Bowling for Columbine Thesis Statements Essay - 772 Words

October 17, 2010 Bowling for Columbine Thesis Statements 1) The high casualties caused by guns are a result of how easy it is to obtain one. If policies were made stricter, casualties would go down. I do not agree with this because it would only affect the people who go to obtain their guns legally. If you really wanted one all you would have to do is steal it, so the policies would then have no effect on you. 2) Minorities and blacks are made to be scarier than they are because they are always the ones portrayed on TV causing the crimes. I agree with this statement because when I listen to the news 90% of the time when I heard crimes talked about they were committed by blacks or Mexicans. Only rarely do I hear of a crime†¦show more content†¦6) Charlton Heston does have some contribution to gun violence because even after the tragedies of Columbine and Buell he held pro gun rallies in those towns, after he was asked to cancel. I agree with this because it shows that even though he sees how guns have killed people, he is still pushing for people to purchase them and supporting them fully. 7) Influence for violence is always put on the media and figure heads such as Marilyn Manson but never on the president. I agree with that because if you pay attention to society that’s how it is. On the day Columbine occurred the US also dropped the record number of bombs on Kosovo in the war, but when people go to pinpoint the blame to say why Eric and Dylan shot up Columbine nobody ever blamed it on the president. 8) Parents don’t realize that it’s harder for kids in school today than it was when they attended school back in the day. I agree with this because there is a lot more bullying in today’s day in age than there was way back when. Also kids take it more personally which messes with their self esteem quite a bit. 9) The US is so gun happy and has as many murders as it does because the media is continuously pumping fear into us even if it’s not true so that they have good stories to tell. I agree with this because it has happened many times before. For example the Y2K bug which was supposed to cause mass chaos with our computer systems never happened and the AfricanShow MoreRelatedEssay Writing Forms and Styles1402 Words   |  6 Pageseffect, careful language, and chronological or emphatic order. A writer using this rhetorical method must consider the subject, determine the purpose, consider the audience, think critically about different causes or consequences, consider a thesis statement, arrange the parts, consider the language, and decide on a conclusion.[6] [edit]Classification and division Classification is the categorization of objects into a larger whole while division is the breaking of a larger whole into smaller partsRead Moredsfsdsfs4469 Words   |  18 Pages 4 Forms and styles 4.1 Cause and effect 4.2 Classification and division 4.3 Compare and contrast 4.4 Descriptive 4.5 Dialectic 4.6 Exemplification 4.7 Familiar 4.8 History (thesis) 4.9 Narrative 4.10 Critical 4.11 Economics 4.12 Other logical structures 5 Magazine or newspaper 6 Employment 7 Non-literary types 7.1 Visual Arts 7.2 Music 7.3 Film Read MoreA Look into the Various Forms of Essay Writing5590 Words   |  23 Pagescomponents. The hard components are the strategy, structure and systems which are normally feasible and easy to identify in an organisation as they are normally well documented and seen in the form of tangible objects or reports such as strategy statements, corporate plans, organisational charts and other documents. The remaining four Ss, however, are more difficult to comprehend. The capabilities, values and elements of corporate culture, for example, are continuously developing and are altered by

Ge Matrix - 4246 Words

Gg General Electric screen matrix (the General Electric (GE) business screen) The GE screen matrix is essentially a derivation of the Boston Consulting Group’s Boston growth matrix. It was developed by McKinsey and Co. for General Electric as it had been recognized that the Boston Consulting Group matrix was not flexible enough to take broader issues into account. The GE matrix cross-references market attractiveness and business position using three criteria for each – high, medium and low. The market attractiveness considers variables relating to the market itself, including the rate of market growth, market size, potential barriers to entering the market, the number and size of competitors, the actual profit margins currently enjoyed,†¦show more content†¦These forms of organizational structure are known as flexible matrix structures. Egelhoff, W. G., ‘Strategy and Structure in Multinational Corporations: a Revision of the Stopford and Wells Model’, Strategic Management Journal, vol. 9 (1988), pp. 1–14. Global product group structure A global product group structure is a variant organizational structure which has product groups along a vertical axis and foreign (overseas) divisions, or business units, on a horizontal axis. The primary purpose of the product group structure is: G †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ to to to to to reduce costs through increased efficiency; differentiate the organization’s areas of activity; utilize any innovations or technologies; improve customer service; increase the speed of responses. Typically, the structure would appear in the format shown in Figure 24. Global strategic alliances A global strategic alliance is usually formed by two or more organiza- Global strategic planning 101 Corporate HQ Product division A Product division B International division Japan India Brazil Figure 24 A global product group structure tions from different countries. Typically, this involves the allocation of resources from these businesses based in different countries, to a new project or venture which they seek to undertake, usingShow MoreRelatedGe Matrix1190 Words   |  5 PagesThe GE matrix is an alternative technique used in brand marketing and product management to help a company decide what product(s) to add to its product portfolio, and which market opportunities are worthy of continued investment. Also known as the Directional Policy Matrix, the GE multi-factor model was first developed by General Electric in the 1970s. Conceptually, the GE Matrix is similar to the Boston Box as it is plotted on a two-dimensional grid. In most versions of the matrix: * theRead MorePortfolio