Torture, Not Culture - Female Genital Mutilation Essays (1187 words)

Torture, Not Culture - Female Genital Mutilation annon (AN INSIGHT INTO FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION) Female circumcision, better known as Female Genital Mutilation, is an ugly monster finally rearing its head from out of the depths of time. It can attack a girl at any age, with a little prompting from her society, and the aid of an unsuspecting human wielding the knife. Usually, it is performed from a few days after birth to puberty, but in some regions, the torture can be put off until just before marriage or the seventh month of pregnancy (Samad, 52). Women that have gone beyond the primary level of education are much less likely to fall victim to the tradition (Men's..., 34). The average victim is illiterate and living in a poverty-stricken community where people face hunger, bad health, over-working, and unclean water (Female..., 1714). This, however, is not always the case. As one can see in the following story of Soraya Mire, social classes create no real barriers. Soraya Mire, a 13-year-old from Mogadishu, Somolia, never knew what would happen to her the day her mother called her out of her room to go buy her some gifts. When asked why, her mother replied, I just want to show you how much I love you. As Soraya got into the car, she wondered where the armed guards were. Being the daughter of a Somolian general, she was always escorted by guards. Despite her mother's promise of gifts, they did not stop at a store, but at a doctor's home. This is your special day, Soraya's mother said. Now you are to become a woman, an important woman. She was ushered into the house and strapped down to an operating table. A local anesthetic was given but it barely blunted the pain as the doctor performed the circumcision. Soraya was sent home an hour later. Soraya broke from her culture's confining bonds at the age of 18 by running away from an abusive arranged marriage. In Switzerland, she was put in a hospital emergency room with severe menstrual cramps because of the operation. Seven months later, the doctor performed reconstructive surgery on her. Now in the U.S., Soraya is a leading spokeswoman against FGM (Bell, 58). In addition to being active in the fight against FGM, she is a American filmmaker. She has come a long way. Being well-educated about the facts of FGM also brings to light the ugly truth. It is happening on American soil, insists Soraya. Mutilations are occurring every day among innigrants and refugees in the U.S. (Brownlee, 57). Immigrants have also brought the horrifying practice to Europe, Australia, and Canada (McCarthy, 14). Normally, it is practiced in North and Central Africa (Men's..., 34), the Middle East, and Muslim populations of Indonesia and Malaysia (Female..., 1714). Although it seems to have taken root in Muslim and African Christian religions, there is no Koranic or Biblical backing for FGM (Men's..., 34). Many times female circumcision is treated as a religion in itself. It can be a sacred ritual meant to be kept secret forever. As a woman told poet Mariama Barrie, You are about to enter Society {sic}, and you must never reveal the ritual that is about to take place. (Barrie, 54). The ritualistic version of FGM is much more barbaric than the sterile doctor's world which Soraya Mire passed through. Mariama Barrie had to endure the most severe form of FGm at the tender age of ten. Mariama's torture is known as infibulation. There is also excision and sunna. Infibulation consists of the removal of the entire clitoris, the whole of the labia minora and up to 2/3 of the labia majora. The sides of the vulva are sewn or held together by long thorns. A small opening the size of the tip of a matchstick is left for the passage of menstrual blood and urine. Excision is a clitoridectomy and sometimes the removal of the labia minora; sunna is the only type that can truthfully be called circumcision. It is a subtotal clitoridectomy (Female..., 1714). To put this in perspective, infibulation would be like cutting off a man's penis completely, cutting the testicles to the groin, and making a hole in them to have the semen siphoned out (McCarthy, 14). But still, it can get worse. The instruments that can be used to perform the operation are usually crude and dirty. they can include kitchen knives, razor blades, scissors, broken glass, and in some regions, the teeth of the midwife. Because of this, there are many dangers threatenng the victim. The most

