Orthoses Intervention Essay

Presently, there exists a wide variety of various clinical interventions which are on the market based on personal interest, experience and skills of every clinician. Accordingly, it has become intricate for the therapist and also the patient to select the most efficient treatment for their specific problem. Since all the people who work in the health sector are involved in being answerable for providing best tools and options for the most efficient intervention, clinicians have a challenge treat their patients with the most efficient available intervention. Research hypothesis The hypothesis formulated for this research is: †¢ Orthoses are a clinically successful Podiatric Intervention Disease selected for the research background information A patient suffering from Charcot-Marie-Tooth sickness was prescribed for an ankle-foot orthoses to assist his gait. The patient was an ardent bicyclist and sought an evaluation of the impact of orthoses on his ardent bicycling activities, and also his gait. The impact of three ankle-foot orthoses on the joint angles when bicycling and walking and, ankle torque as well as production of power during walking processes as well as heart rate when bicycling were calculated. The quantitative impacts of every AFO on walking and bicycling workings are then discussed in relation to the patient’s inclination. Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) sickness is a genetic neuropathic illness which results in progressive degenerate of the muscles which are distal to the knee and commonly results in gait restrictions. Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) devices have been used and revealed to have constructive impact on the gait of patients who are suffering from ankle muscle weakness, which includes restitution of heel strike, enhanced management of plantar flexion subsequent to foot strike, normalizing of heel rise, improved thrust for the period of push-off, stabilizing of the knee when in stance, and reduction in unusual hip and knee flexion in the process of swinging. The design of AFO might as well influence gait movement in patients who have CMT sickness. In the present study, we shall assess the effects of three different kinds of AFOs on joint angles when walking and also when bicycling, the ankle torque as well as power production when walking, and the heart rate in the course of bicycling for an individual suffering from CMT. The research also discusses the association amid these effects as well as the patient’s liking for AFO variety for walking as well as bicycling. Methodology Subsequent to manufacture and the patient was fitted with AFOs , the patient was later requested to use the AFO as much as he could for walking as well as bicycling, he was also asked to decide which one of the braces he had used he favored for each different activity. When a period of a bout one month elapsed during which the patient was using the devices, the gait of the patient was evaluated without AFO and also with the three different AFOs. Another period of two weeks elapsed and the patient’s bicycling activity was assessed without the AFO at first and then with the three different AFOs afterwards. Results Gait speed The resulted indicated that, the pace of walking on the ground was quicker when using the no-AFO state (1. 09 m/s), then the solid ankle AFO state followed with (1. 04 m/s), and this was followed by the posterior trim AFOs and the prefabricated AFO (1. 01 m/s). The usual self-chosen adult walking pace ranges between 1. 33 m/s and 1. 51 m/s, (Pierson-Carey et al, 1997) so the patient’s walking pace was slower compared to the normal pace. The variations in pace amongst the three AFO states as well as the no-brace state are minute, however using the AFOs might have reduced the patients walking pace a little. Joint angles The key distinction in joint angles happened at the joint of the ankle during swing point with the utilization of solid ankle as well as posterior trim AFOs. It was observed that the prefabricated AFO had slight consequence on ankle joint angles when contrasted with the no-AFO state. During a foot strike where an AFO was not used and when the prefabricated AFO was used the results were that the ankle of the patient was plantar flexed. In addition, there was just a small upward angulation position of the foot comparative to the floor (Table1). But, when posterior trim AFO as well as solid ankle AFO were used, the ankle joint of the patient was observed to b in dorsiflexion at point of the foot strike with an additional normal heel strike. Ankle torque A person’s internal ankle torque production is due to a different muscle activity in the body inactive broadening of tissue, as well as restrictions due to the AFO and also the shoe. Contrasted with usual gait, every state resulted in a lot lesser torque production for dorsiflexion as well as plantar flexion (Figure 1). It was observed that, the solid ankle and posterior trim AFO conditions both resulted in dorsiflexion torques of longer period following foot strike when contrasted with the no-AFO as well as the prefabricated AFO states produced results which were inline with the ankle joint angle outcomes, which revealed a lot of heel strike with solid ankle as well as posterior trim AFO. Discussion It is commonly accepted that putting on ankle foot orthosis (AFO) can result in a positive impact on the gait in patient suffering from hemiplegia. The orthoses assist in a number of functions in ambulation which includes controlling dorsiflexion and also plantarlexion in stance as well as swing stages of gait. In addition, AFOs are believed to steady the ankle in ankle’s transverse and frontal planes in times of gait activities and balance. Pierson-Carey, et al (1997) however, points out that, traditionally, a normal metal (Bicaal) AFOs have in the past been researched to additional asses clinical observation on joint stability among patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth who use these devices Lehmann, et al (1986) observes that, in the process of the mid stance as well as propulsion stages of gait of the patient, the no-AFO as well as posterior trim AFO states led in lesser values of plantar flexion torque being produced when compared to solid ankle AFO or even the prefabricated AFO states. When in the mid stance point of gait of the patient, the plantar flexors usually offer restrictions to forward movement of the tibia, while the foot of the patient remains rooted on the ground. In the propulsion stage the plantar flexors usually operate to bring fourth heel rise as well as plantar flexion of the patient. Solid ankle AFO as well as the prefabricated AFO were observed to be more efficient in offering plantar flexion torque (restriction to dorsiflexion) when in these stages. On the while the posterior trim AFO was formulated to give restriction to plantar flexion and not resist dorsiflexion, as a result it was not as efficient to provide to plantar flexion torque in these stages. Conclusions This research has concluded that, using the posterior trim as well as solid ankle AFOs when walking reduced the extreme hip and knee flexion of an individual. It also reduces the ankle plantar flexion in the process of swinging. However, there were no significant modifications during stance period. The patient in the case study was conscious of these encouraging transformations in his gait when using the AFOs. Nevertheless these transformations were not important enough to result in him using AFOs in every circumstance, and as such the patient used them merely in circumstances in when the look of his own gait was imperative to him only. When the patient indeed used AFOs for walking, the patient favored the posterior trim AFO compared to the solid ankle AFO since it fit him better than the posterior trim into his dress shoes. When cycling his bicycle, usage of the different AFOs reduced the inclination toward extreme dorsiflexion when performing the downward stroke and the solid ankle AFO was observed as the most efficient. Consequently the patient favored to using solid ankle AFO when cycling, however the patient did not detect any variation in the cycling speed on his normal road bicycle when using solid ankle AFO. However as Lehmann (1993) notes not any of the AFOs attested to be better in walking process or cycling activities, as such the patient favored to using dissimilar AFOs for these activities. More research would be required integrating diverse AFO designs, equipment, and positions, to establish if it is probable to formulate one particular AFO which optimizes the patient’s walking as well as bicycling effectiveness. Extra outcome procedures, which include oxygen expenditure and ankle power assessments when cycling, might assist to better discern amongst variations in performance which are attributed to the using of diverse AFOs.

