Air and Water Pollution: The Gulf Oil Spill Essay

On April 20, 2010, BP’s oil rig Deepwater Horizon blew up in the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 people and unleashing more than 200 million gallons of oil into the water (Sakashita, N.D.). The spill oiled more than 1,000 miles of shoreline and a study from the Center for Biological Diversity shows that more than 82,000 birds; about 6,000 sea turtles; nearly 26,000 marine mammals, including dolphins; and an unknown, massive number of fish and invertebrates may have been harmed by the spill and its aftermath (Sakashita, N.D.). The spill of oil lasted for three months and in that time, did massive amounts of damage. After Deepwater Horizon blew up, pollutants were introduced into the air and water. The air pollutants consisted of smoke and hydrocarbon fumes while the water pollutants consisted of the oil that spilled out of the rig and the dead animals that littered the Gulf after the spill. Both the smoke and the hydrocarbon fumes are primary pollutants meaning that they are pollutants that are emitted into the air directly from a source (Berg & Hager, 2009). No matter the type of pollutant, primary or secondary, there is still an effect on the environment. The effects of the Gulf oil spill were numerous; many different animal species died as well as coral. The deaths of these animals could be considered as both short- and long-term effects on the environment. In the short-term, water pollutants could cause a population to decrease dramatically and possibly become threatened. In the long-term, water pollutants could cause species to become extinct due to the bottlenecking that would occur to try to repopulate the species. Bottlenecking is â€Å"An abrupt and severe reduction in the number of individuals during the history of a species, resulting in the loss of diversity from the gene pool† (Bottleneck, 2012). The generations following the bottleneck are more genetically similar than expected. Bottlenecks often occur in consequence of a catastrophic event (Bottleneck, 2012). The air pollutants can cause both short- and long-term effects as well. According to the Center for Disease Control, the short-term effects of the air pollutants include upset stomach, headache, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat in people sensitive to smells (Gulf Oil Spill 2010: Food/Air Quality/Water Information for Coastal Residents, n.d.). References Bottleneck. (2012). Retrieved from The Free Dictionary: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/bottlenecking Berg, L., & Hager, M. (2009). Visualizing Environmental Science (2nd Edition). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Gulf Oil Spill 2010: Food/Air Quality/Water Information for Coastal Residents. (n.d.). Retrieved from Center for Disease Control and Prevention: http://emergency.cdc.gov/gulfoilspill2010/information_residents.asp Sakashita, M. (N.D.). Gulf Disaster. Retrieved from Center for Biological Diversity: http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/public_lands/energy/dirty_energy_development/oil_and_gas/gulf_oil_spill/index.html

hould Kroger Pay Now For What Ralphs’ Employee Did Then? Essay

CASE 1. Should Kroger Pay Now For What Ralphs’ Employee Did Then? Question 1: Assuming that the store and district managers of Ralphs received complaints about Misiolek’s behavior starting in 1985, but that these complaints did not reach Ralph’s headquarters in Compton, do you believe that the judge is right in holding that the company as a whole should not be held responsible for his actions? Should the company be held responsible for policies that prevent complaints from reaching headquarters? Ralphs Grocery Co. should be held responsible because Ralphs’ management did not facilitate feedback, complaints from employee to headquarter. There was also no control mechanism on Ralphs Grocery Co. The most important thing that should be underlined is In April 1996 several women already complained to Ralph’s management but the company did not take any action to discipline Misiolek. Misiolek was not removed from his position as store manager, but instead moved the complaining women to other stores. Question 2: What kind of penalty do you believe would be appropriate for Ralphs? In your view, was the $33.3 million penalty excessive? Explain. The penalty should be compensatory and punitive damages. It would be such a good idea based on compensatory justice principal. The $33.3 million penalty is excessive depending on how much the cost to rehabilitate the victims and how much the victims were aggrieved. I conclude that $33.3 million penalty was excessive because the psychological impact for some employees was not seriously same with. Except for those who was grabbed, touched, patted, hugged, touched their breasts which was way more offensive should be give much more than rehabilitation cost penalty. Question 3: Should Kroger have to pay for events that happened before it took over the chain of supermarkets? Ethically Kroger should not pay at all. But actually it depends on the acquisition contract between Kroger with Fred Meyer and Fred Meyer with  Ralphs. Question 4: Many states (but not California) adopt federal rules that place a cap of $300,000 on punitive damages in harassment cases. Is such a cap a good idea from an ethical point of view? Explain. In consideration same with question number two, so it is not good idea for flattening punishment. It should meet the cost to rehabilitate the victims and how much the victims were aggrieved. Jail punishment should be considered. Question 5: What can a company do to make sure that a situation like Misiolek’s does not occur? Why do you think Ralph’s allowed Misiolek to continue managing stores? A policy that should be exist are written with zero-tolerance policy prohibiting sexual harassment, conduct some control mechanism by facilitating employee feedback, online complain media, supervisory for manager, All complaints must thoroughly investigated. Ralphs allowed Misiolek to continue managing store because of his capability to achieve profits at the stores that he manage and of achieving excellent bottom line figures at those stores. CASE 2. Wal-Mart’s Women Question 1: What financial impact do you think the lawsuit could potentially have on Wal-Mart? If the law suit was successful the company would have to pay all the compensation amount which was around 86 million dollars to its entire 1.6 million female employees .Which in short would be a big blow to the company’s financials, and also with the deteriorating image caused by the issue they might possibly lose out on an considerable amount of customers leading to further financial implications. It would also result in higher prices in the store because the company would try to make up for all the loss incurred cause of the particular suit. Question 2: What are the major moral complaints of the females suing Wal-Mart? Do you believe these moral complaints are justified? Why? The major complaints launched by the women were that the company (wal-mart)  discriminated against female employees in promotions pay, management training and job assignments. The women stated that promotions in wal-mart were biased towards men, where men were promoted much faster and at a much frequent rate then women. They also stated that there was a pay gap between men and women where two people of different gender on the same positions were paid differently and women were often paid fairly lower than the men. I think feel the complaints are valid. If you are in a job and you see other coworkers getting hired whom are less qualified than you are then I think that the complaints are valid. If more than one complaint is being made about the company then an investigation is warranted. The complaints are justified if you apply for a position or inquire about a position and the company doesn’t give you an opportunity but then turn around and hire a male whom is less qualified than you are. That’s reason to make a concrete decision and go forward. I would have done the exact same thing. Question 3: What factors do you think might account for the discrepancies the Drogin report uncovered? 1) wrong perception of higher level employees towards females. 2) Subjective analysis of performance 3) Biased promotion policies 4)Lack of clearly stated promotion criteria and wage structure. Question 4: What, if anything, do you think Wal-Mart should do to correct these discrepancies? Should the company institute an â€Å"affirmative action† promotion program for female employees? If so, what should this program look like? To correct the above issues wal-mart should try and place an monitoring system which would monitor the promotion procedure and the ratio in which male and female employees are promoted, try and specify the promotion criteria and wage structures and make it’s even for all employees regardless of their gender so as to avoid situations like this in the future. Strict action and measures should be taken against people encouraging gender discrimination in the company i.e the managers as stated in the case. Question 5: Do you think the women deserve to win their lawsuit?

Struggles inside the queer community and related struggles in a larger Essay

Struggles inside the queer community and related struggles in a larger society - Essay Example This "misunderstanding ourselves" is necessary to really know what we think of ourselves rather assuming what we are compelled to think by the community. This urge to know ourselves lead to struggle within and resultantly in the community we are living in. The feeling of being "furthest from oneself" leads a person to new grounds which are taboo for the community. Homosexuality is one of such grounds. "Attitudes toward homosexuality are generally in flux, partially as a result of increased political activism and efforts by homosexuals to be seen not as aberrant personalities but as differing from "normal" individuals only in their sexual orientation." (Encyclopedia Britanica, 2007) Still the comfort with which queers would like to move in most of the societies is a far fetched dream. When a queer is subjected to opposition from the community he balks under the pressure and either forfeit his inner desires or tailor them accordingly. Myers compare this with Foucault's concept of reverse discourse and says "the regulation of homosexuality has provoked unanticipated responses and counter representations, unforeseen pictures of difference and self conscious staging of deviance" (Myer 10) Therefore, queers are depicted as someone "different" and due to such an identity most of them tried to deviate from their inner call and join back in the main stream of community.

