China

In my opinion theses terms would be ‘national' and ;corporate' culture, along with cross-cultural differences. Even within a culture there are many groupings and levels that are present within each Individuals mental outlook. These include cultural layers such as, national culture, regional culture, gender, generation, social as well as corporate culture. I will touch on these all very briefly In the main body of my essay but concentrate mainly on the national and corporate layers of culture. (www. Tama. Du) National Culture can be described as, † The result from one nation attributing characteristics to another, which can exult In stereotyping and prejudice. National culture needs to take account of differences In the groups and communities which all contribute to national culture. † (www. Pearson. Co. UK) If stereotyping and prejudice are occurring in the workplace this can have many detrimental effects on employees and their motivation or ability to work as part of the organization. Will pay more attention to how this could possibly affect business success later on In the essay.Corporate culture can be described, † The basic assumptions and beliefs held by employees about the organization they work for. (www. USC. Com) Corporate culture will affect the Interaction between diverse groupings within the workplace and like national culture, is very likely to have and effect on how the workforce perform. I am going to start the main body of my essay providing an outline of the concept of national culture and move on to the concepts of corporate culture, before comparing all firms are going to view success in the same way and ways can vary differently from firm to firm.For clarity I will touch on how different firms could view the term ‘being successful' and measuring their own success. I will then look at what those aspects that may be considered as a cross-cultural difference and how these factors are going to impede the organizatio n's success. Finishing with a few basic ideas on how to avoid the problems brought about by cross-cultural differences and how to manage these to become a potentially more successful organization. Finally I am going to conclude on any findings from my research and in a short summary, link those findings back to the essay title.A national culture attributes certain specific characteristics from one nation to another. This can be in the from of stereotyping and grouping all members of a action together in the same way. An example of national culture could be that the British drink far too much and have a tendency to become violent, giving rise to hooliganism especially in the context of football. To tarnish all football fans with this presentment would be incorrect as only a small minority are responsible for causing the trouble.On the other hand corporate culture refers to an individuals own personal views concerning the organization they are working for. These views and ideas are li kely to be brought about from the employees own experiences in the workplace and are robbery going to vary and change over time as they work for the organization. The difference between national and organizational or corporate culture would be that national culture is more associated with the nation as a whole and less about the individuals ideas.Where as corporate culture deals more with the individuals personal outlook on things concerning the work environment. The prejudice that comes with national culture may be forced upon the individual which is not the case for corporate culture, which allows the individual to build up beliefs through their past experiences. (wry. Tama. Du) With globalization becoming a much more common factor to consider for many businesses, this poses the problem of cross-cultural differences as barriers that have to be overcome if the firm is to stand the best chance of being successful.Globalization can have huge benefits for a firm's success if it is car ried out in the right way and attention is paid to details such as cultural differences. However the firm could end up paying heavily if they over look the importance and significance of cross-cultural differences for the employees they are working with. Cross-cultural differences may include such issues as the communication used and ethos of transferring information between cultures and departments, the of solving the same problem, also the area within the organization over which any information is dispersed. Www. Tapping. Com) The problem if communication between cultures is a tough one, as the same gestures is likely to have different meanings in different areas and cultures. A good example of this would be the fact that in Bulgaria shaking your head up and down means no rather the side to side in many other places. Along with gestures, words and phrases can have different meanings which could cause confusion when carrying out business across cultural lines. Also different cultur es make different assumptions when faced with the same situation.In international projects these differences could make or break the outcome from the start if processes and agreements are not clear to both cultural sides. Miscommunication is thought of as the largest cross-cultural barrier that has to be overcome by an organization, to achieve potential success. (www. Tapping. Com) The above problems would be made more aware at the national culture level but it is important not to forget the cross-cultural differences will still be occurring at the organizational or corporate level.These differences are mentioned below. An organization is unlikely to be structured in exactly the same way if set up in more than one country and this is going to affect the way in which day to day tasks are carried out in different places. Such things as distributing power and information throughout departments in the workplace are very varied in different countries. An example of this would be the way in which information is passed through a firm in Germany compared to that of an American firm.The German firm is likely to keep information within set departments and only inform those who need to know. Whereas as an American firm is likely to move information across departments more freely. (www. Tapping. Com) When talking about success in business there can be many interpretations and people will view success differently. Especially in different cultures when looking at the emphasis that is put on financial success it is clear to see it varies greatly. A good example of this would be the different outlooks between the Chinese and American culture.America places business as it's main priority with success being seen as achieving wealth. Economics are put first in the American outlook and the culture is very individual based. This places large emphasis on financial gain as being the measurement success. (www. Venturesome. Com) This differs from the Chinese outlook with China placing emphasis on building relationships and respect is given for wisdom and ability. This is not to say that China view no success in financial gain, as this is the baseline for business activity. (www. Venturesome. Mom) Schneider and Barbour state how, â€Å"each country has its unique institutional and point, only to become liabilities when the environment changes. Managers therefore need to evaluate the extent to which national culture can interfere with their many†¦ † (Mullions '07) This shows that if national culture is nurtured in the correct fashion by management then it can most certainly be advantageous to a business' success. However the flip side to this could be that if nurtured incorrectly projects undertaken are likely to be unsuccessful.It is proving to be a very important issue that has to be looked at and approached with care by managed as in the United States the Department of Labor released statistics showing how between 1985 and 2000 only around 15% of ne w entrants into the workforce in the USA were white males. This obviously shows Just how diverse he workforce is becoming and how much of an important factor culture in the workplace is for management. For all businesses success is determined by reaching corporate goals and objectives.Those goals and objectives are very likely to vary between different organizations and could be anything from breaking into a new market and merely surviving at first, to reaching set profits or targets in their current market. Avoiding the problem of cross-cultural differences can greatly help the organization to achieve success. For this to be done attention to those details mentioned above must be taken (communication etc. The main problem for firms may be confusion in communication methods, by paying fine attention to this any confusion can be reduced.Removing confusion can be done by, clarifying what is expected, removing general details, summarizing information and decisions as well as simplifyin g any language used. (www. Tapping. Com) In summary, when looking at the differences between national and corporate culture, it is easy to see that national culture refers to a much larger and impersonal outlook towards a nation, where as corporate culture is more about the individuals feelings towards their employer based on experience. Cross-cultural differences can include such things as communication and information sharing within an organization and how these are carried out.

The Tides: a Poetry Analysis

During the Romantic Period of literature, William Cullen Bryant created the brilliant poem, â€Å"The Tides. † This specific poem is the story of watching the tides change. Most of Bryant’s works are nature-oriented and take advantage of multiple literary terms. â€Å"The Tides† has a significant meaning, several romantic elements, and uses many literary devices. The general interpretation of â€Å"The Tides† is about what occurs when the tides change. Bryant uses great description in characterizing the violent seas at high tide. Norbert Krapf analyzed this poem and described the water becoming mysterious, not still and pond-like. Krapf 6) The poet gives the water violent characteristics. â€Å"His imagination transforms the scene into an image of limitation and imprisonment† (Krapf 7). The poem begins as a calm, serene ocean. Increasingly throughout the story, waters become more violent marking as the change of the tides from low to high. The meani ng of â€Å"The Tides† can also be very deep. As the change to high tide strikes, the sea relieves its stress and releases. Humans go through the exact same thing by relieving stress. Norbert Krapf also writes that â€Å"The Tides† is powerful and the sea yearns for release. (Krapf 7)William Cullen Bryant wrote â€Å"The Tides† during the Romantic Era. Bryant gave this poem many Romantic qualities. Describing the sea before and during high tide sees the attitude of â€Å"longing for the past† While the sea is becoming violent, there is a sense of the waters wanting to become as serene as they were during low tide. The â€Å"love for the natural landscape† is described throughout the entire duration of the poem. The narrator depicts a violent scene of the tides as they change into a beautiful scene of nature. Bryant depicts the beauty of the sea and his appreciation for the ocean.The â€Å"concern for individual freedom† is also a romantic at titude seen in â€Å"The Tides. † The ocean waters are described as imprisoned and wanting to relieve their stress. When the tides officially change, the sea becomes free and releases all of its stress. Many literary terms and devices are observed while reading â€Å"The Tides. † William Cullen Bryant writes this poem starting with iambic pentameter and changes to iambic tetrameter. This poem is also written in ten quatrains. The rhyme scheme ABAB is present in â€Å"The Tides. † Personification is seen many times in this poem such as in stanza eight.Bryant describes the ocean’s water as a prisoner yearning for release. Run-on lines are used throughout the poem. â€Å"And, with a sullen moan, abashed, they creep/ Back into his inner caves† (Lines 23-24) is an example of a run-on line. â€Å"The Tides convey through impressionistic imagery a desire to escape the pull of cosmic forces. † (Muller 254) Imagery is used heavily in this poem. Willi am Cullen Bryant’s use of imagery creates a vivid picture of the tides changing. The tones of this poem are beauty, strength, violence, and serenity.The tides wish for peace and serenity, and therefore yearn for the low tide to come again. This is the theme of â€Å"The Tides. † William Cullen Bryant’s diction is seen by his very descriptive words, his rhyme scheme, and his love for nature’s beauty. The literary devices and themes, romantic elements, and general meaning of William Cullen Bryant’s poem â€Å"The Tides† characterize this time period’s writing style. Bryant creates a beautiful piece of literature that causes the reader to think about the different â€Å"thoughts† of a wave when the tides are changing.The love of nature is a romantic element that is depicted many times in this poem. This gives the poem a very Romantic feeling. The imagery Bryant uses does a brilliant job of giving the reader a depiction of the tide s at its break. â€Å"The Tides† is a beautiful work by Bryant and a perfect example of a Romantic poem. Works Cited Krapf, Norbert. â€Å"William Cullen Bryant’s Roslyn Poems. † Under an Open Sky, Poets on William Cullen Bryant. New York: The Stone House Press, 1986. Muller, Gilbert H. William Cullen Bryant: Author of America. Albany: State University of New York, 2008.