Black Codes

Thomas Dixon September 13, 2012 Honors U. S History Black Codes The Black Codes were laws in the United States after the Civil War with the intent of limiting the basic human rights and civil liberties of blacks as much as possible. Black Codes is used most often to refer to laws passed by Southern states at the end of the Civil War to control the labor, housing and other activities of newly-freed slaves.In Texas, the Eleventh Legislature produced these codes in 1866, right after the Civil War. The law reaffirmed the position that slaves and free blacks had held in Texas and was intended to make blacks work. The codes showed how stubborn white Texans were accepting blacks as equals and also their fears that freedmen would not work unless forced. The codes continued legal discrimination between whites and blacks.The legislature, when it amended the 1856 penal code, emphasized the difference between whites and blacks by defining all people with one-eighth or more black ancestry as pers ons of color, subject to special parts in the law. The black codes were enforced immediately after the American Civil War. Though different from state to state, they each set out to secure a steady supply of cheap labor, and continued to assume the weakness of the freed slaves. The black codes had their roots in the slave codes that had formerly been in effect.The idea behind slavery in America was that slaves were property, and, as such, they had few, if any, legal rights. The slave codes, in their many loosely-defined forms, were seen as effective tools against slave unrest, particularly as a protective method against revolts and runaways. Enforcement of slave codes also varied, but bodily punishment was widely and harshly used to great effect. These black codes were very unfair and lucky for African Americans are not used today. Black Codes Ryan Fagan U. S. History Honors Bushong 4/27/12 How did the Black Codes prevent the immediate integration of the freed black men into society? Written pages: 5 The Civil War caused many issues for American Society, from the physical separation of the southern states, to the issue of ending slavery, being the most well known, and for good reason. While the north wanted the slaves to be free, the south did not, which obviously caused Problems. This topic of free vs. slavery did not begin after the war started though, the government had dealt with many different cases and often the ended in favor of slavery.After the Civil War the issues with slavery still existed because of the creation of Black Codes, codes that basically forced the â€Å"free† men to report to a white employer or supervisor who decided what they could and could not do freely. These are just few of many reasons that the integration of freed black men, and men of color, took almost a century after the day they w ere legally released to truly have their freedom. One of the many reasons that the integration of the freed men into society was not more immediate was because of the stance of the national government before the war.The north may have not been slave states, but when it came to helping a slave in need, they were not going to be the ones to lend a hand. The Dred Scott case is a prime example of this stance. In this case a slaved argues that his owner moved from a slave state to a free state, thereby causing him to become a free citizen of society. This case was extremely controversial. While on one hand the slave made a point, the other hand caused the government to deny his request for freedom, without real rational reason.When the government’s stance changed and Abraham Lincoln became president, the newly elected president caused the country to go to war with itself because of his public stance on slavery. This tragic event caused the south to secede from the United States an d form their own government. Of course the sole issue of the south’s secession was not the loss of slavery, but also had an economic aspect as well. When the Civil War was over, it was quite obvious that the southern states still had a deep and powerful hatred for anyone of color.This hatred, as mentioned before, is the primary reason for the southern states creating the Black Codes. Not only did the Black Codes cause issues between the southern ex-slave owners and their freed slaves, but it also caused a great number of issues in the northern states. The northern states saw these Black Codes as an unfair and cruel way of bringing back slavery. Primarily because in the southern states state government, the white legislators saw no real reason to end the inequality between the white men, and the men of color (â€Å"Constitutional rights foundation,† 2011).Without establishing a new state of mind the governments in the southern states would continue to make these laws, l eaving the federal government unable to make any real changes to ensure the well being of the men of color. This only delayed the integration of the men of color into society even longer, because the relationship between the state governments and the national governments were too fragile at this point in time to make anything positive happen. In reviewing the South Carolina Black Codes, it is clear how biased and restricted the everyday lives of the freed men were.In order to integrate into society completely, the freed man would not only need to attempt to change the views of the white men around them, they were still required to follow the Black Codes. Rebellion could only get the freed men so far because they were not permitted to own anything that could be used as a weapon. The South Carolina Black Codes also prevented the migration of freed men to South Carolina without the approval of two South Carolina white men.These white men, known as freeholders, were essentially the peop le responsible for the freed men, also known as servants, that they approved. After that the Black Codes basically permit slavery to those who take on the responsibility for the freed men. The reason that the free slaves were not able to immediately integrate in society was the Continued existence of the Black Codes. The Black Codes only promoted the previously accepted view of superiority and resulted in lasting conflicts between the races for years.The immediate elimination of the Black Codes would have completely removed any political power that one race would have ad over the other, which in turn would have prevented the conflicts of pride and respect. An immediate overturning of the Black Codes would have also caused the issues of indirect slavery, and violations of rights given to all men by the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. The overall attitude towards freed slaves would have been completely different and would have resulted in a faster change in public opinion and wou ld have allowed the integration of the freed slaves to be much more fluid.Work Cited Black codes and jim crow laws. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://www. sciway. net/afam/reconstruction/blackcodes. html Constitutional rights foundation. (2011). Retrieved from http://www. crf-usa. org/brown-v-board-50th-anniversary/southern-black-codes. html Herda, D. J. (1948). The dred scott case: Slavery and citizenship  . Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers, Inc. The mississippi black code (1865). (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://wps. ablongman. com/long_longman_lahdemo_1/0,8259,1546454-,00. html

Battle of the Sexes

The concept of being a man, and the idea of manliness, has been debatable in recent decades due to acts of feminism. Paul Theroux wrote Being a Man and was very opinionated as he said the idea of manliness was wrong and oppressive. Harvey Mansfield wrote The Partial Eclipse of Manliness, and stated that the concept of being manly has diminished and been overpowered by feminism. Both of these readings have provided valid and doubtful points in the discussion of what constitutes being manly, as well as how North American culture views the stereotypical man. Both authors are very opinionated and biased in their readings as they do not have any outside sources supporting their beliefs, but they do make effective arguments which further their attitude and outlook on manliness. In Paul Theroux’s reading Being a Man, it is stated that man can be categorized as stupid, arrogant, and much like pre-historic cavemen. Theroux continued to say that if someone were born as a man, there would be limits of what he is physically, emotionally, and mentally capable of. His highly personal view of how men act relates to a time when men were expected to aspire to be the so-called perfect man. The stereotypical perfect man is theoretically defined as brash, built, strong, athletic, and overall a poor loser when it involves any form of competition. It is also claimed that the typical man should be stupid, unfeeling, obedient, and ultimately soldierly. Theroux argued that these qualities eventually create poor husbands, sadists, and potentially rapists. Although this could happen, it is very unlikely that the majority of men with those characteristics will end up malicious and violent like Theroux stated. Mansfield’s approach to the deterioration of masculinity faulted women. He believed manliness is dubious as women over the years have been referred to with manly intentions. He felt that feminism has not only succeeded, but dominated current culture. For example, policemen and mailmen are no longer in existence, but rather they are police officers and mailpersons. Mansfield thought the concept of manliness had diminished to the point of becoming obsolete. He felt the concept of manliness, being strong, emotionless, and violent, cannot include women. He wanted women to continue to be meek, petit and frail; the direct opposite of what his ideal man is supposed to be. As a view from people who have rarely been referred to as masculine, many women are able to offer an unbiased honest opinion when it comes to the broad term of being manly. As someone who has never personally been associated with masculinity, I feel these readings present both current and outdated views on what manliness is. Both readings had a similar message of establishing man but they portray them in different ways. Theroux’s reading expressed how he felt uneasy, unsure, and apprehensive when it came to the term manly as he viewed it as degrading. As a woman’s perspective, I feel that the term manly is far from shameful or dishonourable. A manly man is something many women look for in a prospective partner as a shy, emotional, and weak male is undesirable. This is not because women are too concerned with physical appearance and mental capacity, but because women are wired to look for mates with these qualities. This dates back to days of cave men and women when language was limited and appearances were the only means of finding a mating partner. In my view, it appears that Theroux is attempting to understand the term â€Å"being a man† at face value while disregarding the fact, that not everyone associates a man with the qualities he has previously stated. In comparison to Theroux’s reading, Mansfield concentrated more on the aspect of how manly qualities are being given to women. Women are now able to take on the characteristics of being masculine and as a result, the definition of being a man has been altered and is unclear. Mansfield’s reading demonstrates a fear of being second-rate in comparison to female counter parts when in truth he has nothing to be concerned over. In my opinion, his panic of inferiority in unnecessary as women will always be considered the lesser sex. Regardless of how much effort is put into gender equality, women will always be initially seen as soft and sweet while men will be primarily viewed as rough and tough. Both Theroux and Mansfield refer to the same point but in different ways: Are men to just live with this degraded status? If women can take on the characteristics of being manly then what makes a man? Being manly is in no way considered a degraded status from my perspective, but a term of affection instead. As for women taking on characteristics of being manly, I feel they choose to be referred to masculine. It does not deteriorate the idea of men being manly but rather makes women much more like man. The authors have very old fashioned views of how a modern culture should be when they state: a male should be masculine and a female should be feminine.

Emotional Intelligence and it's Impact on Leadership Styles Essay

Emotional Intelligence and it's Impact on Leadership Styles - Essay Example Emotional intelligence Emotional Intelligence is a collective name for a set of social and emotional abilities which would help people to adapt to the routine demands and it is the ability to be more effective in relationships of varied nature (MacCann, Matthews, Zeidner, & Richards, 2004). Another definition of emotional intelligence is â€Å"the set of abilities that involves perceiving and reasoning abstractly with information that emerges from feelings† (Mandell and Phewanti ,2003) In a team environment, the role of emotional intelligence is turning to be of increased importance. Barling et al (157) has opined that the five characteristics of emotional intelligence includes, understanding other persons emotions; knowing to manage these emotions; emotional self control; empathy and management of relations. The application of these components in management has been a subject of research for several years. Emotional Intelligence and Transformational leadership Transformationa l leadership involves the leader motivating the team members to perform beyond the expected limits of performance (Sivanathan & Fekkan, 198). In general it has been opined that emotional intelligence is a prerequisite for any sustainable leadership model. It must be noted here that transformational leadership has been suggested to have sustained results than transactional leadership which is based on contingent rewards and other tangible benefits. Transformational leadership demands to a large extend the understanding of the followers’ emotions. In this context, the characteristics of emotional intelligence will compliment the functionalities of a transformational leader. According to Ashforth and Humphrey (1995), â€Å"emotions are an integral and inseparable part of everyday organizational life† (p. 97) . Thus a team environment will involve varied range of emotions. The skill to understand the other person’s emotions can be used to analyse the satisfaction an d the motivational requirements of the team members. This argument is supported by George (2000) as he opined that transformational leaders appraise and engage in emotions and they effectively use these emotions for the well being of the team. Moreover, emotional self control would help the leader to establish himself or herself as a role model for other to follow. Goleman (1998) has opined the need of emotional intelligence as a mandatory quality to be successful as leaders and that the transformational behaviors of leaders are directly proportional to the level of their emotional intelligence. Top Management & Emotional Intelligence The importance of emotional intelligence for a professional working at the top management level has been asserted by management experts. It has been opined that the importance of emotional intelligence increases with the increase in managerial responsibilities and one’s professional advances within the organization. The challenges of a leader in creases in multiple disciplines as the person climbs up the managerial ladder. This must be read together with the fact that, as the area of management broadens, the cultural and professional diversity also widens. This limits the scope of transactional style of leadership to be effective to have a sustainable leadership. There are several studies which analysed various levels of top management