Free Essays on Roman Buildings

Roman Architecture by Ryan Huguenin During the 2nd century BC the Romans, in conquering North Africa, Greece, Anatolia, and Spain, absorbed the architectural traditions of those areas (most significantly that of Greece), to which they added the constructional skills of the Etruscans, their immediate neighbors in central Italy. The most significant achievements of the Romans were in their technology of building, their use of a much wider range of materials (including concrete, Terra-Cotta, and fired bricks), and their refinements of the arch, vault and dome, all of which had been pioneered by the Etruscans. Roman temples generally remained modeled on those of Greece, with the common addition of a high plinth (base or platform) and the frequent omission of the side and rear columns. Roman civic monuments included a number of building types of unprecedeted size and complexity, which could not have been built using the Greek beam-and-column construction system. The aqueduct, thermae, basilica, theater, triumphal arch, amphitheater, circuses, and palaces involved enclosing much larger spaces or bridging much greater distances than could be achieved by the use of timber or stone beams. The Roman use of domed construction in mass concrete is best represented by the well-preserved Pantheon in Rome (constructed AD 120-24), which subsequently became a Christian church. Later Roman or early Christian churches, however, generally took their form from the basilica, whose central nave, side aisles, Triforium, and apsa became characteristic features of the Romanesque and Gothic church. Emperor Constantine I built huge basilican churches at all the major Christian sites in the Roman Empire in the 4th century, thus firmly establishing the basilica as the predominant form of Christian church architecture. (Ward-Perkins, 1977). According to much of my pertinent research, probably the clearest picture of Roman architecture can... Free Essays on Roman Buildings Free Essays on Roman Buildings Roman Architecture by Ryan Huguenin During the 2nd century BC the Romans, in conquering North Africa, Greece, Anatolia, and Spain, absorbed the architectural traditions of those areas (most significantly that of Greece), to which they added the constructional skills of the Etruscans, their immediate neighbors in central Italy. The most significant achievements of the Romans were in their technology of building, their use of a much wider range of materials (including concrete, Terra-Cotta, and fired bricks), and their refinements of the arch, vault and dome, all of which had been pioneered by the Etruscans. Roman temples generally remained modeled on those of Greece, with the common addition of a high plinth (base or platform) and the frequent omission of the side and rear columns. Roman civic monuments included a number of building types of unprecedeted size and complexity, which could not have been built using the Greek beam-and-column construction system. The aqueduct, thermae, basilica, theater, triumphal arch, amphitheater, circuses, and palaces involved enclosing much larger spaces or bridging much greater distances than could be achieved by the use of timber or stone beams. The Roman use of domed construction in mass concrete is best represented by the well-preserved Pantheon in Rome (constructed AD 120-24), which subsequently became a Christian church. Later Roman or early Christian churches, however, generally took their form from the basilica, whose central nave, side aisles, Triforium, and apsa became characteristic features of the Romanesque and Gothic church. Emperor Constantine I built huge basilican churches at all the major Christian sites in the Roman Empire in the 4th century, thus firmly establishing the basilica as the predominant form of Christian church architecture. (Ward-Perkins, 1977). According to much of my pertinent research, probably the clearest picture of Roman architecture can...

Write (5pages) of Data Warehouse, OLAP and Data Mining for Business Essay

Write (5pages) of Data Warehouse, OLAP and Data Mining for Business Applications - Essay Example This eradicates the need of specialists installing them after purchasing the database (Ling and Tamer, 2009). The research will establish the different areas of running businesses that this technology can be applied. Some of the areas to be checked are budgeting, sales forecasting and determining whether to produce a new product or not. The main objective will be establishing the benefits accrued by multinational businesses when they carry out data mining in their data warehouse. This information will be used in determining if these benefits can be passed to small scale businesses without the capability of purchasing this technology (O’Brien & Marakas, 2009). The research will establish the cost benefit that businesses receive by using this technology. Cost benefit will establish the opportunity cost of using this technology instead of manual data analysis using the stand alone software. The data warehouse is a collection of data which helps management in decision making. The warehouse has a capability of providing enormous amount of information at the same time. This makes it a better tool for use by businesses that are storing amount of information about their production operation process. The data warehouse ability of integration with modern analysis tools like OLAP is an advantage to corporate. This helps in timely and correct analysis of data, which can be used in decision making by managers (Agosta, 2004). These are software tools that enable data analyst analyze data and view it from multiple perspective. The multiple perspective help managers analyze different options of a problem before arriving at a conclusion. OLAP support activities like analyzing the financial trends in businesses. This would bring to the attention a manager a production line that cost of production is rising without any additional benefits accruing from it. OLAP tools are easy to use and do not require massive investment

