Inside Out By Pete Docter And Ronnie Del Carmen Essay

The mind is a universal mystery that will forever be an ongoing adventure. For centuries, scientists have been baffled by the complexity of human thoughts and the functions of the brain. As scientists begin to focus on children and the complexity of a child’s growing mind, the world is able to watch not only the child grow, but also the brain grow as well. In Inside Out, Pete Docter and Ronnie del Carmen exemplify multiple physiological development theories and concepts in a young girl by the name of Riley who moves from a small hockey town in Minnesota to the big city of San Francisco. From start to finish, the audience watches Riley grow from a newborn baby into a blossoming twelve year old girl. One of the first developmental processes that appears is the aspect of easy temperament (256). Riley is a joyous little girl who promotes an excited and positive attitude quite constantly. The first portrayal of anger comes at the dinner table, but it is quickly deterred by a quick airplane technique that grasp the attention of the young toddler. The positive outlook and generally cheerful attitude is a slight but insightful indicator of an easy temperament child (256). Her entire disposition throughout the entire film stays majoritily positive. As we will later see in the upcoming paragraphs, proper parenting and emotional responses help lead to the easy and positive temperament of Riley. Moreover, a child is entered into this world without any expectation of what its future

The Effect Of Genetic Diversity On Living Things Are The...

The main cause of genetic diversity in living things are the five processes of evolution. These five processes- genetic drift, gene flow, natural selection, speciation, and mutations- all affect allele frequencies within a population in different ways, thus, creating genetic diversity. Population change is in direct relation to both genetic drift and gene flow. Genetic drift is defined as â€Å"variation in the relative frequency of different genotypes in a small population.† This variation is caused by two types of genetic drift also known as the Bottleneck effect and the Founders effect. A Bottleneck effect is typically caused by a random event such as hunting or a natural disaster which can significantly reduce a population. Although a population can gain back their original population size after a Bottleneck effect, their genes have been permanently affected, resulting in much less genetic variation than that of a population that was not affected by a Bottleneck effect. Ex amples of genetic diversity due to a Bottleneck effect include the lack of genetic variation due to intense hunting in the 1890’s within the Northern elephant seal population compared to the large Southern elephant seal population. A Founders effect occurs when individuals from a large population branch out and create a new colony. Due to the small population, the colony is more likely to have less genetic variation from the original population. An example of a Founders effect is the presence of PolydactylyShow MoreRelatedGenetic Diversity and Survival of the Fittest1447 Words   |  6 PagesHeterozygosity is the measure of the genetic variation in a population at a particular gene locus. Genetic variation within a population is important in maintaining or increasing the fitness of members in the population and ultimately the survival of the species. Fitness is the ability for a species of a certain genotype to reproduce and is often times equal to the proportion of the individual’s genes in all the genes of the next generation. Positive correlations have been made between the heterozygosityRead MoreDna Testing And Law Enforcement Officers Essay1825 Words   |  8 Pagesforensics is a division of forensic science that focuses on the use of genetic material in criminal investigation to answer questions pertaining to legal situations, including criminal and civil cases. Through DNA testing, law enforcement officers are able to identify human remains or the individual responsible for a crime. DNA testing is a highly advanced scientific process that involves replicating the human DNA sequence to create a genetic map of an individual. Because of its reliability, DNA testing hasRead MoreHuman Behavior and the Socil Environment7216 Words   |  29 Pages2012 The general concept of Social Work is defined by human behavior and the environment. These two components are the tools that give meaning to the profession and narrate its functions in the broadest terms. Behavior is a characteristic of living things which is often identified with life itself. Modern day Social Work practice dates back to several social movements of the 19th century and beyond and to two very prominent perspectives on the origin of human problems: those aspects that viewedRead MoreBCH190 Essay14810 Words   |  60 Pageschange for the organism (D) is a random change in DNA sequence (E) none of these answers are correct 12. When we muse about the question â€Å"What is Life?- What impresses us at first glance, is its diversity. But we also are interested in its unity. What feature seems to be shared by all living organisms on this planet? (A) they all move (B) they all contain information that is stored in chain molecules (C) they never change but remain exactly the same from on generation to the next Read MoreAp Biology Practice Questions2588 Words   |  11 Pagesunrelated effects. Epistasis The interaction of genes that are not alleles, in particular the suppression of the effect of one such gene by another. Gene collaboration Polygenetic inheritance Polygenic inheritance is the inheritance of quantitative traits influenced by multiple genes. Complementary genes one of a pair of genes, each from different loci, that together are required for the expression of a certain characteristic Evolution Explain Charles darwins theory of evolution by naturalRead MoreComplexity Science And Systems Thinking4544 Words   |  19 Pagessome clarity and definition to the inquiry, then I will explore the sciences that attribute the self as a system, and furthermore, as a complex adaptive system in order to illuminate the various aspects of self that contribute to transformative processes. Complexity Systems Complexity. Complexity theory, also known as complexity science, or complex systems, is a unifying framework to understand how parts of a system and their relationships give rise to the collective behaviors of a system, andRead MoreGenetic and Environmental Factors of Intelligence Essay example3390 Words   |  14 PagesGenetic and Environmental Factors of Intelligence One of the most interesting and controversial areas in behavioral genetics, human intelligence is currently assumed to be subject to both genetic and environmental influences. While this assumption is accepted by a majority of geneticists and behavioral scientists, there is great disagreement on the degree of influence each contributes. Arguments for environmental influences are compelling; at the same time there is growing evidence thatRead MoreLiving in the Environment 16th Edition Chapter Review and Vocabulary6220 Words   |  25 PagesLiving in the Environment : Concepts, Connections and Solutions Miller and Spoolman 16th Edition Practice Questions: Chapters 1-25 2009 - 2010 Practice Questions – Chapter 1 Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Describe what is meant by the phrase â€Å"an environmentally sustainable society† as related to the human population. Distinguish between (a) natural capital (b) natural resources (c) natural services (d) solar capitalRead MoreTwo Approaches In Psychology Essay2019 Words   |  9 PagesTwo Approaches In Psychology In 1900, Sigmund Freud, a neurologist living in Vienna, first published his psychoanalytic theory of personality in which the unconscious mind played a crucial role. Freud combined the then current cognitive notions of consciousness, perception and memory with ideas of biologically based instincts, to make a bold new theory of psychodynamics. Freuds theory, which forms the basis of the psychodynamic approach, represented a challengeRead MoreUnifying Principles of10026 Words   |  41 Pagesthe age of three, according to Freud. This represents the beginning of our sense of other. The Ego is based on the reality principle (i.e., the recognition that other people have desires and needs). The Superego emerges at about the age of five. The Superego represents the moral development of a child. It is mainly through the child’s primary caregivers that a conscience develops, defining the difference between right and wrong. Both the Ego and Superego fall into the category of â€Å"other

Maternal smoking during pregnancy Free Essays

The Research Question would be â€Å"Are babies born from mothers who smoke during the pregnancy have greater chances of developing low-birth weight, compared to those born from mothers who do not smoke?† A study was conducted on pregnant women that belonged to a Maternity Hospital in Haguenau, France, in 1974.   248 pregnant women that smoked at least five cigarettes a day were defined as ‘cases’, and 196 pregnant women who did not smoke were defined as ‘controls’. Tests conducted on the placenta demonstrated higher incidences of defective trophoblasts in smokers compared to non-smokers. We will write a custom essay sample on Maternal smoking during pregnancy or any similar topic only for you Order Now    The signs of intrauterine hypoxia, low birth-weight and low placental weight, were also higher in smokers compared to non-smokers.   However, the study was not able to establish a relationship between low birth-weight and low placental weight or intrauterine hypoxia (Shipra, A. Et al, 1977). Another study conducted demonstrated that mothers who smoked during one pregnancy had produced infants with lower birth-weight, compared to those infants born during pregnancy when they did not smoke.   This was irrespective of the birth order and other factors that affect the growth of the unborn baby in the utreus.   The reduction in the birth weight was directly associated with the number of cigarettes smoked. Mothers, who smoked less, produced infants on an average 90 grams less than normal, whereas those who smoked heavily developed babies on an average 533 grams below normal.   Smoking brought about the development of several lesions in the placental due to under-perfusion (which was usually periodic).   Besides, pregnancy during smoking was on an average 1.5 days shorter than without smoking (Naeye, R.L., 1978). A study was also able to demonstrate that women who quit smoking during pregnancy are able to reduce the several risks associated with pregnancy such as low birth-weight, preterm labor, spontaneous abortion, etc, and period of breastfeeding also improved (Giglia, R.C. Et al, 2006). A study conducted in Johannesburg and Sweto, in 1990, demonstrated that women who smoked (6.1%) and used snuff (7.5%) during the pregnancy, produced babies who weight an average 2982 grams compared to babies of non-smokers who weighted 3148 grams, on an average.   However, environmental pollutants (such as passive smoking) did not significantly adversely affect the birth weight (Steyn, K., Et al, 2006). Another study conducted in Pelotas, Brazil, in 193, demonstrated that smoking in mothers produced babies on an average 142 grams below that of the non-smokers average.   The study also demonstrated that the risk of fetal retardation was higher with the extent of smoking.   However, the study did not find any relationship between preterm delivery and smoking (Horbta, H.L. Et al, 1997). Hence, it is obvious that birth-weight of the baby is directly affected to the extent of smoked (number of cigarettes) by the mother during pregnancy.   Further studies need to be conducted on the exact manner in which smoking causes a reduction in the birth-weight of the child. References: Giglia, R.C., Binns, C.W., Alfonso, H.S. (2006). Which women stop smoking during pregnancy and the effect on breastfeeding duration. BMC Public Health, 2696Z), 195. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16869976?dopt=AbstractPlus Horta, B.L., Victora, C.G., Menezes, A.M., Halpern, R., Barros, F.C. (1997). Low birthweight, preterm births and intrauterine growth retardation in relation to maternal smoking. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol, 11(2), 140-151. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9131707?dopt=abstractplus Naeye, R. L. (1978). Effects of maternal cigarette smoking on the fetus and placenta. Br J Obstet Gynaecol, 85(10), 732-737. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/708656?dopt=abstractplus Spira, A., Philippe, E., Spira, N., Dreyfus, J., Schwartz, D. (1977). Smoking during pregnancy and placental pathology. Biomedicine, 27(7Z), 266-270. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/588667?dopt=Abstract Steyn, K., de Wet, T., Saloojee, Y., Nel, H., Yach D. (2006). The influence of maternal cigarette smoking, snuff use and passive smoking on pregnancy outcomes: the Birth to Ten Study. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol, 20(2), 90-99. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmedcmd=Retrievedopt=AbstractPluslist_uids=16466427query_hl=6itool=pubmed_DocSum How to cite Maternal smoking during pregnancy, Essay examples