Analysis5153 Words   |  21 Pages Examining the nature of the product life cycle concept acts as a good introduction to product portfolio models. Several product portfolio models, perhaps the best known of which are the BCG (Boston Consulting Group) matrix, the GE/McKinsey matrix, and the Directional Policy matrix have been adopted by marketers to aid them assess the health of a firm’s product 22 PORTFOLIO ANALYSIS mix. This chapter examines the use and limitations of such models. Portfolio models are useful diagnosticRead MoreEvaluating A Pharmaceutical Portfolio Using ( Bcg, Eg, And Others )780 Words   |  4 Pagescompany should invest. The BCG matrix or GE compare the products and divide them to the groups that are worth investing in or the groups that should be harvested or divested. The purpose of these tools is highlighting growth potential, relative market share, and cash flow potential between different products in portfolio. These differences can indicate which products that can generate investment funds and which Should, perhaps, be discontinued The  Boston Group Consulting Matrix divides the products intoRead MorePuma Marketing Project5317 Words   |  22 Pages The following data reflects PUMAs structure in a more detailed way. Rising to the informational and communicational challenges posed by the 21st century, PUMA has developed a virtual corporate structure. The virtual structure is supported by a matrix organization with a vertical (functional) and horizontal (geographic) focus. • Vertical Focus: PUMAs virtual headquarters are comprised of decentralized core competency centers located within Germany, the U.S. and Hong Kong. Dispersed amongst theseRead MoreGe Management1094 Words   |  5 PagesGeneral Electric (GE) was founded by Thomas Edison in 1878 as a way for him to fund his research into electric light. Only one year later in 1879 he accomplished that mission when he created the first incandescent light. Incandescent light was only the beginning, over the next 128 years GE became an innovator in the advancement of technology and implementing new ideas. Some of these products included the first electric powered X-ray machine, television, radio, locomotives, home appliancesRead MoreGes Management Theory1077 Words   |  5 PagesGeneral Electric (GE) was founded by Thomas Edison in 1878 as a way for him to fund his research into electric light. Only one year later in 1879 he accomplished that mission when he created the first incandescent light. Incandescent light was only the beginning, over the next 128 years GE became an innovator in the advancement of technology and implementing new ideas. Some of these products included the first electric powered X-ray machine, television, radio, locomotives, home appliancesRead MoreThe Organizational Structure Of General Electric ( Ge ) Essay1029 Words   |  5 PagesGeneral Electric (GE) Introduction GE is an American multinational conglomerate which deals in industries like aviation, oil and gas, power and water, health care and capital, to mention a few. The company has a matrix organizational structure, which is characterized by the organization of the company according to multiple metrics. In the case of GE, the structure is matrix in that it combines a functional structure and a divisional structure (Rothaermel, 2015), as illustrated by the GE organizationalRead MoreManaging Global Business : The General Electric / Mckinsey Matrix1683 Words   |  7 PagesGhemawat (2011) â€Å"reckons† that a large majority of the top executives at GE are Americans which may simply be a side effect of the corporation having been founded in the U.S. and headquartered in the U.S. GE takes different modes of entry in to foreign markets, depending on the market and the competitive environment. Their approach is tailored based on the market and they have taken the right approach more times than not. GE is so adept at analyzing new markets their strategy for such analysis hasRead MoreGeneral Electric Strategic Position - 19811536 Words   |  7 PagesGeneral Electric (â€Å"GE†), similar to many major corporations in the 1980s and 1990s, underwent a restructuring phase in line with the McKinsey Restructuring Pentagon. Through this restructuring, General Electric implemented a portfolio-planning model to manage the ever-increasing demands of a company involved in over 190 businesses. Ultimately, this model allowed GE to formally GE set lofty goals of increasing earnings per share 25% faster than the growth of GNP. In order to achieve this theRead MoreAwl (Ge/Mckinsey Approach)1068 Words   |  5 PagesAWL (GE/McKinsey approach) | 1. Describe the business portfolio and the options available to AWL. The business portfolio of AWL’s 1998 fiscal year consists of three SBUs, namely three new marketing textbooks, including Advertising and Sales Promotion Strategy, Analysis for Strategic Marketing and Marketing Engineering. We can also see these three textbooks in the GE Portfolio Matrix as shown in Graph 1 and Graph 2. AWL should have clear understanding of these three new textbooks in order

Information Technology - Reflective Learning In Professional Issues

Questions: Part A Compulsory items Answer both: 1. What was your goal/motivation in deciding to embark on the type of degree you are studying? When you enrolled into PIIT, how did you envisage PIIT fitting into your overall goal/motivation? Has the unit made you re-evaluate the type of degree or major/specialisation you have chosen and the career path you had planned? How have your aspirations and plans changed because of what you have learnt in the unit? 2. What kinds of behaviours might be important for an ICT professional working in a group or team with members from a wide variety of different backgrounds (e.g. diversity of skills, gender, age, religion and ethnicity)? In what ways did you contribute to a sound team performance? What could you have done better to make sure your team worked better? How could you have helped others in your team to perform better? 