Saturday, August 31, 2019

Basic Computer Memory Types Essay

Random Access Memory (RAM) RAM is a location within the computer system which is responsible for stacking away data on a temporary basis, so that it can be promptly accessed by the processor. The information stored in RAM is typically loaded from the computer’s hard disk, and includes data related to the operating system and certain applications. When the system is switched off, RAM loses all the stored information. The data remains stored and can be retained only when the system is running. When the RAM gets full, the computer system is more likely to operate at a slow peed. The data can be retrieved in any random order. Generally, there are two types of RAM; namely Static RAM (SRAM) and Dynamic RAM (DRAM). When many programs are running on the computer simultaneously, the virtual memory allows the computer to search in RAM for memory portions which havent been utilized lately and copy them onto the hard drive. This action frees up RAM space and enables the system to load different programs. Read Only Memory (ROM) This type of memory is active, regardless of whether the system is turned on or is switched off. It is a kind of permanent non-volatile storage memory. As the name ‘read only’ suggests, the contents in it cannot be changed or modified. It is an integrated circuit which is pre-programmed with important data that should necessarily be present for the computer to carry out its normal functionalities. Cache Cache is a kind of RAM which a computer system can access more responsively than it can in regular RAM. The central processing unit looks up in the cache memory before searching in the central memory storage area to determine the information it requires. This rules out the need for the system to search for information in larger and bigger memory storage areas, which in turn leads to a faster extraction of data. Computer Hard Drive These devices are important data storage components that are installed in the CPL]. Their memory ranges widely, and a user may choose the memory depending on the data needed to be stored and accessed. Nowadays, hard drives having a memory capacity of 120 gigabytes to 500 gigabytes are normally used. Flash Memory This is a non-volatile kind of memory which is intended to contribute to portable torage and a convenient transfer of data from one computer to another. The data in it can be erased and re-programmed as per the user’s requirements. It only has a specific number of erase and write cycles that it can withstand, after which it creates a tendency to lose out on the stored information. Memory cards and USB flash drives These are Just the common and main computer memory types which facilitate memory and data storage. However, there are many subtypes which are sorted out according to the memory-related functionalities they perform and the requirements they serve.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Marketing in the Wine Industry Essay

There’s more in a glass of wine than meets the eye, or the palate. Wine isn’t just for the rich and affluent anymore. Everyone can enjoy wine, whether it’s a five dollar bottle or a five hundred dollar bottle. Winemakers and wine distribution companies have come up with new and exciting way to market their wines to people of every tax bracket and all walks of life. (Manda) Marketing in the wine industry is changing. Traditionally, consumers looked to opinion leaders like Robert Parker and the Wine Spectator to find the best wines on the market. While those methods are still effective, winemakers and wine enthusiasts have discovered a new way to spread the word about particular wines. Social media has become the new, hot trend in marketing in just about every industry out there right now. And the wine industry is no exception. Corkd. com is a website for wine drinkers and enthusiasts where users can create their own wine journal, wine cellar, shopping list, and connect with online drinking buddies. This website is one way the wine industry as stepped up to the plate and utilized the opportunities of the internet in marketing. â€Å"Cork’d is your pulse on the wine world and an online playground for all things wine. By collaborating with some of the smartest wine drinkers and industry figures, Cork’d is providing you with the most comprehensive, fun and exciting wine content available. Whether you’re a winery looking for exposure or an events company looking to promote or host a tasting, Cork’d wants to talk to you. Our mission is to breakdown the stereotypes, myths and pretenses surrounding wine culture to help you discover and drink better wines. † (corkd. com) Another factor changing the wine industries marketing strategies is where consumers are buying wine. Chain stores and supermarkets have taken over wine distribution from wholesalers. Costco has become one of the largest wine retailers in the United States. According to Michael Roberto, â€Å"There’s no question that a seismic shift is occurring at the retail and wholesale level. The number of alcoholic beverage wholesalers in the U. S. has decreased by 75 percent since the 1960s. At the retail level, wine sales are increasingly shifting to supermarkets, wholesale clubs, and the like. For instance, Robert Mondavi now sells 10 percent of its wine in unit terms through Costco. These changes in the retail and distribution channels present substantial challenges for wineries, of course, because these powerful players such as Costco have much more clout and bargaining power than small liquor stores. Smaller vineyards often can find it more difficult to secure shelf space, and all wineries find themselves facing pricing pressure from the retail and distribution channels. † Even though many wineries do not like the changes and small retail shops are suffering because of this shift, many consumers are actually profiting from these changes. Winemakers have found another fun way to market their wines simply with their labels. The new â€Å"trend† in the wine business is a funky label. Traditionally, wine labels were simple and to the point. The label had the name of the vineyard, the year, and basic information about the wine in a simple fashion. Recently, winemakers have started to get creative with the names of their wines and the design of their bottles and labels. Now, when you walk down an aisle in a store filled with different wines there are many different bottles that stick out because of loud colors, wild pictures, or crazy names on the label. This is a great form of marketing to use for wine because the bottle itself is a great marketing tool. Many consumers will buy a bottle of wine just because they like how the bottle looks or maybe they are giving it as a gift and the title is something catchy that conveys some type of message that relates to the person who is receiving the wine. For example, there is a wine called â€Å"Bitch† wine. The wine itself is not bad, but its nothing to rave about. One of the main reasons that particular wine is so popular is because of the name. The label is black with pink script font with â€Å"Bitch† printed on the front, and on the back it just repeats the name of the wine over and over again. This wine is marketed to women and is a perfect gift to give a friend as a joke they can enjoy. Women have become a hot target market for wine makers. According to the 2006 Adams Wine Handbook, â€Å"Men prefer beer; women prefer wine,† Many women are emerging as winemakers and marketers are realizing the potential for profit in female consumers. â€Å"Women make up 52 percent of the adult population and purchase 57 percent of the wine consumed in the United States. 1 They represent a huge market with great purchasing power that until recently has been overlooked. According to experts, women are less influenced by wine ratings, as they tend to judge the entire product. Although the wine quality is important to women, so are the label design, the bottle shape and the philosophy of the winery. † (Wine Institute) While there are many new ways to market wine, the traditional methods are still widely used. Promotion in the wine industry is all about putting the name of the winery on everything from wine keys to wine bags to key chains to hats. Wine distribution companies have always been know to give out free merchandise with the name of the wines they sell everywhere. This is a great way to advertise. Consumers love to receive free things and that opens up a great opportunity for wineries to advertise with little cost. California former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed September as â€Å"Wine Celebration Month†, also known as California Wine Month. This is another great way for wineries to get their name and wines out in the public. DiscoverCalifornaiWine. com states, â€Å"September is California Wine Month, and that makes it a fine time to enjoy a glass of California wine and a visit to wine country. September is harvest time in California and California Wine Month celebrates the state’s ideal climate for wine, beautiful wine country landscape, our talented and ingenious winemaking families, our celebrated lifestyle and cuisine; and our commitment to sustainability and the environment. † Another trend in the world of wine is sustainability and organics. Many vineyards around have become 100 percent sustainable and the numbers are growing. The new world culture is all about reducing our carbon and ecological footprint. So many wineries have actually capitalized on this idea. Wineries have begun to include their efforts at social responsibility in their advertising. Which caters to a growing market of consumers, as many people nowadays will only buy organic. Tolosa is a winery that has recently dedicated itself to sustainability and creating wine without harming the environment. One if their brochures stated that, â€Å"In August 2009 Tolosa converted to solar electrical generation. This system will provide the winery’s electrical energy for the next 25 years. CO2 emissions reduced by over 500 tons. This is equivalent to planting nearly 100 acres of trees. † Tolosa is one of the many wineries’ that has begun to capitalize on sustainability. The times have changed and so have marketing strategies of the wine industry. The wine industry is booming more than ever. Success in the wine industry is possible whether a company uses new or old marketing techniques. In this new age, the marketing department should focus on women and social media. As Tinckenell and Tincknell, a wine consulting and marketing firm, have written on the front page of their website MarketingWine. com, â€Å"If it doesn’t come from the heart, the message will be hollow. If you don’t imagine it first, someone else will. If it isn’t inspired and creative, it won’t get noticed. Each link in the marketing process — the heart, the mind, and creativity — communicates your story to the world. † Works Cited About Cork’d  « Cork’d Content. † Cork’d Content. Web. 20 June 2011. . â€Å"Discover California Wines : California Wine Month. † Discover California Wines : Welcome to Discover California Wines. Web. 20 June 2011. . The Changing Structure of the Global Wine Industry (2004). Michael Roberto. Salls, Manda. â€Å"Marketing Wine to the World — HBS Working Knowledge. † HBS Working Knowledge – Faculty Research at Harvard Business School. Web. 20 June 2011. .