Organizational behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Organizational behavior - Essay Example However, when applying theories to human beings, society as a whole, how business is conducted, and to life experiences the value of the truth of theories can become a matter of perspective; there are so many variables it can be much more difficult. When presented with the theory that college students spend immense amounts of money and place themselves in ,massive debt in order to gain this education on a world of theories that are ultimately worthless; therefore making that time and effort wasted and education an overall scam (Geneen, 1984). This seems to be a vey arbitrary statement and self negating. If all theories are, as posed, are nonsense would that not include his own immediate theory that â€Å"theories† in general are worthless; would that not include his own? He negates his own position with his own statement. Students seeking their MBAs are taught all of the theories, not just for future application, but to teach the history of organization business behaviors have evolved. Learning them will gain you knowledge and high grades, even many of those theories prove impractical in some businesses settings. Today’s businesses are quite different from the types of businesses that were established in another era; they are more diverse, multi-cultural, and, sometimes, international in nature. Modern businesses must be as diversified and those they serve, as well as, those you employ and manage. Education has a great value. The efforts and expense of an education are not pointless. Theories are not worthless. If nothing else they are a lesson in different approaches and applications those theories, for better or worse, can be learned from. However, today they must be less rigid; they are not mathematical formulas where there is only one right answer. Some companies like someone well versed in the theories of business even if their application is limited within the business, while others prefer free thinkers not individuals that simply regurgitate

Power Imbalances Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Power Imbalances - Coursework Example 1. Introduction: Most of the great achievements of contemporary organizations have been accomplished by adopting various new strategies in almost every sphere including organizational culture, systems, technology, human resources, operations etc. These achievements have not only increased competition but also necessitated, or even given rise to, various changes in management. One such change is the organizational structure that has changed to being a flat structure from a hierarchical one in most of the organizations. On the one hand, the flat organizational structure has helped in reducing the number of managerial levels in order to improve accessibility and increase accountability besides improving efficiency, reducing costs and better empowerment; on the other hand, this structure has bred power imbalances with greater intensity than the hierarchical structure, thus giving rise to potential conflicts. Paradoxically, these power imbalances also hinder attempts to manage conflicts. Present discourse will focus on understanding this aspect of power imbalance at workplaces and its impact on conflict management based on certain situations. Recommendations will be made based on the issues identified and conclusions will be finally drawn. 2. An understanding of power and conflict: Power refers to the elusive force experienced by people, usually based on their position. According to Daft (2009), power may be defined as â€Å"the potential ability of one person (or department) to influence other people (or department) to carry orders or to do something they would not otherwise have done† (p. 497). Power is a very important strength that managers/leaders should use in the most appropriate manner to achieve desired outcomes. Power is used to set goals, define targets, rules and policies, and to manage performance; power is also used to manage conflicts among individuals and groups. Daft (2009) explains that conflict is usually the outcome of interaction among pe ople or groups with differing opinions. Conflicts can either be helpful or harmful for the organizations and its employees. Conflicts that can instigate differential thinking and innovative options are usually helpful, whereas conflicts in terms of goals, understanding, opinions, interpretation, perception etc are usually harmful and can lead to severe consequences. 3. Relationship between power and conflict: To deal with all kinds of conflicts, managers leverage their position and power. According to the conflict theory, power is an essential element in managing conflict or in influencing others to produce desired outcome (Andersen & Taylor, 2007). Power by virtue of position provides the authority for individuals to exercise their aspirations, which can also be a cause for conflict sometimes. Moreover, usage of power, by virtue of position, to manage conflicts can be a hindrance. All these instances could be a result of the phenomenon associated with power and its usage that is us ually, and also, the reason for power imbalance. 4. Power imbalance and conflict management: Weinstein (2001) has extensively elaborated on the impact of power imbalance in mediation process. In this elaboration, she has constantly emphasized on the fact that the organization’s success and instances impacted by power imbalances cannot be separated. Very often, the hierarchical positions that decide the intensity or scope of power itself act as the causes for conflicts.  