Western civilization. Industrial Revolution and Political Theories Essay

Western civilization. Industrial Revolution and Political Theories - Essay Example According to Montagna (2009), industrial revolution happened from 1750 to 1850 beginning in the United Kingdom spreading to Western Europe, Japan and North America. The industrial revolution was a major turning point in history. This marked the first time in history where living standards of ordinary people underwent sustainable growth. There are some innovations that are regarded to as the origins of the industrial revolution. These discoveries were in metal industry, textiles and the discovery of steam power (Montagna, 2009). Innovations in the textile industry included; the spinning jenny by James Hargreaves, the water frame by Richard Arkwright and the spinning mule by Samuel Crompton. These three sectors paved way for the industrial revolution. Before the revolution, wool was the major raw material in the textile industry. After these innovations the textile industry grew remarkably, since the exploitation of other raw materials like cotton was possible. Replacement of tradition al fuels like wood with coal saw a major change in the metal industry (Montagna, 2009). The coal produced a lot of heat and carbon monoxide reducing oxidation. Coal was a good fuel since impurities which were contained in it, did not migrate to the metal. This resulted in the iron industry growing remarkably. The stationary steam engine also paved way for the industrial revolution. ... This caused many children to find jobs in factories where they were paid very little income. The industrial revolution also resulted in high crime rate and social evils. As a result of high population, many people ended up jobless. This prompted them to engage in crime and other social evils such prostitution in order to earn a living. The industrial revolution also had an impact on the social class structure (Montagna, 2009). It resulted in the rise of middle class businessmen who rose above the noble class who owned large tracks of land. It also saw an increase of low class citizens who worked for minimum wages in the factories. The industrial revolution saw the development of good housing for the owners of the factories and very poor housing for the workers and laborers. Industrial revolution also resulted in poor health in the society. This was as a result of air, water and land pollution from the industries. Factories dumped toxic materials in land and water bodies which were in turn absorbed by people through food and drinking water. Many workers also suffered from lung diseases from the fumes which were present in the factories. The industrial revolution saw the emergence of workers unions and trade unions to fight for the rights of the workers. Most employer laws that we have today were as result of these trade unions. Lesson 8: Political Theories In this part of the assignment I will use Delacroix Eugene’s painting â€Å"Liberty Leading the People (28th July 1830)†. Source: Olga’s Gallery (2012) This painting is used to depict the celebration in 28th July 1830, where the people decided rise and dethrone king, replacing him with Louis

Three Main Dimensions of Financial Institutions Essay - 1

Three Main Dimensions of Financial Institutions - Essay Example Even in 2011, we find that the markets continue to struggle with the question of economic reforms, in association with other basic questions, like how to develop sustained and enduring financial growth while also elevating fiscal responsibility. The development of financial systems is affected by various factors, which are, financial institutions risk management policies, ‘indebtedness’ of both individuals and sovereign elements, the banking system, regulatory delinquencies, and exports via the ‘exchange rate policy.’ Some modern researchers claim that the chief cause of the current economic recession is mainly owing to certain socio-economic queries, pertinent to a much broader context, like the enduring presence of income inequality, through the investments made in the line of education and human capital (Rajan, 2010). The World Economic Forum has defined financial development â€Å"as the factors, policies, and institutions that lead to effective financial intermediation and markets, as well as deep and broad access to capital and financial services† (The Financial Development Report 2010, 2010, 4). Financial development is the trajectory through which the states can work towards elevating the efficacies of their economic system (markets and resources), the banking sector, the monitoring of various investment projects, and overall strengthen the position of the financial system. Thus, one can view financial development as a major aspect of affecting a country’s economic growth and welfare (Huang, 2006, 2). Strong factual evidence uphold the notion that finance is at the base of a state’s developmental process.  

Ethical dilemma.organizations ethical dilemmas Essay

Ethical dilemma.organizations ethical dilemmas - Essay Example According to McManus, â€Å"ethics involves learning what is right and what is wrong, and then doing the right thing†. The main thrust of this paper is to discuss what is an ethical dilemma and how are organizations responding to these dilemmas. If an organization’s leading moral principles could not distinguish between what is right and what is wrong or when values are in conflict, then it is in a situation called an ethical dilemma. However, most of the time, an ethical dilemma has no absolute answer because determining right and wrong is a subject matter of what the organization believes. The main thrust of this paper is to discuss what is an ethical dilemma and how are organizations responding to these dilemmas. Ethical Dilemma Ethical dilemma in an organization is complicated because it is necessary for the organization to make a decision among competing values or set of principles in a safe fashion that the organization is morally responsible. These dilemmas are o ften found in every organization and profession where there are people that have diverse personalities, behaviors, goals, and perceptions that are asked to work in the same fashion despite of these differences (Johnson 259). There are ethical dilemmas in an organization that are hard to settle because of their complexity and this kind of dilemmas are aided by a formulated written ethical guidelines, the code of ethics, in order to guide the organization in coming up with a sound decisions.

Managerial decision making process Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Managerial decision making process - Essay Example Performance evaluation is an important task in any organization because by evaluating the performance the productivity level of an individual is measured.Promotion, salary packages, increment in compensation and growth of the individual are also based on the performance evaluation therefore organization must ensure that they have proper performance evaluation method that considers important characteristics and traits of the individual so that right candidate is promoted and get his reward of hard work. Also by promoting the right individual, his motivation level would also increase thus it would further increase the productivity. There are different factors that an organization use to evaluate the performance of an individual however the following criterion are the most common considered by organization to evaluate the performance of an individual Knowledge of the individual Expertise in the field Productivity level Performance Tasks completed by the individual Completion of work wit hin the deadline Skills to work as a team player These are the most common factors that are considered in evaluating the performance of an individual, but the criteria may vary from one organization to another. Main concerns with the given company’s current evaluation form The main problems with the existing company’s evaluation form and method are as follows: In evaluating performance, the behavior of an individual with his co-workers and supervisors is highly considered. The extent to which an individual keeps his desk or office clean is considered an important aspect. Task completed on time is not considered as an important characteristic to evaluate the performance of the individual. The knowledge and abilities of an individual are ignored. Most Commonly-Used Sets Of Criteria Which Should Be Evaluated In A Performance Evaluation There are several commonly used sets of criteria used in order to evaluate the performance of an individual and these criteria are as foll ows: Performance of the individual Goals and targets achieved by the individual Efforts put in by the individual Productivity of the individual Ambitions Leadership qualities Motivation level Technical skills and knowledge Team work and team player Advantage of using same performance evaluation method One of the main advantages of using one performance evaluation method for every employee is that it evaluates the performance of different employees in the organization using same criteria therefore it is easy to identify the performance level of different individuals and thus it becomes easier for the management to analyze and reward them and promote them. RELATIVE VALUE OF THE COMMONLY-USED SETS OF EVALUATION CRITERIA already IDENTIFIED There are drastic differences in the criteria used by the company and the criteria that are most commonly used in organizations around the world. The existing system of the organization focuses more on the behavior of the performance, rather than the contribution of the individual towards organization goals and objectives. Organizations around the world focus on the productivity and performance of the individual, whereas this company focuses on relationship with co-workers and managers. Result indexes, such as turnover, quantity and quality of work produced by the employee, are also used for appraisal purposes around the world, which are ignored by the company. Advantages Of Including Supervisors, Peers, And Subordinates In The Evaluation Process Most of the people in the organization review the employee’s performance than just their immediate supervisor. The 360-degree feedback evaluation allows the employer to understand what the performance of the employees is and how the supervisors, peers, subordinates and the external customers viewed the employee’s performance. This evaluation technique provides feedback from all levels of the

EDUC ASSIGNMENT Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

EDUC - Assignment Example Effects of the policy to professional practice 2.2. Strength of the policy 2.3. Weakness of the policy 2.4. Factors undermining the policy 1. Policy Synopsis 1.1. Identity of the policy This study is a discussion of Federal Australian education policy. This paper will concentrate on the policy we have identified, entitled â€Å"Transformative ICT and Education Policy†. The code reference for this study is ICT4E. It was formed and began operating effectively from June 28, 2005, as an education policy in Australia that is accessible online. The policy is available on the URL http://apo.org.au/node/25007. It is downloadable as a html web page or a portable or protected data file. 1.2. History and background The policy emerged from an analysis of the elements of the current generation. The society was being changed using Information Technology and communication. The Federal Australian government discovered that Information and communication technology favored other important aspec ts of development such as the economy, work environment, residential homes and businesses, the affairs of the government, medical sector and transportation. It however neglected the area of education. The government then decided to make it a policy in country to provide support to the education sector by application of information technology. In 2004, the government began the strategic plan of making the transformative educational ICT policy a reality in the entire nation of Australia (Ball, 2008). In the recent and the current educational sector, the educational policy has been addressing the issue of computer proficiency to transform the students from novices to experts. Students use information technology to share educational resources, to communicate effectively and to socialize with others. The policy offers influential centre stages in the position of advanced studies. This study focuses on improving design at universities. The implementation of the education policy on Informa tion and Communication Technology works in three different levels of priority (Tomei, 2010). 1.3. Aims of the policy The policy aims at improving the education quality among students in the education institutions. The main aim is to ensure that the composition of human resources is highly equipped for quality performance in work places. It also aims at improving the processes of research and educational trainings. This was to promote the green agenda while reducing the cost of document printing on papers. Minimal paper use was seen as a means of protecting the environment from degradation, because it implied reduced cutting of trees (Pelgrum & Law, 2003; Abbott, 2001). 1.4. Funding Arrangement and structure The federal Australian government of Australia identified the financial aspect of the policy as a critical challenge. The challenge was to do with establishment of ICT environments in all learning institutions with the international standards of set up. Funding of the program off icially takes place through Digital learning revolution with an aim to create a direct contact of one on one. The educational sector conducts massive procurement of the devices and softwares at discounted rates, to reduce the size of the budget (Jimoyiannis, 2011). 1.5. Implementation Process Top of Form The implementation of this project makes use of 5 projects to enable teachers as well as the school administration to make the optimal utilization of ICT in the learning environment such as a typical classroom. One of the implementation projects

