Effectiveness of your marketing plan Essay

There are a few quantifiable elements that Under Armor can use in order to evaluate, monitor and control the effectiveness of the marketing plan. One way is that a company can, is to take a look at there sales over different time periods. After looking at sales in increments of every two months or every six months, they would be able to determine the effectiveness. If it shows during certain times of the year they are saleing more then other times, and then they can see if there marketing changes helped or not. Another way that we can determine the effectiveness of the marketing plan for Under Armor is to have surveys that consumers can take. These surveys should be able to be taken online as well has when they purchase the product. This helps for the marketing team can see how consumers feel about the product. That way consumers can feel like they have some part in the product and it also helps the marketing team to make more precise changes. The more precise changes means that they can get right to the point of turning a profit and making the consumer happy. With that also being said happy consumers means loyal customers and constant profit. SWOT is also another quantifiable element that needs to be used with any company. SWOT helps to take a look at the in and outs of the marketing environment which helps to show what type of trends the Under Armor consumers are purchasing it at. SWOT is great because it looks at other marketing skills and any changes that way changes can be made as soon as possible and they can start to see better numbers or even just steady numbers. Making marketing changes always help to create more of an opportunity for a product that is trying to be sold. More opportunities mean more consumers and the better the profit. If the company is able to make changes for the better then that means that they are keeping there consumers happy and that helps with the word of mouth for the company and the products they are trying to sale. Resources: http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/docview/200554736?accountid=35812 McDonald, M. (2010), â€Å"A brief review of marketing accountability, and a research agenda†, Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, Vol. 25 No. 5, pp. 383-94.

Picking Cotton

When a traumatic event happens, a multitude of people are affected. In Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption written by Jennifer Thompson- Cannino and Ronald Cotton, the story of Thompson's rape and Cotton's conviction is unraveled through the perspective of both authors. The emotions that both Thompson and Cotton endure in the aftermath of the rape are shown with the alternation of speaker. With the change in speaker in each part of the book, the read gets to see the most significant part of the person's life.The memoir begins with Thompson's rape, in the perspective of her. Telling the horror of Thompsons experience strengths the reader's sympathy towards her as pathos dominates the first section of the novel. Being inside Thompson's mind and knowing her strength throughout the crime acts as a characterization method for Thompson. Since the novel is nonfiction, the typical characterization methods used in other novels are not possible. Knowing how Thompson thinks a nd feels creates traits for her which later makes her conviction of Cotton understandable.The transition to Cotton during his ime in prison enlightens the reader on Cotton's life and also his innocence. An inside look of what a double life sentence can take from an honest man is shown as Cotton reveals his hardships during his memoir. Again pathos was used, showing the struggles and confrontation Cotton faces during his imprisonment. The theme of forgiveness results after Cotton's perspective and thoughts are expressed and he chooses to forgive Thompson for her mistake. Having multiple speakers in the novel also has its disadvantages.By changing perspectives from Thompson to Cotton, the eader is neglected the others thoughts during a certain time. While Cotton tells of his prison time, the read does not know how Thompson is the novel during this time. When the novel changes speakers back to Thompson she is married with children. There is a missing gap of time the reader never knows about. The reader also misses out on Cottons reunion with his community and friends. During times when both Cotton and Thompson are together, only one person's thoughts are shown, blinding the reader to how the other person feels and what they are thinking.The authors' choice to share both of their stories in one novel had both advantages and disadvantages. While the different point of views showed how both Jennifer Thompson and Ronald Cotton were victims as a result of the crime committed by Booby Poole, the reader did not always get the full story of both speakers. Overall, the structure of the novel was strong and made a momentous impact on the reader and accomplished its goal of bringing awareness to wrongful imprisonment and also to forgiveness. Picking Cotton By alyssaduck

Mandatory Sentencing Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Mandatory Sentencing - Coursework Example This is because mandatory sentencing acts like a standardized method of passing judgment that favor every person. In fact, it eliminates the sympathy factor. Basing on substantial research in the United States, especially in regions like Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, and Florida, mandatory sentencing has a little or no preventative effect because crimes happen even when the masterminds are still in prison. In addition, mandatory sentencing is expensive and labor intensive (Zimring, 2004). This is in relation to housing the offenders, providing them with basic needs, providing security. In the United States, it costs up to $50,000 to take care of a prisoner in a single year, and approximately $300,000 to build a new prison cell. In my opinion, mandatory sentencing provisions are cynical. They can only be substantial in the hands of judges, who have a professional background in dealing with crimes. Politicians use such policies to instill fear in people so that they can gain and retain political power, even when they do not deserve it. The Judiciary arm should be independent as possible. Interference by the Legislature deprives it of its authority to exercise power. All cases should be left for the courts to view and assess the causes, come up with evidence and give a legitimate conclusion. Mandatory sentencing gives rise to personal bias because the verdict is always given by the prosecutor, who may give low-level offenders a high level mandatory sentence due to personal indifferences. Mandatory sentencing is a good weapon in reducing crimes and boosting community well being. This is very effective especially where people illegally use guns or other public threatening weapons without prior permission. However, it deprives people of their human rights since some may receive unfair judgment especially if not listened to or when their cases are not investigated into. Sherman, L., Gottfredson, D.,

Music Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Music Theory - Essay Example The song tells us a heart-wrenching tale about a father who refuses to spend quality time with the son he had with his wife whom he claimed to love. His son is persistently trying to unite with his father but, unfortunately, the father is always too busy or gone (Grayeb 1). As the piece goes on, the boy starts turning in to a grownup and when his father wants finally to start spending time with him the son refuses. The child has grown up and furthermore has a family, which he can call his own. The song is narrated from the first-person’s viewpoint by a father who can never find time to bide with his child. Even though the child requests his father to join him in childhood actions, he responds with more than fuzzy guarantees of spending quality time together in 'future' (Grayeb 1). Whereas hoping to spend time with his father, the child begins to shape himself into his father's attitudes, thus the stanza hoping to turn out "just like him." The last two stanzas are an overturn o f the duties, whereby the father requests his adult son to pay him a visit, but the matured son says that he is at the moment too occupied to find the time for his once "too busy" father (Grayeb 1). The father then considers that he and his are both alike, uttering "my boy has turned out to be just like his dad." The song's chorus utilizes imagery and metaphors related to childhood songs such as Cat's in the Cradle, Little Boy Blue, Silver Spoon, and Man in the Moon. Four Parameters Analysis Whereas the relation between motion and tempo might be self-evident, the connection between verticality and pitch is less simple (Grayeb 1). The sound wave of the song was basically slow, which gave the song a low pitch. The artist gave a sense song of a sad feeling in the song, which also complimented the law. Harry Chapin’s song was more rhythmically complex as the artist used odd meters, as well as ways, such as additive rhythm and phasing. The artist also wrote the song in a way which lacked a sense of a regular beat as the song consisted only of long sustained tones also referred to as drones (Grayeb 1). The song also had a liner progression of tunes whereby the singer, at times, hummed or used a guitar only to give the tone. The song incorporated mixed and simply discernible frequency patterns. This was due to the fact that the artist wanted to make the message clear for everyone to understand. The song incorporated low dynamics due to its tune. Also, song had pianissimos and fortissimos, which gave the song the low dynamics. The story was about a sad child; hence, the low dynamics complimented the story in way that the listener could easily understand (Grayeb 1). Line-Graph The song had a series of plateaus characterized by notes. The artist did the work of a lab specialist to achieve the desired effects (Grayeb 1). Chaplin made the song the way it is by working with graphs due to the uniformity that could be adapted from the song. A majority of the more rest rained variations of time and pitch might have to be disregarded prior to the fixing of the relative durations of these notes. Bar-lines should also be placed upon a traditional music staff. The points in the piece could, at that stage, be replaced by notes, as well as the lines through note values (Grayeb 1). The complete pitch of every line for a non-percussive stave was confirmed by the

CVD presentation discussion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

CVD presentation discussion - Essay Example (Khare, et. al. 2009). Consequently, this has resulted to burdening the health care providers across the country, and therefore, it is important to identify processes that will reduce the prevalence of disease in women. The study employs the Evidence based practice to offer applicable problem solving techniques that will enhance quality caring, as well as best decision making with regard to the cardiovascular disease patients in health care facilities along with their families. Moreover, this method is expected to achieve the best outcome for the patients. This particular study has utilized 5 steps that are essential for all EBP studies. Foremost, the study asks the clinical question in a PICO (Patient population, Intervention, Comparison and Outcome) format. Specifically, the clinical question is â€Å" in women over 20 years of age identified as at risk according to the AHA’s classification of CVD risk in women (P), how will diet modifications and physical activity (I) compare to the physical activity alone (C) in changing classification to Optimal Risk (O) over the course of one year. The second step of the EBP process entails looking for the best practice in order to answer the PICO question. The evidence presented by the study reveals that despite the fact that physical activity is significant in changing the optimal risk, when it is combined with diet modifications it produces better results. Staying physically active, in addition to eating fewer calories will greatly lower the risk of heart diseases along with initiating weight loss. Further, the evidence purports that in order for one to reduce the risk of heart disease, then, she should be involved in moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes in the most days of the week. Consequently, the third step is a critical appraisal of the evidence found in the literature