Effect of Radiofrequency of GSM Phones on the Brain

Effect of Radiofrequency of GSM Phones on the Brain CHAPTER ONE 1.0  INTRODUCTION There has been growing concern about the possible adverse health effects resulting from exposure to radiofrequency radiations (RFR), such as those from mobile communication devices. This radiation belongs to the type called non-ionizing radiation the health hazard of which remains debatable (Ayeni et al., 2011). The possible risks of microwaves for the human body has attracted interest since the 1960s (i.e., before the arrival of mobile phones), when radar and microwave ovens posed a possible health problem ( Salford et al., 2003). ( Oscar and Hawkins, 1977) performed early studies on effects of RF EMFs on the blood-brain barrier. They demonstrated that at very low energy levels (less than 10 W/m2),the fields in a restricted exposure window caused a significant leakage of 14C-mannitol, inulin, and also dextran (same molecular weight as albumin) from the capillaries into the surrounding cerebellar brain tissue. A recent in vitro study has shown that EMF at 1.8GHz increase the permeabi lity of the blood-brain barrier to sucrose (Schirmacher et at. 2000). Shivers and colleagues (Shivers et al., 1987 and Prato et al.,1990) examined the effect of magnetic resonance imaging upon the rat brain. They showed that the combined exposure to RF EMFs and pulsed and static magnetic Fields gave rise to a significant pinocytotic transport of albumin from the capillaries into the brain. (Hassel et al., 1994) have shown that autologous albumin injected into the brain tissue of rats leads to damage to neurons at the injection site when the concentration of albumin in the injected solution is at least 25% of that in blood. The voluntary exposure of the brain to microwaves from hand-held mobile phones by one-fourth of the worlds population has been called the largest human biologic experiment ever (Salford et al., 2001). When using mobile phone, electromagnetic wave is transferred to the body which causes health problems especially at the place near ear skull region where they are kn own to affect the neurones. The possible risks of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMFs) for the human body is a growing concern for our society (Hyland 2000). Most researchers in the field have dwelled on the question of whether RF EMFs may induce or promote cancer growth. Although some have indicated increased risk (Hardell et al., 2002 and Repacholi et al. 1997), most studies, including our own, have shown no effects (Salford et al. 1997a) or even a decreased risk (Adey et al., 1999). The study of (Schà ¶rnborn et al., 1998) showed that the adult human head absorbs 80% of the radiation emitted by a cellular telephone. The extensive use of cellular communication devices is accompanied by public concerns about possible harmful effects on human health as a result of exposure to electromagnetic (EM) radiation from these devices(Purushothaman et al., 2013). Thermal biological effects of microwave radiation have been investigated both from the experimental and numerical view points(Elwasife 2012). Damaged neurons, as revealed by cresyl violet staining, were found amongst normal neurons in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and basal ganglia., with a maximum incidence around 2%, but in some restricted areas, dominated the picture. Heating and heat exchange have been viewed as measures of essential processes in the brain and other living tissues, and intrinsic thermal energy has been seen as setting an immutable threshold for external stimulation ([Adair, 1994]). 1.1`Background of the study During recent years, GSM mobile phones (Global System for Mobile Telecommunications), the most powerful RF transmitters in our everyday environment, have become widely and increasingly used by the public and to date there is no clear evidence about their possible biological effects(Panagopoulos et al, 2004). A number of recent developments have resulted in renewed interest in and concern among scientists and the general public about the biological effects of microwave and radiofrequency radiation exposure (Cleary 1977). All life on earth is bathed in a sea of natural low-frequency electromagnetic (EM) fields from conception to death (Adey 2007). In recent times, many people have expressed an interest in learning if the use of cell phones is associated with cancer. Many have heard or read about possible links between cell phones and cancer, but conclusions are rarely definitive ( Zamanian and Hardiman, 2005). It is known that the numbers of people that are using mobile phone in the wo rld are increasing daily (As of November 2011, there were more than 6 billion subscriptions worldwide). Thus it is very important for us to look into the possible danger that may be involved in the usage of phone, since it is a device that receive and send signal (information) using antenna by generating and receiving radio frequency wave. And it is known that radio wave is a form of electromagnetic wave (RIVUX G), which of cause have some danger to human body. Further, the human head is one of the most sensitive organs for EM radiation (Purushothaman et al., 2013). A common concern today, since more and more people are using cell phones than ever before, is that cell phone antennas radiate near a person’s head (Zamanian and Hardiman, 2005). Radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation has been reported to produce a number of biological effects on biomolecules, cells, and whole organisms, including changes in intracellular ionic concentrations, the synthesis rate of differe nt biomolecules, cell proliferation rates, the reproductive capacity of animals, etc (Panagopoulos et al, 2004). Thus the GSM have to be look into to know it effect on the brain. The phone manufacturers have silence on the danger that GSM can cause on the brain but never the less we have to look into the radiation produce from the GSM and known whether it cause any adverse effect on brain. 1.2  Problem statement Radio Frequency (RF) engineers are faced many times with the following two questions: â€Å"What are the effects of radio waves on human health?† and, more specifically, â€Å"What health risks are associated with the use of cell phones, mobile radios, microwave radios, microwave ovens, broadcast radio and television transmitters, power lines and X-rays?( Zamanian and Hardiman, 2005). The obvious problem encountered in the establishment of causal relationships for low intensity microwave-induced alterations in biological systems is the lack of physical interaction mechanisms to explain such phenomena (Cleary, 1977). In this mode of operation, a mobile phone may be regarded as a quite powerful radio transmitter. Its emission at the head surface is typically 10,000 times stronger than fields reaching the head of a user standing within 30 m of the base of a typical mobile phone relay transponder mounted on a tower 30m above ground (Adey 2007). Many people in Nigeria does not kno w the danger the GSM can make them to be expose to by just using it. As many that use the phone have complain of headache, loss of memory, weakness and so on. But they still could not understand the possible causes of these disorderliness in their head, thus there is need for us to look into the study matter and see if the GSM have any possible cause to their problem. Studies of the behavioral effects of low intensity microwave and radiofrequency radiation have produced what appear to be rather contradictory or  inconsistent results. (Cleargy, 1977). 1.3  Justification of the study This study will make the people know the danger that GSM phone can cause in their brain and help them know the symptoms of the effect. Public concern has been aroused by the news media in which attention has been drawn to a number of international incidents involving intentional exposure of humans to microwave fields (Brodeur, 1976). So that people will not be blind folded and just base their mind on the positive effects the GSM has, and not considering the adverse effect it can cause to human brain. Although some group like the international commission on non ionizing radiation protection (ICNIRP) and mobile manufacturer forum (MMF) that manufacturers mobile equipments and GSM operator across the world insists that there are no discernible effects from the RF radiated from base station and mobile phone (Shalangwa et al., 2011). Scientific interest has been kindled by reports that have appeared during the past few years which consistently suggest that biological systems, both in vivo and in vitro, are affected by exposure to field intensities that were formerly thought to be incapable of producing detectable alterations (Taylor and Cheung 1977). But this study will pose us into possible danger that may be result from the use of GSM. Therefore people in Nigeria will not just buy mobile phone but look at the danger it can cause in respect to it specific absorption rate (SAR) of the type of phone. 1.4  Aim and Objectives The aim of the study is to know the effect of radiofrequency of GSM to brain Objectives: To know whether GSM have any effect on the brain To determine the danger GSM can expose our brain to To suggest a possible protection GSM usage To consider the specific absorption rate (SAR) that is permissible by the brain 1.5  Research questions How does brain work? How does the GSM affect the brain? What frequency will make GSM to affect the brain? Under what condition will GSM affect the brain? What can be use to prevent the effect of GSM on brain? What are the effects the GSM have on the brain? What is effect of radio frequency radiation of GSM mobile phone on blood brain barrier? How do the SAR values of phones affect the temperature distribution in the brain?

