E-Business, Opportunities And Threats

The most way of payment In the Internet Is by paying through credit card. The business website could be hacked by cyber-hacker and he could steal the credit card numbers of the customers of the business. How to solve the problem? The company should make sure that their system is protected and safe from any viruses, so the company must install anti-virus software and do regular update for it to ensure that their system is safe well. Also the company should always make a back-up for Its data and never switch off the firewall. Communication with customersSometimes, while employee of the company talks with customer through the email, the customer might have in his/her computer a virus and this virus sent itself to the computer of the company and affected it. How to solve the problem? The company should save its data by backing-up It at safe devices. Also It should Install antl-vlrus software the will scan every downloaded file before the employee open It. The company must Inform Its empl oyees about email attachments from customers or unknown emails and how danger they could be to the company computers.Promote Products Some companies promote their products through sending it to customers by email, and this way of promoting Is affect to reputation of the company as It Is annoying or It considered as not acceptable. How to solve the problem? If the company wants to promote its product through sending it to customer by email, it should do it at good way like reducing number of Images, never attach weird files or large size files, and the subject of the email should be simple and understandable.Provide Information Some companies do not have the security In their websites, so It could be hacked by yber-hacker and he might change or delete the information that will make the company at hard situation. How to solve the problem? The company should back-up its data, enhance its system to be strong & secure, and make regular scan for the system. Also the firewall must always s witched on and having updated an anti-virus software. Operational Implication trends Natlonal Ba KOT Banraln Is respond to E-Buslness ana nas develope a nls servlces because of several competitive forces.Expectations and product fulfillment Because of modern technology, NBB is providing its services through E-Business to uit and cover the expectation of their customers' such as checking the balance, transfer funds, payments and to fulfill their desire and demand. Customer expectation Because of high customers' expectation at this time, NBB developed its website to make it very quick to load that have the ability to contain and serve lots of customers. Information of the service that NBB offer are available, also NBB website has zero of annoying pop-ups and there is space to customers to leave feedback to enhance the services.Increased competition Because of the increasing of competition that BBK offers set of services at its website, NBB is always tried to recruit the finest, creati ve, and talented people that will enhance the process of NBB services and this will raise the competition. Also NBB is offering new loans plan from time to time and offer many type of debit and credit cards. New providers NBB try to not give the opportunity to other new banks for being best than NBB, NBB develops its website to make it much easier and easier and simple to use like provide answers of frequently asked questions â€Å"FAQs†.Also it is offer transfer funds, credit card and loan payment can be made through the website as well. Also NBB has one of the biggest network â€Å"ATM† services around Bahrain. Strategic implications of trends on organizations Competitive pressures Because of BBK competitive activities that allow its customers to check their inquire about their balance, transfer amounts; check online statement NBB is compete to make its services better in different aspects such as hiring qualified, who are reliable, organized to enhance the process, have problem solving skills and deep knowledge n E-Business.And offer their services with affordable prices. Relocations, takeovers, closures and mergers NBB has ATM card which let the customer with draw money from other ATM that belong to other banks in a competitive prices. Refocusing business Through NBB website, a lot of people know about NBB and its service. ADVANTI Operational implication trends Expectations and product fulfillment Because of modern technology, Advanti is providing its services through E-Business to suit and cover the expectation of their customers' and to fulfill their desire and demand.Customer expectation Because of customers expectation that they expect they will find there requires at Advantl weDslte. Advantl Improved Its weDslte to De slmple ana easy to use. I ne website domain name is simple and easy to remember. Also Advanti provide pictures, description of its products and provide detail of the prices, policy and condition. The text format ; colors is comfortable to be seen. Increased competition Because of competitor's activities like ALWASAT Computers that provide many types of delivery services , Advanti now ship its product to GCC countries.Advanti provide ervice of deliver the products â€Å"door to door† and offer discount on some products from time to time. It is also offers gift cards. New providers Because of quick and remarkable presence of AL-Wasat Computers that offers many number of brands, Advanti offers the most unique computer accessories and at affordable prices. It is also known of its faster shipping and its guarantee that the product will arrived safety. Advanti encourage its customers', its offer coupon to the customer that buys from Advanti through online. Because of the competitive pressure that A1-Wasat Computers try its best to attract ustomer base.Advanti goals is to satisfy the customer as much as possible and compete to make its services better in different aspects such as hiring qualified, who are reliable, organized to enhance the process, have problem solving skills and deep knowledge in E-Business. And offer their services with affordable prices. Relocations, takeovers, closures and mergers Advanti is co-corporate with FedEx through shipping the products to customers. Refocusing business Through Advanti website, Advanti have a big customer base a lot of people know about Advanti and its products.

Discuss the Use of an Assessment Tool When Caring for a Child and Their Family

Commentary 1: Discuss the use of an assessment tool when caring for a child and their family In the following commentary I am going to reflect upon what I have learned about conducting the new born baby assessment regularly carried out on the neonatal unit. To write about the new born baby assessment it is important to understand what assessments are, why assessments are important and how this particular assessment is an essential part of nursing. â€Å"Assessment forms the first part of any nursing activity and is the first step in the nursing process.Without a comprehensive assessment of the child and family’s needs, care cannot be planned, delivered or evaluated effectively. † (Great Ormond Street Hospital 2012). Examination of a new born infant allows nurses to assess and monitor a new born baby’s condition and promptly identify any abnormalities in order to treat and give appropriate care as early as possible. It is an important part of overall care contribu ting to the baby’s wellbeing and survival (NNF Teaching Aids: Newborn Care 2010).Over the time I have spent so far on the neonatal unit I have learned about the physical assessment of new born babies and observed the trained staff carrying out these assessments day to day. The assessment of a new born infant involves the checking of several aspects of the baby’s anatomy; the Brain (the control centre for all organs), the Heart (pumps the 80mls of blood around the baby’s body), the Lungs (provides o2 for the body’s organs and muscles), and the Kidneys and Liver (filters toxins out the body to be excreted). These vital organs are the key to the baby’s survival in life.To begin to asses these organs is by examining the skin as this is the easiest organ to view and the examination is non-invasive so therefore should not distress the baby. The skin can be a key indicator of if something is wrong. The nurses and I looked at the colouring, the texture, th e nails, and looked closely for any presence of rashes. The skin regulates body temperature (Ross and Wilson 2010) therefore monitoring a baby’s temperature is an important part of caring for a baby. The skin is also the baby’s first stage of protection from infection forming a barrier between its self the outside environment.The head is another important indicator of what is going on within the baby. We examined the fontanel as this can swell or sink to show signs of dehydration or Hydrocephalus. A dry mouth can also be an indication of Dehydration. During birth the baby’s head can change shape due to the sutures in the skull (as seen in the diagram, Nucleusinc 2010) therefore it was important for us as nurses to check the sutures and the overall shape of the head and look for any bruising or swelling caused by trauma to the skull during birth.It was important to observe and record the baby’s activity eg Agitated, Alert, Active as this will forms the bas eline for further assessments of the baby and could help identify any neurological abnormalities. The next stage of the physical examination was the eyes. A discolouration of the whites of the eyes could be an early indication of Jaundice and be a warning to start treatment. Staring or bloodshot eyes could indicate a raised intracranial pressure or raised a blood pressure.Pre-term babies are often on o2 therefore checking the lung function, the patency of the airway and the o2 delivery method is important in order to maintain o2 saturations above 95%. Having conducted the physical assessment of the baby the digestive system needed to be assessed. This was done by a physical examination of the abdomen and by looking at the method of feeding (Breast, Bottle, NG Tube, OG Tube, JJ Tube, or PEG) and the amount of milk to be administered (amount per day: ml/kg/day times baby’s weight divided by the number of feeds to give in 24 hours).The Neonatal Unit’s policy is for the pr eterm baby is to start them on 60ml/kg/day +30ml per day up to 150ml and for the term baby to give 40ml/kg/day + 20ml per day up to 150ml. After this the doctors take over calculating feed volumes. These feeds are then recorded on a feeding chart and totaled at the end of every 24 hour period to monitor fluid intake. The initial assessment of a new born infant is a complicated process but is vital in providing the best possible care for the baby.The initial assessment acts as a baseline for further care to be compared with. Without an assessment important information and signs may be missed with awful consequences. Although I have observed and assisted with the assessment process I do not yet feel comfortable performing this assessment on my own as I feel I have a lot more to learn so as I don’t miss something or disregard any of my findings as insignificant. References: Boston Children's Hospital (n. d. Assessments for newborn babies. [online] Available at: http://www. child renshospital. org/az/Site600/mainpageS600P1. html [Accessed: 22/07/2012]. | Healthy Babies (1997) Guide for Newborn Physical Assessment, Anticipatory Guidance and Health Teaching. Vermont: Maternal and Child Health Home Visiting Nursing Standards and Competencies. | Macqueen, S. et al. (2012) The Great Ormond Street Hospital Manual of Children's Nursing Practices. Chichester: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, p. 2. NNF Teaching Aids: Newborn Care (2010) Examination of a newborn baby. [online] Available at: http://www. newbornwhocc. org/pdf/teaching-aids/2010/Examinationofanewbornbaby-ENC6. pdf [Accessed: 22/07/2012]. | Nucleusinc (2010) Skull sutures in infants and fetuses. [online] Available at: http://www. nucleusinc. com [Accessed: 22/07/2012]. | Waugh, A. and Grant, A. (2010) Ross and Wilson Anatomy and Physiology in Health and Illness. 11th ed. Churchill Livingstone, p. 354-358. | Discuss the Use of an Assessment Tool When Caring for a Child and Their Family Commentary 1: Discuss the use of an assessment tool when caring for a child and their family In the following commentary I am going to reflect upon what I have learned about conducting the new born baby assessment regularly carried out on the neonatal unit. To write about the new born baby assessment it is important to understand what assessments are, why assessments are important and how this particular assessment is an essential part of nursing. â€Å"Assessment forms the first part of any nursing activity and is the first step in the nursing process.Without a comprehensive assessment of the child and family’s needs, care cannot be planned, delivered or evaluated effectively. † (Great Ormond Street Hospital 2012). Examination of a new born infant allows nurses to assess and monitor a new born baby’s condition and promptly identify any abnormalities in order to treat and give appropriate care as early as possible. It is an important part of overall care contribu ting to the baby’s wellbeing and survival (NNF Teaching Aids: Newborn Care 2010).Over the time I have spent so far on the neonatal unit I have learned about the physical assessment of new born babies and observed the trained staff carrying out these assessments day to day. The assessment of a new born infant involves the checking of several aspects of the baby’s anatomy; the Brain (the control centre for all organs), the Heart (pumps the 80mls of blood around the baby’s body), the Lungs (provides o2 for the body’s organs and muscles), and the Kidneys and Liver (filters toxins out the body to be excreted). These vital organs are the key to the baby’s survival in life.To begin to asses these organs is by examining the skin as this is the easiest organ to view and the examination is non-invasive so therefore should not distress the baby. The skin can be a key indicator of if something is wrong. The nurses and I looked at the colouring, the texture, th e nails, and looked closely for any presence of rashes. The skin regulates body temperature (Ross and Wilson 2010) therefore monitoring a baby’s temperature is an important part of caring for a baby. The skin is also the baby’s first stage of protection from infection forming a barrier between its self the outside environment.The head is another important indicator of what is going on within the baby. We examined the fontanel as this can swell or sink to show signs of dehydration or Hydrocephalus. A dry mouth can also be an indication of Dehydration. During birth the baby’s head can change shape due to the sutures in the skull (as seen in the diagram, Nucleusinc 2010) therefore it was important for us as nurses to check the sutures and the overall shape of the head and look for any bruising or swelling caused by trauma to the skull during birth.It was important to observe and record the baby’s activity eg Agitated, Alert, Active as this will forms the bas eline for further assessments of the baby and could help identify any neurological abnormalities. The next stage of the physical examination was the eyes. A discolouration of the whites of the eyes could be an early indication of Jaundice and be a warning to start treatment. Staring or bloodshot eyes could indicate a raised intracranial pressure or raised a blood pressure.Pre-term babies are often on o2 therefore checking the lung function, the patency of the airway and the o2 delivery method is important in order to maintain o2 saturations above 95%. Having conducted the physical assessment of the baby the digestive system needed to be assessed. This was done by a physical examination of the abdomen and by looking at the method of feeding (Breast, Bottle, NG Tube, OG Tube, JJ Tube, or PEG) and the amount of milk to be administered (amount per day: ml/kg/day times baby’s weight divided by the number of feeds to give in 24 hours).The Neonatal Unit’s policy is for the pr eterm baby is to start them on 60ml/kg/day +30ml per day up to 150ml and for the term baby to give 40ml/kg/day + 20ml per day up to 150ml. After this the doctors take over calculating feed volumes. These feeds are then recorded on a feeding chart and totaled at the end of every 24 hour period to monitor fluid intake. The initial assessment of a new born infant is a complicated process but is vital in providing the best possible care for the baby.The initial assessment acts as a baseline for further care to be compared with. Without an assessment important information and signs may be missed with awful consequences. Although I have observed and assisted with the assessment process I do not yet feel comfortable performing this assessment on my own as I feel I have a lot more to learn so as I don’t miss something or disregard any of my findings as insignificant. References: Boston Children's Hospital (n. d. Assessments for newborn babies. [online] Available at: http://www. child renshospital. org/az/Site600/mainpageS600P1. html [Accessed: 22/07/2012]. | Healthy Babies (1997) Guide for Newborn Physical Assessment, Anticipatory Guidance and Health Teaching. Vermont: Maternal and Child Health Home Visiting Nursing Standards and Competencies. | Macqueen, S. et al. (2012) The Great Ormond Street Hospital Manual of Children's Nursing Practices. Chichester: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, p. 2. NNF Teaching Aids: Newborn Care (2010) Examination of a newborn baby. [online] Available at: http://www. newbornwhocc. org/pdf/teaching-aids/2010/Examinationofanewbornbaby-ENC6. pdf [Accessed: 22/07/2012]. | Nucleusinc (2010) Skull sutures in infants and fetuses. [online] Available at: http://www. nucleusinc. com [Accessed: 22/07/2012]. | Waugh, A. and Grant, A. (2010) Ross and Wilson Anatomy and Physiology in Health and Illness. 11th ed. Churchill Livingstone, p. 354-358. |

