National Security Is More Important Than Human Rights

The conception of human rights and freedoms is the cornerstone of American traditions, law and the indicator of democracy. The approach of prevailing interest in personal privacy, property privacy and non-interference of state authorities in private affairs is the basic ground for modern organization of American society. For centuries the courts have been standing safeguards of protection of persons against unreasonable intrusion of the State, generally interpreting the Constitution and the Bill of Rights with preference of personal human rights protection. Nonetheless in the end of the 21st century there appeared several factors which so much influenced our society that the matters of homeland security and protection raised with extraordinary emphasis and the thesis that the national security is more important than human rights causes no surprise. This research is focused on this controversial issue and contains the analysis of the reasons which changed the scale; the overview of national security vs. uman rights from the points of view of internal and external national policy; the argumentation pro and contra preponderance of national security over personal human rights with the examples of concrete rights and evidence; the conclusion. So why the validity of what was right earlier should be now the subject of reconsideration? Among the reasons which preconditioned giving more political and legal importance to the national security over protection of individual rights and freedoms the general reason is the need to prevent U.  S. citizens, infrastructures and lands from the increased threat of terrorist attacks, the protection of U. S. borders from potential foreign invasion. Another important factor which influenced the change in traditional legal and political doctrine is the globalization. Once, the rights of U. S. citizens guaranteed by the Bill of Rights have been expanded and extrapolated around the world. Close political, economical and cultural communications of the U. S. A. with all countries of the world and the U.  S. hegemonic influence as of the world leading power have another side of the movement. The amount, the value and the accessibility of international communication on any level: governmental, regional, local or private, has risen extraordinary in comparison to earlier times due to technological revolution. Our state and people have been under the influence of other cultures and societies, as this exchange is bilateral. For instance, this led to increasing role of statutory law in the U. S. ystem of law which has been traditionally case-law system of law. So, many of our partner-countries have different traditions and regulations and many of them place national security and social interests prior to personal rights, justifying this with weighty arguments which in any case should be taken into consideration. The U. S. Patriot Act and the Homeland Security Act are bright evidence for the two previous arguments, the public support and the reasonability of the change of emphasized values. Particularly the U. S.  Patriot Act of 2001 was passed nearly unanimously by the Senate 98-1, and 357-66 in the House, with the support of members from across the political spectrum, which underlines public appreciation of placing more emphasis to national security prior to protection of individual interests of privacy. Improving the counter-terrorist protection, the Act proscribes profound changes in investigating procedures and contains numerous provisions far from democratic traditions and waiving protection of certain constitutional rights of almost any U.  S. citizen (for instance, the Act expands the reasons for warrantless searches, simplifies the conditions of obtaining search and seizure warrants, expands the reasons for obtaining business records in criminal investigations etc) (The U. S. Department of Justice). Other national security questions which have evidently increased its importance over human rights protection in recent years are the illegal immigration, the de velopment of international organized crime, the accessibility of public and private information on Internet etc. In most of the cases opposing the concept of human rights to national security is erroneous and unreasonable construction because the national security is the concept which precludes the physical and mental security of all members of the society, and therefore includes and predetermines the possibility of exercising human rights and freedoms. Without security the well-being is impossible. Looking at the national security vs. uman rights question from the points of view of internal and external national security, one should first examine what concrete human rights may be waived or limited for the homeland security and protection purposes. Natural human rights like the right for life are not the subject to address in this essay. The rights addressed in this essay are defined primarily in the U. S. Bill of Rights. These are civil ight for privacy, the right of peaceful protest, the right to personal freedom, the right to a fair trial and the right of equal protection, usually in the list of the rights which under certain conditions may be waived for the efficiency of homeland security and protection. The first argument supporting the statement that national security is more important than protection of individual rights is the increased threat of terroristic attacks, which are very dangerous, carefully planned, locally targeted and generously funded organized crimes. This threat requires adequate actions. For instance, the problem of efficiency of security measures in the airports is one of the most important challenges in homeland security and protection policy, and the example that despite all actions taken the threat remains very realistic is the recent terrorist attempt of the Al-Qaeda bomber to blow-up plane while landing in Detroit, MI. on December 26, 2009. The second argument is the international experience and need to unity the efforts of international community in struggle with terrorism, nuclear threat and organized crime. Kumar, C. Raj (2005) writes â€Å"The September 11, 2001 attacks in New York and Washington D. C. , and the December 13, 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament have intensified the debate regarding the necessity of formulating national security laws in India and the laws' potentially serious impact on human rights and civil liberties. The strengthening of national security laws worldwide is apparently pursued with the objective of combating terrorism and other forms of internal and external threats to the States and the societies in which people live†. Several security laws have been passed in India in response to the challenge of preventing terrorism and preserving national security. The laws are being criticized for violation of human rights, though the Supreme Court upheld their constitutional validity. This example illustrates that not only in the USA, but worldwide, there is a tendency of giving more importance to national security and international cooperation for this purpose. The third argument supporting the thesis is that the modern American law de facto prefers public interests to the interests of individual member of the society. Numerous exceptions are legalized to justify deviation of constitutional rights, particularly in investigating procedures – the procedures which predetermine the following stages of criminal process. On the example of airport security, more attention of transportation security officers is currently devoted to passengers’ searches and seizures. A review of landmark cases related to airport searches illustrates that the private person rarely wins and that searches are almost always found to be reasonable and constitutional (Kornblatt, 2007). In recent landmark case United States v. Hartwell, 436 F. 3d 174, 175 (3rd Cir. 006), the Supreme Court has acknowledged a few circumstances in which a search is reasonable in absence of wrongdoing, which typically involve administrative searches of ‘closely regulated’ businesses, other so-called ‘special needs’ cases, and suspicionless ‘checkpoint’ searches. The Court stated that suspicionless searches at checkpoints â€Å"are permissible under the Fourth Amendment when a court finds a favorable balance between ‘the gravity of the public concerns served by the seizure, the degree to which the seizure advances the public interest, and the severity of the interference with individual liberty. Particularly the Supreme Court emphasized the importance of preventing terrorist attacks against airplanes, the prevailing of public interest in security checkpoints at airports. Under the â€Å"special needs† doctrine the government authorities are allowed to conduct searches in the absence of any suspicion of criminality in limited circumstances where the search is aimed not to gather evidence for the investigation of crime. These circumstances include: whether the government interest for the search program is immediate and substantial, whether the search program effectively advances the government interest, states Konblatt (2007). In United States v. Skipwith, 482 F. 2d 1272 (5th Cir. 1973) the Fifth Circuit decided that some situations present a level of danger such that the reasonableness test is per se satisfied. The Court found that a balance must be struck between the harm and the need to determine what is reasonable: â€Å"When the risk is the jeopardy to hundreds of human lives and millions of dollars of property inherent in the pirating or blowing up of a large airplane, the danger alone meets the test of reasonableness. Therefore the case law suggests that in the case of conflict between private rights and public interests, generally protected by government, the latter prevail. The fourth argument supporting the thesis is that the most of American leaders and majority in American society, de-facto, support the governmental actions on improving public safety, therefore consenting with correspondent limitation of personal rights and freedoms. It’s natural that almost any citizen wishes to reduce crime rates nd will willingly temporarily waive some civil rights like the freedom of movement for the purpose of protection of his life, health and private property. The idea of potential terrorist attack remains in the minds of our citizens and enriches the soil for reasonable and unreasonable expansion of state authorities’ powers. Hillary Clinton once stated unequivocally that national security is not only more important than human rights on the international stage, but that it takes domestic supremacy as well (Snedeker, 2007). Barack Obama demonstrates balanced and reasonable national security policy, much less aggressive than previous President, but still attempts to save and multiply the best of recent achievements in homeland security and protection. Speaking on the other side, many intelligent people, social leaders and human rights activists strongly oppose the statement that national security is more important than personal human rights. Jane Smiley, Pulitzer-Prize winning novelist and essayist defends the human rights priority with the popular historical argument: â€Å"The Founding Fathers understood the temptation on the part of governments to give and remove human rights arbitrarily, because they had experienced such things before the Revolutionary War, (†¦) recognized that although British Law customarily acknowledged various human rights, it was essential to name, codify, and write them down to make it less likely that they could be taken away†. Nonetheless earlier in this essay it is proved that the historical experience of the U. S. is irrelevant for this situation, as there have been profound changes in international relations, technological abilities and domestic challenges in the U. S. policy which it never addressed earlier. Also, Smiley claims rolling back human rights, â€Å"even for some individuals, is to return to a more primitive, hierarchical, and un-American theory of human relations†. But what actually constitutes â€Å"the American theory of human relations† and why the proposed approach is more primitive? Such claims seem to be more emotional than rational. On emotional level, no one likes limitation of his personal freedom and waiver of his personal benefits. Logical ratio easily proves that the individual benefits depend largely on the benefits available in the society, and in the society where access to information, persons and property can be easily gained with high-tech equipment the complex measures should be taken on the very high level to guarantee the security and wellness of all its members. National security strategies should take into consideration the relevance of human rights and development. The goal of protecting human security will supplement the existing strategies for protecting national security† states Kumar, C. Raj (2005). Searching for the balance between security and freedom we need to defend our nation, and each of us is its priceless part. Works Cited http://www.justice.gov/archive/ll/highlights.htm