Freedom Essay -- essays research papers fc

Freedom is defined as the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action. In An Indian’s View of Indian Affairs, Chief Joseph petitions for freedom. Martin Luther King’s â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech is a call for freedom. The texts written by Chief Joseph and King share many similar philosophies because the situations faced by two cultures, which are embodied in the texts, are similar. Chief Joseph represents a group of Native Americans who are restricted to land that they do not covet. Euro-Americans use lies and armed forces to press the Native Americans off desired territories and onto wastelands. King represents African-Americans who were neglected the rights and opportunity white people owned. King’s speech addresses the fact that African-Americans were held down with violence and segregation. Chief Joseph’s narrative focuses on the issue of broken promises by dominant Euro-Americans. In the end of these two proclamations, b oth the authors ask for the key to freedom, equality. Chief Joseph’s Narrative and Martin Luther King’s Speech share numerous ideals that all relate to the two culture’s struggles for freedom, while the two contrast because these movements are not completely the same. The Constitution and Declaration of Independence represent a: promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness†¦[but] instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check (King 917). King is saying that African-Americans have been let down by the foundations of our nation. Throughout Chief Joseph’s narrative are various accounts of broken promises by Euro-Americans. Chief Joseph concentrates mainly on General Miles’ promise because the freedom to live where one wants is imperative to him. The two readings talk of the ideal that both of the cultures are constrained to their certain lands. This notion of being locked up was literal for Native Americans who were restrained to reservations and not allowed off without permission. Being locked up was a metaphor for African-Americans who were confined to certain areas due to discrimination and segregation. Frustration with the Euro-American’s attempt to satisfy the Native-Americans and African-Americans with simple answers is also apparent in the readings. Chief Joseph says, ... ...ency of the cries for equality in the readings shows the importance of being free to choose one’s life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Discrimination brings the ideals of the readings together because discrimination led to comparable challenges faced by either of the author’s cultures. The epidemic of broken promises by the white men is apparent in both readings. King does not falter by believing these promises, and he uses his increasing power to force the issues at hand. Chief Joseph did not comprehend the discrimination he faced at first, and he did not learn to demand his freedom until he had lost all of his power. The bellow for equality by King’s â€Å"Let freedom ring† segment is paralleled in Chief Joseph’s final paragraphs. Chief Joseph writes the answer both cultures are looking for when he states, â€Å"Whenever the white man treats the Indian [or African-American] as they treat each other, then we will have no more wars† (Chief Joseph 14). Works Cited King, Martin. â€Å"I Have a Dream.† New Worlds of Literature. Eds. Jerome Beaty, and J. Paul Hunter. New York: Norton, 1994. 917-20. Joseph, Chief. â€Å"An Indian’s View of Indian Affairs.† Bel-Jean Packet. Athens: Bel- Jean, 2005. 7-16.