Music and Cognitive Functioning Essay Example for Free

Music and Cognitive Functioning Essay Music is an art form and one of the most popular media utilized to convey ideas, views, and emotions. It plays various, significant part in everyones life. It can calm one’s mood and emotion. It can relax a person’s tensed body. However, it can also hype and motivate people. Music is also a means that we can use to express our ideas and messages. It can also be an extension of our personality and a manifestation of our identity. The type of music that we listen reflects what kind of person we are. It is often suggested to pregnant women to listen to classical music for it is believed that listening to classical music stimulates the babys activity inside the mothers womb. It is also believed that listening to music by pregnant women increases the probability that their child will be intelligent. Some students can also study their lessons well while listening to music. The melodies and tunes make the environment conducive to learning. They tend to absorb and understand their lessons well while they are listening to their favorite songs. This idea poses the possibility of enhancing peoples cognitive capacity through music. Thus, this paper aims to discuss the relationship of music and a persons cognitive capacity, and whether music increases a person’s intelligence. Music Music is an art, a craft, and an organized representation of sounds, silence, notes, and melodic tunes subjected in a time framework. Music includes a wide array of activities. It could be in the form of a mother putting her child to sleep through a lullaby, a group of kids singing their favorite nursery rhyme, a rock band playing their heart throbbing hits, or simply a person humming unconsciously (Miller 3). Music is a succession of arranged tones that produce a rhythm (Miller 3). This definition does not cover the characteristics of music, but it covers the description of the different genres people may be affiliated with. Music is relative and subjective. It conforms to the taste and preference of the person. Music lessons taught us that music is comprised of notes, staffs, pitch, and voice. These are the superficial discernible characteristics of music. These are the things you will learn in your music class. Music has different forms in various cultures, and it is experienced by individuals through different ways. Music has two subdivisions based on culture. These are the â€Å"high culture† and â€Å"low culture† types of music. High culture music is eminent in U. S. and Europe. This type of music includes the music of the western world formed during the different periods—Classical, Baroque, and Romantic, among others. It is considered as the art music and is performed in the concert halls and churches. It is treasured by people in the conventional music industry. The other type of music includes the contemporary kinds of music like jazz, blues, country, rock, pop, etc. Nowadays, the distinction between the high and low culture of music is widely accepted for it separates the quality of music of better quality, more advanced art music from the music played in the nightclubs and dance halls. Music and Intelligence People always look for ways and means to increase their intelligence. This is inherently true for parents, especially the first-time parents who want to practically boost the cognitive functioning of their children. There is news proliferated by the media that the music of Mozart can actually make a person smarter. Due to this evidence, some educators and policy makers even suggest that playing Mozart’s music in elementary schools should be mandated (Nairne 346). Everyone has been bestowed a gift to excel in different fields. Everyone has his or her own discernible characteristics that enable him or her to take on tasks. However, it was believed that people with high musical aptitude possess low academic aptitude. Nevertheless, in reality, there is no clear correlation between musical inclination and affinity and the academic performance or ability of a person (Gordon 22). Recently, there has been a media fuss questioning if the involvement in music makes a person smarter. There is a significant query of whether there is a â€Å"Mozart effect† if a person is involved in music. Does music enhance a person’s cognitive capacity? There are various studies reporting that music increases learning capability, while other research conducted shows otherwise. Hence, this only shows the limitations and the discrepancy in studying the impact of music on cognitive ability (Crowe 143). The researches conducted regarding the relationship of music and cognitive skills fall under music cognition. This particular field of study involves examination of the different aspects of cognition, including how music is processed by its listeners. It seeks to understand the underlying processes over the standard practices of analyzing, composing, and listening to music. Music has a significant impact on the brain processes. Learning is a complex process that cannot be reduced to a simple human process or experience. In learning, the development of a particular ability will enhance the abilities of a person (Crowe 143). There are really no sufficient analyses on the cognitive effects of long-term exposure to music and passive listening of music on intelligence. The most celebrated short-term effect of music on the increase in intelligence was the interpretation of the 1993 Mozart Effect study. Researchers claimed that 10 minutes exposure to compositions of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart could increase general IQ scores by 8 points (Brown and Volgsten 137). However, there are claims that the study lacks sufficient evidence that exposure to Mozart songs actually render the improvements on the cognitive functioning of an individual. An interesting article that was written by the proponents of the studies on Mozart effects states that there are other types of music which render similar effects, such as folk music, minimalist music, and other types of music that cause relaxation. They also compared the tests of their participants and saw no particular difference on the results on the tests which required remembering numbers and general tests of intelligence. Yet, the Mozart effect manifested in tests which required recognizing visual patterns and mentally rotating objects. The researchers, therefore, concluded that the exposure to Mozarts composition only affects the persons spatial-reasoning abilities (Miche 16). Mozart songs may result in improvement for its omnificent and innovative schema. These songs activate the part of the brain which controls our spatial-reasoning tasks. Thus, this suggests that the persons involved may feel so relaxed and in a good mood, which allows them to perform the reasoning tasks better (Nairne 346). Furthermore, listening to Stephen Kings stories could also render Mozart effect, for the listeners find it enjoyable and entertaining. It relaxes them and enhances their spatial-reasoning skills. On the other hand, a study was conducted exposing participants to slow and sad selection of classical music, and significant findings failed to produce the Mozart effect. It greatly suggests that it is indeed the setting of the mood and arousal that are responsible for the improvements of the spatial-reasoning abilities of people (Nairne 346). The numerous studies mentioned earlier in the text only shows how psychological findings could be inaccurate and misused by the popular media. Although the various studies present valid findings, the improvements on the people’s abilities attributed to music were relatively minute and merely focused on a particular part of brain functioning. There are no stipulated evidences that suggest listening to Mozart or Stephen King produce lasting increase on the general intelligence. However, there may be ephemeral effects on the level of intelligence of a person. For instance, consuming anything that will make a person feel good and light would render the same improvements discussed by the researchers of Mozart effect. Thus, relaxing music makes one feel better about performing tasks, but it does not make hi or her smarter in any way (Nairne 346). Conclusion Music plays a significant role in everyones life. It is a tool for expressing our ideas and messages through the lyrics, melody, and rhythm of a song. It is an extension of our personality. We manifest ourselves—the kind of people we are—through the genre of music we listen to. Music inclination and intelligence have no significant correlation. There is a celebrated study which created hype in the media that exposure to Mozarts composition have a significant increase on the general intelligence of a person. The Mozart effect is a study conducted which concluded that exposure to his music activates the brain functioning which controls the spatial-reasoning abilities. Another study conducted suggests that using slow and sad classical compositions to increase cognitive capacity. However, these types of music failed to render similar effects as the impact of Mozart’s songs. It therefore concludes that anything that makes you feel good and relaxed can make you perform a task better. Works Cited Brown, Steven and Ulrik Volgsten. Music and Manipulation: On the Social Uses and Social Control of Music. New York: Berghahn Books, Inc. , 2006. Crowe, Barbara J. Music and Soulmaking: Toward a New Theory of Music Therapy. Maryland: Scarecrow Press, Inc. , 2004. Gordon, Edwin E. A Music Learning Theory for Newborn and Young Children. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, Inc. , 2003.

Plato and Aristotle Essay Example for Free

Plato and Aristotle Essay Plato and Aristotle both have been very influential as the ancient Greek philosophers. Aristotle was a student of Plato and there are many similarities between these intellectual giants of the ancient world but there are also many things that distinguish them from each other. Aristotle was far more empirical-minded than Plato. First, Platos philosophy relegated the material, physical world to a sort of metaphysical second class. His contention was that the abstract truths of the mind-mathematical truths, moral and normative truths about ideals-are what really matter in life and in philosophy, and that the empirical world around us consists of merely poor copies of these ideals. By contrast, Aristotle did as much or more work in what we would today call science (physics, biology, etc. ) as in what remains a part of philosophy. While Aristotle certainly did important work in ethics and related areas, he concentrated as much or more on examining the material world. Plato can be read at times as being quite disparaging of science. This is not true of Aristotle. Second, the difference in the approaches and values of these two philosophers resulted in very different political philosophies. Platos political philosophy, which can be found principally in the Republic. For him, the just state is one ruled by ascetic philosophers who have been raised from birth not to value material reward or exclusive human connections, even with their own kin. They are the ideal of wise, objective, fair-minded, ultra-rational beings. In contrast to Platos utopian political philosophy, Aristotles political philosophy, which can be found principally in the Politics, has a large component of descriptive political science. When he does argue for certain political schemes, they tend to be incremental improvements on existing systems. Like his teacher Plato, Aristotles philosophy aims at the universal. Aristotle, however, finds the universal in particular things, which he calls the essence of things, while Plato finds that the universal exists apart from particular things. Aristotle makes philosophy coextensive with reasoning, which he also would describe as science. Note, however, that his use of the term science carries a different meaning than that covered by the term scientific method. For Aristotle, all science is practical, poetical or theoretical. By practical science, he means ethics and politics; by poetical science, he means the study of poetry and the other fine arts; by theoretical science, he means physics, mathematics and metaphysics. In general, Plato is the more extravagant thinker, the thinking outside the box type who was equal parts brilliant and bizarre in his ideas. Aristotle is more the cool, logical, dry, systematic thinker whose works tend to read like encyclopedias.