Bipolar disorder Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Bipolar disorder - Essay Example These episodes cause unusual and severe shifts in mood, energy, and behavior that interfere drastically with normal, healthy functioning. Bipolar disorder is often a chronic, recurring condition. Sometimes, the mood switches are vivid and rapid, but most often they are steady. When a person is in the depressed phase, the individual can experience any or all of the symptoms of a depressive disorder. When in the overexcited cycle, any or all of the symptoms listed under mania may be experienced. Mania affects a person’s thinking, judgment, and social behavior in ways that cause serious problems and discomfiture. Bipolar disorder is usually subdivided into bipolar I and bipolar II disorders (Mitchell et al. 207–210). The usual form of bipolar disorder is referred to as bipolar I. Bipolar II is a syndrome in which the affected person has repeated depressive episodes interrupted by what is called hypomania. These exhilarated states in bipolar II do not fully meet the criteria for the complete manic episodes that occur in bipolar I. There are various symptoms observed an affected manic person. It is not necessary that all the symptoms should appear in a person who is affected. Some people experience a few symptoms and some many symptoms. Following are some of the symptoms of manic or depressed individuals: Studies have shown that bipolar disorder is diagnosed in equal numbers of men and women. It is not known exactly why major depression seems to affect more women than men while mania affects both men and women equally. One of the obvious reasons may be that mania, with its very prominent symptoms it is much more easily recognized than depression. Depression may also go unrecognized in men especially under alcoholic conditions. Heredity: Individuals with relatives who have had bipolar disorder have a greater chance of developing it themselves. Immediate

The Role of Marketing Branding Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Role of Marketing Branding - Essay Example From the case study Fairy’s brand, some of the aspects of the importance of branding can be seen despite the competitive forces in the picture. One of the biggest importance of branding is gaining market share and creating an advantage over the competition. According to Kotler and Armstrong (2008), market branding a product makes sure that the customer knows that the product exists and will always associate it with a particular need. This means that the product will have an edge over competition every time a customer seeks to feel a need relating to the particular product. The branding done by a company on a product will always try to convince the customer that only the product can provide the service required. From the case study, this can be seen where Fairy enjoys market share over competitors. The other importance of branding of a product is to motivate customer loyalty even with the presence of competitors and the advent of new products. With initial customer share, a bus iness can promote customer loyalty by the provision of products that change with time and customer needs, which ensures that the company is not stuck in a bubble. With Fairy products, the company evolved its products with time, ensuring that customer’s remain loyal (Palmer, 2009). ... From the above discussion, it is also evident that effective branding increases the credibility of the business to the final consumer, which ensures that its products gain an advantage in the market. Branding is one of the most important tools that a business can utilize to ensure that the customers understand its position in the market and take a market share over competitors. Even with the advent of technology, market branding helps an existing product evolve to join the new markets available, as in the case of Fairy products which evolved into the dishwasher business. Utilizing Market Orientation Kotler and Armstrong (2008) describe market orientation as a business technique where the company research a customer’s needs and produce a product that is suitable for the customer. This means that market orientation is a customer-focused strategy in the market, where the company focuses on reading customer behavior and producing products suited to fit these needs. One of the basi c market orientation techniques is conforming to customer preferences in production while at the same time producing quality products. From the case study, it is evident that Proctor and Gamble have a market-oriented approach to producing and marketing their products. The best example of this is where Proctor and Gamble realize that customers are tired of stocking up with different variants of low-value products, so they introduce a new variant with a slightly different brand. One of the key ways of developing a market-oriented product is by first understanding that the customer is the key driving force behind every product (Palmer, 2009).  

Chocolate Cake and Diet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Chocolate Cake and Diet - Essay Example On the first half I gave up, I could not stop myself I just wanted more so I took a deep breath and the bitter and sweet smell filled my senses with happiness. The deep shades of brown covering the entire area around my mouth was quiet funny I could not believe myself that I could be that vulnerable regarding my obsession with chocolates and chocolate cakes. The most hateful aspect about being on a strict diet and one that was very painful was, not allowed to have chocolates. Especially on birthdays, over the years what made my birthdays so special were not the parties, balloons or the people but the dessert! On my every birthday I would have my favorite chocolate flourless, double layered with the thickest layer of chocolate fudge frosting. But all the wonderful sweet birthdays I had and despite all the fun I had in those birthdays, this day was simply the best. I took all my pent up frustration from having to eat veggies or organic foods over this luscious piece of cake. Although a slice of this cake meant hours and hours of workout and a day full of soups and only fruits but it was worth the sacrifice.It was the best slice of cake I had in my life, which changed the entire picture in my mind; I did not know that something could taste that heavenly. The ecstasy I felt when I took my first bite ended on remorse when I took the last so I finishes eating and dabbed my chocolate covered lips taking in the last remaining wisps and crumbs of the cake. It felt like one amazing experience.

Developing Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Developing Leadership - Essay Example The main purpose of doing a self assessment is, according to Self Assessment Ways of Learning (n.d.), is for an individual to "self-assess how (he or she) learns so that adjustments in the teaching approach may be made(and) There are a number of theories of learning styles." In order to increase my learning and the ability to gain knowledge and to know what the best approaches will work for me, I must do a self assessment. There are many theories of learning and it best to know which ones I am more compatible and open to. Psychometric instruments, which are used to measure psychological things, include tests and questionnaires that measure personality, verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, managerial judgment, motivation, the ability to work on (your) own, and the ability to work with others, etc. were used. The psychometric instrument used for this essay was a self-report questionnaire where the candidate responded to a series of statements - with no right or wrong answers - and the completed questionnaire gave insight to various areas of the individual's personality and reasoning. (Exciting Future, Author Unknown, n.d.) I was born on February 10, 1975, and the languages that I fluently speak include English, Urdu and Pushto. My work history includes employment as Manager in Cost Cutter Super Market Whitby Road Slough and worked in Agriculture Research. My skills, previous research work, education, and experience can be found in the portfolio which is enclosed with this essay. My education, research skills, and computer knowledge is evident and consistent with the feedback and performance appraisals (which are included in the portfolio of evidence that is enclosed with this writing) that were provided by one of my professors and previous employers. With the "ability to concentrate for long periods of time", as stated by a professor, I was able to succeed academically, became highly skilled in research, and acquire excellent computer and IT skills. I possess a very serious and practical approach to higher studies as this is my passion. There is always room for more learning and growing, I truly believe. As stated earlier, this detailed critical examination of self uses a "Competing Values Management Practices Survey", a psychometric instrument which was used for self assessment at one of the universities I attended. This survey is a form of the Myer Briggs instrument. The Developing Leadership 3 instructions of the assessment were "Listed below are some statements that describe managerial practices. Indicate how often you engage in the behaviors, using the scale below to respond to each statement. Please place a number from 1 to 7, Almost never 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Almost always, in the space beside each question. The areas or roles in which I scored very high included: The Monitor, The Coordinator, The Mentor, and The Facilitator. The areas/roles that I scored "medium" included: The Producer and The Director. Finally, the areas that I scored lower included: The Innovator and The Broker. The

The emergence, opportunities and importance of mobile e-commerce using Essay

The emergence, opportunities and importance of mobile e-commerce using smartphone - Essay Example Businesses have the opportunity to grow big since they are having tremendous amounts of sales just through these smart phones. Taking Amazon for instance, it has been noticed that people all over the world has made â€Å"transactions worth $ 1 Billion through smart phone in the last 12 months† (Johnston, 2010). â€Å"A mobile e-commerce report was released in which it was shown that online shopping has tripled between 2008 and 2009† (Johnston, 2010). In addition, they predicted that there will be a quicker increase in 2010 (Jackie, 2010). It is important for business who does not accept online payments to get themselves online and get mobile compatible to accept mobile orders so that they can take the advantage of increased sales. As mobile usage is continuing to grow and is gaining popularity across the globe, so it is predicted that international E-commerce will also expand as a result. Not only businesses and companies can take advantage of mobile ecommerce, but it i s growing important among the farmers as well. If their tractor breaks down in the middle of the field, so they can always order the other part through mobile, which saves a lot of their time and money. However, some risks involved are that one cannot completely depend on this, as there can be viruses, which can stop the whole business. In addition, it is difficult for some people to view the entire page, as the screen of the smart phone is so small.

The outline for the complete academic research paper

The outline for the complete academic - Research Paper Example For a cloud to work efficiently, one must have an internet connection. If one is looking for a particular document that is stored in the cloud, there must be an internet connection either through a mobile broad brand connection or wireless internet (Lewis et al, 2009). The advantage of cloud computing is that the same document can be accessed by any device as long as there is internet availability. These devices can be a phone, laptop.tablet or a desktop. This helps an organization to work more with ease because a cloud can access software and store data. There are several types of clouds that can be subscribed depending on ones needs. One of them is a private cloud, which is established for a specific organization or group and access is limited. A public cloud can be accessed by any user with an internet connection. On the other hand, community cloud is usually shared among two or more organizations that have similar cloud requirements. A hybrid cloud is a combination of two clouds in which the clouds in particular are a mixture of community,private and public (Jansen, 2011). Literature review Rittinghouse,J.W., & Ransome,J.F. (2010). Cloud Computing Implementation, Management, and Security. New York: Taylor and Francis Group. claim that each provider serves a role and it gives users more or less control over their cloud depending on the type. When choosing a provider, one has to compare needs to the cloud services which are available. The cloud needs usually vary depending on how one intends to use the resources and the storage space associated with the specific cloud. A cloud provider becomes more expensive depending on an individual's technological needs. There are three types of cloud providers that one can subscribe to : infrastructure as a service, platform as a service and software as a service. Software as a service gives subscribers an opportunity to access both applications and resources. It makes it unnecessary for one to have a physical copy of sof twares to install on the devices. This type of cloud provider makes it possible to have the same software to all devices at once by accessing it via the cloud. Under a platform as a service,this system goes a level above the software as a service setup. This provider gives its subscribers access to the components that they require to operate and develop over the internet. Fatih Erkoc, Serhat Bahadir Kert (2010). Cloud Computing For Distributed University Campus: A Prototype Suggestion, by Mehmet indicate that infrastructure as a service deals with computational infrastructure. In his system, a provider completely outsources storage and resources, such as software and hardware. By subscribing to this type of service cloud,one would be able to maintain his or her business with a larger computational capability. One has to spend more resources on the operation and development of applications. Most information stored on the cloud is often seen as a treasure to individuals with mean inte nt. There is a lot of confidential and private information that individuals store on their computers and this information is now being transferred to the cloud (Strowd, 2010). One has to be careful with the cloud provider he or she chooses. This is because security measures usually vary from one provider to the other. Research Question / Hypothesis One of the ways that service