3. What are some of the key professional roles and responsibilities for a modern ICT Professional? How might these affect you in your future work? Part B Information security GE capital Mr. Berin is a security expert from GE Capital. He started with audience feedback on importance of information security for any organization. I took part in the brain storming session engaged myself in the discussion. He clearly explained the need of organizational security system, how it runs, brings benefit and finally the plans behind if something happens improper. The lecture highlighted more on security policy and referred to risk assessment, human interference control and management issues. Because, lose of clients money will bring a devastating disaster for any financial body. Thats the reason for a standard regulatory unit who will set effective security standards for any nation for strict maintenance. He also indicated the non technical issues i.e., setting privacy and security policies that an ICT professional has to offer with a clear direction. These duties are usually not so much interesting like technical issues. He also discussed differe nt risk types with example from real world. His example on technical, operational and legal risk made the whole picture clear to me. He also shared his personal experience on security measures. The audience group acquired a lot of experience from it. His interactive session delivered his message on information security issues very clearly. His lecture was able to create awareness among the students. I personally was able to visualize his every advice and suggestions. He requested the young ICT professionals to take the security issues very seriously and to consider it as an essential part throughout their professional life. Answers: Part A Compulsory questions 1. Self- assessment At the time of pursuing my graduation degree, I had to consider my area of interest. Since information technology and computer is my area of interest as well as area of expertise, hence the adoption of information technology as a career option was a right decision for me. ICT is the bass of all things and ICT skills are necessary for improving the creativity and reasoning power within an individual. The ICT and the computing sector are changing radically and all the companies both private as well as the public sector are recruiting graduates with effective ICT knowledge. Hence, considering the future prospective and future career growth I found that it is advisable and profitable to take ICT as a career option (Arnold and Boggs, 2011). PIIT was a reliable option for me because the college offered diverse ICT courses on computer engineering, electronics engineering, Information technology, automobile engineering and mechanical engineering. Although I focused earlier more on choosing core-engineering subjects as my field of study, however PIIT helped me by offering me other options as well. The university professors suggested me to opt for professional issues in ICT. My choice of opting for the subject Professional issues in ICT helped me to gain knowledge about the professionalism that makes an ICT person successful. Moreover, this course helped me to understand the importance of law and ethics in the context of the ICT professions. This unit helped me to link technical aspects of my degree along with the interpersonal skills required in a job market. Hence, I can conclude by confirming that after opting for this degree I have been able to recognize the importance of interpersonal skills that will help me in being a successful professional in future. 2. Self assessment Positive workplace behaviors contribute to the development of congenial working environment for the ICT professionals. For an ICT professional it is important to maintain a gender-neutral organizational culture. Moreover, for an ICT professional it is important to have diverse working skills. The ever changing organizational scenarios requires the ICT professionals to possess skills like project management, problem solving, technical, coding and programming and business management skills.For a sound team performance I contributed in the following manner Making contribution of new ideas Listening to the team members views and respecting their opinions Offering and accepting constructive criticisms in order to develop the workplace behavior and to integrate a cohesive group work Act as a leader as well as a group member contributing in both ways Avoiding any discrimination on the grounds of gender, religion or ethics However, for making the group work more productive I feel it was necessary to know the group culture and try to reduce the gaps between the diversities that exist in terms of ethnicity, age, gender and cultural backgrounds. Moreover, I feel to make the group work easier it is essential that all members within the group are comfortable and friendly with each other. By reducing the communication gaps and creating a comfortable and friendly environment, I can contribute t the overall development of my teammates (Leung, 2011). 3. Assessment of the key professional roles and responsibilities for a modern ICT professional and their effect on future work The roles of ICT professionals may vary in different organizations. The roles generally vary from managerial roles to technical roles. Some of the important roles that the ICT professionals are required to maintain are the role of a team leader, project manager, technical assistant and the role of a team worker. These are some of the important roles, which help in completion of projects successfully (Leung, 2011). Apart from these roles, the management of customer queries in respect of ICT tools is also an important role that the ICT professionals execute. In this regard, the ICT professional needs to support customer relationship management. In some of the organization ICT professionals are also required to issue loan, IT equipment and consumables to the customers and also keep a record of the stock levels for the It products. The ICT professionals with the technical knowledge also focus on improving the websites and user guides of the IT tools in an organization. The diversity within the roles of ICT in the industry will help me to develop my career growth form a fresher to a higher position within the industry. With the development of my professional skills indifferent areas like technical, good communication and teamwork skills, management skills and problem solving ability will help me in future to make a secured job within any organization and help me to work effectively within a group. Part B Issue 1: A small tech business Small tech business deals in the software development in communication industry, which handles projects in Australia and overseas, namely US, Europe, Africa and South America. The company uses the ICT applications to benefit people and business. However, the company