MyAlert Essay

Come 1999, the international mobile data services market was ever so expanding and changing rapidly. Jorge Mata was able to hop on the bandwagon early enough to profit from this business venture as this industry was just at the beginning of a new era that would revolutionize how consumers and businesses communicated with each other. More simply stated, MyAlert was a great business idea, developing a more personalized mobile industry. Mata could not actually believe that such a business model had never been thought of in the past, but did not have to think twice before investing in the MyAlert project, becoming the first company to appear and succeed in the mobile services market in Spain. Flash forwarding to a year after its creation, figures are only representative of the huge success MyAlert was facing in terms of the service and content the company offered its customers. Figures were in the black, and more than 200.000 users were registered to the ‘Alert portal’ witho ut even any substantial advertising expense. Another indicator of a good business idea is whether the creator of the company is able to find any potential investors ready to sponsor his project. In this case, Mata is the first to find enough capital (half a million euros) to launch his project. His ex-CEO at BroadVision also wanted to invest in the project, showing us just how serious and well thought of this business plan actually was. Although the initial funds were clearly insufficient to bring MyAlert at the top of the ladder both domestically and internationally, Mata’s strategy is clear-cut in the sense that the first priority was developing a project with â€Å"a top-tier management and technical team and a sound technological platform to make alerts work at the targeted scale† (p. 2). The company could effectively y use its technological platform to provide a personalized service, that at the time, was crucially needed by customers and companies who wished to stay at the top of the information chain. This was the booming time in terms of new technologies and how they could be adapted to the internet and the mobile phone. MyAlert’s business idea was once again great because it could actually provide this ever so needed information to its end users. By valuing the customer and focusing on what the market needed and will need in the future, MyAlert is a perfect example of how they were able to carry out the latter and grasp a changing environment before it was too late. The main competitive advantages that MyAlert benefit from are seen through their timing and their strong technological platform. In effect, the company benefits from a first mover advantage into the mobile data service industry. With this advantage under their belt, it is essential in for MyAlert to develop an on-going demand for their service. The customer base is large and potentially profitable and the company understood this. As I stated previously, instead of focusing itself on the product/service they deliver to the customer, MyAlert’s strategy is to focus on what the customer really wants from the company. The emotional factors that the customers face are very important because they act as an experience on each individual when they decide to sign up for daily alerts on football, or stock quotes for example. My Alert knows that by focusing on the customer base, by offering them a service that is affordable and useful, positive recommendations will then follow placing them at an advantage vis-à  -vis their competitors. While focusing on the demand aspects are vital, it is also crucial for the company to concentrate on the supply scale for the competitive advantage to be sustainable. Basic services such as alerts on business headlines are interesting but MyAlert’s main wish is to expand their supply with a â€Å"†¦ number of services thanks to agreements with other content and service providers† (p. 2). By growing a significant supply scale, a broader demand from not only individual end-users will arise, but also from sources like corporations and large advertising companies. With all the information above, a value chain of MyAlert’s business model is shown through this diagram: A perfect example of this model at work is when MyAlert enters the European major markets. While replicating the entry strategy that had already worked in Spain, the company broadens its supply scale by offering free advertising services to international companies and then pursuing on to develop tight relationships with these companies so that they can offer them business services. This is a clear example of how the company intentionally expands its supply scale to attain an even larger demand (customer) base. After the dotcom bubble crisis, companies focused on new technologies such as MyAlert, take the hardest hit. Their competitive advantage based on a strong  technology is now under threat and the company has to reevaluate its strategy. I believe the merge with Buongiorno is not only positive for both companies, but a must if MyAlert wishes to stay competitive in the long run. Mauro del Rio basically says it all in his statement as he declares that the â€Å"†¦ two absolute imperatives for ambitious European high tech companies [are]: critical mass and positive P&L† (p.4). MyAlert could no longer expand through organic growth and so this merger is a fantastic idea in terms of bringing new qualified staff, technology assets and know-how. On the flip side, the position the two companies now hold as a whole, allows them to penetrate new markets and develop synergies. The two companies complemented each other very well in terms of My Alert bringing a strong technological platform to the table and powerful ASP services versus Buongiorno being more present in terms of marketing and advertising services. The strengths of one, replaced the weaknesses of the other. A good example of how the two companies complemented themselves really well is by analyzing the services they sold through various business models. In terms of business services, Buongiorno would lead the way offering companies other marketing services such as brand building and customer loyalty. The product range allowed a higher diversification and greatly benefited the company. The above would not have been possible to realize if MyAlert wouldn’t have merged with Buongiorno because of a poorer marketing penetration. When it came to consumer services however, MyAlert would lead the way by actively investing and developing new apps carefully adapted to their customer base thanks to t heir strong technology. Consumer services were the new hit at the beginning of the years 2000’s and Buongiorno! MyAlert was able to establish itself as a clear industry leader. At first, intensively focusing on consumer services was not a clear target for the newly merged companies. The SMS market was in full evolution but many competitors were focusing on the benefits of developing WAP. The portal worked similarly to the WWW navigation, except it was adapted to cell phones. The main point here is that MyAlert had the necessary technology to develop this project and become a global leader but the management team made a wise decision when they decided to focus more on what the consumer actually wanted. WAP-enabled phones had huge potential, increasing to 23% in  2000, but the alarming factor was that only 3% of those users were actually using the new mobile portal. In effect, the company realized that they were found in a value added service market and that their business would mainly depend on what share they could capture from mobile operators when end-users download a song or a logo via SMS, and which marketing budget their customers could channel throu gh them. More simply stated, the company shifted its competitive advantage from a strong technological base to a market driven, consumer targeted base. This business model change allowed the company to develop its own kind of virtual network, linking them to diverse mobile operators’ message centers. As Nomura correctly states, the company could now benefit from its new position and operate its new value chain by having higher punctuality and lower messaging costs. This diversified network the company had built with all the operators, and the flexible strategy they had put into place to be able to adapt to a changing environment, gave them a â€Å"competitive advantage and barrier to entry for any competitors trying† (p.15) to penetrate the market. The evolvement of the business model was a crucial point for the company as they correctly analyzed the market and customer appreciation instead of focusing on a strong service (WAP) that they could’ve developed. If they had chosen this route, maybe things would’ve not been as smooth and successful for them. In this case though, the company was showing positive results and was in a continued search for new businesses and markets to enter while diversifying both in terms of their products and services. This model can only be sustainable, because as Darwin says it best â€Å"if a being wants to survive in a shifting environment, it must evolve at least as fast as the medium itself.† BuonGiorno!MyAlert is perfectly equipped to do so.