Recidivism in America Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Recidivism in America - Research Paper Example Despite all these suggestions as the reason for the crimes, there still is an escalating prison system with no relief in sight (Clear, Resig & Cole, 2010, p4) Recidivism A 2002 study survey showed that among 275,000 prisoners that were set free in 1994, 67.5% were arrested within the next 3 years, and 51.8% were back in prison (Langan el at, 2002, p 26). The study found no evidence that spending more time in the prison raises the recidivism rate and those that serve the longest time had a slightly lower rate of arrest than every other category of prisoners (Clear, Resig & Cole, 2006, p 3). This is likely explained by the older average age of those released with the longest sentences. The study shows a strong negative correlation between recidivism and age upon release. Recidivism is, for that reason, a culture of both the young and the old. The prisoners commit the same offenses after their release because the causes of their arrest ignored before they are set free from the prisons o r they lack proper rehabilitation while they are in prison. Comparison Of Recidivism In America With Other Countries The United States has the highest documented incarceration rate in the world (743 per 100,000 populations). Russia takes the second position with a high rate of (577 per 100,000); followed by Rwanda (561 per 100,000). By comparison; the incarceration rate in England and Wales; October 2011 was 155 people imprisoned per 100,000 residents. The rate for Norway in May 2010 was 71 inmates per 100,000; Netherlands in April 2010 was 94 per 100,000; Australia in June 2010 was 133 per 100,000 and New Zealand in October 2010 was 203 per 100,000 (New York Times section A, 2008, p 1). Comparisons give a reduction according to the countries listing above. Still it is the length of sentences that truly distinguishes American prison policy, the mere number of sentences imposed would not place the United States at the top of the incarceration lists. If the lists were compiled based o n annual admissions to prison per capita, several European countries would outpace the United States (New York Times section A, 2008, p 1). Causes Of Recidivism In America, the rate of incarceration has increased dramatically. Prisons have been full to capacity with deplorable conditions and long lasting side effects of inmates, their families and communities in New York. In many prisons, the crimes continue on the inside and further affect outside crimes related activities. The main reasons for this increment include social environment, peer pressure, family structure, state-level policies and lack of employment opportunities (Scott 2010, p 4). However, other things that need to be relied are the individual’s circumstances before incarceration, things that happen before they are incarcerated and the period after they are released from prison. Both immediate and long-term considerations will put poverty and difficulties as the main reason for the causes of recidivism. Drug Ab use Treatment And Recidivism The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between drug use and recidivism among criminals and to consider how generalized drug treatment participation and completion further affect this relationship. Among researchers and policy makers, a consensus reveals drug use as linked to criminal behavior and recidivism. Further, drug treatment reduces the chances of recidivism (Mackenzie, 1997). On average, 65% of individuals who

Some of the Routine Applications of Descriptive Statistics Coursework - 12

Some of the Routine Applications of Descriptive Statistics - Coursework Example In addition, Part B of the assignment discusses some of the use of confidence intervals in determining the statistical confidence of nursing research and explains that the approach is used test the reliability or probability of getting the same values from a sample size. However, a major controversy of statistical and clinical significance is the biasness of the resulting data when used in real clinical context. The descriptive statistics in the article stems from the emphasis on the need to identify and include or integrate the family members of the patients during the provision of the health care services to the patient (Tudor, Berger, Polivka, Chlebowy & Thomas, 2014). As such, the article recommends there is the need to embrace patient and family-centered care as this is poised to transform the healthcare sector a great deal. In particular, the article tries to gather descriptive statistics from the characteristics or elements of the patient’s family members with the underlying assumption that involving the family of the patients in routine care can improve safety and satisfaction (Tudor, Berger, Polivka, Chlebowy & Thomas, 2014). In this case, the descriptive statistics included such elements like the ethnicity, sex, age, years of experience, work unit including other important statistics on the characteristics of the patient’s family like specialty certification, the num ber of times they have been involved in resuscitation (Tudor, Berger, Polivka, Chlebowy, Thomas, 2014). Other variable statistics included or involved identifying the risk and benefits of the presence of the family.

Journal 5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Journal 5 - Essay Example I have seen this kind of seating patterns in conferences and interview panels and I thought that individuals are seated in such a manner so that they can be able to share opinions more effectively. Communication within a group is influenced by the distance between the group members. In the class tonight, we learnt about different distances that could be used by individuals in a group. We found out that the distance could be categorized into four groups that include intimate distance, personal distance, social distance, and public distance. In our group discussion, I was comfortable when seating at a personal or social distance with my group members. On the other hand, I was very uncomfortable when seating at an intimacy distance with my group members. Moreover, I was not comfortable when seating at a public distance with my fellow group members. I realized that by group members were also uncomfortable with very little distance and very large distance. Therefore, I learnt from them that the most appropriate distance for a group work discussion is actually the personal distance that ranges from 18 inches to 4 feet. From the life highlights, I learned that I have a personality that is different to that of other members of my group. This personality makes me to have an ability to play some group work roles better than others. I also learned that in a group, every member has a personality that is different from that of the others. This makes every member to have unique abilities as well as weakness. According to Orey and Prisk (138), the main objective of a Johari Window is identification of personal blind spot. From the Johari Window activity, I learned that I have a personality of trying to assist individuals even when they do not need assistance. Moreover, I learned that almost everybody in our group had a personal trait that he was not aware. This could have affected the effectiveness of the

Behavior Description Interview Essay Example for Free

Behavior Description Interview Essay You have invested the time of several experienced employees and a good deal of expense to interview a number of promising entry-level accountants. However, you wonder if your interviewing techniques are really helping you hire the job candidates that will be superior performers and help your organization remain profitable. Your concerns may be justified if you are using a typical interviewing strategy in which there is no standard set of questions or a strategy in which interview questions do not explicitly focus on the past behavior of the applicant. Yet, there is an alternative. Studies in human-resource management suggest that behavior description interviewing may help you identify better performers from the rest of the applicants PRINCIPLES OF THE BEHAVIOR DESCRIPTION INTERVIEW The first principle of the Behavior Description (BD) interview is interviewers standardize or structure the interview. The most important aspect of standardization is asking applicants the same or highly Similar questions. This allows all applicants to have a chance to provide information about certain job-related concerns and allows interviewers to compare similar types of information. The alternative of each interviewer asking their own questions will have your organization comparing apples and oranges when trying to make hiring decisions. Often this leads to lower quality hiring decisions. An organization may also seek to standardize the location of the interview, the individual who conducts the interview, etc. Any efforts to ensure similar treatment of applicants should be encouraged. An additional benefit of standardizing interview questions is that the interview is more defensible in court. In the past, organizations that had standardized questions won employment discrimination lawsuits more often than those without standardized questions. The second principle of BD interviewing is to explicitly focus on past behavior. BD enthusiasts believe that past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior. They also believe more recent behavior is a better predictor of future behavior than older behavior and that longstanding trends are better predictors of behavior than isolated incidents. The belief in the effectiveness of using past behavior to predict future behavior leads BD interviewers to ask certain questions. These questions use a superlative adjective (e.g. most, least, toughest, etc.) to focus the applicant on one particular incident of behavior. For example, accounting firms need staff members who are willing to address both internal and client problems. To gather relevant information about an applicant, a BD interviewer might ask the applicant to tell me about the last time a new idea of yours helped an organization or group work better. The interviewer might also be ready with follow-up questions such as how did you develop this idea, how did you convince your supervisor or client to adopt it, and how did it help the organization? The follow-up questions may be answered a s the applicant discusses a particular situation, but their presence alerts the interviewer that this information is important. In another instance, accounting professionals are often called upon to make presentations to groups such as audit committees or boards of directors. Accordingly, an interviewer might ask a job candidate to tell me about the most difficult presentation you have ever had to make to a group of five or more people. Probes might include what was the presentation about, how did you prepare for it, and was the presentation evaluated or graded? In each case, the BD approach to interviewing should yield a large amount of high quality information to the interviewer and can help the somewhat anxious applicant have a particular incident to discuss. The BD approach to interviewing can be strongly contrasted with more typical interviewing strategies. First, typical strategies suggest interviewers let candidates take the interview where they want to, go with the flow, or let the interviewee talk about any subject they desire so that you can best assess their personality. While this advice is encountered frequently, it is highly inaccurate. Studies contrasting BD interviewing to this approach show that the BD interview does a much better job of predicting job performance. In addition, studies that statistically combine the results of 10,000+ interviews from many smaller studies strongly suggest that various styles of interviews that standardize questions or other aspects of the interview work much better than the nonstandardized interview styles. Second, BD interviewing seeks to avoid making judgments of applicants personalities. Assessing personality characteristics in a 345 minute interview would be highly difficult for a psychologist. As a result, many professionals rely on well established tests to measure personalitythey are cheaper to use and much more accurate. Additionally, many personality characteristics do not have a history of predicting job success. Currently, many human resource management professionals believe intelligence and dependability do differentiate higher performers from lower performers. Extroversion, considered by many to be a positive trait for auditing personnel, also differentiates higher versus lower performers in some situations. Other traits should be viewed with caution until they clearly are shown to relate to job performance. Care should also be taken in trying to match the personality type of an applicant to the personality of the office. While it is extremely difficult to measure either of the above, it is also potentially hazardous. The solution to this problem is to avoi d using most personality traits and ask applicants about past behavior that may be similar to behavior required on the job. Finally, the BD interviewer tries to avoid hypothetical and self evaluative questions. In most cases, there is little evidence to suggest that most hypothetical questions actually distinguish between better and poorer performing individuals. This may be due to the difficulty of injecting enough reality in the situation to make it a good predictor of job success. Self-evaluative questions such as describe yourself or are you computer literate also have no history of predicting job performance. In addition, they ask the applicant to do your job for you. You should decide how competent applicants are in a particular area since you are worried about their contribution to your organization. Applicants answers are influenced to a large degree by their desire to land a job. BD interviews differ from situational interviews. Recent literature has confused the two approaches. While the BD interview focuses on past applicant behavior, the situational interview asks applicants how they would behave in future situations (extensive research is used to create real situations). The situational interview can also require different types of rating scales to be used at the end of the interview. While there are several differences between BD interviewing, situational interviewing, and typical interviews, there are also similarities. BD interviewers also believe it is important to break the ice with applicants, that they should ask for an applicants preferred name, that they should take notes, and they should close the interview in a professional manner. These guidelines are important in any style of interview. STEPS TO CONSTRUCTING A BD INTERVIEW Three steps should be used to develop a BD interview. They are illustrated in the following hypothetical example involving the hiring of entry-level accountants in a CPA . Interviewers need to analyze the job and determine the key results areas. Key results areas are the major tasks or behaviors that an entry-level accountant must be able to accomplish. Key results areas may be defined by many different strategies including a discussion among recruiters, managers, and partners. Key results areas might include: 1. Communicate with other individuals-a. In verbal and written forms with other accountants including supervisors and peers; b. In verbal and written forms with clients; 2. Diagnoses organizational problems; 3. Recommend solutions to organizational problems; and 4. Use common computer software (e.g., spreadsheet programs, data retrieval software, on-line services, or tax-preparation packages). The above behaviors or tasks should be examined to determine the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that will enable them to be accomplished. Thus, an entry-level accountant should have: 1. Written communication skills to interact through letters and reports to clients and other accountants; 2. Verbal communication skills to communicate with clients and other accountants (not necessarily including making presentations to large groups); 3. Ability to diagnose problems in complex situations; 4. Ability to solve problems individually and in groups; 5. Ability to attend to large amounts of detail; 6. Ability to manage multiple tasks; 7. Knowledge of common software programs; The KSAs required lead to a selection plan that involves a series of BD questions. In this example it is assumed that there will be two interviews: a recruiting interview at the school and an invitation to the firms office. To evaluate the candidates KSAs the following questions and probes might be used. 1 Written communication skills a. Ask for a sample of writing from a professional or educational setting before the second interview. 2. Verbal communication skills: a. Watch for verbal communication skills throughout each interview and rate them at the end of the first and second interviews. 3. Ability to diagnose problems in complex situations: a. Tell me about the last time you recognized a problem in an organization in which you were involved. * How did you recognize the problem? * How did you study the problem? * How did you determine a solution to the problem? b. Tell me about a time in the last year in which you were gathering information from a person who was being uncoopeative. * What was the situation? * Why were they being uncooperative? * How did you feel? * How did you get the information you needed? * What was the result in this situation? 4. Ability to solve problems individually and in groups/teams: a. What was the most successful solution that you and a group of other individuals developed to a particular problem? * What was the problem? * What was your role? * What was the result of your solution? b. What is the toughest problem that you as an individual have solved in an educational or work setting? * What was the problem? * What was the result of your solution? 5. Ability to attend to large amounts of detail: a. Tell me about the last time when you had to gather large amounts of information to complete a project. *What was the project? *How did you organize the details? * What was the end result? * Did anyone assign you a grade for the project? b. Which class of yours required the most attention to detail. Please tell me how you dealt with the demands of the class. * How did it require attention to detail? * What was your strategy to deal with the detail? *What was the result? 6. Ability to manager multiple tasks: a. Tell me about how you managed your school work and extracircular activities during your busiest semester. * What made the semester so busy? * Did you have any priorities? * Where there any strategies that helped you cope? * How did the semester turn out (in terms of grades, activities, etc.)? b. Tell me about the last time you had to juggle several different responsibililties when you held a job. * What were the responsibilities? * Did you have any priorities? * Where there any strategies that helped you cope? 7. Knowledge of computer software programs: a. Please tell us about the most involved computer project that you have been involved with in school or in an organization. * What software was involved? * What was your role? * What was the result or grade? 4. Please tell us about the last time you learned a new piece of software. * What did it help you accomplish? * How did you learn it? * Did you enjoy the experience? c. Please tell us about any time that you used a spreadsheet program such as Lotus 1-2-3, Quattro Pro, or Excel. * Was individually or a group? *What did you need to accomplish? * What was the result or grade? Once the questions are developed, recruiters should organize the questions and probes into some logical order on an interview form. The form may provide reminders to greet the applicant warmly and any other reminders desired by the recruiters. It should definitely leave enough room for notes about the answer to each question. These notes can be extremely helpful when recruiters are trying to remember the remarks of each person recently interviewed. We recommend that recruiters practice with the new interviewing form. Recruiters may pair off and take turns playing the interviewer and the applicant, or they may wish to enlist a student to go through an interview. The trial interviews could be recorded on a video camera. The feedback from the video playback is often a very valuable learning experience. Lastly, an interviewer evaluation report should be designed to record ratings for each candidate. The process is relatively simple once the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) required by the job have been listed. We suggest that recruiters list all the KSAs down one side of the paper as seen in Figure 1. (Figure omitted) This will allow a systematic consideration of each applicant against job requirements. Next, recruiters should choose a rating scale. We have chosen a five-point scale anchored by very little of the KSA on one end of the scale and a great amount on the other end of the scale Scales should have from five to seven points and anchors meaningful to the recruiters. A place for notes or comments and a set of simple instructions is also recommended. Finally, there should be a place for an overall evaluation of the candidate. There are several different methods which can be used to generate an overall evaluation score. A recruiter can make an overall evaluation of the candidate on the same scale used for each KSA. Unfortunately, past research has suggested that this method is not very reliable. Another option is presented in the figure on page 77. In this case the recruiters add their ratings to form a final evaluation. This approach is relatively simple and often yields final recommendations quite similar to more complex methods. Furthermore, individual KSAs can be weighted differently. In this case, each KSA evaluation score could be multiplied by its weight. All scores would be summed to obtain an overall score For example, assume that the first four KSAs in the figure were assigned weights of .2 and the last three KSAs weights of .1. A candidate might be given a rating of 5 on the first two KSAs and ratings of 4 on the other KSAs. The candidates overall evaluation score would equal 4.8 (5 x .2 + 5 x 2+ 4 x .2 + 4 x 2 + 4 x .1+ 4 x .1+ 4 x .1). Either of the last two approaches is recommended. The authors would like to thank Paul Osting (Vice-Chairman, Human Resources, Ernst Young, New York, NY), J. Breck Boynton (Director of Human Resources, Elliot, Davis, Company, Greensville, SC) and Patricia G. Roth (Clemson University) for their comments and suggestions.