Strategic Management and Zara free essay sample

Case Introduction: When you are talking about Zara, the flagship brand of the Spanish retail conglomerate Inditex, you are talking about one of the leading fast-fashion retailers in the world. Over the past 10 years there have just been few companies receiving as much of attention because of their overwhelming success. But even though the company was often praised for their operation and information system, their marketing and centralized distribution model Zara was always questioned to maintain their success in the long term but until now proofed their critics wrong. In this case study we will lead of with some detailed information about Zara’s history to give you a better understanding for the company and their values, mission and vision. A strategic analysis of their external environment, the industry with their competitors and international opportunities will be followed by an internal analysis giving inside in the company’s operations and logistics, their strengths and weaknesses. Tangibly Inditex, the parent company of Zara, has 11. 02% net margin on operations. Intangibly, customer loyalty and brand recognition have provided significant value to Zara. 8. Information Technology @Zara DBMS A DBMS is a set of software programs that controls the organization, storage, management, and retrieval of data in a database. E. g MySQL , Oracle ERP ERP software applications to improve the performance of organizations resource planning, management control and operational control. e. g SAP ,people soft Centralised server managing and controlling of data and command from single point e. g Napster RFID Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is a technology that uses communication via radio waves to exchange data between a reader and an lectronic tag attached to an object, for the purpose of identification and tracking. E. g Barcode detector * 9. Information Technology @Zara The blend of technology Strategy enabled Zara to break all the rules in the fashion industry Zara†™s store managers leads the intelligence gathering efforts that ultimately determines what ends up on each stores rack. ZARA uses PDA’s (personal digital assistant) to gather customer input PDA’s are also linked to stores POS system, showing how garments ranked by Sales Zara’s Staff regularly take feedback from customers on what they they would like to see more of. . g colour design etc * 10. IS practical Implementation , showing its potential for supporting enterprise growth * 11. ZARA-IS Implementation * 12. Design The company can design a new product and have finished goods in its stores in four to five weeks It can modify existing items in as little as two weeks. Shortening the product life cycle means greater success in meeting consumer preferences. Zara’s capacity to adopt to new trends, understanding differences between markets was highly relied on ‘High frequency Information Systems’. Sources of Information POS data Industry Publication TV Internet University Campuses * 13. Manufacturing Highly Automated and Capital Intensive factories Developed J. I. T system incorporation with Toyota Production Scheduling Reduced Cost – Transportation and production Material Requirement and Planning Fully Automated Order Application Sources of Information Internal 20 owned factories near Spain External – HK and Barcelona * 14. Distribution Transportation and Logistics Route and schedule optimization Queue Management Systems for turnaround and waiting period of the ships at the docks Air Travel (Main Costs) – Optimize routes to minimize cost and travel time inventory management Sources of Information Centralised Distribution System Mobile Tracking Systems PDA Distribution center in La Coruna Factories in Arteixo * 15. Zara’s inventory model * 16. Advantages Vertical Integration Zara’s Business System through the Value Chain Forward Vertical Integration – Reduces Bullwhip effect Backward Vertical Integration – Reduces Cost and Improves Quality * 17. Retailing Sources of Information store manager’s decision influence on the replenishment of garments there is a heavy reliance on historical information from the store manager Promoting Quick response Coordination between retailing and manufacturing Sales and trend forecasting Marketing Strategies for different markets The aggregated demand is ascertained and the supply is allocated according to past performance of the various garments at the stores * 18. Potential for supporting enterprise growth * 19. Enterprise growth Correct prediction of Buying Behaviour and trend analysis Market research on university campuses, discos, mall etc. Feedback from stores Sales report Helps in taking quick decisions Regional managers analyse the collected feedback. Analysis used by designers to introduce new product line and modify existing ones Designers decide with commercial teams on fabric, cut, price of new garments. Inventory Control Distribution Constant stream of information Leads to constant input in product development process. Control early investments in raw material, direct and indirect of process and production capabilities. Communication and IT are essential in maintaining constant interface of various functions of management and production control. 20. Enterprise growth Cont Competitive Advantage Reduced Cost Reduced time and effort Customer Relations/Satisfaction Feedback – Process Improvements * 21. CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED * 22. People Cultural Issues Language Issues Technical Issues Procedures Solution: Provision of training. Research and analysis of various markets. Acquisition of new workforce. Recruitme nt of local people. * 23. Database Maintain huge amount of data/ data loss Organize and interpret from available data Security measures against spy Compatibility Solution: Technological Up gradation Hire skilled employees. Acquire reliable storage devices which is a critical for the company. * 24. Hardware/Software 18 months technology upgrade Compatibility between hardware and software. License issues Cost of equipment and technology Geographic and natural constraints Solution: Sharing information where there is sophisticated technology. Working under legal boundaries. * 25. Procedures Inventory management Procedure Change with technology. Data collection procedure in different markets. Sales amp; Trends forecasting in new markets Solution: Applying large number of POS in the supply chain. Formation of Local Teams to analyze the market for forecasting. * 26. Key Success Factors for Zara Business is built on quick response Production responds to trends. Deliveries are twice weekly, unlike most of the competitors weekly schedule. KSFs: Market Research Ready raw material base Multi-functional quick decision making Vertical integration to ensure control over supply chain, and proximity Technology Cost Control, despite flexibility Technology and Infrastructure

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The Death Penalty essays

The Death Penalty essays When a man is caught stealing another mans wallet, he is punished for his crime. He may be fined or sentenced to jail. It is up to a judge or jury to decide. When a man murders another man, he also needs to be punished. We live in a country that uses the death penalty and the penalty should stay in affect so the killers cannot be let out of prison to go on a killing spree. There have been many arguments about the death penalty: one being the cost and the second being killing of the wrong people. Both of these arguments have been shown to favor the death penalty, the Bible even shows in favor of the death penalty. Many people claim that the death penalty costs more than life without parole, but they are wrong. Granted, the initial costs of the death penalty do cost more than the life imprisonment cases. The criminals that receive life without parole are sentenced to a maximum-security area of a prison, which in turn, ends up costing more money. When you comparing the cost of the two you must use the cost of cells for criminals who have committed the same category of crime. According to the organization, Justice For All the average cell is $34,200 per year. Which means an average cell for the criminal who is sentenced to life without parole, multiplied by an average of 50 years, at a basic 2% annual cost increase, plus $75,000 for trail and appeals will cost $3.01 million dollars (Death...). Where as a criminal who is sentenced to death for the same charge will have a cell at $60,000 a year for an average of 6 years, at the same 2% annual cost increase, plus $1.5 million for trial and appeals will only cost $1.88 million dollars (Death...). There is also the big complaint of the death penalty killing the wrong people. In the many criminals that are said to be innocent only 80% have shown no evidence to support their innocence. Of the criminals that are supposedly innocent and are executed only equals ...

Principles of Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Principles of Marketing - Essay Example It is irrefutable that this principle also changes the role and function of marketing managers in the business organization. Marketing management is defined as the "analysis, planning, implementation, and control of programs designed to create, build, and maintain beneficial exchanges with target buyers for the purpose of achieving organizational objectives (Kotler & Armstrong 2001, p.14)." Truly, the business arena has evolved from placing emphasis on production, product improvements, and selling approaches and started to focus on customers. Marketing management functions now covers how a company can create and extend more valuable goods and services to each customer. This paper will look at the evolution of different philosophies which relates to marketing. In order to fully offer insight regarding the difference of marketing concepts to other competing thoughts, the five main concepts namely, production concept, product concept, selling concept, marketing concept, customer concept, and societal marketing concept will be briefly defined and discussed. Lastly, this paper will also expound why organizations should focus on applying the marketing concept on their operations. The marketing concept holds that "achieving organiza... The marketing concept rests on four pillars namely, target market, customer needs, integrated marketing and profitability. Companies capitalizing on marketing concept first define a specific target market as an aim. This helps them to tailor a specific marketing which appeals to the target market. In order to become effective, marketers should be able to know their customers' needs. Though this task can be daunting as customer needs are often unexpressed and is hard to define, the marketing concept strongly advises companies to know their customers in order to come up with products that deliver superior value. Integrated marketing means that all the departments of the firm work together to serve the interest of the customer. This transfers the responsibility of the marketing department to all the functional areas. Marketing concept holds that marketing is a responsibility and must be embraced by all employees because everything they do has a corresponding impact to the customer. (Kot ler 2003). Marketing, aside from satisfying customers, should also help business organizations reach their goal of profitability. As to be discussed in the below, the main difference of the marketing concept to other philosophies is its employment of an outside-in perspective. The marketing concept "starts with a well defined market, focuses on customer needs, coordinates all activities that will affect customers, and produces profits by satisfying customer needs" (Kotler 2003, p. 20). The Production Concept The production concept is recognized as one of the oldest philosophies employed in business operations. This concept holds that "consumers will prefer products that are

Business Model of Odyssey Logistics & Technology Corporation Term Paper

Business Model of Odyssey Logistics & Technology Corporation - Term Paper Example The Odyssey team of chemical engineers and logisticians brings unparalleled expertise to the logistics supply chain in all modes of transport. The Odyssey Global Logistics Platform is a transportation management infrastructure that serves as the technology backbone to Odyssey's service offering. Odyssey International LLC is a licensed export freight forwarder and wholly owned subsidiary of Odyssey Logistics & Technology, managing exports to more than 80 countries. Odyssey Overland LLC is a wholly owned affiliate of Odyssey Logistics & Technology Corporation operating as a broker and domestic freight forwarder for bulk and package truck shipments in North America. The company is backed by investors Trident Capital, LogiSpring, Boston Millennia Partners, CMEA Ventures and RRE Ventures. Odyssey Logistics & Technology Corporation has a team of experts in Supply Chain and Logistics Management, commercial carrier management, logistics operations and execution, and supply chain technology. They use the Supply Chain Management (SCM) system to support these processes called the Odyssey Solution based on the Odyssey Global Logistics Platform that provides a single interface to the chemical and process industry logistics markets. Odyssey Solution is a Business Information System that stores information about the complete suite of logistics services in all modes of transport, globally. The company tailors its service offerings to meet its clients' needs, leveraging its technology platform and information systems to provide any service from a single point solution to a complete logistics solution. They own no transportation equipment or warehouses, allowing them to negotiate as an independent, neutral party in the marketplace, acting in the best interests of the customers. The Business Information System Odyssey Solution manages all aspects of the supply chain from inbound sourcing and delivery logistics through outbound shipment, handling, consolidation, deconsolidation, distribution, and delivery of end products. Odyssey can, through its integrated transportation management system, provide its clients with cargo planning, tendering, shipment visibility and configurable event management, freight audit and pay ment, and management reporting.