faced challenges in credibility of the information, financial support in ICT tools, and availability of appropriate resources, growth rate and change of directorship. However, from this issue I have been able to analyze the fact that the change in ICT tools with the change in the organizational cultures and organizational growth is important for a company to avoid challenges and survive successfully. Moreover, the issue has taught me to be open-minded and has taught me the lesson that every aspect of the organizational problem will not be solved. Moreover, the discussion within the issue helped me to understand the use of Golden circle. The Golden circle suggests that the professionals within the organization should have the answers to three basic questions namely what they do, how they do and why they do (Leung, 2011). Hence, as an ICT professional the understanding of the basic norms within the organization will help me to be a productive employee of the organization. However, the success of the organization can be ascertained by the increased reputation, maturity and financial security of the organization. The issues and the adoption of the different techniques will help me in generating professional skills as a successful ICT professional. Issue 2: Using mobile devices in workforce The use of mobile devices in workforce has helped the organizations in improving the customer service; maintain an easy access of the historical records, guarantees that activities are performed on schedule and eliminate any problems in respect of data entry and data storage. This presentation has helped me to realize the importance and benefits of the ICT tools by displaying the benefits of the mobile devices. Use of paper-based systems before the invention of the technology gave rise to various problems namely high possibility of human error, double entry of data, non-maintenance of standard answers, project-scheduling issues, limited reporting and high labor-intensive procedures. Hence, this lecture was effective in creation of awareness of the benefits of ICT tools within the organizations. I was personally able to recognize the features like barcode scanners, telephone functions, wireless internet browsing, came, speech to text capabilities and mobile printing will help the orga nizations and the professionals to make the work easier and productive (Arnold and Boggs, 2011). The displaying of the benefits of Mobile devices in the workplace also helped the audience to acquire practical knowledge and experience form the lecture. Moreover, the lecture provoked the audience to avail the use of the ICT technologies effectively in order to reduce human labor. The lecture focused on the young ICT professionals and helped them to take ICT tools like mobile device as an important and supportive tool for the effective management f the organizational services. The lecture also focused on the digital computerized field service management system so that the young ICT professionals would be well knowledge about the ICT technology process. Issue 3: Professional issues in IT- stakeholder engagement This lecture deals with the assessment of the professional issues in the stakeholder engagement for five different companies namely the National domestic Airline, Oracle, government departments, government portal and online supermarket shopping companies. The lecture focuses on the stakeholder engagement strategy of each company separately. From the discussion on the stakeholder engagement strategy of National domestic airline, I can conclude that to make an effective stakeholder engagement the company adopts the involvement of the all team members. Again, stakeholder engagement in Oracle is done with the development of appropriate communication skills. The lecture helps me to realize the value of listening skills in respect of improving the stakeholder engagement. The government department of Australia and New Zealand uses the stakeholder mapping as a process of identifying the people or organizations that may have an important impact on the project. However, my.gov.au adopts a diff erent aspect of stakeholder engagement. The stakeholder engagement system can make the organization beneficial in respect of meeting the required objectives. It can also enable the stakeholders to communicate keeping in mind the cultural sensibilities and interactions. The online shopping companies focus on the use of the software and IT applications on the stakeholder engagement. This lecture has helped me to understand the usefulness of IT in delivering and acquiring systems. The online shopping companies are focused on using the ICT tools for the management of the customer reviews and referrals so that their product can be serviced effectively. Issue 4: ICT in a developing country This lecture focuses on the use of ICT in developing countries. The focus of this lecture is on the use of ICT tools by the NGO named World Vision. The lecture at the beginning gives details about the NGO, which is a Faith based Organization operating in 97 countries with around 44,000 employees and a global income ranging of around 2.6 billion USD. The NGO woks for activities like providing relief, development of underprivileged communities, advocacy of social issues and work against trafficking issues From the lecture, I have been able to get an insight on the implications of global ICT on the activities of the NGO. The NGO has developed a global network with a connectivity of 6 Gb bandwidth however the company has no private global network. From the lecture, it is clear to the audience that the ICT tool helps the NGOs to develop education, communication and business opportunity (Arnold and Boggs, 2011). The lecture shows that ICT is an essential and significant part of the infrastructure of the companies in a developing economy. Many developing countries are focusing on new economy and supporting global demand for ICT. Thus, the lecture has made me realize that it is important to develop effective ICT skills so that I can work as a successful ICT professional in the developing as well as developed countries. The extensive use of ICT tools in companies like NGOs shows that ICT has a positive impact of the growth and productivity of the organizations. References Books Arnold, E. and Boggs, K. (2011).Interpersonal relationships. St. Louis, Mo.: Elsevier/Saunders. Leung, H. (2011).Advances in web-based learning-- ICWL 2011. Berlin: Springer.