Family Guy Travesty Essay

Scholars express the concern that the image of an American family is transitively evolving through time. The conceptions of denigrating the styles and beliefs of racial-ethnic, immigrant, gay-lesbian, and single parent families has been contended in the early nineties to be that which is not encouraging the veracity of portraying an American family but rather offers the otherwise. Hence, little has been known on the context of the eminent portrayal of an American family in television. Family ideology shapes the consciousness and expectations of those growing up the margin of the mainstream; nevertheless, this leads to the manifestation that the image of the aforementioned member in the community transforms as the market of media simultaneously evolves as well (Greenblatt, 1990). In essence, media is one of the most surprising sources of information in the society. The potential of television to negatively or positively affect attitudes, social behaviors, and other sort of the like has been studied and thrilling results were gathered. Same is true for the portrayal of families, age, sex, and race-role socialization. As a matter of fact, studies show that the images seen on television by its viewers somehow serve as an educational tool, with this, the threat of getting the â€Å"wrong perspectives† is uncontrollable and so are the views of those who have been touched by the influence of media (Fabes, Wilson, & Christopher, 1989). This then connotes the perception that the portrayals aired on television are products of the evolving sense of simultaneous reaction over the media and the society. In simple logic, what the society wishes to see are given by the media, therefore, the portrayal of an American family in the television nowadays are depicting â€Å"reality† so to speak. Of course critics often spur a fight with whatever is served on the table that is not a new thing. How media portrays an American family is an issue that comes along with societal changes (Lasswell, 2002). More specifically, the rise of â€Å"reality TV shows† could attest to that matter. 1950: The Black and White Medium Media in the fifties were not as influential as it has been today. Perhaps the barrier on this is the connotation that there were only few who has television in their household because TV shows were then new to them. In the light of portraying American families, the issue on ethics and morality then surfaces the scenario. Americans were still â€Å"conservative† in some point that showing the â€Å"bedroom† or love scenes would be considered as pornography. Basically, what most viewers would love watching are news about the war, or the commercials which are basically done on live stream. The scarcity of technology and celebrities keep the audience up waiting for their favorite show to air. As critics and normal citizens would contend, they consider the shows in the fifties as strict and politically correct; perhaps because television wanted to portray an â€Å"idealistic† form of family to attract audience whom as commended are experiencing several financial and social problems during that time (Lasswell, 2002). Popular shows in the fifties Something unique sprouted during the 1950’s in the vortex of television shows – the heroes were young men returning from war to a nation ravished and ripe for one of the greatest booms in civilized history, and the love stories that utterly triggers romance among its viewers. Few of the shows who topped are The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, I Love Lucy, Leave it to Beaver and the Lone Ranger. These shows were among the pioneers of the quasi-comic, quasi-drama shows that contemporary media are now pursuing. For Nelson and Harriet’s reality show, it portrayed the reality of being in a middle class family in the eyes of the masses. They were in the limelight and the story mainly revolved to them. It was the politeness of David and Ricky which captured the hearts of young women, and what amazes the audience all the more were the practicality of the show since they were all representing their real lives and their real names. Similarly, the Beavers in Leave it to Beaver belonged to the â€Å"elites† or the middle-class families. They were the epitome of nice individuals and they were living in Pleasantville. Airing for ten years, I Love Lucy was the representation of a typical American family. Unlike that of the Ozzies, there is a husband who frantically hates his wife’s dream of becoming famous and being a movie star but never left her despite the opposing poles. Not only that, there was a bond between Lucy’s family and the Mertz, it showed that a typical American family is healthy inside and outside the corners of their house (Casconi, 2008). 1960: Batman, Gilligan’s Island and the Addams Family Conceivably, the sixties is considered as the rise of â€Å"superficiality. † This is because the shows which topped the charts were owned by fictional characters and imaginary families. There came Batman, Gilligan’s Island and the Addams Family. Among the rest, these are few of the shows which are carried on in the 21st century. As a matter of fact, up to date, these shows have several renditions—movies, cartoon shows and theatrical plays—all of which connote one thing, that their influence is flexible. American families in such shows showed determination, passion for life and love for family. Still, explicitness was not very much present due to the fact that there have been regulations on the content of the shows aired. However, the question needs further deliberation as there are media laws and other forms of rules but then again, these are not properly implemented since these are tolerated (Casconi, 2008). Empowerment: The positive effect of media in the current schema For every human services organization, the empowerment both of its members and of its target population is perhaps at the core of its every endeavor. A compact and lively human service can only be thoroughly and truly achieve under the condition where the members and participants in the provision of human services are active and empowered. There are many ways to achieve this end, and perhaps the most recent of these ways is the trend of using video files for informing the public and the members of the organization (Coontz, 1998). Since empowerment essentially means â€Å"bringing people who are outside the decision-making process into it (Rowlands, 1995, p. 102). † Thus, it can be said that the empowerment of people outside of the inner circle in the provision of human services can be achieved through the actual mode of absorbing these people right into the heart of the decision-making process. This can be achieved through the help of digital videos where a careful elaboration into the processes of the provision of human services is done through moving images instead of the conventional paper documents and slideshow presentations. For example, the group of people who does not fall among the ranks within the circle of decision-makers in the human service operations can be empowered by giving them a thorough and lively presentation of what they will be doing. By making them fully aware of their tasks, they can be empowered in terms of preparing for what they should expect from the actual operations or field work. Digital videos can help strengthen such a drive for empowering the other members of the human services organization through the creation of visually stimulating videos or documentaries which are rich in content but are not presented in a stale and conventional manner typical to that of formal business corporate meetings. By using videos to stimulate the active participation of the organization members who are not essentially part of the decision-making body can lead to a more vibrant campaign for providing services to people. For instance, in organizational operations such as information dissemination, the human services organization can arrive at certain decisions such as what specific information should be given to the audience and what specific information should given more emphasis and how it can be achieved by taking into consideration the perceptions of the other members (Lasswell, 2002). One way to spur these members to contribute to the decision-making process is by showing them what the organization and the people expect from them through videos. By the time the other members are informed and have become acquainted with the expectations, they can further replenish the tasks and operations of the organization by sharing what they know to the decision-making body which the latter may not be familiar with (Okwumabua, 1999, p. 154). For example, after playing a certain digital video documentary, other members who are very much familiar with the topic viewed can be stimulated by the desire to share what one knows for the awareness and betterment of the organization. The Underprivileged: Their Dose of an Ideal Family in the Fifties The scenario in the fifties showed the following: acutely and chronically ill children were cared for in hospitals and other institutions with severely restricted parental visiting privileges; moreover, children with chronic illnesses rarely survived. But the otherwise are shown today, advances in health care have prolonged and improved the lives of children with chronic illness, and the majority of children are cared for by their families in their homes and communities. The first merger movement at the turn of the century led to significant concentration in some manufacturing industries, and less conspicuous inter-corporate links through family connections, financial houses, and interlocking directorates probably reinforced the trend towards concentration. However, there seems to have been little trend toward increased concentration since then, although average concentration ratios, however measured, show modest increases since 1945. Whatever the measures used, it is clear that oligopoly is prevalent in about one-half of American manufacturing industry, and that there remain sharp distinctions in concentration levels among industries. This does not mean that there have been no recent changes 1950; problems of housing, medical services, education and employment. And so majority of the families were in dire need of a dose of fantasy in their lives (Lasswell, 2002). If they were living in the underprivileged level of the pyramid, then at least they witness how Lucy and Harriet lived a life of fame and fortune. Sixties and Crossing the Lines of Mainstream TV Meanwhile, the expansion of schooling combined with growing affluence contributed to the emergence of a youth culture separate and apart from the family. Late-Twentieth-Century Families In 1960, 70 percent of American households consisted of a go-to-workdad, a stay-at-home mom, and two or more kids. By the end of the twentieth century less than 10 percent of American households fit that profile. But what makes the sixties fascinating in the world of media and broadcasting were the rise of â€Å"adventure† flicks and creative stories. Apart from the â€Å"usual† types of stories—which in one point are considerably idealistic—they crossed the line and took the risk of introducing superficial characters, and superficial kinds of families. 21st Century Warning: Explicit Content The presence of media as a tool of information dissemination has increased largely because of the technological innovations consistently being introduced not only in advancing the productivity rate of media organizations but also in expanding the capacity of the various media outlets to include a wider range of topics (Hudson, 1986). With this expansion, the subjects incorporated into the mass media has also been augmented (Graber, 1980) such that former topics that were once rarely untouched have now been constantly infused with unceasing publicity such as those that tackle Information and Communications Technology (ICT). The changes made by mass media are evidently found on a series of notions due to consciousness, certain perceptions on reality and the palpable alterations of the masses’ individual lives concurrent on what had reconstituted by the mentioned technological change (Palmer & Young, 2003). Technological or digital innovation dwelled on to by human beings had been observed to have been conducting a protective bubble of fixed racial, cultural and ethnic identity resulting to a sense of detachment which lies on the physical state of the screen persona as well as with the transcends in the reality of social culture (Barker & Petley, 2001). To thoroughly understand the representation of media of an American family, one must be enlightened of the status of real-life events. With this, an assessment on the trend of the shows shall commence. Perceivably, the five major parts regarding on the family status includes married, separated, widowed, divorced and never married. Their study showed that there is an increasing number of adults who are not presently married due because of separation of the partners. As expected, there was a variation of the proportion of the numbers of separated people in different cities of the country. Florida exhibits the highest rate of divorce while in Boston and California got the lowest proportion. This can be explained because of the geographic differences (D’Antonio, 2004). Gradually, television shows nowadays such as those which have been mentioned are almost synonymous in context and manner. Furthermore, American families differ from those of more educated families who typically were studied with regard to family interactions and adolescent autonomy issues. Inner-city African American families may experience age-condensed generations such that the generational boundaries are not as clear. Because the boundaries between the roles of mothers and daughters may be blurred, the need for a struggle over autonomy issues may be less salient because the authority differences were never as strong (Lawler, 1997). Additionally, autonomy issues may not be as pressing in a context characterized by preoccupations with the representation of media in such forms of distinction. How they portray and American family is no longer boxed in a certain class—Americans, for that instance—but their target market includes global viewers. Nonetheless, the diversity of characterization of the shows is proof that freedom in the vortex of media and entertainment has lesser rules and the core virtue lies in the truth of fame (Fabes et al. , 1989).