Permeability of Plasma Membranes

Permeability of Plasma Membranes Introduction Plasma membranes are bi-layered membranes made up of amphiphillic molecules (having charged polar heads tending to be hydrophillic and uncharged fatty acid tails tending to be hydrophobic) that selectively allow entrance of certain large molecules into the cells cytosol and through which water and small non-polar molecules may freely diffuse. This experiment seeks to understand limited aspects of the permeability of the plasma membrane using the Elodea leaf membrane as model organism. Some of the factors upon which permeability of the plasma membranes of biological organisms depend are differences in pH on opposite sides of the membrane, temperature, osmolarity, expression of certain membrane receptors and the concentration gradients of various molecules. This experiment is very limited in scope and seeks to answer only the question of what is the time dependence for permeability of glycerol through the cell membrane. Other experiments have answered many of our questions regarding this and have resulted in mathematical equations describing these results. This experiment will use one of the formula derived from these prior experiments, the Ether:Water partition coefficient for alcoholsiii as a means of hypothesizing what the outcome of this present experiment will be. I have hypothesized that within seconds of exposure to a 0.3M (molar) hyper-tonic solution of glycerol, dissolved in an isotonic deionized water (dH2O)/sucrose solution, the Elodea leaf will plasmolyze irreversibly-an assumption I believe is supported by the fact that glycerols ether:water partition coefficient is only 0.00066iii. Further support for this supposition is the fact that glycerol has a relatively bulky chemical structureviii-owing to its three large, highly polar hydroxyl groups-and a large molecular weight of 92.0938 grams per mole. Alternatively, it may be hypothesized that the glycerol-being an aliphatic alcohol (see diagram in section IV(i) infra) which, itself makes up a part of the plasma membranevi-will be capable of more easily diffusing across the plasma membrane as compared to the sucrose, which cannot diffuse across the membrane, in which case not only will there be no severe plasmolysis but there may, instead, be a build up of turgor pressure inside the cell due to the inward movement of the alcohol and its confinement in the central vacuole. Methods In order to discover what molar concentration of sucrose will be needed in an aqueous solution to create a solution that is isotonic to the leafs cytosol I shall perform a bifurcated experiment in which the first part shall be to determine this concentration. Part two of this experiment will be to determine the period of time it takes for glycerol to diffuse across the plasma membrane. In order to determine which molar solution of sucrose is isotonic to the cytosol of the Elodea cell I labeled 6 micro-centrifuge tubes with the markings: 0.2M, 0.3M, 0.4M, 0.5M, 0.6M and isotonic respectively and using an adjustable pipette placed 1000 ÃŽÂ ¼L of premixed sucrose solution of each of the indicated molarities into the respective tubes. In each of these tubes I placed an Elodea leaf and allowed them to sit for approximately five minutes [my observations of plasmolysis along with photographs of leaves in similar states to what I observed are provided in table 2 of the Table of observations of plasmolysis and photographs #2-#6 in the Photograph table which can be found in sections III(A) (B) respectively.] While awaiting the leaves to finish soaking I viewed a dry mounted Elodea leaf under a microsocpe using 20X and 40X objectives with 10X ocular so as to have a better idea of what a normal Elodea leaf looks like for comparison to the viewing of the wet mounts [photo of a leaf in similar state to what I observed is provided as photo #1 in the Photograph table of section III(B).] I then labeled 6 microscope slides using the same concentrations I used when labeling the micro-centrifuge tubes. After five minutes I prepared an individual wet mount of an Elodea leaf by placing a leaf from a micro-centrifuge tube onto a microscope slide, bearing its respective molarity, with the upper surface of the leaf face up. I placed a cover slip over the leaf and gently tapped the cover slip so as to seat it onto the slide and to remove any excess solution. I then viewed the wet mount-searching for indications of plasmolysis-under a microscope using the same 20X and 40X objective lenses and the 10X ocular lens I had viewed the dry mount and recorded my observations then repeated this process for each of the leaves in the remaining tubes. I was unable to obtain photos of my observations but I have included photos downloaded from the internet which were similar to what I had observed and provided them in tables 1-6 of section III(B). Having established which molarity of sucrose solution was isotonic with the cytosol of the cell (see table in section III(A)) I calculated the quantities of sucrose, glycerol (test solution) and 1-Propanol (counter test solution) I would need for the second part of this study. In those calculations I used the data presented in table 1 below. My calculations are presented in the Table of Calculations, table 3 of section III(C) infra. I plugged the results I obtained from table 3 into the formula C1 x V1 = C2 x V2 so that I may calculate the volumetric quantity of each of these chemicals I would need to add to each of my two 1 x 103 ÃŽÂ ¼L test solutions, my calculations for each may be found in Table 4 of section III(C). Using those calculation I then added the quantities of sucrose to each of the other two chemicals and subtracted the sum from the final volume of solution (1000 ÃŽÂ ¼L) I would be creating so that I will know the volume of deionized water (dH2O) I would need. Those calculations are shown in table 5 of section III(C). Using these calculations I then prepared 5 new micro-centrifuge tubes as follows: 3 tubes each containing a 1000 ÃŽÂ ¼L isotonic (0.4M) sucrose solution (one of which is to be used as a negative control); the fourth containing an aqueous solution of isotonic (0.4M) sucrose and 0.3M glycerol mixtures; and the fifth containing an aqueous solution of isotonic (0.4M) sucrose and 0.3M 1-Propanol mixtures (counter control). I placed one Elodea leaf into each of the 3 isotonic solutions and allowed them to soak for approximately five minutes. After five minutes I prepared a wet mount of the first of the 3 leaves as previously described. After viewing the first leaf (the negative control) I placed the second leaf on a slide and added 2 drops of the 0.3M glycerol/Sucrose solution to the slide then viewed and recorded my observations. I then prepared the third leaf using 2 drops of the 0.3M glycerol/Sucrose solution and viewed to be certain I obtained the same result as the last slide then after approximately 30 seconds added 2 drops of 1-Propanol/Sucrose solution (the counter test solution) to see if this would have an effect opposing that of the glycerol/Sucrose solution and recorded my observations which I describe next. Results A. Table of observations of Plasmolysis Table 2: Plasmolysis observations within five minutes of Elodeausing different sucrose solutions. Sucrose concentrations Plasmolysis observed (Y/N) Sucrose concentrations Plasmolysis observed (Y/N) B. Photograph tables (Photographs of Elodea leaves in various solutions): 1. Normal leaf (similar observation as prior to placing in solution) 2. Hypo-tonic solution (similar to observation as seen in 3. Isotonic solution (similar observation as in the isotonic solution and the ~0.4M-0.5M sucrose solutions) 4. Hyper-tonic solution (similar observation as seen in the 0.6M sucrose solution) 5. Plasmolysed leaf (similar observation as would have been seen in hyper-tonic solutions) 6. Plasmolysis Recovery (did not observe any recovery events but this is what I would also have been looking for had plasmolysis recovery taken place) C. Tables of Calculations: Table 3: Calculations for concentration of 0.3M glycerol/Sucrose solution. Amount of sucrose needed: [.137g] x V = 0.4M x .001 L V = (.0004g/L) / (0.137g) = 0.002919 L or 2.91 x 103mL Amount of glycerol needed: [0.028g] x V = 0.3M x .001 L V = (.0003g/L) / (0.028g) = 0.01071 L or 10.7 x 103mL Amount of 1-Propanol needed: [0.018g] x V = 0.3M x .001 L V = (.0003g/L) / (0.018g) = .01667 L or 16.7 x 103mL Table 4: Calculations of volumetric quantities of each chemical needed to make 1000 ÃŽÂ ¼L of each solution. 2.92 ÃŽÂ ¼L sucrose+ 10.7 ÃŽÂ ¼L glycerol + x(dH2O) = 1000 ÃŽÂ ¼L 13.62 ÃŽÂ ¼L + x(dH2O) = 1000 ÃŽÂ ¼L x(dH2O) = 1000 ÃŽÂ ¼L 13.62 ÃŽÂ ¼L x(dH2O) = 986.38 ÃŽÂ ¼L 2.92 ÃŽÂ ¼Lsucrose + 16.7 ÃŽÂ ¼L 1-Propanol + x(dH2O) = 1000 ÃŽÂ ¼L 19.62 ÃŽÂ ¼L + x(dH2O) = 1000 ÃŽÂ ¼L x(dH2O) = 1000 ÃŽÂ ¼L 19.62 ÃŽÂ ¼L x(dH2O) = 980.38 ÃŽÂ ¼L Table 5: Calculations of amounts to add to each solution. Discussion At first viewing I did not quite understand what was happening as I had not previously seen an Elodea leaf that presented without its large central vacuole let alone one that presented with chlorophyll throughout the entire cytosolic space. Having consulted with my fellow researchers (one of which obtained findings similar to mine in her experiment), none of whom had explanations for this result, I shall instead provide a summary of what I observed and what I had expected to observe. I had expected my first hypothesis to be borne out regarding the outward movement of water across the membrane and toward the hyper-tonic glycerol solution providing a sighting as in photograph 5, however what I discovered was an Elodea leaf showing absolutely no sign of plasmolysis. Instead of the expected I saw what was a leaf that appeared to be in a state of iso-osmolarity with its environment which would have been expected only in an isotonic solution as in photograph 3. There, also, was no turgor pressure as would have been seen in photograph 2 had the alternative hypothesis of inward movement of glycerol across the plasma membrane been borne out. Finally, had there been a plasmolysed cell the addition of the counter test solution of 1-propanol should have caused recovery as seen in photograph 6 but being I was unable to obtain a plasmolysed cell I was also unable to observe recovery of such cell. The results of this experiment has left me unable to either accept or reject either of the two hypotheses provided above.