A Good Man is Hard to Find Essay Example for Free

A Good Man is Hard to Find Essay By the title, â€Å"A Good Man Is Hard to Find†, a reader would not suspect what the story is really about. One might assume that Flannery O’Connor’s short story is about finding love perhaps, rather than moral, murders, and convicts. Contrarily, the meaning of this story is even deeper than the naked eye can reveal. Throughout Flannery O’Connor’s short story, â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† a manipulative setting, leads to domination over the other characters in the story; moreover, leading to symbolic animalistic attributes, fabricating a profound meaning of hypocritical aspects. The monkey presented in the story symbolizes the animalistic nature of humans. The monkey represents the stubborn, bias, and shallow views of the people of the time period in the quote, â€Å" a gray monkey about a foot high, chained to a chinaberry tree, chattered nearby. The monkey sprang back into the tree and got to the highest limb as soon as he saw the children jump out of the car and run toward him.†(O’Connor 325) The animal is chained to signify the limitations to the views the characters like the Grandmother and Red Sam believe. When someone poses animal-like characteristics, humans completely dominate their environment that our social structures have become ecosystems unto themselves. Animals learn to act exactly like their parents as they grow to adulthood; furthermore, once the animal is an adult, it has the behaviors, ideas, and motives of the parents that will never change and will pass those traits on to the next generation. This corresponds with the Grandmother and the story, with her children and grandchildren; for example, when a person is the most dominant character in the family, the inferior ones follow behind grasping the beliefs of the dominate character. The Grandmother’s immutable ways make her the dominant character in the allegory. It is written in the story, â€Å"..The old lady settled herself comfortably, removing her white cotton gloves.. The children’s mother still had on slacks and still her head tied in a green kerchief, but the grandmother had on a navy blue straw sailor hat.. a navy blue dress with a small white dot in the print.. In case of an accident, anyone seeing her dead on the highway would know at once that she was a lady†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (O’Connor 323) It makes the reader wonder that, why was she dressed so dressy for a prolonged drive in a cramped car? For one, this statement is also an example of foreshadowing. Later on in the story, when she is held at gun point, she constantly recites â€Å"I know you wouldn’t shoot a lady!† Ironically, she got what she wanted because when people find her dead, she will be dressed like a lady. The outfit she is wearing also tells about her demeanor. The references to the navy, for example navy blue hat, means that she was strong and domineering like the navy. Later on in the story, unfortunately leading to their demise, she uses her domineering tactics to get where she wants to go using the children’s curiosity. â€Å".. She knew that Bailey would not be willing to lose any time looking at an old house, but the more she talked about it, the more she wanted to see it once again and find out if the little twin arbors were still standing. ‘There was a secret panel in this house,’ she said craftily, not telling the truth but wishing that she were, ‘and the story went that all the family silver was hidden in it when Sherman came through but it was never found’†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (O’Connor 327) The Grandmother purposely says something false to ensure the children will cajole their dad into going there. She knew this was a lie and she knew that she was not going to talk Bailey into it single-handily. The only way possible was to manipulate the children through the use of their excitement and curiosity to dominate over her son. The grandmother manipulates all of the characters except the Misfit who turns the tables on the grandmother in the end. She tries to make the convict feel better about himself by conveying, â€Å"‘Yes, its a beautiful day, said the grandmother. ‘Listen,’ she said, ‘you shouldnt call yourself The Misfit because I know youre a good man at heart. I can just look at you and tell.’† (O’Connor 330) The Grandmother knows of the crimes this man has committed. She thinks she can manipulate him the way she does Bailey but the man can sense this all along. The Grandmother uses manipulation by saying that the Misfit is a good man so he can believe that he is a good man deep down inside and spare the lives of the family. In addition, the grandmother has a hypocritical standpoint, which makes using religion as a manipulation tool goes completely wrong. She  questions her faith in the quote, â€Å" ‘Maybe He didnt raise the dead,’ the old lady mumbled†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (O’Connor 334) The grandmother is humbled as she sees that she has lost the fight. She is now inferior to the Misfit unlike in the beginning, where she stood before him; now she sits faintly on the ground looking up to the convict. The Grandmother could be questioning her faith as if saying â€Å"How could God do this to me?† or the line could be indicating that she did not have very much faith at all. At this point in the short story; it seems as if the Misfit has more faith than she does. She tries to regain her dominance in the quote, â€Å" ‘Why youre one of my babies. Youre one of my own children!’ She reached out and touched him on the shoulder. The Misfit sprang back as if a snake had bitten him and shot her three times through the chest.† (O’Connor 334) It is as if he has encountered something very threatening. It is hypocritical because a snake is usually associated with evil or â€Å"enemy of man† like the biblical story of Adam and Eve. It symbolizes how genuine good appears to genuine evil. To conclude, this story has so many points that you have to examine in between the lines. Basically, the story is about a woman with a domineering personality that has to die to be brought back down to size. The writer conveys this meaning through the use of symbolism, domination, manipulation, and hypercriticism.

Cooking Is Something That Many People D Essay Example for Free

Cooking Is Something That Many People D Essay Cooking is something that many people do. Some do it as a profession, some do it for fun, and some do it because they have to. Most people cook because eating anything raw is unappetizing and boring. I cook because it is entertaining and almost hypnotizing in a sense that I become almost oblivious to my surroundings. Sadly, some times I share the feeling of most people, ? gwhy o why do I have bother to do this. ?h But even if preparing a dish for themselves, people tend to get caught up and forget about anything else that is going on. When other people are the ones who will be enjoying the dish, the cook tends to have a feeling of wanting to make them astounded or awed at his or her culinary skills by preparing a better dining experience. It is a constant struggle for perfection and creativity. In the professional environment of cooking, the atmosphere is exigent. It is a fast moving and demanding environment. When working in such a place, one is soon to forget the time that is passing. As the product of the chef is taking shape, it looks more and more like a piece of art, with an amazing array of colour topped with astonishing garnishes. Chefs are people endlessly exploring the continual horizon of creativity in which the food can spread in any direction of space atop a plate. Another great part of cooking is the faces, comments, and reactions of the diners. Their faces are filled with the expression that speaks the flavour of the food and the opinion of the people themselves. A picture is worth a thousand words. I always remember that phrase when the food is served in front of the diner. And after that they speak. Their words persuade and encourage you for a higher level of achievement. Well at least most of the time. These are the reasons why culinary arts is an amazing field for anyone.