Short article about graphic design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Short article about graphic design - Essay Example Design students are not expected to view objects on the surface just like anyone else. They should be able to evaluate other properties of the object in question such as how smooth or rough it appears to be, the angles of the curves and any other extraordinary characteristic that is visible. This and a lot more involved in designing works requires one with a proper attitude and one that understands how to see things. The reason as to why this interested me is that for one to succeed in designing and photography, it is all about having the confidence to undertake the issue by themselves. For one to make admirable designs, the individual has to have the quality of looking at things not the way they are, but the alternative way they could be. This is precisely what builds up a competent designer. Attitude too is key and should be designed in a way one will be able to overcome challenges in this field. In drawing, it can sometimes be very frustrating when one is not able to achieve the d rawing they need, but once achieved, which is possible, it becomes very satisfying. The Inge Druckery film presented ideas about design that I had not thought of earlier on. From the past experiences, the facilitator points out that taking time to deeply observe objects such as billboards which are graphically designed by professional designers helps one to see and realize many more properties as compared to when one just gives it a glance. In every representation, there are so many components that can only be identified by a keen designer. This is another way of learning tactics and making one’s skills develop even more, observation. Keenly looking at a well done job of a different designer helps one to understand the knowledge and skills applied. It goes further in helping them to utilize their creativity by trying to view the object in a better presentation. This grows and enhances the individual’s creative skills slowly

Exploring the Link between Organizational Learning, Knowledge and Dissertation

Exploring the Link between Organizational Learning, Knowledge and Individual Performance in a Further Education College - Dissertation Example Results 6. Conclusion Recommendations Scope for Future Study Abstract Organizational learning is the study about an organizations learning process. It includes how the organization learns from its former mistakes, gain insight on various aspects of management from their past actions and how they implement certain changes for the future based on these lessons. The modern trends in today's business environment like globalization, technical dependence and extreme marketing activities affect every organizations culture and structure to a certain extent. Understanding about an organizations learning capacity as a whole in adapting to these new trends will determine how far organizational learning is important to gain competitive advantage over others. The link between organization learning, the performance of the employees and the knowledge gained about the process is not explored in detail in organizational learning literature. The project will focus on exploring this missing link and at tempt to underline how far organizational learning enhances the process knowledge of their employees on the whole. A Community College or a Further Education College in UK is selected as the point of research. ... Narrative analysis method is used to explore the data collected and draw conclusions. Our results state that organizational learning or organizational learning influences the staff working for the college to a substantial level. People who tend to fall back in following the authority’s procedure also heed to organizational learning when it comes to mission, trust level and participating in the big picture or goal of the company and accessing the various technologies used to implement the same. Introduction Organizational learning and organizational culture are usually interlinked. Every organization has to learn from its past actions, from its competitors, customers and the ever changing business environment both internal and external. This learning is important for them to adapt to the new changes and stay ahead of their competitors. Organizational learning or organizational learning refers to how collective learning is garnered in every company or institution. Various proces ses are concerned with it starting from reflection of the past actions to analyzing the future plans based on the knowledge gained from the previous decisions. For an organization to grow as a whole this knowledge should be passed on to the groups in general even though the idea or knowledge insight might have occurred to one single person (Argyris & Schon, 1978; Kezar, 2005). Business field is closely related to organizational learning as much of the research done in the area comes from analyzing various MNC's and their performances. Businesses keep evolving constantly paving way for continuous organizational learning both among the employees as well as the higher management. On the other hand, there are various other fields starting from government offices to educational

Marketing Decicion Making Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Marketing Decicion Making - Essay Example Effective market communication requires an integrated promotional system that reaches from primary producer to ultimate consumer. Communications flow to markets through long, complex channels that include manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, consumers, agencies, and media. Each unit can break the chain or pass on the information as it sees fit. The amount and quality of information, therefore, depends on the channel. IMC's most fundamental and perhaps most challenging task is trying to reach people who can conceivably purchase a client's product. Allin (2009). explains marketing communications as "the process by which the marketer develops and presents an appropriate set of communications stimuli to a defined target audience with the intention of eliciting a desired set of responses" (p.37). Formal channels, however, do not account for all marketing communications. Publicity, which is an integral part of many promotional campaigns and sometimes precedes the advertising and sales effort, lies outside them. Although it can be important in gaining market acceptance for products and companies, publicity, like word of mouth, is often a relatively low-grade communications channel with a high degree of interference, distortion, and noise. Marketing communications serve four basic management purposes. ... Third, they help adjust the system to customer and consumer requirements. Fourth, they adjust and help in adjusting the product to customer needs. The task of marketing communications is to get people or markets to progress from a state of unawareness, or even negative reaction, to one of positive action. The stages in this progression are unawareness, awareness, comprehension, conviction, and action (Steve 2009). The theory of information is one that holds promise for the measurement of marketing communications. To date, its primary application is in electrical engineering. It deals with measuring the information content of a message, self-information, bits of information, entropy, the value of average information, loose channels, and noisy and noiseless channels. It provides operational definitions, measures, and a different basis for thinking about marketing communications. The idea of measuring the information content of stimuli, though particularly relevant, is not yet tractable, and the application of this part communications theory to practical marketing situations remains unattained. The careful financial review now being given to investments in plant and equipment or to inventory purchases is destined to be extended to advertising expenditures. Advertising messages are meeting increasing competition from a plethora of other ads, from other media, from competitors, and from all the act ivities that vie for a person's attention. As output swells and communications facilities increase, more claims will be made on consumer time and the cost of marketing communications will skyrocket (Ng and Houston 2009). Pros and cons: advertising. The advantage of advertising is

Idealism, Realism, Marxism and Neo-Realism Theories Essay

Idealism, Realism, Marxism and Neo-Realism Theories - Essay Example This essay discusses that neo-realism suggests that the type of the political system for individual nations can have a profound effect on the international political system. The political system for each nation promotes international politics when it obeys and embraces legitimacy and transparency of foreign policies. It is a potential source of disturbance to international politics, especially where interest groups and public arise to defer the central decision makers such as the United States. International institutions must be used to increase the prospects of international politics thriving. Dominant nations such as the United States use international institutions to initial coalition. The values and interests of the dominant states are reflected through international institutions. They tend to reduce the power of the superpowers. However, weaker nations will always try to go against the grain to remain free rules of international institutions. For example, nations question U.S la ck of participation in International Criminal Court. The concentration of power within one nation is addressed through morality. Morality fosters peaceful coexistence between nations and becomes a tool for international cooperation in politics. In the event of war, human rights must be protected in the world today unlike in the past where countries such as Russia sacrificed human rights to pursue powers. Realism theory affirms to the fact that nations must understand how international systems work before coming together to practice politics (Kaplan).

Critically Evaluate the regulatory failures in the 2007-8 financial Essay

Critically Evaluate the regulatory failures in the 2007-8 financial crisis and discuss how these failures can be corrected in t - Essay Example In the absence of limitations on investments, US banks went on an investment spree. But for government intervention, the crisis would have been still persisting though it has not died down. Regulatory failure does not mean regulator caused the loss. The U.S. regulators have woken up to the crisis and offered practicable solutions to avert future crisis due to regulatory failure. The U.K. as major international financial centre has also been affected by the U.S. contagion and has been responsible enough to offer solutions to the regulatory failure by bringing in three more regulators. Introduction The origin of the 2007-08 financial crisis goes to the U.S. where housing mortgage loans were paid to unqualified (sub-prime) borrowers. The loans had been backed by exotic financial products with few tiers highly rated by credit rating agencies. These products were purchased by institutional and banking investors who did so for high yields at low risk. The crisis started when the de-facto b orrowers started defaulting all over the U.S. leading to unexpected losses on the front end or back end? products. Chain of bankruptcies, balance sheet write-offs followed. The sub-prime crisis is only a part of the broader picture of debt expansion. In the U.S. for which detailed data is available, total debt as a proportion of GDP increased from 150 % of the GDP in the early 1970s to 330 % in 2005. Household debt also expanded in similar fashion marked by dot.com crash to over 100 % of the GDP by 2008. Financial services which held 10 % of the total increased their share to 30 % between 1975 and 2005. The structural shift towards financial services resulted in huge increase in its profitability from 10 % in early 1980s to 40 % by 2006 (Lewis, 2010, p. 2 & 8). World is not new to financial crises. The U.K. was not immune to the present one since world’s leading institutional and banking investors are spread across the world. It has witnessed a few major crises before for dif ferent reasons. The present crisis is due to regulatory failure. This paper examines the causes of regulatory failure and solutions to avert such failures in the future. Regulatory failure Regulatory failure does not mean that financial crisis was caused by regulators or regulations. Rather it was due to short-sightedness of financial institutions and recklessness of the borrowers although there were regulatory strategies that could have averted or mitigated the factors that caused the crisis. For example, five causes are attributed to the crisis of the U.S : 1) Failure of underwriting standards for subprime mortgages and loans to inadequately qualified buyers; 2) parties to the mortgage securitisation process not maintaining market discipline; 3) poor assessment of sub-prime mortgages by credit rating agencies; 4) poor risk management by large financial services institutions; 5) non-response from financial institutions for better risk management as pointed by the U.S. Presidentâ₠¬â„¢s Working Group on Financial Markets. Each of these causes had its own regulatory attribution. Thus, there was no regulatory mechanism for business conduct and consumer protection to control sale of mortgages to homebuyers with poor credit background. Regulators could have by tougher supervisory oversight assisted large financial services institutions for better risk management. There was no control on holding companies of investment banks, private equity funds, hedge funds that

Secular Organizations and Sacred Places Paper Essay

Secular Organizations and Sacred Places Paper - Essay Example This mythical practice continued from generation to generation as part of custom and it prevails in this 21st century also. The common elements such as stones, water, fire, writings, statues and metals, trees, and caves have been considered as mythical elements in sacred places. They are discussed below in detail. Stones in various kinds and sizes have been attributed sacredness by religious ideologies. Evidences of megalithism can be seen across the globe and it is credited to most ancient cultures. Some religions build specific configurations using special arrangements of stones; and it clearly reflects the cultural features of the respective religions. Water is another important sacred element which has a devotional image in majority of religions. According to Christian, Islam, and Jewish beliefs water is a significant element in religious practices. For instance, according to their notions, water symbolizes internal purification and anointment. According to Bible, the spirit of G od separated water from water by a firmament and was found ‘hovering over the waters’ (Genesis 1: 1-6). Other world religions including Hinduism also heed higher importance to water in their religious ceremonies. According to Hindu concept, all inhabitants of the earth originated from the ‘primordial sea’.