The Romance Of Lace :: essays research papers

The Romance of Lace   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Perhaps it's the touch of romance it adds. Or the way light filters through it, suffused and softened. For others, it reminds them of the home of a beloved grandmother or a gentler time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The delicate threads, twisted and knotted, become a work of art, whether they are draped over a table or hanging in a window.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In its broadest definition, lace actually refers to any openwork techniques that could include weaving, crochet or knitting. However, there are some needlework techniques that create only openwork. These are needle lace and bobbin lace. Needle lace is a single thread worked by looping, twisting and knotting.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Bobbin lace is created by multiple threads wound on a hand-held bobbin and affixed to a pillow with pins. (This is also referred to as pillow lace by some.) Bobbin lace is more like weaving while needle lace is more like sewing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  'There has always been an interest in lace but in the past few years, it has gained popularity,'; said Judy Tackett, owner and manager of Attic Delights, an Orange-based antique shop that specializes in vintage lace and linens.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Today, Tackett sees laces for a variety of uses: doilies, tablecloths, pillow cases, collars, gloves.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  'People are once again beginning to appreciate the intricacy and workmanship of lace,'; said Tackett.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The ways lace is used today might surprise some of its creators. Lace hankies are used as curtains hanging from a ribbon or clothesline. Or they're used as decorative elements on pillows…or sewed together to form quilts or coverlets. Some use them to trim cabinets, adding a touch or elegance or softness.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Even items of clothing, particularly baby clothes, have found a second life as design elements.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  'A lot of people like baby clothes to hang in nurseries or to add a touch of softness or whimsy to a room,'; Tackett said. 'There's something comforting about a delicate gown or bonnet hanging near a window or on a hook.';   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In one instance, a woman came into Tackett's shop and spotted a pinafore that was almost an exact copy of a dress her sister had worn as a child. The woman bought it and displayed it in a shadow box along with an old snapshot taken of her sister wearing the pinafore.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Unfortunately, lace making may quite possibly become a lost art.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  'It's a very exacting and time-consuming process,'; said Tackett. 'Unfortunately, many of us don't have the time or patience.';   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Fortunately, there are still many pieces of fine quality lace available.

Acid Rain :: Free Essay Writer

Acid Rain   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As the century past, the industrial society kept advancing. However, many advantages of the industrial society brings us also has a down side. One of the adverse effects of industrialization is acid deposition due to power plant, fossil fuel and automobile emissions. Acid rain is the popular term but the scientists prefer the term acid deposition. Acid rain can have adverse effects on the environment by damaging forests or by lowering the pH of the lakes and making the water too acidic for many aquatic plants and animals to live.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The father of acid rain research is an Englishman named Charles Angus Smith who suggested in, 1852, that sulfuric acid in Manchester, English, was causing metal to rust and dyed goods to fade. One source that causes acid rain are fossil fuel. Fossil fuel has many usage in our society. Such as to power electric power plants, industrial boilers, smelters, businesses, schools, homes and vehicles of all sort. These various energy sources contribute 23.1 million tons of sulfur dioxide and 20.5 million tons of nitrogen oxides to our atmosphere worldwide. When fossil fuels are ignited like oil and coal, they release carbon dioxide, a so-called greenhouse gas that traps heat within the earth's atmosphere which causes global warming that is taking place right now. Also, it releases sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and various metals (mercury, aluminum) that are released into the atmosphere that reacts with other airborne chemicals (water vapor and sunlight) to produce sulfuric and nitric acid which later can be carried long distance from their source and be deposited as rain (acid rain) but acid doesn't just came from rain but also in the forms of snow, hail, fog, and mist. Forests are a complex ecosystems that involves trees, soil, water, the air, climate and other living organisms that support the community of wildlife: animals, birds, insects and plants and also a major economic resource. The countries hardest effected by acid rain is in the European countries, yet central Europe face a much greater threat since it has a large amount of forest area and about 8% of German's forest face the lethal effect of Waldsterben or forest death of acid rain. Acid rain kill about 50 million hectares of forest that have been damaged in Europe and in Central and Eastern Europe's thousands of tons of pollution each year that 14,000 lakes are unable to support sensitive aquatic life. Acid rain does not kill trees outright but weakens them to the point where they become susceptible to extremes of heat or cold, attacks from blight-causing or from inserts such as the gypsy moth, and

