems, the more feasible these payment reforms become (Exhibit ES-1). These payment reforms also could spur organization, since they reward optimal care over the continuum of services. Specifically, we believe that: Patient incentives. Patients should be given incentives to choose to receive care from high-quality, high-value delivery systems. This requires performance measurement systems that adequately distinguish among delivery systems. * Regulatory changes. The regulatory environment should be modified to facilitate clinical integration among providers. * Accreditation. There should be accreditation programs that focus on the six attributes of an ideal delivery system we have identified.Payers and consumers should be encouraged to base decisions on payment and provider networks on such information, in tandem with performance measurement data. * Provider training. Current training programs for physicians and other health professionals do not adequately prepare providers to practice in an organized delivery system or team-based environment. Provider training programs should b e required to teach systems-based skills and competencies, including population health, and be encouraged to include clinical training in organized delivery systems. Government infrastructure support.We recognize that in certain regions or for specific populations, formal organized delivery systems may not develop on their own. In such instances, we propose that the government play a greater role in facilitating or establishing the infrastructure for an organized delivery system, for example through assistance in establishing care coordination networks, care management services, after-hours coverage, health information technology, and performance improvement activities. Health information technology. Health information technology provides critical infrastructure for an organized delivery system. Providers should be required to implement and utilize certified electronic health records that meet functionality, interoperability, and security standards, and to participate in health info rmation exchange across providers and care settings within five yearsThese do not necessarily mean it will fix the health care system as we know it, but could generate, a better understand on what is expected of the United States as a whole, when the Medicare and Medicaid system is done away with, those born in the late 60’s to 2000’s will probably not benefit from the Medicare or Social Security system, when they reach the age of 65, Why you might ask, because the way the economy is going these systems will be obsolete in the future, while the Government is trying to build a better ntity, they will probably in fact, not accomplish this, it is my understanding that they will be doing away with the Medicaid program by the year 2012, this will be a great burden to those who are currently on this, If the Government could make it easier for those who can’t afford insurance to acquire commercial insurance at a lesser cost, then the majority would be get these types o f insurances, (ex Cigna, Humana, Aetna, BCBS, United Healthcare)I work in the medical field, I see daily the abuse some of these patients are taking from the Government in regards to their medical care, one month they have the insurance, the next they are on what is called â€Å"Share of Cost†,(SOC) this is just like an HMO or PPO, you have a deductable to reach every month, the only problems is, these patients do not have any money to pay, so they have to go to the local Hospital, to get their SOC covered, the patient see’s is as a convenience while the Hospitals sees it as a nuisance. Our fragmented health care delivery system delivers poor-quality, high-cost care. We cannot achieve a higher-performing health system without reorganization at the practice, community, state, and national levels.This report focuses on the community level, for which we have identified six attributes of an ideal delivery system. Our vision of health care delivery is not out of reach; some delivery systems have achieved these attributes, and they have done so in a variety of ways. We can no longer afford, nor should we tolerate, the outcomes of our fragmented health care system. We need to move away from a cottage industry in which providers have no relationship with, or accountability to, one another. Though we acknowledge that creating a more organized delivery system will be difficult, the recommendations put forth in this report offer a concrete approach to stimulate greater organization for higher performance. (A. Shih, 2008)In India, Primary Health Centers (PHCs) are the cornerstone of rural healthcare; a first port of call for the sick and an effective referral system; in addition to being the main focus of social and economic development of the community. It forms the first level of contact and a link between individuals and the national health system; bringing healthcare delivery as close as possible to where people live and work. (Patel, 2005) Primary healt hcare services substantially affects the general health of a population, however many factors undermine the quality and efficiency of primary healthcare services in developing countries. In India, although there are many reasons for poor PHC performance, almost all of them stem from weak stewardship of the sector, which produces a poor incentive framework.The World Health Organization (WHO) specifically points out that to some extent, the deterioration in health status is attributed to inadequacies in PHC implementation, neglecting the wider factors that have been responsible for this deterioration such as lack of political commitment, inadequate allocation of financial resources to PHCs and stagnation of inter-sectoral strategies and community participation. The main ones being bureaucratic approach to healthcare provision, lack of accountability and responsiveness to the general public and incongruence between available funding and commitments. The current PHC structure is extreme ly rigid, making it unable to respond effectively to local realities and needs. For instance, the number of ANMs per PHC is the same throughout the country despite the fact that some states have twice the fertility level of others.Moreover, political interference in the location of health facilities often results in an irrational distribution of PHCs and sub-centers. Government health departments are focused on implementing government norms, paying salaries, ensuring the minimum facilities are available rather than measuring health system performance or health outcomes. Further, the public health system is managed and overseen by District Health Officers. Although they are qualified doctors, they have barely any training in public health management; strengthening the capacity for public health management at the district and taluk level is crucial to improving public sector performance. Patel, 2005) Primary, secondary, generalist and specialist care, all have important and inclusive roles in the healthcare system and should be used to create a comprehensive and integrated model; one that combines universalism and economic realism with the objective of providing coverage for all. (Patel, 2005)| | The majority of these countries are trying to make it better for all to achieve the best health care entity possible; we are trying to make sure that everyone is covered by insurance.REFERENCES A. Shih, K. Davis, S. Schoenbaum, A. Gauthier, R. Nuzum, and D. McCarthy, Organizing the U. S. Health Care Delivery System for High Performance, The Commonwealth Fund, August 2008 (A. Shih, 2008) Express Healthcare Mgmt. Business Publications Division, Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd. , Express Towers, 1st floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021 (Patel, 2005)