Legalizing Euthanasia

Legalizing Euthanasia Legalizing EuthanasiaImagine waking up and seeing yourself lying in an uncomfortable hospital bed with crying family members around you. You see that there is a long cord connected to your heart. You try really hard to move, but you are too weak to get up. Would you want one of your family members to decide for you to no longer live or do you want the decision to live? In situations like the one I just described is when euthanasia comes into play.Euthanasia is also known as assisted suicides. This technique is usually used to put to rest people who are incurably sick. Terminally sick patients, who have about 12 months to live and are in a healthy mental state, should be able to choose if they want keep on living, or end the pain and suffering in that moment. Euthanasia should be legalized in the United States because of three things.Euthanasia machine invented by Dr. Philip Nitschke...First of all, it puts an end to the suffering of a human life. Second, it lets the family's of the p atients be at peace, and finally doctors do not go to jail just for helping another person move on.Yes, it is a sin to commit suicide or take the life of another. However, doing the procedure will end a very painful and unbearable last few months to live. Furthermore, people should have the right to be able to make a decision like this one, because at the end of the day it is their life. A person has the right to life, why not death? These are two topics that are debated everyday in some form or another. Death is something that we all will face, it is certain. There is no miracle cure to fix it.When dealing with their families, this will...

How to Use Apostrophes - Proofread My Papers Academic Blog

How to Use Apostrophes - Proofread My Papers Academic Blog How to Use Apostrophes There are two main ways to use apostrophes: to indicate possession or in contractions. You might think that this is a minor issue of punctuation, but correct use of apostrophes helps ensure your written work is clear. Indicating Possession Apostrophes are how we indicate in writing that something belongs to someone or something else. For example, if we were writing about a car owned by Nigel we would add an apostrophe and an â€Å"s† like this: After breaking down on the freeway, Nigel’s car needed extensive repairs. The same rule applies when describing a quality possessed by or element of something: The car’s top speed was 210 km/h. The exception to this rule is possessive pronouns (such as â€Å"its,† â€Å"his† and â€Å"her†), which do not require an apostrophe. So, for example, the pronoun â€Å"it† becomes â€Å"its† when indicating possession: Nigel loved his car: its top speed was 210 km/h. It’s worth noting that words which already end with an â€Å"s† can be modified with either just an apostrophe or an â€Å"-’s†: Angus’ grammar was always perfect. Angus’s grammar was always perfect. Both of the above are acceptable; just remember to aim for consistency throughout your work. Indicating Contractions A contraction is an abbreviated version of two words. We use an apostrophe in contractions to indicate missing letters: Do not → Don’t I have → I’ve You are → You’re Another common contraction is to add an â€Å"-’s† to a word when it’s followed by â€Å"is† or â€Å"has†: David is running late → David’s running late His car has broken down → His car’s broken down It’s important to remember here that â€Å"it is† and â€Å"it has† become â€Å"it’s†. An apostrophe should therefore only be added in â€Å"it’s† when used as a contraction rather than a possessive. Its also worth noting that contractions are generally not considered appropriate in formal writing. Plural Nouns Not every word ending in an â€Å"s† requires an apostrophe. When pluralizing a word, for instance, you don’t need to include an apostrophe before the â€Å"s.† As such the plural of â€Å"dinosaur† is â€Å"dinosaurs† (not â€Å"dinosaur’s†). Likewise, the plural of â€Å"banana† is â€Å"bananas† (not â€Å"banana’s†). Hopefully this has clarified a few things about how and when to use apostrophes. But since it can be easy to overlook a misplaced apostrophe, it’s always a good idea to have a professional double-check your work.

Family Health History Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Family Health History - Research Paper Example Cigarettes are often used to cover up uncomfortable feelings like anger and nervousness. Nicotine is known to be poisonous, and it could result in a fatality when taken in large amounts. Secondly, Nicotine produces pleasurable feelings even when taken in small amounts this makes the smoker crave for more. Thirdly, smokers usually suffer both psychological and physical withdrawal symptoms whenever they stop smoking; this is due to the usual dependency on nicotine. Some of the withdrawal results include irritability, nervousness, and headache. Smoking harms nearly every organ resulting in many diseases and reducing health in general. Smoking damages the entire cardiovascular system, and it boosts the blood sugar when nicotine hits your body; it also causes blood vessels to tighten thus restricting blood flow (Sturm 21). Smoking leads to the  blood pressure and lowers good cholesterol level this can result in stretching of arteries and buildup of bad cholesterol it also raises the risk of blood clots forming. Weakened blood vessels and blood clots in the smoker’s brain increases the risk of stroke. There is an increased risk of recurrent coronary heart diseases for smokers who have heart bypass surgery and in long-term smokers are at a greater risk of blood cancer. Nevertheless, smoking has a risk to non-smokers too; breathing secondhand smoke has an immediate effect on the cardiovascular system this leads to heart attack and coronary diseases. To tackle this problem, I will encourage the smoker to seek medical consultation. One of the medical solutions is nicotine replacement therapy.  

Marketing Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Marketing Plan - Assignment Example The marketing objectives form the underlying base for the formulation of the 7Ps of marketing mix prepared for the product of Samsung Electronics. The report also includes an analysis of how the marketing strategies would be implemented in launching and marketing the Samsung Galaxy S2 in the market of the United States. The report is suitably concluded by an evaluation of the marketing strategies done in order to analyse and assess the expected impacts of the marketing strategies in the new market. The evaluation also includes an assessment of how the formulated marketing strategies can be profitable for Samsung Electronics and a short recommendation of how the marketing strategies can be improved for continued success. Samsung Group is a transnational conglomerate company of South Korea. It has its headquarters in Samsung Town in Seoul. The company has many supplementary and affiliated business among which most of them are under the brand name of Samsung and it is the largest business conglomerated in South Korea. In 1938, Lee Byung-chul founded the company Samsung. The company has diversified itself into many new directions like textiles, insurances, retail, food processing and securities. In 1960’s the company started its business in electronics industry. Samsung group was been separated into four business groups after Lee Byung-chul died in 1987. In 1983, the company started producing personal computers and in 1988 it started producing semiconductors and telecommunication devices and networks. Samsung was considered to be a producer of low end products that used to be cheap in comparison to the other costly Japanese products. The company was also known to produce reliable and products of high quality which made the company gain lot of popularity among the customers and also in the market. By the end of 1992,