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Analysis of The Bet by Anton Chekhov

The Bet is a short story that explores a moral theme regarding the value of human life. However, the story is constructed with an important ironic twist that brings the reader back to the original context of the bet (if the lawyer could endure solitary confinement for fifteen years), and presents an unexpected result. One can ultimately see that Anton Chekhov presents the readers with two different paths in the story. One of them is the banker, who refuses to face his own morality and the other is the lawyer (prisoner) who actually faces his own morality, but falls into despair because he is so disconnected from the outside world, even after gaining so much knowledge. These two characters may thrive on change, but they both alter their own human values in great ways.The banker, a spoiled and pampered man, is very nervous and gets himself carried away by excitement at the time he makes a bet with the lawyer. This is shown when he says, Fifteen! DoneGentlemen, I stake two millions. Chekhov shows the reader that this not the impulsiveness of youth since he describes it as excitability, which he could not get over even in advancing years. Later in the story, Chekhov paints the portrait of a cowardly man who lacks the courage to endure reality. One day before the lawyer is to be granted his freedom, the banker becomes irritated and anxious, The only escape from bankruptcy and disgraceis that the man should die. At this point, the reader can trace the bankers path from boastfully making a foolish bet to being the one to give up all that he had staked, and conclude that his self-values have reached their all time low.On the other hand, the lawyer, an older and wiser man, shows his dynamic characteristics as he changes dramatically in the course of the 15 year bet. The lawyers character completely transforms from being an arrogant, young man, in to a feeble, cynical, yet more intelligent man.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Effects of Advertising and Promotion on Purchasing Behavior of Essay

Effects of Advertising and Promotion on Purchasing Behavior of Chocolate Consumers in India - Essay Example During the contemporary period, companies operate in a highly competitive environment where they strive to gain competitive advantage over others in order to generate more profits. It is imperative for every organisation to carry out market research in order to gain knowledge about the customer needs with the aim of attracting new customers. However, the purchasing behavior of consumers is influenced by various factors and it is the company’s duty to portray its products in the best way that would appeal to many customers. Whilst there are various tools that are used to market different products to the consumers, advertising and promotion are often regarded as the most effective to organizations operating in a market that is characterized by high competition. It should also be noted that different people live in different regions of the world and they have diverse views about particular products and the company offering similar products to those offered by other organizations ought to be able to sustain competition through offering unique product information that would make it a preferred choice compared to others. It is against this background that the following study seeks to investigate how advertising and promotion strategies could change the purchasing behavior of the chocolate consumers in India. The study will particularly focus on two leading chocolate manufacturing companies namely Cadbury India and Nestle India whose several chocolate products are used by millions of consumers in India.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Tower of Pisa Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Tower of Pisa - Essay Example As suggested by Puzrin, Alonso and Pinyol (2010), experts have not been agreeing on the problem leading to the failure of the project. Some argue that it is static while others argue that it was the ground sinking or the effects of the design used by the particular architect. The main cause of the leaning is attributed to the reaction of composite clay, sand, and shells on which the tower is built on. The tower was prone to two major risks one being a failure in the structure of the fragile masonry and toppling as a result of the breaking up the of the foundation’s subsoil. One of the solutions put in place to counter this problem was the installation of a counterweight on the northern side of the base of the tower so as to stop the tilting. This solution did not succeed and therefore another solution was initiated in 1995. This involved inserting compressed steel cables and the same compressing was done to the subsoil. This instead increased the leaning of the tower. After th e period of structural restoration, the tower is now undergoing surface restoration so as to repair visual damage especially corrosion and darkening. In 1964 the Italian government requested for assistance in saving the tower from collapsing, however it was considered to leave the tilt as it was vital for promoting tourism in the city of Pisa, as suggested by D’Alfonso (2005) Owing to the failure of the solutions used for restoring the tilting of the tower, the Italian commission embarked on a subsoil study program in 1965.

Monday, August 26, 2019

Holfstede cultural dimensions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Holfstede cultural dimensions - Essay Example The above practice would help in enhancing the applicability of the human resources practices to help in meeting the needs of the personnel employed in different multinational organizations. Culture is learned through the inherited human nature, based on different preferences, experiences, and values. Four cultural dimensions of Holfstede identifies those global applications, which are reflected by, in all aspects of life such as family life, practices of child rearing, education, health care and the employment practices (ASHA, 2014). The cultural dimensions as generated by the cultural scientist, Geert Hofstede are generated based on the cultural dimensions model which is elucidated as follows. The parameter of individualism or collectivism as generated by Hofstede evaluates the culture of a region based on individualistic and collectivist attributes. People dwelling in regions governed by collectivist approaches operate in a close cultural setting that reflects mutual care and understanding for each other. The collectivist countries also reflect honor for the existing cultural and social norms. On the other hand the regions governed or based on individualistic cultures reflect individuals that tend to take decisions in an independent fashion by not taking into consideration the needs and views of other members in a social group. Thus, decisions though taken by individuals based on social norms are loosely knit to each other thereby affecting the existing social fabric (Piepenburg, 2011). This dimension can influence the perceptions of person’s disability. For example, after facing any negativity in the life or suffering of any accidental disability can change the thoughts of the person. The victim can be more focused to live an independent life by analyzing the cultural backgrounds. The caretakers of these victims can facilitate them for a self-care life (ASHA, 2014). Uncertainty Avoidance tends

The various ways in which the Hindus image God or the divine Essay

The various ways in which the Hindus image God or the divine - Essay Example The images are viewed as spiritual not material images that can assist the worshippers in reaching their God. Hindus describe the nature of God in various ways such as Acintya, Sanskrit, Shasta and murti. Acintya means the nature of God that is inconceivable beyond the thoughts and understanding of human beings. Sanskrit is a form of describing the nature of God .This means that when travelling from one place to another, this image can protect a worshipper throughout their destination. The Hindus also worship specific images that are known as arcya-vigraha.This means an image that can be worshipped .Another term that is used to describe the nature of God in Hindu religion is that of murti referring to a divine form of God (Clooney, 2005: 250). The scared images that are found in the Hindu temples and homes are installed according to specific rituals that are described in the scripture. For instance, devotees can go to the temple to take fruits and flowers and later on stand before the scared images in order to offer their hopes and prayers to them. In this case, the worshippers do not bow down to the stones or worship the statutes but they approach the images as a means of reaching God their maker (Clooney, 2005: 250).... The images of gods and goddesses are normally displayed in the stores, hospitals, altars and shrines of the Hindus homes. Hindus acknowledge the deities, but they consider only one to be supreme. They may also consider all gods and goddesses to be equal but they worship only one who is their favorite. They view all the divinities to be the manifestations of a single godhead (Clooney, 2005: 250). The Upanishads is a Hindu sacred text that refers to the Supreme Being known as the Brahman and is considered to be ineffable and it's beyond all human comprehension. Texts referred to as the purana claim that there is a divine entity that assumes a form and name that makes itself accessible to human kind. The Hindus speak of the Supreme Being as being the nirguna one. Are Buddhists being extreme or pessimistic when they assess that humans are rarely compassionate in a truly pure or selfless sense Buddhists are a family of beliefs and practices that are considered to be a religion that is based on the teachings that are attributed to Buddha. Buddha was also known as Siddhartha Gautama which means bound by a Nepal. This person lived and was taught in the Northern Eastern region of the Indian subcontinent where he died around 400 B.C.E in India. Buddha was believed to be a teacher who shared his insights in order to help the sentient beings so as to end their sufferings through understanding the nature of the phenomena; he escaped from the cycle of suffering and rebirth. Buddha passed a message of peace, hope, compassion, tolerance, understanding, wisdom, truth, respect and regard for life to persons that followed the Buddhism religion (Gyatso, 2001:51). The Buddhists that did

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Interview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

Interview - Essay Example Therefore, he is a dear friend to me. He has a 73 years old wife and three children, and six grand children and one great grandchild. I invited Mike over and we walked to a community park fifteen minutes away from our neighborhood. As I conducted the interview and asked him personal questions and other information necessary for this interview, we watched as children played all over the park. Families frequent this park to relax especially during the weekends for its cool nature brought about by the many trees around the park. This interview was not distracted by anything; Mike seemed calm regardless of the activities within the park. Interview Questions 1. What do you like best about being your age? Being 81 years old is not an easy thing as it seems. There are some good things in life for being my age though. The fact that I am active at this age makes me happy. Many individuals my age are incapable of doing the things and work I do each and every day. For instance, I have to tend f or my garden so I can have an unending supply of fresh vegetables. I like being active. Furthermore, I was employed for very many years in my life. I was able to save a substantial amount of money. This makes me happy as I am able to support myself and my wife without having to depend on our children. All these, coupled with the fact that I have a loving wife, children, and grandchildren, and a great grandchild are what makes me happy for being age. There is nothing a good as having a loving and caring family. 2. What do you like least about being your age? I miss those days I would go to the office every morning as I had a chance to socialize with a lot of people. Many of my age mates have already left this world. People at my age experience a lot of loneliness regardless of whether you wife is still around or not. Though I can socialize with people younger than me, I find it difficult relating with them. To elaborate this, you are aware of the fact that a teenager like you can onl y relate well with another teenager as you are going through the same stages in your life. You are able to relate well based on your similar needs and challenges in life. Likewise, being 81 years old means that I am at the final stages of my life. Therefore, I would like it if I could have more friends my age. 3. What changes do you foresee in your life in the next few years? At 81, I cannot predict what will happen tomorrow. Tomorrow I might be gone! However, given a chance I will still be alive couple of years from now, there is a possibility I will not be able to be active as I would want. Age comes with a lot of physical and mental difficulties. 4. What do you think are the three most important things in your life at this time? The three most important things in my life at this time are my family, my walking stick, and my vegetable garden. My family gives me a reason to live and they will always be there for me for better or for worse. Walking would be next to impossible without my walking stick. I credit it for the things I accomplish each and every day as it enables me to move around. My vegetable garden makes it certain that I have a balanced meal every day. My wife ensures that she includes fresh vegetables in every meal she prepares. Analysis Theory 1 To analyze issues associated with late adulthood, it is important to relate it to disengagement and activity theories. Old age has been explained through a number