My field assignment Essay

a) My field assignment took place in one of the elevators of Jackson Medical Center. I chose this place because every Saturday morning I have to go there from 7:00am- 2:30pm for my clinical. I also selected this place because hospitals are constantly full of people, meaning I would be interacting and assessing the reaction towards my behavior of more people. I was accompanied by another student from my clinical rotation, Martha; who was responsible for observing the reaction and behaviors of the people. Moreover, she would act like a total stranger to me, like we had never met before. Martha and I wore professional-casual attire. We are not allowed by the school of to wear scrubs in the Psych floor instead we get to wear regular clothes. The rational behind it is to maintain the student’s safety as well as the client’s behavior to be maintained as calm as possible while interacts with the student. Lab coats tend to alter the client’s behavior.The elevator I chose was the closest to the main entrance. It was a sunny day, which was wonderful for me because lots of people decided to come and visit their relatives, family members, and friends, among others. One of the benefits for having selected this place of service is that I was able to interact with people of different ages group. b) I tried to be closed by the elevator to see the kind of people entering it. Also, I tried to be the last one boarding the elevator and once I was inside I would close the door to impede the entrance of more people, otherwise, the assignment would not be successful. I would choose one particular individual and I be staring at herself. Moreover, I looked at the chosen person as a whole. I observed at her hair, clothes, shoes, purse, etc. For instance, I would put my hands in my pockets and try to make noises with my keys. The noises helped increase the tension of the individual while I kept looking at her. c) As I was breaking the norm, I was feeling a little uncomfortable and I was nervous at the same time. I had never thought about doing this in my life. This event was frightening from both sides. One, I was being exposed to them to be able to do something to me. Second, it was terrifying to them what I was doing. They did not know what was happening in my mind, or if I was a psychopath or a serial killer. Unfortunately, we are living in a petrifying world and more people are being diagnosed with a mentally ill disorder every day, or killing each other out of nothing. d) As I mentioned before, my behavior was fear provoking to them. They did not know what I wanted. Why was I  looking at the in such uncomfortable way. Most tried to fix their hair thinking there was something wrong with it. For instance, they cleaned their face like if it was dirty. Others fixed their clothes or looked in their purses. Others pretended to look at the numbers on the top of the door’s elevator to see how fast was it moving. My friend says, they tried to engage eye contact with her, making her eye signals, advising her of what was happening but she took her phone out and pretended that she was texting somebody. At the same time, Martha moved to the front of the elevator, giving me the space in where she was standing while I would gather a better visualization of the individual. e) I believe this exercise has served to prove that social norms still important for our society. Since we are little, we are being taught these norms and how not to break them. It was a difficult event, as a woman, its really difficult especially at the beginning just to ride on an elevator to stare at people. We normally get in an elevator but people don’t look at each other. I also believe most of us try to live by the â€Å"norms† to avoid the use of social sanctions and they important part they play on how we carry ourselves in society now a days. I did this task because it was an assignment from school. However, I don’t see myself repeating this event ever again. The feeling of breaking the norms the way I did in an elevator is it very scary. I really would not know how to react towards such uncomfortable behavior.

Reflection Paper St Dominic Essay

â€Å"Do not weep. I shall be of more use to you after death than I ever did in life.† In the movie, Dominic, Light of the Church, features St. Dominic’s life, his failures and successes, his contributions to the church as well as to those people around him. He already wonders why is it that there is a war, that there are people who hungers and that there are sufferings in the world since he was still a child. This led to a helping hand when he was studying in becoming a priest. You can also see in the movie that St. Dominic has a pure and kind heart that nourishes, motivates and inspires others’ souls. LMC St. Dominic said that the kind of preaching they offer differs from other kinds of preaching because when they teach the word of God, they deliver it with a heart, pure faith and sacrifice. I think St. Dominic founded the order of preachers because he started the act of telling others the existence of God together with his fellow priests.There are four pillars of Dominican life. These are the prayer, community, study and preaching. Prayer can always be seen in St. Dominic. He always prays for the poor and for the sufferings of the people. Community- the part when the war had began. St. Dominic united the people at that time and it defines the real meaning of community. Study- this is where St. Dominic is studying to become a priest. And preaching- he tells other people the glory and goodness of God. LMC St. Dominic was influenced by many circumstances at that time. The two persons that had great impact on him are Bishop Don Diego, and his mother, Jane of Aza. Because of these persons, he was greatly supported, and his profession of becoming a priest was very successful. LMC There is only one lesson I got in this movie—that is to love God. This love to God branches out to loving others, sacrificing one’s life to others, patience, sincerity, willingness to help others, and many more that St. Dominic exhibited during his short but fulfilling life here on earth. LMC As a young person, and inspired by St. Dominic, I can bring the gospel of Jesus to others by simply telling other person the greatness of the good news, having a blog on the internet defining the miracles that happened to me, that may lead to as motivation and inspiration to others. I could also help others by giving them what I have. Being a good daughter is also one. Doing the responsibilities as a student, and praying as I have never prayed sincerely and purely like what St. Dominic did for others.

How basketball taught me hard work and discipline Essay

Self-Presentation General purpose: how basketball taught me hard work and discipline Specific purpose: hard work can help achieve anything Thesis statement through basketball I learned how to work hard and discipline myself to achieve my goals in life My passion for the basketball started when I was in my second year of high school, basketball not only helped me grow but also taught me a lot of things that I use in my everyday life. My passion for the game began during my last year of middle school, but despite trying out for the middle school team I was not chosen to be a part of it. Although this was of great disappointment to me, it did not deter me from my love of the game. It made me more driven and determined to work hard during the summer prior to entering high school to ensure that I was in a position to try-out for the high school freshman team. I practiced morning, noon and night in 90 degree heat, perfecting my shot and working out to improve my skills. This hard work paid off, when I was chosen to be a part of the freshman team and I have continued to work hard during my high school years to be an asset to the varsity team. I feel sure that this experience of being a part of the high school basketball team has helped me become successful in my academic life. Being part of a team has instilled in me the responsibilities and work ethic that carries over into other aspects of my life and I feel sure that this will be extremely valuable in my future endeavors at the University. And really more precisely on hard work, there is a saying that â€Å"hard work beats talent, when talent fails to work hard.† I believe this because to me it means that no matter how good you are if you don’t work hard, your talent is nothing. If Michael Jordan had not believed in working hard then he would not have been anywhere near as good as he is today. You do not only need to work hard in sports in the classroom, and life in general. Working hard in the classroom will give you many advantages later in life. That way you can get into a good college, and get a good job later in life. In all this experience, the greatest thing I learn is that hard work pays off, Although the above experience and accomplishment of being chosen to be a part of a team has contributed and shaped the person I am today.

How does Charles Dickens create an atmosphere of crime and death in ‘Great Expectations’?