Slavery in belle isle in Richmond VA Research Paper

Slavery in belle isle in Richmond VA - Research Paper Example The only barrier that kept the prisoners in one place was a ditch and a wall made from earth. However, the guards shot the prisoners that wanted to escape and crossed the barrier. Because the prisoners were exceedingly many in the prisons, the owners of the prisons sold them or made them work for people (Takagi 43). This way the congestion in the prison reduced significantly because of the number of prisoners sold as slaves. Therefore, the factories that existed in the island received labor from the slaves and made substantial profits from their trade. The slave trade existed in the island for nearly two hundred years. The black slaves constituted the biggest number of slaves. Even after the abolition of the slave trade in most places around the world, it did not end in the island. This is because the slave trade brought substantial profits to the traders and owners of the prison. Slave trade was particularly beneficial to the people that owned farms, factories and industries in Richmond, the owners of the island. This is because they offered cheap labor. Because the owners of the productions had many slaves, they did the work easily. The slaves bought were usually from Africa meaning that they were blacks. The economic importance of the slave trade made the trade exist for an exceedingly long time. The economy of Richmond grew (Takagi 45). Because of the inhumanity that had developed towards the slave trade the trade existed for even a longer time. With time, Virginia had the biggest number of slaves in America. This was because of the prisoners held in the area as well as the agricultural demand of labor. The place depended fully on plantation farming for its economy. This means that they had to exploit the farms that they had, and this was only though slavery. Both men and women worked in the farms. After the civil war, many people in America set the slaves free (Takagi 43). Virginia

Observing Bacteria Essay Example for Free

Observing Bacteria Essay Abstract: Microscopes are fragile instruments that must be handle with extreme caution as they can produce high quality results when observing the smallest specimens on earth. A microscope must be properly cleaned before use and storage. The different objectives allow for a range of observations. At the highest objectives, the resolution can easily be lost which is why the oil immersion lens is used to minimize refraction. While observing specimens, both dead and active, their shapes and arrangements can be observed. For example, the oil immersion lens can be used to observe the active Streptobacillus bacteria in yogurt. Purpose: The purpose of this lab was to display knowledge of the use of a compound microscope with and without an oil immersion lens while observing and identifying various bacterial shapes and arrangements, including a self prepared yogurt culture. Procedure: Exercise 1: Viewing Prepared Slides 1. After setting up and cleaning all lenses, place the prepared e slide properly on the stage. 2. View the slide under the10x objective by moving it around with the X and Y stage travel knobs then focus it by first using the coarse adjustment followed by the fine adjustment until the view is clear. 3. Adjust the diaphragm to allow enough light for good resolution. 4. After a micrograph is taken, rotate the 10x objective away from the specimen and the 40x over it. Use the fine adjustment knob to bring the specimen back into focus. 5. Repeat the above steps for 6 more specimens. Those viewed and micrographed in this lab are: Amoeba Anabaena Ascaris eggs Paramecium Yeast Penicillium Part 2 of Exercise 1: 1. View 6 more prepared slides by using the oil immersion lens. Follow steps 1-5 above to locate, center, and focus each slide at 10x and 40x. 2. Then swing the 40x objective to its half way position with the 100x objective nearing the slide. 3. Add a drop of provided oil to the slide cover’s surface and slowly swing the 100x objective over. 4. Using the fine adjustment knob bring the specimen into focus and take a micrograph. 5. Repeat this process for 5 more specimens. Those that were micrograph in this lab were: Bacillus Coccus Spirillium Prepared Yogurt Exercise 2: Observing Bacteria Cultures in Yogurt 1. Using a clean sealable glass jar, place a teaspoon of yogurt in the container. 2. Cover the jar and place in a dark, relatively warm areas fro 12-24 hours. 3. Place a sample of the yogurt specimen in a clean slide using a toothpick and cover with a cover slip. 4. Repeat the above steps for viewing the slide at the 10x, 40x, and 100x oil immersion with the microscope. Keep the diaphragm low, as the bacteria will be transparent. 5. Repeat the viewing process with the prepared yogurt slide from the lab kit. Compare the two specimens. 6. Clean all items used in this lab: specimen vials, slides, and microscope. Carefully cover and store microscope. Data/Observation: Specimens observed in Exercise 1 Part 1 with the 10x objective: Amoeba Proteus at 100x Anabaena w.m. at 100x Ascaris Eggs, w.m. at 100x Paramecium Conjugation at 100x Yeast, w.m. at 100x Pencillium with conidia, w.m. at 100x Specimens observed in Exercise 1 Part 2 Exercise 2 with the 40x objective: Bacteria Bacillus form at 400x Bacteria Coccus form at 400x Bacteria Spirillum form at 400x Yoghurt Bacteria at 400x Fresh Yogurt Specimen at 400x Specimens observed in Exercise 2 with the 100x Oil Immersion Fresh Yogurt Specimen at 1000x Results/Analysis: A. Identify the following parts of the microscope and describe the function of each. A. Eyepiece lens B. Tube C. Nosepiece D. Objective Lens E. Stage F. Diaphragm G. Mirror H. Coarse Adjustment knob I. Fine Adjustment knob J. Arm K. Clip L. Base B. Define the following microscopy terms: Focus: The point at which the light from a lens comes together. Resolution: The closest two objects can be before they are no longer detected as separate objects. Contrast: The difference in light intensity between the image and the adjacent background relative to the overall background intensity. C. Describe your observations from the fresh yogurt slide you prepared in Exercise 2. D. Were there observable differences between your fresh yogurt slide and the prepared yogurt slide? If so, explain. CD: Observation of the prepared slide was made easier by the purple staining and the dead bacteria. The observation of the fresh specimen was harder to see in a focused manner because it continued to move. The prepared slide is an obvious Bacillus bacterium. While the fresh sample is harder to focus so it is not as easily observed as Bacillus bacterium. There are more bacteria present in the fresh specimen than in the prepared slide. E Describe the four main bacterial shapes. Cocci: a spherically shaped bacterium Bacillus: a rod shaped bacterium Spirillum: spirally shaped bacterium Vibrio: comma or S shaped bacteria F. What are the common arrangements of bacteria? Cocci: occurring as a single sphere Diplococci: occurring as spheres in pairs Streptococci: chains of linked spheres Staphylococci: spheres grouped in grape like clusters Bacillus: a single rod arrangement Diplobacillus: pairs of rods Streptobacillus: Chain-linked rods G. Were you able to identify specific bacterial morphologies on either yogurt slide? If so, which types? In both samples Streptobacilluss arrangements and shapes were observed. They were more prevalent and easy to distinguish in the prepared slide since that bacteria was not actively moving. At times the fresh specimen at 400x looked like Staphylococci; however, upon observing the bacteria closer at 1000x it was obvious that there were no sphere shaped bacterium present. H. What is the purpose of immersion oil? Why does it work? Normally, the quality of an observed specimen decreases with the number of lenses, glass, etc that the light travels through. With the oil immersion lens, one of the strongest microscope lenses at 100x, the oil restricts the light refraction allowing for a clear focused image at such a high resolution. The oil mixes with the specimen and the oil itself has the same refractive index to that of glass. This gives the specimen a finer resolution and brightness than would have otherwise been observed. Conclusion: In conclusion this lab taught one how to properly use, clean, and store compound microscope. The lab assessed the ability to observe a specimen both provided and freshly prepared with and without an oil immersion lens. This allowed for hands on learning, observation, and identification of various bacterial shapes and arrangements. One was able to extended his/her learning while ageing yogurt and making a fresh specimen on a slide to be observed at all objectives with and without oil.

Speech - Global warming Essay Example for Free

Speech Global warming Essay Specific purpose: To inform the audience about some effects of global warming so that they are able to discuss the problem surrounding the global warming after my speech. Introduction: Humanity is conducting an unintentional, unrestrained and globally perversive experiment whose ultimate consequences could be second only to nuclear war The human race is responsible for the biggest testing in history an experiment to see what will happen to our health and the health of the planet when we make dreadful changes in our climate. This is not a prescribed scientific inquiry. It is an enormous change in the Earths environment, and we are gambling our childrens future on the results. Our experiment is called global warming, and it is changing our atmosphere throwing out of balance a delicate system that almost took billions of years to develop. Global warming is a serious problem that cannot be ignored I. Preview: Explaining the meaning of global warming, process of global warming and the effect of the global warming . II. Main points: I. Meaning of global warming: Generally, the global warming means to warming the global either by human being or by the environment but the intricate meaning is the increasing temperature of earth. Some scientists like to mention the global warming as green house effect. Global warming has reached a level such that we can ascribe with a high degree of confidence a relationship between the green house effect and the observed warming. (1) II Cause of global warming: A. Global climate is changing because of the buildup in the atmosphere of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, nitrous oxide (N20), and the CFC (powerful  green house gases as well as destroyers of stratospheric ozone).(5) B. Another reason of the global warming is green house effect. About 30 gases produced by human activity have been identified as contributing to the green house effect. C. The US Government has acknowledged for the first time that man-made pollution is largely to blame for global warming (4). Emission of Co2 and other harmful gases from the man made factories and industries affects the ozone layer of the earth and contribute to the global warming. III. Effect of the global warming: Nobody would want to live to see the day when global warming directly effects our life. Not since the abrupt end of glacial climates a little over 10000 years ago have temperatures changed as much, or so rapidly. The next century may therefore see large impacts on the human economy, with the first signs already upon us (3). We can broadly divide the effects into three major categories as follows. A. Rise of sea levels: Rising global temperature are expected to raise sea levels. New calculations suggest that glacier melt alone would be responsible for a rise of 1 to 23 cm in sea level by 2100.(6) B. Effect on ecosystem: Global warming are effecting the natural ecosystem such a way that in future more and more plants and animals will have to permanently migrate to find a suitable habitat and some one will not be able to move fast enough. Scientists have predicted that species loss could be as high as 20% in sensitive ecosystems such as northern Canada and Southern Australia. C. Health threat: Since the global temperature is rising, more frequent and more intensive heat waves could result in more heat-related deaths. These conditions could also aggravate local air quality problems, already afflicting more than 80 million Americans. Global warming is expected to increase the potential geographic range and virulence of tropical diseases as well.(2) III Conclusion: I have mentioned the meaning of global warming, cause and effect of the global warming at length. A. I think everybody just can realize that there is no manner in which a complete and sudden stop could be put to global warming, but the rates at which it is taking place could be reduced. B. I hope there is a quick solution on hand.