Role of communication and interactions with individuals who have dementia Essay

1. How do individuals with dementia communicate through their behaviour (1.1) Persons with dementia may communicate through behaviours such as: †¢Repetition of actions or questions, this may communicate anxiety over memory loss, boredom from inactivity, to seek reassurance, picking at clothing due to anxiety. †¢Aggression, this may communicate depression, an inability to rationalise, impaired judgment, feeling embarrassed and fearful of humiliation, frustration that they are unable to remember what they are meant to be doing or that others do not understand their need to accomplish tasks that they feel to be important. Can find no other way to express themselves. †¢Pacing or walking, this may communicate a desire to visit a certain place or person. Although the individual may have forgotten who or where. They may be bored and attempting to use up energy, uncomfortable from sitting, confusion about what they are meant to be doing or where they are, to enter in to past routines of behaviour that once served an important purpose that the individual feels they need to accomplish. †¢Becoming suspicious of others, this may communicate that the individual is experiencing memory loss and is having difficulty recognizing familiar faces †¢Pointing and vocalizing to communicate their intentions as the individual loses the use and understanding of their vocabulary 2. How you as a carer can misinterpret communication (1.2) †¢Not being attentive and missing behavioural communications such as picking at items, failing to make eye contact or being out of the persons view, not creating an environment conducive to communication (adequate lighting, low background noise levels etc) †¢Not allowing the individual time to process information before continuing the conversation. †¢Misunderstanding the intention behind a given response as the individual may mean one thing but say another. †¢Individuals in a support team may fail to record information and communicate with one another when they have identified a need for a behaviour and the correct response to that need. i.e., the individual may pace because they are anxious remembering a forgotten routine (the need to catch the bus so they are not late for work). †¢Asking open rather than closed questions requiring a yes or no answer. Making communication difficult. 3. Explain the importance of effective communication with individuals with dementia (1.3) We all communicate to express needs and share information. In order for these needs to be met there must be someone open to receive information and a receptive environment in order for information to be shared effectively. As a person with dementia already has a compromised ability to communicate, communication needs to be effective and understood or the client may not understand what is being done to them, where they are being taking. It is important that for effective communication to take place the care giver: †¢Creates an environment that supports effective communication oAdjust lighting so you can be seen and you can in tern see, adjust lighting, close curtains if excessively sunny etc. Reduce the distraction of background noises Approach communication when there is reduced or no distracting activity in the surrounding environment oTry to make the individual’s environment comfortable in terms of temperature, seating arrangements, attempting to meet baser needs, food, drink, toileting. †¢Presents themself in a way that supports communication: Position yourself in a way that enables eye contact to be made (but not to invade personal space or intimidate) oBe aware of your non-verbal bodily communication, allow the individual to see your body language as they will be more receptive to this than speech, ensure your body language is in keeping with your intentions to avoid mixed messages †¢Speech: oRemain positive and present information in an enjoyable and pleasurable manner but avoid patronising oWhen assisting with tasks attempt to offer direction by decompiling tasks to their fundamental components rather then assuming the individual will recall how to carry out complex activities i.e. putting on shoes. Redirect the topic of conversation or activity if the individual becomes distressed rather then arguing your point oAssume that the individual can understand what you are saying. If they are present while other conversations are taking place, be respectful and show dignity by not discussing them in their presence oAttempt to retain as much of the persons autonomy as is possible by offering choices, i.e. food, clothes, activity. However keep choices simple, in the present and not abstract. Asses the individual’s ability to choose; as the illness progresses, simple choices can become overwhelming and may need to be revised. †¢Assisting with activities: Do not boss the individual; allow them time to attempt tasks at their own pace. If people feel that they are being controlled they may resort to aggression or withdraw. oUse hand over hand techniques as opposed to carrying out tasks for individuals. Praise efforts and avoid highlighting errors. 4. Describe how 3 different forms of dementia can affect the way an individual communicates. (1.4) Vascular Dementia: †¢Caused by a series of small strokes, Vascular dementia can compromise understanding of language, memory and ability to follow instructions. Early symptoms may include slurring of speech (affecting the individuals ability to verbally express), dizziness (affecting concentration), short term memory (affecting the ability to take in new information, adjust to new situations, settings and people). More dominant symptoms affect a person’s control over bladder and bowel movements compromising the ability to communicate these baser needs, ability to process information and abstract thought affecting a person’s independence and autonomy. Dementia Pugilistica: †¢Brought upon by a repetition of concussions, the dementia commonly effects a decline in mental abilities, lack of concentration (affecting a person’s ability to hold a conversation, process information, attention to tasks). Personality disorders including psychomotor retardation (a slowing-down of thought and a reduction of physical movements affecting processing skills, learning new information, recalling learnt information and ability to  complete tasks), exacerbation of aggression, suspiciousness (effecting trust in relationships and inclusiveness), loquacity (becoming talkative). Huntington’s Disease: †¢A neurodegenerative genetic disorder that affects muscle coordination and leads to cognitive decline and psychiatric issues. Some of the symptoms and their effect on communication could be: Motor dysfunction, jerky, random, and uncontrollable movements may affect both the individual’s confidence in their ability to communicate and their ability to express and gesticulate. Slowed saccadic eye movements (quick, simultaneous movements of both eyes in the same direction) may affect the individual’s ability to make or maintain eye contact affecting attention, ability to read both facial and bodily expression. Rigidity, writhing motions or abnormal posturing would affect the individual’s ability to express themselves through body language. Abnormal facial expression, difficulties chewing, swallowing and speaking would affect both use of the spoken language and accurately conveying emotion and intent through facial expression. oSleep disturbances would leave the individual feeling tired, affecting concentration, temperament, attention and emotional state Ability to correctly initiate appropriate actions and to inhibit inappropriate actions could affect the individual’s ability to gesticulate creating, misunderstandings and possible offence. Impairment in the range of short-term memory and deficits to long-term memory may affect the individual’s ability to retain information required to hold conversations in context, identity of others, what’s their relationship, what are their intentions. 5/6. Give 3 examples of how you have positively interacted with clients with Dementia and explain how these positive interactions contribute to their wellbeing. (2.1)(2.2) Although I do have experience of interacting with people who have dementia, this was at a time when I was not a support or care worker. As I used to be a cook in a large care home, I interacted frequently with persons with dementia; I will use those experiences along with the information I have learnt as a result of this unit to answer questions 5 and 6. Example one: †¢As I would go about my work in the kitchen at the nursing home, there was a lady resident who would often stand at the kitchen door and would mutter to herself and occasionally look at me and say short sentences that to me made no sense as I did not know the content. Despite not knowing much about dementia, I felt comfortable in this lady’s company and felt that she was also comfortable with standing and chatting at the door: her stance, demeanour, tone and facial expression supported this. I would always speak to her in a calm, clear pleasant manner; as this was not only polite but reflected how she spoke in my presence. I’d greet her when she came to the kitchen door and ask how she was, I would tell her about what I was doing as a running commentary (cooking, chopping, baking etc). Although she never appeared to directly interact with me I sensed that standing in a kitchen and chatting were both familiar and comforting for her, as she would spend frequent part s of her day doing this. I felt it important to accommodate her presence and interact on her terms (not pushing for answers), using common politeness and manners, offering information as a framework for my conversation. I believe this allowed her to feel comfortable in the social situation while lacking social skills. Example 2: 3: †¢The only part of my job role that required me to assist individuals with daily living tasks was serving, describing and presenting their meals to them. I would assist the support staff in serving meals as dinner was a busy time. One gentleman in particular would often become distressed when his meal was presented to him; the nurse requested that when I write the meal choices on the menu board I present this particular individual with physical representations of the food for him to be better informed and have clearer expectations. Although it was not my place to help the patients make choices, the gentlemen when presented with the food items did take an interest in them and I presented him with his meal accordingly. Although the instances of anxiety still remained around dinner time they did however significantly decrease. I now know that the food items were used as objects of reference and I believe it would have been of greater benefit to all residents if they received a comb ination of a written menu, objects of reference, photographic or pictorial representations of meal choices  according to their individual abilities around choice making. I also believe that with the information gained in this unit, in hindsight the gentlemen in question would have benefited from a smaller range of choice, 2 items as opposed to 4. 7. Why is it important to involve clients with dementia in a range of activities, give three examples of how you have done this. (2.3) As stated in questions 5 and 6, I have no experience in supporting people with dementia. For the purposes of this question I will give three examples of activity that could be considered essential for most people. Humans are occupational and social beings, physically and mentally built to interact with their environments. Therefore activity would not only be a natural pursuit for all people, but, for individuals with dementia who are losing the ability to interact with the world around them, the use of activity would allow them both structure and purpose for interaction: linking familiar experiences of the past to the unfamiliar experience of the present. Example1 †¢Supporting individual with their morning ablutions. This task would have taken place for almost every morning of the individual’s lives, with guided and prompted support the individual may benefit from a sense of pride in appearance that would have been culturally important for members of the older generation. The support worker could reinforce the activity and the individual’s attention to task by complimenting them on their appearance. There may be a range of ways in which the client chooses to cleanse themselves; shower, bathing, or it may be appropriate for individuals of a certain generation to wash at a hand basin. The act of washing may hold some religious significance for the individual (Muslims are required to be clean when handling and reading the Qur’an) allowing them the benefits of their religious convictions. Example 2 †¢Accessing social occasions (tea at a village hall). The individual may  benefit from time spent away from their home in the company of others from a familiar cultural generation. Socialising may combat isolation, loneliness, feelings of despair, suicidal thoughts, offer the individual an opportunity to positively experience their identity. Example 3 †¢Accessing reminiscing sessions. This activity may immerse the individual in an environment filled with remnants of their formative years; familiar objects, smells, clothing etc; creating a sense of identity and safety, stimulating the mind and senses in a bid to prolong their cognitive abilities, believes that are supported by the Orientation Approach. 8. Compare reality Orientation Approaches to Validation Approaches. (2.4) The validation approach attempts to offer extremely disorientated individuals (predominantly the elderly at the end of their lives) an opportunity to express what are believed to be unresolved feelings and offers the care giver an insight in to the underlying meaningful reasons for what may be perceived as odd behaviours. The care giver attempts to empathise with the individual’s behaviours, mannerisms and expressions, presenting themselves in a non-confrontational and non-judgemental way; engendering trust and acceptance. Thus allowing the individual to communicate as they are able, rather than as they should. Unlike the validation approach, which attempts to enter the world of the disorientated individual, the orientation approach attempts to focus the individual’s perceptions in the real world. Using prompts such as calendars, clocks, current magazines or newspapers, menu boards, staff boards to orientate them in to the time and place that they currently occupy. It is thought that continual, repetitive reminders will keep the patient stimulated and lead to an increase in orientation. However, I have found through researching this topic that some care givers and providers have adapted the orientation approach (which advocates the present time) by creating and orientating individuals to the particular reality or time that they may be experiencing. 9. List the physical and mental health needs that may need to be considered when communicating with some one with dementia. (3.1) Physical needs: †¢Effects of stroke ( multiple TIAs bringing about vascular dementia) oParalysis on ether side of the body †¢Problems with vision †¢Speech and language problems †¢Memory loss †¢Muscle spasticity †¢Tremors †¢Incontinence †¢Disruptions in sleep patterns †¢Unable to remain settled, pacing †¢Loss of hearing and or tinnitus †¢Loss or increase of physical sensation, touch, sight, smell. †¢Ability to accurately form facial expressions Mental health needs †¢Depression †¢Sense of agency †¢Loss of hope, experiencing despair †¢Lack in recognition of familiar people or places resulting in possible suspicion †¢Experiencing frustration †¢Heightened sense of anxiety †¢Aggressive behaviour †¢Feeling fearful †¢Short and long term memory loss †¢Becoming withdrawn 10: Describe how a sensory impairment of someone with dementia can affect their communication skills (3.2) Visual impairment: †¢The individual may not be able to accurately gauge a person’s body language or facial expressions, minimising the amount of information they receive. The interpretation of light fall on objects and surroundings may be distorted resulting in confusion and anxiety. †¢Heightened sense of smell (Hyperosmia), this may affect how an individual smells both people and places around them, they may find bodily odours, perfumes, deodorants, and cleaning products offensive, reminiscent and confusing; affecting the individual’s tolerance of these smells and ability to concentrate on tasks such as communication. †¢Loss of proprioception (body’s internal sensory network of muscle and movement), this may affect an individual’s ability to express body language or gesticulate. †¢Taste, an individual may cease to communicate their desire, choice, interest in food if eating has become a displeasurable or confusing experience due to a change in their taste. †¢Change in the sense of touch, a heightened or dampened sense of touch may result in individuals recoiling from another touching them to show reassurance or gain attention as the sensory information received may relay pain, discomfort or not register at all. †¢A change in sensory input of any of the senses may be distressing and confusing for the individual, affecting their concentration, perception and desire to communicate. 11. Describe how an environment can have an affect on a client with dementia (3.3) A change in mental faculties, cognition, memory and mental health in a person with dementia coupled with an array of sensory impairments may affect the individual’s perception of their environment in the following ways: †¢The smell of the environment may distress individuals due to Hyperosmia. †¢A loss of vision may alter the perception of visual stimuli, bright light from a window or light bulb may wash out the visual field, shadows may create the illusion of people or objects, a change in depth perception may alter a person’s ability to gauge depth of furniture. †¢Reactions to the alterations in visual perceptions may be interpreted with fear, confusion, anxiety as objects may appear different to what they are, or the individual is unable to correctly identify or comprehend their purpose †¢The environment can be arranged to effect positive change, the dà ©cor and items can be chosen to  resemble familiar surroundings from a time or era that the individual is remembering. The Orientation Approach fills the environment with informative and stimulating objects (present time frame): large clock, calendar, staff board, meal board, current literature. 12. Describe how your behaviour and that of other carers can have an affect on a client with dementia (3.4) The care giver needs to consider the way they speak: whether it is positive or negative, does it show that you are attentive and caring, if a carer rushes their speech or does not allow the client time to respond, it may convey a lack of respect and that they don’t want to be there. The messages that the carer’s body language communicates must not be at odds with their verbal content; this may create confusion and appear as insincerity. The carer must be focussed on the needs of the client, not becoming distracted by personal discussions with other carers; at all times the chosen language must be that of the clients while in their presence. Interpersonal staff conversations conducted while staff are delivering care show a lack of respect and compassion, the client may not feel that they have a right to talk if they are not involved or may become distressed about the content of conversation and feel a need to become involved. Clients may feel that they can assist with a staff member’s personal problems, offering money or possessions, accepting gratuity is both unethical and would be in contravention of the code of conduct. This may be interpreted by clients as payment for preferential services or as theft: after a client having forgotten there offering discovers their money or possessions gone. Carers need to remain professional and stick to their roles as described in their job descriptions; if the client should request services that are in contravention of their role, the carer should politely decline the request and seek support/advice from their manager if they feel it necessary. 13. Describe how the use of language can hinder positive interactions and communications. (3.5) Clients with dementia will be experiencing a deterioration in their  cognition, attention, memory, producing and understanding language, learning, reasoning, problem solving. It is therefore necessary that the carer not only use their language and communication skills appropriately but they also recognise deficit in the client’s abilities and change their approach accordingly. The client’s deterioration in cognition will result in a struggle to comprehend both spoken and written language; if a client does not understand information they are more likely to withdraw and accept their confusion with feelings of embarrassment and ineptitude rather than seeking clarification. The carer should be attentive to the client’s communication needs; noticing if they are struggling to understand, offering the information in a more appropriate way. The carer should always adapt their vocabulary to that of the clients; considering the use of slang, euphemism, colloquialism, all owing time to process and respond, realising that the clients may have lost the ability to ask questions and seek clarification.