In this essay, I will talk about how Charles Dickens creates an atmosphere of crime and death in ‘Great Expectations'. Charles Dickens was an English novelist of the Victorian era and was considered to be one of English language's greatest writers; he was acclaimed for his rich storytelling and memorable characters and achieved massive worldwide popularity in his lifetime. ‘Great Expectations' is a novel written and serially published from 1860 to 1861 in a magazine called ‘All Year Round'. Shortly after that, it was published as a complete novel. It was set during the Industrial Revolution in Britain. The Industrial Revolution brought in a major change in the economy and society resulting from the use of machines and the efficient production of goods. Charles Dickens begins the story in a graveyard. Immediately, we are introduced to the theme of death. The weather matches with the creepy setting. It links to death by using words like â€Å"raw afternoon†; the word â€Å"raw† suggests that it is painful. â€Å"Dark† suggests evil and death; and â€Å"flat† suggests something bleak. These words all enhance the gloomy setting. The main character Pip tells us about his parents and brothers who are buried in the graveyard. He lists the names of his brothers in a matter of fact way and this shocks us. â€Å"†¦and that Alexander, Barthlomew, Abraham, Tobias and Roger, infant children of the aforesaid, were also dead and buried†¦.† In the 1830s when the novel is set, half the babies died in infancy due to poor medical care and killer diseases which thrived in the appalling conditions within the society. Pip lists the names of his five dead brothers. This makes us think that the list is never-ending and highlights the presence of death. We are introduced to the theme of crime when an escaped convict by the name of Magwitch, jumps out from behind a gravestone at Pip. â€Å"Hold your noise!† At this point, he makes the reader feel frightened, as he starts to threaten Pip. Pip also sees a gibbet. â€Å"†¦a gibbet, with some chains hanging to it which once held a pirate.† A gibbet was where executed criminals were placed as a warning to others. It stands out on the horizon and looks particularly eerie in the gloomy night sky. Dickens personifies the sky to make it â€Å"angry†; the use of personification here alarms the reader because the sky feels extremely threatening. The sea is described as a â€Å"lair†; the use of the word â€Å"lair† suggests that the sea is a wild animal in a den. The wind comes rushing from the lair to get Pip. Pip becomes â€Å"a bundle of shivers†. The word â€Å"shivers† suggests fear and extreme cold, both of which and to an atmosphere of crime and death. In Chapter Three, Dickens describes the weather as a â€Å"rimy morning† and has Pip imagine a goblin that had been crying all night. This links to the guilt that Pip feels about the crime he has committed because he is upset and he feels like crying. â€Å"Rimy morning†, â€Å"very damp†, â€Å"damp lying on the bare hedges and sparegrass, like a coarser sort of spider's webs†, â€Å"the marsh-mist was so thick†, â€Å"the mist was heavier†¦.†, all these words tell us of darkness and crimes. Dickens uses a simile to compare about the â€Å"damp lying on the bare hedges†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . Dickens uses personification to enhance Pip's guilty conscience by using the weather, â€Å"the marsh-mist was thick† and â€Å"the marsh-mist was heavier†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . The mist is clearly a metaphor for Pip's state of mind. He is literally finding it hard to find his way to the convict but also feels morally lost because of his crime. Dickens writes about a â€Å"wooden finger on the post†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . Dickens also uses personification to enhance Pip's guilty conscience at this point because he has committed a crime and he thinks that this signpost is telling him the only way he should go. â€Å"Like a phantom devoting me to the Hulks†, â€Å"that the wooden finger on the post†¦invisible to me†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . Dickens uses personification by heightening Pip's mind as he is confused about the whole situation. The signpost has turned into a ghastly accuser. As the confusion in Pip's mind races on, he sees an Ox which was black â€Å"with a white cravat†. This Ox of Pip's mind notices him with the pork pie and recognises that the pie is not his. â€Å"A boy with Somebody-else's pork pie! Stop him!†, â€Å"Holloa, young thief!† With its clerical air, the ox seems like a vicar, accusing him of sin. In the beginning of Chapter Eight, Dickens described the Satis House like a prison. It â€Å"was of old brick, and dismal, and had a great many iron bars to it. Some of the windows had been walled up; of those that remained, all the lower were rustily barred.† Iron bars are like prison bars and it is one of the places where you can't escape from. â€Å"There was also a large brewery† at the side of Satis House. This place was very idle. â€Å"There was also a large brewery. No brewing was going on in it, and none seemed to have gone on for a long long time†. Nothing growing in it signifies death and in this case, the large brewery consists of nothing but waiting death. At one point, Pip was beginning to feel cold as he went through the house. â€Å"The cold wind seemed to blow colder there, than outside the gate†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . This links to Pip's fear of going into the house. The more he has the feeling of becoming colder, the more he fears going into the house. He isn't really used to visiting anyone else's places except the graveyard and that's why he feels frightened of going in to the house. When Pip was about to meet Miss Havisham, Estella walked away from him and took the candle away with her. â€Å"This was very uncomfortable, and I was half afraid.† From Pip's point of view, he's afraid of the dark. He's always used to having light around him as he goes around but in this case, there was darkness; â€Å"No glimpse of daylight was to be seen in it†. This stresses the presence of evil and death. Pip is alone when he sees a woman in the dressing room in Satis House. â€Å"In an armchair, with an elbow resting on the table and her head leaning on that hand, sat the strangest lady I have ever seen, or shall ever see†, â€Å"†¦ â€Å"†¦she had bridal flowers in her hair, but her hair was white. Some bright jewels sparkled†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . White is related to ghosts and ghosts come from death. She is rich with faded dresses and her house is very old. Miss Havisham is compared by Pip to a â€Å"skeleton† and a â€Å"waxwork†; the word â€Å"skeleton†, suggests that Miss Havisham could represent the presence of death. The â€Å"waxwork† suggests something that there is something about Miss Havisham which appears real but is not substantial. The â€Å"bridal flowers in her hair† compares with her white hair and obvious age suggests something eerie and bizarre. In Chapter Twenty, Pip travels to London to see Mr Jaggers in his office. â€Å"I was scared by the immensity of London; I think I might have had some faint doubts whether it was not rather ugly, crooked, narrow and dirty.† Pip has never been to London before and he was so used to living in the Marshes, he had no idea what London might look like, as in that time, London was the busiest, most crowded towns of England. Pip goes into Mr Jaggers' room and was fascinated by what he sees in it. â€Å"Mr Jaggers' room was lighted by a skylight only, and was a most dismal place†. When the novel was set, electricity wasn't really invented at that time and the only light rooms receive is the daylight. â€Å"The skylight, eccentrically patched like a broken head, and the distorted adjoining houses looked as if they had twisted themselves to peep down at me through it.† Pip is intimidated by what he sees as he has never been to an office before. Pip also sees â€Å"some odd objects about†. The skylight is personified as a victim of an assault. â€Å"Old rusty pistol†; this suggests that Mr Jaggers is a criminal and has done many crimes with the â€Å"pistol† in the past. â€Å"A sword in a scabbard†; this suggests that he is very protective of his special possessions. â€Å"Several strange-looking boxes and packages†; this suggests that there might be a few hidden surprises that Mr Jaggers doesn't want people to know yet. â€Å"Two dreadful casts on a shelf, of faces peculiarly swollen and twitchy about the nose†; this also suggests that he is very interested in dice as to see in how it was created. Pip has also never seen these kinds of objects before in his life and he too, gets fascinated as he looks into them. Pip says that Jaggers' chair is like a â€Å"coffin†. We have a mental image of Jaggers emerging like a vampire from the coffin. Pip's experiences of the law are linked to Dickens's life: his father had been imprisoned for debt and he had been a court journalist and law clerk. The choice of settings such as the frightening graveyard and the introduction of dark characters such as the sinister convict, Magwitch create the atmosphere of crime and death. Dark weather creates a sense of crime and death in a lot of scenes. Charles Dickens sums up this novel as a crime and death genre. It is also a mixture of crime and horror as well as crime and death. A drunken court official offers to show Pip a public hanging place. This sickened Pip just as it did Dickens who campaigned against such humiliating events and wanted them to be banned. Dickens spent his life campaigning against poverty, crime and death. There was crime and death everywhere all around his time and he chose this genre to make his readers aware of these and to the fact that poverty played an important part which caused high crime rate resulting in unfortunate deaths.

English 110/Charter

Write about a trip or a book or a movie that had a powerful effect you. Discuss its effects. 2. Write about a class or an instructor that had a powerful effect you. Discuss the effects. 3. Taming the Anger Monster Anne Davidson ff. 253 According to Davidson, what are some of the reasons that we seem to anger more quickly today than we have in the past? Do you agree or disagree with her assessment? Explain. Davidson also tells us that often getting mad is not cathartic but rather has some negative effects. What are some of these effects?Write about any personal experiences you have had with the Anger Monster—either the positive effects of controlling your anger or the negative effects of losing your temper. Journal Topics 1-3 are due Tuesday, June 12 4. Is Sex All That Matters? Joyce Garity ff. 733 Garity accuses the advertising, film, TV, music and fashion industries of contributing to our sex-saturated society by parading â€Å"sexuality at every turn. † She focuses on potential dangers to young women. What are some of these dangers? In what similar ways are boys and men affected by â€Å"sexuality at every turn? † In what ways are males affected differently?Think of some commercials or magazine ads that â€Å"use sex† to see products. Compare and contrast ads that target women with ads that target men. Can you think of any ads that target both men and women? If so, what do you think the appeal is to women? to men? 5. Born to Be Different Camille Lewis ff. 274 Lewis points out that one of the key differences between men and women is that woman are â€Å"empathizers† and men are â€Å"systemizers. † What does she mean by this? What are some of the examples that she uses? Write about examples from your own experiences. 6. Sex, Lies, and Conversation Deborah Tannen (handout)Most divorced women cite poor communication as a major contributor to their divorces; few men even mention it as a factor. Tannen says this discrepanc y in perception takes root in childhood and reflects the different roles played by verbal communication in men’s and women’s lives. What are some of the examples of this that Tannen presents in her article? Can you provide examples from your own experiences? Journal Topics 4-6 are due Monday, June 18 7. A Suicide at Twelve: â€Å"Why Steve? † Richard Meyer (handout) What kind of boy was Steve? Be sure to provide details from the text to support the qualities that you name.Comment on your perceptions of Steve’s parents. Provide examples from the story that suggest that Sue and Charles Dailey were good parents and created a good family environment. In contrast, also provide examples that suggest that Sue and Charles made dramatic mistakes as Steve’s parents. 8. Articles and editorials about the California High School Exit Exam (handout) Based on what you have read and heard, explain why you believe the state of California decided to implement a high school exit exam. Are you in favor of continuing the High School Exit Exam in its current form?Or do you feel the exam should be greatly modified or done away with completely? Write about your stand on this issue. 9. In Praise of the F Word Mary Sherry ff. 711 Sherry writes, â€Å"Young people generally don’t have the maturity to value education in the same way my adult students value it. † Do you agree or disagree? Support your view with details and observations from your own experience. Do you feel that most of your high school teachers gave you the skills you need and made you aware of the importance of those skills? If not, what should your school have done that it did not do? Journal Topics 6-9 are due Thursday, June 21

Sports Marketing Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Sports Marketing - Case Study Example De Varona (1999) provided an interesting view in marketing sports enumerating among others the mix of myths, management, marketing, media and money with regards to women in sports. Interestingly, each was related to organising world-class sporting events that are also male dominated. To support the myth view further, an account of the Manchester United Football Club which is one of the most popular, albeit controversial representation of a sports league so that tracing its history is inevitable in this context. The product has to have the right features (Brown, 1993)- for example, it must look good and work well of which Manchester United have been attributed with considering the team's stellar performance on field coupled with branded products as sponsors or product logo carriers that already have maintained global recognition such as Nike, Vodafone, and AIG. Products and services of Manchester United as can be summarised from their website include among others travel and ticket for their games, MUTV, MU Mobile, MU Finance (credit cards, savings and mortgages, insurance, loans, club account) MU foundation, shopping, gaming and betting. The price must be right. Consumer will need to buy in large numbers to produce a healthy profit. Considering that Manchester United provides the right entertainment as well as elation of sports fans as needed, the products they supply, mainly sports entertainment, is accompanied with the right prices, from stadium tickets, to apparels, and even beddings and other everyday items (MU United, 2007). The goods must be in the right place at the right time. Making sure that the goods arrive when and where they are wanted is an important operation. With the website working 24/7, Manchester United cannot be said to be at the wrong time and wrong place at all. The use of technology maximised all accessibility with products and services. The target group needs to be made aware of the existence and availability of the product through promotion. Successful promotion helps a firm to spread costs over a larger output. Promotion of Manchester United, from global airing in sports televisions, streaming media provided by the internet though broadband, print and media, promotional items that are sold at the same time (MU, 2007), among others provide Manchester United all the promotional support it could churn out and the marketing executives have not stopped. Manchester United Background When the airliner carrying Manchester United players and officials crashed in 6 February 1958 resulting to the deaths of eight of the famous 'Busby Babes' Manchester United team, the British press reportedly called it's a disaster of national and international significance (Mellor, 2004). Prior to the crash, Manchester United already held high esteem in English and European football as 1957 saw the club reach the semi-finals of the European Cup at first attempt to which the Times described: "The irony of it all is that this disaster should come at a time when Manchester United