Should individuals have the right to end their lives by means of Essay

Should individuals have the right to end their lives by means of euthanasia (physician-assisted suicide) - Essay Example Some patients believe that they have their â€Å"constitutional right† (Goldman & Schafer, 2011, p.7) to make a decision about their life and opting for a more dignified death. Forman (2008, p.7) writes that the concept of assisted suicide is common to euthanasia which literally means good death. There is a thought that such a practice is a blessing for those who are suffering from endless pain that cannot be lessened even with the use of medicine or years of treatment. Panzer (2000, par.8) states that, â€Å"One method of hastening death used by physicians, nurses and even family members is to administer overly high dosages of narcotics, sedatives or antidepressants when the patient has no need for them.† Lethal injections are also used to hasten death. High doses of morphine are also given. Hence, the primary aim is never to kill and to get relieved ourselves, but to help the patient to die an easy death and relieve him of his pain. Moreover, individual’s consent matters the most (Behuniak & Svenson, 2003, p.11). Otherwise, obviously, it becomes a murder. After all, it is he who is suffering from all the pain and distress. It is a very hard task to decide whether or not to take a patient’s life deliberately. Consider a patient with a deadly disease or cruel debility which has made his life so unbearable and so troublesome with pain that pleasing, significant, focused survival has ceased to exist. If such a patient says, â€Å"I am unable to bear this pain. This is becoming intolerable for me and I no longer want to become a burden on my family. Please relieve me of this torment.† After considering all alternatives, it would be wise for the physician to respect and honor his choice of dignified death. The role of the physician is to do what is in the best interest of the patient (Orfali, 2011); and sometimes, it becomes better for the patient to die instead of living in torment and despair w hen there is no chance

An Overview Of The Digital Divide

An Overview Of The Digital Divide This essay defines and addresses the significance of the digital divide providing evidence to support its existence in the United States. It analyzes findings from various research reports and case studies identifying factors that cause the divide. The digital divide is a technology gap between the haves and the have-nots. As a result of these gaps, 21st century learners will fall further behind and will not be able to reap the full benefits of our fast-growing technology driven society. The digital divide is the technology gap between people with access to digital and information technology and those with limited or no access (NTIS, 1998). The digital divide is often referred to as the technology gap between the haves and the have-nots. There are many factors that inhibit student access to computers and the internet. There is a digital divide among computer and internet access by race, income, education and location, as well as physical disabilities (Fourie Bothma, 2006). Research shows that Caucasian Americans access to digital and information technology at 46.1% nearly doubles that of African Americans at 23.5% and Hispanic Americans at 23.6%. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders exceed all racial/ethnic groups at 56.8% (Athena Alliance, 2001). Minority groups are at a disadvantage when it comes to having access to computers and the internet but it is not because they are minorities. Their limited access is because they are at a socio-economic disadvantage due to lower education levels and poorer incomes (Solomon, 2002). The technology gap by race seems to be closing significantly. This is due to the availability of computers and internet access at schools, libraries and community centers. Yet, there is still a technology gap in low-income and rural communities. Socio-economic factors play a major role in the technology gap between students. Poverty remains a major factor that limits students access to technology. Only 35% of households in lower socio-economic groups have internet access while 59% of middle income groups, 73% of upper middle income groups, and 83% of those in top income groups have access to the internet (Gartner Group, 2000). Now more than ever, unequal adoption of technology excludes many from reaping the fruits of the economy. Sectors of the population are excluded from the power and the economical benefits offered (Fourie Bothma, 2006). Divisions among the population are not just due to income but also location. There is a digital divide by geographical location. For students in high-poverty and rural areas, libraries can be the only way to get online (Barack, 2005). A digital divide separates rural America from the rest of the nation when it comes to broadband internet use and access. Only 24% of adults in rural America have high-speed internet access, compared to 38% of urban Americans and 40% of suburban Americans who have access (Perkins, 2006). Efforts are being made by the government and the private sector to increase connectivity in rural America. People with disabilities face a significant digital divide as well. Despite regular increases, both metro and non-metro people with disabilities have lower rates of internet use than their geographic counterparts with no disability (Dobransky, 2006). Surveys consistently report that people with disabilities have only half the rate of internet access of people without a disability (RTC, 2006). Obstacles that Americans with disabilities face include how costly adapted hardware and software can be, limited locations for internet access, workplace internet access maybe unavailable because of unemployment, and internet content may be frustrating because sites are not accessible to people using assistive technology (NTIS, 2000). Educators at all levels must keep up with the digital world inhabited by a new type of learner whose worldview is often developed through surfing the web, instant-messaging, and online activities like video games or social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace (Menard, 2008). To level the playing field for these 21st century learners or digital natives, we must bridge the technology gap that exists among these students by racial/ethnic, socio-economic, educational and geographical factors, as well as limited accessibility due to physical disabilities. According to Menard (2008), todays young people were born into the Internet era and face a life saturated by digital media. Their interaction with technology will deeply affect the way these learners interact with their environment. To be successful in todays technology driven society, students must have equal access to computers and information technology. References Barack, L. (2005). Gauging the digital divide. School Library Journal, 51(8), 21. Retrieved August 12, 2009, from Research Library. (Document ID: 882387801). Dobranksky, K. Hargittai, E. (2006). The disability divide in Internet access and use. Information, Communication Society, 9, 3, 313-334. Fourie, I. Bothma, T. (2006). Addressing the digital divide in teaching information retrieval: A theoretical view on taking students from ICT access to knowledge sharing. The Electronic Library, 24(4), 469-489. Retrieved August 12, 2009, from Research Library. (Document ID: 1142659581). Gartner Group (2000). The digital divide and American society. Available: http://www.3gartner.com Menard, J. (2008). Higher ed responds to the digital generation. The New England Journal of Higher Education, 23(1), 13. Retrieved August 12, 2009, from ProQuest Education Journals. (Document ID: 1529959711). NTIA (1998). Falling through the net: Defining the digital divide. NTIA No. PB99156614 Available: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ NTIA (2000). Falling through the net: Toward digital inclusion. A report on Americans access to technology tools. NTIA No. PB99144487. Available: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ NTIA (2000). Falling through the net: A survey of the have nots in rural and urban America. Available: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/net2/falling.html Perkins, B. (2006). Location spawned digital divide can cost you. Realty Times. Available: http://realtytimes.com RTC (2006). Disability and the Digital Divide: Comparing Surveys with Disability Data. Available: http://rtc.ruralinstitute.umt.edu Solomon, G. (2002). Digital equity. Its not just about access anymore. Technology Learning, 22(9), 18-26. Retrieved August 12, 2009, from ProQuest Computing. (Document ID: 115857641).

Got Trees?The New American Youth Counterculture :: essays research papers

Brad turns to his companion Les. He is wearing an oversized t-shirt sporting some trendy pop-culture phrase that has long since lost any reference or significance. He sports jeans that are neither loose nor tight, very functional. Brad is in essence, every man America. Les is a skinny short boy, pale with frizzy blond hair. He too is dressed in a peculiar sort of anti-fashion, a fashion so slyly plain and unrecognizable that it defies the very nature of fashion itself. They are both seventeen. "Yo, when’s Tim coming back with our trees? I need to blaze before I go home." Engaged in the continuing struggle to find marijuana, Brad is neither distressed nor overly excited, but displays a Taoist sort of calm. Les responds with an ambivalent answer and a request - "What's the best kind of music to listen to while you're high?" In this simple question, Les may anticipate the next wave of marijuana culture. But to understand the cultural currents and nature of th is existential convergence, we must first dive deeper into what has become the most genuine counterculture of modern times. Marijuana was originally viewed as merely another tool for spiritual short cuts and mind expansion. At this point, it was confined to an elite group of self-righteous hipsters who could find no better way to communicate the essence of the drug that outdated modes of artistic expression. However, in post-psychedelic America, marijuana soon took on a new, more democratically inspired significance. Marijuana became a more recreational drug, soon finding its way into the melting pot for subversive trend, teenage America. Marijuana is a mild hallucinogen, but really it's more like a combination of speed and rat poison, only not bad for you. Marijuana makes each moment significant. The now takes on supreme importance. The future and the past become no longer points for idle speculations, but reductions of functionality constrained by the now. It is this post-temporal affect that serves to liberate users from their previous outdated modalities of experience-defined enjoyment. Experience is secondary to the transcending reality of every moment. Cognizant of the fact that meaningful experience is really quite unlikely, these post-hedonists embrace the continuation of their culture as a surrogate for experience; when the now is the all, an experience is created. There is little risk of long term consequence, as they recognize the danger in harder drugs like ecstasy, which is a combina tion of coke and heroin, and LSD, which is essentially pure speed.