Human Activities and the Loss of Natural Resources Essay

Natural resources including soil, water, forest, mineral and biodiversity have been repeatedly destroyed around the world by humans. â€Å"Since 1970, over 600,000 square kilometers (232,000 square miles) of Amazon rainforest have been destroyed† (Butler, 2011). The FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) estimated that â€Å"soil erosion carries away a volume of soil equivalent to one metre deep over 200,000 hectares every year in the Philippines.† In Asia, where water has always been regarded as an abundant resource, per capita availability declined by 40-60% between 1955 and 1990 (Coleridge, 2006). â€Å"In South Africa major conservation areas such as Kruger national park risked losing up to 60% of the species under their protection† (Brown, 2004). Mindful of the losses of natural resources, this essay will discuss how human activities harm the world’s natural resources in terms of the loss of soil resource, forest resource, and biodiversity. †¢ The loss of soil resource Human activities have often led to the loss of soil resources, which are the basis for sustained food security. Soil occurs naturally from physical and chemical disintegration of rocks and minerals combined with fossil. Because of such a combination, soil has different properties. Nowadays human activities repeatedly destroy soil resource. For example, illegal logging degrades soil quality. It is easy for wind and water to bring fertile soil away, which eventually results to soil erosion. The FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization, a branch of United Nations) estimates that â€Å"the global loss of productive land through erosion is 5-7 million ha/year.† Another example of the loss of soil resource is farmers’ lack of knowledge (à ¸â€"à ¸ ±Ã  ¸ ¨Ã  ¸â„¢Ã  ¸ µÃ  ¸ ¢Ã  ¹Å' à ¸ ­Ã  ¸ ±Ã  ¸â€¢Ã  ¸â€¢Ã  ¸ °Ã  ¸â„¢Ã  ¸ ±Ã  ¸â„¢Ã  ¸â€"à ¸â„¢Ã  ¹Å', 2554). These farmers will not know indeed how to prepare soil for cultivation. That is why the soil quality is damaged. WRI, U NEP, UNDP, and World Bank have found that â€Å"the degradation of soil resources all over the world is 1.9 billion hectares.† Both examples show that human activities cause the loss of soil resource. †¢ The loss of forest resource Forests, which are valuable asset and essential resource on earth, have been destroyed by human activities. â€Å"Nearly 4 billion hectares of forest cover the earth’s surface, roughly 30 percent of its total land area† (Mygatt, 2006). There are many tree and animal species in the forest, so forests contain a lot of beneficial things for humans. Many human activities destroy the forest area. For example, people often cut down the trees and use the wood for trade, fuel, and furniture. The removal of trees without sufficient reforestation will result to the loss of forest area. â€Å"Forest area decreased worldwide by 0.22% per year in the period 1990-2000 and 0.18% per year between 2000 and 2005† (FAO, 2006). This research shows that the world in every year still continues to lose the forest area. Another example of human activity is people, especially in developing countries, change the forest area to agriculture land and tourist attraction including resorts, museums, and parks. The 2007 report, which involved more than 1,300 scientists from 95 countries, said that â€Å"every year about 10-million hectares of the world’s forests are lost to unsustainable modes of economic development.† All of above are human activities, which cause the loss of forest resource. †¢ The loss of biodiversity Despite knowing about biodiversity’s importance for a long time, human activity has been causing the loss of biodiversity. Biodiversity means the diversity of plant and animal life in a particular habitat around the world. Scholar estimates that â€Å"there are 5 million species on the earth, but only 1.9 species are known.† Nevertheless, the numbers of species have been disappearing by human activities every day. For instance, illegal logging is the greatest cause of species extinction worldwide because tropical forests contain at least half the Earth’s species. Scientists said that â€Å"plant and animal species are now disappearing 100 to 1,000 times faster than the natural pace of extinction.† This rapid extinction rate makes ecosystem become imbalance. Another example of human activity that causes the loss of biodiversity is hunting. Most people hunt for food, trade, and recreation. This activity also makes the wildlife become extinct rapidly. Statistics data on the loss of biodiversity suggest that â€Å"at least 20% of bird species have already completely vanished and that 23% of mammals, 25% of conifers, 32% of amphibians and 52% of cycads continue to face serious threat of extinction.† These are the examples of human activities that lead to the loss of biodiversity. Human activities (such as illegal logging, farmers’ lack of knowledge, land clearing, and hunting) are the major causes of the losses of soil resource, forest resource, and biodiversity. People should pay more attention to these problems. They can learn more information about the soil to prevent the loss of soil resource. When they cut down trees, they should not forget to reforest for avoiding the loss of forest resource. They should be more concern and conserve to the forest area to protect biodiversity, otherwise plant and animal species on earth may decrease and totally disappear from the earth.