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Interview #2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Interview #2 - Essay Example These feelings of isolation have made him lack trust among his family members and other prospective friends hence making him more depressed. Bullying in school worsened the situation as it made him develop anger issues and avoided everyone because he felt that they could not help him change his attitude. Vincent blamed all his sufferings on external factors such as karma, fate, and God. He felt that if God cared about him, he would let him suffer but protect him from all the people that were bullying and isolating him in school. Vincent believed that those who suffered were the ones being punished by God, and it was a form of fate and karma. The other issue that Vincent faced during his suffering period was language barrier because he had moved from Australia to Taiwan. He had financial issues because transitioning to a different country needed more money to settle and buy household materials. He was interrupted at work because he was still working on getting his work permit in Taiwan and found it difficult to communicate with the colleagues because of the language barrier. Vincent’s family role changed since he was now the breadwinner of the family since his parents had retired. Vincent did not have any caregivers to help him overcome his suffering stage and regretted that fact. The caring words and actions that were meaning to him were the encouraging words from his classmates whom he cherished and hoped that their simple interactions would develop into true friendship even if it turned out differently. Vincent treasured friendship and family relationships since he felt needed and appreciated by the few individuals that accepted to interact with him in the new country. Vincent needed support from caregivers when he felt isolated and depressed, who would have encouraged him to be positive about life and to feel appreciated. What was missing from his loved ones was more concern for his welfare and encouragement. Vincent described how he wished

Friday, August 23, 2019

Assignment 4 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 8

4 - Assignment Example The Fourteenth Amendment of the United States guarantees all citizens of the United States citizenship rights and equal protection of their rights (Engdahl, 2009). Under the Fourteenth Amendment, all citizens of United States should enjoy their rights without anyone or any organization infringing on these rights. If a policy is put in place to control whether civil servants should have tattoos or how and when they should have tattoos, the policy will be infringing on their rights. This is a right that is enjoyed by all citizens in the United States and excluding a group of citizens from this right based on their status as civil servants will be tantamount to preventing them from enjoying this right as other citizens (Engdahl, 2009). Tattoos are put on the body parts of individual persons. These tattoos do not in any way endanger the lives of the persons who choose to put them in their bodies. As such, they cannot be considered illegal unless in circumstances where the tattoos are meant to disturb public peace by wrongfully targeting other people or when they promote unwanted issues such as racism. The policies on the code of conduct for civil servants address issues such as mode of dressing. Such a policy covers how civil servants should dress and behave in public offices. Such policies are enough because they cover issues such as how much privacy civil servants should display when in office. The above reasons show why a policy on tattoos for any civil servant should not be in place. Such policies will infringe on the rights of civil servants as American citizens. Secondly, the policies will treat civil servants as if they are second-degree citizens. If such policy were to be implemented, then it should apply to all citizens. Comment on thread: The fact that the First Amendment does not provide absolute rights for public employees, it does not provide absolute rights for other citizens and putting tattoos is not an absolute right but a privacy

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Reaping What We Sow! Essay Example for Free

Reaping What We Sow! Essay Life’s measure of one’s experiences and blessings does not count to the mere fact of receiving it but, in the way how you have put on it or work hard on it. God’s blessing comes intentionally when you yourselves implant what God wants and follow his will unquestionably. It has been written on Galatians 6: 9 – 10 that â€Å" Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Doing good to mankind is one way of our service to God. God has its own special way of intervening our inner being, yet we take hold of our own decisions and matter of facts. It has been said that Life transformations takes not an overnight snap of a finger, but a thorough process, slowly refining into an exemplar of becoming God’s ambassador in reaching out the non believers.. As I have quoted in the daily wisdom, there are two methods of planting. One is sowing seeds with meticulous care, making a hole in the ground for each little seed, or broadcasting the seeds, allowing them to till and land where they will. With Either of the method, if we sow the fruits of the Holy Spirit ( Galatians 5:22 ), then that is pleasant, good results will also come within us, However, I believe if we broadcast seeds of Gods love when we live the life He has planned for us. Inasmuch, we exhibit these seed all the time- especially in our homes and workplaces. Foremost, we must always ask the Holy Spirit to live through us, so that when we broadcast our seeds- they will be fruit bearing seeds- in the eyes of God and man. Remember, our spiritual crop will be faithful to our acts. We reap what we sow, God does not say we reap only when we sow a thousand acres of evil or good, but merely that whatever we sow, in whatever amount, will take root and grow. One single seed will sprout as surely as a million acres will. It just takes an ounce of effort and dedication to do God’s will.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Apple game Console Essay Example for Free

Apple game Console Essay Apple is planning to enter the intensely competitive gaming industry, dominated by three large competitors, Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo. Apple’s has success with providing quality products and, has already established markets for Mac computers, notebooks, TV, iPad’s, iPhone’s and iPod’s. As Apple has a reputation being high quality, stylish and, luxurious brand, the new game console will be perceived to have the same qualities. Step 1 Idea Generation With the new technology and changing consumer preferences the gaming industry is continuously evolving. With the right product catered to the market, differentiation can bring market share, profits and, growth. Using marketing research Apple needs to identify what is already in the market, the demand for them, how they could be improved and differentiated. Step 2: Screening Strength †¢Already established successful brand name †¢Loyal customers †¢Apple perceived as innovative, superior quality and, stylish products †¢Ability to generate higher profits due to premium price charged Weakness. †¢Failure in the launch of the first gaming system †¢Inexperience in the video game industry †¢Short life span on game consoles Opportunities †¢Apple caters to the premium market which has less competition †¢Continuously expanding market. †¢Consumer demand for new innovative products Threats †¢Intense competition from already established competitors †¢Challenges caused by the continuously evolving market to regularly release new innovative products to stay competitive. †¢Risk of reputation if the new launch fails. Step 3 – Idea evaluation At the evaluation stage Apple needs obtain an understanding about the consumer reaction towards the product using concept testing. It is important that the target market, the size of the market and potential opportunities are identified when deciding whether to enter the market. Consumer needs should also be identified and the console should be developed to satisfy their needs. Rough estimates of costs, revenue and profitability should be made to determine product feasibility. Step 4: Development As the product development requires substantial financial commitments, extensive research and development should be carried out before building a prototype. Apple should use innovation and creativity when designing the product ensuring target markets needs are met. Market testing should be carried out to identify the consumer responses and revisions should be done to avoid failures. Step 5 – Commercialization. Before the roll out, extensive advertising and promotion should be carried out to introduce and, to promote the product. As Apple has its own stores, consoles can be initially offered to the market without having to deal with dealers and middlemen. This allows Apple to gradually roll out product to the market. As Apple has already established brand name, the new console would surely thrive. However, they need to ensure that its operating capacity is not at a maximum point and can be increased if required.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Malaysia Economy And Relationship Of Fiscal Policy Economics Essay