African American vs. Caucasian Americans Essay Example for Free

African American vs. Caucasian Americans Essay At first glance some people might consider this paper to be on the racial side, however it was all written by observations made. There are many differences between African Americans and Caucasians, some people dont see the differences because of ignorance . You must read the paper with an open mind and take none of this to heart. African American and Caucasians function differently in public surroundings. When you see a young African American you usually see them in groups of four of more. However, when one of them gets into a disagreement five to ten more show up in their defense. They are a very close knit group of individuals. I have also noticed that when you see a young African American walking around they are usually singing, talking very loud or running around. Also when they are in groups they are very loud and take over the area that they occupy. On the other hand when you see Caucasians they are rarely in groups of three or more. To top it off when someone in one of their groups gets in trouble the rest of the group is nowhere to be found. Most times when you see young Caucasian people in a group they are for the most part within a normal speaking level. These two groups tend to act differently in the public due to their cultural differences. There are a number of differences between the churches of African Americans and Caucasians. At most typical African American churches there are no true sermons. The African American churches tend to do more entertaining rather than teaching. They also do a great deal of singing and dancing involved in there praising of God. They emphasize fellowship in their churches especially after church when they all gather and close the celebration with a meal together. However at a typical Caucasian church there are a few differences. To start it off when you first walk in you get a program detailing what will be happening through the service. They tend to structure the whole service around a sermon or story. The service every week is very predictable as to what will happen. The Caucasian churches are more there to teach the ways of the lord as they have interpreted it. Although not all the African American and Caucasian churches are along this line a majority of the main stream ones are.