Environmental Impacts and the Hospitality Industry

Environmental Impacts and the Hospitality Industry ABSTRACT: The hospitality sector presents a variety of environmental aspects that, depending on the activity, may have a significant impact on the environment. Its users are consuming  resources such as energy and water on a daily basis and generating a great deal of solid waste and effluents. The hotel industry, banking sector and hospitals are examples of some of  the sectors that provide us with more information on this issue. This work discusses the  main environmental impacts generated by the hospitality sector and highlights the possible  environmental strategies that can lead to improvements in environmental management in  this particular activity. INTRODUCTION: Most people are aware that there is a need for all of us to take care of the environment, if we are not to threaten the ability of the earth to support future generation. Some aspects of the environment are very obvious from our day to day lives, such as increasing traffic levels, together with the associated air pollution and loss of green belt. Environmental issues, particularly the relationship between our actions and the environmental impacts in terms of primary, secondary and tertiary effects. ( Kirk 1996). Environmental impacts is a study of all the factors which a land development or construction project would have on the environment in the area, including population, traffic, schools, fire protection, endangered species, archaeological artefacts and community beauty. In another way possible adverse effect caused by a development, industrial, or infrastructural project or by the release of a substance in the environment. This also increases the need of sustainability development. It is a development that meets present needs without endangering the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable development is contrasted with other modes of development that lead to social and ecological damage, at both the local and global levels (Harris et al 2002). According to Jan Peter Bergkvist, Director of Environmental Sustainability, Scandic xix. There are three prime reasons for putting effort into sustainability: first, it preserves our environment for future generations; s econd, it adds that extra dimension to guest satisfaction, which in turn makes us a more attractive company; and third, it saves costs and improves profitability. AIM: The aim of the position paper is to critically analyse and discuss the environmental impacts and its effects on the hospitality industry. This position paper will also explain the various positive and negative effects of environmental impacts of the hospitality industry and the methods, strategies adopted to control them. MAIN BODY: TOURISM, HOSPITALITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT- To say, an environmental impact is the negative aspect of human activity on the biophysical environment. Increasingly consumer attitudes are favouring environmentally responsible businesses. This has extended to travelling where consumers are considering environmental issues when making travel plans and purchases. A reflection of this is seen in the growth of ecotourism, which has grown by 30% worldwide in recent years compared to 8% for traditional tourism. The Conference Board of Canadas long term forecast shows that the accommodation industry will experience an annual growth of approximately 3% between now and 2015 (Eco efficiency centre). This arises sustainability development in the hospitality industry also. The concept of sustainable development has been expanded to cover seven key aspects. They are futurity, inter-generation equality, participation, the balancing of economic and environmental factors, environmental capacities, emphasis on quality as well as quantity and compa tibility (David kirk). Environmental pressures have affected a much wider range of industries. Initially the concern was related only to the industries which caused direct pollution of the environment. But now it has become a wider issue and relates not only to the outputs but also to the whole operation. The hospitality industry also becomes a core industry to be discussed in this issue of environmental factors, as it exposes many of the conflicts which arise in implementing environmental policies. Many hotels and restaurants are situated in the areas of outstanding natural beauty, in historic cities and in regions with a delicate ecological balance. So there might be a question whether this addition of new facilities will destroy the uniqueness or its habitat which is already suffering from too much of development and tourism. But the hospitality industry is linked with various other industry which cooperates together to bring in a successful business which is mainly focused on pr ofit. The hospitality industry is also a major customer oriented industry. So we must also consider customers, many of whom seek as part of the hospitality experience to be pampered with lashing of hot water, high pressure showers, freshly laundered linen, an ample supply of towels, copious supplies of food and drink, the availability of swimming pools and saunas and the limousine to take them to the airport. Whatever we do to reduce the environmental impact of hotels can only be either with the consent of customers or taking the main consideration as customer satisfaction. Many hospitality organisations are situated on a location were that is suitable for the customer or according to the customer needs. And it is therefore not situated in a place where there will be minimal effects from traffic, cooking smells and the noise of the disco and other adverse outputs. This kind of local pollution is not considered to be a big issue, but it does affect peoples attitudes towards the indus try (David kirk). The hospitality industry does not cause gross environmental pollution nor it consume vast amounts of non-renewable resources and therefore it may not be in the front line of environmental concern. The industry is made of relatively large number of small operations, each of which consumes relatively small amounts of energy, water, food, paper and other resources, and which add only a small amount of pollution to the environment in terms of smoke, smell, noise and chemical pollutants. The industry employs 10% of the population and can have a major impact in developing awareness and good practice (David kirk). According to Goodno the push of legislation and the pull of consumer pressure groups, compounded by the cost savings which can result from reducing waste, many companies are now taking environmental management seriously. The main environmental impacts due to the hospitality industry are CO2 emissions, CFC emissions, noise, smoke, smells, health of staff, waste energy, waste water, waste food, waste disposal, agricultural ecology, purchasing policies, transportation policies, sale of souvenirs made from endangered species, location of hotels in fragile locations. According to the Annual report of the world travel and tourism environmental review there is a recognition that environmental issues will become much more prominent as a factor which influences consumers, regulators, pressure groups and destinations and that the tourism industry will need to show increasing concern for these issues. The WTTC have developed a strategy, known as the GREEN GLOBE, in order to promote environmental management among hotel and travel environment. These vary from waste management to the development of eco-hotels and the classification of hotels on the basis of environmental impact (David kirk). Environmental impacts of the hospitality industries- Positive impacts It sometimes educates the public about the local environment and the importance of protecting the environment, eg the Great Barrier Reef. The tourism and hospitality industries often create employment and business opportunities in an area, contributing to the local economy. Hospitality and tourism buildings and venues are being designed and/or redesigned so that their impact on the environment is reduced and they merge in with the local environment better. Many enterprises are now employing more sustainable practices in order to promote a green image that appeals to consumers, eg using organic products, recycling, using less toxic chemicals and using more energy and water efficient fittings. Negative impacts The presence of buildings and tourists may destroy the local environment and habitat of native animals. The hospitality industry contribute to waste issues, eg food scraps, oil and chemical disposal. Many hospitality venues are noisy. The hospitality and tourism industries consume a lot of energy and water, eg electricity for air conditioning, refrigeration (www.hsc.csu.edu.au). The environmental impact is broadly classified as: ASETHETIC IMPACT CULTURAL IMPACT ECOLOGICAL IMPACT SOCIAL IMPACT POLITICAL IMPACT Aesthetic impact means causing destructive image of a surrounding by various factors such as development etc. The image of a destination possesses importance from a practical marketing perspective for many reasons. Often hospitality industry fails to integrate its structures with the natural features and indigenous architectural of the destination. Large, dominating resorts of different design can look out of place in any natural environment and may clash with the indigenous structural design. A lack of land-use planning and building regulations in many destinations has facilitated sprawling developments along coastlines, valleys and scenic routes. The sprawl includes tourism facilities themselves and supporting infrastructure such as roads, employee housing, parking, service areas, and waste disposal (www.gdrc.org). Examples include lakes around Rotorua, New Zealand, that have suffered from blue-green algae and, on occasion, have been closed for recreational activities (Journal of sustainable tourism).

Postpartum Depression and Analysis of Treatments and Health Determinant

The objective of this paper is to develop a thorough understanding of treatments available for mothers with postpartum depression and formulate a research question that can provide for future direction. Postpartum depression is universally recognized as a serious condition affecting 10-15% of women within a year of birth (O’Hara & Swain, 1992). The high prevalence of postpartum depression among mothers makes this an issue worth exploring the type of treatments available. A set of physical and psychological symptoms are associated with this condition that greatly increase the detriment of postpartum depression. These symptoms can be ranked on several designed scales by health care professionals. It is important to understand that even with a high prevalence rate of postpartum depression among women many cases go untreated. (Buist, Barnett, Milgrom, Pope, Condon, Ellwood, Boyce, Austin & Hayes, 2002). An analysis of five studies will introduce the available treatments and the possibility that social support in combination with personal physical maintenance maybe the best treatment for women with minor or moderate postpartum depression. In the first study Gjerdingen (2002) investigates the various treatments but particularly the pharmacological treatments. Gjerdingen (2002) stresses the importance of administered treatment based on severity of diagnosis, such that healthcare professionals appropriately identify the state of wellbeing of the patient and appropriately respond. As presented in the article, the US Preventive Services Task Force strongly recommends screening for depression to be done through clinical services that have systems insuring proper diagnosis and appropriate interventions. Gjerdingen (2002... ...eme will also be covered in the remainder of the studies and will be used when formulating the final research question. In trying to determine the efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy and counselling Milgrom, Negri, Gemmill, McNeil, Martin (2005) discuss the influence of the health care system questioning the efficiency and accuracy of transferable skills. It was determined that personal counselling was easier for professions to obtain the skills versus group CBT. This raises the question will transferability of skills among health care professionals affect the completion and result of treatment? In addition, many intervention studies are lacking formal clinical diagnosis and validated clinical measures of depressive symptoms. As a result this makes the replication of studies difficult and therefore the correct transferability of skills would be lacking.

Origins And History Of The Dulcimer :: essays research papers

Origins and History of The Dulcimer The dulcimer is a member of the string family. It is further categorized into the Psaltrey family, a group of instruments that are comprised of strings stretched across a frame and played by plucking or drumming. The only difference, in fact, between the dulcimer and the psaltrey is the fact that one is plucked and the other is drummed. The dulcimer family is divided into two sections. The dulcimers with keys and dulcimers without keys. A dulcimer with keys would be played by depressing a key which would move a mechanism that would cause a hammer to strike the string. The most improved instrument in the keyed dulcimer section is the piano. Dulcimers that are played without the aid of a key are usually in the unusual shape of a trapezoid. Early descriptions of this instrument, dating back to the Middle Ages, describe the instrument as a rectangular box with strings stretched over two bridges. Both the single and the double bridged dulcimers are common in traditional Irish music. It is played by striking the strings with padded wooden hammer. It is commonly believed that the dulcimer came to Europe from the East sometime in the fifteenth century. This cannot be true. The dulcimer is closely related to the yang ch'in from China. However, the yang ch'in was introduced to the Chinese around 1800. A similar traditional dulcimer found its way to Korea in about 1725. The dulcimer originated as the santir in what is now Iraq from a Greek instrument, the psalterion. The santir was a trapeziodal box covered with strings. It was played by striking the strings with light sticks. From there the Arabs carried the santir through North Africa where it was integrated into the Jewish culture. From North Africa it was taken to Spain, for a carving was discovered in the cathedral Santiago de Compostela, dated 1184. It is unknown why the Irish make mention of the timpan, a generic term for any member of the psaltrey family, being used by St. Patrick in the 6th century, six hundred years earlier than the dulcimers first introduction into Spain from North Africa. Dulcimers gained popularity from the churches and cathedrals throughout the 14th century. But in the 16th century, as the violin and wind instruments became increasingly fashionable, the dulcimer virtually disappeared. For the next two hundred years it went unnoticed. In 1705 Pantaleon Hebenstreit presented the French King Louis XIV with a slightly revised dulcimer.

Filtering in Libraries and Schools Essay -- Education Technology Paper

Filtering in Libraries and Schools We read about blocking some kinds of internet sites in public libraries and schools by using filtering software. There are problems on how to define an obscene piece of material, the list of filtered sites is not available to user , restricting access of adults, not just children, and affecting the lives of poor people who cannot afford PCs by filtering many sites. I think everyone agrees that we should protect children from harmful sites. However, it is difficult to make a restriction which is acceptable by all users. How should filtering systems changed ? There is an expression in the textbook that is concerning the right to see porn in libraries(Basse, Sara p205). It seems silly because I think a library is not a place for pleasure but for study. However, filtering all sites with inappropriate materials for children is not a good idea because some people want to do research on breast cancer, sex, Nazism...etc. What can libraries do about this problem? In my opinion, rooms for adults...