Malaysia Economy And Relationship Of Fiscal Policy Economics Essay Our study investigates the importance of fiscal policy in economy of any country. There are a lot of variables that have relationship with fiscal policy and shows impact on economical growth. In our paper we have analyze the fiscal policy of Malaysia (Asian country) from 2010-2012 by referencing the past of Malaysia economy late in 1970s. Executive summary Fiscal policy describes two governmental actions by the government. The first is taxation and second action is government spending. This paper explores the stabilization properties of fiscal policy in Malaysia using a model incorporating nonlinearities into the dynamic relationship between fiscal policy and real economic activity over the growth cycle.  Government of Malaysia participation in the economy expanded further in 1980-82 as it pursued an expansionary countercyclical fiscal policy aimed at stimulating economic activity and sustaining growth to ride out the effects of the global recession. The countercyclical policy led to twin deficits in the governments fiscal position and the balance of payments. Malaysia ran persistent fiscal deficits throughout the 2000s, averaging just above  5% of GDP from 2000-05. By 2007, the fiscal deficit had fallen below 4%, but with the onset of the financial crisis, the collapse in growth and the ensuing fiscal stimulus measures, the defici t shot back up to 7.1% of GDP  in 2009 and  5.8% in 2010. In 2011 and 2012 Malaysia fiscal policy will help them to construct better options for rural areas development and their major income for government revenue is income taxes. our findings are supported by past literature on Malaysia economy and relationship of fiscal policy to other variables. Literature review Fiscal policy, the government decides how much to spend , what to spend , what to spend for and how to finance its spending (Abel et, al ; 2001). Fiscal policy is defined as change in federal taxes and purchases that are intended to achieve macroeconomics policy objectives (hubbard O Brien; 2010) There are two models imply regarding fiscal policy of a country in economic point of view. Standard Keynesian model imply that fiscal policy should be countercyclical when bad times hits the government spending should increases and lower taxes by government to help economy spend it way out of recession. If policy makers following Keynesian model then there will be business cycle a positive correlation between taxes and output and negative relation between government spending and output. the second models tax smoothing imply that fiscal policy should be neutral all over business cycle and only respond to anticipated changes that affect the government budget constraints. by following this model all correlation will essentially zero Barro (1979). The equilibrium approach to fiscal policy summarize by David Aschauer (1988) and Robert Barro (1989). The macroeconomics analysis effects of fiscal policy on economical growth because fiscal policy effects aggregate demand, the distribution of wealth and economy capacity to produces services and goods. Neoclassical approach emphasize on short term effect of different instruments of fiscal policy. Secondly, steady rate growth is driven by exogenous factor which are dynamics of population and technological progress. In Asian courtiers the growth performance observation viewed as: growth declined and become stagnant significantly since 1985 and government expenditures are not inhibits full exploitation of growth potential of Asian countries. Researched on theory and empirical literature shows effects of fiscal policy variables that are government expenditure programs and taxes on economic growth Gerson (1998). Survey focused that there is robust positive contribution of government expenditure ratio to growth Caseli et, al (1996). Abdullah et, al (2008) focused on Pedroni Cointrgartion method to show a long run relationship between fiscal policy and economic growth. Several studies examined effectiveness of fiscal policy and argued in Keynesian times that fiscal policy will increases disposable income ad raise the private consumption but some studies emphasize that fiscal policy can have non Keynesian effects. Feldstein Giavazzi Pangano (1982) give that idea and purpose that permanent government expenditure reduction may increase in income , thus increase current consumption and aggregate demand. With reference to Ireland and Denmark studies they found that contractionary fiscal policy may have expansionary results. Blanchard (1990) finds that the initial debt level has an important influence on fiscal policy effect. Sargent (1999) argues monetary policy can be constrained by fiscal policy, if fiscal deficits grow large enough to require monetization of government debt. This argument emphasize that monetary policy is not independent of fiscal policy decision of government. By tight fiscal policy holds by government we can easy run a non inflationary monetary policy but with persistent budget deficit spending it is not possible to run a non- inflationary monetary policy. Some researchers confirmed that there is relationship between fiscal policy and stock market (Arin et, al; 2009 , Afonso et, al ; 2011, silvia iqbal ;2011). Regarding this Malaysia the relationship between fiscal policy and stock market index analyzed. This study was concluded by using co integration test to detect the existence of long run relationship and also need VECM vector error construction model for short run existence. the finding indicates that fiscal policy tools plays an important role in accelerating financial performance in Malaysia. In the 1970s Malaysia government played a key role in economy. Malaysia economics performance was impressive in late 1980s as well as 1990s with real growth of 8% per annum. This growth was due to expansionary monetary and fiscal policies compounded by FDI. Malaysia economy was in financial crisis in 1997/98 and faced minus 4% in growth with fast depreciating domestic currency and liquidity. By stabilization measures the real output lifted an post annually of 5% 6% in 1998. As global economic constrained continued to persist the 1999-2003 budgets maintained an expansionary stance, with authoritys conscious of the need to maintain debt sustainability. The countercyclical fiscal policy implemented was effective in supporting economic recovery and sustaining domestic demand in 2001. Malaysia was able to record a positive growth rate by supporting effective fiscal policy. Federal government expenditure in Malaysia was allocated for 2 major purposes namely operation purposes and developm ent purposes. Operation purposes are for upgrading and improve productivity as well as for long term economic growth. The largest component of operating expenditure is emoluments, subsidies, supplies and services. By improving subsidies is to reduce of burden of society to poor and disadvantages groups. Allocating budgets for development purpose to upgrade rural areas and low income households which have significant role in sustaining growth. The government development expenditure growth is faster than operating which is 7.1 % compare to 8.5% for development expenditures. the main source of government revenue is tax collection and non- tax revenue to finance its expenditure to improvement for prospect of country as well. The income tax is major tax in Malaysia (economic report ministry of finance 2010-2011). In September 2011 the Malaysia credit rating slipping from A+ to A by providing an ominous sign. The Malaysia does not have track record of practicing fiscal discipline, as in two last decades the Malaysia gas had federal budget deficits even in good times of growth. Malaysias continually large government investments, spanning over more than a decade, are a rating constraint. In 2011 the second quarter was unhappy one for Malaysia as manufacturing sector growth rate of 2.1% against growth rate of 5.5% in the first half of 2011. Manufacturing sector was dealing in slumping demands for Malaysia exports from the US, Japanese and Europeans markets. Globally growth was expected to drop by 3.1% for 2011 and china was by 0.2%, under all situation Malaysia decision to increase approvals for manufacturing investment of MYR 16.4 million. For 2nd quarter of 2011 and it is stinking when comparing to 2nd quarter of 2010. Malaysia forecasted a growth rate of 5-6% for 2011 but it was 4-5% in 2011. The consequences of lack of fiscal discipline will surface should the global economy take a turn for a worse. First victim will be federal government deficit that is started from 2008 crisis in Malaysia. At that time debt to GDP ratio was 54%. Following the strong expansion in 2011, the growth of both private consumption and investment is projected to soften in 2012, as both income and capital expenditure in the external-related sectors of the economy are affected by the slower global growth. 2012 budget of Malaysia economy will support private consumption. The public sector will remain supportive with higher capital expenditure by both federal government and non financial public enterprise NFPEs on 2012. Fiscal policy in 2012 is geared towards stimulating domestic economic activity and providing support to the economic transformation plan. A challenge for the Government in 2012 is to continue providing support to domestic demand by aiming the weakening external sector while ensuring that the fiscal position remains sustainable. In this regard, greater emphasis has been placed in the 2012 Budget on generating growth through private sector investment and consumption. RM2.5 billion is allocated in the 2012 Budget under the PPP Facilitation Fund to facilities the private sector in initiating various catalytic projects. Secondly it wills Introduction of various tax incentives to facilitate the development of high-impact projects in targeted sectors. These incentives are provided for projects in Kuala Lumpur International Financial District (KLIFD), Iskandar Development Region (IDR) and other regional corridors which are expected to have large multiplier effects on economic activity. The t hird initiative involves attracting foreign investments and participation in the economy through further liberalization of the 17 services sub-sectors that allow up to 100% foreign ownership. This initiative is expected to enhance the competitiveness of the domestic services sector which has been identified as one of the key drivers of economic growth. The Federal Government fiscal deficit is expected to narrow from 5.0% in 2011 to 4.7% of GDP in 2012. Revenue collection is expected to improve and thus supported by better tax administration and higher compliance in tax submission and collection. Total expenditure continues to remain supportive of growth with an allocation of RM181.6 billion for operating expenditure and RM49.2 billion for development expenditure. With respect to fiscal policy of Malaysia, The Government continues to face the challenging task of striking a balance between fiscal consolidation and the need to support initiatives to transform the country into a high-income economy. The Government will remain committed to fiscal consolidation. A successful implementation of the ETP economic transformation programs and all other reform initiatives are expected to ensure sustainable growth which will enhance tax revenues, thus contributing to the efforts to strengthen the fiscal position of the Government. Conclusion This study examined some of the fiscal policy issues and challenges confronted by developing countries like Malaysia in using countercyclical fiscal policy to ameliorate the impact of the global financial crisis and revealed a rich diversity both in terms of the size and composition of fiscal stimulus and the challenges which are confronted.We concluded that fiscal policy is one of the most important instruments of government economic policy. The long run impacts of fiscal policy are not o theorical perspectives but also for implication of policy makers. A strong commitment to fiscal sustainability is very critical for macroeconomics stability as well to ensure a long term run growth for economy. By emphasizing its fiscal position Malaysia continuing enjoys the fiscal policy flexibility. Malaysia may not be maximizing the bang for buck of fiscal policy through policy ill discipline during boom times by expanding fiscal expenditures. The government, as part of the fiscal prudence poli cy, will closely monitor its spending. Over the medium term, its fiscal position will be consolidated as the economy recovers and is able to expand at its own momentum. The pace of consolidation will be guided by developments in external demand and domestic economic developments, with a focus on medium-term public debt sustainability considerations. The electoral-economic connection in Malaysia is strong, and elections are accordingly important determinants of fiscal policy choice in this rapidly developing nondemocratic state.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Impact Of Television in Presidential Coverage Essay -- essays research

In the 1950's, television, having been introduced to political coverage as a new medium, surpassed the dominance of newspaper and radio media as the primary public source of information regarding politics by 1962. Political processes and events of various measures were all soon televised in recognition of overwhelmingly positive public feedback. By the 1970's, live coverage of major political events were as common as seeing grass on the ground. Through the impact of television, political campaigns and elections have never been the same as they were before 1952– the presidential race between Dwight Eisenhower and Adlai Stevenson. Political advertising enthusiast and author, Frank Biocca, states that this race was â€Å"essential to campaigning as we know it today†Ã¢â‚¬â€œ creating a gateway in American politics as the Eisenhower campaign called upon product advertising executive, Rosser Reeves, to produce a series of short spot commercials to enhance Eisenhower’s image in the public eye. These ads, which were as well crafted as any product ad, appeared during commercial breaks of television programs and were the first of its kind. These pro-Eisenhower commercials, which Stevenson refused to do, helped shape a caring, friendly, and devoted persona of Eisenhower into the minds of the masses which is credited to his electoral victory. Although Stevenson acknowledged the power of television, producing ads for his 1956 race, he still wasn’t able to thwart Eisenhower’s already-established popularity among the American people. Political advertising in the use of television has become so significantly renown that it is the â€Å"major form of communication among candidates and the voters they seek to reach out to† according to Richard Brody, Stanford University Press. In realization of Eisenhower’s success, every presidential campaign since 1952 has relied extremely on political ads. 40 years later, the political parties of George Bush, Bill Clinton, and Ross Perot spent over $110 million for the production and air time of television spots during the 1992 presidential race as reported in the â€Å"Social Science Quarterly† of June 1993. Presidential victory is not the only concern of a particular political party, however, as 50-75% of the campaign budget for Senate and Congressional seats goes to televised political advertiseme... ...ssing the President: The Media, Elite Opinion, and Public Support. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1991. Chomsky, Noam (1989); Necessary Illusions: Thought Control in Democratic Societies. Boston Biocca, Frank (1991); Television and Political Advertising (Vols.: I & II). Hillsdale, N.J.: Erlbaum. Patterson, Thomas, and Robert McClure. 1976. The Unseeing Eye: The Myth of Television Power in National Politics. New York: Putnams. Anonomous. "Television News and Presidential Campaigns: The Legitimization of Televised Political Advertising." Social Science Quarterly (Austin, Texas), June 1993. Cundy, Donald T. 1986. "Political Commercials and Candidate Image: The Effect Can be Substantial." Mutz, Diana C. 1995. "Effects of Horse-Race Coverage on Campaign Coffers: Strategic Contributing in Presidential Primaries." The Journal of Politics 57(4):1015-1042. Kraus, Sidney (1988); Televised Presidential Debates and Public Policy. Hillsdale, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum. Cunningham, L. (1995); Talking Politics: Choosing the President in the Television Age. Westport, CT: Praeger.