Types of Cardiovascular Disease

Types of Cardiovascular Disease Jeanette Mullen Abstract Cardiovascular disease (CVD) affects many people throughout their lives, there are some that are living with the disease and dont even know it because they dont go to the doctor, and even when they do, many dont adhere to the warnings. There are a lot of programs out there for families that take care of older adults with CVD, the problem with this is most people dont know how to access these programs. They dont know where to go or who to talk too, and because of this many people dont get the help that they need for their loved ones. The program that I would like to create is sort of like a workshop that is geared towards helping families that are caring for older adults, by providing them with a wealth of knowledge that will aid them in their journey of finding the help they need. I hope to show you through my research that many people can live longer, healthier lives if they knew more about CVD and how to protect themselves and their loved ones from getting it. Cardiovascular Disease: What You Should Know! It is important for people who have cardiovascular disease or families caring for someone with CVD to understand everything there is to know about the disease so they will be able to do what is necessary to combat the disease; my program will do just that. I would begin the workshop getting to know my audience and congratulating them on taking the first step towards a better life and by telling a true story to them in hopes that it will give them a better perspective of just how serious and real this disease is. Sometimes hearing what happened to someone else can shock a person into wanting to learn all they can so the same thing wont happen to them. Discussion Being told that your heart is only pumping at ten percent has got to be one of the hardest things to hear in your life. That was my brothers fate. He was offered a pacemaker and chose not to get it because he said since they told him its a 50/50 chance of survival, he said he would take his chances. Its sad to say that he lived another three years before suffering a massive heart attack and dying, he was 44. His fate could have been different had he listened to his doctor and changed his lifestyle. My father was in his late 50s when he was told that the only way he would live is if he received a heart transplant. He was suffering from congestive heart failure and already had three heart attacks. He had the transplant and has lived so far for 14 years. Goals My goal for this program is fairly simple. It would be free to the public, anyone regardless of gender; race or socioeconomic background would be able to attend if they choose to do so. At the end of the workshop there will be an answer and question session and there would be volunteers available to help anyone that is having a hard time understanding what do or what is being said. I would have a building that is centrally located so that it is easily accessible for people that dont have transportation and may be on the bus line. My target age for this workshop is from the young old to the oldest old but will be open to anyone interested in learning about cardiovascular disease. Types of Cardiovascular Disease Research The text by Hooyman Kiyak, states Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which include coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, are the leading cause of death among older adults (Hooyman Kiyak, 2011). There are many diseases of the cardiovascular system such as: Coronary heart disease is a condition in which blood to the heart is deficient because of narrowing or constricting of the cardiac vessels that supply it. Acute myocardial infarction results from blockage of an artery supplying blood to a portion of the heart muscle. Congestive heart failure indicates a set of symptoms related to the impaired pumping performance of the heart, so that one or more chambers of the heart do not empty adequately during the hearts contractions (Hooyman Kiyak, 2011). Risks of Cardiovascular Disease Most cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by changing your diet, becoming more active, and taking all medications that is prescribed to you. Once the group you are teaching know what types of cardiovascular diseases are out there and what they actually mean, you can then tell them what risks can cause the disease and how to possibly prevent it from happening. Take diet for instance, by changing the things you consume everyday you can decrease the risk of heart disease. One scholarly article I read suggested that eliminating saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat would most likely decrease the amount of deaths in Coronary heart disease (CHD), but according the dietary guidelines it is suggested that Americans cut back on both saturated and unsaturated fats from their diet; eating lots of red meat and eggs can also be problematic. But eating a diet high in vegetables, beans, fish and poultry could significantly lower your risks of CHD and stroke (Yu et al,, 2016). Changing from a sedentary lifestyle to a more physical lifestyle can lower your risk of developing heart disease, such as taking a brisk walk. Another risk factor is smoking, studies in the article showed that cutting out smoking decreases your risk of CHD, and suggested that smoking cessation is more favorable, even though it can cause weight gain. All of these risks are associated with cardiovascular disease but there are times when a person is leading a healthy lifestyle and can still suffer from CVD. Genetic factors and socioeconomic factors can play a big role leading in developing the disease (Yu et al., 2016). Another article I found very interesting did a study on how Living in poorer neighborhoods with low levels of social cohesion and high rates of crime, violence, and disorder have been found to be detrimental to health as they create environments that induce stress, elevate blood pressure, and may not be conducive to healthy behaviors such as physical activity (Barber et al., 2016). This article goes hand in hand with the previous one in saying that Low socioeconomic status (SES) has also consistently been identified as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and people that are living in areas where it is heavily polluted have been known to be associated with the increased risk of CVD (Chi et al., 2016). Study There were a few studies done on the risk of cardiovascular disease. One study done by (Larsson and Wolk, 2016) was Potato consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease..., they stated that Potatoes is a starchy food that is something that people eat a lot of and they have a high-glycemic index and have been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The results of that study showed no evidence that potatoes posed a risk in CVD. Another study was done by (Mu et al., 2016) on Dairy fat and risk of cardiovascular disease in 3 cohorts of US adults. It is stated in this scholarly article that Saturated fat intake increases LDL cholesterol and may induce chronic inflammation, and thus may increase risk of cardiovascular disease (Mu et al., 2016). But after studying 3 cohorts it was determined that compared with an equivalent amount of energy from carbohydrates (excluding fruits and vegetables), eating dairy fats was not associated with risk of CVD (Mu et al., 2016). Statistics Throughout our text (Hooyman Kiyak, 2011), discuss many statistics reported about heart disease such as White men age 70 and older are more likely to report heart disease than their Latino or African American counterparts (p. 123). Another article talks about how 1 in 3 women at risk for CVD dont consider themselves as being candidates of heart disease even though both men and women have died from the disease and the statistics also shows that heart disease and stroke are the first and third causes of death among women in the United States (Vaid, et al., 2011). As I mentioned earlier, cigarette smoking is one of the risks of cardiovascular disease. Statistics in an article written by (Shishani, Sohn, Okada, Froelicher, 2008), says Cigarette smokers are 2 to 3 times likely to die due to smoking related cardiovascular diseases and Patients with CVD experience as much as a 50% reduction in risk of reinfarction, sudden cardiac death, and total mortality if they quit smoking ( Shishani, et al., 2008). Conclusion Even though Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, it is my hope that with the help of educating individuals dealing with the disease, they are reassured that if you change your lifestyle and the bad habits that you have, you will begin to see a change in your health and your life. My brother never changed his eating habits and he never stopped smoking, which resulted in his unfortunate death. But after three heart attacks, and after his heart transplant, my dad finally stopped smoking. As long as you have the desire to change and the tools to point you in the right direction, you too can live a healthier life. References Barber, S., Hickson, D. A., Xu, W., Sims, M., Nelson, C., Diez-Roux, A. V. (2016). Neighborhood Disadvantage, Poor Social Conditions, and Cardiovascular Disease Incidence Among African American Adults in the Jackson Heart Study. American Journal of Public Health, 106(12). 2219-2226, doi.10.2105/AJPH.2016.303471 Chi, G. C., Hajal, A., Bird, C. E., Cullen, M. R., Griffin, B. A., Miller, K. A., Kaufman, J. D. (2016). Individual and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status and the Association between Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Disease. Environmental Health Perspectives. 124(12), 1840-1847. doi.10.1289/EHP199 Hooyman, N. R. Kiyak, H. A. (2011). Social Gerontology: A Multidisciplinary Perspective. 9th ed. Pearson Education Larsson, S. C. Wolk, A. (2016). Potato Consumption and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: 2 Prospective Cohort Studies. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 104(5). 1245-1252, doi.10.3945/ajon.116.142422 Mu. C., Yanping, L., Qi, S., An, P., Manson, J. E., Rexrode, K. M. Hu, F. B. (2016). Dairy Fat and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in 3 Cohorts of U.S. Adults. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 104(5), 1209-1217. doi.10.3945/ajon. 116.134460 Shishani, K., Sohn. M., Okada, A. Froelicher, E. (2009). Nursing Interventions in Tobacco- dependent Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases. Annual Review of Nursing Research, 27221-242.doi.10.1891/0739-6686.27.221 Vaid, L., Wiginton, C., Borbely, D., Ferry, P., Manheim, D. (2011). WISEWOMAN: Addressing the Needs of Women at High Risk for Cardiovascular Disease. Journal of Womens Health (15409996), 20(7), 997.doi.1089/jwh.2011.2850

Black Magic vs. White Magic in Shakespeare’s The Tempest Essays

Black Magic vs. White Magic in Shakespeare’s The Tempest â€Å"A man who governs his passions is â€Å"truly wise†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. The heavens have not seen nor has the earth borne a more glorious person than the man who always obeys reason. Not all the crowns of the world can adorn his head fittingly; only eternity can recompense one of such high virtue. To have a quiet soul is the only pleasure of the world† (Anderson 173-4). Where is the line drawn between good and bad magic? Who decides which form of magic is evil and which is not. Why was there a Glenda the good witch and the wicked witch of the west (Wizard of Oz)? According to Robert S. Ellwood, Magic is widely practiced in primal and traditional societies. In such contexts magic is not simply a pre-scientific way of attaining practical ends- it may also involve at least a partial symbolic recognition of the society’s spiritual worldview and of its gods and myths. In this respect magic often merges with religion, and indeed the line between the two is frequently blurred (Ellwood, Encarta). Prospero definitely exposes the gray ...

The Red Badge Of Courage :: essays research papers fc

In The Red Badge of Courage, Stephen Crane uses fear to bring you into the story and keep you there. Crane’s main character Henry, â€Å"the youth†, is the prime example for this point. Henry’s fear is the entire novel’s basis. Throughout the story, Henry goes through different phases of fear.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Henry starts out to be a rebellious teen wanting to join the army and gain the glory and recognition that comes with it. He fails to realize that fame and glory don’t come easy. He realizes that he is going to have to work for it and this is where his fear stems from. Once enlisted, Henry finds himself on the field of an ensuing battle. He debates if he will fight with his side, or run off into the woods. The battle starts, and Henry keeps to his position through sheer fear of dying. When the opposing side appears to retreat, the Union side celebrates pre-maturely. Moments later, the South re-groups and attacks again. Henry this time does not stay and fight. The first wave was hard enough and this time Henry is too afraid to stay. As he ran into the woods, he began to question the slaughter he had witnessed in the battle. When Henry comes out of the woods into another regiment another soldier slams him over the head, giving him a false red badge of courage, for not letting go of him.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Henry, scared and wounded, stumbles in the dark overcoming a great fear of the Southern army, by wandering through dark and unknown land, to find his way back to camp. He finds a friend who leads him to his regiment. Henry, afraid of what his regiment will think of him, begins to think of a story to make his injury seem realistic. Trying not to give away it’s actual origin, Henry comes up with a gunshot wound story. His regiment gives him the glory he wanted, but under false circumstances. In the following days, another battle takes place. Henry fearing again what his regiment would think of him has to stay and fight. Henry is so into keeping the origin of his wound hidden that he stands behind a tree and fires shot after shot towards the army. He continues to fire after the rebels had retreated; another soldier had to stop him. Henry is seen as a great soldier.

Cincinnati Subs Essay

Cincinnati Super Subs employee makeup is mostly young students in college and in high school; management has indicated that the chain has experienced â€Å"below average profitability over the past 18 months† (McShane & Von Glinow, 2013, p. 156). The below average profitability is linked to the increase of food wastage, management has taken steps to address the issue from reduction and elimination of food allowance accounts to the increased visual scrutiny given workers. The changes made by management were only successful for a few months, after the managers reduced their time in daily operations the amount of food wastage began to increase. To reduce food wastage management must have a presence in daily operations at the sub chain, create and enforce punishments for violations, set goals and create rewards for the reduction in food wastage. Indications of Problems at Cincinnati Super Subs ​Food wastage at Cincinnati Super Subs is a huge problem that has resulted in the reduction of monthly bonuses given to management. The staff at the chain complains about the amount or lack of food allowances given, this would prompt employees to â€Å"help themselves to food and drinks when the managers aren’t around† (McShane & Von Glinow, 2013, p. 156). The reduction in profitability over the past 18 months at stores has indicated the levels of food wastage have significantly impacted management employee relations and overall costs at the chain. The importance of reducing food wastage is not realized by non-management staff, they feel that the amount of food/drinks given away or eaten isn’t a significant amount of profits. Corrective actions taken against employees have reduced staff levels as some employees have quit and warned others about seeking employment at Cincinnati Super Subs. Management failed to accurately identify and corrects the causes of food wastage, and in the process caused employee dissatisfaction.