Grassroots Computing Essay

The article â€Å"Changing the corporate IT development model: Tapping the power of Grassroots† defines that the IT world in the 21st century corporate world is evolving. No longer are there programmers and users. Many times the users become ad hoc programmers. In some corporate structures the lines between the two worlds are disappearing. The plus side to this ad hoc programming is the ability for the end user to develop the tool needed to accomplish the task at hand. Many of the programs available to the business communities are generic in nature and the business will adapt to the program available. In some companies the grassroots computing types are adapting or improving the programming to meet the needs of the organization. The negative side to the grassroots computing model growing in the corporate world is the barriers and silos often built around the IT environment. These barriers need to be taken down for the full growth of the computer industry to be realized for all users and developers. The current license agreements around programing usage and modification will have to be adapted to the changes taking place in the enterprise. The article specifically identifies that the IT genre must – in addition to other needed steps – â€Å"Actively cultivate an entrepreneurial atmosphere and Provide tools and services to enable workers to automate their own work environments. † (Cherbakov Et Al). With this changing idealism around IT and end user – corporate policy and culture needs to also evolve. The organization that will realize the full potential of the programing resources available – not only in the IT department – but across all boundaries in the organization – will establish a culture that will bring down established silos. There still needs to be licensing agreements and non disclosure agreements in place for proprietary rights. These licenses and agreements should not be drawn up in a way to quell the entrepreneurial spirit needed in any growing organization. Each member of the entire team needs to be able to contribute to realization of organizational objectives. Not seeking to be detrimental in any skill set in the organization – but creating a team culture that opens doors for the IT professionals and the professionals on the floor who use the IT tools. Bibliography Cherbakov Et Al. (2007). Changing the corporate IT development model: Tapping the power of grassroots computing. IBM Systems Journal, 46(4), 1-20.

Evolution of Gender Essay

The evolution of gender issues ever since man can remember, when most societies used to regard women as inferior to men. It is no secret that from the first century up to the 21st century women roles have changed with time although the change is minimal. In not long time ago, women were regarded by customary law as people who used to take up their roles as wives and matters subserviently and any deviation that a woman showed from these roles was unheard off and was considered an outcast in the society. After the world wars, education, politics, warfare, business and other form of violence were territories of men, a few women joined men in these venture. The society looked these women with amazement and wonder. Early the 1950’s and 60’s change started hitting the world especially in the Chinese environment where women became advocates of women empowerment. (Haslanger, Sally, and Nancy Tuana,2004). In the 1970’s and 80’s women started taking their roles seriously enabling them to evolve very fast. Women confronted men’s duties with a lot of courage and men started accepting the fact that women wanted to carry out the roles. Although some men gave women cruel attention but they have persevered and gone ahead with the quest for change in the roles. Haslanger, Sally, and Nancy (Tuana Haslanger, Sally, and Nancy Tuana,2004). The question about women regarded as wives and mothers who are incapable of bringing any change in the society have been brushed aside by many countries giving women top most jobs in the country. England and Pakistan have shown the way which shows that today in England and Pakistan women are almost equal to men in terms of respect and all aspects. Women are now free to take up riles which were previously considered a dominance by men. But one thing remains clear that total equality will not be achieved since it is not easy to kill the illusion that women are inferior to men (KateChopin. org. ,2008) Matters such as education, politics, warfare, business, and almost anything non-domestic were the territories of men where only a few and daring women ever ventured. However, as times changed more and more women became advocates of women empowerment. In relation to this, the writer wishes to state that the purpose of this paper is to present a work regarded as one of the pioneers in feminist literature. Women evolution is not only a core element of development in the world today but also a strong indication of strong families. Women empowerment puts wealth in the hands of women which enables these women to be able to succeed in ensuring their families are successive. The development of women in the societies is proving to be failing in some countries with backward leadership such as Zimbabwe and development will remain lagged behind. Statistics show an upward trend for change of roles of women in the society at a whole. Although change is not such effective it is felt. Statistics demonstrate that in Europe, Africa, Asia, America actually there is evolution in the way women are viewed. Although in some rural areas there are alarming number of domestic violence instances reported and they relate to ability or the demand for women to be empowered. In the late 1800 significant events occurred which changed the roles of women in the society. One of such event was first international women’s conference which was held in France in 1892 which highlighted the achievements of women and their rights. Since then women have achieved much in trying to change their lives. In the story of Silk Road of china relating to women capability of growth there has been change of women roles especially entry into the business world although some are being used into the business circles as objects. (KateChopin.org,2008 and Haslanger, Sally, and Nancy Tuana,2004) Works Cited Chopin, Kate. â€Å"The Story of an Hour. † www. pbs. org Public Broadcasting Service. 14 Jun 2008 . Haslanger, Sally, and Nancy Tuana. â€Å"Topics in Feminism. † plato. stanford. edu 15 March 2004. Stanford University. 14 Jun 2008 . KateChopin. org, â€Å"Kate Chopin â€Å"The Story of an Hour†. † www. katechopin. org. 2008. Kate Chopin International Society. 14 Jun 2008 .

Personal Development Plan Essay

I have always been interested in the financial and investment sector. The movements of the stock market and the forces driving the stock values hold considerable degree of interest. I realize that a stockbroker needs to add value to financial information in order to satisfy the customer queries and investigative requirements of the companies being dealt. The consumers today have easy access to a vast range of financial knowledge and data available on the Internet coupled with company specific details that provides extensive information on the current and projected financial trends. The stock broker under such circumstances needs to be highly alert and aware of the market trends and fluctuating stock values in order to meet the needs of an increasingly knowledgeable customer. (Asia One Business Article, Sep 2007) A career as a stock broker requires a complete understanding of the financial markets and environmental forces that drive the stock trading market. A stock broker is an individual responsible for a business deal on a stock exchange. This primarily involves buying and selling of securities on behalf of people and institutions. Usually, a negotiation is made between two authorised members of the exchange. (Eduquity.com) For the purposes of convenience, an ordinary person is no longer needed to walk into the premises of any institution, for instance, the New York Stock Exchange, to enquire on the trade stock. This exchange is done through a broker. However, a stock broker is not just confined in such plain participation in a transaction as there are other stock broking opportunities such as execution-only, advisory dealing, and discretionary dealing, and other related services. Execution-only stock broker involves the implementation of the client’s instructions to buy or sell. A stock broker who focuses on advisory dealing informs and gives important information to the client on which shares to buy and sell, but leaves the task of final decision-making to the jurisdiction of the investor. Meanwhile, a stock broker who is in-charge with discretionary dealing determines the client’s investment intentions and serves as the mainly involved person in all transactions and decision-making functions done on the client’s behalf. In general, stock brokers provide relevant and useful information on trading stocks, for instance on the cases of which stocks or mutual funds to be bought. (estockwise.com) Keeping in mind these specific requirements and my interest in the financial market I aspire to be a stock broker. In order for me to be a full-pledged stock broker, I must be involved in activities and related opportunities that will increase my competencies, particularly those that I need to be a successful stock broker. Of course, it is necessary to finish my studies first. I will begin by providing assistance to a certified stock broker. This is my short term aspiration. By being an associate, I will have direct exposure to the business transactions that my employer deals with. Gaining experience is my key motivation. My medium aspiration is to get promoted or trusted with bigger responsibilities. For example, my employer will ask me to do things that are similar to his/her functions, allow me to decide on important things, expect me to be reliant to classified tasks, and the likes. After staying on this position for a significant period of time, I will try to evaluate myself if I am already capable of entering my long term aspiration – that is – being a stock broker. This can be achieved once I qualify the preconditions to obtaining a stock broker license. I will immediately take up the needed examinations and eligibility requirements. My career goal is to provide my clients with the necessary guidance and direction towards investments that meet their specific needs and requirements. (estockwise.com) Skills Required For the Chosen Role A stockbroker can offer three types of services depending on their individual capabilities and interest.  · Discretionary stock broking service constitutes management of client investments and making financial decisions on their behalf. This type of service requires building of huge trust and confidence within the customer.  · Advisory stock broking service that involves advising the clients on various investment options available and the desirable course of action with predictive impacts on finance. The client needs to decide on the action or alternative that suits his needs best.  · Executing stock broking service where the stock broker is only involved in buying and selling of stocks as per client’s instructions. In this case the advice or knowledge of market expertise is not required. He merely acts as per the client’s instructions. The basic essential job responsibilities of a stock broker are –  · Managing and reviewing investment portfolios for their clients  · Research the financial market with the cooperation of investment analysts who can provide actual and factual information on the performance of companies and markets  · Provide accurate information on stock market performance and stock values to the customers  · Provide various advisory and specialized services to the clients In view of the type of service and role specific needs of the stock broker the skills or competencies required to fulfill their responsibilities have been identified as follows:  · excellent oral communication  · self-confidence and decision making ability  · Persuasive nature  · Professional approach  · Numeric ability  · Logical reasoning  · In-depth market knowledge and attention to detail  · knowledge of current socio, political, and economic trends  · good judgment of risks  · honesty and a trustworthy attitude In addition to the above mentioned competencies an individual aspiring to be a stock broker needs to keep his cool and have the ability to work under pressure. The drive and urge to succeed and excel in their work is a primary requisite to achieve career objectives as a stock broker. (www.Learndirect-advice.co.uk) Personal Strengths A review of my personal strengths and abilities reveal communication as one of the strongest points that can work to my advantage in career management. Petit, Goris and Vaught (1997) noted communication’s function is essential for cases like allowing employees to conduct meetings, make memos, provide feedback and share corporate-wide information. I believed that the previous exposures and experiences that I gained has greatly assisted me in acquiring this core competency. Good communication skill was gained from giving presentations at seminars, supplier and customer service transactions (e.g. issuing clear and concise instructions, advising and assisting customers, etc). I am also used at working on team projects particularly during my course. As a member of the team projects I have proved my abilities as a good and empathetic listener that has enabled me to judge the situation and present effective solutions to the issues in hand. My team leader noticed my natural sense of persuading others in the team to coordinate and cooperate better and agree to the objectives and milestones that were vital for the success of the project. This particular observation was quite helpful since I was given the team coordinator responsibilities in the subsequent projects. My involvement in the capacity of a team coordinator greatly improved my skills of communication and persuasion. Considering the significant role of communication in stock broking, coordinating is among the basic ingredients of my professional success. I also believed to the spill over effects of effective coordinating function like the development of teamwork and successful working relationship. Teamwork is also attributed to the positive effects upon the psychological health and well-being of organisations member (Carter and West 1999). Through effective communication, people are motivated to work in unity and towards the achievement of individual and organisational goals alike. Personal Weakness In my previous job I had landed into an argument with my team member while discussing the feasible alternative that can be adopted to complete the task objectives nullifying the associated risks. The heated argument was not seen in a favorable light by my managers. Indulging in the process of self introspection I realized that I tend to be quite dictating and adopt a more commanding tone while communicating with other people. Though I can persuade and coax people into agreeing to my views and observations the commanding tone that I use to communicate the message is not liked by most people. This is not a favorable attitude and causes problems in development of harmonious relationships with fellow colleagues. This weakness is more a form of autocratic leadership that has become outdated and irrelevant in today’s business world. People and institutions do not favor this style of leadership anymore and this can pose serious limitations to career growth and development prospects. The current management style prefers a softer approach to people in order to develop a productive and effective team. As stated by a few authors (e.g. Cohen and Brand 1993; Hyde 1992), management requires leader’s full participation and involvement instead of designating individual groups who will shoulder all the responsibilities. Furthermore, this also helps in creating a sense of commitment and loyalty (Hill 1991). In the business point of view, good leadership proves to be quite beneficial as aids in effectively meeting job-related demands, creating higher-performing teams, fostering renewed loyalty and commitment, increasing motivational level, and reducing absenteeism and turnover of employees (Drucker 1995).   I presumed that I am the opposite of a favoured leader. I am autocratic which means I tend to be overly manipulative and domineering. This attitude hinders the development of harmonious relationship or esprit de corps among colleagues and most importantly on the part of potential clients. I recognised the need to learn a leadership style that will be instrumental on the achievement of my intended career role as well as the development of other important values useful in my future as stock broker and person as whole.