Discrimination against people with HIV at work

Monday morning was the best time of the week for mike for he loved going to work which could not be said for most of his colleagues. Mike had wanted to be a system analyst all his life and though he had been working at Mercury Star for four and a half years. He came into the office with the drive, sense of excitement, enthusiasm and expectation that an 8 year old boy had when his dad took him to get his first bicycle.His daily routine involved; getting into the office at least thirty minutes early so as to have enough time to settle in, review the previous day’s work and establish what would be his workload for the day. The first thing he did was to sit and admire the two beautiful, polished glass trophies which sat on the table on the left side of the room next to the picture of his girlfriend. These trophies were the reward for his hard earned success as he had been the firm’s employee of the year for the last two consecutive years.It was unusual for a 28 year old to have achieved that kind of success in such a short time as mike had already been promoted to a managerial post. Mike was a respected man in his work place and his employees looked up to him and some even pegged him as they guy who will be a Chief Executive Officer by the time he was 35. though he downplayed this remarks he always felt that he had the potential and after wining his second employee of the year award that became his new ambition. Within just four years he had become the one of the best system analysts in the city.Mike had his whole future planned out, how he would propose to his long time girlfriend by the end of the year, he was in the middle of negotiating a mortgage with the local bank and he was paying the last installment on his BMW M9. He even drew up a plan in which he planned to work extra so that he would be able to go into retirement by the age of 40 and set up a system analysis consultancy firm within the city (Geoffrey 23). His position in the office came w ith a health insurance package which until this time Mike had never used it.But on this Monday morning Mike felt different he felt like he was coming up with flu so after he reported to work he took the day off to go and see his doctor which was unusual as Mike rarely got sick. The doctor at first was not able to tell what was wrong with him so he ran some tests. When Mike came to see the doctor late in the afternoon the news that doctor gave him made him feel like his life had just been pulled right from under his feet. The words â€Å"I’m sorry Mike but you are HIV positive† keep ringing in his head.Mike did not even hear what the doctor said for next few minutes as he tried to let the news sink in. The medical cover policy had a condition that when an employee visits the firm’s doctor, he had to furnish the management with a complete report of the doctor’s examination. Mike went back to work after three days and tried to act like nothing had happened. But however much he tried he could not shake off what the doctor had told him he couldn’t and on this particular day he got to work late which had never happened.A soon as got to the office he was informed that the boss wanted to see him. When he got into his office, the boss offered him a sit and for the next fifteen minutes he went on and on how Mike was an excellent employ but what happened after that Mike would never have contemplated. The boss told him that the board had discussed on the medical report and had come to the conclusion to let him go. It was at this point that he truly felt his world come crumble and all his dreams and ambitions came tumbling down. What and end to a brilliant young man’s career. Discrimination against People with HIV at Work A salesman representative is terminated from his job when he was diagnosed as HIV positive. He was about to complete the six months requirement in order to become a regular employee but he was terminated under the dubious excuse of â€Å"grave misconduct†. But the real cause of his termination is his health condition, specifically, being positive on HIV or AIDS. The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, more commonly known as AIDS, is caused by the HIV or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The virus impairs the body’s defenses or immune system and leaves the body vulnerable to various serious and fatal illnesses (â€Å"AIDS and the Workplace†, 1992).People with HIV infection are living like normal people. They are able to perform well in their community and in their workplace environment. But still, discrimination against people with HIV is still prevalent in some areas, especially in the workplace. The United Nations campaigns for the ban of prejudice against peopl e with HIV/AIDS. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for worldwide efforts in battling not only the disease but the discrimination that is also widespread (â€Å"Ban urges end to Prejudice against People Living with HIV/AIDS†, 2008).Companies should address issues that are related to HIV/AIDS by enhancing a non-discriminatory workplace environment and by providing education regarding the frequently asked questions on AIDS. For the workplace environment that has an increased risk in blood exchange, the company should apply a control program in order to monitor and regulate the activities in the workplace (â€Å"AIDS and the Workplace†, 1992). People infected with HIV have the capacity to live normally in the society. And as such, we must not deprive the infected people with AIDS to do their tasks and participate and socialize with the other members of the society.

Vinamilk Field Trip

Ho Chi Minh International University School of Business Administration Ho Chi Minh International University School of Business Administration REPORT on FIELDTRIP Group: Name Student’s ID Nguy? n Khanh An Tr? n Quang Ngan BAIU08057 Tr? n Minh Thanh BAIU08069 Hu? nh Ng? c Thanh Truc BAIU08078 Nguy? n Hu? nh Qu? c Nh? t Report on Fieldtrip BAIU08214 BAIU08103 Page 1 Ho Chi Minh International University School of Business Administration QUESTION OF REPORT ON FIELDTRIP 1. Describe the factory of Vinamilk. What is the most impressive that you've seen in the fieldtrip? 2.What are the difficulties that Vinamilk may have while exporting to Iraq? Your suggestions to overcome. Some Brief about Vinamilk Corp. Vinamilk is the biggest dairy company in Vietnam. Based on the UNDP 2007 report, it is also the 15th largest company in Vietnam. Established in 1976, Vietnam Dairy Products Joint Stock Company (VINAMILK) has since grown s trongly and become the leading business of the milk processing industry, now occupying 75% of the milk market share in Vietnam. In addition to strong domestic distribution with a network of 183 agencies throughout all 64 of 64 provinces.Vinamilk products are also exported to Iraq. In most western countries it does not meet the local hygiene standards and is therefore not allowed to be imported. VINAMILK is a state owned enterprise in which the government has 50. 01% of the shares and the rest of the shares are currently active trading at the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange. Vinamilk main competitor is Dutch Lady Vietnam, a division of Friesland Foods. Factories Thong Nhat Dairy Factory Truong Tho Dairy Factory Dielac Dairy Factory Saigon Milk Dairy Factory Hanoi Dairy Factory Can Tho Dairy FactoryNghe An Dairy Factory Binh Dinh Dairy Factory Also several joint ventures, such as the $45 million -dollar venture with SABMiller PLC to build a brewery in the Binh Duong province. Awards and achievements 1985 – Labour Medal of Third Ranking. 1991 à ¢â‚¬â€œ Labour Medal of Second Ranking. 1996 – Labour Medal of First Ranking. 2000 – Hero of Socialist Labor of Vietnam. 2001 – Labour Medal of Third Ranking. 2005 – Independence Medal of Third Ranking. Report on Fieldtrip Page 2 Ho Chi Minh International University School of Business Administration 2005 – Labour Medal of Third Ranking. 006 – â€Å"Supreme Cup† from Intellectual Property Association and Association of Small & Medium Enterprises, Vietnam. 1995-2007 – Saigon Marketing Newspaper Readers' Choice Awards. 1 – Describe the factory of Vinamilk. What is the most impressive that you've seen in the fieldtrip?  » Th? ng Nh? t Milk factory 12 D? ng Van Bi, Tru? ng Th? Ward, Th? D? c District, HOCHIMINH CITY TEL: (84. 8) 8 960 725 – Fax: (84. 8) 38 963 140 Specialzing in condensed milk, aseptic fresh milk, ice cream, yog urt and drinking yogurt. We are on a trip to Th? ng Nh? t factory.Factory is located in T h? D? c. It seems to be very fresh, don’t have many problem about traffic, polluted†¦ Firstly, we are introduced about their factory, their products and some questions are answer clearly. We realize that they produce a lot of product in that factory. When come to see the place they are working, I see a lot of part of the assembly line. Such as: Getting milk liqid, Sterilizing, Distributing, Adding sugar and other spice. et c†¦ Secondly, they took us to come to see their factory, machine, and explain us all the question about their factory, products†¦The important thing I impressed is that they have very few people, about 2- 3 workers in a part. That mean their factory is highl y automatic by machine, worker plays a role as a runner. + There are many pipes which milk flow in and come to many part of the manufacture. The liquid flow in the pipes about 30 minutes. This is some of our pictures that are allowed to take in some areas. A room have Pressure- cooker to have the milk fresh. An assembly line is running by a worker. It makes the milk-can come to the machine that pour the milk into. A machine pastes the label.Some of the workers arrange them into package, cotto n bucket. Report on Fieldtrip Page 3 Ho Chi Minh International University School of Business Administration All the process we can see is the machine working, can not smell any about milk. The machine is running so softly that seem to be very peaceful for other s living outside the factory. In brief, we want to say that they working in a regulation way, automatically, and clean. 2 – What are the difficulties that Vinamilk may have while exporting to Iraq? Your suggestions to overcome. We have some information about the relationship of Vinamilk and Iraq.First is Vinamilk’s top export markets are Iraq and Cambodia Vinamilk has made ambitious plans after it reported its record results in 2006. Stiff competition and high raw-material costs failed to dampen Vinamilkâ⠂¬â„¢s results. It reported profits of $46 million, or a share price of $0. 28 (up 20. 8 percent over the previous year). As a result, the processor powdered and condensed milk, fresh milk and yoghurt drinks has set targets of 15-20 percent growth of products in 2007. Vinamilk says its major export market is still Iraq, where it maintained an avera ge export value of over $80 million.Meanwhile, Cambodia was its fastest -growing market, reaching a business value of $3 million —up 74 percent compared to 2005. This is some of the difficulties that Vinamilk will face with: Vinamilk doesn’t have their ow n means of transport that will carry their product oversea. Reason: Viet Nam does not have shipping service to transport goods oversea Solution: They will have to sign a contract with a company to s hip goods oversea. Secondly is the time 2003 – 2004, Vinamilk won a contractor with Iraq about supporting milk product. So, the problem is that United Nation permiss them to trade with Iraq.However UN have the rule that goods must have an insurance. Reason: Because of the politics in Iraq is complex, required an insurance for goods Solution: They must sign a contract with an insurance company to have their goods be safety first. Then the product will be regularize to come in Iraq without any problem Third is the complex politics of Iraq and those country in M iddle East. Reason: the war of Iraq and US about mineral -oil Solution: They should study about their culture, the changes of politics situations and then making a decision of exporting. Try to realize the specific charactristics of Iraq’s market.This wil l show us how to react at anytime. Report on Fieldtrip Page 4 Ho Chi Minh International University School of Business Administration Fourth is the quality of milk. Reason: Influence of having melanine (a chemical cause cancer) in milk appear in China. Solution: They must have certification about their producr that it will not have melam ine and others extranous matter so that people will find out the best product to use. Last is the chage of price, finiancial situation in the world Reason: There are a price crisis in the world that make some banks go bankrupt. Solution:In some statistics about milk price, We realize that milk price in Viet Nam is highest in the world. Mr. Tr? n Ng? c Dung. E xpert market researcher of FTA said that: The average milk price in many country of East of Europe and South America is 0,4 USD, In China, North America is 0,8 USD. But in Viet Nam is 0,82 USD/kg. So, Vinamilk can decrease the milk price because they buy the milk from farmer in a lower price than any country. Furthermore, they still have profits if they reduce the price and have an advantage in Iraq’s market **** End of the report. Report on Fieldtrip Page 5