What is property :: essays research papers

What Is Poverty? Jo Goodwin Parker 1. You ask me what is poverty? Listen to me. Here I am, dirty, smelly and with no "proper" underwear on and with the stench of my rotting teeth near you. I will tell you. Listen to me. Listen without pity. I cannot use your pity. Listen with understanding. Put yourself in my pity, worn out, ill-fitting shoes, and hear me. 2. Poverty is getting up every morning from a dirty- and illness-stained mattress. The sheets have long since been used for diapers. Poverty is living in a smell that never leaves. This is a smell of urine, sour milk, and spoiling food sometimes joined with the strong smell of long-cooked onions. Onions are cheap. If you have smelled this smell, you did not know how it came. It is the smell of the outdoor privy. It is the smell of young children who cannot walk the long dark way in the night. It is the smell of the mattresses where years of "accidents" have happened. It is the smell of the milk which has gone sour because the refrigerator long has not worked, and it costs money to get it fixed. It is the smell of rotting garbage. I could bury it, but where is the shovel? Shovels cost money. 3. Poverty is being tired. I have always been tired. They told me at the hospital when the last baby came that I had chronic anemia caused from poor diet, a bad case of worms, and that I needed a corrective operation. I listened politely -- the poor are always polite. The poor always listen. They don't say that there is no money for iron pills, or better food, or worm medicine. The idea of an operation is frightening and costs so much that, if I had dared, I would have laughed. Who takes care of my children? Recovery from an operation takes a long time. I have three children. When I left them with "Granny" the last time I had a job, I came home to find the baby covered with fly specks, and a diaper that had not been changed since I left. When the dried diaper came off, bits of my baby's flesh came with it. My other child was playing with a sharp bit of broken glass, and my oldest was playing alone at the edge of a lake. I made twenty-two dollars a week, and a good nursery s chool costs twenty dollars a week for three children.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Violence In Rap Music Essay -- essays research papers

Boom, boom! Boom, boom! The kind of bass that drains batteries and the kind of lyrics that unload clips, these are the sounds that rap music produces. I chose this topic because I am extremely interested in rap music and I want to explore the violent aspect of the industry. I have never had a chance to look at the violent side of it and I plan to find answers to questions I have in my search. Tupac Shakur is one of my favorite artists and when he was shot and killed I really started to take notice of the violence. People were getting killed because of an image that was being set. What I really want to know, however, is why rappers feel compelled to graphically describe the violence. In my search I plan to find out reasons behind the deaths of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G. Was there some kind of connection between both of their deaths? I believe that rap music was never violent until "gangsta" rap came about. What sparked this change and who was behind it? I want to explore "gangsta" rap from the beginning until now. I want to research the major players in the rap game, who they are and what some of their lyrics are saying. Today our society is bursting at the seams with violence. There is fighting in other countries like Kosovo, shootings in schools, and violence on television. In my opinion, though, nothing has a greater effect on the youth of America than rap music. However, this isn’t a new issue, there has been violence in rap music for years. Such as, gang violence, references to drive-by shootings and homicides in songs. Since this is such a broad topic I will explore the violent side and history of the industry, the lyrics, as well as the artists. Page 2 In 1986 an unknown rap group came "Straight Outta Compton" and they called themselves N.W.A ( Niggaz With Attitudes). Eazy-E (Eric Wright) started this group along with four friends Dr. Dre (Andre Young), MC Ren (Geronimo Pratt), Ice Cube ( O’ Shea Jackson) and DJ Yella and they soon became the most controversial group ever to hit the industry. In 1989 they released the album, Straight Outta Compton, and a wave of fear was sent over the country, it was an instant classic. With disturbing song titles ranging from "F*ck Tha Police" to "Gangsta, gangsta" caused the FBI and the LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) to invest... ...t’s most influential rappers, gangsta rap has essentially died with it. Today there is still violence in rap music, but things aren’t as bad as they were. There is still lots of references to killings and gang violence, but things have calmed down and things aren’t so tense around rap music anymore. In my search I have learned a lot about N.W.A, for instance I never knew that there was so much controversy surrounding them when they first came on the scene. I Page 7 learned a lot about artists lyrics, a lot are just due to rivalries that were formed. From the myths that I read concerning Tupac’s death I have a really strong feeling that he is still alive. In retrospect I fell that I am ahead of where I wanted to be at the end of this paper. I have such a good knowledge of gangsta rap’s roots until now and who the major players are. The one thing that surprised me was when I found out the F.B.I and LAPD investigated N.W.A. I think that was a little bit of overreacting . I felt that I made good progress on this paper, I found information that I needed and my interviewee was very cooperative. I really enjoyed doing my search, it was a topic I chose myself, so I had fun conducting it.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Dollar General Case Study Essay