How Rifle Technology Changed the Civil War Essay

How Rifle Technology Changed the Civil War - Essay Example During the civil war, union forces used Gatling’s weapons on a limited basis (Shane Mountjoy). Its increased lethality and range undermined Napoleonic tactics. An infantryman with a rifled musket was a greater threat to artillerymen and cavalrymen (Moorehead). During the civil war, an infantry man with rifle was able to target an artilleryman before they were within the range of canister fire. With rifles, the infantry was able to attack the cavalry soldiers from a greater distance. So, the long range fire power of the rifle reduced the importance of artillery and cavalry. During the Napoleonic wars, they were the important forces. The changes in infantry fire power resulted in shifting emphasis from offence to defence. Napoleonic style warfare emphasised on strong offence for victory. The problem then was how to execute an offensive plan when the tactical defence was much stronger (Moorehead). Frontal attacks were usually avoided and attacked enemy’s flanks. The confederate forces, during the battle of Gettysburg, attacked the union flank at the Little Round Top. But, this operation resulted in heavy causalities for the offence. Offensive tactics were changed by the end of the war. Instead of massed lines, small groups were formed and fire and move tactics were used. When some men advanced, other men gave them protection. It was clear during the battle of Wilderness at Brock Road on 6 May 1864 and Laurel Hill on 8 May 1864, that defensive positions repelled attacks. So, for victory, it became necessary to attack the opponent before he establishes a

Finance academic activity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Finance academic activity - Essay Example prices of the stocks, there should be also be subsequent changes in the earnings of the company to mark this change in the dividend payout (Chen, 2005). There should also be a revision in the expectations of the market in regards to future earnings that is in the same direction as the change in anticipated dividends. This can be observed in companies across the globe especially in developed markets such as Europe and North America. In this case the earnings of the company can be termed as the average cumulative abnormal return and there will be various samples that will be used for this test. There was a change in the performance in the company after the announcement of the changes in the dividend policy. It was clear that companies that reported an anticipated increase in their dividends reported a return a positive change in their earnings for that year. On the other hand, companies that reported a decrease in their dividends reported lower earnings in that particular year. This can be due to the fact that there was a motivation for the company stakeholders to increase the business operations of the firm as they believe that they are the ones who will benefit from this. Dividend policy may have a predictive power on the future of businesses and these changes have to be closely monitored. Using the stated methods, there has been no relationship that has been established between the dividends and changes in the earnings. Changes in the dividends were not found to have any information about the future one and two year earnings growth.This was tested in a number of samples to try and see if there was a relationship in the dividends and the first and second year earnings. For predictions of the earning in the 1st year, the coefficients in the changes of the dividend were only significant at the 10% level in only about 10% of the sample population. In the earnings of the second year, there was only a slight improvement in the significant level of the coefficients

Malcome X Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Malcome X - Essay Example For instance, Malcolm family was harassed a number of times by the ‘Ku Klux Klan’ group. The harassment made the family to move to Michigan. Nevertheless, the situation worsened when their house was set on blaze while the Whites watched the fire consume the entire house. The police force also watched as the house burnt down. In a few years, after the fire incidence, Malcolm’s father was found dead along the streets. Despite Little receiving threats of death from the White racists, the police force dismissed the claims of threats citing that Malcolm’s father committed a suicide. Malcolm’s mother suffered a shock as a result of Little’s demise. She was placed in a mental institution where she succumbed to death. These circumstances were experienced by Malcolm, whose father was a local activist. While in school, Malcolm claims that his schoolmates treated him like a pet as opposed to a human person. However, Malcolm was reported to be a diligent student in class, an aspect that saw him elected the class leader. Perhaps his life experiences led to his courageous stance while advocating the rights of blacks. Malcolm’s opponents accused him of propagating racism and violence. However, he remains amongst the most influential blacks in the US. Being a gifted and influential orator, a majority of his quotes are still honored by a large number of his followers, as well as the lovers of freedom, equality and justice among various races. In one sense, we were huddled in there, bonded together in seeking security, warmth and comfort from each other, and we didn’t know it. All of us, who might have probed space, cured cancer, or built industries, were, instead, black victims of the White’s social system (Malcolm 1). This is an emotional Malcolm’s quote that was recorded while giving a speech. The author specifically speaks about the ‘Harlem’ club. The author refers to the night club as a place that sees a multitude people of the same suffering, especially racism; they gather for a consolation and experiencing good time. The author refers to the crowd as a network of families. The night club is majorly perceived as a private place where the victims of racism find a rest. Malcolm saw a difference between the night club and the external racism among the whites. Generally, individuals that frequent the club are perceived as the victims of racism. These individuals understand the reality of capitalism, and are ready to tolerate the life of the ghetto. As a result, the night club has turned out to be a place where the blacks experience comfort. Although a large number of the blacks frequent the night club, a few of them understand the relationship between their survival and the network. Despite the regulars being belligerent and hustlers outside the club, they feel secure and comfortable while in the club. In addition, the quote reflects on the lost opportunities by the African-American masses. Malcolm refers to blacks as a society that is characterized by a hustling life. There are a number of competent blacks that would have begun successful businesses, but have perished in poverty due to lack of capital and opportunities. There are a good number of African-Americans that have

Shopping Behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Shopping Behavior - Essay Example They kept asking one another about the items they prefer to buy, at the same time, they listen to their friends' comments and suggestions. Most teenagers who spent time with friends displayed a unique sense of individuality and self-expression. The girls displayed interest in fashion, food and technologies. They were excited to buy wide variety of products. To name some of these products purchased include: Trendy clothings, bags and accessories; Food like cold beverages, potato chips, soda and ice cream; CDs, video games and multi-media accessories. Despite these buying behaviors, the teens were able to spend significant proportion of the budget they have, yet, they also managed to keep the rest of their money. Participant Observation was employed as the research design for this activity. Undeniably, there was conflict of roles during the period of observation. Observer cannot concentrate entirely on the observation process conducted. The observer acted as if one of the shoppers in the mall and occasionally took the opportunity to examine the subjects' gestures, to hear some of their commentaries and gain insights about the verbal and non-verbal forms of communication manifested by the subjects of the study in order to acquire the true and more clear picture of the teens' behavior.

Lessons Learned From War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Lessons Learned From War - Essay Example This paper will explore some of the lessons that can be learned from wars and the manner in which these lessons can be helpful. It is also going to discuss whether leaders learn the right reasons or not from war. Conceivably one of the most major lessons that can be learned from wars is that only the dead experience the end of the war. When the war starts between two or more nations, it takes time before the two states can take diplomatic actions and negotiations to end the war (Worrell 27). Meanwhile, it is the soldiers at war and innocent civilians who die or suffer casualties while the leaders keep on giving orders on where to attack next and what actions should be taken to protect their territories. On the war front, it is only the dead who do not experience the war since they are already dead. The rest of the people whether soldiers or civilians are put in a position where they worry about their life. They are at war and every move that their enemy makes becomes a threat to their lives. Stoessinger asserts that, despite the large sum of people that perished in the Vietnam War, it was just a passage of history and it was in vain for the combatants and civilians to suffer or land becoming devastated (132). The lesson derived here is that even as the war keeps on consuming the lives of the innocent it will still continue until the political leaders settle their differences. To this end â€Å"unless communist belligerency was deterred promptly and effectively, a third was between Communist and the non-Communist states were inevitable† (Stoessinger 68). This shows that it is until when leaders come to the agreement that wars do end. Unfortunately, during all this time it is the innocent civilians and the soldiers at war that suffer. Over the years, wars have shown that the impact is hugely felt by the civilians but only fewer leaders pay the price for their mistakes. Millions of civilians and hundred thousand soldiers died during World Wars with many others getting wounded. Regrettably, very few leaders suffered as a result of the war.  

Judaism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Judaism - Essay Example Although Jews resemble Christians in many ways, they are not confined to pray or worship in one area or room like the Christians. They believe that God dwells among people and not in a specific place. In addition to that, Jews are more independent and do not relate or reference with any other religion like the Christians relate to them. Although the Christians continuously reference to the Jews customs and traditions, Jews have remained independent do not borrow or copy practices from other religions (Valkenberg, 34). In conclusion, it is clear that Christianity and Judaism have a lot of similarities. However, there are also a lot of differences between the two uniquely similar religions. Judaism is both a â€Å"peoplehood† and a religion while Christianity is basically a religion. With this in mind, it is evident that though Christianity and Judaism have a lot of similarities, the differences that exist cannot be settled until the coming of Christ as stated in the Bible and Torah (Valkenberg,