Citizens United: the Death Knell of Democracy Essay

In 2010, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled on the Federal Elections Commission v. Citizens United, a case that will have drastic effects on our political system. Large corporations and labor unions will now have unprecedented influence over America’s national, state, and local elections. If Congress does not overturn the Supreme Court ruling on Citizens United then, as a result, the decision has the potential to lead to political corruption, the increase of voter apathy, and the drowning out of third party ideas. Soon our country’s political system will no longer work for the good of its citizens, but rather be beholden to whomever has the most money to contribute. The Supreme Court decision on the Citizens United case is one of the most devastating court decisions in our country’s history, but many people know little to nothing about the landmark case. Citizens United is a conservative non-profit organization, and in 2008 they attempted to violate federal campaign laws by distributing a documentary critical of Sen. Hillary Clinton. The law Citizens Untied violated was the part of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act that prohibits, â€Å"Broadcast advertisements mentioning a candidate within 30 days before a primary or 60 days before a general election† (par. 19). As a result, the Federal Election Commission blocked the film and Citizens United sued on the grounds that it violated their first amendment right to free speech; however, Citizens United lost the case in Federal Court, but they appealed and the case went before the Supreme Court. The question proposed before the court was whether Citizens United should have been allowed to show the Clinton documentary. According to Adam Liptak, a political columnist for The New York Times, â€Å"Instead, the court addressed the questions it proposed to the parties in June when it set down the case for an unusual second argument in September, those of whether Austin and McConnell should be overruled† (par. 26). The court ruled 5-4 that Citizens United had the right to show the Clinton film, but in the process they also overturned Austin and McConnell, two cases that had previously banned corporate and union contributions to political campaigns . Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in the majority opinion, â€Å"By definition, an independent expenditure is political speech presented to the electorate that is not coordinated with a candidate† (par. 17). Justice Kennedy’s opinion equates money to free speech as long as the money is not directly given to a candidate’s campaign. Justice Kennedy went on to state that, â€Å"Political speech is indispensable to decision making in a democracy, and this is no less true because the speech comes from a corporation rather than an individual† (par. 20). Justice Kennedy believes that corporations are entitled to the same rights as human beings. The Supreme Court’s decision on Citizens United has now enabled corporations and unions to pour exorbitant amounts of money into America’s electoral landscape. First, endless negative campaign advertisements bombarded Americans for nearly two years before the presidential election, and a vast amount were paid for by Super PACs. These immense political action committees are a direct byproduct of the Citizens United decision, and are funded by corporations, wealthy individuals, and labor unions. There are no laws limiting how much one can donate to these Super PACs, and they are allowed to spend millions of dollars towards the victory or defeat of a candidate. As long as Super PACs do not directly contribute to a candidate’s campaign, they are allowed to spend as much money as they please. Most of the advertisements sponsored by Super PACs mirror the views of the candidate they support. One realizes that Super PACs cannot contribute fiscally to a candidate; however, that candidate directly benefits from the millions of dollars spent on political ads by a Super PAC. Second, with the seemingly endless amounts of money Super PACs can raise, they possess a vast amount of political influence. Super PACs have the potential to cause political corruption on a level not seen since the Water Gate Scandal during the Nixon administration. For example, Super PACs can use their political war chests to defeat nearly any candidate that does not support their agenda by flooding every media source with scathing attack ads. As a result, politicians will feel compelled to vote in favor of the bills that would benefit the donors of a Super PAC. Politicians will be extremely reluctant to go up against a Super PAC that has an almost endless supply of money that could be used to support a challenger. It may only be a prediction for the future, but many Americans already believe Super PACs will cause corruption. For example, a survey of 1,015 adults conducted by the Brennan Center For Justice discovered, â€Å"69% of respondents agreed that new rules that let corporat ions, unions and people give unlimited money to Super PACs will lead to corruption† (par. 7). The American public is noticing the effects of the Super PACs and they foresee a bleak political future. Third, voter apathy is on the rise and Super PACs are the main contributor; for example, a survey of 1,015 adults by the Brennan Center For Justice found, â€Å"One in four Americans — 26% — say that they are less likely to vote because big donors to Super PACs have so much more influence over elected officials than average Americans† (par. 14). The Brennan Centers survey shows that a significant amount of Americans believe that their vote is worthless. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens wrote in the minority opinion for FEC v. Citizens United, â€Å"A democracy cannot function effectively when its constituents believe laws are being bought and sold† (qtd. in Dionne, par. 7). Justice Stevens believes the unlimited amount of money labor unions, the wealthy, and corporations can spend on political campaigns in order to meet their own agendas will cau se Americans to lose trust in their government, and when our government loses the trust of its citizens our democracy will dissolve only to be replaced by an authoritarian state. Fourth, Citizens United will officially end the third party system, but the most tragic will be the end of third party ideas. Some of the most important legislation in our country’s history started out as third party ideas. For example, abolition of slavery, child labor laws, workers compensation, direct election of Senators, global warming, and women’s suffrage were once the basis of the third party political platform. Super PACs have the resources to pay exorbitant amounts to spread their messages through advertisements, but third parties do not possess the resources to fiscally compete with them. Super PACs have the fiscal ability to monopolize every media source in order to drown any ideas that do not coincide with their own. The first amendment protects the right to communicate one’s opinion and ideas, but the Supreme Court has stripped that right away from our third party system. It is abundantly clear that the Citizens United decision has unleashed a scourge on the American political landscape in the form of Super PACs. As a result, our federal representatives must pass a constitutional amendment overturning the Citizens United decision, and pass new campaign finance legislation requiring campaigns to only be funded by the government. The benefit of having campaigns paid for by the government is every candidate will get the same amount of money, and politicians will no longer have to feel beholden to wealthy donors and corporate interests, but rather work for the good of their constituents. In conclusion, our country has been through many crises and it has always overcame them. One has to believe that our government will make the right decision and overturn the Citizens United decision, thus restoring our trust in government by taking the power away from the labor unions, millionaires, and corporations, and putting the power back where it rightfully belongs with the American people.

Kant’s Critique of Utilitarianism Essay

Kant’s critique of Utilitarianism is that it treats people as a means not as an ends in themselves. Since he is a deontologist he presumes that there is a universal moral imperative, certain ways in which we must act, no matter what our individual desires or needs or utility might be. The Categorical Imperative is an idea of reason. This knowledge is not derived from experience but rather, it is a priori. It also binds us and we all act in a certain way because of it. It is unconditional. It is the first principle of the moral law and it applies to rational and reasonable beings. Since we are sensuous creatures, we experience the moral law as a constraint. We have a tendency to do otherwise because we may come across moral dilemmas. Sometimes we know we should do something but we might reason against it. Kant believed that by putting something through the CI procedure we would be able to see if it was moral or immoral. There are four steps in this procedure. First you formulate you subjective maxim. Let us use the example that: I will cheat on my philosophy test because I didn’t have enough time to study. The next step is to generalize this maxim, so for every time I don’t have enough time to study I will cheat on my philosophy test. Then you universalize this maxim as if it were an instinct: everyone will cheat on their philosophy test every time they don’t have enough time to study. You then take this new law and join it with the old law and compare its affects. Now that I have put it through these four steps it is a given that people will study on their philosophy test every time they don’t have enough time to study. This will take away the value of a good grade that a person that studies may receive. You then ask yourself two questions: Can I coherently conceive of such a world? And if so, Can I sincerely will such a world? If at the end of all this, the maxim drops out and passes all these tests then it is okay to act on it because it is morally permissible. As seen in my example, it is not moral to cheat on a test because if everyone did it then it would devalue the good grades that people got that put work and effort into studying for the test. Kant claims that acting from the categorical Imperative â€Å"reveals to us our freedom and dignity†, by this he means that Dignity brings about your morality which is what makes you part of the Kingdom of ends. It frees us from our senses by making us realize our own nature. The Categorical  Imperative reveals what is moral and immoral and therefore we are able distinguish the two and this allows us to be autonomous and if you are autonomous then you are free.