What Makes You Happy Philosophy Essay

What Makes You Happy Philosophy Essay Happiness is being content with what you have in your life. It comes down to two different types of contentment. The first type is a materialistic happiness that comes from objects such as food, money, clothes, cars, technology and everything else that that physically exists in this world and is an object of desire. The second type of happiness is a much more spiritual view; it is a natural happiness. It is achieved from being at peace or from reaching a state of inner contentment. It is in my belief that through a balance of these two sources of happiness that only true happiness can be found. The fourteenth Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso speaks of happiness in much the same way. When asked by Howard Cutler to speak about desire, the Dalai Lama replies, I think there are two kinds of desire (Cutler 1000). The Dalai Lama says of the material desire I previously identified: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦I think that this kind of excessive desire leads to greed-an exaggerated form of desire, based on over expectation. He goes on to say, When it comes to dealing with greed, one thing that is quite characteristic is that although it arrives by the desire to obtain something, it is not satisfied by obtaining (Cutler 1001). I completely agree with him on this point, that material desire can become excessive and lead to insatiable greed. However, it is my belief that happiness comes from fulfilling desire, which is, in part, fulfilling superficial material desire. But that is not all that constitutes happiness. As the Dalai Lama says, The true antidote of greed is contentment. If you have a strong sen se of contentment, it doesnt matter whether you obtain the object or not; either way, you are still content (Cutler 1002). This kind of inner contentment comes about through the second type of happiness I spoke of, the spiritual or natural happiness. Natural happiness or inner contentment is a rather difficult thing to explain, as it is a very abstract idea. Inner contentment cannot be found through material things. It comes from oneself, from one making peace with what they have and understanding that they cannot have everything. Howard Cutler, the Dalai Lamas companion, asks à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦How can we achieve inner contentment? There are two methods. One method is to obtain everything we want and desireà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The second, and more reliable, method is not to have what we want but rather to want and appreciate what we have (Cutler 1002). It would seem that Cutler, the Dalai Lama, and I share many of the same views. Inner contentment itself comes from making peace with what we already have, moving past the desire of wanting material things. However, it should be made clear that we are discussing happiness, not contentment. Contentment, inner contentment, certainly comes from achieving a peace with what one has and accepting that one cant have everything. But that is only contentment. True happiness comes from a balance of both contentment and desire. It comes from striking a balance between the two methods of achieving inner contentment. But this is only one persons happiness. Philosophers such as Epictetus would argue that happiness does not come about through these methods. Epictetus taught that: The goal of life is happiness or flourishing life. The way to achieve this condition is to understand the nature of the good (Barnet and Bedau 995). He argued that The only true good is virtue. Yes, wealth can be useful, but it is not good or badà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Povertyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ is not bad but is morally indifferent (just as wealth is morally indifferent)à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The life that is happy or fruitful is the virtuous life (Barnet and Bedau 995). Epictetus was likely speaking about happiness as a whole or happiness for the greater good. One persons happiness may not be the same as anothers, but I agree with Epictetus that happiness comes about through living a virtuous life. I would call this version of happiness a worldly contentment. This is, of course, different from the inner contentment previously discussed. Daniel Gilbert adds onto this idea of contentment. In his essay Does Fatherhood Make You Happy? he explains that having children generally makes a parent happy. Psychologists have measured how people feel as they go about their daily activities, and have found that people are less happy when they are interacting with their children than when they are eating, exercising, shopping or watching television (Gilbert 985). He starts off by stating how studies have shown that parents become less happy when they have children around them and how they would rather be spending time doing other things to make them happy, but later counters this idea with his reasons from personal experience. First, when something makes us happy we are willing to pay a lot for it, which is why the worst Belgian chocolate is more expensive than the best Belgian tofu. But that process can work in reverse: when we pay a lot for something, we assume it makes us happy, which is why we swear to the wonders of bottled water and Armani socks (Gilbert 985). Gilbert brings toward a materialistic view very similar to the Dalai Lamas. We are willing to sacrifice for material wants and desires but only true happiness lies in contentment. Gilbert compares children to heroin, while it may seem irrational his points are made clear. Children give parents a feeling of pleasure that makes them forget everything else around them. The analogy to children is all too clear. Even if their company were an unremitting pleasure, the fact that they require so much company means that other sources of pleasure will all but disappear (Gilbert 986). I interpret this as another form of contentment. Because of how satisfying it is to have children, it makes a parent content that they dont need anything else. Lewis suggests a countercultural idea, that we actually have no right to happiness. There are some people who truly believe that happiness is a right that is supposed to be given out from the government like any other right. While in reality this may be true to some extent, we have the right to pursue happiness more so than the right to happiness. Every person is provided with the opportunity and resources to do so. Similarly with other rights there are some boundaries. If we establish a right to (sexual) happiness which supersedes all the ordinary rules of behavior, we do so not because of what our passion shows itself to be in experience but because of what it professes to be while we are in the grip of it (Lewis 1006). Lewis would say that pursuing happiness is alright as long as you are within legal and moral laws. In other words, living a good life is a means to pursue happiness. Thus the question of what is happiness can be defined in multiple ways. For one person, it is through achieving a state of inner contentment through finding a balance between material desire of what one does not have and a desire of what one already has. In the context of worldly or societal happiness, happiness is found through living a life of virtue and thus being fulfilled, or finding contentment, in that manner. Happiness is all of these things. Happiness, however, isnt a destination to reach. Its a perception, a mindset. There are those that believe that people are born with this mindset. There are others who believe that each of us can achieve this perception merely by redirecting our thoughts. Both are true. Sometimes it takes a really stressful event to make us realize how grateful we are for what we have rather than desiring what we dont have. The secret to happiness is contentment; a still point of realization that happiness is found within, not through external measures and possessions. Contentment is more than being grateful for the small things in life, it is being grateful for simply being. Contentment is a song the heart sings in the quiet moments of the day. Can you hear it?

Chinua Achebes Arrow of God Essay -- Chinua Achebe Arrow of God

Chinua Achebe's Arrow of God Chinua Achebe's Arrow of God is set in the 1920's, before secularism became dominant. It begins with the image of a mask, when he tells his son not to carve the mask of a god for the white man. The mask is a symbol of change. The whole world is changing, and the people who do not change will not survive. The old priest, Ezeulu, desires change, but he cannot do it. He cannot force himself to leave the old ways behind and adopt the new ways. Thus, he sends one of his sons to learn from the white man. He cannot do it himself. This novel shows the life and death of an Igbo priest in a battle between traditional tribal religion and missionary Christianity. The ways in which this confrontation is played out also repeat. A Christian church is set up in a traditional village. The Christians have two attitudes regarding traditional religion. John Goodcountry's enthusiasm inspires Oduche, the Christian son of Chief Priest Ezeulu, to capture the sacred python. Goodcountry is opposed by Moses Unachukwu, who may be open to both cultures out of pragmatic motives, since he appreciates the religious and economic power of the white man, and he hopes to profit from that power. Ezeulu has mixed feelings. He sends Oduche to the missionaries in order to gain access to their wisdom, but he fears the aggressiveness of the new religion. However, his devotion to his god, Ulu, is unquestionable, as is seen in his participation in the New Yam festival. Ezeulu, the main character of the novel, is sincere when he refuses to obey Winterbottom's summons to Okperi because such behavior does not befit his sacred role. Ezeulu stands up for what he believes is right, as his god reveals it to him, even when there is no profit in it for himself. He even loses much by saying the truth. Thus, he is like a saint. Ezeulu has a negative side too. He wonders if he is merely the tool of Ulu. Does he have any personal power, himself? Could he refuse to authorize the New Yam Harvest Festival? At the other extreme, he has bad dreams about being dishonored together with his god. As the story proceeds, Ezeulu feels more and more alienated from his community. They do not support him, and they do not even admit that he was right when they get bad effects from their headstrong actions. They go against Ezeulu's advice, and things go bad... ...orld of change, the old priest is not flexible enough to adapt, so he is swept aside. The story of the old priest is actually the story of all his people in all the six villages. They forget their religion, and they accept the religion of their conquerors. Ezeulu forgets first, and then the people forget. The people created the god Ulu when they united the six villages to form Umuaro. Ezeulu wrestles with the people on behalf of the god Ulu, since he forgets that Ulu was made to serve the people. They were not made to serve Ulu. The priest fails to understand his relationship to the god and the community. He is supposed to serve the community, but he is trying to force them to serve his god. This is the source of his downfall. When Ezeulu is released from prison, it is raining, and he feels like it is healing and restoring him. But his pride will make him do the wrong thing again. He has suffered, and now he wants revenge, but he will only destroy himself and those he loves. He sees that others suffer because of their own actions, but he does not take responsibility for his own suffering. He just goes insane. Bibliography: Arrow of God, by Chinua Achebe

An Annotation of Paul Laurence Dunbars Ships That Pass In The Night :: Dunbar Ships Pass Night Poem Essays

An Annotation of Paul Laurence Dunbar's Ships That Pass In The Night Laurence Dunbar's "Ship That Pass In The Night" is a cry for opportunity for all men, regardless of race. Dunbar's poem directly parallels a passage from Frederick Douglass' autobiography that gives an account of his life as a slave. Both Douglass and Dunbar look out at the ships that sail by and see hopes for societal changes. Although they both sought change, their aspirations were quite different. Frederick Douglass watched the ships from ashore, wishing for freedom and for slavery to be abolished. Paul Laurence Dunbar on the other hand was already a free man. He was on a ship, still more of an opportunity than Douglass had, yet he was still in search for new opportunities for African Americans. The new opportunities that he seeks are upon a ship somewhere sailing in the dark night and keep passing him by. Links from the poem below are best read in order from the beginning of the poem to the end Ships That Pass In The Night by Paul Laurence Dunbar Out in the sky the great dark clouds are massing; I look far out into the pregnant night, Where I can hear a solemn booming gun And catch the gleaming of a random light, That tells me that the ship I seek is passing, passing. My tearful eyes my soul's deep hurt are glassing; For I would hail and check that ship of ships. I stretch my hands imploring, cry aloud, My voice falls dead a foot from mine own lips, And but its ghost doth reach that vessel, passing, passing. O Earth, O Sky, O Ocean, both surpassing, O heart of mine, O soul that dreads the dark! Is there no hope for me? Is there no way That I may sight and check that speeding bark Which out of sight and sound is passing, passing? The speaker begins by looking out into the night sky and sees a storm brewing. The storm represents the future, and like the nature of a storm, the future is unpredictable. A storm can either be threatening with thunder and lightning, or just a gentle rain that comes and goes. The speaker does not know what the future will bring for African Americans. He only knows that something is going to happen. The night is "pregnant" with opportunity and equality, waiting to deliver to people of all races. But the storm brewing on the night horizon is both threatening and promising for the speaker.