Dollar General is a retailing company, especially extreme value oriented. Since its establishment in 1955, Dollar General has drastically grown. In 10 years, from 1955 to 1965, the Company grew to 255 stores with annual sales of $25.8 million. Today, Dollar General owns 6,300 stores in 27 states, with 2002 annual sales of $6.1 billion and more than 54,000 employees. This growth was extremely fast in the 1990’s. The number of stores grew so from 1,461 in 1991 up to 6,113 in 2002. Since the beginning, Dollar General takes advantage of a niche by setting up profitable small stores delivering convenience and value. All the Dollar  General’s Strategy is based on a customer-driven distribution of consumable basics. Financial situation of the Company remains really satisfying in spite of shareholders lawsuits due to restatement of its earnings few years ago. Revenue growth was equal to 12.6% in 2003 for a total amount of $7.24 billion. Its net income was the largest of the sector with $319.9 million. In the same time, and over the last three years, the Company has reduced its long-term debt by $448 million. Such a success can be explained by a really good positioning of the Company through its external environment and among its direct competitors. Dollar general knows very well how to manage the exploited niche and its opportunities. The main strength of Dollar General remains its ability to constantly open new stores, knowing that the key success holds in the proximity of small stores delivering convenience and value. It is in fact a kind of necessary comparative advantage on this market. The new CEO, David Perdue has got no experience of retail industry. He has to choose in which direction Dollar General will go. He has to go on the expansion of the Company but with the arrival of new and very powerful competitors such as Wall-Mart or Kmart. 1. Background Dollar General is a discount retailer of general merchandise, with around 6,300 discount stores in over 27 states in 2003. The Company, which headquarters are based in Goodlettsville, Tennessee engages in the provision of general merchandise at low prices, serving customers in Midwestern and Southeastern US. The Company offers its customers an assortment of consumable basic merchandise, which includes: health and beauty aids, packaged food products, cleaning supplies, hardware, stationery, household items and basic apparels. The majority of its items are priced at $1. The Company employed around  54,000 employees. Their buying staffs negotiate low purchase prices from suppliers. It purchases its merchandise from various major suppliers. To maintain high in stock levels of core merchandise, the Company usually limits its stock-keeping units per store. Timeline In 1939, with only a third grade education, J.L. Turner formed his own company in Scottsville, Kentucky, with his son, Cal. In 1955, Cal Turner and his son Cal Turner Jr. opened the first Dollar General store in Springfield, Kentucky. In 1965, they operated in 255 stores and generated $25.8 million of sales. In 1976, Dollar General exceeds annual sales of $100 million for the first time. At the beginning of the 1990s, the Company’s annual sales kept increasing and began to expand store sizes from 5,000 square feet to 6,800 square feet. In 2000, Dollar General’s corporate employees move to Goodlettsville, Tennessee. The move also saw the most aggressive store reset in the Company’s history, in which, more than 5,000 stores were set. In 2001, the Company began offering perishable products. This program included a selection of dairy products, meats, frozen foods and ice cream, and was expanded from 411 stores at the end of 2001 to 1,367 stores at the end of 2002. In February 2003, 7 distribution centres which served around 6,192 stores in 27 states and generated in net sales $6.1 millions. 2. Dollar General diagnosis a. Financial analysis Net Sales Increases in net sales resulted primarily from 587 net new stores and a same-store sales increase of 4.0% in 2003 compared to 2002, and 573 net new stores and a same-store sales increase of 5.7% in 2002 compared to 2001. The Company’s merchandising strategy in recent years has been to place a greater emphasis on faster-turning consumable products and to give less prominence to slower-turning home products and clothing. The Company believes that this strategy has enabled it to better serve its customers while improving its inventory turns. As a result of this strategy, over the past three years the highly consumable category has become a greater percentage of the Company’s overall sales mix while the percentages of the home products, seasonal product and basic clothing categories have declined. In 2002 and 2003, the mix was as follows (in percent of sales): 2003 2002 Highly Consumable 63% 60.2% Seasonal Products 15% 16.3% Home Products 12% 13.3% Basic Clothing 10% 10.2% The Company’s same-store sales increase in 2003 over 2002 of 4.0%, or $228.3 million, was due to a number of factors, including but not limited to: increased sales of candy and snacks, health and beauty aids items, pet supplies and perishable products primarily due to the increase in the number of stores with coolers (in 2002, 1,400 stores had coolers). Gross Profit The gross profit increased by more than 200 millions dollar in 2003 as compared with 2002 primarily due to the following: The Company made progress in reducing the shrink at problem stores during 2003. Some of the actions taken by the Company to combat shrink beginning in 2002 included the installation and the implementation of software that improve the inventory management. They also invest in others technologies which help purchasing and store allocation decisions. Current Financial Condition The Company has also to deal with its accounting issues due to the uncertainty about their past financial reports. The Company is still under the investigation of the US Securities and Exchange Commission and has to provide solid proof for every financial figures published and for every transactions done. b. Strengths and weaknesses analysis STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES One of the leading dollar store retailers in the US Improved financial performance Stores located in small communities Invested in better distribution facilities Space issues Merchandise mix problems Lost of competitive advantage Strengths Dollar General is one of the leading dollar store retailers in the US. The Company enjoys a strong market position within this particular segment of the retail market. It has a low cost operating structure and a relatively limited assortment of products offered. The Company’s strong market position will help to enhance Dollar General’s brand awareness. Dollar General is well known Company which does not need to communicate on their strategy because of their strong identity, they have low communication cost. This will in turn make it easier for the Company to attract new custom. Their strong store experience allows the ability to develop their strategy with a high knowledge experience. It facilitates their expansion strategy. The Company improved its financial performance and increased in revenue in 2003 up to $6.1 billion after a 15% increase in 2002. Net income also grew by 27,7% in 2003 reaching $264,946. Stores are located in small communities, meaning it does not have to compete with the larger retail outlets for custom. Moreover they have made better distribution investments which allow them to have better facilities in their distribution and lower costs. Weaknesses Growing fast, involved learning experiences, duplicating models, and creating format. It has been a force during a few years. Nowadays, Dollar General has to adapt its stores to the demand, and follow the market growth. Merchandise mix problems Dollar General has also experienced merchandise mix problems in recent years. These merchandise mix problems have led to the Company’s inventories becoming obsolete. This has forced Dollar General to write down some of the value of its inventories. The concept of dollar store has been a success, and many competitors are on the general store traces. Their concept has been copied, so their competitive advantage and their strategy are no more as efficient as in the  beginning. Competitors have also learnt form the Company’s experience. 3. External Analysis a. Competitors According to the case the two major competitors of Dollar General Corporation are: Family dollar Dollar tree These two companies have adopted the same strategy than Dollar General. Their expansion has been fast, they have the same customers, and the same core business. Although they have many customers such as The Talbots, Inc.Fred’s, 7-Eleven, Sears Roebuck, Wal Mart, 99 Cents Only Stores, Kmart or Target. COMPETITOR COMPARISON (2002) The following chart shows the differences between those three companies. Comparison criteria – 2 – 1 0 1 2 Industrial Equipment (number of stores, distribution center†¦) Wide of product range Productivity Profitability Pricing Image Penetration rate Revenue Growth over the past year Dollar Tree Family Dollar Dollar General Following this graph study it seems Dollar General generally remains the most impressive competitors of the sector. DG remains the best in term of image, penetration rate (even if it is only present in 27 states whereas the others are present in about 40 states), financial position (they have the best Net Income 265 millions dollars, Dollar Tree: 155 millions and Family Dollar: 217 millions) and in term of selling force thanks to its still greater number of stores (6,113 stores for 54,000 employees, Dollar Tree: 2,263 stores for less than 9,600 employees and Family Dollar: 4,616 stores for less than 22,000 employees). [ in 2004, Dollar Tree has got 9,600 employees and Family Dollar 22,000 employees according to Yahoo.com so we can guess that it was inferior in 2002] Nevertheless DG has to take care not to lose its leadership concerning the wide of product range proposed. And even if the target household income is not exactly the same than Dollar Tree, DG has also to pay attention to the politic pricing implemented by Dollar Tree, which is in fact the best of the sector thanks to products price at $1 or less than $1. But generally, DG remains really well positioned among its competitors. b. Opportunities and threats analysis OPPORTUNITIES THREATS New distribution centers Business less susceptible to slowdown in consumer spending Stores expansion in new states Size of the stores New competition People qualification Dependency to suppliers Opportunities The Company is dependent upon the smooth functioning of its distribution network and upon the capacity of its distribution centers. The Company relies on the ability to replenish depleted inventory through deliveries to its distribution centers from suppliers. New distribution centers are expected in the end 2004 or in 2005 in order to support continued growth. The dollar business is less susceptible to a slowdown in consumer spending compared with other retail operations because over a third of its stock costs $1 or less. This will mean that Dollar General’s business will not be affected as much as other high cost and high margin led retail operations, as in times of economic distress consumers will look to save money by purchasing goods that are perceived to offer better value from retailers such as Dollar General. So they have the possibility to gain market share if the economy slowdown. The stores are located in only 27 states so they have the possibility to open new stores and to expand into additional states. It will depend on factors that are beyond the Company’s control such as: the ability to negotiate favourable lease terms; the ability to hire and train new personnel,  especially store managers; the ability to identify customer demand in different geographic areas. The size of the stores is from 5,000 to 6,800 square feet, whereas Family Dollar stores’ size is from 7,500 to 9,500. It shows that DG can extend the size of their stores in order to grow their sales. Threats The discount retail merchandise business is subject to excess capacity and some of the Company’s competitors are much larger and have substantially greater resources than the Company. The competition for customers has intensified in recent years as larger competitors, such as Wal-Mart, have moved into the Company’s geographic markets. The Company remains vulnerable to the marketing power and high level of consumer recognition of these major national discount chains, and to the risk that these chains or others could venture into the â€Å"dollar store† industry in a significant way. The Company’s success depends to a significant extent upon the abilities of its senior management team and the performance of its employees. The loss of services of key members of the Company’s senior management team or of certain other key employees could negatively impact the Company’s business. In addition, future performance will depend upon the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified employees to keep pace with its expansion schedule. The Company’s business is dependent on its ability to obtain attractive pricing and other terms from its suppliers. The Company believes that keeping good relations with its suppliers is generally a good way to obtain attractive pricing. If the Company fails to maintain good relations with its suppliers, it may not be able to obtain attractive pricing with the consequence that its net sales or profit margins would be reduced. 4. Problem identification Dollar General’s strategy is based on low prices and convenience. That is what differentiates this Company from another. They had the ability for delivering value to their customers and for placing many stores where other big-box retailers will not is well-deserved. The new CEO, David Perdue, which has no experience in retail industry, has to go on the expansion. But he has to face the problem of a harder competition. Indeed, the success of dollar stores attract big firm such as Wall-Mart and Kmart on this market. So where will he decide to open new stores? He will probably has to expand new stores in new states but he might not find a location without competitors.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Euthanasia Background Essay