Seeing Yourself in Social and Historical Context Essay Example

Seeing Yourself in Social and Historical Context Essay Recently, I realized that alcohol and the partying lifestyle had become negative influences on my life. The negative influence was subtle most of the time, but there were occasional moments when the effects of drinking played a highly visible role in my personal life and relationships. I decided that I might like to decrease, if not eliminate, my consumption of alcoholic beverages and this decision prompted further difficulties and challenges in my life, particularly in regard to my friends and peers, and those with whom I had regularly socialized. Though I realize I am not an alcoholic; I can get by just fine without drinking, the impact of my decision not to drink as much has exerted a dramatic influence on my daily life. In many ways, I think my personal experience mirrors those of many, many people, especially younger people who are embracing personal freedom and individual decision-making, often for the first time in their lives. Any young person looking to the media, or to the real-life examples of their elders will see that consumption of alcoholic beverages is utilized as a panacea for everything from stress to boredom. People are portrayed in commercials as happy-go-lucky, and even glamorous when they are drinking; I can’t even hope to count how many times in a movie or television show or novel or commercial, people are seen drinking alcohol to give themselves â€Å"courage† or to meet an unpleasant event or chore. We will write a custom essay sample on Seeing Yourself in Social and Historical Context specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Seeing Yourself in Social and Historical Context specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Seeing Yourself in Social and Historical Context specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Also, when you are young, you are supposed to be having â€Å"fun;† many older people have told that to myself and my friends, wistfully, as though they wished they were young again. The expectation to be having the â€Å"best time of your lives† is reinforced also through much of the media we see and hear. Almost every style of popular music from rock to rap to country glamorizes drinking and makes it seem like it is the â€Å"thing to do.† Drinking seems to have a social reputation for being everything it isn’t. That is: although peers, the media, elders, and even the law seem to advocate drinking, to make it seem like a privilege and a mark of adulthood, I found through personal experience that the real results of drinking were much less romantic. Instead of great social camaraderie and glamor, I just wound up not remembering a lot of things I said and did with my friends, and instead of feeling like I was mature and responsible, I wound up feeling completely out of control and incapable of taking care of my responsibilities. Nowhere in the media and cultural glamorizations of alcohol do we get to see the â€Å"after result† which is being sick from a hangover and not remembering anything you said or did. It seems obvious that most people crave and desire a release from their everyday lives. Maybe they are frustrated with their careers or their relationships or they are just frustrated with life in general. But instead of delving into the cause and effect of stress or boredom or unhappiness, society seems to forward drinking as the great escape. There are bars on every corner, liquor stores, ads for beer, wine, and hard liquor on television. It’s obvious that we all crave a break from the ordinary and society offers very little in the way of inexpensive entertainment for the masses. There is television, movies, music and drinking: if you look closely you will see that there are cultural reinforcement and ties between all of these recreational pastimes. In a capitalist society, marketing no-doubt plays a very large role in fostering the myths about drinking. The big corporations that sell alcoholic products rake in billions of dollars and this allows them to permeate the social media with selected images that increase the propagation of   myths about drinking and never represent the scientifically established dangers to body, mind, and emotional responses that occur when individuals turn to alcohol for release. When I cam across an article, â€Å"WHATS YOUR DAUGHTER DRINKING TONIGHT? One Middleclass Girls Haunting Account of How the Binge-Drinking Culture That Afflicts Countless Teenagers Nearly Cost Her Life, I realized that the dangerous fallout from drinking could be far worse than nagging hangovers; I could have lost my life. In the article, a girl explains how she began drinking for just the same reasons I have noted above: boredom, a sense of glamor and excitement, peer pressure, and the desire to be mature and self-determined. However, the article goes on to describe how the girl nearly lost her life, and how drinking had slowly robbed her of her self-esteem, her ability to distinguish right from wrong, and her relationship with her parents. Reading the article, the first impact that ht me was how similar the girl’s story seemed to be with my own experience. However, i had never really imagined that my drinking could lead to such a devastating, near-death event such as the one described in the article. Knowing that my very life is at stake, now, I find it very hard to imagine that I will veer abuse alcohol, or that I would ever condone the abuse of alcohol as a glamorous or socially expected norm. Like the girl in the article, i found that my reluctance to drink alcohol influenced my relationship with certain people I had once been friendly with; those who still drank regularly seemed to seek to avoid my company. This fact would have troubled me more deeply were it not for the account in the article which demonstrate a very similar result. In the article, the girl wrote: â€Å"Most importantly, Ive become stronger. I want to find friends who will like me whether or not I drink. There is so much pressure nowadays to keep up with each   other, like some sort of competition to see who can get the most drunk. It makes me sad to think I never had the guts to refuse. I havent heard from a lot of my so-called friends. My drinking buddies have largely disappeared† (WHATS YOUR DAUGHTER DRINKING 