The Winslow Boy

The Winslow Boy Free Online Research Papers The Winslow Boy Theatre Essay Recently, I have been studying a play written by Terence Rattigan, titled â€Å"The Winslow Boy†. It is based on a true story during the depression building up to World War 1. The main theme that I have noticed throughout the book is the principle and concept of the phrase â€Å"Let right be done†. The second theme, which I find is almost equally as important, is that the ideology of a country, responsible for rights and justice, should never be looked past, even in times of war and International instability. Finally I am going to state and capture the philosophical differences between right and justice. Also discussing whether achieving justice also achieves right. The play itself, documents the struggle of Ronnie Winslow’s father, Arthur Winslow, as he tries to achieve what is right for his son. Ronnie had been expelled from his Naval College, without trial, for the theft of a 5-shilling postal order. There was no solid evidence that it was Ronnie that stole the postal order, but the Naval College took all of the circumstantial evidence into hand, considering the time periods of which Ronnie had the opportunity. Arthur, throughout the psychological massacre, sacrifices his health, his money, his dignity, and his closest characteristic, his pride. He keeps the case running, and keeps Sir Robert Morton, the highest regarded attorney of law in Britain at the time, on the case while slowly deteriorating, physically, emotionally and mentally. Many Interruptions during the case cause Arthur to have second thoughts, but he just keeps breaking through and going on with the case. Until Catherine’s marriage plans are threatened, by her groom’s father. And Arthur passes unto Catherine the power to halt the case. Catherine ends up giving the ongoing case the green light to go on even more. Until, in the end, the case is won. A rather ironic victory, resulting in huge material losses, but pride and dignity were regained. There are several key incidents, included in the plot, that show that the main theme of the entire play is the coveted phrase â€Å"Let Right Be Done†. The first incident, in which the concept of â€Å"Let Right Be Done† is sewn into the story, is during the scene that Arthur Winslow has to break the news to his eldest son, that he can longer attend Oxford University. Arthur Felt that paying the fees and funding for Dickie, his eldest son, to continue going to university every year was a huge gamble, and the â€Å"odds† of Dickie getting a degree at the end of the year were exceedingly low. Arthur felt that, the chances of Dickie getting a degree, compared to the annual tuition fees made it clear that he was paying for a lost cause, but Arthur needed all the money he could get to keep the case running. That scene, one of the first to truly express the principle, shows that Arthur will make many sacrifices and go through a lot of emotional pain to prevent ending the case. Arthur makes it clear that serious about Ronnie getting the essential rights and proving to the government that even during war, a time where everyone must make huge sacrifices, the law, still, may not overlook right. That is why it is a prime example, in which the concept of â€Å"Let Right Be Done† is included. The Second scene that frames the concept of â€Å"Let Right Be Done† is when Arthur hears news that Catherine’s fiancà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s father refuses to support his son, John, is he continues on to marry Catherine. John’s father does not want him to marry Catherine, because her family are currently in the media, obviously in the lawsuit against the navy. John’s father does not like this because he is a former Navy General. Arthur, After he finds out about John’s father, then caves to the pressure and since Catherine was clearly the favourite of Arthur he passes on the power to carry on, or end, the case to his daughter, Catherine, whom her marriage is threatened if the case goes on. Catherine then, patriotically, continues the case, through her marriage being in jeopardy, with the eternal line â€Å"Let Right Be Done†. The final scene, in which, I find strips off and unveils the bare anatomy of â€Å"Let Right Be Done† is post-case. Arthur and Ronnie emerging with a, rather, down victory. Sir Robert Morton arrives at the Winslow house, begins talking to Catherine, and announces â€Å"I wept today because right had been done† and Catherine replies â€Å"Not Justice?† Then Sir Robert speaks one of the most eternal lines throughout the play, â€Å"No. Not justice. Right. It is not hard to do justice-very hard to do right. Unfortunately, while the appeal of justice is intellectual, the appeal of right appears, for some odd reason, to induce tears in court. That is my answer and my excuse. And now, may I leave the witness box?† To understand the philosophical differences between â€Å"Right† and â€Å"Justice†, you must first understand the singular meanings for the words. Right is correct in judgment, opinion, or action. Right is also in conformity with fact. Yet justice is in conformity with the law, and what is politically right. Surely what is politically correct must succumb to what is morally correct in the world. Incontrovertibly the differences between right and justice are that justice, which is easily achieved, can be done by going through the law, which is continuously run in the country. But ‘Right’, which is much harder to obtain, has to be achieved through all of the correct morals and civil liberties. Right should be unalienable even if in collision with justice. The story of â€Å"The Winslow Boy† is made truly interesting by the complex and in-depth personas of the characters. But the most outstanding and intriguing character throughout the story, in my opinion, is undoubtedly Sir Robert Morton, the lawyer that defends the Winslow family. Sir Robert Morton is unpredictable, flamboyant and mysterious, to name only a few of his qualities. He is a psychological surgeon that cerebrally dissects all of his subjects that stand between him and justice, in this case justice and right. He is a young man, around the age of 35, and he is at the peak of his career. Sir Robert Morton, I feel, takes on the Winslow case because he sees it as a challenge; he sees it as a chance to prove right, when formerly he could only do justice. He takes the case because he believes in Ronnie. Clearly, Sir Robert Morton could do justice and win almost every case that he is employed to, but he was acting as an unscrupulous, justice-achieving machine and had not yet believed in a case to such an extent that it induced his tears in the courtroom, let alone achieving right. Into a more personal side of Sir Robert’s life, there is evidence to support the theory that Sir Robert could have possibly had sentimental feelings towards Catherine. Towards the end of the play, mid-case and post-case, Sir Robert’s way with words changes with low lucidity yet it can be significant if noticed. Sir Robert begins to put himself down while around Catherine. He begins to try and make Catherine feel higher. Evidence of this is when Sir Robert is talking to Catherine (Ref. p86) on the subject of Sir Robert’s stubbornness. Sir Robert says â€Å"Ah. That is perhaps the only quality I was born with-the ability to make myself a confounded nuisance.† I think that, like Catherine, Sir Robert is rather insecure about his emotions. He is very kept to himself. He hides behind a seemingly cold-blooded, dispassionate guise, which I would assume would assist in his career as a lawyer, but would not put him any place of happiness. He is so used to the use of his ‘poker-face’ that it has become his ongoing personality. Sir Robert also seems to think in such a way that career, justice and right must always come before such ‘evanescent’, ‘inconsequential’ emotions such as love. He feels that he must continue on as the loner he has always been on the inside. He supports others in achieving justice and happiness yet he has not gained support for himself. A seemingly insignificant trait of his personality makes it seem unlikely that he will be able to settle down and form a family, something about his character gives me idea that his life will continue hollow. He is an incredibly strong character that would be able to live out his life without a partner. Yet life without love can barely be called life. His life will most likely go on with a sentimental vacancy, and will always be slightly emptier than he would hope. Most of my above opinions derived from the scene right at the end of play where Sir Robert leaves the Winslow House, never to return. It was the opportune moment for either Catherine or Sir Robert to break the ice, for their obvious feelings towards each other, yet nothing happens. It is an anti-climax that truly made me think that the souls of Sir Robert and Catherine will continue on, in desolation and apathy. The scene almost sickened me that neither Catherine nor Sir Robert took action. Why would a beautifully growing flower refuse to bloom? Maybe afterwards they realised that they should have made their feelings known to each other, yet it was too late for their lonely hearts. And those hearts would continue on lonely. When I first began reading the play, I found it rather boring. But as it went on and I realised the principles and morals of the story I began to grow attached to the story. I thought the relationship between Catherine and Sir Robert was the most interesting issue, I was very interested in which direction the ‘romance’ between the two was going to go. I enjoyed adding my strong opinions on the anti-climax of Sir Robert and Catherine’s feelings for each other. I also took pleasure in writing about the extensive use of the concept â€Å"Let Right Be Done†. I enjoyed finding the philosophical differenced and adding my own thoughts on the battle between ‘Right’ and ‘Justice’. All in all I enjoyed this book, because it failed to stay within the cover, the story sprung into real-life as I compared the sentimental and political issues to the world nowadays. Research Papers on The Winslow BoyCapital PunishmentThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsWhere Wild and West MeetTrailblazing by Eric AndersonEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenMind TravelThe Fifth HorsemanAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Honest Iagos Truth through DeceptionComparison: Letter from Birmingham and Crito

Challenges in the Global Business Environment Essay - 1

Challenges in the Global Business Environment - Essay Example zation has false links with labor malpractices such as child labor, discrimination in providing health care to its staff, sweatshops and in addition, it is facing stiff competition from other organizations such as Pepsi (Starbard 2008 pg78). Competitors like Pepsi are introducing alternative beverages such as energy drinks, mineral water, fruit juice, and Gatorade. This has challenged coca-cola to diversify its products by introducing brands such as minute maid, mineral water, sprite among others. The coca cola business is truly global and consumers recognize its main brands globally. The organization has structured itself in such a way that reflects a global view. This is achieved by decentralization of operation and setting up of production plants in over 200 countries in the world. In 2001, Coca Cola Company restructured its business geographically in different operating stations all over the world. In this process, the organization renamed these centers and rebranded them. North America station changed to include; Puerto Rico, which was initially stationed in Latin America. Eurasia was changed to reflect Eurasia, Middle East, and Europe. Africa and Middle East also changed their name to coca cola Africa. The company essentially produces concentrate and syrup and sells them to bottling companies all over the world. The bottling and canning companies have the role of packaging and distributing final products. There is an agreement between the Coke Company and separate bottling companies on how to produce and sell coke products. The agreement authorizes the bottlers to produce and sell beverages bearing the trademark of Coke in identified countries and territories. Coke engage in business with three types of bottlers or contractors; bottling companies where the organization has invested in and has no controlling or management interest, bottling contractors where the organization has invested and has controlling intentions and finally bottling companies where