How Modern Business Can Remain Competitive Essay

How Modern Business Can Remain Competitive - Essay Example The concept of adopting Best Practices has ensured that many organizations, in varying degree have incorporated means of addressing above areas successfully, copying from the pioneers and thus nullifying the competitive advantages, which was developed by these early developers. In today’s globalize scenario, the competitive advantage lies in the manner an organization manages itself and specifically derive a competitive advantage through its human capital. Therefore, it is of crucial importance that companies develop their remuneration strategies to reward performance that will drive the organizational success. Evidence that the business environment is increasingly competitive is everywhere. Greater Free Trade has facilitated the movement of not only the traded goods but the factors of production as well. Organizations seeking competitive advantages are increasingly seeking out global locations, which offer a comparative advantage in terms of their factor endowment (Hill 2004). More and more companies from the developed world are moving its labor-intensive production facilities to low labor cost countries in the developing world. This is also facilitating an unprecedented level of technology transfer and facilitating the competitiveness of these developing nations’ products in terms of quality, efficiency, and productivity. Today developing countries like China, India, and Mexico pose cost competitions on an unprecedented scale for the world players, especially those who are operating in high wage cost in developed nations.   Thus it is of paramount importance that organizations in developed nations adopt their own strategies in managing their organizations, specifically the human capital to seek out areas of competitive advantage. This involves increasing productivity, efficiency and reducing costs through numerous aspects of Human Resource management involving better selection and recruitment, development and training, fostering of learning environments, fostering innovation, performance management and implementing effective rewarding strategies to drive performance.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Project Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Project Management - Essay Example ct 11 Task 3 Project [processes and procedures 12 3a) Critical elements of any successful project plan 13 3b) Reasons for the use of the critical path analysis and Gantt chart in the project 13 3c) Evaluate the use of the change control procedures throughout the project 13 3d) Description of the methods for measuring performance 14 Task 4 Conclusion 14 5 Bibliography 16 Figure 1 MNCI work breakdown structure 6 Figure 2 Organization breakdown structure for NMCI 9 Introduction According to Hellriegel (2001), a project can be described as a series of linked activities that are carried by an organisation and they are aimed at achieving a specific objective. Usually, these events are short term based and in most cases, all projects have similar characteristics. They involve a certain time frame of which they are expected to be completed and they are also characterised by some form of risk. In order for any project to achieve its desired objectives, it can be noted that thorough project ma nagement is a virtue especially in the implementation of various activities that characterise a particular project. As such, this report seeks to critically analyse a case study based project about the measures taken in execution of the project by Electronic Data Systems (EDS) with regards to implementation of the Navy Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI). This project was about implementing a new computer system to be used by the Navy Marine in the United States of America. The report is divided into three categories and these deal with different aspects involved in the execution of the project. Task one is mainly concerned with project management principles while task two deals with project organisation and people and task three is concerned with project processes and procedures. A critical... This research aims to evaluate and present project as a series of linked activities that are carried by an organisation and they are aimed at achieving a specific objective. Usually, these events are short term based and in most cases, all projects have similar characteristics. They involve a certain time frame of which they are expected to be completed and they are also characterised by some form of risk. In order for any project to achieve its desired objectives, it can be noted that thorough project management is a virtue especially in the implementation of various activities that characterise a particular project. As such, this report seeks to critically analyse a case study based project about the measures taken in execution of the project by Electronic Data Systems (EDS) with regards to implementation of the Navy Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI). This project was about implementing a new computer system to be used by the Navy Marine in the United States of America. The report is di vided into three categories and these deal with different aspects involved in the execution of the project. Task one is mainly concerned with project management principles while task two deals with project organisation and people and task three is concerned with project processes and procedures. A critical analysis about project management with regards to aspects related to NMCI’s overall performance will be carried out in order to establish if the project was a success or not.

A Historical Perspective on Reading Research and Practice Essay Example for Free

A Historical Perspective on Reading Research and Practice Essay This article has responded to both internal and external forces resulting from gradual and dramatic transitions based on historical perspectives. This has permitted a reasonable reflection and a sense of wisdom that is susceptible to loss when one engages in it. The underlying reason is the critical dimension to the present day events and issues analysis resulting from the broadened reading culture. In the late 20th century, reading became a recognized study field with systematic research programs aiming at ascertaining its fundamental nature and its acquisition process. This resulted from the confluence of social, educational, political and economic factors. Quantitative and qualitative changes in U. S. public schools’ systems after the World War II provided favorable environment for the reading transitions. Reading processes and skills were broken down into constituent parts which were practiced and reinforced in a systematic and orderly manner during classroom sections. Reading became a conditioned behavior based on certain environmental contingencies. Individuals positively responded to learning from repeated and controlled stimulation from the environment. This stimulus-response relationship was accompanied by rewards and punishments led to the habituation of the reading act (Alexander Fox, 2004). Therefore, academic learning involved identification of the preferred behaviors prerequisites and training. This aimed at untangling the chained links in reading so as to train the learner in each component skill. In addition, material effectiveness was structured and controlled in the delivery of environmental stimulation and practice opportunities. Emphasis on studying observable behavior focused on reading as a perceptual activity which included identification of visual signals and validating diagnostic instruments and remedial techniques. However, alternative human learning theories which focused on perceptual process as a whole still operated on underground which examined that reading is per introspection rather than through behavior. Human beings could make a coherent sense out of the perceptional data through whole-word recognition, context comprehension and word identification thus considering reading as a unique human activity owning definitive characteristics. Increased interest in internal mental structures and processes ignited by the advancements in neurology and artificial intelligence has caused transformations in the learning institutions. Moreover, the dissatisfaction with behaviorism as an explanatory system caused changes. The article points that present institutions should conceptualize learning as a natural process rather than conditioning and that language should be developed through a meaningful use. Also learning to read should be viewed as an inherent ability rather than a reflective action with laborious skill acquisition. As a result, reading research unified the literacy field through language arts. Learning to read became a matter of arriving at a facility due to the understanding quest within a language-rich environment. The growing attention to the structure and processes of the human mind and increased federal funding by the Unites States led to creation of research centers caused another theoretical transformation. These new researchers explained human language as an interaction between symbol system and mind. Learning as a natural metaphor was replaced with a mechanistic information processing metaphor. Text-based as a form of learning, involved knowledge which was organized and stored within the individual mind (Alexander Fox, 2004). In addition, Knowledge base was depicted as powerful, persuasive, individualistic and modifiable since it was linked to the individual’s perspectives on what they had read, their interpretation and recall out of the written text. The information processing of this period resulted in cognition-related constructs which strengthened the aforementioned characteristics of knowledge. Furthermore, it focused on the individual mind. This was because the computer-based guiding had little considerations of socio-cultural influences in processing linguistic information. To add on, the research studies stressed on individualistic interpretations of written text and exhibited that the knowledge of the students could be greatly modified through training, direct intervention and/or overt instructions. Other contributors of improved text comprehension were instructional environments and pedagogical techniques. In view of any reading approach, there must be a shift away from the neurological argument to much concern for naturalism in the materials and procedures used to teach reading. Moreover, they should create unity within the language arts. The cognitive psychology gave a new viewpoint for literacy and educational researchers. It studied literacy with naturally occurring texts in natural settings with holistic and aesthetic school of thought. It aimed creating a mutual understanding arising in the social interaction of individuals in particular contexts at a time (Alexander Fox, 2004). The dominant perspective was learning being a socio-cultural collaborative experience and the learner being a member of the learning community. Reform on modern schools  Present day schools should anticipate for motivation in the form of readers’ achievement of goals, interest and involvement in the learning experience with change in perception of texts, reader and reading. This can be achieved due to the introduction of the hypermedia and hypertext forms of learning which has increased the attention in classroom discourse thus improving the students’ academic. Effective orientation has to be done so as to capture the complexity of reading and recognize the changing nature of reading as the reader engages in a range of reading-related, goal-directed activities. With the dichotomization of reading into learning to read and reading to learn, it has led to integrated and developmental learning perspective. Engaged learning has led to the acknowledgement of the fact that reading extends to the texts students come across daily such as nonlinear, interactive, dynamic and visually complex materials transmitted using audiovisual media. Current learning institutions should learn about the potentials of alternatives nonlinear media and examine how pedagogical techniques and learning environments can be adapted to aid readers from struggling with traditional texts. Students should be encouraged to participate in meaningful and goal-directed text-based learning. Moreover, attention should be drawn to create a personally and socially valuable body of knowledge. Strategies are put in place to promote reflection, choice and deliberate execution on the learner’s part which actively engages the leaner thus developing the reading perspective. To be complete, readers, and learners should focus on demonstrating fluency in reading and other basic linguistic skills. Workable solutions  Some of workable solutions would include provision of personally relevant texts, both traditional and alternative that will promote deeper and wider student engagement in their learning. Putting in place technological advancements capable of transforming learning and teaching through production of proliferated information sources and different text types can also be productive. Involving high-stakes testing and efforts to institute national standards have hastened the students’ learning since they prescribe the content and skills learners should have acquired at various institutional levels. Investments in basic reading skills and components in special education institutions have helped struggling readers since researchers have greatly supported. Changes which might improve things One of major consideration that should be put in place is recognition of the fact that reading is invariably physiological, psychological and sociological thus an integrated orientation is a prerequisite. Therefore physical, visual, and neurological stimuli to the learning processes should also be employed. In addition, every reading process needs to enhance the psychological interpretation, storage and retrieval of text, goals formulation and expression of interests. Sociologically, a reading culture that focuses in intra-individual and inter-individual communication through linguistic media that are socio-culturally influenced can also play a big role in changing the existing education. Lastly, a fine-grained reading view that incorporate brain structures and mental activities of an individual and social behavior have to be integrated meaningfully throughout these orientations.