Reflective Cover Letter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Reflective Cover Letter - Essay Example It is a great pleasure that you will be convinced of my improvement in the use of rhetoric techniques, structure of essays, brainstorming varied ideas to support claims and communicating with the academic audience, as well as, making use of instructor feedback. It is evidently that writing has always been an idea that I really enjoyed from the first quarter given that English is my first language whether it was informational, essay or creative. It was my pleasure to learn that I had the ability to take English during my first year of college though I knew the assignments would be difficult. However, that was not the case as they appeared to be interesting, as a result of, the engaging topics. The best of work during the semester I have a great feeling were in the pieces assigned as: Shelter problem for cats and identifying situations to help the community. The first essay entailed a persuasive and analytical essay that focused on the identification of the subject matter and persuaded the audience of the problem and the recommended solutions. The latter entailed an informative and creative essay that gauged the writer’s skills in making well-structured arguments supported by valid evidence. I had a hard time in beginning these two tasks, however, with more reading materials from the tutor it was more exciting, and I was unable to stop once started. I felt that with the two essays my voice was evidently able to come through with meeting the requirements of the learning outcomes. The tutor introduced the aspect of drafting the progress of the essays and submitting them for corrections. Such an aspect enabled me to run spell checks and fixing typos. However, this quarter I am much into the understanding of the necessity of drafts. With my first trials during the beginning of the semester regarding these two essays it appears that I had no clear thesis, the paragraphs were

Doctor of Pharmacy program Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Doctor of Pharmacy program - Essay Example I am aware of the tremendous progress expected in the field of pharmacy in the coming years. I am fascinated by the transition of pharmacy from dispensing the correct medication to providing total pharmaceutical care. With huge advances taking place in medical science and technology, future pharmacists will have to constantly update their knowledge and be prepared to meet the new challenges. In future, professionals like medical practitioners, pharmacists and caregivers would be working as a team to provide better care and advice to patients. I am eager to be a part of the advances taking place in the field of pharmacy such as direct patient care. Another area that interests me is medication errors. The research I did before applying for the course indicates that this problem has gained a lot of emphasis in medical circles. Further, my brother is a doctor and my sister is already in the pharmacy field. Their discussions about drugs and their effects have awakened in me a keen interest in the subject. I believe that pharmacists can contribute in a significant way towards eliminating the threat. I would like to focus my efforts in this field. A Doctor of Pharmacy program would also fit my background, as mentioned earl

Financial Analysis of DBMS in Health and Social Care Organizations in Essay

Financial Analysis of DBMS in Health and Social Care Organizations in Hong Kong - Essay Example This research paper studies the options available for database management system for Health and Social Care Organizations. One improvement needed is the proper communication between the public and private health sectors of Hong Kong. There is an actual need to establish a computer system that has the ability to contain medical records and data about patients. This computer system must be able to deliver or send needed information from one health care facility to another in various locations where it is needed. This would reduce waiting time and expenses on the part of the patients, and would improve the efficiency of service provided by medical practitioners. In relation to the above-mentioned need, after Hong Kong’s transition over to the Chinese mainland, there have been some proposed reforms on its health care system. At present Hong Kong’s public healthcare sector is subsidized by the government. And since it is supported by one of the lowest tax regimes currently existing in the world, the Hong Kong government is giving good consideration on having revamps implemented on the overhaul of its entire health care system. Reforms are needed in order to continue the provision of an effective health care program (Taylor, n.d.) To be able to get ready for such a change, the clinic where I am currently employed needs to have an updated computer that is internet enabled, to facilitate effective communication and information exchange. Hong Kong’s current health care system is made up of two sectors, the public sector, and the private sector. The public healthcare sector is managed by the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority. The Department of Health provides preventive and outpatient services.

Sociology of the Family Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Sociology of the Family - Essay Example The secondary stage of socialization usually takes place outside of the home, it can be at school, with peers or at a workplace - this is when most people begin will to socialize with people from different cultures (Laslett, 303). During this stage you may gain achieved roles such as getting a good job or becoming a mother/father and the changes in trends are recognized too from the jargon that is used, to the seasonal change in fashion trends. Norms are the things we are expected to do as they are regarded as being normal, values on the other hand are the principles we follow but we tend to take for granted e.g. writing. If a person breaks the norm then they are deviant and agencies of social control such as the police take over. These basic fundamentals are recognized by most people nowadays and explain why there arent as many cultural conflicts as there has been in the past. An example of cultural conflicts is during the early 19th century when White Americans came into contact with Native Americans - many conflicts and a few massacres had taken place simply because most of the White Americans were not willing to socialize and understand this Native culture (Kain, 955). A general perception of sociology is that it is the same as psychology. This is only correct to an extent, both the subjects are a part of social science and they look into the behavior of people (Bar-Yosef, 69). However, the difference is that psychology is the study of the mind and its mental states, whereas sociology looks at people on a broader scale, as it looks at the study of the structure and development of human societies. Today families are confronted with many problems. One issue is the imbalance in household and childcare labor done by men and women (Haralambous, 5). Another problem facing families today is the sharp rising in the number of elderly people. Changes to society may help fix some of these issues. Although society has made

Module 4,5,& 7 Strategic Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Module 4,5,& 7 Strategic Management - Essay Example Geographically, U.S. entertainment / gaming spread is limited, basically, to Las Vegas, Illinois, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Atlantic City. City councils, reluctant to provide development properties and licenses to casinos / hotels, constitute a major drawback for entertainment / gaming industry’s expansion plans. Expanding abroad is one strategy entertainment / gaming major players resort to in order to make up for slowing returns inside and to avoid prolonged licensing procedures. Further, given heavy investments in real estate developments, a typical entertainment industry strategy for growth (Ross, Keeffe, & Middlebrook, 2006), market expansion based on property development is both an opportunity during booms and a threat during recessions and economic down turns (Stein, 2009). Given no public mission statement exists for Mandalay Resort Group, Mandalay’s vision should build upon company’s founders’ conception of fun, play, and entertainment. Future actions by Mandalay should center on insights possibly translated into following set of goals and objectives: 1. Expanding on concept of â€Å"entertainment† such as to, on one hand, approach â€Å"gaming† players (e.g. Nintendo) whose main target (teens, young adults, and family) borders on Mandalay’s (e.g. themed parks, play areas, and â€Å"low roller† clients) and to move away from wrong-doing characterization associated with gaming and gambling industry upon entering markets (e.g. Middle East) whose local cultures regard gaming – and enjoyment of it – as sinful, on another. 3. Investing wise in real estate developments especially in local market (i.e. U.S.) in which gains achieved during booms cannot be guaranteed at sustainable levels during recessions and downturns – let alone negative public image impressions of a luxurious facility / development, working great as fun and entertainment destinations during booms, but questioned as extravagancies and spoils during hard

Medical School Application Question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Medical School Application Question - Essay Example It is seen that the government has a lesser share than the private entities in the field of health care. Insurance policies have however been given out to individuals who are needy by the government from programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. If I had the opportunity to change the health care system of the United States I would firstly change the whole set up of the facilities provided. The government share in the health care facilities would be increased by me so that a monopoly is not created in the health care of United States. I would create hospitals which would be designed for the overall general public and not only for a particular segment. The health care professionals would be given such expertise by me that they would change the system as a whole. They would be given the expertise to research on certain diseases and would be given the charge of finding out the root cause of the disease. This way the health care in United States might find a breakthrough in decreasing the n umber of patients. Not only this, but several other health care facilities would be formed by me which would help to decrease the load of patients on a single hospital. The healthcare of the United States is proficient in spending as it is spending much more dollars on a person than any other healthcare in the world. The number of uninsured in the United States is much more than many countries as the percentage uninsured are almost 45%. The insurance policies issued in Canada are much more effective and funded by the government than those of the United States. It is seen that the insurance coverage of the United States is not as perfect as it should be but the new health care reform introduced by Barack Obama might prove to be a success for many uninsured individuals. The health facilities are not adequate enough yet in the United States to

Revolution Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Revolution - Assignment Example On average, the ratio of a British citizen’s tax to that of a colonist was 30-1. Although the issue of ‘taxation without representation’ enraged the colonists, it was barely the main reason for the American Revolution. The French and Indian war, which had put the Brits in bad debt, started mainly as a result of the colonists’ failures (Webster, 1802). However, I agree with the fact that the war was unavoidable although my reasons for this stand are different. One of the reasons I believe the revolution was unavoidable is because independence is inevitable. The idea of equality was fast spreading in Europe and this influenced the colonists into fighting for their own freedom. Additionally, harsh economic conditions contributed to the colonists’ agitation further making the revolution unavoidable. I agree with the writer on the role played by the American Revolution in the institution of slavery. The main contradiction brought by this revolution was the whites trying to gain their freedom while at the same time enslaving the blacks. According to Webster (1802), this was abusing the doctrine of political equality which allows all people to have equal rights to life, property and security. However, it is worth noting that the whites viewed the revolution as a means to political-economical liberation rather than personal repression the blacks suffered

The Margin Call Movie Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Margin Call Movie - Essay Example This move is one of the ethically questionable issues evident in the movie. The decision by Tuld to sell off their assets (the toxic ones) before the opening of the market and before the traders and customers’ suspect of the downfall and worthlessness of company and their assets is one of the biggest and most pronounced unethical and questionable decisions by the company. The moral philosophy in this case is egoism where the egoistic person only selects choices and solutions which are favoring his or her self-interest or that satisfy their egos. The decisions being suggested by some of the senior executives and also being supported by the others is that of sacrificing their own traders who are their loyal customers and deceiving them in order to save the company from losses that it is facing and will eventually face once word gets out about the reduction of mortgage-backed securities by over 25%. The reasoning behind their egoistic philosophical decision is that the market fac es ups and downs but it still remains and therefore this is a normal situation for an investment bank and once the crisis passes, then they will be on their way to making profits and no one will find out about what happened unless someone leaks word out. If this happens, then they are prepared to offer Robertson as a sacrificial lamb through her resigning. Select two alternative moral philosophies that might have led the parties to a different result and, for each one, include a definition of that alternative philosophy