26), which is exactly how I feel although my experience was far less dramatic and far less extensive than those described in the article. The biggest jolt I received from reading the article was the girl’s description of her near-fatal accident: The only thing I can remember is we were drinking neat vodka. Four weeks later, I woke up in hospital after being in a coma on a life support machine. The room was clinically white and totally unfamiliar. Youre in hospital, said my mum, who was sitting red- eyed at my side. Standing at the edge of the bed were two policemen waiting to speak to me. Id been found at the bottom of the car park, after falling 20ft from the top floor, and was lucky to be alive. Id split my skull, broken my neck and dislocated my shoulder. Almost immediately Id fallen into a coma, during which Id had a blood clot on my brain. The swelling was so bad I had to be put on a life- support machine and have part of my skull removed to help reduce the pressure. (WHATS YOUR DAUGHTER DRINKING 26) Though I’d personably never experienced this intense of a negative impact from drinking, the shock that I could have experienced it was quite an influence on me. I had been someone who drank very little, but I did drink, caving into the same social and peer pressures that were described in the article. I wondered how many of my friends and drinking companions were bound to meet such a terrible fate due to their recklessness. More importantly, this recklessness was socially acceptable behavior – drinking being glamorized from every quarter of the media-driven world. The evidence was clear to me from personal experience and from studying the article and other sources where the truths about alcohol consumption were made available. The facts were strikingly opposed to the social myth. Rather than promoting glamor, fun, and social revery, alcohol was responsible for (or at least involved in) some of the most atrocious social syndromes in our world: suicide, crime, early pregnancy, unemployment, divorce, chronic health problems and emotional instability. All of these aspects are apparent in the selected article and it seemed the girls’ story was a microcosm of the ills that accompany alcohol abuse. Making the decision not to abuse alcohol seemed fairly easy for me, although trying to make my friend understand this decision or even encouraging them to examine the perils of alcohol abuse for themselves before experiencing them directly proved to be much more difficult. Because the consumption of alcohol is so deeply ingrained into our social fabric— and this influence extends back through time in history as well— I found that one person’s experiences, whether dramatic and nearly fatal as the girl in the article’s, or more mundane, such as my own, seemed to exert little or no influence over those who were determined and convinced that drinking was fabulous fun and glamorous. This is a paradox because the devastating impacts of alcohol abuse are deeply personal in nature: impacting an individual’s health, relationships, personal responsibilities, and emotional well-being, but the media-driven image of alcohol is abstracted into the universal, meaning: the purveyors of alcohol labor to create and image for alcohol-consumption that presents a picture of social inclusiveness, normalcy, and even tradition. People raise toasts at special, memorable occasions; they commemorate special years and epochs in with wines and brandy and even the most scared and hallowed holidays, such as Christmas and New Year’s Eve involve the socially instituted drinking of alcohol.Now that I have stopped to examine the influence of drinking on my personal life I find it very difficult to regard others’ drinking as harmless or simply a recreation. I realize that, rather than considering the possible negative effects of drinking, most people who abuse alcohol are searching for the â€Å"myth† of drinking which is fostered from social institutions and corporations and media outlets. Those who abuse alcohol find themselves so intellectually, emotionally, and socially immersed in their abuse that they are unable to consider the possible bad effects of their behavior. When someone, such as myself, tries to point out these negatives, the counter-argument is so heavily backed up by other people and established social behaviors, that the person pointing out the dangers can be easily ridiculed and dismissed. This means that my decision not to abuse alcohol will be an ongoing process. No doubt, I will be confronted with pressure to drink and pressure to abuse alcohol for the remainder of my life. It s a friendly gesture to offer someone a drink and it is socially acceptable to accept this offer, whereas it can be socially off-putting to refuse, as though you are refusing someone’s friendship. Nonetheless, my personal well-being, health and emotional development are as important to me as social acceptance.   There is a socially accepted â€Å"picture† or image of the drinker: a fun-loving, friendly, free-spirted person, but there is also this picture, from the article: A few days later, I asked for a mirror. Holding it up to my face, I shrank back in horror. Doctors had shaved all the hair off the top of my head, leaving my long locks trailing at the back like one of those evil-looking wigs from a joke shop. There was a huge scar on my head where theyd removed part of my skull and my head was lopsided where it was missing. (WHATS YOUR DAUGHTER DRINKING 26) For me, there is no confusion over what it means to abuse alcohol, and no uncertainty as to whether or not I will do so in the future. Some people drink in an attempt to find courage; others Seeing Yourself in Social and Historical Context   like me have found courage by not drinking and that includes the courage to face those who may ridicule or ostracize somebody because they have made an informed decision to not abuse alcohol. I can only hope that my own experiences while much more mundane than those recounted in the article may someday help inform another about the perils, often lethal, which accompany alcohol abuse.   If so, I will have succeeded in understanding how one’s subjective experience connects to the social whole and the historical confluences of society– in this case helping to exert a positive influence in an area where so many negatives are socially accepeted.