Diageo Marketing Strategy

Diageo Marketing Strategy Introduction Diageo began as a world leader in branded foods and drinks, formed in December 1997 through a merger of Guinness PLC and alcohol and Grand Metropolitan plc (The Gale Group Inc, 2006). In 2000 2002, a strategic decision by Diageo was made to exit the companys food interests by divesting its food companies and exclusively focusing on premium alcohol. A detailed history of Diageo plc up to and immediately after its creation is set out in Figure : Our Business Diageo History Family Tree Diageo is currently the worlds largest drinks company by volume, net sales and operating profit (Diageo PLC, 2012) with a large collection of brands which include spirits, beer and wine. There are currently 14 brands which Diageo identifies as global priority brands. These are: Johnnie Walker whisky Smirnoff vodka Crown Royal whisky Ciroc vodka JB whisky Ketel One vodka Windsor Captain Morgan rum Buchanans whiskey Jose Cuervo tequila Bushmills whiskey Tanqueray gin Guiness stout Baileys liqueur (Diageo PLC, 2008) Diageos Current Business Strategies Diageo owns seven of the worlds top 20 spirits brands. Diageos beer brands include the only global stout brand, Guinness, and together these beer brands account for approximately 20% of net sales while Diageos wine brands represent approximately 5% of Diageos net sales. This means that Diageos size provides for scale efficiencies in production, selling and marketing. This enables cost efficiencies and the dissemination of best practices in business operations across markets and brands allowing Diageo to serve its customers and consumers better. From 2005 to the end of financial year 2011 (ending 30 June 2011), Diageo managed its operations by four regions: Europe, North America, International and Asia Pacific. In financial year 2012 (FY 2012) the International region was split into Africa and Latin America sections, producing five geographical regions globally. This general structure brought about good results. Analysis of Diageos annual reports from 2007 to 2012 shows that gross sales rose from  £ 9,704,000 to  £14,594,000, an annual average increase of 7%. Due to the level of continued change in global markets and the requisite innovation necessary, it has Diageo completed an operating review in 2011 which recommended changes in structure and focus, and this resulted in a net movement of personnel from developed market regions to emerging market regions. The changes are expected to be fully implemented by 30 June 2013 (Diageo PLC, 2011) (Diageo PLC, 2012) . This restructuring should allow Diageo to improve its effectiveness and the productivity of its operations and to position resources nearer to the market and to the geographical regions where there is a great potential for growth. Read through and differentiate the different strategies under headings .i.e. Business strategy- Generic strategies (Diageo uses focused and differentiation) and Interactive strategies. Put everything under headings Competitive Strategies (Johnson, Whittington, Scholes, 2011, p. 199) define competitive strategy as being concerned with how a strategic business unit achieves competitive advantage in its domain of activity. Therefore a Strategic Business Unit (SBU) creates competitive advantage when it creates value for its users where the cost effectiveness of supplying it is superior to that of rival SBUs. (Johnson, Whittington, Scholes, 2011) further add that Porter defines three generic strategies which create competitive advantage for a company are; differentiation, cost leadership and focus strategies. This report has seen that Diageo uses both Focused and Differentiation strategies when pushing its products to its target market. This is because Diageo focuses on premium liquor that is targeted to a particular market. Tools: advertising (localisation), vertical integration, premiumisation, seasonal pricing strategy, first-mover advantage, employee training SABMiller. Diageos strategy is to drive top line growth and margin improvement in a sustainable and responsible way, to deliver consistent value creation for shareholders over the long term. It will do this through its geographic breadth, its outstanding brands across beverage alcohol categories and the expertise of its people. (Diageo PLC, 2012). Production and supply Diageos supply organization is responsible for producing, distilling, brewing, bottling, packaging and distributing its brands. It is committed to efficient, sustainable production. Diageo has created a competitive advantage in both its cost base and in the first class customer service it delivers. Investment in production facilities is focused on building capacity for the production of scotch, beer and rum, with both high speed and high volume, cost efficient production lines and with flexible production facilities to create an industry leading supply chain for innovation, especially in luxury products. The business recognizes that it operates in a world where natural resources are limited. Diageo has set itself challenging environmental targets covering water efficiency; increasing use of sustainable packaging and reduction in pollution, carbon emissions and waste-to landfill (Diageo PLC, 2012). Differentiation strategy Products For a company to use this strategy it should prove unique products for which their customers will be prepared to pay a premium price. This is seen in Diageos recent launches which focused on the consumers wish for luxury, the tastes and increasing affluence of the emerging middle class consumer which ultimately increased the accessibility of spirits through flavor extensions and packaging and drink formats (Diageo PLC, 2012). Premiumisation [jubilee scotch] innovation around RTD products, adult progressive drinks. Customer care and Retention When it comes to customer care and sale of its products, Diageo works in collaboration with its customers to drive profitable category growth, by building partnerships with retailers and on-premise customers. The Diageo Way of Selling program equips both Diageo and its customers with the tools to be the best sales force in the industry and to create commercial and strategic value for all parties. The European Customer Collaboration Centre provides a state of the art facility to bring consumer, shopper, retailer and distributor insights together to facilitate integrated planning with customers. These tools enable Diageo to realize its ambition to become an indispensable business partner to its customers (Diageo PLC, 2012). This means that when the customers go to buy their products its a fulfilling experience and they get all their questions or suggestions met and this works well with Diageo as they use this as feedback. Environmental and socially responsible Diageo being the socially and environmental responsible company, it has a history of being a sustainable and responsible company dating from Arthur Guinness who was responsible for philanthropic community programs and through the 1930s when its predecessor companies marketed their brands in a responsible manner. Diageo understands the social, environmental and economic impact of its activities and has adopted a structured approach to manage these impacts, to build engagement across stakeholders, to create value, especially in emerging markets; and to protect Diageos license to operate (Diageo PLC, 2012). Balance of alcohol in the community (Diageo PLC, 2012) states that the company is not all about profits and losses, it ensures that even the employees are proud of the responsible manner in which its brands are marketed and the role that moderate consumption of its brands can play as part of the balanced lifestyle for millions of people. Diageo seeks to be at the forefront of industry efforts to promote responsible drinking and works with key stakeholders to combat alcohol misuse. Eco-friendly technology Diageos production teams have created award winning technologies to meet these targets with the aim of reducing Diageos environmental footprint, delivering business efficiencies and securing supply into the future. Diageo is committed to generating prosperity in the communities in which it operates, especially in the emerging markets by integrating its supply chain into the local community and via direct community initiatives such as Learning for Life and Water of Life (Diageo PLC, 2012). Development of the workforce Diageo believes that industry leading performance will be delivered through a talented and diverse workforce and great leadership. The company has active programs that ensure the development of its management and leaders. Great leadership combined with a culture of good governance and ethics protects Diageos reputation and supports the sustainable efficient growth of the business (Diageo PLC, 2012). Focus Strategy (Johnson, Whittington, Scholes, 2011) state that focus strategy focuses on a particular segment of market and modifies its products and services to fulfill the needs of that exact segment while excluding others. In terms of relationships with distributors and suppliers Diageo has strong routes to market which leverage local expertise. In the United States Diageo is required by law to operate via a three-tier distribution system which separates suppliers, distributors and retailers. Diageo works with distributors who provide a substantial dedicated sales team of over 2,900 people. Outside of the United States Diageo owns and controls the route to market in many markets, and where Diageo has not established its own subsidiary, the route to market is through joint ventures, associates and third party distributors (Diageo PLC, 2012). This kind of command on distributorship and supply is why Diageo is known for its quality products and this ensures customers get what they pay for. The Strategy process Intended Strategy Development Strategic Leadership: the role of vision and command In 2000, the newly appointed CEO of Diageo, Paul Walsh, embarked on a strategic review of all operations and was determined to recreate Diageo as the worlds leading premium drinks business (Davidson, 2004). By selling off