Lord of the Flies †Darkness of a Man’s Heart Essay

Originally published in 1954, William Golding’s _Lord of the Flies_ has become one of the classics of contemporary literature. The novel is about a group of young boys stranded alone on an island and left to fend for themselves. In an attempt to model their previous world without the influence of adults, the order that had once existed soon decays and is replaced by the chaos that destroys their ordered and civilised cultures. Though fictional, _Lord of the Flies_ deals with deep moral questions of how humans are essentially barbaric in their most primitive state. Golding conveys his idea of the ‘darkness of a man’s heart’ successfully through effective use of allegory, symbolism, and his perception of a dystopian society. _Lord of the Flies_ can be viewed as a political allegory of the Cold War. Golding served in the Royal Navy and recalling later his war experiences, he remarked that â€Å"man produces evil, as a bee produces honey.† The Cold War was a struggle between two super power ideologies – Democracy and Communism, signified by Ralph and Jack respectively. Near the close of the novel, the boys are rescued by a naval commander who came ashore in his boat whilst the boys were playing savages. The irony is that after he brings the boys home, the naval commander will return to sea and engage in a far larger game of violence called war. Thus, Golding makes a point that the island is a microcosmic representation of the conflict between democracy and communism in the war. When the boys are first deserted on the island, they behave like children, alternating between enjoying their freedom and expressing profound homesickness and fear. By the end of the novel, however, they mirror the warlike behaviour of the Home Counties, attacking, torturing and murdering one another without hesitation or regret due to the lack of government and order. Ralph weeps â€Å"for the end of innocence† and the â€Å"darkness of a man’s heart† (p 248) upon reunification with the real world and realisation that evil lurks within all human beings. Symbolism plays a major role in _Lord of the Flies_. Through the rich use of symbolism, Golding reveals that humans detached from society’s rules allow themselves to be dominated by the evil within them. The Lord of the Flies and the Beast are two major symbols that enforce the Golding’s idea of ‘the darkness in a man’s heart’. They are not really physical characters, but rather the evil in every human being.Simon is the first one on the island to realise and thus makes a proposal. â€Å"†What I mean is†¦maybe it’s only us.†Ã¢â‚¬  (p 111)Simon speaks these words in Chapter 5, during the meeting in which the boys discuss the existence of the beast. Although the other boys laugh off Simon’s suggestion that the beast may be â€Å"only us†, Simon’s words are central to Golding’s point that innate human evil exists. Simon’s idea of the darkness of a man’s heart is reinforced in Chapter 8, when he confronts the Lord of the Flies. â€Å"†There isn’t anyone to help you. Only me. And I’m he Beast.†Ã¢â‚¬  (p 177) These words spoken by the Lord of the Flies confirm Simon’s speculation that perhaps the beast is only the boys themselves and acknowledges that it exists in all human beings. This is backed up further with The Lord of the Flies’ adoption of the boys’ rather colloquial language, â€Å"I’m the reason why it’s no go?† (p 177) As the story progresses, the boys begin to worship the beast and make offerings to it. The appreciation for the beast is paralleled by the amount of savagery in the group. Through the use of symbolism, Golding successfully illustrates his theme of natural savagery within humans. The concept of a dystopian society can be seen clearly through _Lord of the Flies._ Golding sees moral behaviour as something that civilisation forces upon the individual rather than being a natural element. The novel implies that the instinct of savagery is far more primal and fundamental to human beings than the instinct of civilisation.The impression of a dystopian society within _Lord of the Flies_ is enhanced by Golding’s rich and dark writing style. During the early chapters of the novel, the setting was depicted as almost a utopia, â€Å"Ralph stood, one hand against a grey trunk, and screwed up his eyes against the shimmering water† (p 14), yet however is juxtaposed with dystopian qualities, â€Å"Behind this was the darkness of the forest proper and the open space of the scar.† This creates a sense of  foreshadowing which eventually leads on to the corruption and deterioration of the boys’ civilisation. With the absence of civilisation, the boys are left to fend on their own with minimal resources andtherefore naturally reverting cruelty, savagery, and barbarism. _Lord of the Flies_ still holds relevance to readers in this day as it addresses issues regarding the human condition and society. These issues will be as relevant today as they were hundreds of years ago and will still be relevant in the future. As for allegory, the novel represents the differences in political systems, systems that are still part of our lives today. If we scrape off the cover of civilisation, we are all beasts within.Through use of allegory, symbolism and a concept of dystopia, Golding conveys that the absence of a civilisation is able to reduce humanity to a natural state of barbarism.In conclusion, _Lord of the Flies_ thoroughly explores ‘the darkness of a man’s heart’.

Reacton Paper for the movie “Boses”

Synopsis: Oboes is a tale of compassion, strength of the human spirit and the redeeming power of music. It tells the story of Nook, a 7-year-old victim of child abuse in the hands of his father. Rendered mute by a physical trauma that damaged his Larynx, Anonymously Duke), who lives with his father in a countryside village, Is rescued by police and taken to a shelter for battered children owned and run by the kindly Ms. Amanda(Cherry Pie Placate).HIS speech dillydally aggravated by the psychological burden of being kept away from his cruel father makes Nook despondent. One day, eyeing the other children taunting a man who lives in a house near the shelter, Nook becomes curious, especially as he later on hears violin music coming from the house. He soon discovers that the man is the violinist Ariel(Coke Ballista), the brother of Amanda who has abandoned his career as a concert violinist In Manila to live as a recluse, apparently In grief and guilt over the death of his woman Blanch(Me rely Syrians).Nook's fascination with violin music leads him to Investigate around Riel's house when it is empty. Sensing the boys interest, Ariel in time subtly manages to encourage Nook to try the violin, and soon discerns a prodigy in the timid boy. A friendship very gently blossoms between the recluse and the battered child, until the boy is ripe for a recital to be witnessed by his father. Reaction: Oboes Is a film which speaks to us a good message of hope despite of a tragic history and how music can change a life of someone.The message which was communicated through excellent direction, fine portrayals, and beautiful music was clear enough to let ourselves be aware of what is really happening around us and be enlightened in mimes of great darkness. The film has several sensitive topics and I'm impressed of how the way they treated these topics. It made the film worthy of being acclaimed. Child abuse Is the main issue that was shown in the movie – on doing harsh actions and making a child a human ashtray – and the worst was, by a parent Itself. The parents have no right to hurt their child Just because they are the parents.Parents are ought to teach moral and good things to their children. Of course, It is not right to make violence at a child's eyes because that could result to another violence, or rose, because of the boys early age, they are already poisoning his innocent mind which is really unfair. And the sad part is that they give the child a life full of fears, traumas and distress which steals the confidence and trust of the boy to himself and the world. Instead of having protection and care which every child ought to have,they create only something that a child can fear.They are depriving the freedom of the child. Sexual harassment was also one issue though it was not really shown in the film. It was actually Shirley story wherein she said the line â€Å"†¦ Anon aka in tatty†. It was really alarming because the one who molested her was her own father. And very distressing to think that she was only five, six or seven years old. Like sexual harassment which was not totally highlighted in the film but still has a great impact child abuse. It's illegal because it is a crime; equivalent to killing and stealing a life of a person. More than that, It is a mortal sin.Sexual harassments, abortion, live-in, pre- marital sex, and suicide were the sensitive topics Eve found out. These are only little tails in the story but still important. Though some weren't given emphasis but still supports the story which makes it worthwhile. The biggest lesson that I got was to keep the faith and hope despite the ruthlessness of life. Nook had lots of scars, both physical and emotional. Beaten by his father, tortured and forced him to eat as in forcing the spoon into his mouth. But at the end, he was able to get back his trust in the world and live a new life.Same as Ariel who was in sorrow and loneliness because of the death of the one that he loves, at the end, he mound the comfort and restored his spirit. And who says that bad people don't have the chance to be good? Of course they have like in the situation of Mans Marcelo (Risky Dave) who at the end was very sorry for the unkindness he had to his son. Basically, the film offers us hope in every problem that we face and might face in the future. Music has a very important role in the story because it is the instrument that healed both Ariel (Coke) and Nooks Aeolian) wounds of the past.Though it leave them scars but scars are physically not painful anymore. Through music, we can express what we feel in a more peaceful and beautiful way. As a music lover, I truly believe on how music can transform lives. Basically, Oboes is a very sensible story and I agree to that. Doses, speaks to us the voice of the children asking freedom from the chains of violence and abuse; crying and shouting out loud but never heard; seeking for themselves that was stol en from them; and the voice which may not be in the form of words, but in the form of something where they can find, somehow, a relief.