Any article related to human resources development Annotated Bibliography

Any article related to human resources development - Annotated Bibliography Example Although HRD governs a wide range of concepts, this paper mainly focuses on education and training of manpower. The author regards investment in these two areas as the key to move from one level of economic progress to the next. A lot of emphasis has been laid on the importance of â€Å"knowledge work† as being an important step in HRD. Knowledge work comes from formal and specialized education of work-force and workers having specialized knowledge can perform way better than unspecialized traditional workers. Some other factors like technological advancement, information revolution and globalization also exert important influences on HRD. These factors are interlinked and through proper training and education of human resource, these factors can help a lot in climbing the ladder of economic progress. Education of employees is regarded as being extremely important in this paper. Formal education along with specialized skilled training can contribute a lot towards economic progress. To address the idea of educating the work-force, a practical action is proposed in which technologically advanced training and education is considered a responsibility that is divided among three stake holders to make it easier to attain. The state, employers and trade-unions can work in close collaboration to accomplish the task of training the work force effectively. The paper therefore provides a very general but effective roadmap to improve the education and training of human workforce which is essential for economic progress at the national level. De Silva, Sriyan. "Human resources development for competitiveness: a priority for employers."  ILO workshop on employers’ organizations in Asia-Pasific in The Twenty-First Century, Turin, Italy.

Public vs. Private Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Public vs. Private - Essay Example P 1992) It covers a great range of ideas and policies varying from the eminently reasonable to the wildly impractical.’ The debate the paper delves on is what are the programs or sectors that are currently under the governmental supervision that can be privatized and what are the pros and cons of such privatization. Let us first look at some positive and negative facts and opinions from two sources in order to gauge the depth of the subject. Michael Williams in his article on Public Vs private pay, states the flaws in the current pay structure of an employee working for the US Postal service. Pointing out this difference in California where the average salary of a CalPers employee in 2004 for was about $46000 and the average of salary of all average per capita income of all Californians was $35000. Since then he says,’ the gap has only expanded. He has proved this by stating the case of Postmaster General E Potter. â€Å"Congress will hold a hearing next month into why Postmaster General John E. Potter has gotten a nearly 40 percent pay raise since 2006 and was awarded a six-figure incentive bonus last year, even as the U.S. Postal Service faces a multibillion-dollar shortfall that threatens a day of mail delivery. ALLISON SHELLEY/THE WASHINGTON TIMES REWARDED: Postmaster General John E. Potter received a compensation package totalling more than $800,000 for fiscal 2008.†(Williams. M 2009) While the above information gives us a strong reason for privatization of the US postal service, the following facts will educate us on the public opinion of privatization. When privatization was at its full length and breadth under the Bush administration Congressman Jim Mc Dermott stated the following in one of the discussions â€Å"It has become increasingly clear that the Bush Administration cares more about big business than about the average citizen. If this trend toward privatization continues, I worry that the privacy and

Consumer Questionnaire for Soft Drinks Essay Example for Free

Consumer Questionnaire for Soft Drinks Essay 1.What is your monthly budget for consumption of drinks? Ans- Around Rs 300. 2 .Are you satisfied with the drinks available to you in the market? Ans- Yes, although different flavours would be appreciated, along with aerated fruit drinks. 3.Do you find the price range of these drinks to be appropriate?what is yan approximation of an ideal prioce? Ans- Not really. As it exceeds the budget if you generally eat out more than twice a week as is the case with most people. Rs 15 for 200 ml. 4.Are you willing to make changes to your existing choice of product?what would u like to see in a drink? Ans- Yes, if a new product with my requirements is available. Less sugar , less preservatives natural, no preservatives colour calories etc. 5.What more do you expect from your drink manufacturer that can help you to derive maximum satisfaction? Ans-Healthier drinks are more appreciated as opposed to sugar filled carbonated drinks. Also the pricing can be changed to make it better for consumers to buy on a regular basis. QUESTIONNAIRE FOR RETAILERS- MORE MANAGER, SADAKAT PEERZADE 1.What is your approximate profits from the sale of Soft drinks per month? Ans- turnover Around 1-2 lakhs, about 2-3 % . 2.Are you willing to take up promotional activities for a new range of products in this line? What kind? Ans- yes if the product is up to the standards we require and we get some incentives. 3.What is the feedback received from the consumers regarding the available products? Ans- Customers wanted more healthy options, drinks with less sugar, the most popular being Real fruit juices. 4.Do the existing manufacturer provide you assistance for the marketing of their products? Ans-Yes such as discounts on products and special offers offering extra quantity at the same price. Coupon booklets are also used along with leaflets. 5.Do you suggest any changes in the Marketing/Distribution system which can help to save cost? Ans- Providing more coolers and other storage facilities for stock to ensure better distribution. Also better packaging, quick deliveries so extra stock need not be kept. Free samples.