the companys food concerns and concentrating on the marketing and innovation of its core premium drinks brands, Paul Walsh refocused and reenergized the company (Encyclopedia of Business, 2012). Walshs leadership gravitates towards the visionary style since it more closely follows one that motivates others, helps create the shared beliefs, and shapes more detailed strategy (Johnson, Whittington, Scholes, 2011, p. 400). Strategic Planning Four key pillars of the formulated strategic plans can be identified as: Promotion of the global strategic brands Vertical integration Cost reduction Acquisitions, mergers and divestments Exploring new territories Promotion of global strategic brands Strategic brands (formerly global priority brands) have always been a key pillar of its strategy. In 2007 there were eight of these Johnnie Walker whisky Smirnoff vodka JB whisky Captain Morgan rum Tanqueray gin Jose Cuervo tequila Guiness stout Baileys liqueur (Diageo PLC, 2007) These are brands which Diageo considers to have the greatest current and future earnings potential (Diageo PLC, 2007, p. 9). By 2012 the number of brands in this category had risen to 14 as set out in Table . Although the company was structured into four distinct geographical regions, the global priority brands took precedence over the regional divisions. ref Since the eight brands constituted the lions share of earnings, it was considered important to manage these products at the highest level. Growth strategy and promotion was engineered at the corporate level. However that did not mean that regional business units were spoon-fed material from corporate level. There was a great deal of localisation in promoting these products. An example of a major long-running campaign which has been progressively adapted to different regions is the Walk with Giants campaign which in FY 2012 featured the respected long distance Olympic champion Haile Gebrselassie in an Africa campaign. Vertical integration Diageo has taken considerable control of the supply chain, being involved in developing, brewing, distilling, bottling, packaging, distributing, and marketing. It has physical plant which covers the previously listed activities as well as specialised functions such as malting, packaging plants, vineyards, maturation warehouses, cooperages, distribution warehouses, and bottle manufacturers (Diageo PLC, 2007). In Kenya the process goes as far as involvement in the growing of input cereals to brewing ref. In the USA, total vertical integration is moderated by law, which states that there should be three levels of supply: manufacturing, distribution and retail. In that market therefore, Diageo works to identify solid partners in distribution, usually only one partner per state. Acquisitions, mergers and divestments Strategic acquisition and sale of unfocussed business units was in Diageos business genes, as it was formed from a succession of such moves. It has continued to be a key part of its growth. Since 2000 the organic growth of th Exploring new territories Although Diageo had possession of many of the worlds strongest liquor brands, and could have been satisfied with continuing to depend on this cash cow business, it has as a company been quite adventurous and curious in enacting a deliberate policy of exploring emerging markets. Part of Diageos growth strategy includes expanding its business in certain countries where consumer spending in general, and spending on Diageos products in particular, has not historically been as great but where there are prospects for growth (Diageo PLC, 2007, p. 17). This arm of the business was only delivering 20% of the revenue in 2007, despite representing considerable complexity in management. Emerging markets can be difficult to manage due to the relatively low purchasing power, poor infrastructure, and traditional local involvement in distribution channels. However this persistence has clearly paid off for the company. From a small but hopeful difference in growth compared to developed country market s in 2007, the emerging markets have increased in strength and importance, until in 2012 they represented 40% of revenue, which is expected to reach 50% by . Diageos strategy is to drive top line growth and margin improvement in a sustainable and responsible way, to deliver consistent value creation for shareholders over the long term. It will do this through its geographic breadth, its outstanding brands across beverage alcohol categories and the expertise of its people. (Diageo PLC, 2012) Emergent Strategy Development Logical incrementalism PESTEL reactions Advertising in US about spirits on TV product change Levels of distribution. 2008 credit crunch emerging market growth smarter at localised promotion? Diageo hiding behind EABL my country my beer. Managing Strategy Development [figure with the five regions and amended brand strategy] Reconfigured structure concentrating more on emerging markets. Overall growth highlighted graph showing growth. Evaluation of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Practices Diageo is always innovative and this is in its strategies all through the company. All the stakeholders know what is expected of them and there is always something new that Diageo is coming up with. Below are some of the new ideas that have been rocking Diageo: Innovation unlocks growth in developed markets. In Ireland, for example, we have introduced new dispense technology to bring perfect cocktails to bars which do not usually serve cocktails. Smirnoff Mojito is available in over 600 Irish outlets which are now selling a total of nearly 40,000 cocktails a week (Diageo, 2012). Diageo entered the Indian made foreign liquor segment (IMFL) with the launch of Rowsons Reserve, a premium IMFL whisky. It is a blend of selected premium Indian whiskies and reserve stocks of the finest aged Scotch whisky matured in American oak casks that are mellowed to give a rich smooth finish. It has a well-rounded and balance flavour profile, with a soft, lingering aftertaste. Its distinctly superior liquid and premium packaging allows it to stand out as a premium offering (Diageo, 2012). Smirnoff, the worlds number one vodka, revealed an exciting new flavour variant, exclusive to travel retail. Smirnoff Gold Collection with the luxury of gold in every drop is unique, cinnamon spiced vodka. Gold cues feature prominently in all executions and the gold etched bottle itself showcases a flurry of real, edible gold leaf flakes, magically suspended in this truly indulgent vodka (Diageo, 2012). Guinness Black Lager has the refreshing taste of lager, but all the character of Guinness which consumers love. We take immense pride in the quality of our product and ensured that we built on the Guinness legacy. The refreshing taste is locked in by the bespoke amber Guinness bottle. The contemporary packaging design combines premium, detailed silver and blue colour with hallmark symbols of Guinness brewing provenance and heritage (Diageo, 2012). This March saw the launch of Orijin, the latest drinks innovation from Guinness Cameroon. Perfect for all social occasions, this authentic ready to drink alcoholic beverage ,an alternative to beer, is made from a blend of traditional African herbs such as kola nuts, ginger and cloves, and sweet tropical fruits, giving it a refined, bitter-sweet and uplifting taste (Diageo, 2012). We need to offer more choices to female consumers. In Kenya, we launched Snapp. Women there told us they didnt like drinking beer, particularly in the on trade because both the packaging and the liquid were viewed as too masculine. Snapp is a premium, crisp apple tasting drink that provides women with a more stylish and sophisticated alternative to beer (Diageo, 2012). As a darker, spiced rum from Captain Morgan, Captain Morgan Black Spiced expands the brands footprint into the bolder, more masculine whiskey occasion. The brand honors the legend of the real Captain Morgan, whose spirit is said to still roam the waters of the Caribbean today. Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum is best enjoyed on the rocks, but is also delicious as the key ingredient in edgy, new twists on classic cocktails, such as Henry Morgans Old Fashioned (Diageo, 2012). The new frozen Ready to Serve pouch format from Parrot Bay offers consumers an easy and affordable way to enjoy the drinks they love. Parrot Bay frozen tropical drinks are your favourite tropical drinks perfectly mixed every time, available in Pià ±a Colada, Strawberry Daiquiri, and Mango Daiquiri. Just freeze, squeeze and enjoy (Diageo, 2012). Offering a credible, exciting new alternative to beer for British males, Jeremiah Weed Brews is a range of two products Mash and Root Brew. The combination of an authentic American brand, independent positioning, simple design and a unique jam jar serve over ice has helped deliver the masculine credibility of beer with an enjoyable taste. Jeremiah Weed has now been rolled out to 7,000 on trade outlets in Great Britain (Diageo, 2012). Harp Lime is Nigerias first flavoured beer. With a clean and crisp taste, and just a hint of lime, it is uniquely refreshing. Harp Lime has been well received, with distribution growing steadily, and the distinctive Harp Lime advertising impacting positively on the Harp Trademark equity. Harp Lime is available in both sleek 30cl bottles and cans (Diageo, 2012). The Tusker brand has been enjoyed in Kenya since 1922, and now new Tusker Lite keeps the brand innovative and relevant by addressing todays consumers balanced lifestyle choices with a refreshing low calorie beer. Tusker Lite is positioned within the same mainstream segment as the parent brand Tusker Lager (Diageo, 2012). This years Asian Festive season gifting design was inspired by the characteristic big, bold flavors of the Johnnie Walker brand. The packs were launched in stages, from India for Diwali and then across Asia Pacific for Chinese New Year. The eye-catching limited edition gift boxes boast a beautiful design that allows each variant to stand out on shelves, with impressive and refined packaging including an embossed box and gold foiling (Diageo, 2012).