* What’s Euthanasia? * The Pro-Life Alliance defines it as: ‘Any action or omission intended to end the life of a patient on the grounds that his or her life is not worth living.’ * The Voluntary Euthanasia Society looks to the word’s Greek origins – ‘eu’ and ‘thanatos,’ which together mean ‘a good death’ – and say a modern definition is: ‘A good death brought about by a doctor providing drugs or an injection to bring a peaceful end to the dying process.’ * Three classes of euthanasia can be identified — passive euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide and active euthanasia — although not all groups would acknowledge them as valid terms.† * What is physician-assisted suicide/physician aid in dying? * It is descriptively accurate and carries with it no misleading connotations. * Other contributors to this volume prefer the synonymous term physician-assisted suicide because it is technically accurate, and still others prefer physician aid in dying because it is relatively neutral. * Although suicide can be considered heroic or rational depending on setting and philosophical orientation, in much American writing it is conflated with mental illness, and the term suggests the tragic self-destruction of a person who is not thinking clearly or acting rationally. Pros: * Everyone has the right to die * The right of a competent, terminally ill person to avoid excruciating pain and embrace a timely and dignified death bears the sanction of history and is implicit in the concept of ordered liberty. * The exercise of this right is as central to personal autonomy and bodily integrity as rights safeguarded by this Court’s decisions relating to marriage, family relationships, procreation, contraception, child rearing and the refusal or termination of life-saving medical treatment. * In particular, this Court’s recent decisions concerning the right to refuse medical treatment and the right to abortion instruct that a mentally competent, terminally ill person has a protected liberty interest in choosing to end intolerable suffering by bringing about his or her own death. * Patient suffering should be able to end their life. * At the Hemlock Society they get calls daily from desperate people who are looking for someone like Jack Kevorkian to end their lives, which have lost all quality. * Americans should enjoy a right guaranteed in the European Declaration of Human Rights — the right not to be forced to suffer. * It should be considered as much of a crime to make someone live that with justification does not wish to continue as it is to take life without consent. * What about palliative (end-of-life) care? * The evidence for the emotional impact of assisted dying on physicians shows that euthanasia and assisted suicide are a far cry from being ‘easier options for the caregiver’ than palliative care, as some critics of Dutch practice have suggested. * We wish to take a strong stand against the separation and opposition between euthanasia and assisted suicide, on the one hand, and palliative care, on the other, that such critics have implied. There is no ‘either-or’ with respect to these options. * Every appropriate palliative option available must be discussed with the patient and, if reasonable, tried before a request for assisted death can be accepted. * What about living wills? * Living wills can be used to refuse extraordinary, life-prolonging care and are effective in providing clear and convincing evidence that may be necessary under state statutes to refuse care after one becomes terminally ill. * A recent Pennsylvania case shows the power a living will can have. In that case, a Bucks County man was not given a feeding tube, even though his wife requested he receive one, because his living will, executed seven years prior, clearly stated that he did ‘not want tube feeding or any other artificial invasive form of nutrition. * A living will provides clear and convincing evidence of one’s wishes regarding end-of-life care. * Healthcare * Even though the various elements that make up the American healthcare system are becoming more circumspect in ensuring that money is not wasted. * The cap that marks a zero-sum healthcare system is largely absent in the United States. * Considering the way we finance healthcare in the United States, it would be hard to make a case that there is a financial imperative compelling us to adopt physician-assisted suicide in an effort to save money so that others could benefit. Cons: * There will be a slippery slope to legalized murder. * In a society as obsessed with the costs of health care and the principle of utility, the dangers of the slippery slope†¦ are far from fantasy. * Assisted suicide is a half-way house, a stop on the way to other forms of direct euthanasia, for example, for incompetent patients by advance directive or suicide in the elderly. So, too, is voluntary euthanasia a half-way house to involuntary and nonvoluntary euthanasia. * If terminating life is a benefit, the reasoning goes, why should euthanasia be limited only to those who can give consent? Why need we ask for consent? * The Hippocratic Oath and Prohibition of Killing would make it impossible. * The prohibition against killing patients†¦ stands as the first promise of self-restraint sworn to in the Hippocratic Oath, as medicine’s primary taboo: ‘I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect’. * In forswearing the giving of poison when asked for it, the Hippocratic physician rejects the view that the patient’s choice for death can make killing him right. * For the physician, at least, human life in living bodies commands respect and reverence–by its very nature. As its respectability does not depend upon human agreement or patient consent, revocation of one’s consent to live does not deprive one’s living body of respectability. * The deepest ethical principle restraining the physician’s power is not the autonomy or freedom of the patient; neither is it his own compassion or good intention. Rather, it is the dignity and mysterious power of human life itself, and therefore, also what the Oath calls the purity and holiness of life and art to which he has sworn devotion.† * There is also Government involvement in end-of-life decisions. * Cases like Schiavo’s touch on basic constitutional rights, such as the right to live and the right to due process, and consequently there could very well be a legitimate role for the federal government to play. * There’s a precedent–as a result of the highly publicized deaths of infants with disabilities in the 1980s, the federal government enacted ‘Baby Doe Legislation,’ which would withhold federal funds from hospitals that withhold lifesaving treatment from newborns based on the expectation of disability. * The medical community has to have restrictions on what it may do to people with disabilities – we’ve already seen what some members of that community are willing to do when no restrictions are in place.Healthcare spending implications will shut it down. * There would be healthcare spending implications. * Savings to governments could become a consideration. * Drugs for assisted suicide cost about $35 to $45, making them far less expensive than providing medical care. * This could fill the void from cutbacks for treatment and care with the ‘treatment’ of death.† * Social groups would also be at risk. * It must be recognized that assisted suicide and euthanasia will be practiced through the prism of social inequality and prejudice that characterizes the delivery of services in all segments of society, including health care. * Those who will be most vulnerable to abuse, error, or indifference are the poor, minorities, and those who are least educated and least empowered. * This risk does not reflect a judgment that physicians are more prejudiced or influenced by race and class than the rest of society – only that they are not exempt from the prejudices manifest in other areas of our collective life.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

In what ways are Gatsby and George Wilson similar or dissimilar, to whom is Nick more sympathetic towards? Essay