WASHINGTON CONSENSUS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

WASHINGTON CONSENSUS - Essay Example Only the annual budget of Nestle grew more than any African country under this globalisation of economy (Robert N. Gwynne and Cristbal Kay 1999). So the launch of these reforms in the name of structural adjusment programmes on the advice of IMF and world Bank there has attracted a lot of criticism in the thirld world countries. The policies that were originally formed to give a boost to the GNPs and GDPs of the least developed and developing countries in the world.But on the contrary in most of the economies these policy presciptions have played havoc with the unemployement and poverty due to the capitalism's tantacles wide spread from the first world in the poor countries. The major criticism has come from latin american and ex-soviet republics . They majorly see the capitalism as the main monster creeping in the world on the wheels of the multinalnal companies.Ultimately the buzzwords of globalization, capitalism, neo-liberal agenda and Washington Consensus became familiar and syno nymous to each other. People in the third world have been debating these terms ever since early 1950s. Most of them argue that there is an important sense in which disagreements on the character and consequences of capitalist ways of organizing economic life actually triggered the nineteenth century emergence of modern social science. This disagreement in the ex socialist and some Latin states stands at the center of the twentieth century political debate on how best to organize advanced industrial societies; and they remain main elements dividing capitalist societies, in former communist societies, and in whole of the under-developed... There is no denying the fact that the policy prescriptions under the Washington Consensus have widely been criticized from all around the world. This situation has basically arisen from immediate debacle of soviet republics and the transitional economies were not ready for reforms immediately. The Latin America, south Asia and Africa were not ready as yet. Those countries that blindly adopted these policies did not have a better taste of these policies. People reacted badly and results were not favorable politically. The economic reforms have to be adopted very prudently, slowly and gradually in all political wisdom by the leaders. But this is also a fact that free market economies are the order of the day. The WTO has at least now been setting favorable incentives for the least developed and underdeveloped world. The international competition cannot be beaten by mere agitation from the third world. The reform in the production process and compliance with the ISO certifications and i ntellectual property rights has to be complied with all the countries in the world equally. However the safety nets for the protection of poorest of the poor people have to be provided by the respective governments. It is still widely believed that growth in GDPs is not vastly trickling down to the poor segments of society. Corruption in the developing countries is rampant and rich elite is taking the advantages of new reforms. Poor have to be defended any way.

Managing across culture, international business Essay

Managing across culture, international business - Essay Example Given such a role, I would get to learn the different employees, their cultural background and their culture, for example, learn about their holy days. This is essential as societal cultures influences how employees understand the terms of the employment relationship i.e. what they expect from the employer, and what they think they owe them. Secondly, with reliance on such information, I would design effective communication and reward systems that will address the expectation from these different groups. This should help to retain key employees and increase loyalty, commitment and performance. I would develop mechanisms strategies and programs focused on cross functional team projects and mentoring programs. Such encourages interaction, build trust, and promote shared identity amongst employees, which would help employees understand each other’s culture in an informal setup. This effort should help to arrest cultural intolerance and shock in the business set up among the employees from different cultures. To add, I would lead by the example, promoting cultural tolerance, emphasizing the importance of diversity, adopting policies and procedures that support diversity, anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, holding staff and any other person accountable for any intolerance and providing training an awareness in the work

Judicial Review Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Judicial Review - Case Study Example Some of the most basic and fundamental tenets of the legal and political systems where such decisions emanate from the Prime Minister, require careful scrutiny. Any alleged breach of the rule of the law raises an important and justifiable legal issue after due consideration to the concern regarding judicially cognizable standards. (The rule of Law). The High Court oversees the decisions of public bodies and officials including courts by resorting to judicial review. Grounds of judicial review are ultra vires. If the contents of the decisions are outside the power of the pubic body that made it, then the court may declare it ultra vires. For example, if a magistrate court decides to hear a decision, which is indictable only, then this would be ultra vires. This means that the body reaching the decision in respect of a complaint, was biased, or the applicant was not given a fair opportunity to be heard. The test of Wednesbury unreasonableness - if a decision was so unreasonable that no reasonable public body could have reached the decision, and then it may be successfully challenged. This is a narrow test of reasonableness that severely limits the court's power to supervise the executive. The principle evolved during the course of the hearing in Associated Picture Houses Ltd V. Wednesbury Corporation (1948). If the decision interferes with Human Rights then the courts generally require stronger proof that the decision was reasonable. There has been debate as to whether a doctrine of proportionality would be a better test compared to reasonableness. Irrelevant consideration - If the courts consider that the public body took into account irrelevant consideration then that decision may be subject to judicial review. In R v. Somerset County Council expart Fewings (1995), the council passed a resolution prohibiting stag hunting on its land. This ban was successfully challenged because this ban considered the desirability and morality of hunting while deciding, which was deemed to be outside the ambit of its statutory powers. Unlike the appeal procedure, judicial review does not look into the merits of the case. In addition to any of the ordinary civil law remedies (damages, an injunction or a declaration) the high court may order a public law remedy only available through judicial review proceedings called prerogative orders; certiorari, mandamus and prohibition. Prerogative remedies are discretionary. Judicial review forms the basis of a modern democracy. As a department of state, the judiciary is charged with the constitutional duty to control abuse of power by the state, its officials and emanations. In a democracy the rule of law, itself legitimizes judicial review. An examination of judicial review requires consideration in particular of four matters, namely the principle of the separation of powers, the rule of law, the principle of constitutionality or legality and the reach of judicial review. The brief facts of this case are that in 1974 the respondent, Somerset County Council, appropriated land, which had been used by the Quantock Staghounds, since the 1920s. In 1993 a report had been completed which urged the council to come to a decision based on ethics, animal welfare and social considerations and it was decided to ban stag hunting on the land. In this connection, Laws J found that the resolution had been passed

A Peoples History of the United States vs the Enduring Vision Essay Example for Free

A Peoples History of the United States vs the Enduring Vision Essay How complete are our textbooks these days? Yes, they may cover Christopher Columbus’s all the way to today’s current events. But just how complete are they? Often books tend to lean a certain direction, and offer perspective from only one point of view; most commonly the views of the victors, dominant country or possibly stories of heroes. What about the other side? Far too often the lesser of the two is left out of the textbooks and out of our minds. There are always two sides to a story, in this case, much of what we read is a mere, â€Å"partial truth†. In the following paragraphs and analysis, assumptions and generalizations we have made about our country and it’s â€Å"heroes† will be examined in an in-depth interpretation of the standard American textbook, The Enduring Vision vs. Howard Zinn’s, A People’s History of the United States, a strongly worded book meant to offer a different point of view, one not of the hero, but of men they truly were. Everyone knows who discovered America, Christopher Columbus, of course! â€Å"In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue† At a very young age we are taught that, but that’s only half the story. According to, The Enduring Vision, â€Å"Religious Fervor led Columbus to dream of carrying Christianity around the globe, but he also hungered for wealth and glory. †(p. 27) Upon discovery, Columbus became very fond of himself, and what he had done. He discovered a land and a people that before his discovery never existed. Because of this, Columbus’s hunger for wealth and glory came to the forefront. The textbook makes no mention of the less publicized portions of his life; it certainly was not carrying Christianity to the world. The book fails to mention, the cruel and inhumane things that were done to the Native American who currently inhabited the â€Å"New World†. Those actions seem to be brushed under the rug, because of the fact that he is an American hero. However, Howard Zinn offers a view from a different perspective. â€Å"†¦They willingly traded everything they owned†¦. They were well built, with good bodies and handsome features†¦They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance. They have no iron. Their spears are made of cane†¦. They would make fine servants†¦. With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want. † (Zinn 17) Columbus’s lust for wealth, power, and domination of the people blinded his view of spreading Christianity. In Columbus’s report back to the royal court in Madrid, Spain, Columbus uses religious talk to convince the court that he was establishing a community, and to establish fame and a reputation back in Spain. In exchange for a little help, Columbus was to bring them, â€Å"as much gold as they need†¦ and as many slaves as they ask. Concluding his report he said, â€Å"Thus the eternal God, our Lord, gives victory to those who follow His was over apparent impossibilities† (Zinn 20) this was not entirely true, his report was exaggerated, however, the court granted him his expanded fleet and men. However, Columbus was not out to colonize the new world, he was looking for his personal gain ; Gold, and slaves. This American â€Å"Hero† isn’t everything the history books and movies make him out to be. Columbus was a liar, cruel, and was out for glory and fame. It’s a sad truth to such an important piece of an American history. As American we would like to believe that Columbus was the man he was made up to be, and definitely not a â€Å"Christ-like† figure. He was much more than an explorer who owned a few slaves; he is a man responsible for the institution of slavery and the murder of many, many Native Americans. Another well-known figure in history has a distorted past, he happens to be one of our most respected presidents; Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson is perhaps most known for his hand in writing the Declaration of Independence. Although Jefferson was a major player in gaining our country’s independence from England; he wasn’t much for granting independence to a certain group of people in America. Although, it is noted that Jefferson had a personal distaste for slavery, that did not stop him from owning slaves, hundreds of slaves until the day he died. Jefferson even slipped a portion his views into the Declaration of Independence. It is a very common cliche phrase that is known by many, in which he lists property, in a list of â€Å"unalienable† rights. That among these are Life, Liberty, and property† However, Congress didn’t approve, and instead, they chose, â€Å"Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness†. Slaves were often referred to as property at that time, not human beings, but property, as if they were a possession. So, who really was Jefferson, was he a noble president, who still today remains a prominent figure in the history of the United States? Or was he just like everyone else, a slave owner, and didn’t truly believe that â€Å"All men are created equal†? Personally, I believe that Jefferson was a product of the time period. Being a slave owner was common; he was in line with what wealthy plantation owners. He may have believed that slavery was not a moral institution, but that doesn’t require him to being an abolitionist. According to Zinn, Jefferson’s paragraph was removed because, â€Å"slaveholders themselves with the desirability of ending the slave trade. †(Zinn 77) Thomas Jefferson was an extremely intelligent man, and I believe he wrote that, with the foresight of the country in mind. He knew that it should not be a part of America going forward, however, at the time; it was a part of life. In addition to that, Jefferson needed to keep his popularity high, and by ending the slave-trade, Jefferson would lose many of his supporters. For this I believe that in this case Zinn may be bias, he goes after every flaw in people we look up to, and we simply cannot expect them to be perfect. Yes, they may have made some mistake and at times be hypocritical, but everyone is guilty of that at some time in their life, especially at a time where presidents where selected on what they had done in battle, not in politics. The next difference comes in the form of another president. Andrew Jackson, the face of our twenty dollar bill. According to the textbook, â€Å"Jackson’s victory over the British at the Battle of New Orleans made him a national hero, and southerners admired him as a Tennessee slaveholder, a renowned Indian fighter, and an advocate of Indian removal† 216). Many American regarded Jackson as a â€Å"Living link to a more virtuous past. † Upon, gaining the presidency, one of Jackson’s first moves was to remove all the members of upper ranking officeholders†¦of the rival party. It was not well received by many; they began calling it the â€Å"spoils system†. He defended his actions by conveying that it was on the basis of Democracy; so that more people could work for the government. Jackson often gave jobs to family members or friends before giving the public their fair shake. Jackson was also willing to give jobs to people who weren’t qualified, because he knew them. This wasn’t the only thing that Jackson took heat for; his â€Å"morals† got him into more trouble. Jackson was easily bribed, and used deception as well as force to get what he wanted. Whether it was land or gold, Jackson was willing to use his power as president for his gain. Zinn 128) Zinn, points out the fact that this will never be printed in a text book, as Jackson is a face of this country. â€Å"If you look through high school textbooks and elementary school text books in American history you will find Jackson the frontiersman, soldier, democrat, man of the people-not Jackson the slaveholder, land speculator, executioner of dissident soldiers, exterminator of the Indians. †(Zinn 125) Strong and harsh words for a man, especially a president nonetheless. As we have seen in this and past examples, that Zinn emphasizes the other side of the story, the one you don’t hear about. Unfortunately, these are stories that everyone should know. Zinn, places an emphasis on teaching what the textbooks don’t, the textbooks focus on the spoils and fame of the individual. Howard Zinn provides an alternative view that sheds light on the morals of these men, which are not well publicized. Abraham Lincoln, the savior of the Union, often considered to be one of the best if not the best presidents in the history of the United States. However, this is one of the rare instances in which Zinn agrees with the textbook. For once, Zinn focuses on the results, rather the character. Lincoln didn’t believe that the African-Americans were his equal, but he did believe they had the rights of a human being; no human should be subject to being owned by another. However, Lincoln’s main priority was to preserve the Union, and to unite the States of America. The fact that Zinn agrees with the textbook in their positive view of Lincoln, shows the Zinn is not out to attack our great American Heroes. However, Zinn simply wishes for the other side of the story to be told, after all, all this stuff should be taught. Teaching as if this never happened, is like teaching addition without subtraction. Finally, we conclude with yet another president; our first President of the United States, George Washington: The fearless and ambitious leader that America looked to, to become our first president and lead the country in a positive direction. The Enduring Vision says it well, â€Å"American Victory depended on the ability of one man to keep his army fighting despite defeat† (120) Washington’s record in battle was poor, he lost more times than he won. However, the important part was that the people followed him. George was exceptionally tall for this time, so people naturally looked to him to lead them-despite losing. However, Washington was a slaveholder himself. Although, he did free them before he died. During the Revolutionary war, Washington did turn down a request of black slaves to fight in the army. (Zinn 83) Despite, his downfall, George Washington was an honorable man, who was the perfect choice for first President of the United States. Zinn tends to tarnish Washington’s reputation, with some of the things he chooses to publish; he gives Washington little credit for his accomplishments. In fact, I believe that Washington’s failures is what makes him such an insightful historical figure, failure spurred his ambition for bigger and better things. In conclusion, I have determined that much of what is printed is only partial truth. Thanks to Howard Zinn, people can explore the character that shaped out country. Although Zinn may seem to attack these men, he is simply pointing out that they weren’t the men they are made out to be in modern day history books and films. After reading, A People’s History of the United States, I am very pleased that someone decided that the truth must be told; even though it is not always what we want to hear.