California VS Peterson :: essays research papers

Laci Peterson, a 27-year-old wife who was eight months pregnant, disappeared on December 24, 2002. When the body of the California woman and her unborn child were found four months later, her husband, Scott, was charged with two counts of murder. Detective Craig Grogan gave a sworn statement that he had probable cause to believe Mr. Peterson committed two counts of the crime of 187 Penal Code, homicide, on or about December 23, 2002 or December 24,2002, in the county of Stanislaus. April 17, 2003 at 0658 hours the Judge of the Superior Court in Stanislaus County, California issued a warrant for the arrest of Scott Lee Peterson. The court found that the District Attorney’s office did, in fact, have probable cause to bring Scott Peterson in. The Judge specifically addressed bail in the warrant. No bail was granted. April 18, 2003 at 1110 hours, Scott Peterson was arrested at the Torrey Pines Golf Course, in Sand Diego County, California. At the time of his arrest, Peterson had colored his hair blonde, grown a beard and mustache, and was carrying $15,000.00 in cash. During his arrest police also discovered that Peterson’s car was full of camping and survival equipment. Peterson was arrested less than 20 minutes from the Mexican border. Peterson waived booking in San Mateo County, California, and was transferred back to Stanislaus County, California, where he was formally booked by the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department. Scott Peterson had his preliminary hearing on April 17, 2003. Superior Court Judge Al Girolami ordered Scott Peterson to stand trial on two counts of murder. Peterson’s arraignment quickly followed. Peterson was arraigned on April 21, 2003. The Prosecution charged him with the following: Count I: On or about and between December 23, 2002 and December 24, 2002, the defendant did commit a felony, Murder, violation of Section 187 of the California Penal Code; the defendant did willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously and with malice aforethought murder Laci Denise Peterson, a human being. Special Allegation charges were made in conjunction with the felony murder charge of Laci Denise Peterson. It is further alleged as to Count 1, MURDER that the defendant acted intentionally, deliberately and with premeditation. Enhancement: TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY. During the commission of the murder of Laci Denise Peterson, the defendant, with the knowledge that Laci Denise Peterson was pregnant , did inflict injury on Laci Denise Peterson resulting in the termination of her pregnancy, a violation of Section 12022.

The Red Location Museum in South Africa

[ 1 ] â€Å"To many South Africans, the terminal of apartheid, in 1994, was about unbelievable† ( web beginning 3 ) . Although apartheid came to an terminal in the twelvemonth 1994 lawfully and politically, alteration has non been a simple undo as it has been extensively effected due to its policies spacial every bit good as societal and economic facets of the yesteryear. There are topographic points in South Africa that are still fighting and have non yet advanced to modern ethnicities and imposts all due to the racial subjugation of over long periods of decennaries. The state how of all time does seek to develop the international modern architecture â€Å"As the new political and spacial freedoms sank in, the state began the of import procedure of explicating how to mark and curate an epoch that will specify all that came before and after† A gold and ruddy tale†¦ ( Findley 2011 ) .And parts of the state is successfully accomplishing against the spread that still remains for civilization or modern architecture. A topographic point like Red location inNew Brighton, near the coastal metropolis of Port Elizabeth is a clear and definite illustration of a topographic point in South Africa that struggled and still struggles to better in modern footings. The essay will be a critical rating of how the edifice Red Location Museum which is placed in an country where civilization has become so relevant can use to Frampton’s thoughts about critical regionalism as â€Å"a survey of modern-day South African Architecture particularly in the visible radiation of a lifting planetary individuality and a certain erosion of localized considerations.† ( GDC 2014 ) Red location is an old black township in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. It derives its name from a series of corrugated Fe barrack edifices, which are rusted a deep coloring material ruddy. â€Å"The ruddy of the Fe oxide pigment, now skining and corroding, inspired the country ‘s poetic name† ( Findley 2011 ) and continues to depict that the edifice stuffs for these sheds stem from constructions derived from the first South African War which started in 1899 and ended in 1902 named the concentration cantonment at Uitenhage every bit good as the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital at De Aar. It was a site of battle during the old ages of Apartheid. â€Å"One of the state ‘s most constituted black townships†¦ over the decennaries it remained an active Centre of anti-apartheid activism† A gold and ruddy tale†¦ ( Findlay 2011 ) . Manny outstanding and cultural leaders were either born or lived in Red Location â€Å"New Brighton was the scene of early ANC civil disobedience† ( Findley 2011 ) which makes it even more important as it records the important battle events to South Africa. Red location offers to maroon the battle that mark the efforts by different groups in South Africa to liberate themselves â€Å"In striking contrast to the Gold Reef Museum†¦Ã¢â‚¬ A gold and ruddy tale†¦ ( Findley 2011 ) . It is rather dry that the militants of Red Location occupied the same set of infinite that their ‘enemy’ the Afrikaners, occupied as a infinite of captivity during the first South African war as Red and Gold Tale†¦ Findley ( 2011 ) had mentioned that the remains of barracks constructed by the English to house Boer adult females and kids imprisoned during the Boer War. The Red Location Museum which was designed by Jo Noero â€Å"was designed to be both a memorial to South Africa ‘s battle against apartheid and an built-in portion of community life in a township that acted as a melting pot for the struggle.† ( Museum that brings†¦ 2007 ) it was constructed for more than merely memorial but an economic upheaval to better the site. However the Red location museum is a primary development of the Red Location Cultural Precinct which is a non for commercial urban reclamation development, â€Å"The museum ‘s design draws on impressions of memory to demo both the horrors of institutionalized racism and the heroic attempts of the anti-apartheid motion in crisp relief.† ( Museum that brings†¦ 2007 ) there for regenerating it would be get the better ofing the intent it stands for. â€Å"The museum, which opened to the populace in November 2006, has won three major international awards† ( Museum that brings†¦ 2007 ) It is a modern-day edifice as the edifice was merely constructed and opened merely a few old ages back and was successful plenty to come in and run up against other international architectural competitions, besides doing it globally relatable and up to steps. This is of import because it indicates that the edifice is successfully able to delight the viewer’s cultural facet and be globally compatible. â€Å"Critical regionalism is non merely regionalism in the sense of common architecture.It is a progressive attack to plan that seeks to intercede between the planetary and t [ 2 ] he local linguistic communication of architecture.† ( Museum that brings†¦ 2007 ) A museum is usually constructed for in reminiscence of a important happening of the site in which in the instance of the Red Location Museum, was constructed in memory of the apartheid epoch where they natives built their places utilizing local found stuffs as they were at a disadvantage due to the battle of the subjugation and no entree to any superior methods, as Heath ( 2009: 73 ) provinces †¦the unbeatable constructions of power that defined the societal experience of apartheid and the promise of regained cultural individuality that the really premiss of a post-apartheid heritage museum nowadayss. The edifice is constructed utilizing the local stuffs and besides incorporates ‘global international’ stuffs and signifier in order to run into the international linguistic communication of architecture. The rise and autumn of the Avant Garde is working towards Modernization and a facilitating procedure of modernisation, which is a progressive, liberate signifier but is besides opposed to the positivism of in-between category / consumer category civilization where ( GDC 2014 ) states that planetary political and economic crisis which turns into war, economic depression, revolution, rise of patriotism and dire demand for psycho societal stableness consequences in a division between province capitalist economy and liberative cultural modernisation. South Africans apartheid epoch might hold ended lawfully and politically but yet the extended effects of its policies spacial every bit good as societal and economic have non been a simple undo. The disadvantage was a small excessively big in graduated table for the whole economic system to catch up on developing the full state and holding it all modernised, The Red Location Museum however tries to integrate a kind of modernisation in the de sign as it contains decently structured parts of the edifice which usage modern stuff and for every bit seen in figure 1 which enable people that aren’t merely from the township to experience attracted visual perception or sing the site â€Å"with the end of pulling tourers and their dollars to the still isolated township.† A gold and ruddy tale†¦ ( Findley 2011 ) Jo Noero, the Architect, although did non merely plan a the museum that would be aesthetically delighting for the tourer to convey in money but ensured to run into the indigens who are still populating in battle in the country to besides experience welcome and enjoy and engage in the site â€Å"The museum composite, designed non merely as a tourer attractive force but besides as an built-in portion of the environing community† ( Museum that brings†¦ 2007 ) its besides meant to turn the degree Celsius [ 3 ] ommunity as a whole as the designer assured a design of a town Centre precinct which wo uld consist restored Fe houses, new lodging, a library, art Centre, gallery/market hall, conference Centre and, as a centerpiece, an apartheid museum provinces by ( web 3 ) and so this edifice has been used both as a signifier of opposition and later a transformative pattern that manages to authorise and to supply hope in a context where edifices and urban design have been put to oppressive usage and therefore turn outing that he successfully enabled civilisation into civilization. Although â€Å"The phenomenon of universalization, while being a development of world, signifiers to some extent a elusive devastation, non merely towards traditional civilizations, but besides towards the originative footing of great civilisations and civilization ( Frampton, 2007 ) . Critical Regionalism and universe civilization. Culture is when stuffs or the subject addresses the particulars that are expressed, an thought or construct for the nature & A ; development of joint psycho-social world. Regionalism is to continuesingle and local architectonic characteristics insteadthan Universalistattack,although it could besides be equivocal as its association with reform or release but besides normally has powerful repression and jingoism which are restrictions of regionalism. Importantly, new architecture is a new sort of relation between the designer and user hence humanist attack needs to be emphasised ( GDC 2014 ) Architecture today needs to at some point distance itself every bit from the enlighten myth of advancement which is the optimism of advanced tech and every bit good as the ultraconservative and the unrealistic urges of the daring to return to the architectonic signifiers of a preindustrial yesteryear that include the regressive, nostalgic historicism or glib decorativeness ( GDC 2014 ) so that it does non wholly free its cultural individuality as enlightened myth of patterned advance could when over powering make a wholly new signifier which has significance of the intent that was embodied lost. â€Å" [ 4 ] arriere-garde, merely means to cultivate immune, identity-giving culture† ( GDC 2014 ) this does non back up common architecture and its stuffs because it resists to norms of the ways the indigens would build. â€Å"To create quality architecture, peculiarly societal architecture within complex communities, you need clip to decently understand the procedure and relationships†Noreo. In order for Jo Noero to successfully build a edifice that would be of great quality to the planetary or international criterions but at the same time run into a community’s cultural relevancy he needs to right understand the relationship of the country chiefly and its background to guarantee that of import significance are non lost. The designer of The Red Location museum has tried to maintain culturally relevant to the Red location civilization precinct yet besides have a modern visual aspect to the edifice as he reinforces the countries connexion to its societal context by blending informally and officially constructed lodging as seen in Figure 3 while ramping from hovels to lessen units, and so instead than following the typical typology of a museum architectural traditional manner Jo Norero uses the different types of edifices and stuffs from the battle even though he does maintain the some kind of modern tradition. As seen in figure 4 the museum has tried to incorporate into the bing vicinity of former victims of apartheid as a seamless portion of their day-to-day life. â€Å" In this manner, the horror of apartheid becomes more evident merely by its unagitated presence in the museum side by side with a operation community, † says designer Jo Noero. So for â€Å"the cardinal scheme of Critical Regio nalisation is to chew over the impact of cosmopolitan civilization with elements derived straight from the distinctive features of a peculiar place† significance for a edifice to be critical regionalism it has to see planetary or international civilization elements but have imposts of the peculiar topographic point. And Red Location Museum has established to accumulate civilization with elements derived from distinctive features of a peculiar topographic point. â€Å" To construct a museum of the apartheid epoch in the thick of the township that acted as a melting pot for the battle is an extraordinary accomplishment, † ( Museum that brings†¦ 2007 ) so Noreo has achieved self-aware syntheses between cosmopolitan civilization and universe civilization. [ 5 ] Resistance of topographic point – signifier is when the edifice is bounded by its topographic point signifier. If the edifice fits good with its milieus and is placed seamlessly that it wouldn’t appear right elsewhere. â€Å"The strength of provincial civilization resides in its capacity to distill the artistic and critical potency of the part while absorbing and re-explaining outside influences† ( Frampton 2007: 323 ) . Figure 5 shows the aerial position picture taking of the sight, Red Location Museum where by it shows the edifices milieus and where it’s been placed â€Å"The museum is located in a hovel colony that had been a outstanding site of resistance† The Museum is in a township where the apartheid battle was rough andâ€Å"The oldest portion of New Brighton is a grid of unusual hovels made of midst, corrugated Fe, rusted ruddy with age† it has been built due to its milieus and its past heritage. Its name foreshadows the context that shaped the undertaking. It is a community based enterprise framed by the extremist rethinking of the undertaking of memorialising. â€Å"The contact, industrial warehouse-styled complex utilizations infinite, oxidised corrugated Fe, wood and steel to repeat its hovel town surrounds – the Red Location hovels for relocated inkinesss, originally constructed out of stuff recycled from defunct Anglo-Boer War concentration camps.† Its name ‘Red Location’ originates from the country which is a township where the edifices or colonies were non ever renewed or even improved and so the hovels would corrode in a ruddy coloring material. The designed was largely an industrial signifier to integrate the rusted corrugated Fe – the Red Location – and the subject of the environing colony, the museum houses steel containers tipped on terminal to do single memory boxes, giving its conservators a clean canvas in which to exhibit memories, responses and thoughts . ( Museum that brings†¦ 2007 ) a manner in which the edifice did non wholly accomplish its topographic point signifier was with tallness of the edifices which is manner excessively high compared to the hovel places environing the site as seen in figure 5 and the usage of modern stuffs but overall the edifice fits into its topographic point signifier and this context of this architecture carries intensified significance and symbolism. All of which underscores the narrative and referential power of edifices and could non be placed elsewhere as it wouldn’t make sense as it is bounded by the Red location In decision the Red location Museum embodies Critical Regionalism as it has successfully met the demand to delight its local and international viewing audiences and site visitants for the ground that it caters for both international and local design. The design of the edifice is architecture of opposition as it can non be placed anyplace else in the universe because its significance is prevailing to Red Location in Eastern Cape South Africa â€Å"The designers have deployed a straightforward, somewhat industrial aesthetic, which recalls the [ 6 ] ordinary stuffs that local people scrounged over the old ages to maintain out the rain and keep their hovels together, and besides the mills across the railway paths, where the ANC first organized among autoworkers.† A gold and ruddy tale†¦ ( Findley 2011 ) and Frampton clearly stated that Regionalism of Liberation is said to be â€Å" †¦ The manifestation of a part that is particularly in melody with the emerging idea of t he time† ( Frampton 2007: 320 ) , where it is labelled as ‘regional’ â€Å"because it hasn’t emerged elsewhere† . And Paul Ricour has said that â€Å"The chief job of critical regionalism is to seek answers† to inquiry: â€Å"How to be modern and to go on the tradition, how to resuscitate an old hibernating civilisation as portion of cosmopolitan civilization† and Jo Noero answered by saying that â€Å"To create quality architecture, peculiarly societal architecture within complex communities, you need clip to decently understand the procedure and relationships† Kenneth Frampton 2007. Modern architecture: a critical history. Ch 5- Critical regionalism: modern architecture and cultural individuality Kingston Wim Heath.2009.Vernacular Architecture and Regional design.Routedge hypertext transfer protocol: //places.designobserver.com/feature/red-and-gold-a-tale-of-two-apartheid-museums/24779/ hypertext transfer protocol: //www.southafrica.info/about/history/redlocation-museum.htm hypertext transfer protocol: //www.southafrica.info/about/history/redlocation-museum.htm World Wide Web. Jastor.org/stable/142574