In what ways are Gatsby and George Wilson similar or dissimilar, to whom is Nick more sympathetic towards? Fitzgerald purposefully contrasts his characters throughout the novel, in order to compare contrasting worlds that were present in American society. Although there are some clear differences between Gatsby and George, there are also superficial similarities between them that each man has to experience and put up with. Drawing upon the more apparent differences between these two characters, it is evident that they have differing wealth. Gatsby is depicted as being rich through the means of the ‘Hotel de Ville’ or ‘mansion'(11) that he owns, and also by the way he holds lavish parties where ‘champagne was served in glasses bigger than finger-bowls'(48). Considering that Gatsby lives in West Egg not only reveals the true extent of his wealth, but additionally it shows that he is ‘noveau riche’ rather than ‘old’ rich like those who inhabit East Egg. Gatsby has only recently acquired his wealth after migrating from the Midwest whilst following the ‘New’ American Dream. The original dream consisted of any American citizen having the right to pursue their goals and dreams through hard work and free choice. It was the opportunity to make individual choices without the underlying restrictions of class, caste, religion, race, or ethnic group, that once overshadowed people. Often, people followed the common saying, ‘Go West young man!’ where the land was uninhabited and extremely fertile. In the case of the ‘New’ dream, it was simply how the dream had become interpreted by the 1920s. It was a distortion from the original dream to the idea of ‘Get rich quick’. Being of ‘New’ wealth, Gatsby tries to flaunt his wealth about. When Nick asks Gatsby whether he is going to go home that night following the vehicular manslaughter of Myrtle by Daisy, Nick describes Gatsby in chapter eight, as wearing a ‘pink rag of a suit'(147).This description suggests how Gatsby wears these expensive, gaudy and colourful items of clothing in order to display his wealth ostentatiously. The idea behind this pretentious displayal of the opulence that he has acquired, may be a method used by Gatsby in order to stand out from the crowd and to break away from periphery and into East Egg high society. This is a means to an end that he requires so that he can get even closer to retrieving Daisy and thus accomplishing his distorted version of the American Dream. In comparison, George lives in the rubbish tip that is the ‘Valley of the Ashes’. All that ‘grows’ on it is dead and the words ‘Ash’ and ‘grey’ that Fitzgerald uses to describe it with in chapter two, not only emphasise the literally dull and unfulfilling nature of the landscape here, but also the dull and unfulfilling lives of those like George Wilson who inhabit this valley. In chapter two it becomes apparent how little respect George’s wife has for her husband, when she says ‘He burrowed somebody’s best suit to get married in.’ This shows how poor he is because he cannot even afford a wedding suit of his own to get married in. In comparison to Gatsby, he has little material wealth. Gatsby appears to have originated from a poor background in the West which is similar to George’s background. However, the effects of this poor background influence both men differently. Originating in the West, rural North Dakota, he followed the ‘New’ American Dream in order to ‘Get rich quick’ and this pushed him towards organized crime, such as bootlegging. During the 1920s, there was a prohibition which imposed the law that alcohol was to be banned. Gangsters like Gatsby, were able to make a fortune out of this time through the illegal distribution of alcohol and trading in stolen securities. This was all a means though of achieving his distorted version of the American Dream, which was to retrieve Daisy. Importantly, he does not abide by the ‘protestant work ethic’ which states that a man should work hard and earn a comfortable living by which he and his family can live a peaceful, enjoyable life off. He also participated in a bit of bond fraud on the side as Fitzgerald notifies the reader in chapter nine (158). A strange caller says to Nick (thinking him Gatsby), ‘Young Parke’s in trouble. They picked him up when he handed the bonds over the counter.’ The way he commits himself to such illegalities is irresponsible on his behalf and it reveals how the American Dream has become revolved around money. Human greediness to obtain money, have corrupted the dream that once was so much more innocent. Comparatively, George does not involve himself in such a tainted world and instead follows a morally acceptable path in life by owning a legal garage. To some extent though, Fitzgerald uses this character to emphasise how such a traditional stance like the one George takes up (where one follows the ‘Protestant work ethic’), is unable to survive in such a morally decayed world that was the Jazz Age. Fitzgerald describes him in chapter two, as ‘mingling immediately with the cement colour of the walls’ of his garage. In some way it shows how the years he has been following this legitimate path, have caused him to effectively fade away into the dull environment that he inhabits. Kathleen Parkinson described Gatsby as ‘a mysterious and ambivalent figure’. This is a true interpretation of Gatsby in the sense that, unlike George, there is a build up prior to his introduction into the novel. At Gatsby’s first party in chapter three, various rumours of Gatsby’s past circulate the party. One guest exclaims that Gatsby is a ‘nephew of Kaiser Wilhelm’ and others go on to say how they heard that he had ‘killed a man’ or ‘been a German spy’ or ‘been in the American army.’ All this mystery serves to stimulate Nick’s curiosity, which possibly leads to his more lenient and sympathetic stance when it comes to Gatsby. It also creates a sense of suspense in the reader that heightened Gatsby’s entrance into the novel. Rumour plays an integral role in the novel as Fitzgerald uses it to provide the reader with the option of deciding whether or not they believe it and this technique evo kes more interest in certain characters like Gatsby. Evidently, Gatsby embodies the idea of the American Dream as is suggested in chapter three where Nick reports on how Gatsby would look across the golf at ‘that green light’ every night. This ‘green light’ would have symbolised various things for Gatsby. It would have been a symbol of generally the American Dream, but also more specifically for Gatsby, the prospect of the ‘green’ colour of money and achieving Daisy. Gatsby appears to have achieved the American Dream to some extent as he has risen from an impoverished child to a young man with great material wealth. He is the main dreamer in the novel; however, it appears that he is following two dreams. His initial dream becomes apparent in chapter nine where Gatsby’s father talks of Gatsby’s ‘SCHEDULE’ that he wrote when he was seventeen. In the ‘GENERAL RESOLVES’ (164) Gatsby wrote ‘Read one improving book or magazine per week’ which reveals straightaway how his dream of becoming rich and fitting into the world of high society, originates from when he was a teenager. Additionally, it uncovers the immaturity of Gatsby and his dream, as he has never allowed his dream to develop and grow up like he has. His other dream was a distorted version of the American dream, (which in some way used the wealth he had gained from achieving the American Dream), which was to retrieve his childhood love – Daisy. This dream was established in the past, and therefore fixates on the past. Gatsby’s naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve personality and his ruthlessness to achieve this dream ignore what Daisy has become and he appears to pursue the ‘old’ Daisy which remains vividly in his dreams. The way in which Gatsby was driven by his undying love for a woman is a reflection of Fitzgerald’s own life and dreams too. He too joined the army (1917) and eventually fell in love with a seventeen year old girl called ‘Zelda Sayre’. Zelda finally agreed to marry him, but her overpowering desire for wealth, fun, and leisure led her to delay their wedding until he could prove a success. Their relationship appears to be like Gatsby and Daisy’s. The following quote reveals the point in the novel at which all of Daisy’s charm and beauty is stripped away, leaving nothing but money to be admired underneath: ‘That was it. I’d never understood before. It was full of money- that was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle of it, the cymbals’ song of it.’ (Chapter seven) Gatsby realizes late into the novel, how his dream has been ripped apart into dollar bills as he discovers that for years he has been in pursuit of not love, but cold, harsh money which is hidden behind the disguise of a human face. Following the death of Gatsby and the suicide of George, it becomes apparent that Fitzgerald is using the deaths of a rich man and a poor man who both set out to achieve their unattainable goals, to symbolise the death of the original dream on which America was founded. With consideration given to George, he too shares the American Dream with Gatsby; however he seems to be pursuing the ‘old’ American Dream and not the ‘New’ one like Gatsby. George reveals his dream in chapter seven, where he says: I’ve been here too long. I want to get away. My wife and I want to go West. She’s been talking about it for ten years.’ Clearly his dream is the opposite of Gatsby’s. He wants to migrate West like the original settlers and wants to follow the idea to ‘Go West young man!’ This idea was commonly followed by many families who would migrate out to the West and set up a basis to gather wealth. This is the case for the characters, Tom and Daisy, whose families formed their wealth out in the West through hard labour, so that their children could have better lives than they did. Undoubtedly, George wants his share of this; however, the way in which he says that his wife has ‘been talking about it for ten years’ is possibly a suggestion that it is more her dream than his and that he has been bullied into dreaming of it by her domineering nature. Whatever the case, he almost definitely dreams of a more comfortable life than what he already suffers. Gatsby and George are similar in the ways they both resort to deception in order to attain their originally unattainable dreams. They both resort to this in their relationships. Gatsby is found to do this in chapters four and five. When Nick is informed of the history between Gatsby and Daisy, by Jordan, it appears that she believed him to have wealthy roots when he did not. In chapter five he tells Daisy how ‘it only took him three years to earn the money that bought’ his mansion. He initially created the false perception of himself that fooled Daisy into false hope. Daisy probably saw in Gatsby a future of material possessions and comfort, which she adored. But he did not have this and when he comes round to having this in the latter, he lies about how he came to earn the money. He shields her from his true identity as a criminal, so that once again he can relight the false perception she had of him. George follows suit and lies to Myrtle early on in their relationship. When Myrtle reveals her hatred towards her husband in chapter two, she says ‘I married him because I thought he was a gentleman. I thought he knew something about breeding, but he wasn’t fit to lick my shoe.’ As it appears through the use of the word ‘gentleman’, Myrtle wanted to marry someone of higher social status and of wealth, and George apparently gave her the false hope of this. He creates a false persona that fools her into thinking that her dream is coming true. In some way, the relationship between George and his wife is possibly what may have occurred in the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy, if they had run away together in their youth. There is a mirror image or reflection between Gatsby’s relationship and George’s, and Fitzgerald parallels the consequences of both. Comparing both men, they both seem to be solitary figures who are overly involved in their work. For instance, when looking at Gatsby he is clearly a type of ‘loner’ and this may be down to the fact that he is too set upon retrieving Daisy to have anytime for others. The only circumstance that he has friends is when they are a means to an end with Gatsby, as he only manipulates them to get something out of them. For instance, he befriends Jordan and Nick especially as means of getting closer to Daisy. In chapter four, it is clear that Gatsby has manipulated Jordan into sorting out a meeting between him and Daisy, when she says to Nick: ‘You’re supposed to invite her to tea’ (78). The inclusion of the word ‘supposed’, suggests how Gatsby plans what he wants to get out of people. At Gatsby’s first party ‘the girls swoon back into the men’s encircling arms, but no one swooned backward on Gatsby.’ This example shows how Gatsby never socialised with people unless he required something from them, and as Nick shows in chapter three where he says that he ‘hasn’t even seen the host’ (49), hardly anyone really knows who Gatsby is. Also, he constantly thinks of his work. Even at his parties, he rudely has to excuse himself to take calls from places like ‘Philadelphia’ and ‘Chicago’ which are renowned cities for their corrupt environments where gangsters based themselves. This work is funding his dream in a way, as if he had not been gathering money like this, then he would still be poor and he would not have had the money to buy such been close to Daisy. George similarly is a man of solitude due to his wife and work; he is portrayed as having no real friends. He is a sick failure who is reduced to the status of a ‘ghost’. This ‘ghost-like’ appearance or presence is highlighted in chapter two when Tom and Nick visit George at the garage and his wife Myrtle is said to have ‘smiled slowly and, walking through her husband as if he were a ghost.’ This emphasises the lack of presence and authority he has, as his wife walks through him not noticing or caring that he is standing there. She is far more interested in Tom to care about where her husband is. The way he is referred to as a ‘ghost’ – the disembodied spirit or soul of a deceased person – is a link to not only death but more specifically, the death of the land he lives in. Fitzgerald is therefore linking George to the failure of the ‘Valley of ashes’ and it is noticeable that he never does this sort of thing with Gatsby. Gatsby is never linked to the riches of the land of the Eggs, which in a way shows how he does not fit in with the high society of the Eggs and this crucially establishes his isolation within such an environment. George is similar to Gatsby also, in the sense that he always thinks about his work too. This becomes clear in chapter two where he pesters Tom with the question: ‘When are you going to sell me that car?’ This highlights his desperation to make a sale and also suggests that he feels he has to jump on every customer who enters his garage, due to the lack of business he receives. Further, it shows his solitude as he scarcely has any customers and thus does not have any interactions with other people. Nick as narrator, appears to be far more lenient towards Gatsby. Following the deaths of both men, Nick only makes it his duty to sort out Gatsby’s funeral and does not think of George’s. In addition, when Tom wants Nick to meet his mistress in chapter two, Nick says how he had ‘no desire to meet her.’ This statement suggests how Nick feels he is being disloyal to Daisy. He does not think to consider how George would feel knowing about the affair his wife is having with one of his own acquaintances (Tom). Additionally, Nick seems to overlook Gatsby’s criminal behaviours even though he has been given enough evidence to suggest that Gatsby is a gangster. Fitzgerald’s portrayal of both men differs greatly, so much so that they appear to be direct opposites of one another. Gatsby is rich and has a more fulfilling life than George, who suffers the dullness of living in a dump (Valley of Ashes) and the lack of respect from his wife. The relationship between George and his wife is peculiar and goes against the historical view of a married couple. In the Victorian era, women would have had to stay at home in order to attend to maternal duties, whilst the husband would have had to provide the income. Usually the man had the authority over the woman, and in the case of the Wilson’s, there has been a role reversal. However, these two men are linked superficially by their failure to achieve their unattainable dreams which they had been pursuing throughout life. Considering that Gatsby was originally a working class poor man in previous years, and that he and George both die in honour of their failed dreams, suggests that when a poor man tries to enter into a higher social status like Gatsby, their efforts are rendered useless. Not only does this circumstance reveal the divide in society but additionally it emphasises the moral decay of American society amidst the superficial impressiveness of upper-class profligacy.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

As a Mass Communication Student Essay

Mass Communication is a very interesting course. Like what John Phelan said, most of the students want to be in this field because the skills and talents they have fit to this course. It’s more fun and adventurous. You’ll encounter lots of people, ordinary, celebrities, politics. Go to different places. Enjoy foods and new things. And learn cultures of others. But I still can’t figure out what’s gotten into my mind in choosing Mass Communication. I even don’t want to be a public figure. As we all know, public figures doesn’t have privacy anymore. And sometimes they’re into trouble because part of their job is to criticize and give opinion on a certain issue. But that’s the consequence. Even if I work behind the camera, still my name will appear as part of the show or whatever it is that I’m into. Sometimes, to make others realize that what they do is not good anymore we must take actions for them to behave in the way we want and other people wants. And as Media personnel, being responsible is what we must also possess because the audience that we have has no age limit. Kids and youth can see us. We can be part of their growing process and we don’t want to be a bad influence to them. Instead, we want them to learn good things from us. Also for the old ones especially that they depend on us for the service of giving them the right information’s that they want to hear or to see. In return, we can feel the fulfilment that we are an effective Media Personnel. They say that in this field, you can have lots of money. Yes, if you are disciplined, hardworking and determined. But money is not important. What’s important for me now is to gain experience and to learn new things to prepare myself for the future. Those things that Phelan and Schramm said inspired and taught me a lesson not only about the things happening in Media but also about the life that later on we Mass Communication students will have.