Ethics and Reality TV

Ethics and Reality TV Abstract Reality TV, like many other postmodern spectacles, operates on a deeply tenuous and ambiguous ethical grounding. On the one hand, the audience / creator model of exploitation can be seen as providing the viewer with entertainment and escapism. On the other it can be said to create a system of dependency and artificial need. The ethics of participation in game show style reality offers a similar contradiction which is dependent upon whether participants are free to choose, or whether they are in fact coerced by elements beyond their control. This dissertation will look at the various factors and paradigms (psychoanalytical, Marxist, poststructuralist) that constitute this model of reality. This requires a certain concretisation of terms such as ethics, and of what constitutes â€Å"reality† itself. The dissertation will also look at the politics of reality TV itself – namely, does Reality TV constitute a unique event in the development of television, or does it merely re flect a continuation for television producers to create ever more innovative methods of keeping our interests satiated? Is Reality TV itself the origin of the moral crimes, or is Reality TV merely a reflection of the ethical climate of capitalism in which we live? Finally, the dissertation will look at the possible futures for â€Å"reality† TV. Methodology As this dissertation is largely discursive in nature, and involves a widespread discussion of general philosophical and ethical themes, I will purely refer to secondary material. This will be assisted by the large and abundant materials that exist on the matter of â€Å"Reality† TV, ethics, and the conjoining of the two. I will use library materials, newspaper and magazine materials, as well as the raw footage of the Reality TV itself to generate an opinion and an overall discussion about the general impacts, considerations and ethical standards of reality TV, and whether constructive change is a) desirable and b) possible. What are Ethics? Ethics have proven to be a central part of philosophical enquiry for thousands of years. As such, it would be useful to summarize what and how this theory has developed over the years, and what tends to form the debate around â€Å"ethics† now. This is essential in order to gauge the relationship between â€Å"good† ethical conduct and the recent phenomenon of reality TV. Ethics was originally conceived as a way to engage with morals – literally, it can be seen as an attempt to establish a â€Å"moral philosophy† for living, and is concerned about notions such as what is right and what is wrong. It exposes the various difficulties between making certain decisions or of living life in a particular way. Understandably, the concept and the notion of good moral behaviour and bad moral behaviour have changed radically since the initial formulation of Western ethics in Ancient Greece over 2000 years ago. While modern moral reasoning bases its understandings upon the writings of Plato and Aristotle, it has mutated radically as regards to who the subject of the writing actually is concerned with. Whereas Plato, Aristotle and the ancient Greeks were concerned more about the self – e.g. how to morally explain the individual – whereas the modern ethical practice is more concerned about how to treat others in the first instance. Annette Hill comments that â€Å"Modern moral philosophy is therefore primarily about public good, and the development of moral values within particular social, political and cultural groups, and also within particular secular societies.† (2005, p. 110). Rather than acting, then justifying behaviour, modern ethics are primarily concerned about what exactly one should do in the first place, and is about the relationship between the self and society, the promotion of the notion of the â€Å"public good†, and of partaking in particular acts, often against the self or the will that would otherwise have a harmful effect on society. Major paradigmatic models incorporate this model of public good into their progressive ideologies. Central to the Marxist model (which I will be later applying to the phenomenon of reality TV), is the relationship between the working classes and the ruling classes. This is argued in Marx as being ethically dubious, because while the proletariat are enslaved by the capitalist system by their work, the ruling classes benefit from this relationship infinitely. Therefore, from a Marxist context, capitalism and the ways in which this model distributes wealth can be seen as the primary mechanism from which morality is corrupted. Similarly, religion and faith is often touted as â€Å"scapegoats† for unethical behaviour. The existentialist Friedrich Nietzsche formulated his own quasi-religion / moral philosophy based on the concepts of the Ubermensch and the theories of eternal recurrence. His position is existential, and forms a central part of what constitutes ethical matters today. Existentialism is, put simply, a belief that man creates his own belief systems. The existence of something precedes its essence; namely, the process of doing something is more important than the assignation of certain methods of thinking or reasoning behind it. A person is not innately good, but instead he acts good. Robert Anton Wilson (1990) comments that â€Å"Nietszsche’s existentialism (1) attacked the floating abstractions of traditional philosophy and a great deal of what passes as ‘common sense’ (e.g. he rejected the terms ‘good’, ‘evil’, ‘the real world’, and even the ego.) (2) also preferred concrete analysis of real life situations [†¦] and (3) attacked Christianity, rather than defending it† (14-15). As such, an existential critique of reality TV would tend to eschew concrete moral conclusion based on the grounding that reality TV exploits people, and therefore it is bad – moreover, the pheno menon of reality TV is based upon a number of larger social trends and mechanisms; a whole system of belief that doesn’t necessarily taint reality, but actually comprises of reality. Therefore, the existentialist may attack Reality TV, but Nietzsche would presumably argue that it is an expression of human will, Marx would argue that it represents merely an extension of the capitalism that seeks to exploit the workers and Kierkegaard would argue that his role is to determine that people have the choice to make their own decisions. Both Nietzsche and Kierkegaard were not concerned about notions of abstract truth – they were existential insofar as their concern was about day to day existence. In the absence of the notion of truth, over Nietzsche’s â€Å"will to power† and Kierkegaard’s system of choice and personal autonomy, the system of modern moral philosophy was overturned by the new ethical paradigm. Nietszche argued that the ubermensch would not do bad things because it would be detrimental to his own will to power; a moral system of good and bad is, ultimately, irrelevant to the ubermensch, because the parameters of decision-making have been changed. This ethical reasoning in many ways bled into the individualism of psychoanalysis, which is a factor that comes into play in a great many of the reality TV programmes: as I will argue later, the obsession in reality TV with rendering perverse the Freudian neuroses (described by him as anal, oral and genital fixations), combined with the capitalist, consumerist desire to pacify the â€Å"slaves† within the semiotic network that constitutes television, creates a scenario whereby the human self is rendered obscene. A psychoanalytical analysis of Reality TV creates many discrepancies; moreover, it is the combination of pacifying the autonomous will of the individual, combined with the exposition of Freudian unconscious â€Å"discoveries† that makes reality TV objectionable to mainstream technical issues. However, before I try to extrapolate the various issues at stake in the arguments for and against reality TV, the concept of reality TV, in particular what the term â€Å" reality† means in this context, has to be explored. What is the â€Å"reality† in Reality TV? Jean Baudrillard and other philosophers coined â€Å"poststructuralist† by Western scholars would undoubtedly be impressed by the ironical use of the term â€Å"reality† in reality TV. One of Jean Baudrillard’s key issues is the argument for â€Å"hyperreality†. He suggests in Simulacra and Simulation (1994) that the hyperreal is â€Å"real without origin or reality† (1). Indeed, the concept of â€Å"reality† TV where participants are asked to stay in an enclosed space for weeks on end and told to do surrealistic things (Big Brother), or to stay on a desert island (Temptation Island, Survivor) is unreal in itself, but the term â€Å"reality† instead applies to the logic that contestants exist rather than actors or performers. It is a â€Å"genre† of TV in which the controlled amateurish quality of the programme is exaggerated into a package of neuroses that have usurped and transcended reality itself. Secondly, TV is edited, dis seminated and packaged in a particular way that, according to Baudrillard, substitutes itself for reality; in one judgement of hyperreality, Baudrillard suggests that it represents â€Å"more real than real†, and eventually usurps reality. The concept of â€Å"reality† in reality TV destroys the â€Å"sovereign difference† between the map and the territory (1994, 2). As such, reality TV exists as an exemplar of this particular moment in late capitalism where the simulation of reality has evaded and transcended the real itself. To stress this theory further, I will look more generally at what Baudrillard means by hyperreality, and cite some further examples of how this theory can be established. Like Nietzsche, Baudrillard begins with an interrogation of the â€Å"real world†, arguing that because our perceptions of reality are rooted in semiotic languages and discursive structures, that the concept of an external, objective reality outside of the self can not be established, and merely bases itself upon a chimera or a lie. Instead, Baudrillard argues that reality is merely a system of communication, in which reality has become a commodified, capitalistic device. In The System of Objects, Baudrillard offers a critique of the advertising industry. While many of the images used by, say, the automobile industry are deliberately faked or exaggerated, the nature of this exaggeration, and the extent to which these images are promoted over and above the actual reality of what the car is (ultimately, a device for getting from one place to another), the specific, advertised car itself becomes an impossible object – a representation of reality that lies beyond reality itself. For instance, recent advertising that features a car that transforms into a dolphin does not have any prescience in reality, nor does it even attempt to establish itself as real. Instead, it embodies in the vehicle certain images or â€Å"realities† that, acc ording to Baudrillard, become reality and, as such, substitute reality for a marketed, plasticised illusion that â€Å"represents† reality to a greater degree. This theory can be extended to encompass many other factors that seem based upon manufacturing and colonising the real. Pornography represents a reality of sex that transcends and usurps sex itself; a soft drink with a non-existent flavour, such as â€Å"wild ice zest berry† (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperreality) creates a â€Å"reality† in linguistic terms that has no relationship to â€Å"modern† as opposed to â€Å"postmodern† reality. Again, advertising generates a reality that exaggerates and simulates the real in totality; there is no attempt made to reproduce reality, but instead signs and signification operate within themselves, applying to only their own logic. This reality can be seen in terms of reality TV as well. Programmes such as Survivor, Big Brother and other reality TV programmes that synthesise the game show format tend to exaggerate the realities of the participants. The world in which these â€Å"real† people interact is one which is completely fabricated, usually to exaggerate some narrative or mythological scenario which the viewer is undoubtedly familiar with. Big Brother, for instance, plays with the familiar Orwellian notion of total surveillance and dystopia – Survivor plays on the themes of the desert island, featured in many historical and literary myths that date back to the Bible. As such, depending on what opinions we have about what reality constitutes, these types of program are undoubtedly far off the mark. Post-production techniques are used to exaggerate the dramatic tensions between people; often people who would ordinarily have no contact are forced into relationships with one another, and it has been insinuated that certain parts of reality TV are scripted beforehand, in order to prevent the programme from becoming tedious or formulaic. What does this development in the notion of â€Å"reality† do to a discussion of the ethics of reality TV? Firstly, the production processes of reality TV are heavily reliant upon advertisers and private corporations concerned about making money. Such companies do not generally have too scrupulous a reputation for ethical marketing or behaviour. Product placement is a regular feature in reality TV, which, if looked at from a Marxist point of view, leads to the synthesis of what is seen as common sense â€Å"reality† and of corporate desire. The existential view of reality, while in a kind of agreement with the ambiguity of reality TV, would argue that reality as it is presented here merely represents a faith or a religion that substitutes the pure will (choice or autonomy) of the individual into a scenario where all things are scripted, edited and controlled by forces that depend upon the viewer becoming pacified and infantilized. I argue that the reality in reality TV merely represents a particular version of reality. As post-structuralist philosophy would suggest, the notion of objective reality in the postmodern age is simply a psychologically, sociologically and metaphysically attuned network that serves to create a religion or a mythical structure of â€Å"truth† and â€Å"reality†. While Nietzsche would argue that Reality TV subdues the personal will, and of human folly and weakness, reducing the viewer to the level of passive consumer, he would also argue that it is not the ethical place of people to assume that this dynamic of â€Å"exploitation† (as Marxists would posit) is necessarily wrong. Indeed, criticisms of Nietzsche’s critiques of Christianity, while vitriolic and hateful in tone, overlook the simple premise that Nietzsche’s intention himself was not to create a system of objective truth himself. Because, as he postulates in Beyond Good and Evil: â€Å"In the womb of being, rather, in the intran sitory, in the hidden god, in the ‘thing in itself’ – that is where their cause must lie and nowhere else! – This mode of judgement constitutes the typical prejudice by which metaphysicians of all ages can be recognized; this mode of evaluation stands in the background of all their logical procedures; it is on account of this their ‘faith’ that they concern themselves with their ‘knowledge’, with something that is at last solemnly baptized ‘the truth’† (1973, 34). As such, the creation of truth, upon which grounds Nietzsche was sorely condemned for throughout the 20th century, was not Nietzsche’s central desire – indeed, the establishment of a particular truth ignores Nietzsche’s attempts to negate the this preoccupation with â€Å"truth† and â€Å"reality† present in the mind of the â€Å"metaphysician† and the abstract philosopher. The existentialist is not concerned a bout abstractions, but instead he is concerned about the establishment of productive myths. In this respect, the â€Å"reality† of reality TV (at least where participants and audience are volunteers) is real and, dependent upon how greatly you herald such issues as personal autonomy cannot be anything but a moral, voluntary exchange. Marxism and the