Telecommuting Essays - Working Time, Employment, Technology

Telecommuting Telecommuting is an electronic mode of doing work outside the office that traditionally has been done in the office. This is done with a computer terminal in the employee's home. It is working at home utilizing current technology, such as computers, modems, and fax machines. Traditionally, people have commuted by cars, buses, trains, and subways, to work and back. Through the innovation of telecommuting, the actual necessity to change location in order to accomplish this task has been challenged on the basis of concerns for energy conservation, loss of productivity, and other issues. One advantage of telecommuting is energy conservation. A tremendous amount of energy is required to produce transportation equipment such as automobiles, buses trains, and subways. If telecommuting is promoted, there will be less use of this equipment and less energy will be required for production, maintenance, and repair of this equipment. Fuel resources needed to operate this equipment will be reduced. The building and repair of highways and maintenance require a large consumption of energy, not only in the operation of equipment, but also in the manufacture and transportation of the required materials. An increase in the percentage of people telecommuting to work will decrease the need for expanded highways and associated road maintenance. Once a person arrives at a central office working location, he or she represents another energy consumer, often times magnified over what would be required at home. The office building has heating, cooling, and lighting needs, and the materials to build it and maintain it require energy in their production and transportation. Working from home requires only modest incremental demands on energy for heating, cooling, and lighting needs, and makes effective use of existing building space and facilities. Telecommuting also improves productivity. With telecommuting, one no longer needs to be always preparing for the commute and for being presentable. One can go to work simply by tossing on a robe and slippers, grabbing a cup of coffee and sitting down at the terminal. Employees are no longer interrupted by the idle chatter that inevitably takes place at the central work place - some of it useful for work, but a lot of it is a waste of time and a perpetual interruption. Additionally, telecommuting reduces family related stress by allowing involvement with family and flexibility in location work site. Working in the home offers people a greater opportunity to share quality time with family members, to promote family values and develop stronger family ties and unity. Also, time saved through telecommuting could be spent with family members constructively in ways that promote and foster resolution of family problems. Since the actual location a telecommuter works from isn't relevant, the person could move to another town. This would alleviate the stress caused when a spouse has an opportunity to pursue his or her career in another town and must choose between a new opportunity or no opportunity, because their spouse does not want to or cannot change employment. If either person could telecommute, the decision would be much easier. Telecommuting does have its disadvantages. The most obvious disadvantage is the overwhelming cost of starting a telecommuting program. A study by Forrester Research, Inc. reveals that it costs $30,000 to $45,000 a head to train prospective telecommuters. After the first year, however, per-user spending is cut to about $4,000. Employees are starting to see telecommuting policies as a benefit, and companies offering it will be more competitive. Another disadvantage is the psychological impact it may have on employees. Executives who have labored for years to win such corporate status symbols as secretaries and luxurious corner offices are reluctant to shed their hard-won perks. Some employees also complain that their creativity has been dampened by lack of interaction with their co-workers. A telecommuting program can be put in place by following a few tips from Lower costs spur move to more telecommuting, an article by Mindy Blodgett: 1) Form a telecommuting team that includes technical experts, upper managers and human resources staff, and assign a telework coordinator. 2) Contact other companies to learn from their experiences. 3) Train participants and supervisors. 4) Monitor the program through surveys before and after a pilot Technology Essays

Government Funded Health Care in United States Essays

Government Funded Health Care in United States Essays Government Funded Health Care in United States Paper Government Funded Health Care in United States Paper Government Funded Health Care is an idea that has been around the United States for some time. The question as to whether or not the United States should adopt this idea as other countries have chosen to do has still yet to be decided. What is Government Funded Health Care? Why should the United States have a National Health Care Plan? Why do people that live in the United States have to make sure to have health insurance when it could be automatic upon United States citizenship? Other countries have succeeded in providing this type of service, why should the United States be any different? These are numerous questions that will be answered through the rest of this research. As citizens of the United States of America the government’s responsibility is to take care of the people of which can be done by a Government Funded Health Care Plan. What is Government Funded Health Care or National Insurance? Government Funded Health Care is a health insurance plan provided by the government