On the Road by Jack Kerouac Essay Example for Free

On the Road by Jack Kerouac Essay Now considered not only a legendary work within the history of American literature, Jack Kerouac’s â€Å"On the Road† is also regarded as the pivotal work of an entire generation of young Americans looking for purpose and direction in a nation not far removed from world war, and becoming increasingly complicated and fast paced. In the midst of the sweeping societal changes depicted through Kerouac’s characters in â€Å"On the Road†, the protagonist of the story, Dean Moriarty, stands as an iconic, enigmatic figure. In this essay, the dynamics and complexities of Moriarty’s personality, as well as the changes that this personality undergoes as â€Å"On the Road† unfolds will be discussed in order to better understand not only Moriarty as a character, but also what he represents. Dean Moriarty’s Changes Within the Plot of â€Å"On the Road† The changes that Moriarty goes through in Kerouac’s book are symbolic not only of the general direction of his life itself, but also the society in which he lives, the people with whom he interacts, and what the future holds for everyone, including this character himself. Gaining even a fundamental understanding of the character of Moriarty in necessary to make this possible. Dean Moriarty makes a notable entrance into the plot of â€Å"On the Road†; from the very beginning, he captures the interest of the other characters in the book because of his very nature, which is highly animated, yet appealing because of his obvious passion for life and his interest in living every moment to its fullest (Whissen, 1992). At the same time, showing that he is a constantly changing individual, Moriarty is alienated from some of the more conventional people who are friends with other main characters in the story, a divide which none of the main characters make an effort to remedy, setting the stage for Moriarty to blaze his own path in subsequent sections of the book. Perhaps on of the most significant characteristics of Moriarty, which serves as a catalyst for many of the changes through which he goes, is the fact that he is very appealing to the opposite sex; this sort of romantic tension creates a bit of mystery about Moriarty (Swartz, 1999). This charisma also opens up a world of possibilities for Moriarty to explore, and presents him with many temptations and challenges that other people may never experience. Whether this charisma with women was something that came about just by the way that Moriarty presented himself, or it was something toward which he aspired and took specific steps to ensure that women would find him desirable, this aspect of his personality was the first step in the changes that he undergoes throughout the story. First, in regard to Moriarty’s changes, the fact that he carries on multiple relationships with women, many at the same time, makes it necessary for Moriarty to constantly travel throughout the nation, truly embodying the â€Å"on the road† lifestyle which forms the backbone of Kerouac’s book. The consequences of these many relationships, and the ensuing complications and commitments that come out of them, create problems for Moriarty that he is forced to confront, and conform to as well. The complexity of these relationships is made even more dramatic by the fact that eventually, Moriarty fathers multiple children with multiple women, making it all but impossible for him to carry on any kind of a conventional life or to remain stationery in one place for any amount of time; the ability that most people have to lead an ordinary, day to day existence, is denied Moriarty because of the choices he makes in his personal life until almost the end of the book. A second area of change for Dean Moriarty is seen in his social interactions with friends beyond the level of romantic interludes. Socially, Moriarty also undergoes a great deal of change as the plot of the book unfolds. Because of Moriarty’s alienation from people beyond his immediate circle of close friends, he becomes more withdrawn from the regular social aspects of everyday society and has a sort of sadness and emptiness about him. This emptiness is filled with sordid affairs with women as was discussed earlier, travel, and excesses such as drinking and outlandish behavior, which will be discussed in more detail in a subsequent section of this essay. Moriarty’s charismatic nature in some instances is also important to realize from the viewpoint of the change that he affects in others, perhaps most significantly in the case of his best friend, Sal Paradise. Because Sal looks up to Dean in basically every area of life as a role model of sorts (Whissen, 1992), he imitates even Dean’s worst behavioral traits, including the constant traveling. The foolishness of this imitation is made more dramatic by the fact that Sal is older than Dean, making the implication that Dean could in fact learn a lot from Sal if the situation were somehow reversed. Finally, a change that Moriarty attempts is as significant as any of the others which he ahs undergone throughout â€Å"On the Road†. Ultimately, Moriarty attempts to take on the persona of a civilized and responsible individual when he acknowledges his responsibilities to his marriage vows and the children that were created as a result of his marital union. Getting a job and attempting to settle into a normal, structured home life, Moriarty does give this endeavor and life change a sincere effort, but he soon finds that this is more difficult for him than he may have expected. Due to this realization, which some might say is a recognition of his own nature as a traveling, somewhat chaotic individual with a high level of appeal to women in general, he quickly loses interest in being a good father and husband; for example, ignoring the cries of his child, obsessing about the other women with whom he was involved in the past, and more than likely planning the next step of his symbolic and literally road journey in a search for what is missing in his life, and what the life of an average husband/father, in his view, fails to deliver. An Insight into Moriarty’s Mindset By studying the pattern of Moriarty’s behavior, and the different personalities and attitudes he embraces, it is much easier to profile the mindset of this enigmatic and complicated character. Moriarty’s inner emptiness is apparent when his actions and value systems, flawed as they are, are separated from the action of â€Å"On the Road†, and the story itself is looked at in a more philosophical way. The argument can be made that Moriarty’s mindset is symbolic of the state of affairs in America at the time that Kerouac wrote his book; because the nation was in the process of gaining a new identity following World War II and before the Korean War reached its climax, the nation collectively, and Dean Moriarty individually, began to question what the nature of life is all about and whether the regular, day to day life of the average person is the best state of living that one can reach (Begnal, 1998). A restless nation, reflected in the restless persona of Moriarty, comes shining through, towering over the plot and other characters of the book itself. Also, the question of the nature of Moriarty’s charisma is important when gaining a fuller understanding of his mindset and value system. If one takes the position that Moriarty was embedded with charisma and it was beyond his control to do anything but to submit to its power, then Moriarty can be sympathetically viewed as a victim. However, if the position is taken that Moriarty was a calculating individual whose romantic flings were deliberately worked toward and pursued as a goal, then Moriarty can be seen as less than a charming Casanova, and more accurately, a dangerous predator that poisons every relationship with which he comes into contact. The many changes of Dean Moriarty, as well as the changes he influences in others and the effects that he has on those with whom he interacts, all conspire to create within him a great deal of conflict and anxiety, which displays itself in a sort of madness. This madness is also important to understand when studying the dynamic nature of Moriarty himself. Moriarty’s Descent into Madness By creating human conflict, chaos and turmoil for virtually everyone he meets, Moriarty has built for himself a complicated lifestyle that can be said to be rooted in madness. This madness, like so many of the other facets of Moriarty’s being, eventually spill out into the open for everyone to see, much like the classic example of someone wearing their heart on their sleeve. Generally speaking, it can be fairly said that one of the most characteristic displays of some level of madness in the mind of Dean Moriarty can be seen in his wanderlust-based lifestyle and personality. Just as Moriarty traveled from one romantic liaison to another, and fathered one child after another, he journeyed from one physical location to another. This journey can be viewed as a quest to fill the emptiness within his soul in some instances, or a desire to escape from any form of commitment in others. The comparison of this journey to the journey of realization that America was taking at the time is also accurate and appropriate. Whichever comparison one chooses, no one can deny that the rapid pace at which Moriarty went back and forth from one destination to another is indicative of at least some level of madness. As Moriarty traveled about, his madness was further shown to be strong and prominent by his disregard for the wellbeing of others. Specifically depicted in the book is Moriarty’s journey to Chicago, during which his outlandish behavior puts others at risk, but he seems not to be concerned about it in the slightest. Yet another piece of evidence that speaks to the level of madness that Moriarty reaches in the book is punctuated by the behavior that he not only sees as nothing out of the ordinary, but also that he recommends to others, and tries to convince them to participate in as something that is acceptable. Specifically, Moriarty at one point makes the suggestion that his protege of sorts, Sal, and his wife join Moriarty in stripping off their clothes and running about in public. What this shows is not only Moriarty’s deteriorated sense of right and wrong, but also his general contempt for the trappings of conventional society, rebellion against that society, and his desire to express his total freedom and ability to do whatever he wishes, whenever he wishes, without any notable consequences for himself or others. Sadly, of course, his actions are creating chaos wherever he goes, even if he is blind to it. Lastly, something needs to be said about Moriarty’s drunken lifestyle, as well as its influence on his behaviors and choices. When he indulges in alcohol binges, his erratic behavior increases, more bad choices are made, and more people are affected for the worse. The women and children that he leaves in his alcoholic wake are forced to pick up the pieces and clean up the messes that Moriarty creates. All the while, he carries on- seemingly oblivious to what he is causing to happen, and dulled by his own vices. Conclusion Just as â€Å"On the Road† profiled an entire generation and reflected the spirit of a nation in transition, so too did Dean Moriarty. Based in part on actual people whom Kerouac knew, this character represented a composite of the quest for happiness and meaning in a chaotic world as well as the paradox of someone who wants to pursue their own enjoyments but too late realizes that total indulgence carries with it a steep price. In conclusion, what is seen in both Moriarty and the story in which he exists is the brilliance, and frailty of the human mind, the search for enlightenment, and the journey along the way- basically, the road that is chosen and what that means for the traveler.