Developing a Safe Scientific Workplace

Developing a Safe Scientific Workplace In a scientific workplace there are many various aspects that enable workers to do their job safely knowing they are protected from various precautions and laws. These aspects can be split up into the following sections: hazard symbols and hazcards, risk assessments, protective clothing and equipment, COSHH, CLEAPSS and HSE, general laboratory practises and quality standards. Hazards symbols and hazcards Harmful This is a substance that will most likely cause harm to the body if it comes in contact with the skin or ingested. An example of a harmful substance is chloroform, for the safety in a work place this substance would be stored in a tightly close and sealed container in a well-ventilated room as it can give off harmful fumes. Explosive This is a substance that combusts with a lot of energy when exposed to heat or a flame. An example of a substance that is explosive is ammonium nitrate, explosive substances must be stored in a durable box with a tight lid away from any heat source, as well as this is must be stored low down in case it is an impact explosive. Oxidising Oxidising is a substance that do not burn by themselves but they provide oxygen for flammable substances to burn. An example of a substance like this is potassium nitrate, for oxidising substances like this they must be placed in a tub/bottle with a lid on and store away from any flammable materials for the safety of people working with this product. Flammable A flammable product is when a substance is subjected to a high heat it produces a flame. An example of a flammable substance is gasoline/petrol which is highly flammable in liquid and vapour form. To store this and many other flammable substances it must be placed in preferably a durable metal container with a tight lid on so no substance or fumes will be let out, it also must be kept away from high heat or any source of flame. Corrosive A corrosive substance has the ability to deteriorate and burn away a surface, this is usually the skin in a science workplace. An example of a corrosive substance is hydrofluoric acid, this is a liquid as are most corrosive substances so they are stored in similar ways, they must be stored in unreactive plastic containers that have a tight lid on to avoid spillages. Irritant An irritant substance closely relates to harmful but doesn’t cause as much harm, an irritant causes irritation to the surface of the skin therefor can cause red marks. An example of this is acetone, this must be stored in a tough bottle with a safety lid that is usually stored on a shelf or in a cupboard. Toxic Toxic is labelled to substances that if exposed to it can cause death if enough is in contact with the body. An example of this would be ricin which is extracted from a bean off a plant, it is usually in powder form. For this particular substance and many other toxic substances it must be stored in a container with a secure lid and store in a locked cupboard, safe or room. Biohazard A biohazard is used in the labelling of biological materials that carry a significant health risk to humans. An example of this would be carmine which is a natural red pigment. To store biohazards they must be stored in a bottle or tub with a safety lid on which is locked away from humans and non-workers. Radioactive A radioactive substance emits energy as electromagnetic waves or moving subatomic particles causing ionization. An example of a radioactive material is uranium, all radioactive material must be stored within a radioactive proof area like in lead which stops radioactive particles from passing through, keep in a safe which also stops radiation. Environmental hazards Environmental hazards can cause harm to the environment meaning both plants and animals. An example of this would be mercury, mercury is a highly toxic metallic liquid. To store this place in a plastic bottle with a secure cap on top, as well as this keep it away from any drainage source as well as animals, plants or the outside. Risk assessments There are 3 categories under risk assessments, these are chemical hazards, physical hazards and biological hazards. Risk assessments are usually taken before an experiment, practical or before a job is undertaken. The following example risk assessment of the 3 categories is from when I completed the preparation of aspirin. Chemical hazards Chemical hazards are chemicals that can cause harm to the body if exposed to the skin or ingested. An example of a chemical hazard would be a corrosive burn from concentrated sulphuric acid, this would be a high risk and as a precaution you should wear gloves and carefully use, make sure to use in fume cupboard to avoid spillages on work surfaces, wear lab jackets too to protect core body, wear safety glasses to protect eyes. This would be the same for another chemical hazard which is irritation for ethanoic anhydride which unlike sulphuric acid is a low risk. In the case of the substance being in contact with the skin wash off quickly and put the area affected in ice or cold water. Physical hazards Physical hazards are something that can cause harm to the body excluding chemicals or biological substances. For example slipping on water spillages, this can be seen as a moderate hazard if equipment isnt set up correctly or if carelessness occurs. To avoid this make sure apparatus is in the middle of a flat bench and make sure if it uses water to connect it properly so avoid leaks, in the case of a spillage simply mop up using paper towels, if the slipping occurs then if injured get a first aid officer to check you. As well as this another example could be cuts from glass breakage which is once again a moderate risk if not properly cleared up, to avoid this make sure to handle equipment carefully, do not grip too hard or too little to avoid shattering, place in the middle of benches to avoid knocking off, keep a brush and glass bucket in case of breakage. In the case of cuts happening wash the wound and cover in a plaster, if deep then go to hospital to get stiches. Biological hazards A biological hazard is a substance that causes a threat to the health of a person, in the practical I did there was only one biological hazard which was the product aspirin itself, it caused a low risk but a moderate risk if ingested as we made it ourselves. To avoid this make sure to wear disposable gloves in case the product gets on your hands, if products gets on skin wash off and to no put product in the mouth. In case any of it is ingested you must go hospital as it wasn’t commercially made. Protective clothing and equipment Protective clothing equipment more commonly known as personal protective equipment is pieces of clothing or equipment that will protect the user against health or safety risks at work. It can include items such as safety gloves, eye protection such as goggles, visors and glasses, safety footwear and lab coat. Lab coat A lab coat is made out of cotton which absorbs the chemicals spilt onto the coat, because of this it is used to protect the core body and arm and stops yourself from being damaged in many different laboratory situations. Protective gloves Protective gloves are worn when there is a chance if a substance can harm your hands, the gloves are made out of neoprene or latex that are resistant to chemicals and are used to protect your hands when using something potentially harmful. Goggles These are used to give extra protection to the eyes, it covers all of your eyes including top bottom and sides, they have a PVC frame with polycarbonate lenses giving it strength whilst protecting eyes at it is unreactive. Visor These are used to cover whole of the face when using something potentially reactive/explosive, like the goggles they have a PVC frame with a polycarbonate visor giving it strength and protecting the whole face from chemical splashed due to the unreactive nature. Safety glasses Used to cover the front of the eyes and are used in all experiments as a safety precaution, like the previous two protective equipment, they have a PVC frame and polycarbonate lense giving strength and an unreactive ability. Safety boots Used to protect your feet when working around heavy objects that can potentially fall, safety boots are made out of leather and have steel toe caps, leather as a high resistance to chemicals, heat and flames and steel has a high breaking strength protecting the toes. COSHH, CLEAPSS and HSE COSHH, CLEAPSS and HSE are all laws that enable working in a scientific workplace to be carried out safely. COSHH COSHH is a law that requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to health. Most businesses use substances, or products that are mixtures of substances. Some processes create substance which could cause harm to employees, contractors and other people so must be disposed of properly. CLEAPSS CLEAPSS is an advisory service providing support in science and technology for a consortium of local authorities and their schools. The law includes: Independent schools, post-16 colleges, teacher training establishments and curriculum developers. CLEAPSS stands for Consortium of Local Education Authorities for the Provision of Science Equipment. HSE The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the national independent watchdog for work-related health, safety and illness. It acts in the public interest to reduce work-related death and serious injury across Great Britain’s workplaces. The Act makes sure to secure the health, safety and welfare of persons at work, for protecting others against risks to health or safety in connection with the activities of persons at work. General laboratory practises General Laboratory Practice includes a set of codes that provides an outline within a laboratory in which studies are planned, performed, monitored, recorded, reported and archived. These studies are undertaken to help assure regulatory authorities that the data submitted is a true reflection of the results obtained during the experiment/practical that has been completed and can therefore be relied upon when making assessments. This is part of a quality assurance procedure which is aimed at ensuring that products are consistently manufactured to a quality appropriate to their intended use. They provide guidelines for quality control and assurance in testing laboratories. Quality standards Quality standards look into all ranges of care, these can include examples like public health, healthcare, social care. Evidence relating to effectiveness and cost effectiveness, peoples experience of using services, safety issues, equality and cost impact are also considered. Although some standards are area-specific, there will often be substantial overlap across areas and this is considered during building of the standard. Where appropriate referrals are combined and developed as a combined quality standard. Many of the quality standards are started by the international standards organisation. Other commonly known organisations originating from the international standards organisation include: British Standards which is mostly used in the UK and Europe.

A Haunting Past in Faulkners A Rose of Emily Essay -- essays research

A Haunting Past In William Faulkner’s short story â€Å"A Rose for Emily† Miss Emily Grierson holds on to the past with a grip of death. Miss Emily seems to reside in her own world, untarnished by the present time around her, maintaining her homestead as it was when her father was alive. Miss Emily’s father, the manservant, the townspeople, and even the house she lives in, shows that she remains stuck in the past incapable and perhaps reluctant to face the present. At the beginning of the story, the reader learns that Miss Emily â€Å"is portrayed as ’a fallen monument,’†¦ because she has shown herself susceptible to death (and decay) after all† (West 264). The house can also be perceived as a â€Å"fallen monument†(Faulkner 81) as the narrator proceeds to describe the house, magnificent as it once was, and how it has become dilapidated through the years. The same can be said about Miss Emily, as time passed she â€Å"looked bloated like a body long submerged in motionless water, and of that pallid hue†(Faulkner 82). In her younger days however, she was â€Å"a slender figure in white in the background, her father a spraddled silhouette in the foreground, his back to her clutching a horsewhip†(Faulkner 83). One of the many indications that Miss Emily is stuck in the past is her refusal to accept that her father is dead after holding on to his body for three days. â€Å"She wants to keep him as she has known him instead of allowing him to return to dust†(Kurtz 40). Miss Emily’s father had such an impact on her life, that she was left powerless in every aspect, thus her decision to live in the past where she knew she could be in control. The reader also learns that Miss Emily continued to retain a manservant long after slavery had ended. This â€Å"old m... ... Among them lay a collar and tie, as if they had just been removed, which, lifted, left upon the surface a pale crescent in the dust. Upon a chair hung the suit, carefully folded, beneath it the two mute shoes and the discarded socks. The man himself lay in the bed†¦ Then we noticed that in the second pillow was the indentation of a head. One of us lifted something from it, and leaning forward, that faint invisible dust dry and acrid in the nostrils, we saw a long strand of iron- gray hair.(Faulkner 86-87) Up to the very end of Miss Emily’s life, her father was in the foreground watching and controlling, and Miss Emily unrelentingly held on to the past. She went as far as keeping a loved one’s body locked upstairs in her home for years. While admiring her loved one’s body from up close and afar, she managed to maintain a death grip on the past.

Comparison of Stereotypes and Stereotyping in A Dolls House and The Breakfast Club :: Movie Film comparison compare contrast

Stereotyping in A Doll's House and The Breakfast Club      Ã‚   When you see someone with expensive jewelry, driving a Lexus with tinted windows, rap music blaring from a mega stereo system, do you assume that he is a punk or drug dealer? This is an example of stereotyping. How are stereotypes assigned? Often they are created by society and are based on gender, race, religion, age, or social standing. Henrick Ibsen focused on the theme of stereotyping in his play A Doll's House.    In A Doll's House, Nora is seen as more an object than a person. When the play was written, women in general were viewed as wives and mothers, not individuals. Nora skillfully plays the part of obedient wife as Torvald questions her about what she did in town, assuring him that she "would never dream of doing anything [he] didn't want [her] to (Ibsen 933)." In "The Breakfast Club," the characters' peers designate stereotypes as a result of a combination of social status and behavior. Brian is "the brain" because he is an A student, Bender is "the criminal" on account of his rebellious behavior, and so forth. In his essay to Mr. Vernon, Brian addresses the stereotypes that have been placed on him and his peers:    "...we think you're crazy to make us write this essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us...in the simplest terms and the most convenient definitions. You see us as a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal. Correct? That's the way we saw each other at seven o'clock this morning. We were brainwashed" (Hughes).    In agreement with the opening quote from the movie, these characters "are quite aware of what they're going through" (Hughes).    Stereotypes are superficial, however, and when they are peeled off they often reveal something completely unexpected. When Torvald receives the letter from Mr. Krogstad and learns of Nora's secret, he begins to see her as "a hypocrite, a liar...a criminal" (Ibsen 974). When the conflict is resolved and it becomes clear that no one will suffer because of her forgery, Torvald returns Nora's stereotype of vulnerable woman, telling her he "wouldn't be a proper man if [he] didn't find a woman doubly attractive for being so obviously helpless" (Ibsen 975). In "The Breakfast Club," the teenagers have been aware of their stereotypes for quite some time.