Creative writing – Birth

Steve sat next to Tim with a small, permanent grin on his face. His life was finally back on track. Three months and he had managed to stay clean. It was a real achievement, something to be proud of. Not to mention the fact that he was waiting for his fiancà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½e to give birth to his first child. If he wasn't so thrilled with himself, Steven might have noticed that there had been no communication with any of his girlfriend's doctors of midwives for at least two hours. It wasn't something you paid attention to when you were glowing with joy at your own accomplishments. Steve and Katie's friend Tim, however, was not drunk on his own pride. He had noticed that the sun was rapidly setting, and the new addition to the Davies family hadn't yet made their grand-entrance to the world. The pair were not left on their own for much longer, however. A solemn-looking doctor flung the swinging doors at the other end of the corridor open infront of him and, in giant strides, approached the pair hurriedly. He was clutching a brown clipboard in his hand, his knuckles white and his brow furrowed. â€Å"Mr. Davies?† The doctor stopped infront of Steve and took a step back, inviting him to stand. â€Å"Yes,† admitted Steve with a smile, â€Å"what's the news?† The doctor clenched his jaw and wiped the back of his hand across his forehead. â€Å"I'm afraid it's not good.† At this point Tim's eyes widened. The grin hadn't left Steven's face yet, and he stood with one hand on his hip. Met with a wall of silence the doctor, though unnerved, carried on with his explanation. â€Å"I'm afraid your partner has abnormally high blood pressure and, at this moment, we cannot assure her or your child's lives.† Steven's face fell slowly, and he slumped back into his seat, burying his head in his hands. â€Å"I'm sorry,† garbled the doctor, â€Å"you will be informed of any developments†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He turned on his heel and briskly strode for the double-doors. Tim stood up and put a hand on his best friend's shoulder reassuringly. â€Å"Don't worry, Steve†¦ They always say that. Get you expecting the worse, y'know? Katie and the baby will be just fine, trust me.† He looked down at his friend's head. His dark hair had matted as a result of Steve's nervous sweating. â€Å"Look†¦Ã¢â‚¬  began Tim, scratching the back of his neck uneasily, â€Å"I'll go and get us both a coffee. I'll get you a magazine, if you like?† He bent to Steve's level. â€Å"Mmm, sure.† Came the husky reply. â€Å"Okay†¦ I'll be back in five minutes. Chin up, Steven.† Tim flashed a weak grin as he too disappeared through the double doors. It took Steve twenty seconds to work out what he was going to do. His coat wrapped around him, collar covering up most of his face, Steve stalked along a dark road on a familiar course. In the cold night air his tears froze on his face. He had counted how many alleys he has passed. He pivoted on his heel at the entrance to the sixth. Stopping for a second, he nodded slowly to himself and pressed on. Tim McKee finally returned with two steaming decaf coffees in hand. He didn't think much of Steven's absence, assuming he had left to use the bathroom or in pursuit of food. He began to sip one cup while, non-blinking, watched steam rise from the other. Steven James Davies stood in front of the dark, derelict house. That is, if you could call it a house. It served its owner, Tom Campbell, as an office of sorts. Despite losing one of his favourite customers a few months earlier, there was no shortage of junkies to help Campbell pay the bills. Steven had been so happy when he realised he no longer needed Thomas Campbell and the substance he sold. But now there was nothing to be happy about. There was no reason for him to be alive anyway; Katie was the only reason he hadn't taken his life a year before, and now she had gone. Together they were going to raise their baby, together they were going to help people like Steven when they had no one left to turn to. He couldn't take the pressure. Leaning heavily against a damp alleyway wall, Steve began to cry. He had been there for ten minutes, shaking with sorrow. He had made up his mind though. He wasn't going to go back to the way things were. He was going to make Katie proud of him; he was going to be strong. Just as he turned away, Thomas Campbell flung open the door of his ‘house' and beckoned Steve inside with a sickening smile. Tim was starting to get worried. It had been almost an hour now. Sure, his friend was famed for his huge appetite, but surely he wouldn't be able to eat that much at a time like this. Suddenly it dawned on him. He was at Thomas's. He stood up quickly, knocking the stone cold cup of coffee all over the floor. As he strode towards the doors the doctor appeared once again. â€Å"Are you with the Davies's?† The doctor was wearing a grin not unlike the one that had been wiped off Steven's face hours before. Tim nodded, and the doctor couldn't hide his happiness any longer. â€Å"They're going to be fine,† he smiled, â€Å"Katie's blood pressure is back down and her waters just broke. She's fine†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The doctor looked slightly perplexed as McKee pushed through the doors, rounded a corner and began to sprint towards the exit of the hospital. He had to find Steve. He stumbled out of Thomas Campbell's house just ten minutes after entering it. It hadn't changed a bit in those three short months. There was still a ‘waiting room'. The smoke from cigarettes hung low in the air, and people that looked without souls stared blankly at the walls or floor. The stained wallpaper curled at the ceiling, exposing the plaster underneath. There was still the muffled sound of coughing and the awful smell. Urine, sick, the smell of rotting food†¦ It was all encapsulated in the nauseating thick air of Thomas Campbell's home. Tom had assured Steven that he was expecting him. He told him that he was weak, and that they all come back. Steve had put up with the sneering, paid and had left. He was now stumbling back down the alley, grinning manically and zigzagging from wall to wall. He bent down and let out a series of jagged, croaking laughs before carrying on towards the main road. â€Å"Watch where you're going!† Steve had bumped into an elderly man. The citizens of Steve's town had seen anything. During his life the man had become cold and harsh, and was extremely opinionated. Instead of bending down to check if Steve, now lying on the floor in a foetal position, was breathing or conscious, the man spat on him. â€Å"Damn druggies†¦ You should all go to hell, you know that?† He carried on muttering to himself as he sauntered down the road. Tim was also muttering under his breath. He couldn't believe he had left Steve on his own. He was so irresponsible. It was entirely his fault. â€Å"Steve!† He called into the dark, turning down streets he didn't know in the hope of finding his friend. â€Å"Steven!† He didn't know where he was. He had no clue where to find Steve. He had to keep searching. After a problem-free labour, Katie Winters had given birth to a healthy baby boy. â€Å"Can you send my fiancà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ through, please?† It felt as though he had searched down every street in the city. Panting, Tim leant against a car to try and catch his breath. It was then he saw him. â€Å"STEVEN!† He called, running towards the shadowy figure that was crouching on the other side of the road. â€Å"Steven! You idiot! Katie's fine! She was going in to labour when I left!† Steve struggled to his feet. He could just make out what Tim was saying. He broke from his stupor and began to amble across the road towards his friend. He reached halfway before there was a flash of white light. A speeding car had just turned down the quiet street. Steve turned towards it and froze. There was a screech of brakes and then nothing. He was thrown into the air and rolled off the bonnet of the car, which sped away as quickly as it had come. Tim rushed to the middle of the road and knelt by his Steven's side. â€Å"Somebody called an ambulance!† He screamed, though he couldn't hear himself. Steve reached out for Tim's gloved hand and squeezed it. The faint call of ambulance sirens rang out through the night. Steven looked up at Tim, smiled, and fell back to the ground.

Bear Minimum Essay Example for Free

Bear Minimum Essay The lease of a combustion turbine by Big Bear Power from Goliath Co includes three provisions that we must examine to determine whether they should be included in the â€Å"minimum lease payment† as defined in ASC 840. Provision 1 This provision involves Big Bear paying $500,000 to its external counsel, and $1 million of legal fees to Goliath Co. The $1 million fee to Goliath Co. should be included in the minimum lease payment. This is supported by 840-10-25-6 which states: Fees that are paid by the lessee to the owners of the special-purpose entity for structuring the lease transaction†¦shall be included as part of minimum lease payments. The $500,000 to its external counsel should not be included because it was not an obligatory cost for the lease. Provision 2 To determine if the penalty payment from a default would be included in the minimum lease payment, we look at ASC 840-10-25-14: [Default covenants related to nonperformance do not affect lease classification if all of the following conditions exist: a. The default covenant provision is customary in financing arrangements. b. The occurrence of the event of default is objectively determinable (for example, subjective acceleration clauses would not satisfy this condition). c. Predefined criteria, related solely to the lessee and its operations, have been established for the determination of the event of default. d. It is reasonable to assume, based on the facts and circumstances that exist at lease inception, that the event of default will not occur. In applying this condition, it is expected that entities would consider recent trends in the lessee’s operations. If any of those conditions do not exist, then the maximum amount that the lessee could be required to pay under the default covenant shall be included in minimum lease payments for purposes of applying paragraph 840-10-25-1] The first condition about the default covenant provision being customary does exist due to the note stating that â€Å"this is a customary provision in  leasing arrangements†. The company has positive cash flow and is in compliance with all its debt covenants, which supports Big Bear’s belief that the chance of default is low. Thus conditions 2 and 4 are met. Condition 3, which involves predetermined criteria in case of a default, does not seem to have been met. Since not all the conditions have been met, the default payment covenant shall be included in the minimum lease payment. Provision 3 This provision states that Big Bear’s rent of $1 million will increase by the same percentage increase in the CPI. The most recent annual increase in CPI was 4%. 840-10-25-4 states that â€Å"lease payments that depend on an existing index or sate, such as the CPI or prime interest rate, shall be included in minimum lease payments based on the index†. Therefore after the first year, the minimum lease payment will rise by $40,000 per year or $3,333.33 per month. Bear Minimum. (2016, Mar 04).

Using Cell Phone While Driving Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Using Cell Phone While Driving - Assignment Example Thus, when drivers are seen dialing or talking on the cell phone while driving, people especially their passengers cannot be comfortable just sitting in their seats but are more than irritated and react. When cell phone use is mixed with driving, people support the idea of giving penalties to motorists who are ignoring the law of its prohibition while their wheels are in motion. This is deemed necessary especially for younger age drivers as they are the group who most uses cell phones while driving either at night or during the day (Vivoda, et al. 1). In Virginia, when a teen is caught speeding with a cell phone on her hand, she could be fined an additional of $50. In New Jersey, She is fined $ 100 to 250 (Rusell, Michael 1). To the careful drivers and concerned citizens, additional fines are just and necessary to remind drivers to get rid of the cell phone while driving for them to concentrate on the road. Doing two things well at the same time is impossible as claimed by Douglas Al exander, a transport secretary (Topsfield, James 3). Divided attention may distract the driver’s ability to recognize or react appropriately to any number situations which could happen on the road such as the crossing of pedestrians from elsewhere, speeding, or the change of traffic lights and the likes. In addition, fines may tell the driver that the consequence of his negligence use of the cell phone on the road is too great to ignore. Penalties are said to reduce this form of offense. Although this may be true, there are still many motorists who violate the law of cell phone use. Many believe that the fine is not enough to have teeth on violators. They could easily pay the amount and be freed of the offense.