A Tale Of Two Cities vs. Beowulf Essay

When talking about renowned stories and strong characters in literature, there are two names that come up every time, A Tale of Two Cities and Beowulf. Both of these stories can be compared in many ways and in many ways they are extremely different with few similarities. These stories were written centuries apart yet they are both still notorious today. The diverse styles of writing in each of these tales show the different time periods. There are three similarities that I want to specifically discuss more about: the protagonists’ characteristics, how they change, and how they end their lives with meaning. One of the differences between the two books is that the protagonists, Beowulf and Sydney Carton, are more comparable than most people would think. In Beowulf the main character is obviously Beowulf and he is a strong and resilient character that fights to help those who need it. In Beowulf it says he was, â€Å"greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world†¦ .† (lines 109-111). Beowulf has to kill Grendel to save the people of Denmark and lose many of his own men along the way. He does eventually kill Grendel and then Grendel’s Mother to save the people. â€Å"But Beowulf longed only for fame, leaped back into battle† (lines 502-504) this shows Beowulf’s heart to finish what he started. He never gave up no matter how difficult it was to continue after his men were killed or no matter how hard it was to fight the monsters. Sydney Carton on the other hand first appears as a lazy, alcoholic attorney who cannot muster even the smallest amount of interest in his own life. He describes his existence as a supreme waste of life and takes every opportunity to declare that he cares for nothing and no one. Carton by the end of story changes immensely and becomes a better man. Now Carton isn’t strong resilient like Beowulf but he is courageous and he gives up his own life to save his friend’s life, Charles Darney. Darney is married to lucie, who Carton loves, but Carton still saves him from the guillotine because he wants to give his life some meaning. Another difference is that both main characters change so much by the end of the stories. When Beowulf is called on by King Hrothgar of Denmark to come save him and his people from Grendel he goes right away and shows his strength by defeating Grendel so the people of Denmark would not be bothered by him anymore. This is how Beowulf wounded Grendel, â€Å"He twisted in pain, and the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder, snapped, muscle and bone split and broke. The battle was over, Beowulf had been granted new glory† (lines 389-393). Beowulf dies in the story so he changes a lot, but his story lived on, as he became a legend. As stated before Sydney Carton remarkably changes from this man who has no meaning in life to someone who is respected and finds fulfillment in existence. Carton changes from the moment he meets Lucie Manette, a French woman who grew up in England. Before Carton changed he was described as a â€Å"Jackal† throughout the story. â€Å" ‘Sydney,’ said Stryver, on that self-same night, or morning, to his jackal; ‘mix another bowl of punch; I have something to say to you’†(page 143). The third similarity between these stories is that they both end with these protagonists ending their lives with meaning. In Beowulf, after his tough fighting, he defeats the monsters in Denmark and saves the people, he eventually becomes the king of his home country, Geatland, when the king dies. By the end of A Tale of Two Cities Sydney Carton has changed enormously and ends his life with meaning. Carton takes Darney’s place at the guillotine and is killed for a crime he never committed, not exactly fair or just but that is how he wanted it. â€Å"Quickly, but with hands as true to the purpose as his heart was, Carton dressed himself in the clothes the prisoner had laid aside, combed back his hair, and t ied it with a ribbon the prisoner had worn†(page 372). After this he died at the guillotine knowing he had meaning in his life. In both of these fascinating stories we see how they similar they actually are. Beowulf acted on his feelings and was respected for it and Carton was someone who was looked down upon but changes his ways. These books are both well known throughout all of literature but for different reasons. Beowulf is well known for its language and diction and A Tale of Two Cities is known for its meticulous plot and scrupulous thought. As long as these stories are compared and talked about, these two tales will always be thought of as two of the best.