streams of thinkers that have come to be associated with Marxism tend to think very differently about the self. Socialist philosophy suggests that the human freedoms posited by the American and British administrations during their â€Å"free† market experiments are merely a chimera designed to obfuscate and paper over the exploitative system of exchange that operates between rich and poor. Contrary to existentialism, Marxists suggest that voluntary participants (in such things as reality TV) have to adhere to some greater moral code, because the dynamic of exchange exposes basic human vulnerabilities that exist in everybody. Their concept of reality is based upon a politics of exploitation, or a dialectical exchange between two opposing factions, one of which is exploited, and the other is dominant. Such Marxist theory can be used to explore this notion of â€Å"reality† in reality TV further: the dynamic between rich and poor (used in â€Å"crude† or traditional Marxism) creates a system of exploitation between the working class and the ruling class. This can be extended into linguistics and semantic theory, and forms the central tenet of deconstructionist theory posited by Jacques Derrida. Derrida argues firstly that the structuralist theories of Ferdinand de Saussure depended upon a relationship between the signifier and the signified – namely, what is being represented and what it represents. While Saussure argued that this framework was stable, and that the signifier and the signified never changed, Derrida and the deconstructionist theorists argued that the relationship between the signifier and the signified was always subject to â€Å"play† and fluctuated constantly. Moreover, the limitations of human communication meant that our perception of the world was limited. Derrida argues that the world is conveyed in language and discourse. Derrida takes this further, arguing that Western language has always based its functionality upon what he calls â€Å"binary oppositions†, in which one is seen as inferior, while the other is seen as superior. These oppositions run the gamut of human thinking and is what abstract philosophy tends to ignore: for instance, the dichotomy between man and woman is the subject of many feminist writers: while man can give women the same material rights, linguistically, woman still represents the absence of masculinity. Similarly, reality is seen as superior to the simulacrum, as explored by Plato’s myth of the cave, in which he argues that one pure object exists, and that everything else is a copy, and therefore inferior to the real thing. Derrida argues that deconstruction provides a solution to this problem, and by exposing and making conscious these oppositions, and deliberately working against them creates a system of simultaneous difference and equality through semantic â€Å"play†. As such, the ethical concept or exchange between the directors of reality TV, the participants and the audience create an interesting dynamic of exploitation that tends to eschew simple ethical thinking. To say that these reality programmes are bad ethically (a string of reasons have been posited, from the sensory deprivation of participants, to the unsavoury and voyeuristic nature of the program, to the use of the grotesque, to the implementation of torture techniques) avoids the overall issue that participation is â€Å"voluntary†. However, the previous arguments (deconstructive, Marxist, feminist, existential) all have radically different arguments as to what exactly constitutes â€Å"voluntary†; the notion of voluntary participation is a key issue in philosophical debate, and can be seen to surface in the ethics of advertising, fast food consumption and the selling of junk to young people. The question revolves around the concept of â€Å"reality†; namely, wh ether we are in control or whether our choices are determined by mechanisms and structures of power, addiction, and deep psychological needs. Reality TV argues that it exists as a form of entertainment. In the following section I will look at the dynamic of exploitation; particularly upon how reality TV exploits certain human qualities or â€Å"realities†, and renders them perverse. Reality TV: a psychoanalytical approach Reality TV, especially the phenomenon of the game show Reality TV programme, namely such programmes as Big Brother, Survivor, Big Diet, Celebrity Fat Club, Temptation Island, Bachelorette and Boot Camp exploit numerous psychoanalytical desires in order to â€Å"hystericise† reality and to render ordinary impulses and desires perverse. This exploitation, which I will argue is central to the strategy of corporatism and central to the postmodern malaise raises a number of ethical questions concerning the position of Reality TV in contemporary society, is endemic in the phenomenon of reality TV, and appears concerned primarily as either a reflection of, or a creation of, many issues that plague Western consciousness. Reality TV attacks certain concepts and, via gossip columns and TV journalism in other media, makes these things hysterical. One such topic is that of the â€Å"normal† relationship. While Big Brother tends to vet the participants based upon their position as s exually â€Å"perverse† (the last series of Big Brother featured a transsexual and several homosexuals) eccentric or colourful in order to engender conflict within the house and to maximize the entertainment value that can be derived from this â€Å"reality† that is constructed, the vision of the ordinary relationship, which occurs with relative frequency in the Big Brother house, is one that is treated with extreme shock by both participants, media, the programme makers, and eventually, the audience themselves. Jan Jagodozinki (2003) comments that â€Å"each reality game ‘hot-houses’ and hystericizes ‘normal relationships’, engendering paranoid perception where no one is to be trusted† (323). Of course, ethically this hystericisation serves the purpose many mass-mediated and televised spectacles seek to achieve. In a Marxist, postmodernist context, the media (especially the ‘modern’ mediums of television and brand advertis ing) wishes to engender a consumer whose only relationship to the outside world is through the corporatist-owned signification of signs. We are marketed towards in order to create an atomised, pseudo-individual whose only relationship to him / her self is through signification and engagement with the hyperreal. As such, consumer need is created, manufactured in the dream factory of advertising, and disseminated through mass media to create demand for a product that was, prior to the embellishment of reality through hyperrealistic signification, useless and unnecessary. Reality TV simply contributes to this feeling of post-human disgust with the mechanisms of the body and the unconscious mind. For instance, the drives expounded by Freud (labelled by him as genital, oral and anal), are attacked with frequency in a number of these TV reality shows: In Big Brother, participants are deprived of food, and are occasionally â€Å"treated† to products from the outside world when they participate in a particular task (the oral, anal dichotomy). The lack of privacy in toilets suggest the programmes obsession with these excretive functions; also, the relationships that occur among these â€Å"ordinary† people are exaggerated with an unparalleled degree of disgust and hysteria both within the programme and external to it in other â€Å"gossip† columns and TV magazines. This suggests an obsession with the genital drives that are echoed in other reality TV programmes. The hystericisation of normality â€Å"are the very symptoms that plague the American landscape, namely the preoccupation with the excesses of the drives – anal and oral (food / dieting) [†¦], genital (seduction) [†¦] trust, [†¦] extreme physical exertion [†¦] authority† (Jagodozinki 2003, 323). These drives are isolated and compounded in a manner that many would figure as unethical; the audiences watch the TV – voyeurs in their living rooms – rendering all these desires perverse and alien. The anal / oral functioning can be seen in all manner of these game show / reality TV hybrids. In Survivor, participants experience food deprivation, then are force-fed the junk food of capitalism. Reality TV provides us with either a perverse kind of promotion of these desires, or else exaggerates and satirizes these principles that already play a huge part in the advertising, producer / consumer relationship of (most of) Western society. For instance, many of these reality TV programmes are obsessed with food and excrement, the balance between which is, of course, expressed in terms of physical weight: Game show reality programmes such as Fat Club, Big Diet, Survivor and Big Brother, as well as innumerable documentaries, talk shows (Gerry Springer, Rikki Lake, Oprah Winfrey all tend to devote a disproportionate amount of time to â€Å"exposing† obesity in ways that carefully tread the dual lines of exploitation and grotesquer y, and non-pervasive exploration or passive â€Å"documentary†, often with a focus on the former) all focus on weight, eating and consumption as a mainstay of their challenges. In one edition of I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here, pop-mystic and spoon bender Uri Geller was forced to eat live slugs while some other minor celebrity spent most of the programme complaining about his constipation. As such, natural processes such as eating, drinking and excreting matter becomes exaggerated to such an extent that these very bodily processes become shameful. Jagodozinki comments that â€Å"Survivor players are foced to follow exactly the same starve and binge mentality of bulemics† (2003, 321). The Freudian drives and impulses are concentrated upon by programme makers in order to engender an interest in the programme that, if it were a representation of ordinary, mundane â€Å"reality†, would presumably be too scant to provoke widespread interest. Similarly, other drives are obsessed over. The genital desires, marked by an obsession with sex, lust and seduction are exploited through programmes such as Big Brother, Temptation Island and Bachelorette, where sexual, relationship related trysts are exploited by the programme makers in order to maximise audience ratings and profits from their programme. For instance, whenever a relationship threatens to bubble over in Big Brother, the programme makers, along with the media vehicles that feature Big Brother (showbiz magazines and tabloid newspapers, for instance) tend to simultaneously glorify and pervert the developing relationship into a grotesque and abominable spectacle. Trust and paranoiac fantasies are also played with in the post-production of Big Brother. The format is automatically designed to expose hypocrisy: while participants are forced to work together and live together, participants also have to periodically vote each other out of the house. As such, issues of trust and paranoiac functions are exploited, in a microcosm, of the contemporary world that constitutes â€Å"reality† TV. As such, the difficulty with exposing the ethical indiscretion of reality TV is simply that it can either be seen as a hyperbolic reflection or satire of current prevalent trends in Western society, or that it can be seen as contributing to the effects of â€Å"consumerisation†, and can therefore be seen in the light of Marxists who approach the exploitative mechanisms of mass media with grave suspicion. Louis Althusser’s system of â€Å"interpolation† which in his words, is described as having the following relationship with ideology: â€Å"ideology interpolates the individual as subject, [†¦] this interpolation is realized in institutions, in their rituals and practices† (2001). As such, the ideology of guilt, of loathing for the body and of the consumerisation of the general public through the exploitation of these particular vulnerabilities is, according to Althusser, interpolated and disseminated through mass media, or, as he calls it, the  "ideological state apparatus†. And any form of mass media that adheres to these capitalist desires against the individual and for the â€Å"subject† is also catering to systematic oppression to the masses and is therefore morally reprehensible. So, what is the argument in favour of reality TV? Namely, that it bypasses these ideologies and instead presents us with a â€Å"reality† of ordinary people, unencumbered by the traffic of biased representation one tends to get in drama and fiction. The function of reality TV, according to this argument, is to present to people life as it really is. I would argue, however, that this is not the case for a number of reasons. The psychological stresses that subjects are put under are, in themselves, unique in these game show / reality TV programmes. It would be extraordinary to presume that everyday people would be forced to endure these psychological strains. Moreover, the dissemination and the editing of these pieces together serves a dual function: firstly, it imposes a strict narrative upon the happenings based upon a desire to entertain. Entertainment can be achieved through the exploitation and exaggerations of these specific, Freudian functions. In order to condense 24 hou rs of time into half an hour, programme makers have to edit the raw material of â€Å"reality† in a way that generates interest in the overall product. The effect of this is to highlight these desires and dramas and to generate a narrative of disgust from the raw material. As such, events are scandalised, hystericised, and processed through the â€Å"state apparatus† of Freudian drama. This is satirised in the film The Truman Show. Jagodozinki (2003) comments that â€Å"The banality of his everyday life with its mundane repetitions is the very opposite of media hype which happens off camera or is worked in ‘live’† (328). The function of this segment is to highlight the principle that these dramas are not reality; simply because the subject is â€Å"real† and falls into the pigeonhole of â€Å"non-fiction† by programmers, the ways in which these â€Å"documentaries† are assembled tend to fall into dramatic stereotypes associated with the exploitation of Freudian impulses, checked with a Marxian system of exploitation. The World Is Flat: â€Å"Infotainment† and relativism Modern news programming tends to cut and splice events of widely different qualities – from serious news items about plagues, famines, death and suffering to items about cuddly toys and cats getting stranded in trees. Also, programming on commercial channels are cut every fifteen minutes with a barrage of advertising, with the effect of sharply combining the â€Å"reality† of news footage and reality TV with the â€Å"non-reality† of advertising. Ethically, this places TV in general under the accusation of numbing the viewer and transforming him or her into the amoral, relativistic, emotionally numb and philosophically nihilistic consumer infant that sociopaths and corporations tend to prefer. As such, arguments about the â€Å"reality† of reality TV being less produced than fiction tends to falter instead, the handle of â€Å"reality† has the effect of simply lowering the viewer’s (or consumer’s) guard. The juxtaposition of mundane e vents in a fast barrage of creative editing sensationalises the mundane. In a triumph of style over content, some reality TV shows and news features use music and montage to create the illusion of event, when there is no event to speak of. â€Å"Real life† documentaries and long-running reality TV programmes, such as Changing Rooms and DIY SOS utilise quirky (and somewhat insipid) montage sequences with humorous music in order to generate a homely, friendly appeal. However, almost all reality TV programmes appeal to consumerist desires (an endless procession of programmes about house hunting, gardening, buying), or exploitative voyeurism (house cleaning programmes about â€Å"dirty† people, unsympathetic obesity programmes, a fixation upon sexual or cosmetic acts). Ethically, reality TV however, only ser