Burglary & distinguishing characteristic

Burglary, larceny, and robbery all involve theft or the possibility and/or likelihood of theft, but there are some important distinctions between the three. Burglary is essentially the act of breaking into a premesis with the intention to commit a crime – usually theft, but other offenses are also included. A charge of burglary can be made whether or not a crime takes place inside the building or premesis; the act of trespassing is what sets burglary apart from the other two crimes.Robbery involves taking property which belongs to another person, by use of force or the threat of force or violence. The distinguishing characteristic of robbery is the use or threat of force; without this element, the crime committed is simple theft. In the case of robbery, the property is taken with the intent to permanently deprive the rightful owner of that property. But where burglary can be levied as a charge whether or not the crime took place, robbery can only stand as a charge if an actual theft did occur.Larceny is itself a type of theft, but with a handful defining conditions which must be met. The threat or act of violence is not present, as in robbery; however, the larcenist must be in complete possession of the taken item and remove it from its original location. The length of time that the victim is deprived of his or her property (whether temporary or permanent) does not have bearing on the charge. Also, the theft qualifies as larceny whether the theft is carried out directly (by the larcenist) or indirectly (by a third party).The controlling factor in identifying larceny is possession – whether or not the accused larcenist takes complete possession of the property and removes it from the possession of its rightful owner. In addition, the thief must have intent to steal, and the item stolen must have value. In virtually all jurisdictions, all three offenses are subclassified in varying degrees of severity. Works Cited Mansfeld, Yoel and Pizam, Abraham. (2006) Tourism, Security and Safety : From Theory to Practice. Burlington, MA : Elsevie

Abusive Usage of Internet Can Destroy Society Essay

Abusive Usage of Internet Can Destroy Society - Essay Example Additionally, it has provided a convenient means of conducting business, networking and social interaction. In the midst of all these remarkable fetes, internet also poses great threats to the same society that it has benefited. Arguably, use of internet within rational realms is safe and beneficial both in short and long term. Internet usage in the workplace makes the operations quick, effective, and reliable. However, misuse of the internet in an organization ahs detrimental effects that can destroy the organization and the society (Anandarajan, 2006, p. 15-17). This paper, therefore, presents an argument on how abusive usage of internet can destroy society. Sedentary Behavior The fact that internet has made communication possible by just a click of a button poses a serious threat to the society. It is a common phenomenon to see people sitting in front of their computers the whole day and get all their needs accomplished. Whereas it is possible to meet our needs through internet us e, the same can potentially pose a great health risk to the society. Sedentary behavior has become the order of the day as the society use internet for virtually all activities. It is only a matter of time before an appreciable size of the society becomes physically inactive. Indeed, some scientists have flagged sedentary behavior as one of the causes of overweight, obesity, stress, and other related diseases. This is certainly destroying the society and the same will continue unless the society develops moderate use of the internet. Overdependence Although the internet is a relevant source of information, overdependence on the internet is arguably one of the factors that have led to a lazy society and poor quality of education. Ideally, all the information we need is in the internet and hence students and researchers have turned to the internet for the provision of this information instead of going to the libraries and other physical sources (University of Notre Dame, 2008, p.1). T his has led to immense levels of laziness since the students will only need to sit in front of a computer and do their studies. In addition, the overdependence on the internet has led to poor quality of educations as the students and researches simply rely on the internet information with no further insights to the topics in question. Hence, issues of plagiarism that negate quality are very rampant in the modern information sector. Moreover, excessive time spent on the internet can jeopardize a marriage, as the partners will have no time for marital issues (Young, 1998, p.222-224). Moral and Ethical issues The internet has clear-cut avenues to immorality and unethical behaviors. Where there are no age limitations to the access of internet in the world, the internet contains subtle and immoral information that is highly accessible to all. Contents of pornography (Erooga, 2012, p.14), drug abuse, terrorism, and other unpleasant attributes feature in the internet (Asian School of Cyber Laws, 2003, p.2). Additionally, children can become victims of sex offenders who use the internet to target children, lure them, and communicate with other sex offenders (Davidson, 2008, p.66). Students and minors misuse the internet by accessing the sites that influence them to immoral and unethical behaviors. Teens copy these behaviors thus degrading morality in the society. In addition, internet users misuse the internet by login to music sites like YouTube and downloading videos, movies, and audio music free. These acts promote music piracy and are against music copyrights and patents. Hence, they are unethical as they deny the music producers and artists their due returns. This oppression

Physician assisted suicide ( for an ethics in healthcare class) Research Paper

Physician assisted suicide ( for an ethics in healthcare class) - Research Paper Example Euthanasia is classified into two types; active euthanasia and passive euthanasia. This paper compares active and passive euthanasia and analyzes the arguments in favor and against performing physician assisted suicide. Physician Assisted Suicide In the United States, physician-assisted suicide is legal only in Oregon. The Oregon Death With Dignity Act was passed in November 1994 by a margin of 51% to 49%. After multiple legal proceedings prevented its enactment, the Act became law on October 27, 1997. In November 1997, 60% of voters voted against Measure 25, which would have repealed the Act. The Death With Dignity Act legalizes physician-assisted suicide but prohibits euthanasia (Facts and Statistics on Euthanasia, 2010) Physician assisted suicide (PAS) and euthanasia are slightly different even though the purpose of both remains the same. PAS is a kid of suicide performed with the help of a physician as the name suggests whereas euthanasia is the intentional ending of life of a pe rson by the physician. Euthanasia or PAS are normally performed when a patient happens to be in a no hope condition and suffers severe pain and agony. Proponents of PAS believe that there is no point in sustaining the life of a patient in pathetic condition, if the hope for survival is zero. ... Earlier people like to live in larger families whereas current generation likes to live in nuclear families. In other words, earlier, helping or assisting old people or patients during the end of their life periods, was considered as a duty and responsibility. At present people do not believe in such things. Everybody wants to safeguard their interests at present and they do not bother much about the necessities of older generation or patients who are fighting for their lives. Current generation is more selfish and they give priority to their personal wellbeing and do not bother much about the interests of others. Under such circumstances, old people or patients in no hope conditions would like to terminate their lives and PAS is an option available in front of them. On the other hand, religions or critics argue against PAS citing moral reasons. For them, human do not possess the right to terminate his life under any circumstances because of the immense value of human life. They also argue that God has certain plan on each person’s life which is difficult to realize with human abilities. Religions argue that the life in this world is only a temporary assignment and a permanent life is waiting for each human after his death. The life after death is associated with the merits and demerits of the activities in present life. In short, there are different views about the topic physician assisted suicide. Before analyzing the above issue in detail, it is better to identify different types of euthanasia prevailing in the present society. Wrong evaluation or assessment about the conditions of a patient may sometimes motivate others in performing euthanasia.