Strategic Analysis Of The External Environment Currently Facing Gillette Marketing Essay

Strategic Analysis Of The External Environment Currently Facing Gillette Marketing Essay 1. Abstract Purpose The objective of this report is to conduct an extensive analysis of the external environment and evaluate the key drivers influencing the corporate strategic management of Proctor Gambles brand, Gillette. It will concentrate on identifying, categorising and prioritising the key issues facing this organisation both in the macro-environment and the micro-environment. Methodology The tools used in this report to provide an external analysis of the key environmental forces and competitive drivers include; analytical frameworks such as the PESTEL framework, and Porters 5-forces analysis. In addition an analysis of strategic groups and sources of competition will be included. Findings The influence of political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal drivers in the macro-environment, combined with the issues from the micro-environment, provide a series of implications for competitive action and strategic choice in the future. In the current external environment, social-trends and technological aspects play a vital role in a companys success in the Shaving Razor industry. Value The report utilises appropriate theory, conceptual frameworks and academic literature on future strategies and scenarios for Gillette from an analytical perspective. 2. Introduction This report will define Gillette as assembling and marketing its products within in the Shaving Razor industry, a distinct category of the Beauty Personal Care sector. Regardless of the period of growth the industry, valued at  £523 million, has benefitted from in recent years, Mintel (2009) suggested that sales of shaving and depilatory products had dropped by an estimated 3%. (Lee, 2010) proposes the industry faces cash-conscious consumers who may be seeking to reduce the cost of expensive razor blades or ensure they last for a longer period of time. However, (Bottomley, 2010) suggests a different reason for the decrease, even the most gadget- obsessed male is likely to question the value of on-board microchips and precision trimmers, when there are simpler, high-quality products available for a fraction of the price. Another point of view from (Jefferson, 2010) who suggests perhaps it is the functional approach that companies within this industry present to customers, connectin g with customers on a more emotional level will remedy the predictable perceptions of two blades are better than one, three blades are better than two and so on. The object of this report is to provide a structure focusing on future trends that can help to analyse strategic choices available to companies in the Shaving Razor industry. It will provide an extensive external environmental analysis of the current Shaving Razor environment with a future-trend perspective, using the PESTEL (political, economic, social, technological, environmental, legal) framework (see, for example, Brooks et al., 2005, p.7) as a suitable analytical tool for the macro-environment. The report will draw out and highlight the key drivers which are most likely to influence the future development of the industry. The report will then focus on Porters five forces framework, which (Porter, 1980) referred these forces as the micro-environment, which will then be used to establish the competitive intensity and therefore the overall industry profitability. Finally the report will analyse strategic groups and sources of competition within the Shaving Razor industry. 3. PESTEL Analysis of the Shaving Razor Industry The external environment consists of the external environment forces which may influence an aspect of organisational activity. These are defined within six broad-ranging sections with the acronym PESTEL, political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal. A full PESTEL analysis of the Shaving Razor environment is provided in Table 1, however the report has identified, categorised and prioritised the key issues facing the industry from the macro-environment below. Among the key conclusions of the PESTEL analysis are the following: With consumer purchases increasingly dependant on the often neglected topic of social responsibility, (Shayrn, 2009; Trainer, 2005) suggest that over the coming years, even in todays tough economic times, consumers demand an urgency about making their communities more environmentally friendly, fairer and sustainable. In the future, as environmental issues become increasingly reported in the media, (Kraus, 2005) implies the consumer will not only consider the impact their purchases have, but having a corporate social responsibility will be compulsory to remain competitive. In the Shaving Razor industry, this refers to using environmentally-friendly materials, long-lasting performance, environmentally-friendly packaging, CO2 emissions. See for example, Bics new environmentally friendly shaving razor (BicEcolutions, 2010). As the industry provides an essential product, that the majority of males require on an international basis. It is common for companies in this industry to operate and distribute globally. (Anwar et al, 2009) suggested that each country has individual rules on taxation and custom duties which may distort the companys pricing policies, a contradiction in pricing may cause people to purchase stock in bulk from countries with minimal price and black market the companys products, which would have a negative effect on profitability and brand reputation. The Shaving Razor industry take advantage of around a 4750% mark up according to (Poulter, 2009) who suggests that insiders have revealed that replacement razors blades cost only 5p to make yet are sold for around  £2.50 each. This extortionate mark-up on compatibility costs has caught the attention of the Office of Fair Trading who are currently investigating the issue. (The Office of Fair Trading, 2010) refers to this type of issue under the name compatibility costs, these purchase decisions lock a consumer in with inexpensive original equipment (durables) in order to purchase follow-on products which a substantial profit is made on (consumables). The high value-to-size ratio offered by the Shaving Razor industry has triggered the products offered by Shaving companies to become the worlds most shoplifted product according to (The Telegraph, 2003; BBC News, 2010). Kopalchick and Monk (2005, p.70) proposed this caused several companies in the Shaving Razor industry to take action and incorporate Radio-Frequency Identity (RFID) tags, which automatically tracks the products location when it is removed from the shelf. However, with the technology available today, e.g. GPS systems; it would be possible to track the product from leaving the shelf to its eventual disposal, which has led to ethical disputes regarding personal privacy according to (The Star Phoenix, 2006). There is an ongoing legal battle within in the Shaving Razor industry, examples of this are evident in (New York Times, 2004, p4; Grand Rapid Press, 2003, p11; BBC news, 2006). The series of disputes refer to company slogans, advertising campaigns, design patents regarding razor heads with more blades and trademarks according to (Solley, 2005). Each legal battle has costs both in money, time and to some extent brand reputation. The UK government has ordered an increase in value added tax (VAT) from 17.5% to 20%, this will take place on the 4th January 2011 (HM Revenue Customs, 2011). The increase will trigger an increase in material costs, meaning a higher price needs to be charged to customers in order to maintain the same profit levels per unit. According to (The Guardian, 2010) several companies have already made plans to increase their prices and many companies are waiting to see what action competitors take, while some companies have chosen to absorb the increase. (The Western Mail, 2011) reports that many companies believe that if they absorb the VAT increase, they will attract more customers and be able to compete more effectively in the marketplace. This suggests that Shaving Razor companies who absorb the VAT increase may experience more increased custom than those who choose to pass on the rise in costs to customers. Political Economic Social Technological Environmental Legal Each country has individual rules on taxation and custom duties which may distort the companys pricing policies. Contradiction in pricing may cause people black market the companies products.a The VAT increase from 17.5% to 20% will raise material costs throughout the industry and the UK.b Continued growth trend in industry value ( £523 million), however estimated 3% decrease in 2009.c Recession had minimal effect on spending habits within this industry, few people have spend less on shaving products. However, value of sales has dropped, due to heavy promotional discounting.c Price increase due to high demand in premium disposable shaving systems. d Brand loyalty is high within the industry, however one in ten users experiment with new brands and formats. Quality and performance are the key factors relating to whether the user switches to the new brand or format.c Cultural and religious factors that prevent people from shaving. In addition, the media popularisation of Movember, a fund-raising event to raise money to fight prostate cancer.e Demographic changes e.g. the increasing aging of population, who statistically shave less often.f Changing social attitudes. Rise in male grooming sales suggests men are more conscious with the way they look.g Introduction of high-end products last longer, meaning they have to be replaced less frequently, reducing sales.h High-quality premium product with additional USPs e.g. indicator that tells customers when blades need to be replaced; means a higher price can be charged.i Use of JIT and ICT within industry can reduce wastage and ensure the manufacture is more efficient.h Consumer purchases increasingly dependant on the often neglected topic of social responsibility.j The disposal of the dangerous razor blades is a key issue, previously Blade banks were provided as promotional material. It is a joint responsibility between manufacturer and customer to ensure the dangerous affect to the environment is minimised k Depilatories A Possible Threat to Shaving Systems.l There is an ongoing legal battle within the Shaving Razor industry. The series of disputes refer to company slogans, advertising campaigns, design patents regarding razor heads with more blades and trademarks.m Replacement shaving razor heads have become the worlds most shoplifted product.n Many companies within the industry have incorporated RFID tags into packaging to automatically monitor products from shelf to disposal, however this has led to ethical disputes regarding personal privacy.o Office of fair trading are investigating the high compatibility costs currently charged by companies in the industry., putting the present 4750% mark-up at jeopardy.p Sources: a(Ricciuto, 2001); b(The Guardian, 2010; HM Revenue Customs, 2010); c(Mintel, 2009); d(The Times 100, 2010); e(Mandal, 2003); f(Gale,2008); g(Verdon, 2007); h(Greb, 2009); i(Kruger,1998); j(Shayrn, 2009; Trainer, 2005); k (Kostigen, 2008) l(Global Industry Analysts, 2010); m (Solley, 2005; New York Times, 2004, p.4;BBC news, 2006) n(The Telegraph, 2003); o(The Star Pheonix, 2006); p(Poulter, 2009; The Office of Fair Trading, 2010). 