Health Information Technology: Electronic Medical Records Essay

Abstract For years the health care industry has explored methods to improve the way patient information is managed. Electronic medical records were developed to solve many, if not all, issues surrounding paper medical records and the management of patient information. Storage, legibility, accessibility and security of medical records are a few of the areas where electronic medical records excel over paper medical records. Instantaneous access and improved accuracy resulting from electronic medical records can greatly improve a patient’s quality of care, prevent serious harm to patients, and ultimately save lives. Financial aspects play a large role in the implementation of electronic medical records. While there are many cost-saving advantages to electronic medical records, the initial cost of implementation burdens many if not most health care facilities. This burden may prohibit health care facilities from the ability to implement electronic medical records. Overall, physicians and patients agree that electronic medical records will help improve patient care and efficiency. Health Information Technology: Electronic Medical Records For years the health care industry has explored methods to improve the way patient information is managed. Paper medical records are cumbersome and require a lot of storage space and personnel to maintain them. Transferring paper records between health care facilities and professionals is very tedious and time-consuming. To solve many, if not all, issues surrounding paper medical records, electronic medical records were developed. Electronic medical records relieve the issue of large warehouses of storage and tedious transferring of information, as well as many of the other concerns affiliated with paper records. While there are many advantages to electronic medical records, there are also some downfalls, such as the initial cost of implementation and the financial burden this places on healthcare facilities. Storage According to journalist John Csiszar, hospitals and medical facilities have warehouses filled with decades-worth of paper medical records (2012, Storage section, para. 1). Paper medical records not only take up quite a bit of space, they are also not eco-friendly (Csiszar, 2012, Storage section, para. 1). Another drawback of paper medical records is that they deteriorate over time due to paper being degradable and the more a paper record is handled, the faster it deteriorates. This poses major consequences, especially for patients who have chronic medical issues that require multiple reviews of their records. Electronic medical records are far easier to store than paper records. Csiszar states, â€Å"Electronic [medical] records can be stored on computer drives that require much less space and fewer resources to produce† (2012, Storage section, para. 1). Electronic medical records can also be stored and accessed forever, without concern of deterioration, as is associated with paper medical records (Csiszar, 2012, Storage section, para. 1). This is extremely beneficial for health care providers as they are able to review patients’ medical histories repeatedly without risk of deteriorating or damaging records. Legibility It is generally acknowledged that the readability of a hand-written document is dependent upon the penmanship of the writer. Legibility of handwriting varies with the individual. Medical terminology, especially for those unfamiliar with medicine, can be challenging to decipher in paper medical records (Csiszar, 2012, Legibility section, para. 1). This legibility problem can lead to miscommunication among health care providers and grievous errors, which in turn can lead to poor care, harm, and even death of patients. Csiszar notes, â€Å"One of the clear benefits of electronic [medical] records is that typeface is more or less standardized and clear across all records† (2012, Legibility section, para. 1). The clarity provided by electronic medical records saves time for the reader, and time is critical during medical treatment (Csiszar, 2012, Legibility section, para. 1). Improved accuracy resulting from the clarity of communication can prevent serious harm to patients and ulti mately save lives. Access When it comes to accessing a patient’s medical record, paper records are by far the most vexing to retrieve. In order for health care facilities or providers to share patient records with other facilities and providers, paper medical records must be copied and mailed, faxed, or scanned into the computer and emailed (Csiszar, 2012, Access section, para. 1). These processes can be very time-consuming and ultimately affect the outcome of a patient’s condition. Electronic medical records are designed to be easily shared among health care providers, especially providers employed by the same health care company. Electronic medical records can be shared almost instantaneously via electronic transmission or direct access to a computer storage system (Csiszar, 2012, Access section, para. 1). This instantaneous access can greatly benefit a patient’s quality of care, particularly when time is of the essence. Security Both paper and electronic medical records can be problematic when protecting patient privacy. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, three of the most common security risks include: â€Å"(1) the risk of inappropriate access, (2) the risk of record tampering, and (3) the risk of record loss due to natural catastrophes† (2012, para. 2). Risk of Inappropriate Access Regardless of the format of a patient’s medical record, it is always vulnerable to a risk of inappropriate access (Health Resources and Services Administration, 2012, para. 3). For paper medical records, the risk of inappropriate access occurs when individuals gain access to record storage areas, find records left in patient or exam rooms, receive misdirected faxes, or other similar scenarios (Health Resources and Services Administration, 2012, para. 4). The HRSA states, Since access to paper [medical] records implies physical access, securing against inappropriate access is accomplished by segregating records into separate locked storage areas; restricting physical access to storage areas; recording sign in and sign out procedures; and maintaining records handling training and other similar procedures (2012, para. 4). With electronic medical records, inappropriate access takes place in one of two ways: (1) an unauthorized user accesses a patient’s record; or (2) an authorized user violates conditions of the appropriate use policy (Health Resources and Services Administration, 2012, para. 5). According to the HRSA, â€Å"Electronic [medical] records can also be subject to breaches of network security that may allow a hacker to gain access to user credentials and thereby bypass the access control protections† (2012, para. 5). It is important for health care facilities to have strict network access guidelines and security as well as an appropriate use policy that is reviewed by newly hired staff and routinely reviewed by all staff. Risk of Record Tampering Medical records can be manipulated or tampered with in many ways, including changing dates of records, entering fraudulent data, or changing entries. Any individual who has access to a patient’s paper medical record has the ability to remove pages, add or erase entries, or other fraudulent acts (Health Resources and Services Administration, 2012, para. 7). Tracing the origin of altered paper medical records is very difficult and sometimes impossible. Electronic medical records are much more difficult to fraudulently manipulate because the ability to make changes to an electronic record depends on the rights assigned to a specific user. Individuals with privileges to modify data have the ability to add, delete, or change data or entire records (Health Resources and Services Administration, 2012, para. 8). An electronic medical record can also be tampered with by directly accessing information stored on the server using a server account rather than a user account (Health Resources and Services Administration, 2012, para. 8). Fortunately, any access or manipulation to electronic medical records can be tracked and thus is traceable. Identifying the person who may have fraudulently accessed or modified a record is much easier through electronic medical records than through paper medical records. Risk of Loss Due to Natural Catastrophes According to the HRSA, â€Å"Fires, floods or other environmental disasters attack physical locations and can result in the complete loss of both paper and electronic medical records† (2012, para. 9). An advantage to electronic medical records is that they can be continuously backed up to off-site storage. Therefore, the records can always be recovered, even if the physical medical facility is damaged. Financial Aspects In recent years, hospitals nationwide have been faced with immense pressure to implement health information technology systems, such as electronic medical records. According to Jay J. Shen, PhD and Gregory O. Ginn, PhD, CPA, The initiative to implement health information technology has persisted through two administrations. First, during the G.W. Bush Administration, the position of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology was created by executive order in the Department of Health and Human Services. Later, in the B.H. Obama Administration, Congress passed The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (2012, p. 61). The expectation of implementing health information technology is the improvement of hospital performance with regard to cost and quality of care to the consumer and the health care system. The downside of these initiatives is the crushing financial repercussions endured by non-profit hospital systems. Positive Financial Aspects By implementing health information technology, especially electronic medical records, hospitals can reduce the costs associated with quality patient care. Shen and Ginn state, Hospitals should be able to reduce the costs associated with medical errors by identifying harmful drug reactions or possible allergic reactions using the information provided by †¦ [electronic medical records]. Hospitals should also be able to lower costs by facilitating preventative medicine and helping physicians manage patients with complex chronic conditions by utilizing the information provided by †¦ [electronic medical records] (2012, p. 62). Electronic medical records help to increase efficiency and reduce cost by: (1) decreasing the need for medical transcription and physically pulling charts; (2) prompting providers to prescribe generic drugs instead of brand-name drugs; and (3) reducing duplicate diagnostic tests and studies (Shen & Ginn, 2012, p. 62). Electronic medical records contribute to lowered costs while improving the efficiency and quality of care for hospitals, patients, and the entire health care system. Negative Financial Aspects In recent years, only a small percentage of health care facilities have implemented electronic medical records, even though these facilities have the ability to experience substantial cost savings and improvements in quality of care (Shen & Ginn, 2012, p. 62). â€Å"This low rate of adoption is attributed in large part to financial barriers,† states Shen and Ginn (2012, p. 62). Some of the financial barriers contributing to the low adoption rate of electronic medical records include: (1) significant capital requirements; (2) absence of clear evidence showing a positive effect on investment return; (3) high maintenance expenses; and (4) high human resources costs associated with the need for an increased number of information technology staff (Shen & Ginn, 2012, p. 62). Another financial barrier for health care facilities is that although they endure the cost of implementing electronic medical records, the providers and payers experience the financial benefits from the cost sav ings (Shen & Ginn, 2012, p. 62). Physician and Patient Perception of Electronic Medical Records Overall, research shows that electronic medical records have been well-received by the base of physicians and patients affected by their implementation. Sage Healthcare Division, a unit of Sage North America, conducted a study that examined the effect of electronic medical record implementation on physicians and their patients (Healthcare IT News Staff, 2011, para. 1-2). The study indicated that the majority of patients and physicians have a positive perception of electronic medical records (Healthcare IT News Staff, 2011, para. 1). Healthcare IT News Staff specify, â€Å"According to the study, patients felt more comfortable with physicians that used †¦ [electronic medical records], and more importantly, felt that the information contained in the medical record was more accurate when they physically saw information being entered electronically† (2011, para. 3). Betty Otter-Nickerson, President of Sage Healthcare Division, noted, â€Å"†¦ [W]e learned †¦ [that] †¦ patients like to see their verbatim information entered into the record as they said it, not as the doctor interpreted it† (Healthcare IT News Staff, 2011, para. 4). She also noted that patients who participated in the survey said they had greater confidence in providers who used electronic medical records and encouraged their physicians to adopt more connected technologies such as electronic medical records (Healthcare IT News Staff, 2011, para. 6-7). â€Å"†¦ [D]irect feedback from patients gives providers an opportunity to learn how to improve their practices and their patient relationships,† stated Otter-Nickerson (Healthcare IT News Staff, 2011, para. 7). Key Findings * Physicians and patients have a positive overall perception of patient care that was documented electronically (62 percent of physicians and 81 percent of patients) (Healthcare IT News Staff, 2011, para. 5). * Nearly half of patients positively perceived their physician when they were noted to be documenting electronically (45 percent) (Healthcare IT News Staff, 2011, para. 5). * Over half of physicians find real-time access to patient records to be the biggest benefit of using electronic medical records (60 percent) (Healthcare IT News Staff, 2011, para. 5). * One of the most important benefits noted by physicians is the ability to easily share information with other physicians, facilities, and payers (Healthcare IT News Staff, 2011, para. 5). * The majority of patients and physicians agreed that electronic medical records will improve the quality of care in the healthcare industry (78 percent of patients and 62 percent of physicians) (Healthcare IT News Staff, 2011, para. 5). * Both patients and physicians have concerns about patient privacy and the security of electronic medical records (81 percent of patients and 62 percent of physicians) (Healthcare IT News Staff, 2011, para. 5). * The most important benefits noted of electronic medical records were: (1) they give physicians real-time access to patient records; (2) they help physicians securely share patient information with other providers; and (3) they help the physician improve the quality of patient care (Healthcare IT News Staff, 2011, para. 5). Conclusion Electronic medical records are a useful tool in improving patient satisfaction, quality of care, and the efficiency of the health care industry. Electronic storage options relieve the burden of large warehouses and the risk of deteriorating repeatedly viewed medical records. Instantaneous access and improved accuracy resulting from electronic medical records can greatly improve a patient’s quality of care, prevent serious harm to patients and ultimately save lives. The ability to easily identify individuals who may have fraudulently accessed or modified a record helps to protect accuracy of records and patient privacy. Although the initial implementation costs of electronic medical records can be quite arduous, the cost-saving benefits will continue to grow. Patients and physicians agree that electronic medical records will improve patient quality and efficiency of care. References Csiszar, J. (n.d.). Paper vs. electronic medical records. Retrieved November 12, 2012, from Chron: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/paper-vs-electronic-medical-records-40354.html Health Resources and Services Administration. (n.d.). What are the privacy and security risks of electronic vs. paper health records? Retrieved November 12, 2012, from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: http://www.hrsa.gov/healthit/toolbox/HealthITAdoptiontoolbox/PrivacyandSecurity/securityrisks.html Healthcare IT News Staff. (2011). Study: Patients believe EMRs bring accuracy to their records. Retrieved November 15, 2012, from Healthcare IT News: http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/study-patients-believe-emrs-bring-accuracy-their-records Shen, J. J., & Ginn, G. O. (2012). Financial position and adoption of electronic health records: A retrospective longitudinal study. J Health Care Finance, 61-77.