For the third essay, you are going to select an issue that you feel Research Paper

Cyber Insecurity - Research Paper Example In fact, as part of globalization and for that matter technology, communication and commerce have been more enhanced than they used to be before. But as much as we talk of the advantages of globalization, it is also important to have a look at what the repercussions of globalization and for that matter influx of technology have been on the larger population of the world. Cybersecurity is a term that is often used to represent the kind of protection given to personal information and digital documents. In his article â€Å"Winning the fight against cyber crimes†, Lurrent (2012) argues that the need for cybersecurity has increased and become timely mainly because of increases of activities of illegal cyber operations. By this, reference is being made to the numerous acts of cyber attacks that are launched in the field of information systems. In the use of both personal and organized information systems, reports of information thief, virus attacks and other forms of information irregularities have been reported on a daily basis. Some of these are so serious that they easily result in people losing thousands of dollars especially when the bank details of users are tapped by cybercriminals. As much as these acts of cyber insecurity increase, there is the need for advanced countermeasures that can put the minds of end users at rest. In his article â €Å"Countermeasures for cybersecurity†, Deritck (2011) clearly states that unless pragmatic steps are taken to give total protection to users of the internet and other information systems against cyber insecurities of all forms, the interest that people have in using technology in advancing communication and commerce will bring down.  

The best way to reduce the number of traffic accidents is to raise age Assignment

The best way to reduce the number of traffic accidents is to raise age limits for younger drivers and lower age limit for the aged ones. To what extent do you agree or disagree - Assignment Example Young drivers do not often exhibit the maturity of middle-aged drivers. Young drivers and to the reckless and vulnerable to pressure from peers about over speeding and daring stunts. Second, young drivers are not conscious of the overpowering nature of an intoxicated mind while driving. As a result, young drivers drive under the influence more often than middle-aged ones. Consequently, many young drivers lose their lives to traffic accidents because of driving while intoxicated (Elvik, 2009, p. 770). Increasing age limits for young drivers should lower the number of traffic accidents in the country yearly. Aged drivers are more vulnerable to health complications such as heart problems, Alzheimer’s disease, and impaired vision than middle-aged drivers are. Such health complications result in slow driving and poor impulses (Coughlin and DAmbrosio, 2012, p. 59). A good driver has to be alert enough to know when to drive at the speed limit and when drive below it. A good driver should also be able to respond quickly in the event of an imminent accident in an effort to prevent it. Lowering age limits for aged drivers should also know the number traffic accidents in the country annually (Rothe, n.d., p. 129). In conclusion, less young and aged drivers there are on the roads, the less traffic accidents will be recorded. Surely many other risk factors for traffic accidents such as faulty vehicles, poor roads, and misleading road signs should be taken into account. However, raising age limits for young drivers and lowering age limits for aged drivers is an equally important effort for reducing road

Toxic hazards and Risk Asbestos Consumers Essay

Toxic hazards and Risk Asbestos Consumers - Essay Example (Pass, 2008)The paper shall look at the hazardous levels of this substance and how dangerous it is to the public. The reason why this chemical threat was chosen was that there are certain health related complications that can arise out of exposure to this substance. There are series of governmental and non governmental bodies that have addressed the issue of asbestos as a chemical threat today. For instance taking the example of EPA; the latter body has formed smaller groups to tackle the asbestos challenge and some of them include the Office of Air and Radiation Planning Standards. This Office is in charge of ensuring that air quality within the US is in order. This implies that the latter body is also in charge of the all the asbestos standards allowable in the atmosphere. Additionally, the Office of Prevention of Pesticides and Toxic substances is also accredited with the standards for training professionals exclusively in the field of asbestos. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration group is largely responsible for ensuring that workers are protected against asbestos use and that overall safety plans in various companies comply with regulations. Additionally, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry is largely responsible for ensuring that the public is informed about the risk of exposure to this product. It is also in charge of the health care concerns that can arise as result of exposure to asbestos. Consequently, as it can be seen from the latter agencies, the issue of asbestos as a hazard is a cause for concern given the fact that most of these agencies have been given task of dealing with it. (OSHA, 2008) Section 2 It should be noted that exposure to this chemical threat can present very severe consequences in terms of one's health. It may include any of the following categories of health threats; Mesothelioma Lung cancer Asbestosis Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that attacks the lining of sensitive organs in the body such as the heart, lungs, chest, abdomen etc. This form of cancer is particularly difficult to detect because most of its symptoms usually show up years after exposure. Lung cancer is also another health related concern and is one of the leading causes of death with regard to asbestos. This form of health complication usually attacks those people who work in asbestos rich areas such as mines, mills, constrictions etc. However, even the general public may be affected by it when air quality standards fall below par. When one suffers from lung cancer, they usually begin coughing, feeling chest pains, experiencing anemia and shortness of breath. (Pass, 2008) The other notorious health complication associated with exposure to asbestos is asbestosis. This is a disease of the lungs that is categorized as a long term one. Most of the people who suffer from this disease are those ones who inhale asbestos fiber. What happen is that the fibers lodge passages in the lungs and prevent the lung from fully performing its functions. When one is suffering from asbestosis, then they are likely to depict crackling sounds from the lungs, shortness of breath and inhalation problems, this form of attack is particularly detrimental owing to the fact that there are currently no know cures for the disease. In fact, the disease can lead to a very slow but painful death. All in all, when people are highly exposed

Are traditional approaches to security correct to position the STATE Essay - 1

Are traditional approaches to security correct to position the STATE as the referent object of security - Essay Example One should ask themselves whether it is plausible to include other parameters like demography, environment and resources. (Daniel, 1998) This means that the concept of international relations must be redefined; this is because there may be other underlying assumptions that have governed it. There are common strains and factors that have broken national borders. It must also be remembered that communication and information has undergone rapid changes. Besides, finances and capital are flowing all around the world. The clear dividing line that separated foreign and domestic policy is now distorted. This has now caused states to deal with problems in international forums rather than domestically. (Paul, 2000) Security perceptions may either be narrow or wide. Narrow concepts focus on power as the main agenda while wide concepts focus on cooperation. It must be remembered that human rights and international law are crucial determinants in this analysis. There are a number of occurrences that have sparked this debate. The first was the unification of Europe and Germany in the year 1989. Shortly after, there was the September eleventh attack in the year 2001 that posed new challenges to the American government. The security concept is now widening from national security to human or individual security. It has also expanded to include other factors like; actors, food, energy, health and other sectors. (Mathews, 1993) In opposition to the view that national security is of prime importance, other bodies like the United Nations Commission of Human Security have endorsed and proposed the idea of human security. However, traditionalists argue that this concept is too wide. It does not provide a clear outline of cause and effect like national security does. In addition, these conservatives further claim that the concept of global security is a mere complication of an already

DIAGEO Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

DIAGEO - Essay Example 8,090. The operating profit of the company was ?2,443 million during FY2009, an increase of 3.1% over FY2008. The net profit was ?1,621 million in FY2009, an increase of 2.1% over FY2008 (Diageo - Annual Report, 2009). Diageo was created in 1997 as a result of the merger of Guinness and GrandMet (Diageo - Our History, 2011). Diageo rapidly expanded in next few years through both organic and acquisition channels. In 2001, Diageo also acquired the spirits and wine business of Seagram. In 2004, the company acquired Ursus Vodka. In 2005, Chalone Wine Group was acquired. Later, the company also acquired Bushmills Irish whiskey which included Bushmills' Distillery, which is amongst the oldest licensed distillery in the world. In 2006, the company made its first acquisition in China. The company bought a 43% stake in Sichuan Chengdu Quanxing, parent of Swellfun (Diageo - Our History, 2011). In January 2007, Diageo Asia Pacific was created to target a new geographic location. January 2007 ma rked the trial of new Guinness Red brand in 142 pubs in Great Britain. In February 2007, Diageo invested ?100million in expansion of its Scotch whisky operations in Scotland, in order to meet its future demand. In April 2007, as a part of brand extension, the company launched Johnnie Walker Blue Label and King George V Edition in duty free channels of Europe, the Americas & the Middle East. As a part of its global innovation strategy, the company made minor investment in Nuvo (brand), a new ultra-premium effervescent blend of fine French vodka, French sparkling wine, and exotic fruit nectar created by LLC (Diageo - Our History, 2011). In May 2007, the North American division of the company launched Smirnoff Source, a new premium malt beverage that combines pure spring water with alcohol. In Oct 2007, Diageo announced strategic alliance between Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Ciroc vodka. Under the terms of the deal, Combs and Sean Combs Enterprises took the lead on all brand management decis ions for Ciroc, while sharing in the future profits of the growth of the brand. In November 2007, Diageo invested ?5 million in J&B brand's package redesign to give it a more contemporary look. The new pack highlighted the brand's role as the ultimate party whisky with a design to party goers (Diageo - Our History, 2011). Diageo acquired Rosenblum Cellars in early 2008. In February 2008, Diageo and the Nolet Family formed a 50/50 company which owns the perpetual exclusive rights to sell market and distribute Ketel One Vodka (Diageo - Our History, 2011). In March 2008, Diageo, Heineken and Namibia Breweries reached agreement to form a new joint venture for their combined beer, cider and ready-to-drink (RTD) businesses in South Africa. In May 2008, Diageo reached an agreement to buy all the Constellation Brands' distillery and bottling facility at Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada. In the same month, Diageo made a capital investment of E650 million in a new brewing centre in Ireland to supp ort the growth and development of its global beer business (Diageo - Our History, 2011). Diageo also underwent a brief period of divestment, like that in 2003, which resulted into the selling of its Czech division, Diageo Ceska Republika, to Global Spirits. It also shut down its marketing subsidiary Nightfly (Diageo - Our History, 2011). SWOT ANALYSIS OF DIAGEO Strengths Weakness Wide range of Products Continuously Declining margins Market Leader    Opportunities Threats Ever growing presence in Asia-Pacific region Litigations