Humanities and Postmodernism Essay

In discerning a relationship between the Postmodern Portal and the Green Man, one finds a bridge that connects the past, present, and future. The lackluster color and repetitive patterns of the Green Man symbolizes antiquity or the times of yore. On the other hand, the vibrant and compound nature of the Postmodern Portal symbolizes how one, at present time, looks at the possibilities inherent in the future and prepares to face the challenges brought about by changes and transformations signaled by the shifting of time from present time to the future. The spotlight directed to the man in the Postmodern Portal seems to place the viewer within the context of the present. The walls and the arch symbolizes man’s entry to the future, while the archaic designs on the walls and the scattered stones on the ground represents how the present will soon be a past as man moves on to the future. The gesture of the man, holding a sword courageously illustrates how people in this generation are prepared to face the challenges and difficulties that come with change through the passage of time and the coming of the future. Moreover, this particular gesture seems to express how man has continually been able to conquer the present, which is significant in allowing him to face the future. Framing the relationship between the Postmodern Portal and the Green Man and developing a perceptive interpretation on the inherent symbols and illustrations embedded within these pieces of art are highly significant in understanding postmodernism, particularly reconstructive postmodernism. Reconstructive postmodernism has been described in the lecture as something that is fundamental to achieving a higher humanity. This is because this particular concept perceives that understanding human conditions, through significant interpretation of the past and the present, are highly significant in determining how the future would be like for man. Moreover, in knowing these things, man will be able to understand himself because of his knowledge of where he came from, where he is at present time, and where he is heading, leading him to achieve a sense of self that allows him to conquer the course of life and the past, present, and future of the human race. Indeed, achieving higher humanity does adhere to the principle upheld by the Northern Arizona University, that â€Å"to be educated is to become more human. † The plot perceived within the links connecting the Postmodern Portal and the Green Man places the past, the present, and the future side by side. This particular concept is inherent in the works of Robinson Jeffers. In one of Jeffers’ poem, â€Å"To the Stone-Cutters,† he sought to concede to the inescapable passage of time which would inevitably fragment the life of man into the past, the present, and the future. Moreover, in â€Å"Continent’s End,† Jeffers was able to convey the importance of remembering the past, especially how man came to be in this planet, in order for us to re-evaluate how we changed and are changing in order for us to reconstruct a much better future that is free from pride that abounds from self-righteousness and bitterness. The symbolisms of humanity in Remedios Varo’s works are more explicit, owing to how she was able to capture significant and discernible meanings through her artistry. Varo’s paintings, particularly in the â€Å"Discovery of a Mutant Geologist† and the â€Å"Creation of Birds† illustrate a fusion of the past, the present and the future. The pictorial landscape signifies the unpretentious nature of the past, the involved disposition of the present, and the avant-garde quality of the future. It may be observed how the setting chosen by Varo in the â€Å"Discovery of a Mutant Geologist† was a testing site for nuclear weapons before. The painting shows how the site looked like in the past but how we differently view at present time due to man’s perceptions of war, and how continuing human activities that are labeled as destructive reaching the level of how war is unconstructive will affect how man will change or metamorphose in the future. Varo’s paintings also link how the past, the present, and the future are interrelated, and that in seeking to understand these links or relationships, man will be able to view how he has acted to shape the course of events leading to the present and determine how he will be able to act with purpose and significance to lead a better future for the human race.

A Christmas Carol

Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol illustrates many themes of the Victorian era. Poverty, charity and greed are major themes of this work. This essay highlights examples of these themes as portrayed by Dickens.Poverty was a striking characteristic of Victorian England, especially noticeable in the cities.   The population grew exponentially during the nineteenth century so it is a very practical suggestion offered by the Ghost of Christmas Present when he observes of Tiny Tim, â€Å"If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population†(Dickens).As a result of overpopulation, there was huge pressure on housing which in turn led to poor sanitary conditions and rampant destitution. ‘The ways were foul and narrow, the shops and houses wretched; the people half-naked, drunken, slipshod, ugly. Alleys and archways, like so many cesspools, disgorged their offences of smell, and dirt† (Dickens).Children from lower class families suffered hugely as a result of poverty during this era.Families sometimes had to turn their children out because they couldn’t afford to keep them. In Stave Two, Scrooge’s sister Fan says, â€Å"Father is so much kinder than he used to be, thatI was not afraid to ask him once more if you might come home and he said yes you should† (Dickens). Children all too often, were the open faces of poverty during this era. At the end of Stave Three, the Ghost of Christmas Future shows Scrooge his legacy as a result of his greed i.e. two very destitute children. â€Å"The boy is Ignorance. The girl is Want† (Dickens).With huge poverty, came the birth of social conscience amongst the middle and upper classes. Many charities that exist today have roots in the Victorian era. Scrooge gets a sudden attack of charity after seeing himself alone as a child.He says, â€Å"There was a boy singing a Christmas carol at my door last night. I should like to have given him something, thatà ¢â‚¬â„¢s all† (Dickens). Philanthropy also, was a growing practice and to die without leaving money to the less fortunate especially during such times of poverty, was almost unthinkable. â€Å"What has he done with his money?† asked a red-faced gentleman. â€Å"I haven’t heard†, said the man, â€Å"left it to his company, perhaps. He hasn’t left it to me. That’s all I know† (Dickens).Christmas time was the perfect opportunity to illustrate the charitable obligation of the rich to the poor.   Christmas time stressed traditional values of neighborliness, charity and good will.   Accordingly, Scrooge buys the largest turkey he can find for the Cratchits in order to change the course of the future.In Stave Two, the Ghost of Christmas Present shows Scrooge a scene from Mr Fezziwig’s Ball in order to illustrate that happiness and cheer can be given to people without costing a fortune. Scrooge concludes, â€Å"The happiness he giv es is quite as great as if it cost a fortune† (Dickens).Whilst a lot of charity and philanthropy no doubt resulted from an honest desire to ease the suffering of the poor, guilt also played its part. Many assuaged their guilt by giving to charity but they also didn’t want to waste charity on the undeserving. If we were giving Scrooge the benefit of the doubt, perhaps this is why he chose not to give his money away. â€Å"No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle† (Dickens).The opposite of charity is greed. The Ghost of Christmas Present says, â€Å"There is nothing on which it is as hard as poverty, and there is nothing on it professes to condemn with such severity as the pursuit of wealth† (Dickens). Like Scrooge, if one dedicated his life only to the accumulation of wealth, he was likely to pay for it in death. â€Å"It’s likely to be a very cheap funeral† said the businessman, â€Å"for upon my life I don’t know of anybody to go t o it!†(Dickens)Victorian society norms dictated that it was literally unthinkable to be greedy. In Stave One, Scrooge is visited by men asking for donations. â€Å"What shall I put you down for?† asks the man. Scrooge replies, â€Å"Nothing!† The man misunderstands Scrooge, â€Å"You wish to be anonymous?† The church played an important role in imparting the virtues of charity and the consequences of greed. The Ghost of Christmas Present says to Scrooge, â€Å"It may be that in the sight of heaven, you are more worthless and less fit to live than millions like this poor man’s child† (Dickens).

Black Is Black Aint Essay

The final film by Marlon Riggs, Black is†¦Black Ain’t, is concerned with the state of the African American community. This film essentially asks the question, what does it mean to be black? The director and producer, Marlon Riggs, guides viewers along an â€Å"an up-front examination of racism, sexism, and homophobia within the black community itself. Bringing together personal stories, interviews, music, history, and performance, Black Is†¦ Black Ain’t asks African Americans: What is black, black enough, or too black? †1 Unfortunately, the AIDS-stricken director died before the film was completed. This film operates as a kind of last will and testament for Marlon Riggs. â€Å"He bequeaths the idea that rigid notions of what is or is not black behavior, of who is or isn’t black, need to be abandoned for the sake of strengthening the sense of community within the race. †2 The beginning of Black Is†¦ Black Ain’t explores the meanings associated with word black. I was very surprised to discover how most black people didn’t prefer being called or labeled black. Everything associated with the word black leads to disgrace and fear. Hence, the word black made most feel less than. At this time, a code of silence existed amongst black people. Living in a society that might lynch a person for being black, it makes sense that celebrating your blackness was forbidden. This eventually leads to the emasculation and castration of the black male. Pre civil rights, most black males were viewed as laughing, singing, entertainers and servants. The men were considered weak, and the women were considered strong and unwomanly. Anything associated with looking black was considered bad. The film uses the example of white hair as the good hair and frizzy curl hair as the bad hair. Post civil rights, out of centuries of emasculation, the black man needs to reclaim his power. Black people now embraced the word black as an act of self-empowerment. The black man now became patriarch. â€Å"Black Is†¦ Black Ain’t forcefully confronts the identification of blackness with a hyper-masculinity born of the ’60s Black Power movement. †3 Unfortunately, this self-empowerment has the capacity to imprison as well as liberate. The film reminds us that â€Å"slavery and its aftermath involved the emasculation-physical as well as psychological – of black men, the drive for black power was usually taken to mean a call for black male power, despite the needs of (and often with the complicity of) black women. That continues to result in the devaluing of black female contributions to the liberation struggle and in the subordination of black women in general. †4 The result of emasculation became hyper masculinity. This phenomenon confined the meaning of what it meant to be black even further. For example, to be black is not to be homosexual. This is due to the notion of homosexuality as the ultimate weakness. Hence there is often prejudice of homosexuals in the black community. The homophobic initiative from the black Catholic Church doesn’t make the situation any better. Hence, Marlon Riggs ties in his own story as a gay black man with AIDS. It really assists the film in showing the restrictions that exist in black unity. So what is the black identity? Are you black enough? Do you talk black? Are you a hyper masculine heterosexual male with kinky hair and a criminal record? I can see how it must be difficult to maintain a sense of communal self. Angela Davis one of the speakers in the film, provides this answer: â€Å"You take some color, a dash or a big dollop, it don’t matter, and you blend it with an assortment of physical features that reflect every face you might possibly encounter on this great earth, mix that up with a culture that just loves to improvise, signify, reclaim, renew, and read – and you’ve got, the recipe, for black folk. † 1 Independent Television Service 2 Cliff Thompson, â€Å"Black Is †¦ Black Ain’t† 3 Independent Television Service 4 Cliff Thompson, â€Å"Black Is †¦ Black Ain’t†.