CASE: Accounting for the iPhone at Apple Inc. Essay

The non-GAAP numbers of Apple Inc. reflect its economics better. Because, in the existing method of accounting, revenue and cost of goods sold are spread over the lifetime of the product (expected 24-months), while the costs incurred for engineering, sales, marketing and warranty are recorded immediately. This accurate recording of expenses while recognizing only a part of the cost of goods sold thus showed reduced margins. While this did not affect the cash flow of the business, it affected the periodic profits that the company was reflecting which was just a fraction of the actual profits that the company made. As these deferred revenues were mounting with increased sales turnover, the differences in actual profits for the period and reported profits (one quarter at a time, due to subscription accounting) were mounting too. Given that its sales were exponential, these small fractions of deferred revenue didn’t sum up at the same rate as the sales, which would have otherwise given Apple Inc an edge in the average investor’s priorities. This affected the average investor since he was unable to see the entire profits that the company was making and hence appreciate and predict its actual performance in the future. He was unable to evaluate effectively the holistic performance of the company. Having accurate information about Apple where Apple recognized its revenues immediately upon sale, its growth would have been visible, stock prices would have gone up dramatically in conjunction with the rise in sales. For Apple Inc., it would matter positively if FASB changed the rules of revenue recognition for smartphones. Although phones are not intended to be the primary goods sold for Apple (Mac is), unlike what it expected, the phone sales were on the rise and the company found that downloading programs and apps was very high by phone customers than Mac. This was largely because of the free upgrades given to iPhone customers. But the fact that about 30% of the App store revenue was from the sale of an iPhone app and the developer received 70%1, shows the rising revenues from iPhones in relation to other products of the firm. Phone revenues thus were showing significant impact on the company’s books of accounts. In this case of subscription accounting, Apple Inc.’s 4th Quarter results of 2008 showed a non-GAAP adjustment of ~$2 billion. The cost of providing unspecified additional software products and upgrades was not considered for this. The Net Income thus computed showed a final figure which was ~115% ($2.4 B over $1.1 B) mark up on the Net Income as per subscription accounting. This is too high a margin to ignore for any company. Therefore, with increasing complexity of voluminous sales in the cell phone space, not recognizing revenues (and hence performance) immediately, placed the company in a disadvantaged position in comparison with their non-U.S. counterparts, where IFRS allowed subjective measures to be used by companies. A marginal percentage of revenue was allowed to be deferred for future recognition, which was for any software updates made in future. So, in order to not be disadvantaged by different reporting standards, Apple would gain competitive edge if FASB changes the rules of revenue recognition for smart phones. Apple should hence advocate it.

A Case Study Of Friendship

Case Study: Westover Electrical, Inc. Westover Electrical, Inc., is a medium-size Houston manufacturer of wire windings used in making electric motors. Joe Wilson, VP operations, has experienced an increasing problem with rejected product found during the manufacturing operation. "I’m not sure where to begin," admitted Joe at the weekly meeting with his boss. "Rejects in the Winding Department have been killing us the past two months. Nobody in operations has any idea why. I have just brought in†¦ 16-2 to evaluate the extent to which Lynn Tilton displayed the characteristics associated with being a good leader and good manager. Lynn applies several of the leadership characteristics listed on Table 16-2. The first one demonstrated in the case study is understanding and using power and influence. When Lynn was asked by Tony Brown is she was going to strip and flip the company, she came back with a witty answer that she only stripped and flipped men, and that the companies she deals with is†¦ Answers to Case Study 12.1 Questions 1. | Short Term | Long Term | Piet Andaro | * Piet will be demotivated impacting the performance of his team and himself. * He might receive negative comments from his management who does not have a full understanding of the role played by Piet which will lead to further dissatisfaction. | * Piet might look forward for a career break which will give him an opportunity to consider other options available to him. * Another competitive Airline might†¦ Case Study: Specific Learning Disabilities Criteria Name: Jennifer Birthdate: 12/17/92 Jennifer is a 2nd grader being referred for possible learning disabilities in reading. Jennifer has always attended Sand Hill Elementary and has not repeated a grade. She is eight years old. She has been screened for vision and hearing problems and was found to have normal vision and hearing. Her teachers have described her as cooperative and likable. She does not exhibit behavioral problems. Jennifer†¦ Case Study with Debbie Karishma Ahmed University of St. Thomas Debbie, a 60 year old Caucasian oncology nurse, has presented herself for treatment due to the recommendation of her brother as she was having trouble managing her life. Debbie is one of six children whose father passed away 15 years ago and mother lives in a nursing home. Debbie’s primary care taker was her older sister since her father was in the Navy and gone for months at a time. Her mother, suffering from bipolar disorder†¦ VOLKSWAGEN: THE SCANDAL EXPLAINED CASE STUDY My five most important personal core values include honesty, self-acceptance, fairness, helping and forgiveness; Honesty is like a security blanket with a relationship, it’s the foundation of whether you choose to have a happy, long lasting relationship or whether you want it to be a lie and be an unresolved case of the truth. Self-acceptance is wanting to love yourself despite what everyone else thinks, to be self-accepting you have to have happiness†¦ The case study method often describes an extensive investigation of one person (or a particular group of people), with the â€Å"hope of revealing universal principles† (Myers, D. (2010). Psychology (9th Edition), United States of America: Worth Publishers). They often adopt an idiographic approach, which is defined as â€Å"relating to the study or discovery of particular scientific facts and processes† (Oxford Dictionary). These clinical and developmental studies are undertaken over a fixed period of time†¦ MasTech Inc. Case Study Crucial Factors: †¢ The steel contracts account for about 60% of the total cost. †¢ In the production phase, suppliers are expected to provide defect-free products with JIT delivery. †¢ MasTech won a bid to produce a cross-member part for the new frame of a new Ford truck model, & will be using Uxbridge as their steel supplier. †¢ MasTech requires 130,000 tons of steel annually (260,000,000lbs) to complete the cross-member deal. †¢ Steel is paid for in hundredweight (100lbs =†¦ Case Study on the Denim Case Name Course Tutor Date of Submission Assessment of the Industry Attractiveness of The Premium Jeans The Industry Attractiveness of The Premium Jeans can be analyzed by the Porters five forces. The porter’s five forces framework seeks to analyze the level of competition within an industry and business strategy development. The porter five forces are: Threat of New Entry, Buyer Power, Threat of Substitution, Supplier Power and Competitive Rivalry. These forces†¦ ------------------------------------------------- Racing past the Barriers The Success of the Apache Motorcycle in India Submitted to: Mr. Ahsan Durrani Submitted By: Badar Salam Kayani 1848 17th March 2013 Summary - This case study is about TVS Motor Company, the third largest two-wheeler manufacturer in India. TVS is among the top ten in the world, with annual turnover of more than USD 1 billion in 2008-2009, and is the flagship company of the USD 4 billion TVS Group.†¦

Final Exams Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Final Exams Paper - Essay Example Troy is portrayed as a hard worker. He is aware of his position as the head of the family and all the responsibilities that result with it. He thinks that certain professions do not ensure a proper income and that should be kept in mind when choosing which line of work to get a job in. He takes his role as the breadwinner quite seriously and tries to instill the same work ethics in his children as well. His father had not done so during his childhood – he had been â€Å"an unloving and quick-tempered sharecropper† – so he had been determined to be otherwise with his family (Bogumil 34 - 35). He could have followed in his father’s footsteps but he was brave and determined enough to choose another path for himself so that his children would live a better life than he did. There is an argument that takes place between the father and son in the play in which Cory calls Troy out on his dislike of him. To this, Cory does not get a direct reply except an insinuat ion when Troy says â€Å"Don’t you eat everyday...Got a roof over your head...Clothes on your back...Why you think that is† (Wilson 1. 3. 1665). ... He had been a war soldier who had been sent back home with some cash due to an injury on the battlefield. Troy had used the money to purchase a house in which Gabriel did not even reside at. Instead of being grateful, Troy acts in an indifferent manner around him because he cannot manage his emotions properly leading to Gabriel thinking that his older brother was angry with him. The play shows that even though Troy loves his wife Rose, he has a tendency of making foolish mistakes. He has a son called Lyon who he had with his first wife. He has another son Cory with Rose. He also has an affair during his marriage with a woman called Alberta who ends up conceiving his child. The woman dies during childbirth and Rose agrees to look after the child who is named Raynell even though the husband and wife have separated. The way Troy treats Rose shows the flaws of his character. He was not satisfied with his time with Rose so he went behind her back and had relations with another woman witho ut even thinking twice about all the vows that he was breaking as well as the heart of the woman whom he loved. He is described as â€Å"an egocentric, tyrannical husband† and them having a â€Å"unilateral relationship† (Shannon 183). The reader may also notice â€Å"Troy’s sexism towards his wife Rose† (Shannon 184). He treats Rose as if she is below him just because she is a woman and that she cannot compare to his – or other men’s – greatness. There is a part in the play in which Troy and his friend are lounging around in the porch having a chat. When Rose passes by, he questions him about what she was making for dinner as if all that her life revolved around was the kitchen, her sole purpose being feeding the family. Once she

Business-Level and Corporate-Level Strategies Assignment

Business-Level and Corporate-Level Strategies - Assignment Example Moreover, AT&T provides GSM, TDMA and UMTS services. These are the example of niche marketing activities. AT&T has started to sell their wireless and GSM services in iphone, collaborating with Apple Corporation (Grant and Meadows, 2012). Its exclusive accord to competitive market place has differentiated AT&T from its potential competitors. Vast spectrum utilization of AT&T offers its subscribers the video conferencing service. AT&T wireless is the only telecom company in US market that promises; people can get connected with each other anywhere and anyway by its efficient telecom service. AT&T has successfully diversified their business in several international markets. It is the leading wireless service provider in global market that provides Voice-IP, Voice-PTT, HSPDA and video sharing. Moreover, efficient channel exposure has increased the competitive advantage of AT&T. The story of AT&T depicts the 130 years old history. The old giant company has efficiently served the customers in telecommunication sector. From the foundation in 1875 by Graham Bell to this present era, the global telecommunication industry has evidenced several key events of AT&T. The study focuses on the corporate-level strategies of AT&T. After the successful invention of telephone in the year 1875 by Graham Bell, the company has diversified their business. The vertical integration of the company created the opportunity of transferring the corporate skills of the company. In an addition, BTC also did acquisitions of many licenses. It actually increases the market power of BTC. Years after years the both vertical and horizontal integration helped BTC to create the economies of scope. Moreover, they have continuously generated the know-how technology. The monopolistic status of the company resulted many filed regulation suits. At one point of time AT&T lost the brand image and huge market share due to