at a Federal or State level that would give health insurance coverage to all people no matter how old, what race, or what gender; provided they are a United States Citizen. : This is an idea that may be appealing to some, and not so appealing to others, however it should be in effect. The United States should have a National Health Insurance Plan for one specific reason. Having such a plan would prevent those that do not have enough money to provide health insurance for themselves from not getting the care that they need and deserve. Numerous individuals within the United States have to do without proper health care because of either lack of money or not having a job that provides health insurance for them. As a man stated in Neil Rolde’s book, Your Money or Your Health, â€Å"In Canada, yes, we have to pay more for gas to put in our cars, but we don’t mind because we know that’s going to health care and to the security we have of knowing we won’t get wiped out if we happen to have an illness. † Why do people that live in the United States have to make sure to have health insurance when it could be automatic upon United States citizenship? The answer to this question is very simple; a person only has three choices. Either a person can choose to have a job that has health insurance provided, spend money out of pocket for health insurance (i. e. Sole-Proprietors), or do with out health insurance coverage. Most likely the first option would appeal to everyone that lives, works, and becomes ill from time to time, but National Health Care would be the better alternative. If an employer did not have to worry about spending money to provide health care insurance for the employees, then this would could lead to more wage increases, better wage increases, and an increase in bonuses and commissions. It is true; other countries have succeeded in providing this type of health coverage to their citizens. Two perfect examples of these countries are Canada, and Japan. Canada has succeeded in providing health care to the citizens that live within the country in a two-fold manner. As found on Health Canada, the federal government is responsible for: â€Å"setting and administering national principles or standards for the health care system (for example, through the Canada Health Act),† â€Å"assisting in the financing of provincial health care services through fiscal transfers,† â€Å"delivering direct health services to specific groups including veterans, native Canadians living on reserves, military personnel, inmates of federal penitentiaries and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police,† and â€Å"fulfilling other health-related functions such as health protection, disease prevention, and health promotion. † The provincial and territorial governments are responsible for: â€Å"managing and delivering health services,† â€Å"planning, financing, and evaluating the provision of hospital care, physician and allied health care services,† and â€Å"managing some aspects of prescription care and public health. † Japan is another country that has succeeded in providing their citizens with a Government Funded National Health Care Plan. A web page titled Tips on National Health Insurance points out several key points with regards to Japan’s National Health Insurance Plan. Japan has two types of medical insurance. Worker’s Health Insurance and National Health Insurance. This web article states that â€Å"Anyone not enrolled in the Worker’s Health Insurance Plan is required to enroll in the National Health Insurance Plan. † It also states the following: â€Å"The personal expenses for medical fees is 30%. † â€Å"The head of the household is the person responsible for paying insurance premiums based on the number of people in the family enrolled in National Health Insurance and the yearly income of the family. † â€Å"When a member of the National Health Insurance Plan dies, the person in charge of the funeral arrangements will be paid a fixed funeral allowance. † These are just a few examples of how Japan’s Health Insurance Plan is set up.

Ethics of Neuro-Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ethics of Neuro-Marketing - Essay Example Due to the historical challenges the advertising industry has experienced in trying to prove the return on adverting spending, neuro-marketing has been given somewhat fast adoption in the previous five years (Micu &Plummer, 1). Despite the fact that the prospect of enhanced advertising has created excitement within the business community in general, serious ethical matters have been raised as well by scientists, scholars, and consumer groups (Murphy, Illes, & Reiner, 1). However, the industry pays no attention to these concerns (Christophe, 1). The State of Advertising Ethics Ethical advertising could be described as the production and broadcasting of commercial messages which promote goods or services without lying to the public (Bishop, 2). Shockingly, both the advertising and the marketing industries have a not so good reputation concerning the application of ethical standards. A survey carried out by Gallup in 2011 positioned the advertising occupation at the bottom of the honest y scale with no more than eleven percent partakers ranking advertising practitioners with high or very high scores, placing them just four points above lobbyists and car salespeople (Christophe, 2). The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), formed during 1914, is in charge of keeping consumers protected from advertisers who are unethical or unscrupulous. In the long run, the Federal Trade Commission has identified universal conditions upon which a message is considered to breach the standard of â€Å"truth-in-advertising† (FTC, 2011).