4. 5-Forces Analysis of the Shaving Razor Industry Porters five forces framework can enable companies to analyse key forces that will affect the industry from the micro-environment and determine competitive intensity and consequently the overall industry profitability. According to (Porter, 1980) the five main forces include three from horizontal competition: threat of substitution, threat from established rivals and threat from new entrants. The two remaining forces are from vertical competition: bargaining power of suppliers and bargaining power of customers. The diagram below identifies, categorises and prioritises the key issues facing Gillette in the micro-environment. A more detailed exposition of the competitive intensity and industry profitability follows in the next sections. Diagram 1 Key Drivers facing Gillette in the micro-environment 4.2 Threat Of Substitution The level of threat from substitution depends on several factors, the key factors are; relative quality and price, customers willingness to substitute and the costs involved with switching to a substitute. In Gillettes case the main substitutes would be in the form of electric razors, straight traditional razors, depilatories and the option of not shaving. The threat of substitution from electric razors is minimized as Gillette owners, Proctor Gamble, have an arm in this industry with their successful brand Braun. The (Chain Drug review, 2008) suggests that older men tend to prefer electric razors; however the younger generation would lean towards purchasing wet-shaving products which are offered by Gillette. This could be interpreted that there is a potential reduction of the threat of substitution with electric razors in the future. Another substitute is the traditional straight-edge razor. This type of product operates in a very niche market. According to (Smith, 2010) these types of shavers have been fading in popularity due to their dangerous nature, suggesting the threat from this substitute is minimal. Depilatories are chemical agents used to temporarily remove hair at the skins surface. According to (Tuckington Dover, 2007) depilatories offer a smoother skin surface than shaving, however only 1% of American women use such products. It is also suggested that this is due to the fact depilatories are expensive, slow and irritating to the skin. The alternative substitute of not shaving is often combated by the industrys clever marketing techniques, which often suggest it is not socially acceptable not to shave. (Cavallaro, 2008) suggested methods and techniques in which are most effective to market products to men; these methods are used by many companies to advertise effectively. (Birchall, 2009, p.9) suggested Gillettes recent advertising campaigns were framed as an affirmation of body shaving as masculine. The messages portrayed through these advertising campaigns are manipulated to benefit the company, and draw customers away from purchasing substitutes. 4.3 Threat From Established Rivals The intensity of the rivalry from established competition is reliant on; the structure of competition, industry costs, degree of differentiation, switching costs, strategic objectives and exit barriers. The industry Gillette operates in is already unattractive; it contains many powerful and aggressive competitors who have high stakes in staying in the segment, due to high exit barriers. These conditions lead to frequent price wars, advertising disputes, and new, innovative product introductions, making it expensive for Gillette to maintain a high market share. The threat from established rivals is limited by the strong image and brand loyalty Gillette maintains. In addition, Gillettes innovative research and development department keeps the industry thriving by generating differentiation and technological advances. Their success has caused established rivals to borrow from their $1 billion research and development efforts (McCullough, 2003). 4.4 Threat From New Entrants The level of threat from new entrants to the Shaving Razor industry is established by; economies of scale, investment requirements, customer switching costs, access to industry distribution channels, access to technology, brand loyalty, chances of retaliation from existing industry members, government regulations. In the Shaving Razor industry, (Mintel, 2009) suggested there are high levels of brand loyalty present. This makes the industry very unattractive for new entrants, as they would be directly pitting against several major competitors in an oligopoly. Gillette minimises the threat from new entrants by efficient usage of economies of scale advantages, access to the industrys distribution channels and access to technology enhancements. Another key factor affecting the threat from new entrants is the risk of retaliation by Gillette, which could be substantial and could include mergers or acquisitions, an example of this is when Proctor Gamble acquired Gillette for  £30.2bn (BBC News, 2005). Entry to the Shaving Razor industry also involves high set-up costs and exit barriers are also high, reducing the probability of successfully securing finance from external sources, increasing the difficultly for new entrants for this industry. 4.5 Bargaining Power of Suppliers The negotiating power from supplies it determined by; concentration of suppliers, supplier branding, profitability of suppliers, threat of suppliers forward integrating into industry, buyers threat of backward integration into supply, buyers level of importance to suppliers profitability, switching supplier costs. As Gillette manufactures its own products, there is minimal effect from this source. Gillette maintains a win-win relationship with its suppliers of raw-materials as they can be obtained from anywhere and little supplier switching costs would be incurred. (Evans, 2008) suggested that Gillette identifies suppliers with a proven ability to meet its specifications. Once a supplier is selected to participate, Gillette expects them to produce a pre-production planning system to assess the suppliers capability to deliver Gillettes specifications. This high level of capability Gillette demands from its raw-materials supplier shows that he supplier has little power in the business relationship and there is minimal threat. In addition, as a large global brand it can establish a powerful supply-chain management model and global competitiveness enables suppliers prices to be driven low. 4.6 Bargaining Power of Customers The level of bargaining power from customers relies on; the concentration of competition, differentiation and unique selling points, profitability of companies, threat of backward or forward integration into the industry, cost of customers switching to competitor. Buyers in the Shaving Razor industry possess strong and growing bargaining power. With Wal-Mart as the main retailer for Gillettes products, the conclusion drawn could be that the potential profitability can become shortened as Gillette has a high reliance on Wal-Mart and similar large retailers for a large proportion of revenue. (DePamphilis, 2010) outlined suppliers such as Gillette have been under considerable pressure from retailers, due to the on-going growth of Wal-Mart and industry mergers, for example Sears and Kmart. DePamphilis then goes on to suggest Wal-Mart is responsible for 13% of Gillette income is 2005, suggesting a high-reliance on the retailer for profitability, increasing the threat of bargaining from customers. The buyers power increased due to the fact Shaving Razors represents a significant fraction of the retailers costs and the products are undifferentiated. In addition, the buyers in this industry are price sensitive. (Chopra et al, 2010) outline that Gillet tes pricing power is being further eroded by channel migration and increasing consumer resistance to paying significantly higher prices for innovation. 5. Strategic Groups in the Shaving Razor industry A key concept used in strategic management practice, (Hunt, 1972) defined  strategic groups  as grouping companies within an industry that have similar interests, business models or similar combinations of strategies. Gillette faces intense competition in most markets, its products compete with highly marketed, well-known, branded products. The Gillettes performance in this industry depends on the brands ability to adapt itself within this kind of competitive environment. Price-Quality Segment Name Of Parent Co. (Brand market share for Gel 7 oz$/Unitsin parenthesis) PG (Gillette)  [1]   PG (other brands) S.C. Johnson Johnson Johnson Beiersdorf AG Perio Super-premium Neutrogena Razor Defense Gel  [2]   (2.5/1.5%) Premium Gillette Fusion Hydra Gel (14.3/11.5%) Aveeno Gel  [3]   (10/6.7%) Mid-price Gillette Mach 3 Gel (4.5/4.4%) Gillette Series Gel (20/22.9%) Edge Gel (34/35.9%) Nivea Gel (6.5/6.2%) Economy Noxzema  [4]  Gel (1.9/2.7%) Old Spice  [5]  Gel (0.5/0.7%) Barbasol Gel (0.4/0.6%) Gillette, Bic, Shick-Wilkinson Sword King of shaves Conclusion Opportunities and Threats References Porter, M. (1980) Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors. New York: Free Press. Greb, E. (2009) Is JIT Manufacturing the Right Prescription? Pharmaceutical Technology, 33 (3) pp. 72-78 ProQuest [Online]. Available at: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdlink?did=1685062121Fmt=7clientId=29645RQT=309VName=PQD (Accessed: 1 Decmeber 2010). Turkington, C., Dover,J. (2007) The Encyclopedia of skin and skin disorders. 3rd Edn. New York: Infobase Publishing. 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