The Development of Agriculture in Mesopotamia and the Comparison to Essay

The Development of Agriculture in Mesopotamia and the Comparison to Other Agricultural Hearths - Essay Example Still, Mesopotamian influences, along with those of China, provided the structure through which the agriculture of India was developed. The rise of agriculture in Mesoamerica was developed through an independent set of inventions. It is clearly, however, Mesopotamia that has the earliest development of agriculture in the world. The primary reasons for the Fertile Crescent to be the first to develope agriculture were due to time, environment, and increased populations that formed city-states. In discussing the nature of the development of agriculture in the Fertile Crescent, it is important to understand the way in which time is a factor in producing commodities for a civilization. In order to feed the people of the region, hunting gathering would have been the first form of communal food resourcing that would have been attempted. Because of the nature of the geography of the area, this was not an efficient system for gathering food and creating enough nourishment for the people. As m ore people gathered in concentric areas, it became clear that a different method of food production would be needed to satisfy the needs of so many people that had become a growing population. The problem in the geography was that the areas were mostly mountainous, covered with vast forests and brushwood.1 It was a better choice to create resources of food in more central areas, farms that could feed people rather than requiring them to go out into the world to find their food. The time required to hunt and gather was inefficient. Time is also relevant in relationship to the climate, the rains of the region more frequent and in a better balance for agriculture than they currently are for the area. It is likely, according to climatology history, that between the Ice Age and about 4000BCE the monsoon rains extended farther West, providing for a more moisture rich environment than currently exists.2 The environment was more conducive to planting, the land more rich in nutrients and the way in which growing needs were met. The world has changed a great deal and the answers to the reasons for questions of history often lie in greater conveniences available during those times in contrast to the way in which circumstances exist presently. Time period is relevant to the developments that existed as the collision of fertile circumstances provide for opportunities to develop. As the rains created a rich environment, the development of harnessing the rain through irrigation increased the level of farming that could be accomplished. The other way in which time is relevant is through the time it took for the agricultural culture to develop. Agriculture did not spring up during a period of a few hundred years. The development of agriculture was reflective of a period of more than a thousand years, the development emerging through a long period of time where single farmers moved to villages, which moved to towns, then moving and arranging themselves into city-states. This to ok a millennia of time for the processes of agriculture to begin to develop, the populations put into place, and solutions to the problems of resource allocation to be focused on growing and

Talent Management for Ang Mo Kio- Thye Hua Kwan Hospital Dissertation

Talent Management for Ang Mo Kio- Thye Hua Kwan Hospital - Dissertation Example initions 2.3 Talent Management Frameworks 2.4 Talent Management Techniques  Vs  Replacement Planning and Succession Planning Techniques 2.5 Key Success Factors for Talent Management PART 2: Talent Management and Organizational Performance 2.6 Does the employee attitude towards Talent Management affect their performance? 2.7 Does the managers' attitude towards Talent Management affect their employees performance 2.8 Is there alignment between what employees perceive and what the managers practice? 2.9 Employee Motivation and Productivity and How to Enhance These 2.9.1 Employee Motivation and Factors that affect it 2.9.2 How to Enhance Employee Performance by Enhancing Motivation Chapter 3: Research Questions and Hypotheses Chapter 4: Research Methodology 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Choice of Methodology 4.3 Population and Sampling 4.4 Research Instruments 4.5 Procedure 4.6 Data Analysis 4.7 Ethical Considerations Chapter 5: Results 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Results 5.2.1 Impact of Perception of Talent Management Practices on Motivation and Satisfaction of the Employees 5.2.2 The Impact of Managers’ Perception of Talent Management Practices on Business Performance 5.2.3 Comparison of Employees and Managers’ Perceptions 5.2.4 The Impact of the difference in the managers’ and the employees’ perception of the talent management practices on the business performance Chapter 6: Discussion 6.1 Impact of Perception of Talent Management Practices on Motivation and Satisfaction of the Employees 6.2 The Impact of Managers’ Perception of Talent Management Practices on Business Performance 6.3 Comparison of Employees and Managers’ Perceptions 6.4 Managers Recognize Employees’ Strengths and Weaknesses 6.5 Challenges for the Organization Chapter 7: Conclusions 7.1 Summary of Findings... According to the research with the rapid advancement of business potential owing to the globalization and enhanced communication and Information technology, there is felt a need to develop human resources that are highly professional, skilled and apt to help any organization make a difference in the competitive market. The medical organizations, especially in the case of hospitals, need to enhance their competence while maintain their professional and ethical standards to serve the customers better. The growth in technological investment that is needed to remain viable for the hospitals has put additional cost pressures on them. Also, the highly mobile nature of medical professionals has required that the hospitals be prepared to develop job packages that are lucrative and attractive and that can keep the employees satisfied and motivated. The concept of talent management – or managing the entire talent pool in an organization from selection, to training and development and mo tivation – is readily applicable in the context of the health organizations. The premise for investing in talent management is that the organizational resources, capital or technological, are only one aspect for the organizational success. The main organizational resource is the human capital as the quality of people an organization employs largely dictates the quality of output and competitive advantage that it may enjoy. It therefore makes sense to focus on talent management in any organization and more specifically in the case of health organizations as much of the work involves human centered activities.

Paul's First Missionary Journey Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Paul's First Missionary Journey - Essay Example Table of Contents Introduction 2 Dating Issues 5 Bringing God’s Message to the Gentiles 9 Implications for the Church 19 Conclusion 20 Bibliography 21 Introduction Paul was born in Tarsus as Saul1, into a devout Jewish family that brought him up â€Å"a member of the people of Israel, a Hebrew...; as to the law, a Pharisee†23. By that time, Tarsus was the metropolis of Cilicia, which had been administered by the governor of the Roman province of Syria4. There is a little mention of the city of Tarsus in the scriptures5; however, having been written about the time of Paul, Strabo’s Geography presents a more detailed account of the issue, stating that the city of Tarsus possessed a flourishing and powerful population, and all kinds of schools of rhetoric6. Another description of Tarsus is given by Flavius Philostratus in his Life of Apollonius, where the city is considered â€Å"harsh and strange and little conductive to the philosophic life†, and its citize ns nowhere else more addicted to luxury7. From looking at these accounts of Paul’s place of birth, one would envisage an important city, whose self-confident inhabitants lived more or less a comfortable life, in a â€Å"proud and virile atmosphere of mental and physical achievement†8. According to Paul’s own words, not only could his family trace their line of descent back to â€Å"the tribe of Benjamin†9 – they also adhered very strictly to the way of life regulated by the stipulations of the Jewish law – â€Å"circumcised on the eighth day†10 – and maintained close ties with the Jewish community in Palestine11. Some scholars point out that the traditional concept of Paul’s personality could be traced back to the second-century apocryphal Acts of Paul –â€Å"Small of stature, balding, bow legs, large eyes, eyebrows meeting, nose slightly hooked†, with appearance â€Å"full of grace†, sometimes looki ng â€Å"more like an angel than a man†12. On the other hand, his writings imply a sign of specific weakness – â€Å"a thorn was given to me in the flesh†13, which has been variously interpreted in terms of a physical defect, whether epilepsy, leprosy, or even stigmata14. Compelling evidence of Paul’s education is provided throughout his letters, insofar as some of his ideas, theological assertions, and terminology could be paralleled in rabbinic Judaism15; however, an explicit account of the issue is found in Acts of the Apostles – â€Å"brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated strictly according to our ancestral law†16. On the other hand, the style of Paul’s letters, e.g. literary patterns, hint other educational influences, namely Roman, Hellenistic stoic philosophy, etc.17 The turning point in Paul’s life – from a persecutor of the Church of God to the apostolic commission to preach the word of God t o the Gentiles – is widely believed to have taken place during the Damascus episode18. Nevertheless, Paul’s own account in his letter to the Galatians speaks of the continuity of divine action19, which had actually began before his birth – â€Å"†¦God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so

Personal activities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Personal activities - Essay Example The privilege of sharing my passion with the audience only brings me greater joy. If I can inspire even one other individual, I feel it will melt away all my years of toil and endless practices. 2. Apart from your first and second languages, what other languages do you speak and write Baring English and Chinese, which are my first and second languages, respectively, I am currently studying Gaeilge through home study courses. When I first heard Gaeilge spoken I was enthralled with it. I feel its oral beauty, fluidity and woven vocal patterns are unmatched. However, in the future, I also desire to pursue the Spanish and Japanese languages. 3. Do you already have a university course in mind If so, give details. I am yet to ascertain my course of study, though, I am sure to pursue a career in diplomacy. I have varied interests including, but not limited to: finance, economics and world history; however, prior to selecting a major course, I feel it best to explore the possibilities in the direction of my current interests. I am not a scholarship recipient now; however I am applying for a 50% award. Such a scholarship will give me the opportunity to find, explore and fund my own future.

Safety and quality of meat Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Safety and quality of meat - Assignment Example Looking at the outbreak of Food and Mouth Disease (FMD) in 2001 and the destruction this very infectious animal disease caused to the livestock industry and economy of the United Kingdom has caused the level of inspection to be increased in the import of the poultry sector of the country. The disease was completely removed from its entire root in 8 months but by this time the United Kingdom had slaughtered more than 4 million animals to stop the disease from spreading and had faced loses worth more than 5 billion dollars in its food and agriculture industry. Due to this disease United Kingdom also had to face a loss in its tourism industry as the people were scared about the food they would be eating in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom had been FMD free since the last 34 years before the FMD breakout in 2001. The United Kingdom until recent was not allowed to take part in international trade of livestock, poultry and the products produced from these livestock’s and poult ry as they could transfer the FMD virus in the other countries (United States General Accounting Office, 2002). On the other hand the United States since the last outbreak in 1929 has been a FMD free country and has not faced an outbreak of this disease till today. The poultry, livestock and agriculture industry of the United States was worth 100 billion dollars in 2001. The importance of the livestock is immense for the agricultural sector and industry of the United States and hence it is an important duty of the United States Department of Agriculture to keep the livestock safe from FMD and other animal diseases not existing in the United States. The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) have to assure the precise labeling, the safety and healthiness of the poultry, meat and processed egg products. FSIS imposes the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA), the Egg Products Inspection Act and the Poultry

Mentoring New Nurses Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mentoring New Nurses - Essay Example The provision of mentoring programs may determine whether there will be a high turnover rate of new nurses or whether new talent will be maintained within the organization (Harrington, 2011). If senior nurses mistreat the new nurses, then they are likely to be demoralized and begin searching for new opportunities. For this reason, hospitals should have systems of ensuring that new nurses receive guidance and counseling from their senior counterparts. Research has indicated that every nurse has a need for a trusted mentor. Being new in the profession poses numerous challenges and the new nurses benefit immensely from having an individual who can hold their hand as they start their journey towards building their career. Many nurses undertake a four years training with the expectation that they will fulfill their dream of contributing positively to healthcare provision. Healthcare institutions need to keep that dream alive by providing new nurses with efficient mentorship. The selection of mentors for new nurses should bring on board individuals who are patient and those that pose other good qualities such as being trustworthy, good listeners, and being able to nurture talent. Mentors who lack these qualities may not be in a position to influence new nurses positively. For this reason, the type of guide selected determines the efficiency of mentorship.ConclusionMentorship programs developed for new nurses should seek to establish supportive and encouraging relationships.

Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey Essay Example for Free

Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey Essay If you visit Qinling Mountain and walk through the forests, you may see some golden figure swinging from trees to trees. They are golden snub-nosed monkeys, which I think are the most beautiful kind of primates in the world. Golden snub-nosed monkeys are famous for their golden hair and pale blue faces. Another obvious characteristic of this kind of monkeys is that there are no bones in their noses. With these features, you can easily recognize them. Golden snub-nosed monkeys are about 66-76cm in length, but their long tails are 56-72cm long. Male monkeys are 16. 4kg, while female monkeys are 9. 4kg. (Chinese golden monkey – interesting fact) They are usually founded in groups in temperate places such as conifer and broadleaf deciduous, so their mainly food is leaves. However, they eat different food in different seasons, such as fruits, seeds and buds. (G. S. M Taxonomy, Morphology, Ecology online) Golden snub-nosed monkeys are kind of vulnerable animals because they have many natural enemies like goshawks, wolves, leopards and foxes. Voice and actions are two main ways they use in communication. (G. S. M Behavior online) If you hear high screams, probably there are predators approaching monkeys. Golden snub-nosed monkeys are rare and endangered and have already been listed in IUCN (International Union of Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources). According to the research, they have three main threats, which are lumbering, residential areas and hunting. (Yongcheng, L. Richardson, M. 2008) What’s more, it is believed by some people that golden snub-nosed monkeys’ fur can cure rheumatism, an illness that makes joints or muscles stiff and painful. These years, many nature reserves have been set up to protect them. But because golden snub-nosed monkeys can only produce one baby each time, the amount of them is increasing slowly. They need more care and love and we humans are deserved to do that.

Media Comparison: Egypt and Hong Kong

Media Comparison: Egypt and Hong Kong Wenting 1 Questions 3 Select any specific aspect(s) of mass media in one of the following four countries – Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea –, and compare it/them with another country of your choice. Discuss the similarities and/or differences between the two countries. Specific aspect(s) can be: media system, media history, media control/ regulation, media content, media policy, new media etc. Introduction The media plays an important role in informing the population about the current activities within and outside the country. The media also points out the evils of the current government. This is the reason why most government tries to restrict all forms of media such as print and press. In order to fully appreciate the significance of the role of the media in a nation, a cast study of Egypt and Hong Kong have been selected for analysis. Two aspects of the media have been selected, the media control/regulation and the media history of these two nations. These two countries have been selected because they both have similar and different aspects in relation to their media. These two nations have also experienced unprecedented changes in the past decade and hence forming a fundamental basis for analysis on the past and current challenges affecting the media. Similarities between Egypt and Hong Kong media Egypt and Hong Kong have experienced a number of similarities regarding their media histories. They have both experienced pervasive government regulation. Egyptian media has been controlled by government agencies with majority of the media house being state owned. On the other hand, after the 1997 handover, Hong Kong media has experienced increasing control by the Chinese government which took over from the British colonial power. Majority of the Hong Kong media senior personnel have been absorbed by the Communist government. With the unfolding of these events, in 2011, Hong Kong Press Freedom Index dropped significantly to 54th place from 34th (Weisenhaus, D 2014, p.273).This was a significant drop and a demonstration of the unfolding events regarding media control in Hong Kong under the watchful eye of the Communist government. As such, both Egypt and Hong Kong have experienced a considerable media control from various governmental agencies (Hackler 2006, p.331). Both Egypt and Hong Kong have laws that protect the freedom of press, in Egypt, Article 48 of the constitution states that the freedom of press, publication and information is protected. The law further states that any censorship of the newspaper is also prohibited; this includes suspending and warning of newspapers by the administration. This law only permits limited censorship of any material being disseminated in the media in times of crisis that has a direct effect on the country’s security. Similarly, in Hong Kong, the Basic Law, Article 27 protects the freedom of publication and press in the country (Chan So 2002, p.324). There are other provisions under Article 39 which further protect the media (Chan So 2002, p.324). Both of these countries thus have provisions that protect the freedom of the media despite the challenges experienced in both cases. According to Sakr (2013, p. 45) Egyptian journalism has been struggling to gain freedom from the executive control. In the wake of 2005 multi-candidate elections, embolden journalist were inspired to go beyond the norm and report massive corruption, and other evils of the government. Major changes in the media structure materialized in 2011 as journalist found loopholes in the internet to circumvent government initiatives of restricting the media. Evading proxies and other internet restrictions were used to gain access to social media such as Facebook and Twitter. Journalist used this informal online space to challenge misinformation from the mainstream media about the declining popularity of dictatorial leadership under the former president Hosni Mubarak. This media control struggle continued after the Mubarak and Mosri regime to the current regime under President Sisi. The government under these three presidents has always struggled to control the media in order to advance their in terest and hide the shortcomings of their leadership. Similarly, in Hong Kong, during the British administration, the media was given freedom but there were restrictions especially regarding the British administration. The government encouraged criticism of the communist nations including China but restricted dissemination of information criticizing the British government. After the handover of control in 1997, the Chinese government has further tightened the grip on public media control by absorbing major players in the industry and firing those who reject their ideals. This is clearly evidenced by the sacking and murder of Kevin Lau, a renowned journalist early this year. The struggle to free the media from restrictive government control is bound to continue in these two nations. Differences between Egypt and Hong Kong media The media histories of these two nations are different in many ways. These differences are mainly because of the governments that have been in control over time. Hong Kong was under British control for 150 years until 1997. Over this period, Hong Kong enjoyed press freedom as there was no censorship as compared to the mainland China. Citizens were allowed to criticize Chinese regimes. As a result, Hong Kong became the home to major Asian media such as Asian Wall Street Journal, and Epoch Times, and the anti-communist group. On the contrary, Egypt media has been heavily controlled by the state in all sectors including news agencies, broadcast and print media. In fact, the leading Egyptian news houses such as Al-Akhbar(The News), Dar Al-Tahrir (The Liberation House) and Al-Ahram (The Pyramids) are all controlled and owned by the government. The Shura Council manages appointments of editors and other key decision making people in the media (Kouddous 2011). According to Kouddous (2011) 8 4 % of the population in Egypt depends on the public media such as the TV as the main source of information. The internet is however increasing in popularity as the main source of information to the population; this was particularly evident during its recent revolution that led to the ousting of the Mubarak regime. The other major difference between Hong Kong and Egypt is the fact that Hong Kong has not experienced any major media struggle as it was recently experienced in Egypt. Despite the fears experienced after 1997 when China resumed control of Hong Kong, the fears against free press did not materialize. Hong Kong media protection is deeply rooted in the constitution; Article 27 of Hong Kong basic law as well as Article 16 of the Bill of Rights. On the contrary, Egypt has experienced an intense struggle for a free media especially under the Mubarak regime. According to Kouddous (2011) during the uprising, most bloggers and journalist were arrested, harassed and executed by the regime for reporting contentious issues in the media. Despite the long historical state control of the public media in Egypt, the trend has taken another turn especially after the ousting of the Mubarak regime. The dominantly state owned satellite TV before 2011 are now being owned by individuals who are not pro-government. According to Iskander (2012, p.123) privately owned newspapers has increased since 2011.Majority of the Egyptian population is now online; about 29.8 million by 2012 (Sakr 2013, p.47). Notably, during the 2011 uprising, the social media, mainly Facebook and Twitter were used to organize massive riots that saw the end of the Mubarak regime. This is a positive indicator to the trend in the control of the media in Egypt. Alternative media such as online social media which is hard to control is continually forcing the government and other regulatory bodies to relax their grip on the media. Conversely, the less regulated media in Hong Kong is facing threats from the government. Recently, on the 26th February 2014, Kevin L au, a renowned journalist known for his firm reporting against the Chinese government was murdered by an assailant suspected to be a government agent (Weisenhaus, D 2014, p.277). Massive demonstrations were witnessed as a result of Lau’s brutal murder. Conclusion As critically discussed, there are a number of similarities and differenced between the histories and regulations of Egypt and Hong Kong media. Egypt has been under government control for decades despite the provisions allowing for free press. Similarly, Hong Kong freedom of press has been restricted by the Chinese administration, despite the freedom experienced under the British colony, some restriction against publications that dented the British government existed. With the current Chinese regime, Hong Kong’s media has suffered a major blow that has seen it drop in ranks according to the Press Freedom Index. Both nations have experienced violence and incarcerations of renowned journalist. The recent murder of Kevin Lau in Hong Kong is an example of this unfolding. In Egypt, all the three regimes, the Mubarak, Morsi and Sisi have imprisoned and incarcerated journalist who report information which gouges the image of the current regime. On the other hand, Egypt has had a long history of press restriction until 2005-2011 which marked the start of a free press through alternative information dissemination such as the internet. Conversely, Hong Kong has enjoyed a significant press freedom over the past 145 years under the British colony. This has seen Hong Kong provide a safe home for major international media such as the Asian Wall Street Journal. This foundation has however been shaken by the Chinese regime which took over from the British control in 1997. As such, these countries have experienced both similar and different media challenges. References Chan, MK So, AY 2002, Crisis and Transformation in Chinas Hong Kong, M.E. Sharpe,Sydney. Pp.324-329. Hackler, DL 2006, Crisis and Transformation in Chinas Hong Kong, M.E. Sharpe, Beijing. Pp. 331-343. Iskander, E 2012, Sectarian Conflict in Egypt: Coptic Media, Identity and Representation, Routledge, New York. P.123-127. Kouddous, SA 2011, After Mubarak, Fighting For Press Freedom in Egypt, The Nation, Retrieved from http://www.thenation.com/article/161555/after-mubarak-fighting-press-freedom-egypt# Sakr, N 2013, Transformations in Egyptian Journalism, I.B.Tauris, Cairo. Pp. 45-56. Weisenhaus, D 2014, Hong Kong Media Law: A Guide for Journalists and Media Professionals, Expanded Second Edition, Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong. Pp. 273-286.